20 Day Luxury Honeymoon North and South Island

Welcome to Auckland and New Zealand. On arrival you will be picked up at the airport and transferred to your first night’s accommodation. Or if you’ve decided to pick up your rental vehicle immediately, you pick up your vehicle at the airport and drive to your accommodation.

Your detailed tour information pack will be given to you once you arrive at your accommodation.

You’ll most likely be pretty tired from a long flight, so take the rest of the day to relax and explore the inner city. The city centre of Auckland is not too big, so you can easily walk around. Visit the Skytower to take in great views of the city, and stroll around the waterfront with its many nice bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a great meal.

Stay at your accommodation of choice:  Accommodation Type

In the morning we have organized an activity for you that combines horseback riding and wine tasting. Combine a unique horse ride on the beach with tasting some of New Zealand’s luxurious wines after strolling down one of the most beautiful Sculpture Tracks between the vineyards. This Beach Horse Riding & Wine Tasting Tour is a great escape!

And in the evening you'll be spoiled with a romantic dinner at a Harbour Dinner Cruise. Immerse yourself in Auckland’s Harbour setting and unwind with a three-course meal on the water. Afterwards set sail and take in Auckland’s spectacular scenery as the sun lowers in the sky.

Stay at your accommodation of choice:  Accommodation Type

Activities: Beach horse riding & wine testing  Harbour Dinner Cruise

Your North Island self drive honeymoon tour starts today, as you'll cross the harbour bridge going north. Northland is a region with a abundance of marine life, subtropical climate and pristine beaches, but is also a region with historical significance.

About half way between Whangarei and Paihia, at Whakapara,  we recommend you take the turn off for Helena Bay/Whangaruru and a long the Tutukaka Coast. The journey to Paihia will be a little bit longer as the road winds its way along the romantic  and picturesque coastline, but this stretch of coastline offers some of the best coastal views in New Zealand. 

Paihia will be your base to explore the Bay of Islands. Upon your arrival, take the afternoon to relax and explore the seaside town, make the short trip to the picturesque town of Russell, or visit the nearby Waitangi Treaty grounds.

Stay at your accommodation of choice:  Accommodation Type

Driving distance : 227 km - Driving time : approximately 3 hrs. 

In the morning you'll experience the best views of the Bay of Islands, from a helicopter and on a cruise! The Heli Cruise Island Escape package allows you to experience a boat cruise between Paihia and the islands, with island beach stops and an incredibly scenic helicopter flight from the islands back to Paihia.

Stay at your accommodation of choice: Accommodation Type

Activity  :  Heli Cruise Island Escape

On your way back to Auckland in the afternoon,  stop for a coffee at the famous Hunterwasser toilets in Kawakawa, before taking another detour. You may choose to drive back on the western side of the Twin Coast Discovery Highway, and visit giant Kauri trees at the Waipoua Forest, where you'll find some of Australasia's oldest and largest trees.

Stay at your accommodation of choice: Accommodation Type  

Driving distance : 227 km - Driving time : approximately  3 hrs

Today you're heading south, and once you pass the Bombay hills you'll be driving through the green pastures of the mighty Waikato. These lush farmlands were chosen as the location for the Shire in the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit films, and are located not far outside the town of Matamata en route to Rotorua, so you may want to spend a few hours on a Hobbiton tour before continuing onwards to your final destination for the day.

Rotorua is also nicknamed Roto Vegas by Kiwis for the amount of attractions it has. The main attractions are Maori culture and amazing geothermal activity. The region also has many beautiful lakes to explore. World-class biking trails, excellent hiking traills, natural hot streams, luxurious spas, a whole range of adventure activities such as rafting, sledging, jetboating, zorbing, racing down a steep hill in a luge, this place has it all. We recommend that you take the afternoon to experience one of these activities.

Your evening experience will be a memorable one. You will attend the Mitai Maori Village cultural performance, giving you a unique introduction to authentic Maori culture. It includes a traditional Maori dinner, the Hangi.

Stay at your accommodation of choice: Accommodation Type 

Activities:  Maori Cultural Experience     Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

Driving distance : 228 km - Travelling time :  approximately  2 hrs 45 mins

The drive to Taupo from Rotorua is only about an hour, but there are many things to see en-route. Wai-O-Tapu geothermal wonderland with its colorful hot springs, boiling mud pools and barren moon landscapes will leave you in awe. This is one of the most unique places you'll ever visit. 

