Compare Luxury New Zealand self-drive by Audley Travel vs New Zealand: See & Experience it ALL in 10 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours by Charlie The Traveler
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 17 days | 10 days |
| Price From | $ 17,511 | $ 4,545 |
| Price Per Day | $ 1,030 | $ 455 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Private guided tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Luxury |
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| Flights & Transport | Internal airfare and ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
Along with lunch on Day 8, a traditional Maori (native) dinner is included on this tour on Evening 9. We do our best to ensure you are being offered healthy and tasty local cuisine. |
| Description |
New Zealand has the kind of scenery that demands a standing ovation — and it’s all in such close proximity. Our specialists are passionate about helping you get out to explore it all. There are Milford Sound’s arrow-headed peaks, and stretches of sand so vast they earn outlandish names (‘Ninety Mile Beach’). Caves spangle with glow-worms like a million fairy lights. Stratovolcanoes rise above grassy plains. Ice fields career down almost to the edge of the Tasman Sea. And that’s just for starters. |
You absolutely will not find another tour out there as packed with activities and attractions as this one, provided by CharlieTheTraveler. You will also not find another tour out there that offers it all "FIRST CLASS," yet for a relatively low price. We have thousands of travelers taking this specific tour every year-and that's because no competitor can beat us on quality, price & substance. |
Day 1 : International outbound flight
Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Auckland.
Day 2 : International outbound flight
On-board your international outbound flight to Auckland.
Day 3 : Auckland
You will be met upon arrival in Auckland and privately transferred to your accommodation where you will stay for two nights. The day is at leisure to explore the city.
Day 4 : Auckland
Enjoy a day at leisure in Auckland. You may like to take a stroll down Queen Street, the main shopping area, or enjoy a boat trip out onto the harbour.
Day 5 : Taupo
You collect your hire car from the city car depot and head south to Lake Taupo. We recommend making a stop in Rotorua for lunch.
Day 6 : Taupo
You have today at leisure in Lake Taupo. This is the thermal centre of New Zealand - here you can see bubbling mud-pools, steaming lakes and impressive geysers.
Day 7 : Napier & Hawkes Bay
Make your way east to Napier today, at the heart of the Hawke's Bay region where you will stay for two nights.
Day 8 : Napier & Hawkes Bay
Today you have a day at leisure in Napier. Hawke's Bay is famous not only for its wine production but also for the outstanding examples of Art Deco architecture in Napier. Guided tours can be arranged for either of these interests.
Day 9 : Blenheim
Today make your way to the airport and drop your vehicle at the airport car depot in time for your short flight to Blenheim, via Wellington. In Blenheim please collect another vehicle at the airport and make your way to your accommodation where you will stay for two nights.
Day 10 : Blenheim
Blenheim and the Marlborough region is New Zealand's most renowned for wine production. Known for its rich volcanic soil, the Sauvignon Blanc made here is considered some of the best in the world. You will spend the day on a gourmet tour of the area's best wineries, learning of the area's history and development of its wine production.
Day 11 : Christchurch
Today you make your way south to Christchurch. This is a lovely garden city and many of the main attractions are close to each other in the city centre.
Day 12 : Christchurch
Spend today at your leisure. Although Christchurch is still undergoing reconstruction from an earthquake in 2011, there is still loads to see and do. Enjoy a walk through Hagley Park on your way to the Central Business District, where you'll find an abundance of shops and restaurants.
Day 13 : Glenorchy
Today make your way to the airport and drop your vehicle in time for your flight to Queenstown. On arrival you collect a car and drive to the beautiful setting of Blanket Bay lodge in Glenorchy.
Day 14 : Glenorchy
Enjoy a once in a lifetime experience today with a scenic helicopter flight over Milford Sound and the surrounding scenery of Fiordland National Park.
Day 15 : Glenorchy
Get ready for a day of exhilarating day of fun! You will be collected from your hotel in the morning and begin your day on the Dart River. You will head up the river in a jet boat and after a leisurely walk through the forest then you will kayak back down the Dart River.
Day 16 : International return flight
Make your way back to Queenstown today for your flight to Auckland. Later join your onward flight to return home.
Day 17 : International return flight
Arrive home today to complete your journey.
Day 1: A Cable Car Ride Over Stunning Landscape & the Country's Most Popular Destination
Our tour starts in Queenstown, a vibrant resort which serves as New Zealand’s most popular destination. This evening we head to a nearby place called Skyline Queenstown. There we take a cable car ride to the top of a mountain called Bob’s Peak. Beautiful views can be seen in every direction. While there, a buffet-style dinner can be purchased at a restaurant called Stratosfare. The cable car ride is included on the tour.
Day 2: Flight-Seeing Over Fjords & a Majestic Boat Ride
Today we make a daytrip to Milford Sound, getting to there and back to Queenstown by scenic flight. Upon arrival, we go on a boat tour cruising atop clear waters and in between postcard-perfect mountains. Milford Sound has been judged the world’s top travel destination in an international survey taken by TripAdvisor, receiving the Travelers' Choice Destinations Awards. Milford Sound is acclaimed as New Zealand's most famous tourist attraction.
