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12 Day New Zealand Driving Tours - Auckland to Christchurch

General Information

Auckland - Rotorua - Wellington - Christchurch - Dunedin - Te Anau -  Milford Sound - Queenstown - Christchurch

A full Self Drive New Zealand Driving Tour featuring 4 days in the North and 8 days in the South, visiting the top tourist destinations in both islands...

12 Day Self Drive Tour with your choice of Boutique or Self catering Accommodation for 11 nights.

Total Driving Time About: 36 hrs 30 mins                        Distance: 2,665 kms

Day 1: Arrive Auckland

On your arrival in Auckland  you will be met by our representative and provided with your chosen car and documentation. Overnight in Auckland

Day 2: Auckland - Rotorua

Estimated Driving Time: 4 hrs 45 mins                Distance: 341 kms

Travel south through lush Waikato farmland, perhaps via Waitomo Caves, where a highlight of the day is a tour through the magical grotto lit by thousands of tiny glowworms. Then it is on to Rotorua, steeped in Maori culture and history. Tonight enjoy a night of traditional culture and entertainment, before experiencing a Maori hangi (feast), with a selection of foods cooked the traditional Maori way underground, amongst the surroundings of an authentic village.  Stay 2 nights in Rotorua.

Day 3: At Rotorua

A day free to explore this exciting thermal region. Rotorua sits squarely on the Pacific Ring of Fire, so volcanic activity is part of the city's past and present. Explore the geothermal areas and discover the unique culture of New Zealand's Maori people. Rotorua has lots to do in all weather, and at any time of year.

Day 4: Rotorua - Wellington

Estimated Driving Time: 6 hrs 20 mins             Distance: 453 kms 

Drive south through steam clad Wairakei, to Taupo. Skirt Lake Taupo, across the volcanic plateau past the cones of Tongariro, Ngaruahoe and Ruapehu in Tongariro National Park. Cross the Manawatu plains then along the rugged Kapiti coastline to our capital city, sprawled over the hills surrounding Wellington Harbour. Overnight in Wellington.

Day 5: Wellington - Picton - Christchurch

Estimated Driving Time: 4 hrs 35 mins             Distance: 337 kms 

Sit back, relax and soak in the scenery as you cruise across Cook Strait and the gorgeous Marlborough Sounds on your Interislander Ferry journey to Picton, the gateway to the marine, forest and island attractions of the Marlborough Sounds. The road south hugs the coastline between the Kaikoura Ranges and the Pacific. After Kaikoura the road heads inland to the sheep country of North Canterbury and down to Christchurch. Overnight in Christchurch

Day 6: Christchurch - Dunedin 

Estimated Driving Time: 5 hrs 20 mins             Distance: 359 kms 

Drive south across the Canterbury Plains through Ashburton, where trout fishing is a local obsession.  Further on are historic towns of Timaru with its historic buildings, and Oamaru home of the Little Blue Penguins. Be sure to check out the unique geological formations known as the Moeraki Boulders located 70km's north of Dunedin. Overnight at Dunedin.

Day 7: Dunedin - Te Anau

Estimated Driving Time: 3 hrs 55 mins             Distance: 290 kms

Dunedin is memorable for its historical architecture. Look for the massive stone Flemish Renaissance-style Dunedin Railway Station, the University clock-tower building and the Gothic Revival Dominican Priory. You might also want to visit Baldwin Street, the world's steepest residential address.

Apart from being New Zealand's first university city, it has an abundance of museums, galleries and heritage homes with amazing stories to tell. You can even discover the history of beer brewing at the Speights Brewery. Chocolate is on the menu at Cadbury Confectionery Factory. 

In the afternoon drive through the rolling hill country of South Otago and Southland. After the farming centre of Gore, cross the Waimea plains towards Te Anau. Overnight in Te Anau.

Day 8: Te Anau - Milford Sound - Queenstown

Estimated Driving Time: 5 hrs 5 mins             Distance: 403 kms

The road to Milford is one of New Zealand's most scenic drives. The first part is relatively mild farmland, then you'll ease into beech forest near the entrance to the Fiordland National Park. Look for the Avenue of the Disappearing Mountain and the Mirror Lakes. The rough hewn Homer Tunnel brings you into Milford Sound, an amazing 22km-long fiord dominated by Mitre Peak. Grand, brooding, serene and wild are just some of the words that will come to mind on your Milford Sound Cruise. Tall waterfalls, vertical rock faces and seals are some of the things you'll remember. Return to Te Anau, then turn north, following the dramatic southern shores of Lake Wakatipu to reach Queenstown. Stay 3 nights in Queenstown

(For an additional charge you may choose to swap one night in Queenstown and your Milford afternoon Cruise for a night aboard the Milford Mariner at Milford Sound).

Day 9 & 10: At Queenstown

Two free days to enjoy the alpine resort of Queenstown. It's the place to source almost any kind of adventure, including bungy, jet boating, horse trekking, rafting and river surfing. It's also a destination for luxury experiences - gourmet food and wine, spa treatments and leisurely games of golf. Nearby is the former gold mining town of Arrowtown is a living, historic holiday destination, nestled beside the Arrow River.

Day 11: Queenstown - Christchurch

Estimated Driving Time: 6 hrs 30 mins             Distance: 482 kms

Pass through the Kawarau Gorge with it's historic gold mines, then past the stone fruit growing area of Cromwell to the Lindis Pass. Cross the spectacular Mackenzie Country bounded by the Southern Alps to the glacial lakes and Twizel. It's a place to spy on the rarest wading bird in the world - the Black Stilt. At Lake Tekapo you could take a spectacular scenic flight by helicopter or fixed wing plane over Aoraki Mt Cook National Park; a magical world of permanent ice and snow, with New Zealand's highest mountains, and largest glaciers. The Church of the Good Shepherd and the sheepdog statue at Lake Tekapo are great photo opportunities. From Tekapo take the scenic route through Fairlie and Geraldine, before passing Methven to Christchurch. Overnight in Christchurch

Day 12: Depart Christchurch

Today you are free to explore the "Garden City" of Christchurch before catching your flight home.

Total Driving Time About: 36 hrs 30 mins                        Distance: 2,665 kms

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