About 2kms north of Taupo, a must see are the impressive Huka Falls. This is where the Waikato River, New Zealand's longest river, enters a shallow ravine of hard volcanic rock. The resulting sight is nothing but spectacular. More than 220,000 liters of water per second rushes by.

Another waterfall worth a stop is the less known is the Waipunga waterfall about halfway on the Taupo-Napier highway.

After your arrival in Napier, you have the option to join an afternoon wine tour.

Stay at your accommodation of choice: Accommodation Type 

Travelling distance : 219 km - Travelling time :  approximately  2 hrs 45 mins 

Before you head off for Wellington, we recommend you drive up Te Mata peak to watch the sunrise. The 360 degree views  are spectacular and on a clear day you can see as far as the volcanoes.

Then travel through the rural farmlands and vineyards of Hawke's Bay and the Wairapara on the way to Wellington. Find out yourself why Wellington was named best liveable city in the world in 2016. A visit to the national museum Te Papa is a must-do. A trip on the iconic cable car gives you great views across the city and bay at the top.

Stroll around in Cuba street, with its many funky bars known for their craft beers, cafes, and excellent restaurants.

Stay at your accommodation of choice:  Accommodation Type

Driving distance : 322 km   - Driving time : approximately 4 hours 15 mins

It’s all about the journey today as you board the Interislander Cook Strait Ferry, which will transport you on a scenic cruise to Picton. Back on dry land drive through Marlborough, New Zealand’s largest wine region, to reach your final destination for the day, sunny Nelson. 

Stay at your accommodation of choice:  Accommodation Type

Interislander Ferry   Interislander

Interislander Wellington - Picton : 3 h 37 min (97.6 km)

Driving  time approx  (Picton - Nelson): 1 hr. 47 min. Distance : 134 km. 

Today in the morning you will drive to Kaiteriteri and Abel Tasman National Park. The Abel Tasman is renowned for its golden beaches, sculptured granite cliffs, rich unmodified estuaries, long sunshine hours and the world-famous Abel Tasman Coast Track.  You will join a tour on a cruise, and see all the highlights along the coast, from granite outcrops, golden sands and lush forest. Take in Split Apple Rock, Tonga Island Marine Reserve and Adele Island Wildlife Reserve. View sea birds and seals, with a chance to spot little blue penguins.

Order your barbecue the night before and the crew of the cruise will head to the most sheltered cove to light the grill and cook up your classic Kiwi barbecue lunch, enjoyed on board. After lunch, relax with a comfortable Vista Cruise back to Kaiteriteri.

Stay at your accommodation of choice:  Accommodation Type

Activity :  Vista BBQ Cruise

Travelling distance : 67.4 km - Travelling time :  approximately 1 hrs 7 mins 

Discover the rugged West Coast as you travel to Hokitika, famous for its arts and crafts. Watch a masterpiece being crafted from gold, silver, molten glass, bone or silk, or carve your own creation from wood or jade “pounamu.” Take in Hokitika’s natural beauty, enjoy its expansive beach or one of the many walking and mountain bike tracks.

While in Hokitika, you may wish to make the scenic drive to Hokitika Gorge, where an impressive turquoise river flows through a narrow canyon, or Lake Kaniere, a beautiful lake nestled beneath the mountains.

You could also visit the National Kiwi Centre, where you will be able to see a rare kiwi, and also view New Zealand’s living dinosaur, the Tuatara. Or you may choose to make a drive north to Shantytown, where you can explore the heritage village, ride the steam train, try your hand at panning for gold, and take old-time styled photos.

Stay at your accommodation of choice:  Accommodation Type

Travelling distance : 136 km - Travelling time :  approximately  2 hrs

Continue south, through dense rain forest towards New Zealand’s glaciers. In the afternoon you will do join a unique heli-hike adventure on Franz Josef Glacier, and after this exhilarating activity, you may wish to soak in the Glacier Hot Pools, nestled in lush rainforest in a haven of natural tranquility.

Stay at your accommodation of choice:  Accommodation Type

Activity : Franz Josef Heli-Hike

Travelling distance : 377 km - Travelling time :  approximately  4 hrs  

As the road takes you further south, you will pass first through Wanaka, where you can make a lucnh stop along the shores of beautiful Lake Wanaka against the majestic backdrop of the snow-capped mountains of Mt Aspiring National Park.

Wanaka town is nestled below towering mountains, and is a little bit quieter than its neighbour Queenstown. In winters skiers from all over the world flock here for its great skiing, and in summer the impressive mountains provide for a range of adventure activities. You will return to this beautiful town in a few days, but your journey continues to the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown!

