My 13-day detailed itinerary for New Zealand

New Zealand (NZ) may seem like a small country in size but it's vast in terms of the places and the individualistic experience each place offers. There are various tour operators that give you packages for NZ but I booked my 13 days 12 nights customized package trip from makemytrip in partnership with Kiwiway vacations. Why Kiwiway vacations?

Because it is NZ's leading tour provider and a reputable, dependable company that give you the best available price. They know the country inside out and cater to tourists of all ages preparing a package based on your preferences and budgets. They are called "The New Zealand specialists" for a reason.

The country is divided into 2 parts for easier understanding from a travel perspective - The North Island & South Island.

I had planned a family holiday, wanting to cover as much of the country as possible so decided to do a combination of both with attractions & activities that would be suitable for all of us. We covered these five places - Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch, Queenstown & Franz Josef glacier.

Now the best part about Kiwiway vacation is that you get a voucher book that has vouchers ranging from- checking-in at a hotel and travelling by an inter-city coach to a destination to prepaid activities/sightseeing included in your package. So all you got to do is keep this voucher book safely at all times with you while travelling and show the appropriate voucher to your service provider when required.

NOTE - You'll be handed your travel documents (including vouchers) by the hotel at the time of your first check-in. You'll also be given a "Kiwiway discount book" for special offers at all the optional attractions & activities

---

ARRIVAL - AUCKLAND

We landed in Auckland at night and were transferred to our hotel by Hallmark Chauffeur Drive arranged by our agency.

We checked-in to the Skycity Hotel located in the centre of the city. If you're here, you can check out the hotels and cafes outside for a dinner outing or enjoy the Skycity hotel's casino & restaurant which are top notch. Right outside the hotel is the Sky Tower which is the tallest freestanding structure in southern hemisphere. Here you can book a dinner or an activity the next day as it has several upper levels that are accessible to the public -

• Level 50- Sky Lounge
• Level 51- Main Observation Deck
• Level 52- Orbit 360° dining
• Level 53- The Sugar Club restaurant, Sky Walk & Sky Jump (for adventure seekers)
• Level 60- Sky Deck

Note : The driver waits a maximum of 90 minutes from the arrival time of your aircraft. You'll easily clear your customs & immigration by then but if you don't, you'll need to make your own arrangements to your accomodation. I suggest you take the metro because it's much cheaper than taking a one way shuttle/cab.

The standard check-in time at the hotels normally is 2.00pm. If early check-in is not available on arrival, luggage can be stored at the hotel. Bookings at the Sky Tower can be done in advance or on arrival.

 

Day 1 - AUCKLAND AT LEISURE

We had the entire day to ourselves to relax or explore what Auckland has to offer. We obviously chose the latter and decided to take a day-trip to the Waiheke island. Our hotel gave us the route map to the Fullers office at the Ferry Terminal which is about 1 km of a walk from the hotel. There you can buy tickets to any attraction or activity.

Enroute to Waiheke island

We took return tickets for Waiheke and after a 40 minute ferry ride, reached the island. From there we went to the Onetangi beach. There's a bus service that takes you from the ferry drop point to the beach. You can take an all day adult pass as it is much cheaper travelling that way.

Enjoying the view at the Onetangi beach

You can enjoy the white sand & surf waves at the beach and stroll by the scenic streets with beautiful cafes and row houses lining up on one side of the street with the beach on the other. If you're hungry you can taste the best fish & chips at Boathouse Cafe & Bar. We spent the entire day chilling at the island & took an evening ferry back to Auckland.

Beverage tip : The hot chocolate on that ferry amidst the sub zero temperature winds during evening is worth the money.

The other optional tours available are The Ultimate America's Cup Sailing Experience, Pride of Auckland sailing & dining cruises, Bay of Islands full day tour, Bush & Beach half day Wilderness Experience, Auckland Jet Boat Tour, Full day Hobbiton Express Tour.

 

Day 2 - AUCKLAND

We did the Great Sights - Auckland City Sights & Kelly Tarlton's tour to explore Auckland. In this tour, you'll head over the Harbour Bridge to the north shore before returning to the central city to visit Queen St & the Auckland Viaduct. Driving along the waterfront to the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park in Mission Bay, you'll savour the panoramic views of Whenua Rangatira, Auckland city and Waitemata Harbour.

