7-Day North to South Island Grand Tour from Auckland

Itinerary

Day 1: Auckland – Waitomo Caves – Rotorua

Stop At: Waitomo Glowworm Caves, 39 Waitomo Village Road, Waitomo Caves 3943 New Zealand
Travelling by road from Auckland to Rotorua via the Waitomo Glowworm caves, which includes a guided tour of the caves including a boat through the glowworm grotto. The tour then proceeds to Rotorua arriving mid afternoon. On arrival you will be transferred to your evenings accommodation.
Duration: 6 hours

Stop At: Agrodome, 141 Western Rd, Ngongotaha, Rotorua 3010 New Zealand
From Waitomo, head to Rotorua and see their agricultural industry in action at the Agrodome: a working organic farm where you can find out all about farming life in New Zealand. Watch a sheep shearing display and see sheep dog trials where the farm dogs show off their amazing skills.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Te Puia, Hemo Road, Rotorua New Zealand
Next a Maori Cultural Performance inside Te Puia Marae - Be treated by traditional performances including the Poi, Haka and Tititorea.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village, 17 Tryon Street Whakarewarewa Village, Rotorua 3010 New Zealand
Finally the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve and Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. Discover woodcarving, weaving displays and the thermal valley surrounded by boiling mud pools, and the famous Pohutu geyser.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Millennium Hotel Rotorua or similar

Day 2: Rotorua

Pass By: Millennium Hotel Rotorua, 1270 Hinemaru St, Rotorua 3040, New Zealand
Enjoy a day of leisure in Rotorua - an opportunity to explore the township, the lakefront, and beautiful Government Gardens. Alternatively take in some of the other attractions, such as Rainbow Springs Skyline Gondola, or the Tamaki Maori Village.

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Millennium Hotel Rotorua or similar

Day 3: Rotorua – Wellington

Pass By: James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor, 147 The Terrace, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand
Leave Rotorua by coach travelling south to the capital city of New Zealand, Wellington, via the shores of Lake Taupo and the dry arid central plateau, which is home of several active volcanoes. Prior to arriving in Wellington travel down the Kapiti Coast with great views of Cooks Strait and the South Island.

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: James Cook Hotel or similar

Day 4: Wellington – Picton – Kaikoura

Stop At: Interislander, 1 Aotea Quay, Wellington 6011 New Zealand
Depart Wellington by the Inter-Islander Cook Strait Ferry for the 3 hour ferry crossing to Picton in the heart of the Marlborough Sounds.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Picton Sound, Picton New Zealand
On your arrival into Picton, you will board the TransCoastal train and travel to Kaikoura via some spectacular scenic coast line. (Please note that the train is not available through May - September. If you have booked for this period, your train will be replaced by coach)
Duration: 3 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: White Morph Inn or similar

Day 5: Kaikoura – Christchurch

Stop At: Whale Watch Kaikōura, Whaleway Station Rd, Kaikoura 7340, New Zealand
This morning you will join a whale watch tour, with Whale Watching Kaikoura, where you will see the giant sperm whales, which reside in the deep waters just off the coast of Kaikoura year round. In the afternoon, following the whale watching you will visit a seal colony where New Zealand fur seals may be viewed at close quarters and provide fantastic photo opportunities.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Waipara Hills, 780 Glasnevin Road, Waipara 7473 New Zealand
Time permitting, a stop will be made at a winery in Waipara - one of the larger wine regions of New Zealand. Here you will have the opportunity to taste some of New Zealand’s delightful wines. From Waipara the coach continues south to Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand.
Duration: 3 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Chateau on the Park Hotel Christchurch or similar

Day 6: Christchurch

Stop At: Christchurch Cathedral, Cathedral Square, Christchurch New Zealand
This morning you will be collected from your hotel for a morning sightseeing tour of this beautiful city. Severely damaged by a series of earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, the city center was almost completely destroyed. The morning tour will show you much of the remaining earthquake damage to the city and the rebuild that is taking place. The tour will also highlight some of the most beautiful features of this charming city. The remainder of the day is at leisure to continue your exploration of Christchurch.
Duration: 3 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Chateau on the Park Hotel Christchurch or similar

Day 7: Christchurch – Mount Cook – Queenstown

Pass By: The Church of the Good Shepherd, Pioneer Drive, Lake Tekapo 7999 New Zealand
Travel by road through the rich pastoral farmland of the Canterbury Plains and the ever-changing spectacular scenery of the foothills of the Southern Alps. Continue travelling across Burkes Pass before descending to the stunning glacial-fed Lake Tekapo and visiting the “Church of the Good Shepherd” which stands on the foreshore. From here, we travel up the western side of Lake Pukaki to arrive at Mt Cook – New Zealand’s highest mountain. Then cross the Lindis Pass and leave the McKenzie Country to travel along the Kawarau Gorge. Arrival in Queenstown is at approximately 6.30pm. You will be dropped at your evenings accommodation, where your tour concludes.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.