Kiwi Style Tour
This is a 18 day road trip of the North and South Island experiencing a New Zealand summer in true kiwi style and seeing everything New Zealand has to offer.
Arrive Auckland - Depart Christchurch
Dates: 4th January - 21st January
All tours are wheelchair accessible with accessible accommodation, accessible vehicles, accessible attractions and facilities. Some of the festivals and activities you may have to rough it a little but we will give you a helping hand when it's needed to ensure you get there whilst still ensuring to meet all your needs. Where there is a will there's a way. Kiwi's are renowned for their ingenuity...that's where we step in.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Auckland
Ok, so I'm sure you're all a little jet lagged. Today we will be meeting you at Auckland airport (which is my favorite airports to date by the way, I'll let you be the judge) and taking you to your accommodation in the centre of Auckland. Just look out for the good looking people with big smiles :) Once you're checked in and settled in, you can pretty much decide what you want to do. If you just want to chill out and catch up on some zzz's, go for it. We will do a bit of a drive around Auckland for those who are up to it so you can see how one of New Zealand's major cities functions and how the JAFFA's (a name given to Aucklanders by the rest of New Zealand, I will explain on the tour) make their way in this 'city of sails'. You can have dinner at the hotel if you like or if your feeling up for it you may want to venture out to one of the many nearby restaurants. This is not a tour day but a day for you to settle in and prepare for the adventure ahead.
Day 2 - Auckland
This is the first day of your adventure through New Zealand. This morning we will meet at around 10am. We will be doing a harbor cruise first thing which will give you a fantastic view of Auckland city while you breathe in that refreshing ocean air. We will take you to the Auckland museum where you can also get some lunch and get an insight into some of New Zealands culture and history and to finish off the day we will be going to Kelly Tarltons Under Water World.
If someone feels like bungy jumping off the sky tower or the Harbor Bridge, not a problem, we can organise that! Dinner will be at the Auckland Sky Tower which was the tallest building in the Southern hemisphere until Melbourne built a monster, however you can still imagine the views. Dinner provided.
Day 3 - Tauranga
9am Start. Today is just about sitting back and enjoying the ride. A bit of a long drive today approx 6 hours. However we will keep the tunes flowing and the scenery will keep you wanting more. The Coromandel coast is one of my favorite NZ locations and you will see why. From now on we will be switching to "beach time". You will feel it immediately. Time just slows down as the white sandy coasts just roll on by. We will be heading south to Tauranga and Mt Manganui where we will be chilling out for 3 nights. Dinner Provided
Day 4 & 5 - Tauranga
This is my home town... Tauranga and Mt Manganui; My stomping ground. Now obviously being my home town, I know it pretty well. During these couple of days I want you to do pretty much what you want. For those that are keen I will take you kayaking in the morning and in the afternoon there will be the opportunity for blokarting. The following day, if some would like to swim with dolphins I can organise that too. I can take you out in the evenings if you want to see the night life or you can venture out to one of the many nearby bars. I'm sure there will be some gigs on here over the festive season. The Mount is a fantastic place to people watch, which is what a lot of people tend to do. Sit out and have a coffee and watch the people go by.
In the evening I will be putting on a good ole KIWI BBQ for dinner which will be done beach side. Tuck into your steak, sausage and salad while breathing in that ocean air once again. Soak up those rays and make the most of the beach. The reason the Mount is so great and why everyone loves to live there is because of the lifestyle. You can wake up early and go for a walk along the board walk along the ocean's edge and after work in the evening watch the sun go down with the waves. Dinner provided one night only.
Day 6 - Rotorua
9am Start. We will leave the Mount in the Morning and head further South to Roto-Vegas (Rotorua). I don't know how it got its nick name but there are three or four locations around NZ which have added Vegas to their names. I'd just like to point out that all these location, you would be very lucky to find anything that resembles a casino. This is one of NZ's major tourist stops as it is a hugely volcanic area with natural geysers and mud pools found all over the city and are often found popping up in local's back yards. Yes they are dangerous due to the heat and pressure however locals are used to it now and it's just a natural part of the surroundings. The area is made up of over 16 lakes and a lot of native bush which you will see.
