On arrival in Auckland, collect your rental car at the airport and drive to your hotel. Distance 30 mins from Auckland Airport. Hotel check in time 1400pm. The remainder of the day is at leisure for you to explore Auckland, New Zealand’s City of Sails.

You could visit Sky Tower (extra activity), for extensive views of greater Auckland including visual and audio displays detailing the history of New Zealand’s largest city. Or visit the Viaduct Harbour waterfront region, and enjoy an afternoon drink at one of the many popular restaurants with stunning views out over Waitemata Harbour.

Perhaps visit the Weta Workshop Unleashed (extra activity) is a wildly imaginative and immersive experience that invites guests of all ages into a fantastical film effects facility. OR Learn the story of All Blacks Experience (extra activity), feel the passion and experience first-hand the All Blacks haka up close and personal.

Check out hotel and cruise down the southern motorway, suburban scenery gradually gives way to the farmland of South Auckland, an area favoured by bloodstock breeders. There are a number of different routes to take on the journey to Rotorua. You might like to add one or two optional tours on your way to geothermal Rotorua, a bubbling and steaming destination like nowhere else.

Glowworm Caves Guided Tour (extra activity) - Discover this ancient world with your expert tour guide bringing the Waitomo Glowwom Cave to life through story-telling its history, features and legends. Walk past stunning, delicate cave formations before taking a boat ride through the glow worm grotto.

2 hours Guided tour of the famous Hobbiton Movie Set (extra activity), Step into the enchanting village of Hobbiton Movie Set for a two hour tour around the set. Your passionate guide will point out the intricate detailing, highlighting the most famous locations and explaining how the movie was made.

Your journey to Rotorua will take you through a mixture of farmland, lakeland and forest.

You’ll know you’ve arrived in the city of Rotorua when you see (and smell!) the geothermal steam plumes of Whakarewarewa. The city of Rotorua is surrounded by a fascinating landscape of geothermal activity, freshwater lakes and majestic native forests. Home to the Te Arawa tribe, it’s a region steeped in Māori legend.

An evening tour to experience Māori culture with traditional ceremonies (extra activity), cultural performances and an authentic hangi dinner.

Rotorua is known for bubbling mud pools, shooting geysers and natural hot springs, as well as showcasing our fascinating Maori culture. Today you'll visit one of the local geothermal attractions before a sensory evening display in the forest.

Waimangu Geothermal Valley - Waimangu connects people with the beating heart of the world’s youngest geothermal valley, its unique history and legacy. Discover how the world began. Experience spectacular volcanic craters, enormous hot water springs, beautiful geothermal features, rare and unusual plant life, brilliantly coloured micro biology and a wide array of birds. Become immersed in the stories of the Mt Tarawera volcanic eruption, its people, and the resulting dramatic landscape changes that created the world’s youngest geothermal park. Explore Waimangu at your own pace on the easy, mainly downhill, 1.5km walk.

Redwoods Treewalk Nightlights - Forest and fantasy come to life within this magical illuminated evening treewalk. Redwoods Nightlights™ is one of New Zealand’s top design led tourism experiences. Set high amongst the giant redwood trees, 30 exquisite lanterns float above the forest floor. Enjoy the mesmerising forest at night on a 40 minute award-winning, eco-tourism walk that spans 28 platforms and suspension bridges. Suitable for all ages and perfect for those looking for things to do in Rotorua at night.

Return car rental at Rotorua airport. Rotorua to Queenstown domestic flight not included and can be purchase online ( own arrangement ) at air new zealand.

Arrive Queenstown airport, collect your rental car and drive to hotel. Hotel check in time 1400pm. Free at own leisure.

Magnificent vistas and majestic mountains dominate this compact alpine resort town and with such an expansive natural physical environment it is not surprising that Queenstown has been described as the Adventure Capital of the World

Queenstown offers year-round experiences, utilising its heart-stopping surroundings to the maximum. Whether heading to the mountains during the winter, or basking in the sun and enjoying the lakes and rivers during the warmer months, Queenstown has a long list of activities for you.

Make your way to the Skyline Base for a Gondola Ride to the top of Bob’s Peak and enjoy some spectacular panoramic views high above Queenstown. The Skyline Gondola base is situated a short five minute walk from central Queenstown.
The best views in the region are found here, spread out in a spectacular 220 degree panorama with breath taking views of Coronet Peak, The Remarkables mountain range and across Lake Wakatipu to Cecil and Walter Peak. You might like to add some Luge rides to your bucket list for some extra fun. 

Head down to the waterfront to board the iconic TSS Earnslaw steamship for a scenic cruise. Departing from Steamer Wharf central Queenstown, the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw will transport you on a scenic cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm. Here you will be taken to the amphitheatre to watch the remarkable skill with which the farm dogs round up sheep from the paddocks. A guided walking tour of the farmyard visits the holding pens, where you can help feed the sheep and deer and even get up close to the Scottish Highland Cattle. Then a stroll to the charming old woolshed for morning or afternoon tea. There may also be time to stroll through the lakeside gardens before re-boarding the TSS Earnslaw for the cruise back to Queenstown.
Duration: 3.5 hours

NOTE: The TSS Earnslaw is closed for maintenance for six weeks mid-winter each year.

Leaving Queenstown, travel north through the historic gold mining region of the rugged Kawarau River Gorge and past Cromwell, famed for its fruit-growing. Skirting the shores of Lake Dunstan, cross the Lindis Pass to Omarama for morning tea (own expense). Travel north to Twizel and carry on to Mt Cook Village; the drive will quite literally amaze you. The road follows the turquoise shores of Lake Pukaki. Continue through the rugged high country landscape of the Mackenzie Basin to arrive at Mount Cook Village, where you can gaze up at the 3,724 metre-high mountain Aoraki / Mount Cook, an important landmark in Māori mythology.

At night time the Stardome experience is popular. Located in Tekapo at the Dark Sky Experience ( extra activity) brings science, Māori heritage and fascinating multi-media installations together in a ‘Big Bang’ of awe and inspiration. At Dark Sky Project, manuhiri (visitors) are connected to New Zealand’s night skies, igniting a lifelong passion for dark sky preservation and what lies above.

Today you travel to Christchurch via Geraldine and Ashburton.

Be sure to stop for a while at Lake Tekapo where the ‘Church of the Good Shepherd’ takes pride of place against the backdrop of a vivid blue glacier-fed lake, it's one of the most popular photo spots in this area.

Geraldine is home to the famous Barkers of Geraldine, a store offering delicious jams, chutneys and syrups; try a sample or buy a gift pack to take home. The town also boasts two chocolate shops which are well worth a visit.

Take the time to explore the bustling farming town of Ashburton. If gardens are your thing you can’t miss Trots Garden, a Garden of National Significance graded by The Royal Institute of Horticulture. Lake Hood, on the outskirts of Ashburton, enjoy coffee or dining at the lakefront restaurant and watch the world go by.

Once in Christchurch, take the time to find out what makes this ever-evolving city unique. Christchurch is brimming with innovativeness and creativity as it rebuilds after the earthquakes of 2011. Visit the transitional Cathedral made of cardboard, or the pavilion made from pallets which hosts events most days of the week. The city boasts new and diverse restaurants, cafes, bars and night clubs.

And of course Christchurch's iconic activities are still a favourite, showing off its old-English charm. Visit the stunning botanic gardens, enjoy a relaxing punt on the Avon River, and ride the historic tram.

Your arrangements conclude today. Hotel check out time 1000am.

Your rental car should be dropped off at the airport, by the same time as it was picked up on Day 1, to avoid any additional charges. Reantal car 'days' are based on a 24hrs-hire.