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New Zealand Country Style Self Drive Tour
offered by supplier M06323 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 14
day(s)
Group Size: 2
- 8
people
Destination(s):
New Zealand
Specialty Categories:
Farm Stay & Ranching
Season: September - April
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: Yes
Minimum Per Person Price: 1675 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 2100 US Dollar (USD)
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Farm Stays is absolutely the best way to meet and interact with friendly New Zealand farming families whilst enjoying comfortable accommodation and tasty home cooked meals. At the same time, learn about farming, see the livestock and crops and maybe help with some farm activities.
Self driving is easy in NZ. The roads are uncongested with just 3 million New Zealanders occupying a country about the size of California. Although we drive on the opposite side (left) of the road to people in some countries this is generally not a problem for most visitors. Our scheduled air, rail, ferry and coach services offer another means of getting about.
The biggest problem for the uninitiated on a New Zealand tour is knowing what to leave out given the inevitable time constraints that most visitors are faced with. Fortunately for you this is where our knowledge at Farm to Farm Tours of New Zealand and love for our country allow us to share the best features with you that meet your requirements.
Tour Itinerary Example (14 days)
Day 1: Auckland
Pick up your rental car on arrival at Auckland airport. New Zealand's largest and most cosmopolitan city, Auckland "City of Sails", will provide you with an entertaining start to your New Zealand experience with its variety of day time and evening activities. After booking into your hotel a chance to take in the city sights. Wander down to the water front where the Americas cup was held, or perhaps a look at Kelly Tarlton's underwater world, NZ's museum of Transport and Technology, the Maritime museum, a visit to the amazing Sky Tower ( if heights aren't a problem) and a drive up Mt Eden. Evening: Auckland Hotel.
Day 2: Auckland - Cambridge
Depart Auckland and head South on the motorway over the rolling Bombay Hills and Pukekohe region where large areas of green vegetables are produced to supply the city and for export. Follow New Zealand's longest river - the Waikato River into the province of the same name. Dubbed the "milk bowl" of New Zealand, Waikato is renowned for its efficient pasture based dairy farming, horse studs, beef, deer, sheep and horticultural enterprises. You will have a farmstay tonight near the pretty town of Cambridge, in the heart of the Waikato. Here you will become acquainted with a typical New Zealand farm and friendly farming family. After getting to know your hosts and surroundings take a short tour of the farm and enjoy a home cooked dinner. Evening: Farmstay.
Day 3 Cambridge - Coromandel
Departing. Cambridge travel to the Coromandel Peninsular. Settle into your accommodation for a one night stay. Set beside the sea, amidst native bush, this is one of New Zealand's premier holiday spots. Handy to golf, bush walks. Sandy beaches, marinas and a lovely coastline, there are plenty of things to see and do. We recommend Kiwi Dundee Tours as a great way to see the area. Evening: Coromandel Hotel.
Day 4: Coromandel - Rotorua
A chance to further explore the Coromandel before traveling on to Rotorua, an interesting thermal region and centre of native Maori culture. Evening: Rotorua Hotel.
Day 5: Rotorua
Here you can visit the Agrodome for an entertaining exhibition of the New Zealand sheep industry and visit Rainbow Springs for a peek at the native flora and fauna, including large brown and rainbow trout. Another interesting place to visit is Whakarewarewa thermal area where boiling mud pools and spouting geysers can be seen. A great way to end the day is to go to a Maori hangi (feast) and concert for a great night entertainment. Evening: Rotorua Hotel.
Day 6: Rotorua - Taupo - Waipukurau
Depart Rotorua and travel to Taupo. Passing the geothermal area of Wairakei, with a stop to view the famous Huka Falls on the outskirts of Lake Taupo. Lake Taupo is a popular holiday area, renowned for its fishing and recreational sports. Passing through Taupo travel on to Napier, the "Art Deco City" of New Zealand. Continue south to Waipukurau for a one night stay on a sheep and beef farm. Evening: Farmstay.
Day 7: Waipukurau - Martinborough
After time with your hosts this morning,travel to the Wairarapa - a large rural region with a very sparse population. Visit the Wine Village of Martinborough. High sunshine hours and low autumn rainfall have helped wine makers in this region win international awards. Many are boutique wineries and are distinguished from other New Zealand wine areas by the high proportion of red grape plantings and a reputation for quality pinot noir, among other varieties. There is plenty to see and do in this region. Evening: Martinborough Hotel.
