14 Day City Lights to Alpine Heights Self Drive

Arrive in Auckland, a vibrant harbour city set between two oceans and known for its sailing culture and coastal lifestyle. Surrounded by beaches, islands, and volcanic landscapes, it offers a dynamic introduction to New Zealand.

Included: Private Transfer Auckland Airport to your Accommodation with Tourcorp
Enjoy a seamless arrival with a private transfer directly to your hotel. This comfortable service allows you to relax and take in your first impressions of the City of Sails.

Suggested Activity: All Blacks Experience
Step into the world of New Zealand’s most iconic sporting team through an immersive and interactive experience. Discover the stories, history, and culture behind the All Blacks, including the powerful haka.

Spend the day exploring Auckland’s diverse attractions, from scenic islands to lively urban precincts. The city offers a perfect balance of nature, culture, and dining experiences.

Take a ferry to Waiheke Island for wineries and coastal views, hike Rangitoto Island’s volcanic summit, or explore Viaduct Harbour and Ponsonby’s food scene. For panoramic views, head up the Sky Tower or visit Mount Eden.

Suggested Activity: Sunset Kayak to Rangitoto Island & BBQ Dinner
Paddle across the Waitematā Harbour as the sun sets, arriving at Rangitoto Island for a guided walk to the summit. After taking in panoramic views, enjoy a Kiwi-style BBQ dinner before returning under the city lights.

Suggested Activity: Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour
Explore boutique vineyards and sample award-winning wines on Waiheke Island. The tour combines scenic coastal views with insights into the island’s wine culture.

Depart Auckland and travel south through the rolling farmland of the Waikato region, known for its lush green landscapes. As you approach Rotorua, geothermal activity becomes visible, with steam rising from the earth.

Along the way, consider a stop in Tirau for a quirky photo or visit Hamilton Gardens for a themed garden experience. Rotorua welcomes you with its unique blend of geothermal wonders and Māori culture.

Included: Collect Rental Car
Collect your rental vehicle and begin your self drive journey through New Zealand. Having your own car allows flexibility to explore scenic stops along the way.

Suggested Activity: Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
Visit the iconic Hobbiton Movie Set and explore the detailed film location from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Highlights include Hobbit Holes, the Green Dragon Inn, and guided storytelling.

Included: Mountain Jade Highlights Tour
Enjoy a 30-minute guided experience with skilled New Zealand jade artists and gain insight into the cultural significance of Pounamu in Māori tradition. Watch the intricate carving process up close and create your own keepsake by selecting and stringing a piece to take home.

Spend the day exploring Rotorua, a region defined by geothermal activity and deep Māori cultural heritage. Bubbling mud pools, steaming geysers, and cultural experiences make this a truly unique destination.

You might visit Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, explore Te Puia’s geysers and carving schools, or unwind at the Polynesian Spa. The Redwoods Forest also offers scenic walking and cycling trails among towering trees.

Suggested Activity: National Kiwi Hatchery Experience
Gain insight into New Zealand’s kiwi conservation efforts and see these iconic birds up close. Expert guides share the process of hatching and raising kiwi chicks.

Suggested Activity: Te Pā Tū Māori Cultural Experience with Dinner
Experience an evening of Māori storytelling, performance, and traditional cuisine in a forest setting. This immersive experience provides a deeper understanding of Māori culture and traditions.

Suggested Activity: Wai Ariki Hot Springs Restorative Journey
Relax in a series of geothermal pools and wellness experiences inspired by Māori traditions. The journey includes hot and cold therapies designed to rejuvenate body and mind.

Travel south through the central North Island, passing Lake Taupō and the volcanic landscapes of Tongariro National Park. The journey offers a mix of alpine scenery, rural towns, and wide-open spaces.

Continue through Waiouru and Taihape before reaching the Kapiti Coast, where the road follows the shoreline into Wellington. The capital city welcomes you with its harbour setting and vibrant culture.

Suggested Activity: Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
Explore one of New Zealand’s most colourful geothermal areas with bubbling mud pools and vibrant mineral terraces. The park offers well-marked walking tracks through unique volcanic landscapes.

Spend the day exploring Wellington, a compact capital known for its creative energy, food scene, and harbour views. The city’s walkable layout makes it easy to discover its many highlights.

Visit Te Papa Museum, ride the historic cable car for city views, or explore Cuba Street’s cafés and boutiques. Nearby Zealandia offers a unique opportunity to experience native wildlife in a protected sanctuary.

Suggested Activity: Zealandia By Night Wildlife Sanctuary Tour
Explore Zealandia after dark with a guided tour through this unique eco-sanctuary. Spot native wildlife such as kiwi, tuatara, and rare bird species in their natural habitat.

Suggested Activity: Taste of Wellington Food Tour
Discover Wellington’s renowned food scene with tastings of local coffee, chocolate, craft beer, and more. The experience combines culinary highlights with scenic city views.

Begin your journey to the South Island with a scenic ferry crossing from Wellington to Picton. The route takes you through the Cook Strait and into the Marlborough Sounds, known for their calm waters and forested hills.

After arriving in Picton, enjoy a short drive to Blenheim, located in the heart of New Zealand’s premier wine region. The area is known for its vineyards, sunshine, and relaxed atmosphere.

Return Rental Car to Wellington Ferry Terminal
Return your vehicle at the ferry terminal before your crossing. This ensures a smooth transition between islands.

Included: Interislander Ferry Wellington to Picton with Premium Plus Lounge
Enjoy a comfortable ferry journey with premium seating, refreshments, and panoramic views. The Marlborough Sounds section is a highlight of the trip.

