Day 1: Auckland On arrival in Auckland today, you will be met and transferred to your accommodation. Auckland is New Zealand s largest city and has a great waterfront location on the Hauraki Gulf. It is a cosmopolitan city with a wide range of dining and wining options and it is also home of Sky Tower, the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere - a trip to the viewing platform provides superb views of the city and Hauraki Gulf. And the Auckland War Memorial Museum alone is well worth half a day. Accommodation at Hotel DeBrett in a loft suite for 2 nights including continental breakfast and a complimentary pre-dinner drink. Hotel DeBrett is located in the centre of Auckland, a short walk from the restaurants and bars of Viaduct Harbour and the Sky Tower. The hotel has 25 rooms, each with their own style and mood and hotel facilities include a guest drawing room, a DVD and book library a bar and a restaurant. Hotel DeBrett Day 2: Auckland Today you could enjoy a relaxing day of beaches and wine tasting on Waiheke Island, just a short ferry journey from central Auckland, or travel out to Auckland s west coast. The wild and dramatic coastline here is a remarkable contrast to New Zealand s biggest city and you can spend your time exploring the windswept beaches and the subtropical bush clad hills of the Waitakere Ranges. Alternatively, you could take the ferry over to the volcanic island of Rangitoto and spend the day exploring the largest and most recent volcano in the Auckland volcanic field. Or you may wish to join a cruise to Tiritiri Matangi Island out in the Hauraki Gulf. Here you will can see some of New Zealand's most endangered birds including kokako
and saddleback in this protected sanctuary and a guided walk will provide expert commentary on the fauna and flora and the historical and archaeological features of the island. A very rare endemic saddleback on Tiritiri Matangi & Whatipu Beach Day 3: Auckland Bay of Islands This morning you will fly from Auckland to Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your accommodation near Matauri Bay. The Bay of Islands itself is made up of 144 islands and offers fabulous sailing and island cruising and abundant wildlife. This includes many seabirds and both common and bottlenose dolphins and dolphin swimming trips operate every day. The surrounding area has many beautiful beaches, stunning rugged coastal scenery and areas of intact native kauri forest. Another attraction of the region is a scenic flight over the spectacular Ninety Mile Beach to Cape Reinga at the very tip of the North Island. Accommodation at Kauri Cliffs for 2 nights including daily pre-dinner drinks with canapés, à la carte dinner and breakfast. Kauri Cliffs is one of New Zealand's top luxury lodges offering extremely high standards of accommodation and service with fine dining and world class golf. Situated on a private 6,000 acre estate near Matauri Bay, it assures exclusivity, peace and quiet. There are 22 guest suites and the two-bedroom Owner s Cottage. Each suite has its own private porch, bedroom with sitting area and open fireplace, walk-inwardrobe and ensuite. Day 4: Bay of Islands You will spend today on the Kauri Cliffs par 72 championship golf course.
The 16 th hole and the Cavalli Islands Kauri Cliffs Day 5: Bay of Islands Rotorua This morning you will fly back to Auckland and then on to Rotorua in the central North Island. On arrival you will collect your hire car and drive to your accommodation. Rotorua is the heartland of New Zealand Maori culture and it is the ideal place to experience Maori hospitality and learn about the history of the first people to settle in New Zealand. Whakarewarewa is a fascinating place, a living Maori village located right in the midst of an active geothermal field, and next door is Te Puia. This is New Zealand s Maori Arts and Crafts Institute and its sole purpose is to preserve, present and develop
Maori arts, crafts and culture. This is a quite different experience to some of the very touristy cultural shows. Rotorua is located in one of the most geothermally active areas of New Zealand with geysers and bubbling mud pools all around the city. Don t worry about the smell of rotten eggs it is only naturally occurring hydrogen sulphide and you soon get used to it! Accommodation at Huka Lodge for 2 nights in Junior Lodge Suites including daily pre-dinner drinks, dinner and breakfast. Huka Lodge is a world-renowned luxury retreat offering 20 lodge rooms situated within seven hectares of park like grounds on the banks of the Waikato River 300 metres upstream from the famous Huka Falls. The lodge offers fly fishing and spa facilities with easy access to Tongariro National Park. Huka Lodge Day 6: Rotorua Today you will enjoy a day of golf at the Kinloch Club, the only Jack Nicklaus Signature Course to be built in New Zealand and voted the number one course in the country. The Kinloch Club
For the non-golfers, there are a number of options to choose from today. A guided botany walk with the lodge guide around the network of 35km of forest walks, a guided fly fishing trip on some of the 60 rivers that run through the 2,500 acre estate, a helicopter trip and guided walk on White Island New Zealand s only active volcano, a Spa Day at the lodge or a Treetop Signature Experience Maori Food Trail, Wild Food Cooking School or Estate to Plate Safari. Fly fishing at Treetops Lodge & White Island Day 7: Rotorua Hawke s Bay A drive of about an hour this morning will take you south to Lake Taupo which is overlooked by the volcanoes of Tongariro National Park. Lake Taupo is New Zealand s largest lake and is the flooded caldera of a volcano that last erupted in AD181 in the most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history. Tongariro National Park