Queenstown is synonymous with adventure, and often labelled the "adventure capital of the world". Regardless of the season, Queenstown gets your adrenaline flowing year round, and the options are endless. Want to throw yourself out of a plane in amazing scenery, jump off a bridge in the birthplace of Bungy, jetboat, raft down a river, you name it...Queenstown has it all. 

The afternoon is yours to enjoy this buzzing town. 

Stay at your accommodation of choice:  Accommodation Type

Travelling distance : 350 km  - Travelling time :  approximately 4 hrs 53 mins

Today is an early start to the day, and you can marvel at a stunning New Zealand sunrise from a hot air balloon. To top off this amazing experience, celebrate with a glass of champagne.

Your next activity, the marvelous heli-wine experience, starts around lunch time and will offer you spectacular views of Queenstown and the surrounding Remarkable Mountains. You will land at some vineyards where you will enjoy some splendid food and New Zealand wines.

And to close a perfectly romantic day, what better way to soak in a hot spa with a majestic view of Lake Wakatipu.

Stay at your accommodation of choice:  Accommodation Type

Activities :   Hot Air Balloon    Heli-Wine Queenstown   

Today in the morning you will visit Milford Sound and you will pass the night on an overnight cruise in this  ‘eighth wonder of the world’ on board the stunning Fiordland Jewel with Fiordland Discovery.

Taking only 20 passengers a night, the Fiordland Jewel features nine climate-controlled cabins all with ensuite bathrooms and majestic fiord and sea views.

Activity :  Overnight cruise Fiordland - Milford Sound

Travelling distance : 287 km  - Travelling time :  approximately 3 hrs 47 mins

Your journey then continues east to Dunedin, one of the best–preserved Victorian and Edwardian cities in the southern hemisphere. Dunedin offers a diverse range of experiences including the Speight’s Brewery, Larnach Castle and of course the stunning Otago Peninsula with its abundance of marine wildlife.

Stay at your accommodation of choice:  Accommodation Type

Travelling distance : 406 km  - Travelling time :  approximately 5 hrs 40 mins

A different experience awaits you today as you will board the Taieri Gorge Railway – one of the world’s great train trips.

Departing from Dunedin’s beautiful railway station the Taieri Gorge Railway begins its scenic journey into some of New Zealand’s most ever-changing, spectacular and iconic scenery. The train travels through the Southern parts of Dunedin City, across the Taieri Plains and then climbs into the Taieri Gorge, a narrow and deep gorge carved out over aeons by the ancient Taieri River. The train negotiates the gorge with ease as it travels through ten tunnels and over countless bridges and viaducts. The train will stop or slow down at various scenic points along the way for photos where you can disembark and stretch your legs and enjoy the best of beauty, peace and quiet that nature has to offer. Stand on the open air platforms while the train moves or enjoy a quiet drink and food from the on board cafe while our train manager tells the story of the nature and history of the area in an entertaining and informative live commentary.

Stay at your accommodation of choice:  Accommodation Type

Activity : Taieri Gorge Railway

This morning travel through the towns of Omarama and Twizel before driving along the shores of the turquoised colored Lake Pukaki towards Aoraki/Mt Cook, Australasia’s highest mountain at 3724 metres.

Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park covers over 70,000 hectares of breathtaking alpine scenery and is also home to the Tasman Glacier, the longest in the Southern hemisphere. 

Your journey then continues to the gorgeous Lake Tekapo. The picturesque Church of the Good Shepherd is a great place for great photo opportunities, but please note that photos are not allowed inside the church.

Stay at your accommodation of choice:  Accommodation Type

Travelling distance : 309 km  - Travelling time :  approximately 3 hrs 40 mins

Leaving the Southern Alps behind you, you'll travel across the expansive Canterbury plains to Christchurch.

Christchurch is a vibrant, energetic city where urban regeneration, creativity, and innovation thrive. Picture amazing street art, innovative projects, a booming hospitality scene and state-of-the-art architecture that is changing the way the city looks, feels and functions – all the while staying true to its heritage and traditional English feel.

Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure.

Stay at your accommodation of choice:  Accommodation Type

Travelling distance : 323 km  - Travelling time :  approximately 3 hrs 57 mins

Your honeymoon tour of New Zealand ends today, and you will return your rental vehicle at the depot near the airport.

If time allows, explore the inner city of Christchurch with its famous botanical gardens, or take the 45 minute drive to the picturesque coastal town of Akaroa, New Zealand's most French town with many historic building, a magnificent harbour and a passion for fine food.