Please note that due to unpredictable weather conditions in and around Milford Sound, it is common our customers get to there or return from there by land. When this happens, stops are made so we can enjoy Lake Te Anau, Mirror Lakes, the mountainous Monkey Creek and a national park called the ‘Chasm’.
Day 3: Rapid Jet-Boating, Zip-Lining, Exploring a Gorge & a Cruise on a Vintage Steamship
We start our day with a quick drive to a picturesque gorge called Skippers Canyon. It is mostly one-way, narrow and steep with sheer drops of several hundred meters. After our scenic land expedition, we head to the nearby Shotover River. There we go on a very fast and swerving jet-boating ride. Following lunch, we go zip-lining near the village of Glenorchy.
Our day ends with a cruise on the historic TSS Earnslaw steamship. While on the tour, we make a stop at a homestead which is known for its sheep, alpacas and a beautiful garden. After dinner, we visit a purpose-built amphitheater. There we see a farmyard of sheep shearing (cutting the sheep’s wool) and otherwise watch a ‘sheepdog round-up’ (the dog makes the sheep walk together as a group).
Day 4: Approaching the Highest Mountain in New Zealand
Today we relocate from Queenstown to Mount Cook Village. Upon arrival, we are provided with a guided tour inside Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park’s Hooker Valley Track. The lookout point at the end of the track is the closest any walking track comes to seeing the highest mountain in New Zealand (Mount Cook). The end of the track reveals completely unobstructed views, with Hooker Glacier seen in the valley below.
Day 5: A Plane Landing on Tasman Glacier & Visiting Ice Grottoes and Caves
Before relocating to the city of Christchurch, we make a daytrip to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park’s Tasman Glacier. We get to there and back to Mount Cook Village by scenic flight. Of New Zealand's 20 peaks over 3,000 meters, all except one lie in this park. Glaciers cover 40 percent of the park area, notably the Tasman Glacier. After landing on this glacier, we go on a guided snow shoeing hike, seeing blue ice grottoes and caves.
Please note that due to unpredictable weather conditions in and around Tasman Glacier, it is common our customers get to there or return from there by land. When this happens between September and May, we replace the flight-seeing tour with a popular boat ride which visits icebergs. When this happens between June and August, we replace the flight-seeing tour with a four-wheel drive expedition around Tasman Valley.
Day 6: The Historic Architecture of Christchurch & Sightseeing
Before relocating to the town of Nelson by flight, we are provided with a guided tour around Christchurch. This city was established in 1850 by Anglican English settlers. The heritage shows in its fine older buildings, especially the neo-gothic ones. The city highlights are the cathedral, riverside market and botanical gardens.
Day 7: The Finest Beaches on This Tour
Before relocating to the city of Auckland, we make a daytrip from Nelson to Abel Tasman National Park. There we are provided with a scenic boat tour. Abel Tasman National Park is in one of the sunniest places in the country, with over 2,000 hours of sunlight per year. The most notable features of this park are its golden-sand beaches, arguably the finest in New Zealand.
Day 8: Where Lord of the Rings was Filmed & Glowworm Grottoes
When relocating from Auckland to the town of Rotorua, two important stops are made along the way. The first is at the Hobbiton Movie Set, home to the internationally acclaimed Lord of the Rings trilogy. There we are provided with a guided tour and lunch. The other important stop before reaching Rotorua is at the Waitomo Caves. There we are provided with a boat ride through glowworm grottoes. The site is spectacular, to say the least.
Day 9: A Mud Bath, Volcanic Craters, Hot Water Springs & a Native Show with Dinner
This morning starts with a daytrip to the nearby Waimangu Volcanic Valley, which includes Lake Rotomahana. On a self-guided tour, there we see volcanic craters, hot water springs and other geothermal features. Upon returning to Rotorua, we are taken to the so-called Hell’s Gate Geothermal Reserve and Mud Spa. There we bathe in a mud pool. The evening ends at the nearby Tamaki Maori Village. There we learn about native rituals, watch a show and have a traditional dinner. The meal is included this evening.
Day 10: Our Tour Ends Today
Rotorua is the final destination on our tour around New Zealand. Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport.
Note that you can extend this standard 10-day tour by one day if you wish to engage in some extreme sports activities near Queenstown. Specifically, on this added day, you would jump off a 43-meter (141-foot) bridge called Kawarau as well as run off a 60-meter (196.85-foot) cliff. It is called the Fox Jump. Obviously, these two activities are not for everyone. This is why we are offering it as a one-day extension to our standard 10-day tour around New Zealand. Let us know if you are interested.
Also, note that you can extend this standard 10-day tour by returning to and visiting Auckland once done in Rotorua. Some customers want a day or two to go sightseeing in New Zealand’s largest city. We offer guided tours upon request. Ask us for details.
