Self-drive diving package - Auckland to Christchurch - 15 days

Detailed itinerary

Day 1

Spend a day relaxing and enjoying Auckland - New Zealand's largest city. Take a ferry to Rangitoto or Waiheke Island in the beautiful Hauraki Gulf.

Day 2

Drive north to Matauri Bay, launching point for the first of your dives. This beautiful bay is the perfect seaside location for getting into the diving mood.

Day 3 - Rainbow Warrior and Cavalli Islands

Dive the infamous wreck of the Rainbow Warrior, a Greenpeace vessel fatally wounded by French bombers in Auckland harbour and later sunk as an artificial reef. In the late afternoon take a short drive to Tutukaka.

Day 4 - HNNZS Tui and HMNZS Waikato

Other vessels sunk in the vicinity especially for recreational diving are the HMNZS Tui and HMNZS Waikato. Both are ex-naval vessels purposely sunk for recreational diving and prepared for easy penetration.

Day 5 - Poor Knights

Dive the Poor Knights Marine Reserve, named by Jacques Cousteau as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world. The warm currents here originate in the Coral Sea, so the water temperature is higher and visibility greater than that of nearby coastal waters. Born from volcanic activity, tropical and sub-tropical life abounds in this unique underwater environment. Caves, tunnels and archways are all home to great schools of friendly colourful fish - great photography!

Day 6 - Goat Island

Drive to Leigh and snorkel Goat Island Marine Reserve. For non-divers the reserve offers excellent and very accessible snorkeling.

Day 7

Drive to Whitianga via Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula, a scenic journey with many highlights. Take an afternoon dip at Hot Water Beach - just dig your own hot water pool in the sand and sink into a homemade spa!

Day 8 - Cathedral Arch

Dive Cathedral Arch's pinnacles with a chance to see monster crayfish and then take the coastal drive to Whakatane.

Day 9 - White Island

There are very few places you can dive a live volcano, but White Island, which has been steaming away for centuries, is something quite unique. Explore the crater area of this active volcano in the interval between diving with huge Kingfish, Stingrays and Blue Maomao, along with some of the biggest crayfish. But what makes this place truly unique are the bubbling underwater fissures creating an underwater Jacuzzi. Warmer currents also mean nudibranches like those of the Poor Knights, and visibility of generally 20 metres plus.

After a big day's diving take the short drive to the Maori cultural centre of Rotorua with its geysers and bubbling mud for a hot spring bath.

Day 10 - River drift dive

Drive to Napier via Taupo for a drift dive on the Waikato.

Day 11

Enjoy a morning exploring the scenery of Hawkes Bay, perhaps even partaking in a spot of wine tasting, before taking the scenic drive to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, and an evening ferry to Picton.

Day 12 - Waikoropupu Springs, Riwaka Caverns and Fish Creek

Today is a day of huge contrasts. Start with an entry level cave dive with full technical equipment into the Riwaka Caverns, before a river drift dive at Fish Creek, then on to Waikoropupu Springs to dive reputedly the clearest fresh water in the world - a massive 62m visibility. In the late afternoon check out the beautiful town of Nelson, famous for its wide variety of arts, or head to the Abel Tasman national park for a spot of kayaking or walking.

Day 13 - Mikhael Lermontov

Dive the wreck of the Mikhael Lermontov, a Russian cruise liner that controversially sunk when the pilot took a miscalculated short-cut. Still largely intact you can cruise along the promenade deck looking into passenger rooms, swim the beautifully tiled swimming pool, or check out the bridge or huge propeller.

Day 14 - Kaikoura dolphin/whale/seal

Drive to Kaikoura to swim with dolphins, go whale watching, or dive with seals or in the kelp forests.

Day 15

Drive to Christchurch for your final day. If time permits take a day trip to the French settlement of Akaroa to swim with dolphins, before dropping off your vehicle and boarding your overnight flight home.

Enquire about departure dates and pricing here.

Extras/options:

• All diving equipment hire - including technical equipment for cave dive - $425
• Non-diving companion from $2,125
• Learn to dive prior to commencing this tour (4 days)
• Upgrade to lodge or boutique hotel accommodation