Day 8: Martinborough - Blenheim
Travel over the Rimutaka Hill to the capital city Wellington, where you will catch the Ferry to Picton - gateway to the South Island. Travel 25 km to Blenheim, New Zealand's "Sunshine" capital, because of its long sunshine hours. Blenheim is ideally suited to wine production with thousands of hectares now devoted to attractive vineyards. Visit one of these and perhaps do some wine tasting at one of the numerous wineries in this area. Evening: Peppertree Homestead.
Day 9: Blenheim - Kaikoura
Kaikoura, a small town set in a picturesque location between 9000 ft high mountains and the sea, has become an important tourist destination in recent years with the establishment of a charter service to view the amazing marine life which is found off-shore. The sea floor plunges quickly to depths of more than 5000 ft, and these waters are home to huge whales and playful dolphins.
Kaikoura means "to eat crayfish" underlining the area's reputation as a source of that delicacy. Seals by the hundreds are found on the rocks around the tip of the Kaikoura Peninsula. This site is also good for a view of large numbers of sea birds.Tonight enjoy the hospitality of a New Zealand farming family. Evening: Farmstay.
Day 10: Kaikoura - Christchurch
Travel south to Christchurch the "Garden City". In Christchurch you can enjoy an array of sights and activities. Take a walk along attractive Sumner Beach, visit nearby new pier which reaches 400 meters out into the South Pacific, visit the Arts centre, Botanical Gardens or play golf in Hagley Park. The city's casino also provides some exciting evening entertainment, as do the many restaurants and bars. Evening: Christchurch Hotel.
Day 11: Christchurch - Fairlie
Leave Christchurch to head south across the vast Canterbury Plains with its rich tapestry of agricultural enterprises. Travel along the snow capped Southern Alps, before turning inland through the green rolling pastures of Geraldine, where crops, sheep, cattle and deer farms dominate the scene. Arrive in Fairlie, the 'Gateway to the Mackenzie Country'. The township rests in the Fairlie Basin, surrounded by the beautiful high country of the Two Thumb Range. Here you will have the opportunity to experience New Zealand farming life whilst on your farmstay. Evening: Farmstay.
Day 12: Fairlie - Queenstown
Following your stay at one of Fairlie's rural retreats, you will continue inland through the wide open spaces of the Mackenzie Basin. Perhaps a stop at Lake Tekapo, one of the region's vibrant aqua blue lakes. Here, you can view New Zealand's highest peak, Mount Cook, or visit the statue of the infamous sheep rustler - James Mackenzie's dog before travelling on passing the hydro lakes and Kawarau Gorge to Queenstown. Set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, amidst spectacular alpine scenery, including the rugged Remarkable Mountains, Queenstown's the place to enjoy a range of outdoor pursuits from horse trekking to fishing, or even a cruise upon the lake aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak high country station. In the township itself there are numerous shops, restaurants, bars, and accommodation within close proximity. For the more adventurous, bungy jumping, jet boating, parapenting or white water rafting may appeal to your adrenalin seeking nature! Evening: Queenstown Hotel.
Day 13: Queenstown
A wide choice for today’s activities. Some suggestions would be a tour to Milford Sound for the day, drive to the old gold mining village of Arrowtown, with a stop at Queenstown's dried flower barn, or a game of golf at the exclusive Mill Brook Resort. Evening: Queenstown Hotel.
Day 14: Queenstown
Time to catch up on any last minuet shopping before you transfer to the airport to catch a connecting flight for your international departure.
Accommodation
Other than transport, accommodation is the other significant expense whilst touring NZ. We have many farmstays to choose from and to incorporate into your tailor made self drive farm tour of New Zealand. We can blend the farmstays with other styles of accommodation, including bed and breakfasts, motels, lodges and hotels to give you the right mix. However there is a wonderful range of options varying from camping grounds, to backpacker hostels, tidy motor Inns to B&B, to the various levels of hotel accommodation.
Other activities
If your passion is horse riding, then we will arrange for you to see something of that on a tailor made tour. If you are into gardening, or wine, we will fulfill that interest for you. For the more adventurous or leisure orientated, how about some golf, trout fishing, sailing, snow or water skiing, parapenting, tramping( walking), bird watching, swimming, surfing, photography, painting, bush walking, kayaking, whale watching, swimming with dolphins, rafting, jet boating, gliding, tennis … the list of possibilities is seemingly endless!
If you want an itinerary which meets your needs then contact Farm to Farm Tours and we will co ordinate your requirements with our ideas and see that we formulate something special.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price includes: (B) and (L - 5,8,9,11 days).
Also see tour packages in:
Australia and Oceania
New Zealand
Farm Stay & Ranching
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