New Zealand Discovery

36 days • escorted tour • from £5,999 pp.

New Zealand Discovery

New Zealand motorhome holidays are experiences all in themselves. Such is the wonder of this amazing country, New Zealand could have been made for travelling around in a motorhome. The diversity of the country means even a short drive finds you in a new and wonderful destination. From snow-capped mountains and volcanoes to stunning coastlines and the unique Maori culture, there is so much waiting to be discovered.

Duration: 36 days

Holiday Type:
Escorted Motorhome Tours

Departure dates:

3 Nov, 2020 from
£5,999 per person
26 Jan, 2021 from
£6,899 per person
23 Feb, 2021 from
£6,399 per person

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Highlights

Led by our experienced, friendly and knowledgeable tour leaders, this tour lets you discover New Zealand at your own pace but with everything taken care of for you and help and support on hand. Enjoy the best that Aotearoa, the Maori name for the country, has to offer.

Take in the stunning scenery of the Southern Alps and enjoy scenic drives.
Explore breath-taking National Parks including the famous Abel Tasman and Mount Cook
Enjoy a picturesque cruise on spectacular Milford Sound
Drive along the rugged west coast to Fox & Franz Josef Glaciers and set foot on the ice
Spend time in Wellington, the nation’s capital
Visit award-winning vineyards in Hawke’s Bay & Marlborough
Experience Maori culture and the geothermal wonders of Rotorua
Bask at stunning coastal locations such as the Bay of Islands and the beaches of Coromandel Peninsula
Discover Auckland, the city of sails

Route Map

What's Included

Return international flights from the UK to New Zealand
2 nights in Christchurch in a 4-star hotel
Welcome dinner in Christchurch
29 days Motorhome hire with premium insurance pack & unlimited mileage
28 nights pre-booked powered caravan sites
Spectacular Milford Sound nature cruise
Skyline Gondola & Restaurant, Queenstown
InterIslander ferry crossing
Traditional Maori hangi (feast) & cultural performance in Rotorua
2 nights Auckland accommodation in a 4-star hotel
Farewell function in Auckland
All airport and hotel transfers
Locally guided by experienced & professional New Zealand Tour Leaders

Itinerary

Days 1 - 4: London to Christchurch

Board your chosen flight from London to Christchurch. On arrival in New Zealand on the morning of day 3, due to the international time zones, you will be met and transferred to your Christchurch hotel for a 2 night stay. You have the opportunity to explore the city at your leisure. B

Before you pick up your motorhome on the morning of day 5 there is the opportunity to meet your fellow travellers at a welcome dinner along with an orientation session to help familiarise you with your motorhome.

Available Excursions:

Days 5 - 6: Lake Takepo & Mt Cook National Park

Distance: 274km (170miles)

Your motorhome adventure starts today! In the morning you’ll be transferred to the depot to pick-up your vehicle. Once you’re ready you’ll head south out of Christchurch across the Rakai River on the longest bridge in New Zealand. Drive across the Canterbury Pains towards Lake Tekapo. The views out along the lake, with its distinctive turquoise waters, are exceptional. Be sure to stop and view the tiny Church of the Good Shepherd, a photographer’s favourite. Head towards Lake Pukaki in the Mount Cook National Park, where you will stay for 2 nights.

Take the opportunity to explore World Heritage listed Mount Cook National Park. Covering over 70,000 hectares of breath-taking alpine scenery, the park is home to glacial lakes and New Zealand’s two highest peaks, Mount Tasman and, of course, Mount Cook. Options include following the easy going trail along the Hooker Valley (one of the most popular in the park), passing tumbling rivers and over swing bridges or exploring the melting ice-face of the Tasman Glacier by boat and get up close to touch and taste 400 year old icebergs that have been calved into the murky waters of the lake. You may also like to visit the Sir Edmund Hilary Alpine Centre and Museum and enjoy stargazing into the southern skies with expert astronomers.

Days 7 - 8: Dunedin

Distance: 266km (165miles)

Heading towards Dunedin you’ll travel south through the Waitaki Valley. As you follow the coast be sure to stop at the mysterious Moeraki Boulders. Nestled on the beach and appearing to emerge from the sands at low tide, these boulders have an other-worldly feel to them. Then continue onto to Dunedin, affectionately known as ‘the Edinburgh of the South’. It is an endearing city of classical Victorian & Edwardian architecture and is gateway to the diverse wildlife of the Otago Peninsula.