Another 2½ hours will then take you on to Hawke s Bay. Alternatively, you could take a helicopter transfer to your accommodation in Hawke s Bay a flight of about 45 minutes. After the Hawke s Bay region was devastated by an earthquake in 1931, the main towns of Napier and Hastings were rebuilt in the architectural style of the time and now boast an impressive selection of Art Deco buildings. Craggy Range Winery beneath Te Mata Peak Hawke s Bay also has the distinction of being New Zealand s sunniest region, its second largest wine growing region and just about the gourmet capital of New Zealand. Chardonnay predominates with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah also being grown and there are numerous wineries in the area that are open for tours and tastings. Many of the wineries also have excellent innovative restaurants that bring out the best in New Zealand s superb natural produce. Accommodation at The Farm at Cape Kidnappers for 2 nights including daily dinner and breakfast. The Farm, arguably the best luxury lodge in New Zealand, is set amongst 6,000 rolling acres of pasture land and the buildings are made from a combination of stone and weathered wood and are beautifully finished and furnished. Panoramic views of the farm, golf course and Pacific Ocean are enjoyed from each suite's private balcony and lodge facilities include a swimming pool and luxury spa. You may also wish to follow one of the nature walks and enjoy a picnic whilst taking in the magnificent views of the beautiful Cape Kidnappers.
The Farm at Cape Kidnappers Day 8: Hawke s Bay You will spend today on the Cape Kidnappers Golf Course. The 14 th, 15 th and 16 th holes For the non-golfers, there are many activities in the area including a gannet colony safari, a Hawke s Bay wine tour, a tour of the Art Deco architecture of Napier, a Kiwi Discovery Walk, trout fishing or white water rafting. Or you may wish to spend the day relaxing in the spa at The Farm.
Day 9: Hawke s Bay Christchurch This morning you will return your hire car and fly from Napier to Christchurch with Air New Zealand. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your accommodation. Accommodation at Peppers Clearwater Resort for 2 nights including daily breakfast. Peppers Clearwater Resort is a stunning waterfront resort just a short drive from Christchurch Airport. The choice of accommodation includes guest rooms, suites and villas, many with kitchen facilities. All room types overlook Lake Kaikainui and the onsite golf course. For dinner, you can enjoy a three-course degustation in the award winning Lakes Restaurant which takes advantage of the abundant fresh Canterbury produce. This afternoon you will be able to play a round of golf on the resort s 18-hole course. Peppers Clearwater Resort Day 10: Christchurch You have a choice of golf courses for today. First is Pegasus Bay Golf Club which is a beautiful parklands style 18-hole championship golf course with stunning views from every tee. Next is Christchurch Golf Club at Shirley which is one of the oldest golf
clubs outside of the UK and Ireland, dating back to 1873. Finally, there is Russley Golf Club which is home to a challenging par 72 layout. Pegasus Bay Golf Club The non-golfers can choose from a Waipara Wine Tour, a day trip to Akaroa to view or swim with dolphins, a day trip to Arthur s Pass on the TranzAlpine train, fly fishing with a local guide or a visit to Willowbank Park or Orana Wildlife Park. Hector s dolphins in Akaroa Harbour
Day 11: Christchurch Queenstown Today you will fly from Christchurch to Queenstown with Air New Zealand. On arrival in Queenstown you will be transferred to your accommodation. Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of the world and has a stunning setting on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and overlooked by the mountains of The Remarkables. But aside from all the adrenaline activities, Queenstown is very a cosmopolitan place with excellent dining and sensational views from almost every point. Queenstown also offers lake cruising, superb restaurants and great wine - Central Otago is the world s most southerly wine growing region producing top class Pinot Noir and there are numerous wineries in the area. Accommodation at Millbrook Golf Resort for 4 nights including daily breakfast. Millbrook is located 20 minutes from Queenstown in a peaceful and tranquil setting and offers a choice of five luxurious accommodation types. Millbrook is also home to some of Queenstown s best restaurants with options ranging from cakes and pastries at the Hole in One café to Japanese cuisine at Kobe Restaurant. Millbrook Golf Resort The resort s 27-hole award winning golf course was designed by renowned professional and master golfer Sir Bob Charles and renovated by Greg Turner in October 2010. Days 12, 13 and 14: Queenstown The next three days can be spent playing golf at some of the most spectacular courses around Queenstown.