This afternoon we will head out to the Te Puia where you will get up close and personal with geysers, mud pools and see the arts of the Maori people. This evening we will be attending Tamaki Cultural Experience . There you will taste a traditional Maori meal (Hangi - delicious) and watch the traditional Maori dance. The Maori locals will welcome you in a traditional Maori way on to their land and believe me you will love it. I get shivers every time I see the Haka performed and this is an evening of culture and good food. You will leave smiling with a full belly, a warm heart and cultural experience never to be forgotten.
The natural environment here in the central North island is so varied, as you will experience, with something new and natural around every bend. Dinner Provided.
Day 7 - Wellington
9am start. The capital of New Zealand here we come! Today is one of the longest travel days. We are heading down to the bottom of the North Island to NZ's capital city. Wellington is known as New Zealand's art city and has a name of being a little alternative. Its nickname is "Windy Wellington" but it's not always that bad. It will be around a 6 hour drive. We will stop along the way to the Huka falls, The Huka Falls are one of New Zealand's most spectacular sights. The sheer volume of beautiful bright clear water that gushed through the narrow gap makes up for the modest size of these falls. Over 200,000 litres per second roar over the 3 metre falls with a force that is truly impressive. Dinner provided.
Day 8 - Picton
9am Start. Today we will do a bit of a "Tiki tour" (Little tour) around Wellington city past the Beehive (Parliament- It's shaped like a beehive). You can then get lost in Te Papa, New Zealand's national museum. It is highly interactive and definitely not your standard museum. We will catch the ferry to Picton at 2pm. This ferry crossing takes around 3 hours of actual sailing which depending on the weather can be a really beautiful crossing from the North Island to the South Island. Other times, if the weather is not so good, the crossing can become quite "adventurous" shall we say. Check into our accommodation in Picton and then off to the local pub for a few ales. We have to celebrate our first evening in the South Island. I mean after this you basically have Antarctica! Let's just sit back, have a couple of ales and just take it all in. Dinner provided.
Day 9 - Kaikoura
10am start. Today we are heading to the "vino zone". Get the bus running, a bit of Dean Martin "lil old wine drinker me" cranking and off we go to Marlborough. This is an area where some of New Zealand's top wines are produced. We are going to be doing a wine tour around some of the many vineyards in the area. There are around 40 in such a small space so we really are spoiled for choice. We will also take you to a chocolate factory where they will tempt you with their delicious taste tester treats. After all that wine and chocolate, don't worry; the bus is there to carry you home. We will drive around the Malbourough Sounds and you will get a small taste here of some of the extraordinary scenery that you will be faced over the course of the south Island.
After this day with our good friend vino, we will travel down for about half an hour to Kaikoura where a bed for you to rest your head awaits. Dinner provided.
Day 10 - Kaikoura
Kaikora... the rugged coast of Kaikoura. This is a wild coastline. You will get up close and personal with the wild fur seals which line these coasts. I have been here in spring time when you can stand on the rocky coastline with the sun shining and looking out over the rough ocean and see snow topped mountains meet the ocean. It is extreme scenery. Here there is a lot of marine life and we will be venturing off in a boat for those who want to get involved. Kaikoura is renowned for its whales and marine life. We will be taking out a charter boat to go whale watching. This is something that can change your life. Being so close to these amazing mammals, you cannot imagine how big they are till you see them up close and personal. You will feel uplifted and renewed, I guarantee it. We will leave in the late avo heading towards Christchurch. Dinner provided.
Day 11 - Christchurch
Now it has been a few days where we may have escaped reality for a bit. Between the wine tour and whale watching, I figure it's time for a bit of city life. Christchurch. Why not. Now I am a big fan of Christchurch. I think it is a very beautiful city. It is a very flat city and quite well spread. The centre of Christcurch is always full of characters, there are people who go to "the square" and read poetry, busk, play the giant chess games, start up a football game which becomes a mix of young and old, black and white and an international playing field. People come here and be whoever they want to be and once again, a great place to sit back an watch it all go by. We will stay here for 2 days so you can get a bit of shopping in, buy some souvenirs and have a good look around. Christchurch is a lively city and a good place to have a break for a couple of days. We will take you for a drive around the city to help you get your bearings and then you are free to explore and to be entertained.
