New Zealand self drive tour
Description of New Zealand self drive tour
Striking landscapes, lively cities, romantic vineyards and rugged coastline – New Zealand is overflowing with natural beauty and unique outdoor activities. On this luxury self-drive adventure tour, you’ll take in the highlights of both North and South Island, with an action-packed itinerary full of treks, trail, water sports, helicopter rides, wildlife watching opportunities and picture-perfect countryside.
Starting with scenic Taupo, you’ll hike to the cascades of Huka Falls, experience true enchantment in the Waitomo glowworm caves and soak in bubbling hot springs created by volcanic geysers. Then, you’ll cruise around the gorgeous Marlborough Sounds, where you can kayak with seals and then tramp along the famous Queen Charlotte Track for breath-taking views of glittering green waters and forest-fringed coastlines.
Next, drive along the picturesque Pacific coastline to Kaikoura. Here, there are whale watching opportunities, as well encounters with playful dolphins in their natural habitat. Your tour ends in Queenstown, with helicopter rides over Fjord National Park and boat trips around Milford Sound, plus fantastic wining and dining options in the city.
This whirlwind Kiwi adventure showcases the best that New Zealand has to offer, promising lasting memories and once-in-a-lifetime travel moments.
Price information
Departure information
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Reviews
1 Reviews of New Zealand self drive tour
Reviewed on 16 Jan 2024 by Anna Parris
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The beautiful landscapes - beaches and mountains
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Queenstown was more of a party town than expected and very busy for such a small town. Communication was not a strength of the operator and we did not like that they used 3rd parties to book our hotels and activities.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I hope so.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We enjoyed our time but if we had to do it again we would NOT use the operator again due to communication issues (information lacking upfront and assuring us of things that were not accurate). We did not realize and did not like that they used third party companies to book our accommodations and activities. We would have preferred a company with more local knowledge that was based or had staff actually in the countries we visited.
Responsible Travel
Planet
As with all of our luxury holidays, this itinerary has been crafted to ensure that it positively effects the local communities and environments visited.During wildlife encounters in New Zealand, please do not get too close to animals or depart from the usual track. You should be as quiet as possible and do not make any noises to attract or frighten the wildlife. Of course you’ll be excited if you spot a seal or a kiwi, but you should try to express your excitement quietly.
In New Zealand's rural environments, please ensure that you don’t leave any litter – everything you carry in, you must carry out. Aside from the environmental damage, litter can be harmful to the wildlife.
The whale and dolphin watching excursions by boat and air are provided by responsible local companies who hold a Department of Conservation SMART (Sustainable Marine Mammal Actions in Recreation and Tourism) permit, as we can ensure that these local companies are committed to the conservation of New Zealand’s marine mammals.
This tour includes an eco-friendly dolphin encounter, where you swim with dolphins in their natural habitat. This activity is guided by local experts, who will ensure that it’s a positive and playful experience for the dolphins.
People
All the local guides referred to in this itinerary are paid a fair wage, we only recommend accommodation options with responsible initiatives. We believe that using local guides (rather than UK-based guides) is important, as it helps generate local incomes and creates jobs, plus it offers a more authentic travel experience.We recommend independent local hotels, lodges, guesthouses and campsites, rather than international chain hotels, which helps support local communities and allows you to experience true Kiwi hospitality. For example, the locally-owned eco-friendly retreat of Lochmara Lodge has a number of wildlife recovery programmes and an on-site cafe and restaurant featuring home-grown local produce.
This itinerary offers the opportunity to visit historical sites, including Maori cultural sites, such as the rock carvings at Lake Taupo. As a responsible tourist, we urge you to treat these sites with respect and we encourage you to do some research into Maori traditions and the heritage of New Zealand’s first inhabitants before you travel.
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