As well as Millbrook there is Jack s Point which is an 18-hole par 72 championship golf course, overlooked by the Remarkables mountain range and is often referenced as being one of the world s most spectacular courses. Another option is Queenstown Golf Club which has a stunning setting on the Kelvin Heights peninsula, surrounded on three sides by Lake Wakatipu. 17 th and 18 th holes, Jack s Point Queenstown and The Remarkables For the non-golfers, Queenstown is the place to source almost any kind of adventure including jet boating, white water rafting, river surfing and, of course, bungy jumping!
The Skyline Gondola ride up to Bob s Peak offers magnificent views over Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables and the Skyline Luge at the top is great fun. Ziptrek offer an alternative method of getting back down to town on 6 separate flying foxes. You could join a half or full day off road 4x4 adventure or if the weather is fine, you may like to drive along Lake Wakatipu to Glenorchy for a horse trekking adventure. The shallow river systems around Queenstown are ideal for jet boating. Further afield is Milford Sound where you can join a cruise on the fiord. The views alone are worth the drive and there are some good walks along the way. You can also take a fixed-wing scenic flight to Milford Sound which is just spectacular. A very special experience is to join an overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound. Doubtful Sound is bigger, less accessible and more peaceful than the better known Milford Sound and it is perfect for nature lovers as seals, penguins and dolphins are frequently seen. Cruising on Doubtful Sound For a more relaxing day, you could spend some time enjoying the spa facilities at Millbrook or you may wish to join a wine tasting tour in the Gibbston Valley, Cromwell and Bannockburn regions of Central Otago. Day 15: Queenstown Home or Stewart Island You will be transferred back to Queenstown Airport today and you will fly to Auckland or Christchurch to connect with your flight home. Or
You may choose to extend your stay in New Zealand with a trip to Stewart Island. You will fly from Queenstown to Invercargill to connect with the 20 minute flight to Stewart Island. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your accommodation. Stewart Island is New Zealand s third largest island and 85% of it forms Rakiura National Park. It has a permanent population of less than 500 people and only 17 miles of roads. Because it is too far off the beaten track for the majority of visitors to New Zealand, it is a true hidden gem of the country. There are miles of walking tracks, crystal clear waters for diving and snorkelling, friendly locals and rare wildlife abounds this is one of the few parts of New Zealand where it is possible to see kiwi in the wild. Accommodation at Stewart Island Lodge for 2 nights including daily breakfast. Nestled in native bush on a sunny hillside, Stewart Island Lodge offers a peaceful sanctuary from the modern world. Located just 5 minutes walk from the village centre, the Lodge is private and secluded with commanding views of Halfmoon Bay and the surrounding ocean from each of the six guest rooms. Stewart Island Lodge & Paterson Inlet, Stewart Island Day 16: Stewart Island For a different type of golfing experience, Ringa Ringa Heights is well worth a visit. It is New Zealand s most southern golf course, the second most southern in the world and it is also New Zealand s smallest golf course with just 6 holes. The views over Ringa Ringa Bay and Paterson Inlet are stunning. If you don t fancy a round of golf today, you could join a guided tour of Ulva Island which is situated within Stewart Island s Paterson Inlet and is an Open Island
Sanctuary. Introduced rats have been eradicated from the island and as a result it is one of the few places in New Zealand where you can view near pristine podocarp forest that is full of rare native birds. Your guide takes only small groups of people and has an expert knowledge of the flora and fauna of the area. The tour is taken at a very leisurely pace enabling you to really engage and interact with the environment. A rare and endemic mohua on Ulva Island Day 17: Stewart Island Home You will be transferred back to the airstrip this morning from where you will fly back to Invercargill. You will then fly on to Auckland or Christchurch to connect with your flight home.