New Zealand Discovery Self Drive

Day 1: Arrive in Auckland

Day 4: Bay of Islands at Leisure

A full day to explore the Bay of Islands. You might opt for an eco-focused wildlife cruise to look for dolphins, seabirds and perhaps penguins, with a beach stop on one of the island sanctuaries, or visit the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds to learn more about Aotearoa New Zealand’s founding document and Māori heritage.

Day 5: Paihia – Hokianga Harbour

Drive west across Northland to the quieter Hokianga Harbour, framed by dunes and forested hills. Your coastal hotel looks out over the water, making an ideal base for an evening stroll along the shore or a short walk in the surrounding countryside.

Day 6: Hokianga – Rotorua

Return south via Auckland and continue inland towards Rotorua, New Zealand’s geothermal heart. Arrive at your central hotel and, time permitting, take an evening walk along the lakefront or enjoy one of the town’s many hot pools.

Day 7: Rotorua – Geothermal and Māori Culture

Spend the day exploring Rotorua’s geysers, steaming vents and vividly coloured thermal pools in the surrounding geothermal parks. You might visit Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland or the bubbling mud pools near town, and in the evening, there is the option to join a Māori cultural experience with seasonal kai (cuisine) and performance in a forest setting.

Day 8: Rotorua – Wellington

Drive south through the heart of the North Island towards Wellington, passing through lake and farmland scenery. Arrive in the capital and check in to your elegant central hotel, then head out to explore the compact waterfront, cable car and characterful streets around Cuba Street and Courtenay Place.

Day 9: Wellington – Picton (Interislander)

Drop off your hire car and board the Interislander ferry across Cook Strait to the South Island. The crossing into the Marlborough Sounds is a scenic highlight in its own right, passing forested headlands and sheltered coves before arriving in Picton. Collect your new hire car and settle into your coastal hotel, the gateway to Queen Charlotte Sound.

Day 10: Picton – Kaikōura

Follow the shoreline and vineyards of Marlborough south to Kaikōura, with the Pacific on one side and mountains on the other. Your modern, sea-facing hotel makes an excellent base for the town’s marine experiences.

Day 11: Kaikōura at Leisure

Enjoy a full day in Kaikōura. Optional activities include whale watching cruises in search of giant sperm whales, dolphins and seabirds, or coastal walks with views of the Kaikōura Ranges. Fresh local seafood is a highlight here, with crayfish a particular speciality.

Day 12: Kaikōura – Christchurch

Continue south along the coast and then inland to Christchurch. Your central boutique hotel puts you within easy reach of Hagley Park, the Botanic Gardens, the Avon River and the city’s evolving arts and café scene.

Day 13: Christchurch at Leisure

Spend the day exploring Christchurch or consider a small-group excursion to the Banks Peninsula and Akaroa, with its French heritage, harbour cruise and coastal scenery. Back in the city, the rest of the day is free to discover museums, street art and riverside walkways.

Day 14: Christchurch – Aoraki / Mount Cook

Drive inland across the Canterbury Plains towards the Southern Alps, watching the landscape gradually rise towards snow-capped peaks. Arrive at Mount Cook Village and your hotel looking towards Aoraki / Mount Cook, with the rest of the day free for short walks, scenic flights or simply admiring the alpine setting.

Day 15: Mount Cook – Dunedin

Leave the mountains behind, travelling via lakes and rolling farmland to the historic university city of Dunedin on the Otago coast. After checking into your heritage hotel in a converted post office building, you may wish to explore the Victorian and Edwardian streets or sample the local food and craft beer scene.

Day 16: Dunedin & Otago Peninsula

A full day to discover Dunedin and the wildlife-rich Otago Peninsula. Optional tours include harbour cruises to see royal albatross and other seabirds, and evening visits to see little blue penguins returning to shore. There is also time to enjoy Dunedin’s architecture, galleries and hillside viewpoints.

Day 17: Dunedin – Te Anau

Head inland towards Fiordland, arriving in the lakeside town of Te Anau, your launchpad for exploring two of New Zealand’s great fjords. Your holiday park accommodation offers comfortable, well-situated units close to the lake and town centre.

Day 18: Te Anau – Fiordland

Today can be devoted to either Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound. Choose from small-group tours that combine scenic drives, cruises and commentary, with opportunities to spot dolphins, seals and, in season, penguins amid steep-sided fjords and waterfalls. Return to Te Anau in the evening.

Day 19: Te Anau – Queenstown

Drive along the shores of Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown, surrounded by peaks and water. Your lakeside hotel sits just steps from the town centre, ideal for exploring restaurants, bars and lakeside promenades on foot.

Day 20: Queenstown at Leisure 

Enjoy a full day in Queenstown, New Zealand’s adventure capital. Options range from jet boating on glacier-fed rivers and hiking nearby trails to more leisurely lake cruises, wineries in nearby Gibbston Valley or simply riding the gondola for sweeping views over the Remarkables and the lake.

Day 21: Queenstown – West Coast Glaciers

Travel over the Crown Range and through wild West Coast landscapes to the glacier region around Franz Josef and Fox. Check into your West Coast lodge and, time permitting, take a short walk to viewpoints over the valley or relax in local hot pools.

Day 22: Franz Josef – Greymouth – TranzAlpine – Christchurch

Drive up the coast to Greymouth and return your hire car at the railway station. Board the TranzAlpine train for one of the world’s great rail journeys, travelling across the Alps and Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. On arrival, transfer to your stylish central hotel for two final nights in New Zealand.

Day 23: Christchurch at Leisure

A final full day to revisit favourite corners of Christchurch or simply relax. You might explore further afield, return to the Botanic Gardens, or pause in a café and reflect on the breadth of landscapes you’ve covered over the past three weeks.

Day 24: Departure

Depending on your flight time, enjoy some last-minute shopping or a walk in Hagley Park before making your way to the airport for your journey home.

Our Price Includes:

• Private airport–hotel–airport transfers where specified
• 24 days’ intermediate SUV car hire on an inclusive basis (two separate hires: Auckland–Wellington and Picton–Greymouth)
• Interislander ferry crossing from Wellington to Picton (passenger fares)
• TranzAlpine train journey from Greymouth to Christchurch
• Accommodation in the properties listed (or similar) on a twin/double room basis, with meals as specified (B = Breakfast)
• Services of Odyssey World’s local partners in New Zealand
• All local taxes on included services

Our Price Excludes:

• International flights and associated airport taxes (quoted separately on request)
• Any domestic flights not specified in the itinerary
• Optional excursions and activities mentioned as suggestions only
• Meals other than those stated in the itinerary
• Travel insurance
• Early check-in or late check-out unless specified
• Personal expenses such as laundry, drinks, tips and any items not mentioned above