View of Auckland city

You'll pass by the War Memorial Museum before passing through Parnell and getting to Bastion Point amongst Auckland's most expensive residences. You can stop here for a while & experience a walk along the most posh street in Auckland. Enjoy having a coffee or two here at this place called the Mink cafe. From there you'll go to the Michael Joseph Savage memorial followed by Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic encounter & underwater world.

Penguin spotting at Kelly Tarlton

If you're an animal lover, then you'll be thrilled to see penguins, sharks, octopus, sting rays- all under one roof at this place. We were dropped at our hotel at 2 pm & spent the rest of the day walking on the city streets and shopping.

Note: You, however, can do any of the optional tours in Auckland listed under Day 1 using your Kiwiway discount book.

 

Day 3 - AUCKLAND - WAITOMO - ROTORUA

Come day 3 and we left Auckland and travelled through the lush farmland of the Waikato & King Country regions. We took a guided tour of the famous Hobbiton Movie Set, located inside a picturesque 1,250 acre sheep and beef farm near Matamata. Here, the village of Hobbiton was carefully created in amazing detail as a film location for the Lord of the Rings & Hobbit movie trilogies.

Hobbit hole at the Hobbiton Movie Set

During the guided tour, you'll see sights like Hobbit holes, the Mill, Green Dragon Inn & learn how the farmland became a living piece of movie history. After exploring Hobbiton, you can enjoy a traditional lunch and a variety of beers at the Green Dragon Inn.

Beverage tip : Don't forget to taste one of my personal favourites at the Green Dragon Inn- the ginger beer.

Next stop for the day were the world famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. A 45-minute guided tour through the impressive underground caverns will help you learn how stalactites, stalagmites & other limestone structures were formed over millions of years. The tour included a boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto - where you'll get to glide silently along an underground river while gazing at the twinkling glowworms overhead. After visiting Waitomo & Hobbiton, we continued to Rotorua, arriving in early evening checking-in at the Holiday Inn - Rotorua.

 

Day 4 - ROTORUA

You can start the day by visiting the Te Puia Geothermal Reserve & view the boiling mudpools & cascading Pohutu geyser, that make Rotorua famous as New Zealand's "thermal city".

Cascading geyser at Te Puia geothermal reserve

Don' forget to check out the Maori Arts and Crafts institute & see local Maori carvers in action.

Next, head to the Agrodome for an entertaining show featuring sheep-dog demonstrations, cow milking and an introduction to the stars of the sheep industry there - various breeds that established New Zealand as one of the foremost farming nations in the world.

Continuing your journey, visit the Rainbow Springs Nature Park and view the resident bird life & native flora and fauna, including local brown, rainbow and tiger trout as they swim in the crystal clear spring waters.

Fun adventures with family at Rotovegas

Then shift your wandering butt to the Skyline Rorotua, where you can indulge in activities like the gondola ride, zipline & the intimidatingly adventurous SkySwing. The tour ends with a hotel drop off at noon.

In the evening, you can opt for the Tamaki Maori Village evening Hangi & Concert to experience local Maori culture, learn about their history, ways of living and relevance of their customs and traditions to the transforming NZ society. The experience starts with a performance from the tribe & them befriending the tourists, as their buddies & not guests.

The cultural show with the Maori men & women dancing to their folk songs playing music using primitive instruments and using their expressions & bodies to convey emotion will leave you refreshed and entertained. The day ends with a traditional dinner at their village which you'll thoroughly enjoy. I highly recommend this tour, if you want to experience local Maori tribe culture.

The optional attractions/activities for which you can enjoy discounts using your Kiwiway discount book are Agroventure activities, Volcanic Air Safari's scenic flights, Skyline Skyrides, High Tea at Princess Gate hotel, Lakeland Queen, Kuwarau Jet.

 

Day 5 - ROTORUA - CHRISTCHURCH

We began our morning with a visit to the Rotorua lakefront & then took a flight from Rotorua and landed in Christchurch in the afternoon. Checked-in at Chateau on the Park, a DoubleTree by Hilton hotel.

Chateau on the Park, one of the best hotels in Christchurch

We spent the rest of the day at leisure in our hotel. Now THE most important note - what we did was we had half a day at Christchurch placed in the beginning of the trip & another day at Christchurch placed at the end of the trip which didn't make sense as we could have had another day in Christchurch in continuation with the half day & covered Christchurch first.