Day 12 - Hokitika
TToday we have a reasonably early start 9am and head west. The first hour or so is flat farming country, the Canterbury Plains New Zealand's largest and flattest area. Then up over some scenic mountain passes through the Southern Alps and down to the West Coast to Hokitika, an attractive sleepy little town. A hundred or so years ago miners fought over gold, today there is still gold around but Hokitika is New Zealand's leading Green Stone (Jade) centre. Dinner provided.
Day 13 - Haast
This morning you can take it easy. Look around the many interesting shops of Hokitika. There is also the opportunity for you to design and personalize your very on jade carving if you are interested.
It is something over a two-hour's drive to Franz Josef where we will stop for lunch. Here we also have the opportunity of viewing Franz Josef Glacier, unfortunately, the track to the glacier face is definitely not for wheelchairs. If you have a few spare dollars you may be interested in a Glacier Helicopter flight. After our stop here we carry on past Fox Glacier and on to Haast. Dinner provided.
Day 14 - Hawea & Wanaka
You will all be happy to hear that we have a day of relaxing, sun absorption, cards, yarning (chatting) and basically passing time but in such an amazing location. Hawea and Wanaka in winter, like Queenstown, is a major ski location, in summer it transforms to a kiwi batch and boat haven. And this is what we do. Sit back, and just be kiwi! The accommodation here has the most amazing views, not to mention its own little pub onsight making it easy for you to get to bed after a few too many. There's also a pool table and sometimes live music if we're lucky. Dinner provided.
Day 15 & 16 - Queenstown
We have two days here in Queenstown. Queenstown is one of the major spots in the South Island as its activities are endless. For those who are keen, we will be Jet Boating or white water rafting, this is where you step up and get involved. A high-speed jet boat will race recklessly down the cliff encompassed river, with all of us in tow! Wheel chair accessible so no excuses. You will not regret this one I promise you that! Bungy jumping is also highly recommended here. It's where it all began and there can't be a better location to throw yourself off a bridge. There are gondola rides and luging! Definitely a night out will be required here also. Dinner provided one night only.
Day 17 - Christchurch
The drive from Queenstown to Christchurch is a long one, probably one of the longest we will do; however in saying that, it will be entertaining. We will be sure to have some good tunes (essential) we do take requests and we do encourage singing at the top of your lungs where required. It's all about cruising. We will be passing through the likes of Omarama and Arrowtown. Omarama is a beautiful farming area which has some dramatic scenery. There are lakes which are an ice blue colour set among the farming hills. Then Arrowtown is a very small town which is well known for its fruit. A lot of travellers come here and do a little time fruit picking here to earn a bit of money in order to continue their travels.
This is Central Otago at its best! This is where some of New Zealand's best wine comes from. We will arrive in Christchurch later in the evening. Check in, Chill out and get ready to say our goodbyes. Dinner provided.
Day 18 - Christchurch
Departures from Christchurch airport.
Pricing and Inclusions:
Price: Tour cost is $9,850NZD and is based on twin share accommodation
Tour Price includes: Tamaki Cultural Experience, Wine tour, Ferry crossing, Air port transfers, Kelly Tarltons, Harbour Cruise, Kayaking, all accommodation, all breakfasts and other meals where specified. (Optional activities are weather dependent and refunds will not be given if whether does not permit)
Optional activities: These activities are not included in the price. Kaikoura whale watching, Bungy jumping, Jet Boating, Jade carving, Agrodome, Blokarting and any other activities not specified above.
Other Info
Accommodation is high quality however in some of the more isolated towns (approximately 1-2), options are limited and Hiltons are not always in sight so it's a mixed bag, there are no rags and there are riches. Just so we can give you the best of both worlds. It all adds to the experience and sometimes it's the only way we can get you to where you have to be. We would hate for you to miss out. All accommodation is fully wheelchair accessible.
