Tour Type: Premium Self Drive Tour
Duration: 9 Days
Tour Starts In: Auckland
Tour Finishes In: Wellington
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from NZ $2484 pp
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9 Day Northern Escapade Touring Route:
Tour Inclusions:
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Day
1 |
Arrive Auckland
On arrival at Auckland airport, you will be personally met by our representative & transferred in an executive sedan to your accommodation. The 'City of Sails' is New Zealand's largest and most vibrant, offering an exciting array of cosmopolitan experiences. Built on an isthmus of 48 volcanoes, Auckland's fertile valleys and islands are home to award-winning wineries. Family attractions abound and the city has plenty of adrenaline for adventure lovers. Indulge in Auckland's shopping, nightlife and unrivalled cuisine. Discover why Auckland is one of the best places in the world to live - and visit.
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Day
2 |
Auckland – Coromandel
Your rental car will be delivered to your hotel this morning. Today depart Auckland and enjoy a leisurely drive on The Pacific Coast Highway. Traversing the spectacular East Coast of the North Island, it is classed as one of the great touring routes in the world. Linking the Coromandel with Auckland, The Pacific Coast Highway travels through a unique region where land and sea intermingle. Depart on the Driving Creek Railway in innovatively designed trains. Travel over viaducts (including the unique, double decker), 2 spirals, 3 reverses, tunnels and enjoy a magnificent view from the ridge-top terminus. Here a talk is given about local history, ecology and activities including the potteries. The train also passes through a native Kauri Forest replanting project. Continue across the main divide to your accommodation for tonight. (B)
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Day
3 |
Coromandel
There are many beautiful places in the world and the Coromandel Peninsula is an unspoilt haven. Today you may choose to enjoy the stunning beaches of Cathedral Cove and Hahei and dig your own spa pool using the thermal waters in the sand at Hot Water Beach, which is only a 30 minute drive from your hotel. (B) |
Day
4 |
Coromandel - Rotorua
Depart today and travel along the Bay of Plenty coastline through the subtropical orchards of kiwi fruit and citrus. Head inland through massive pine forests, passing many of the regions crystal clear lakes en route to Rotorua.
You will be collected by Mitai to enjoy a Maori hangi (feast) and cultural show featuring a selection of favourite Maori love and action songs including the fearsome "haka" - or war dance. (B/D)
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Day
5 |
Rotorua Sightseeing
Enjoy a cruise on the beautiful fresh waters of Lake Rotoiti this morning on board a luxury sailing catamaran. You have the chance to hoist the sails and grind the winches, try your hand at trout fishing, leap off to swim in the fresh water or soak in the natural mineral hot pools that are only accessible by boat. Your skipper and crew will share local legends with you and point out some of the many historic and culturally significant sites of Lake Rotoiti.
Free time to explore Rotorua this afternoon. You may like to visit the Agrodome or take a gondola ride to the top of Mt Ngongotaha for spectacular views of Rotorua. Later this afternoon visit Te Puia geothermal area to view the boiling mudpools and cascading Pohutu geyser that make Rotorua famous as New Zealand’s thermal city. This evening experience Te Po, Te Puia’s cultural experience. It is a feast of cultural storytelling, entertainment and Maori kai (indigenous food). After a formal Maori welcome, relax and enjoy a performance including the beautiful songs, haka and poi dance. After dinner you will be transported by people movers to enjoy the spectacular lighting of the Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley and hot chocolate. (B) |
Day
6 |
Rotorua – Lake Taupo – Napier
This morning depart Rotorua and head to Wai-O-Tapu. Walk at your own pace and marvel at the reserve’s unique features that include the world famous Champagne Pool, geysers, bubbling mud, steaming ground, expansive vistas, huge volcanic craters and sinter terrace formations. Stop at the mighty Huka Falls and Wairakei Geothermal project then wander around the popular lakeside resort of Taupo. Continue on to Napier, one of the world’s finest Art Deco cities. (B)
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Day
7 |
Napier
You have the morning to relax or explore Napier at your leisure. Hawke’s Bay has also become well known as a leading food and wine region in New Zealand, so we have booked you in for a wine tour this afternoon. Meet like- minded people and share an appreciation of Hawke's Bay's fantastic wines. (B) |
Day
8 |
Napier – Wellington
Drive south today to the Wairarapa, a rural retreat in the very heart of New Zealand. Stop in at Martinborough, a unique wine village with over 20 boutique vineyards before continuing onto Wellington, the nation’s capital. (B)
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Day
9 |
Depart Wellington
Sadly, your holiday is at an end and you will drive to Wellington airport today for your onward flight. Here, we bid you a fond farewell and hope you leave with many happy memories of your stay in Aotearoa, New Zealand. |
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Note: This self drive tour can be completed in reverse order, the tour cost remains the same. To view tour prices or to make an enquiry, please click on the Tabs at the top of this itinerary. Top |
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Jarrod did a magnifcent job of taking one of your tours and modifying it to suit our needs. From the moment we were collected at Auckland Airport we knew it would go well. We were basically happy with all the accomodation. The weather interferred on the Coromandel Peninsula but one has to cope with that. All the B&B's were well run. We missed a couple of attractions in Rotorua by choice. We included Waimangu which was stunning and for us (70 year olds from Oz) this was better than seeing sheep shorn (we both grew up with this in Qld) and going to a Spa. The car had many miles on it but performed reliably. We will be using your company again and recommending it to others.
Goron & Lorraine Gibson (Australia)
Tour Date 30/01/2010 |
Tour Prices
All tour prices are per person, twin share. |
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| Intermediate Car |
NZ $2,524 |
NZ $2,484 |
NZ $5,001 |
| Full Size Car |
NZ $2,560 |
NZ $2,521 |
NZ $5,039 |
| Mid Size 4WD |
NZ $2,664 |
NZ $2,624 |
NZ $5,141 |
| Full Size Wagon |
NZ $2,664 |
NZ $2,624 |
NZ $5,141 |
| Full Size 4WD |
NZ $2,753 |
NZ $2,713 |
NZ $5,231 |
| People Mover (MPV) |
NZ $2,753 |
NZ $2,713 |
NZ $5,231 |
EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL OFFER
Earlybird Special! Save 5% off the retail prices shown! Departures to 31 March 2011.
Valid for bookings made with Relaxing Journeys between 1 September 2010 and 30 September 2010
. Subject to availability at time of booking. |
*Terms & Conditions apply to any discounts and/or specials above. Your designated tour consultant will apply the appropriate discounts automatically to your quote and detail any currently applicable 'Exclusive Specials'. |
Self Drive Tour Notes
Prices above are per person & valid till August 2011. |
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- Frequently Asked Questions.
- International flights to & from New Zealand are not included.
- Single, Triple & Quad prices are available on request.
- If you would prefer a mix of the accommodation listed we can arrange this.
- For families we can also price our premium self drive tours using self catering apartments.
- Our premium B&B's do not cater for children.
- If a property listed on our itinerary is unavailable at the time of booking we will replace it with a equivalent accommodation, and let you know, to ensure it is to your satisfaction.
- Please note this itinerary was updated 22 July 2010.
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