So, I would suggest you to not do the same mistake as me by taking this small halt to Christchurch & then leaving for Queenstown via Mount Cook the next day (because it is an entire day's travel by road) and instead advise you to extend your stay in Christchurch by a day and visit the Canterbury museum, Botanical gardens, city tour through the tram, Gondola ride to the top of Christchurch including doing the time tunnel ride there.

The optional day-trips that you can do using your Kiwiway discount book are International Antarctic centre; Punting; Welcome aboard- tram, gondola & punting, Great Sights Discover Christchurch tour.

Note : The flight tickets from Rotorua to Christchurch were booked in advance, as part of our package.

 

Day 6 - CHRISTCHURCH - MOUNT COOK - QUEENSTOWN

Depart from Christchurch in the morning and travel across the fertile Canterbury plains to Lake Tekapo, visiting the Church of the Good Shepherd before continuing on to New Zealand's highest mountain - Mount Cook. After having an hour's break for lunch by the restaurant overlooking Mt. Cook, head to the shores of Lake Pukaki south to the small town of Twizel before continuing through the historic Central Otago region to the Lake Wakatipu and the alpine resort of Queenstown stopping in between at Lynda's Pass in the Waitaki district.

Tip : Walking tours here are a must as the place has THE most beautiful sunrise & sunset views.

Surreal view from my hotel in Queenstown

We reached Queenstown by evening and checked-in at the Copthorne Lakefront hotel.

Note: This hotel in particular has the best balcony view as you can see a gigantic mountain and a lake making your typical primary school scenery drawing come alive.

 

Day 7 - QUEENSTOWN - MILFORD SOUND - QUEENSTOWN

Travel through the southern arm of Lake Wakatipu (NZ's 3rd largest lake) to Lumsden, and onward to Lake Te Anau (2nd largest lake in NZ with the most amount of freshwater). On the way, enjoy views of the Kingstown township as you enter the Fiordland National Park.

The scenery changes dramatically from the tussock covered grasslands to glacier hewn valleys as you'll enter the Eglington valley & travel through the breathtaking man-made Homer Tunnel to reach Milford Sound.

The absolutely gorgeous Milford Sound

Enjoy the ultimate scenic cruise on the world famous fiord, dominated by Mitre Peak and the cascading Bowen Falls. A Buffet Lunch is included in the tour and I must tell you the vegetarian section of the buffet was heartwarming to see as the spread consisted of lip-smacking delicacies and was absolutely delicious.

Finishing the tour, stop by Lake Gunn - home to the Kia bird - NZ's native bird and the world's only mountain parrot.

On completion of our tour we returned to Queenstown by coach arriving at approximately 8.00pm.

Note - You have the option to take a return helicopter flight to Queenstown from Milford Sound if you choose to, at your own expense.

 

Day 8 - QUEENSTOWN AT LEISURE

This day - September 23rd - was my mother's birthday & the primary reason for us planning a trip to New Zealand. This day my family & I chose to indulge in adventure sport as we were in the adventure sports capital of the world!

We began the day by leaving for skydiving. However, since the weather turned a bit turbulent by skydive standards, the dives for the day had been delayed to evening.

We couldn't waste time waiting with uncertainty and letting the day pass by so proceeded to do Jetboating - a thrilling water activity in which a jet boat races across the gorge waters performing stunts like 360° spins mid-air & wheelies on water, with mountain views in front of you. It is an absolute must that you try it as my family enjoyed this the most.

Experiencing Bungee jumping at Kawarau in Queenstown

After this me & my parents separated ways as they left for parasailing & I left for Bungee jumping at the historic Kuwarau bridge.

Kuwarau bridge is where bungee jumping as an activity was born & it was in my bucketlist before I planned the trip. The process of doing the activity is that first they take you to Kuwarau bridge which is a 45 minute to an hour's journey from Queenstown. Then you register your name and other details, sign the waiver & decide if you want a photo package, a video package or both. After registration you wait your turn to jump and can request a river touchdown if you want one (the river's freezing cold but the touchdown's worth it).

