12-day North Island hidden treasures
Auckland → The Coromandel → Rotorua → Tongariro → New Plymouth …
PDF planner for 12-day North Island hidden treasures (opens in a new tab)Lifestyle & nature itinerary · by Michael Nees
12-day North & South Island highlights itinerary
Exploring New Zealand North and South Island itinerary in 12 days by land, sea and air. Participate in exciting tours. Stay in stylish accommodation.
Highlights
- Explore the Waitomo Limestone caves with the 'Black Labyrinth' adventure.
- Zip-line through a native rainforest and support a pest eradication program.
- Cruise Milford Sound - take guided walks on the way to Fiordland NP.
- Jet-boat on the Dart River and join a guided walk through a LOTR filming area.
- Travel on the TranzAlpine Rail Journey between the West Coast and Christchurch.
Day by day
- Day 1
Auckland
Meet your private transfer driver at Auckland Airport and check-in to your hotel. Explore the America's Cup village. Stretch your legs by climbing the Sky City Tower for awesome views of Auckland City. Take a boat trip to across to the pretty village of Devonport.
Stay: QT Auckland (opens in a new tab)
- Good to knowViaduct Harbour (opens in a new tab)
- Optional extraSky Tower
- Optional extraDevonport
- Day 2
Rotorua
Pick-up your rental car and travel via the Waikato region to the famous Waitomo caves (225 km, 140 miles, 3 hours). Choose your Waitomo Cave tour - either with a wetsuit and a helmet with 'Black Water Rafting' (takes 3 hrs) or the Abseiling trip (4 hours) or the "dry cave" (2 hours, no wetsuit required) Ruakuri Cave tour. Continue in the afternoon to Rotorua (140 km, 87 miles, 2 hours).
Stay: Regent of Rotorua (opens in a new tab)
- HighlightWaitomo Black Labyrinth (opens in a new tab)
- Optional extraRuakuri Cave Tour (opens in a new tab)
- Optional extraWa
- Day 3
Rotorua
Rotorua is a geothermal wonderland of bubbling mud pools, clouds of steam, and natural hot springs. The Canopy Tours trip is a fantastic way to experience New Zealand conservation. It is also great fun zip-lining between giant native trees. Rotorua also offers a spiritual journey into Maori culture with village and performance experiences. The Hobbiton Village is only 50 min drive away.
- Day 4
Te Anau
Drop-off your rental car off at the airport and take a domestic flight to Invercargill. Collect another rental car outside the airport terminal carpark. We recommend you travel the Southern Coastal route to via Riverton and Tuatapere - this is where the scenery is untamed and beautiful. Dotted with small villages, this is classic New Zealand heartland at it's best!
Stay: High Leys Lodge (opens in a new tab)
- RecommendedKepler Track Car Park (opens in a new tab)
- Day 5
Te Anau
Te Anau is the gateway to the Fiordland National Park and New Zealand's hiking capital. Fiordland features a variety of unique wildlife, including rare penguins. Milford Sound is a fusion of spectacular features where waterfalls cascade down hundreds of metres. The fiord cliffs rise verticall and mountain peaks scrape the sky. Join a guided tour into Milford Sounds which includes a choice of walks and a nature cruise in the fjord.
- Day 6
Queenstown
Your drive from Te Anau to Queenstown is short (2.5 hrs) There is plenty of time to spend on more Fiordland walks or 'action time' in Queenstown. Think about exploring some of the stunning scenic wineries in the Lake Hayes region or check out the views from the Skyline. The adventure is endless - bungy jumping, sky diving, canyon swinging, jet boating, horse trekking, wine tasting and river rafting It's all here!
Stay: Mount Rosa Lodge (opens in a new tab)
- Optional extraShotover Jet (opens in a new tab)
- Optional extraAppellation Bout
- Day 7
Queenstown
Queenstown is a busy place and one of New Zealand's top visitor destinations. Try to include a visit to the beautiful Glenorchy area, which is famous for its gorgeous scenery as well as the famous Dart River Safaris. With this guided jet-boating trip you learn so much about the Lord of the Rings movie locations which took place here. For something very special, take a private 4WD farm tour with a local guide - see the real side of New Zealand farming.
- Day 8
Franz Josef
Continue traveling north via the lakeside village of Wanaka. Cross over the Haast Pass to Jackson Bay. Here, there are empty shingle beaches, dunes, lakes and wetlands, all with the backdrop of the Southern Alps. You have the entire day to stop at scenic spots, take short nature walks and see remote attractions unique to New Zealand. After arrival in Franz Josef village, take a helicopter flight over the Franz Josef or Fox Glacier.
Stay: Holly Homestead Bed & Breakfast (opens in a new tab)
- Optional extraMakaro
- Day 9
Franz Josef
Explore the Franz Josef Glacier in the morning with a guided heli-hiking trip. In the afternoon join a guided kayaking tour into the Okarito Lagoon Scenic Reserve.
- Day 10
Greymouth
There are very few towns on the 600 kms of coastal road between Karamea and Jackson Bay. However your attention will be focused on the beauty of native forest, beaches and lagoons. A visit to the White Heron colony near Whataroa is a must-do! The second largest town in the area is Hokitika, famous for New Zealand Pounamu (Jade) and the gold rush from 1860-80. Stop at the town of Hokitika for refreshments.
- Day 11
Christchurch
You will have time in the morning to explore the 'Pancake Rocks' in Punakaiki with the attached Paparoa National Park. In the afternoon drop-off you rental car at the Greymouth Railway Station. Take the TranzAlpine scenic train that uns between Greymouth and Christchurch. Cross from one coast to the next (train takes 4.5 hours).
- Day 12
Auckland
Depending on your flight, you may have plenty of time to relax or the explore the Christchurch region before leaving. If leaving in the evening, Akaroa would be a perfect day trip (only a 1.5 hour drive away (one-way). Feel free to extend your stay in Christchurch or any other location.
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