Collect Rental Car
Collect your rental vehicle in Picton and continue your journey at your own pace. This provides flexibility to explore the region.

Suggested Activity – Half Day Marlborough Wine Tour with Sounds Connection
Spend a relaxing afternoon exploring Marlborough’s renowned wine region with visits to several carefully selected wineries. Enjoy tastings of award-winning wines while learning about the region’s winemaking history and unique production techniques.

Depart Blenheim and travel south through Marlborough’s vineyard landscapes before reaching the rugged Kaikōura coastline. The scenery shifts dramatically as mountains rise steeply from the Pacific Ocean.

As you follow the coastal road, keep an eye out for seals resting along the shoreline and seabirds soaring above. Kaikōura’s unique setting makes it one of New Zealand’s most remarkable wildlife destinations.

Suggested Activity – Zipline & Native Forest Tour with EcoZip Kaikōura
Travel by 4WD through Kaikōura’s scenic countryside to reach Rakanui Station, where sweeping views of farmland, valleys and mountains set the scene for your adventure. Soar across a series of thrilling ziplines, learn about local history and conservation, and enjoy a guided walk through native forest.

Travel south along one of New Zealand’s most scenic coastal routes, where the road hugs the shoreline. The journey offers ever-changing views of the ocean, cliffs, and distant mountains.

Continuing inland, you’ll pass through the Waipara wine region before arriving in Christchurch. The city’s blend of heritage architecture and modern design reflects its evolving identity.

Suggested Activity: Ocean's Cabin with Whale Watching Experience
Head out onto the ocean for a close encounter with giant sperm whales, dolphins, and seals. Kaikōura is one of the few places in the world where whale sightings are possible year-round.

Christchurch, known as Ōtautahi, is a city reinventing itself with modern architecture and vibrant public spaces following the earthquakes. Located between the Canterbury Plains and the Pacific Ocean, it serves as an ideal gateway to the South Island.

Enjoy a variety of experiences from punting on the Avon River to riding the historic tram or taking the gondola for sweeping views. You can also visit the Botanic Gardens, explore the Cardboard Cathedral or venture further afield to Akaroa or Waipara for scenic landscapes and wine tasting.

Suggested Activity – Christchurch Triple Pass – Tram, Punting and Gondola
Experience three of Christchurch’s top attractions in one day, combining the historic tram, scenic gondola ride and relaxing punt along the Avon River. This all-in-one pass offers a convenient and memorable way to see the city from multiple perspectives.

Suggested Activity – Ōtautahi City Meander with Amiki Cultural Food Tours
Join a guided walking tour that shares Māori stories, local history and the cultural layers of Christchurch’s rebuild. This immersive experience offers a deeper connection to the city through storytelling, food and meaningful insights.

Leave Christchurch and travel across the Canterbury Plains towards the Southern Alps. The wide-open landscapes gradually give way to alpine scenery as you head inland.

Pass through towns such as Geraldine and Fairlie before reaching Lake Tekapo, then continue along Lake Pukaki with uninterrupted views of Aoraki Mount Cook. The approach to the national park is one of the South Island’s most iconic drives.

Suggested Activity – Glacier Explorers
Get up close to ancient icebergs on the Tasman Glacier terminal lake, one of the few places in the world where glaciers meet water. Cruise safely among towering ice cliffs and floating ice on a specialised boat, accessing areas otherwise unreachable.

Suggested Activity: Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre
Learn about the life and achievements of Sir Edmund Hillary and the history of mountaineering in the region. The centre also features films and exhibits showcasing the alpine environment.

Depart Aoraki Mt Cook and travel through the alpine landscapes to Twizel and Omarama, known as New Zealand’s gliding capital. Continue over the Lindis Pass, one of the country’s highest roads, offering sweeping views of rugged hills and open valleys.

Journey onward through Tarras and the historic Bendigo Reserve before reaching Cromwell and the dramatic Kawarau Gorge. As you approach Queenstown, the Remarkables mountain range comes into view, welcoming you to New Zealand’s adventure capital.

Suggested Activity – TSS Earnslaw Cruise and Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Dinner
Cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm, where a gourmet BBQ dinner showcasing local produce awaits. After your meal, enjoy a farm demonstration before returning to Queenstown under the night sky.

Queenstown is known as New Zealand’s adventure capital, offering everything from bungy jumping and jet boating to skydiving and white-water rafting. Set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and framed by the Remarkables, it also delivers stunning alpine scenery and a vibrant town atmosphere.

Beyond the adrenaline, Queenstown offers relaxed experiences including lakefront walks, markets and alfresco dining. You can cruise on the historic TSS Earnslaw, ride the gondola for panoramic views or simply enjoy the region’s natural beauty at your own pace.

Suggested Activity – Shotover Jet Canyon Jet Boat Ride
Experience an exhilarating jet boat ride through the narrow Shotover River canyons, skimming past rocky cliffs at high speed. Hold on tight for the famous 360-degree spins that make this one of Queenstown’s most iconic thrill rides.

Suggested Activity – Appellation Boutique Wine Tour
Explore Central Otago’s renowned wine regions with visits to boutique vineyards in Gibbston, Bannockburn and Cromwell. Enjoy tastings, a platter-style lunch and a stroll through historic Old Cromwell for a well-rounded day.

Your journey concludes in Queenstown, surrounded by alpine scenery and unforgettable experiences. Take time to enjoy a final lakeside stroll or café visit before departure.

Return Rental Car at Queenstown Airport
Return your vehicle at the airport depot before continuing your onward journey. This simple process ensures a smooth and stress-free departure.