Tried ziplining after the bungee & then returned to Queenstown by evening & walked along the lakeside with my parents marvelling at the design of the lake houses and bungalows, with a beautiful sunset to bring an end to an adventure packed day & hopefully a memorable day for my mum.

Tip : Book your activities in advance from the hotel itself and if you book a skydive, choose the earliest slot as the weather then is usually good and safe for diving. Also carry an extra jacket or sweatshirt, incase you get wet after Jetboating so you can proceed to doing other activities without pit-stopping at your hotel.

The other optional activities you can opt for are white water rafting, four wheel driving, cruising on Lake Wakatipu, riding a gondola to the summit of Bob's Peak for panoramic views, Kiwi Haka show, Luge ride, Dart River Safaris, Helicopter Line scenic flights, tours with Nomad Safaris, Queenstown combos, Real Journeys TSS Earnslaw cruises to Walter Peak.

 

Day 9 - QUEENSTOWN - FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER

You'll leave Queenstown in the morning, travelling along the shores of Lake Wanaka where you'll spend some time soaking in the views of the lake and aromas from the surrounding flora.

Lake Wanaka provides for a scenic stop along the way

The sight of the vineyards along the route adds a vibrancy to the landscape. You'll pass the Wilkin valley & via Hawea will proceed to the Haast Pass, gateway to World Heritage Westland National Park.

Visit the famous Creek Falls on the way and post crossing the Haast river, continue up the West Coast past spectacular mountain ranges, native forests & lakes to the glacier region of Fox and Franz Josef.

Here we got lucky as we were upgraded to a 5 star Te Waonui Forest Retreat. A walk past the clouds along the empty streets makes you feel like you own the paradisiacal place entirely.

You feel like you own Franz Josef walking along with the clouds

You'll spot yachts and trampolines parked beside houses. A special mention to the fantastic hotel property with spacious & aesthetically beautiful rooms.

There is an entire line of restaurants about 300-500m away from the hotel with King Tiger Eastern Eating House & Bar being my favourite. You can also grab a bite/drink at other eateries like Snake Bite Brewery, The Landing, Alice May, Blue Ice Cafe, The Last Kitchen & Monsoon Bar & Restaurant.

The optional attractions/activities that you can use your Kiwiway discount book's special offers for are Scenic Helicopter flights with The Helicopter Line or Fox & Franz Josef Heliservices, Glacier Hot Pools, guided half day hikes with Franz Josef Glacier guides.

 

Day 10 - FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER AT LEISURE

The day began with heavy rains so all helicopter services were shut. However, we didn't let the weather spoil our vibe as we set out on our first family trek instead - The Franz Josef Glacier Trek because no memorable trek ever began with the words - it was all normal and pleasant.

My first trek with my parents at the Franz Josef glacier

The Trek guide team of Nick, Scott & Matt took us downtown to the Franz Josef township. From there, we, along with other people who had decided to put on the trek shoes hiked along the Waiho river crossing narrow trails in the surrounding forest.

Learning about the forest vegetation and tasting pepper plants along the way, we saw several waterfalls and crossed the difficult terrain with spectacular visuals of the glacier peak ahead of us.

The Franz Josef Glacier trek is family-friendly. Anybody can do it!

The weather cleared and we rested by the mountain for a bit enjoying the natural splendour of the place while sipping hot chocolate. For trek lovers this glacier trek is absolutely recommended.

After the trek we decided to rest our feet in the private Franz Josef Glacier Hot Pools. These pools were manually heated and at a temperature of 40°C , the waters were relaxing & therapeutic. There are pools of all budgets and sizes based on the number of people, so be it solo or a big group, they have packages that cater to everybody.

Note: The optional tours you can opt for, if you don't want to do the Trek are listed under Day 9.

 

Day 11 - FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER - GREYMOUTH - CHRISTCHURCH

You'll leave the Glacier region in the morning and travel towards the north, further along the rugged West Coast to Greymouth.

On the way, you'll visit the Hokitika Town Centre, Westland Greenstone Factory & the Hokitika beach. The journey features some spectacular countryside with the rugged Tasman Sea to the west and the stunning southern Alps to the east.

Tranz Alpine is rated among the top 6 scenic train journeys in the world

Reach the Greymouth train station at noon and board the 2:05pm Tranz Alpine train to Christchurch. The "Tranz Alpine" is described as the "Great New Zealand Rail Adventure" & is rated as one of the top 6 scenic train journeys in the world. It crosses the lush beech forests past the beautiful Lake Brunner via the alpine village of Arthurs Pass.

