Ultimate New Zealand

Days 1 - 4: UK - Auckland

Welcome to Auckland, the City of Sails. Unwind after the flight and enjoy exploring the city at your leisure, perhaps taking in the views from the top of the Sky tower or maybe a boat trip across the harbour to one of the neighbouring islands.

Days 5: Dargaville
Distance: 264km / 164 miles

Once you have collected your motorhome your first destination is Dargaville, a Northland town with dairy farming as its main industry as well as producing two thirds of New Zealand’s kumara (sweet potato) crop. The town has an interesting history which can be explored at the Dargaville Museum and the Kauri Museum.

This is also a great location from which to explore the Kauri Coast – visit the Kai Iwi Lakes for a freshwater dip or the rugged Baylys Beach.

Days 6 - 8: Russell (Bay of Islands)
Distance: 135km / 84 miles

Onto 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.

Learn 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 take a leisurely drive to Cape Reinga where two oceans collide.

During your stay enjoy the included half day 'Hole in the Rock' Cruise on Day 7 where you can take in the stunning views as you glide out through the islands and along the Rakaumangamanga Peninsula to Cape Brett, where a historic lighthouse keeps watch over and Piercy Island/Motukōkako, or as it is popularly known the ‘Hole in the Rock’.

According to Māori legend, local warriors used to paddle through the Hole in the Rock in their canoes before departing for battle. Drops of water from the cave roof above were a good omen. If conditions permit, your skipper will expertly guide the ship through the narrow space... and if you get dripped on, consider yourself lucky!

Days 9: Red Beach (Greater Auckland)
Distance: 202km / 125 miles

Leaving Northland continue onto Red Beach located on the Hibiscus Coast at the base of the Whangaparoa Peninsula. Spend your overnight’s stay next to the beautiful 2km stretch of beach.

Days 10 - 11: Waitomo
Distance: 225km / 140 miles

Waitomo is best known for its labyrinth of limestone caves where you can walk or take a boat ride to see the incredible natural spectacle of the glow worms which illuminate the caves in their thousands. The delicate canopy of light above your head is truly magical.

Nearby is the Otorohanga Kiwi House which shelters several rare species of the native kiwi.

Days 12-13: New Plymouth
Distance: 170 km / 105 miles

Heading southwards you will pass through idyllic lush countryside dotted with dairy farms, picturesque little towns and views over to Mt Taranaki. To get closer to Mt Taranaki take a hike along one of the walking trails on its lower slopes.

New Plymouth is host to the well-known Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre. It’s an impressive contemporary gallery housing one of the artist’s most famous kinetic sculptures.

Days 14-15: Whanganui
Distance: 188 km / 117 miles

In Whanganui take a river cruise on the Steamer Waimarie, visit the interesting museums and the River Market. Alternatively visit Whanganui National Park to the ‘Bridge to Nowhere’ with no road either side or signs of construction or civilisation. Hike or cycle to this picturesque valley which provided farms for soldiers returning from World War I in 1919.

Days 16-17: Picton
Distance: 196 km / 122 miles

On the road to Wellington, you will see the offshore island of Kapiti, a nature reserve where you can book tours and see rare birds.

Depart Wellington for a scenic 3-hour Interislander ferry crossing which passes through the Queen Charlotte Sound. Sit back and relax as you leave the North Island, enjoy locally sourced cuisine onboard ready for your arrival into the pretty harbour town of Picton.

Explore the many bays around Picton, each with their unique perspective over the gorgeous Marlborough Sounds. The Queen Charlotte Walkway is a great way to stretch your legs and enjoy some amazing scenery.

On Day 17, join an included full day wine tour with lunch. Just south of Picton lies the world-famous Marlborough vineyards, famous for their Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Maybe you will pick up a bottle or two?

Days 18-20: Kaiteriteri (Abel Tasman)
Distance: 168 km / 105 miles

It is a very pretty drive from Picton, so take your time skirting round Nelson on the coast road, with sublime seascapes as you traverse along twisting mountain passes.

The Abel Tasman National Park enjoys New Zealand’s highest levels of sunshine, and the beaches here have a distinctly Mediterranean feel. Enjoy some superb walking trails or take a leisurely water taxi to see the coast from a different perspective.

Kaiteriteri is a great place for picking up kayaks and taking a paddle around the headland. Why not join a guided excursion to the incredible Split Apple Rock – it looks just like an enormous split apple and has been there in the shallows for 120 million years.

Days 21: Carters Beach (Westport)
Distance: 250 km / 155 miles 

Leaving the fertile orchards and forested slopes of South Island’s north coast, head towards the winding coastal roads and mountains of the west coast. Relax at Carters Beach for an overnight stay with a swim or your book on the beach.

Days 22 - 23: Franz Josef
Distance: 275 km / 170 miles

Driving south be sure to stop at Punakaiki along the way for the easy loop walk around the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes.

For your glacier adventure, spend the next two nights in Franz Josef, a small village surrounded by dense rainforest with the high snow-capped Southern Alps towering above. See the glaciers from the ground or opt for a heli-hike to grasp the beauty of these mighty glaciers.

Day 24: Wanaka
Distance: 289 km / 180 miles

View incredible scenery as you travel through the jaw-dropping and diverse landscapes from rugged coastline to mountains. Travel through Haast which sits within the Te Wāhipounamu South West New Zealand World Heritage Area due to its unique wilderness.

Overnight in Wanaka to relax and enjoy its breath-taking mountains and lake views.

