Self Drive NZ Adventure with Young Adults Itinerary

Welcome to New Zealand! Settle into Auckland and begin your family adventure with the immersive All Blacks Experience before enjoying panoramic views from the Sky Tower. Spend the evening exploring the vibrant waterfront precinct.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Private airport transfer
• Sky Tower viewing platform entry
• All Blacks Guided experience
• 3 nights in Auckland

Suggested Accommodation: 

Cruise across the Hauraki Gulf on a daytrip to Waiheke Island and discover stunning beaches, vineyards, galleries and coastal villages at your own pace with a hop-on, hop-off bus pass.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Return Waiheke Island ferry
• Hop-on, hop-off island explorer pass
• Explore at your leisure

Explore Auckland's wild west coast on a guided half-day tour through native rainforest, black sand beaches and dramatic coastal scenery.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Guided Waitākere Ranges tour
• Native forest walks
• Piha Beach stopover

Ready to make the journey yours? Enquire online or speak with a Travel Designer to personalise your perfect New Zealand escape.

Collect your rental vehicle and travel north to the Bay of Islands, a subtropical paradise of islands, wildlife and beautiful coastal scenery.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Rental vehicle collection
• Scenic Hibiscus Coast drive
• 3 nights in Paihia

Approximate Distance: 235 km | 146 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours 30 mins

Suggested Accommodation:

Cruise through the spectacular Bay of Islands and out towards Cape Brett and the famous Hole in the Rock. Pass secluded islands, dramatic coastal scenery, and keep watch for dolphins, seabirds, and marine wildlife along the way. 

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Dolphin viewing cruise experience
• Hole in the Rock & Cape Brett Lighthouse
• Otehei Bay stopover

Enjoy a free day to explore the Bay of Islands. Visit historic sites, island walking trails, beaches or simply relax by the water.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Explore at your leisure

Make it yours:
Elevate your experience with a guided tour through the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and finish with a captivating cultural performance that brings Māori history and traditions to life.

Return south to Auckland and enjoy time at leisure discovering the city's waterfront, parks and vibrant cultural precincts.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Explore at your leisure
• 1 night in Auckland

Make it yours:
Go behind the scenes of New Zealand’s film industry and take an immersive journey through the world of practical effects and the creative craft behind Middle Earth.

Approximate Distance: 235 km | 146 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours 30 mins


Suggested Accommodation: 

Travel through the Waikato countryside to Waitomo for an unforgettable Black Water Rafting adventure beneath thousands of glowworms before continuing to Rotorua.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Waitomo Black Water Rafting
• Glowworm Cave experience
• 3 nights in Rotorua

Approximate Distance: 340 kms | 220 miles  Total Driving Time: 5 hours

Suggested Accommodation: 

Experience Rotorua's geothermal wonders, soar through native forest on a zipline canopy tour, then enjoy an authentic Māori cultural evening at Te Puia.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Traditional hāngi dinner
• Canopy zipline adventure
• Guided geothermal valley tour 
• Māori cultural experience
   

Take on the thrilling Kaituna River, home to the world's highest commercially rafted waterfall, then treat your family to a relaxing spa in Rotorua's famous geothermal hot pools.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Kaituna River rafting experience
• Polynesian Spa experience

Return your rental vehicle and fly south to Queenstown, surrounded by dramatic mountains and the crystal-clear waters of Lake Wakatipu.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Domestic flight to Queenstown
• Rental vehicle collection
• Explore at your leisure
• 3 nights in Queenstown

Suggested Accommodation: 

Ride the Skyline Gondola for spectacular views and thrilling luge rides before cruising Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Gourmet BBQ dinner
• Skyline Gondola & 3 luge rides
• TSS Earnslaw vintage steamboat cruise 
• Walter Peak farm visit

Experience one of Queenstown's most iconic adventures as you speed through dramatic river canyons and perform thrilling 360-degree spins.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Jet boat experience
• Explore at your leisure

Make it yours:
Continue the thrills and take on the world’s biggest swing, suspended 160 metres above the canyon floor for an unforgettable high-speed ride over the Nevis Valley.

Travel to Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park and one of New Zealand's most spectacular natural regions.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Scenic alpine drive
• Explore at your leisure
• 2 nights in Te Anau

Approximate Distance: 170 km | 106 miles  Total Driving Time: 2 hours 15 mins

Suggested Accommodation: 

Discover the breathtaking beauty of Milford Sound on a full-day, small group excursion featuring scenic stops, short walks and a nature cruise.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Lunch
• Scenic Milford Sound cruise
• Fiordland National Park scenery
• Optional walks and photo opportunities

Travel to picturesque Wānaka and enjoy a scenic lake cruise to Mou Waho Island, a protected nature reserve, where you’ll learn about local wildlife and conservation efforts, and take in spectacular panoramic views.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Lake Wānaka Cruise 
• Mou Waho Island Nature Walk
• Native tree planting and wildlife encounters
• 1 night in Wānaka
   

Approximate Distance: 70 kms | 45 miles  Total Driving Time: 1 hour 15 mins

Suggested Accommodation:

Journey into New Zealand's alpine heartland and experience the breathtaking scenery of Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park. This evening, enjoy a memorable stargazing experience beneath some of the world's darkest skies.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Dinner
• Scenic Lindis Pass
• Dark Sky Reserve Stargazing Experience
• 2 nights in Aoraki / Mount Cook

Approximate Distance: 200 km | 125 miles  Total Driving Time: 2 hours 30 mins

Suggested Accommodation: 

Cruise across the glacial waters of Tasman Lake, surrounded by floating icebergs and spectacular alpine scenery.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast, dinner
• Hooker Valley Walking Track
• Tasman Glacier boat tour
• Glacial lake & iceberg scenery

Travel through the Canterbury High Country to Christchurch, the South Island’s vibrant “Garden City,” known for its leafy parks, innovative rebuild, and mix of historic charm and modern design.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Church of the Good Shepherd
• Lake Tekapo
• 2 nights in Christchurch

Approximate Distance: 330 kms | 205 miles  Total Driving Time: 4 hours 15 mins

Suggested Accommodation: 

Enjoy a free day exploring Christchurch's riverside precincts, gardens, galleries and revitalised city centre.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Free day to explore at your leisure

Make it yours:
Finish your trip on a high with New Zealand’s longest zipline, soaring above native forest and scenic landscapes for an unforgettable final burst of adventure.

Your New Zealand family adventure comes to an end today. Depart with magical memories of spectacular scenery, thrilling adventures, unique wildlife encounters and unforgettable family moments from a truly exceptional New Zealand holiday.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Rental vehicle return

Inspired by what you’ve seen? Let’s create a journey to Aotearoa, New Zealand that’s uniquely yours.

Speak with a Travel Designer to start planning your personalised escape.