Panoramas of New Zealand

Kia Ora and welcome to New Zealand. After passing through customs and picking up your luggage, visit the Budget car rental office to fill out your car rental documents before heading to downtown Auckland.

Leave Auckland and take the Pacific Coast Highway to the Coromandel area. The Coromandel Peninsula is one of New Zealand’s favourite summer spots with endless beaches, coves and bush trails.

Before leaving this morning for Rotorua, you can enjoy a refreshing swim in the waves or visit one of the many picturesque sites that the Coromandel has to offer. The city of Rotorua, situated on a volcanic plateau and former spa town, is best known for its geothermal activity. The city is the main place in New Zealand where you can discover aspects of Maori traditions, from woodcarvings and meeting houses to Hangi and Maori dances. It is a fascinating mix of culture and nature.

Today is a day at leisure in the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua. Some activities in the area may include Kuirau Park, Rotorua’s lakes, redwoods, government gardens and St. Faith’s Church. You can also go rafting on the Kaituna River or enjoy the panoramic view of Rotorua from the top of Ngongotaha. In the evening, enjoy a Te Pō Hangi and a concert at Te Puia. Te Pō is an authentic cultural experience at Te Puia – a celebration of traditional food, culture and friendship. It starts every night in Te-Heketanga-a-Rangi (The Celestial Origins). The space consists of twelve monumental sculptures rising to the sky, each representing a Maori divinity. Listen to the stories of the past and see how these traditions live on today. Feeding guests is considered by Maori to be an honour and a sign of a tribe’s mana, so a banquet is planned for the evening. This banquet combines contemporary cuisine with a traditional hangi, where kai (food) is steamed by hot stones buried in the ground, giving it a delicious smoky flavour. After dessert, you can admire the spectacular lighting of the geothermal valley of Whakarewarewa. You can stroll through the illuminated natural attractions, including the Pohutu Geyser.

Leave Rotorua and head south to Napier, located in Hawke’s Bay. On the way, stretch your legs on the shores of Lake Taupo before continuing to Napier. Napier is the art deco capital of New Zealand after the entire city was rebuilt in the 1930s after a devastating earthquake. The streets are lined with captivating buildings.

Leave Napier and head for Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, located on the southern tip of the North Island. Wellington is also New Zealand’s capital for arts and culture. It’s an urban paradise surrounded by a glittering harbour on one side and lush green hills on the other.

This morning, return your rental vehicle before boarding the Interislander ferry and watch the Wellington skyline disappear in the distance as you enter Marlborough Sounds in Picton. When you arrive in Picton, pick up your new vehicle and head to Nelson to explore its gardens and watch its beautiful sunsets unfold across Tasman Bay. The streets and parks are named after Admiral Nelson and his exploits, as well as the names of the ships that brought the first pioneers from England. Forestry, fruit and fishing are at the centre of Nelson’s harbour, while to the west, apple orchards, tobacco and hop plantations occupy the land.

Today you will enjoy a cruise to Onetahuti. Travel in style and comfort aboard our Vista Cruise in Tonga’s marine reserve. Take a break to see the antics of Tonga’s seal colony, then discover the historic beach of Tonga Quarry. Stroll over a wooded plateau (maximum elevation 120 metres / 400 feet) and around the Bark Bay Waterfall Trail, crossing the new swing bridge next to Bark Bay Falls. Take time to relax on the golden sand of Bark Bay beach before continuing to the picturesque Medlands beach. All the beaches have golden sand, azure blue water ideal for swimming and shady picnic spots.

Leave Nelson and head south along the rugged west coast of the South Island. Discover the historic mining settlement of Westport before arriving in Punakaiki, home to the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. Punakaiki is the gateway to the spectacular limestone country of Paparoa National Park. It lies halfway between Greymouth and Westport on one of the most spectacular coastal highways. The Pancake Rocks for which Punakaiki is famous are limestone formations that began to form 30 million years ago. The seabed was raised above sea level by earthquakes to form the coastal cliffs and coastline. Sea, wind and rain have since eroded the stone to form what we see today. When conditions are right, large ocean waves thunder in caves under the rocks and huge jets of water gush skyward through the breath, creating a spectacular view. Tourist activities in the area include canoeing adventures, horseback riding, caving and guided walks to name a few.

Today, leave Punakaiki and drive south to Franz Josef via the towns of Greymouth and Hokitika. The West Coast Wildlife Centre is the ideal destination to discover and observe the rare kiwi. The centre is the official indoor location for the Rowi Kiwi hatching and incubation programme. Found only in the Okarito Forest near Franz Josef, the Rowi is New Zealand’s rarest kiwi.

Today, leave Franz Josef and travel down the rugged west coast via Fox Glacier and Haast to Queenstown. We recommend a stop in the beautiful town of Lake Wanaka along the way. Embark on a cable car ride to the top of Bob’s Peak where you can enjoy panoramic views of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu.

Upon arrival in Te Anau, check in at your hotel. Sail on the beautiful Te Anau Lake to the Cavern House. Upon arrival, discover the caves and glowworms. Your guides will then take you in small groups by road and small underground boats into the caves. Highlights include incredible limestone caves, whirlpools, waterfalls and the magical glow-worm cave. Return to Te Anau. You can enjoy an optional guided walk (about 30-40 minutes) offered to guests in the forest area and lake surrounding the caves. The trail will also be illuminated in the evening.

Leave Te Anau and enjoy the scenic drive to Dunedin. The Scottish capital of New Zealand and home to the University of Otago, Dunedin is a city rich in culture and heritage. Enjoy one of Dunedin’s most award-winning tours, the afternoon Elm Wildlife and Otago Peninsula tour, where you will visit the beautiful Otago Peninsula and its wildlife. Knowledgeable guides provide on-site commentary and visit remote areas inaccessible to others, offering the best possible observation of the peninsula’s unique wildlife. The private conservation area guarantees exclusivity with great opportunities to photograph Hooker’s sea lions, yellow eyed penguins, blue penguins, a breeding colony of New Zealand fur seals and other seabird colonies. In Taiaroa, at the top of the cliff, you can see Royal Albatrosses flying around the headland and towards the ocean. Another 25 to 30 species of seabirds are seen during the experience around the bays and lagoons.

Leave Dunedin and head north to Christchurch. The Garden City, lies on the plains that originally attracted the English settlers who populated the area. Christchurch, the South Island’s largest city, retains something of the English nature of its origins – the willow and oak-lined Avon River and medieval stone buildings.

Return your rental car to Christchurch Airport before checking in for your return flight.