Then going past the spellbinding Southern Alps, the train winds it's way over massive viaducts, through river gorges and the picturesque Waimakariri River Valley before arriving in Christchurch.

We arrived in Christchurch by 6:30pm & an Inner City Super Shuttle transferred us to Chateau on The Park, a DoubleTree by Hilton hotel - our 2nd visit to the hotel. We spent the evening walking through Hagley Park and then, enjoyed a quiet meal at our hotel.

Note: The tickets for the Alpine Train & shuttle service were included in our package as part of the voucher book.

 

Day 12 - CHRISTCHURCH - AUCKLAND

Since the check out time at our hotel was 10am , we asked the hotel receptionist to store our luggage while we headed out to explore Christchurch.

Christchurch is a traveler's delight with it's museums and cafes!

We visited the Canterbury Museum which had sections depicting - the origin of Maori tribe and their lifestyle, the evolution of wildlife from pre-historic times to now, the story of how the Englishmen settled and carried expeditions to the Antarctic, letters & maps from the expeditions, the equipments used to explore the Antarctic and the life of the explorers and animals staying there.

Do visit the famous Paua shell house replica over there and get to know the story of a man passionate about collecting shells.

Then we sauntered along the Botanic Gardens & using the tram stopped at various parts of the city enjoying our time at the open air cafes and restaurants.

Next stop was the Top of Christchurch.

The ultimate Travelgasm experience - Top of Christchurch

We took a gondola to the top and the views from there were simply surreal with mountains and green plains on one side, the ocean to the other and the panoramic city view in front of us.

If you feel hungry, you can have a bite or grab a coffee at the cafeteria that's at the top. There's also a Time Tunnel Ride that you must do if you have time on your hands. It's a wonderful ride showing you the evolution of the place from Canterbury volcanoes to present day Christchurch.

Then we returned to the hotel, took our luggage and left for the Christchurch airport courtesy the Super Shuttle service. Boarded a flight to Auckland and reached Auckland at 9:20pm. Checked- in at the Skycity hotel. Spent the night playing for a brief while at the casino and then headed to a nearby Indian restaurant for dinner.

Note: The shuttle service to Christchurch airport & from the Auckland airport to our hotel was included in the package as part of the voucher book & the flight tickets to Auckland were booked in advance as part of the package.

 

Day 13 - DEPARTURE FROM AUCKLAND

After having breakfast, my parents decided to explore the city while I booked myself a Tandem skydive with Skydive Auckland. Afterall, I couldn't leave New Zealand doing every adventure sport & not experiencing the thrill of skydiving.

The booking for the dive can be done directly from the Skycity hotel reception & shuttle from Skydive Auckland will pick you up at the hotel.

Because jumping off a bridge isn't enough, try it off a plane too!

Post a 45 min - 1 hour journey, you'll reach the Skydive Auckland centre. First, you & the other divers for the day will be made to watch the training demo video of do's & don'ts for the dive.

Then, you'll sign a waiver form entering your details & choose the height of your jump along with the photo & video package. I chose the ultimate photo and video package with another tandem diver to capture my video ( because what the hell! ) & chose to jump from the highest altitude of 16,500 feet because it had the maximum freefall time of close to a minute (and the freefall is the ultimate part of a skydive jump when your heart's in your mouth so higher the level from which you jump, more the duration of freefall).

The experience was one that can't be put into words & all I can tell you is that if you haven't skydived yet, then go for it because nothing can make you feel more alive than jumping from a freaking plane at that height. I returned to the hotel and left with my family to the Auckland airport. And that was the end to experiencing Sylvan serenity - experiencing New Zealand!

I hope I have given you guys enough idea of what you can expect to see in every part of this beautiful country. Feel free to comment any queries you have regarding any detail in the itinerary & I'm here to guide you. Hope you have a memorable holiday in this paradise which is fondly called "The Land of the Long White Cloud".

Feel free to share this post so that it helps not just you, but others to plan their trip too. Kia Ora!!

 

---

Posted from my blog with SteemPress : https://thewanderingvegetable.com/detailed-itinerary-new-zealand/

---