Half or full day cruises and tours of the Otago Peninsula are available, taking in the regions wildlife, scenery and historic buildings including Lanarch Castle, the Royal Albatross Centre and Penguin Place. Options in Dunedin include tours of Cadbury Chocolate World and Speights Brewery, home of New Zealand’s most popular beer.

Available Excursions:

Days 9 - 10: Te Anau & Milford Sound

Distance: 291km (180miles)

Cross the rich farmlands of Central Otago as you make your way to Te Anau, the gateway to the Fiordland National Park. You can go via Gore, set on the Mataura River, or you may like to take the slightly longer route which takes you south via the Catlins with its rugged coastline, hidden lakes and magical waterfalls.

Once in Te Anau, options here include an exhilarating jetboat ride, stopping at 3 of the actual film locations featured in the Lord of the Rings films or you can visit the Te Anau Glowworm Caves where a mystical underground world of waterfalls and incredible rock formations awaits.

On day 10 we’ll take you on a full day excursion to Milford Sound where you get to take an extended nature cruise along the entire length of the Sound out to the Tasman Sea. Milford Sound is famous for the towering peaks that rise up almost vertically from the water. View spectacular waterfalls, rainforests, towering mountains plus wildlife & birdlife including seals, dolphins, penguins and albatross when in season.

Available Excursions:

Te Anau Glow Worm Caves Tour

Days 11 - 13: Queenstown & Lake Wanaka

Distance: 173km (107miles)

On to Lake Wanaka: 67km / 42 miles

Skirt the shores of Lake Wakatipu as you make your way to Queenstown, an alpine resort regarded as New Zealand’s premiere holiday destination. During your stay here you’ll enjoy a trip on the gondola to the top of Bob’s Peak for a sumptuous dinner overlooking Lake Wakatipu & the Remarkable Mountains. There are a variety of activities for you to choose from in New Zealand’s adventure capital.

On day 13 travel via the amazing Crown Range, a stunningly scenic drive through mountains and valleys, to Lake Wanaka with its breath-taking mountain & lake views and spend the night here to take it all in.

Days 14 - 15: Fox & Franz Josef Glaciers

Distance: 286km (178miles)

View incredible scenery as you travel past the untouched native forests and pristine lakes of the World Heritage Westland National Park to the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island. The glaciers of Fox & Franz Josef are fairly unique, in that they are so close to the sea. These twin rivers of ice, slowly making their way down from the mountains, are just waiting to be explored. We recommend a guided walk onto the glacier itself to appreciate the scale of it close up.

Once you’ve had enough of the ice you can take a walk through the rain forest trail around Lake Matheson, near Fox, for fantastic mirror lake views of the Southern Alps or you might prefer to relax in the Franz Josef Glacier hot pools, nestled in lush rainforest beneath mature 30m tall trees.

Available Excursions:

Days 16 - 18: Westport, Nelson & Abel Tasman NP

Distance: 273km (170miles)

On to Abel Tasman: 222 km / 138 miles.

Travel along the rugged west coast with its towering rainforests, rushing rivers and tranquil lakes. With the Tasman Sea on one side and the Southern Alps mountain range rising up on the other, take it slowly and enjoy this scenic drive. Be sure to stop at Punakaiki and marvel at the bizarre limestone landscapes and powerful vents of ‘Pancake Rocks’, formed millions of years ago. Then make your way to Westport for an overnight stay.

On day 17 continue onto the Nelson region, an area of diverse beauty that enjoys a Mediterranean-type climate. It boasts the highest number of sunshine hours in New Zealand and is home to a thriving arts & crafts colony where locals enjoy a relaxed and easy-going lifestyle. The stunning coastal forest and shoreline of nearby Abel Tasman National Park can be explored on foot, by kayak or on a leisurely cruise by boat. A popular option is the Kaiteriteri kayak excursion to Split Apple Rock, ideal for beginners and departing right from the beach, or you can go dolphin spotting and cruise up the beautiful coast of the Abel Tasman National Park on the Abel Tasman Sea Shuttle.

Days 19 - 20: Picton

Distance: 115km (72miles)

It’s a really pleasant, interesting drive to Picton: skirting round Nelson on the coast road, with sublime seascapes and bobbing yachts, you climb up into forested hills and twisting mountain passes.