Days 25 - 26: Arrowtown
Distance: 56 km / 34 miles

Drive via the amazing Crown Range, the highest main road in New Zealand with a stunningly scenic drive. Located in the Otago region of the South Island, Arrowtown is a historic gold mining town and well worth exploring.

On Day 26, there is an included trip on the Queenstown Skyline Gondola and dinner at the Stratosfare Restaurant, overlooking the city and Lake Wakatipu.

Days 27 - 28: Te Anau
Distance: 180 km / 112 miles

Skirt the shores of Lake Wakatipu as you make your way to Te Anau, the gateway to the Fiordland National Park. Nestled on the edge of a lake, this picturesque town is the perfect place to explore the area.

During your stay you could join an exhilarating jetboat ride, stopping at three of the actual film locations featured in the Lord of the Rings film or visit the Te Anau Glowworm Caves where a mystical underground world of waterfalls and incredible rock formations awaits.

On Day 28 enjoy an included cruise across Doubtful Sound with a picnic lunch.

Days 29 - 30: Invercargill
Distance: 152km/94 miles

Travel along the Southern scenic Route as you continue to Invercargill, fondly dubbed the ‘City of Water and Light due to its long summer daylight hours. No visit is complete without a stop at Bill Richardson’s Transport World which has the largest motoring collection of its kind in the world.

Days 31 - 32: Dunedin
Distance: 208 km / 129 miles

Today you may opt to take the slightly longer route continuing along the Southern Scenic Route (or the Catlins Coastal Heritage Trail) which takes you along the Catlins wild coastline, hidden lakes, and past magical waterfalls.

Dunedin is known as the wildlife capital of New Zealand so there will be ample opportunity to see the penguins and the Royal Albatross amongst other native bird and marine life.

Day 33: Oamaru
Distance: 116 km / 70 miles

From Dunedin follow the coast northwards making sure you have time for a stop at the mysterious Moeraki Boulders. Oamaru is best known for having some of the Southern Hemispheres most complete Victorian streetscapes and 19th century architecture.

Days 34 - 35: Mount Cook
Distance: 187 km / 116 miles

Leaving Oamaru, you will head across the Canterbury plains towards Mount Cook. The turquoise blue waters of Lake Pukaki are an eye-catching sight as you approach Mt Cook village, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore the glacial lakes and hike the trails of Hooker Valley (mostly easy going with loose surfaces).

Day 36 - 38: Christchurch
Distance: 311 km / 193 miles

Along the way, stop at Lake Tekapo where the tiny Church of the Good Shepherd is a photographer’s dream, with sweeping lake views and surrounded by swathes of lupins in season.

Spend three nights in Christchurch to explore the heritage of this laid-back city and its surrounds. On Day 37, an included trip on the TranzAlpine train allows you to experience the stunning scenery of Arthur's Pass.

Days 39 - 40: Kaikoura
Distance: 176 km / 109 miles

In Kaikoura you will l find a natural playground of aquatic mammals, feeding in the rich coastal waters. There are whales and dolphins passing close to the shore and often clearly visible from the coastal walkway. A popular option is to join a whale watching cruise where you have a better chance of getting up close.

Days 41 - 42: Wellington
Distance: 156 km / 97 miles

Return to Picton for your Interislander ferry crossing to the North Island and the city of Wellington. Explore the country’s capital city with a visit to the Te Papa museum, the national museum of New Zealand, or take a trip up Mount Victoria for views out over the city.

Days 43 - 44: Martinborough
Distance: 70 km / 43 miles

Leave the city of Wellington for the quieter colonial charm of Martinborough – a wine village at the heart of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail. Martinborough is perfectly located to leave the motorhome behind for some wine tasting.

Days 45 - 47: Napier
Distance: 270 km / 167 miles

On your way to Napier a visit to historic Greytown is a must-do. Take in the restored Victorian buildings and make time for a cup of tea at one of its quaint cafes. Alternatively take a break in Masterson and visit the interactive Woolshed Museum to learn about sheep farming in New Zealand.

Continue through the Wairarapa region and perhaps make a stop in the Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre, where you can see some of countries native animals. Onto your destination for the day, you will be greeted with some of New Zealand’s richest dairy farmland in the Manawatu Gorge before reaching the fruit and wine growing landscape of Hawke's Bay.

Often referred to as the Art-Deco capital of the world, Napier is famous for its many vineyards that serve gourmet food to accompany award-winning wines. You might enjoy the chance to view the world’s largest mainland gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers.

Days 48 - 49: Rotorua
Distance: 226 km / 140 miles

Next stop is the fascinating geothermal region of Rotorua. A highlight is the Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Reserve, featuring all things boiling and sulphurous: bubbling mud pools, colourful mineral pools, the 62-metre-deep Champagne Pool, and the famous Lady Knox geyser.

Take the cable car ‘gondola’ up Mount Ngongotaha and in return you will get amazing views. Rotorua is a key part of the Maori heartland so there’s always the chance to learn about Maori culture and traditions. Enjoy an included evening cultural experience on Day 49 with a traditional hangi meal.

Days 50 - 52: Whitianga
Distance: 231 km / 144 miles

Welcome to the Coromandel Peninsula 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 53 - 54: Auckland
Distance: 181 km / 112 miles

Auckland is a harbour city, and the locals love nothing more than getting out on the water. You will have the opportunity to explore the city at your leisure be it on land or water. A visit to Waiheke Island with spectacular views of the city across the water is recommended.

Your Farewell Dinner is a chance to look back at your Ultimate New Zealand adventure with fellow travellers and your tour hosts.

Days 55 - 56: Auckland - UK

Time to bid farewell to newfound friends, leaving New Zealand with treasured memories that will last a lifetime.