Enjoy wine tastings at the Marlborough vineyards, famous for their Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noirs.

Days 21 - 22: Interislander Ferry & Wellington

Distance: 28km (18miles)

Enjoy the scenic InterIslander ferry that takes you from the picturesque fishing village of Picton across the Cook Strait to New Zealand’s North Island. As the ferry leaves Picton you’ll sail through, picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound, making the journey between the two islands an experience in itself. Wellington is the nation’s capital and options here include a visit to the Te Papa museum to learn about the history of New Zealand and its Maori heritage. Or take a ride on the famous Wellington Cable Car to the top of Mt Victoria for spectacular panoramic views over the city and harbour.

Available Excursions:

Days 23 - 24: Napier

Distance: 322km (200miles)

Drive north through the rural heartland of the Wairarapa region as you make your way to Napier, on the east coast of North Island, often referred to as the Art-Deco capital of the world. Napier is in the Hawke’s Bay region which is famous for its many vineyards that serve gourmet food to accompany award-winning wines. Alternatively you might enjoy the chance to view the world’s largest mainland gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers.

Available Excursions:

Days 25 - 26: Lake Taupo & Rotorua

Distance: 222km (138miles)

On your way north today be sure to stop at the popular lakeside resort of Taupo, in the centre of the North Island. Nearby is the mighty Huka Falls, where the full force of the Waikato river flows from the lake and is squeezed through a canyon only 15 metres across. The Wairakei Geothermal Project is another option.

Continue on to the geothermal city of Rotorua. This evening, enjoy a traditional Maori hangi (feast) & cultural performance. The region around Rotorua is a geothermal ‘hot spot’ featuring volcanoes, geysers, improbably colourful mineral lakes, hot springs and thermal vents, where you can see and hear the earth’s heat escaping from the surface. Visit Wai-o-Tapu, with its ‘Champagne pool’ and Lady Knox geyser or perhaps Te Puia Thermal Reserve in the historic Te Whakarewarewa valley with its boiling mud pools, silica terraces, steaming vents and Pohutu geyser. You can also visit Hobbiton, the movie set used in the award-winning Lord of the Rings & Hobbit movies.

Available Excursions:

Days 27 - 28: Bay of Plenty & Coromandel Peninsula

Distance: 243km (151miles)

Drive across the volcanic plateau and along the Bay of Plenty coastline to the popular beachside towns of Mount Maunganui & Tauranga. You might like to stretch your legs and climb ‘The Mount’ for picturesque views along the coastline.

Then head to your next destination the Coromandel Peninsula, a beautiful rugged area fringed with dozens of attractive beaches. It is a place where many Kiwis choose to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and is home to arts & crafts and stunning scenery. You can dig out your very own hot pool metres from the Pacific Ocean at world-famous Hot Water Beach, or head for Cathedral Cove where a huge arched cavern passes through the headland, joining up two secluded coves. Relax in the cafes and enjoy the art galleries or just taking in the wonderful scenery.

Days 29 - 32: Orewa & the Bay of Islands

Distance: 225km (140miles)

On to Bay of Islands: 229 km / 142 miles.

Travel north today, heading for the coastal town of Orewa situated just north of Auckland. With its 3 kilometre long beach, looking out onto the Pacific Ocean, its ideal for an overnight stop. On the morning of day 30 you might like to visit the Kauri museum which tells the stories and legacy of the Kauri tree which supported the early settlers.

Once you’re ready, its time to head north to Paihia in the Bay of Islands, a National Maritime Park. The scenic Bay of Islands is home to 144 islands and is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the views with a 3 night stay. Options available to you include learning more about the history of the region, with nearby Waitangi the location for the signing of the unique treaty between the British and the Maori people in 1840, which is still relevant today. Alternatively you might enjoy a boat trip out into the bay, or how about heading to the most northerly point of New Zealand and Cape Reinga, where the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea converge.

Available Excursions:

Days 33 - 34: Auckland

Distance: 258km (160miles)

Auckland is a harbour city and the locals love nothing more than getting out on the water. You have the opportunity to explore the city at your leisure be it on land or water. A visit to Waiheke Island is a recommended and enjoyable experience that offers spectacular views of the city across the water. The Sky Tower is unmistakeable and offers an alternative view of the city.

Available Excursions:

Days 35 - 36: Return flight to the UK