The essentials of New Zealand

DAY 1: PARIS – SINGAPORE
Departure on your flight to Singapore in the late afternoon.
Dinner and overnight on board.

DAY 2: SINGAPORE – SYDNEY
Arrival in Sydney in the late afternoon, then connection to Auckland around 8:00pm.
Dinner and overnight on board.

DAY 3: AUCKLAND
Arrival in Auckland early morning. Pick-up of your vehicle.
Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city, set between two great harbours dotted with long-extinct volcanic craters, and a crossroads of several cultures. Not to mention, of course, the All Blacks and the America’s Cup! Also known as the “City of Sails”, you can’t miss the hundreds of yachts gliding across the magnificent Auckland harbour, carried by the wind!

DAY 4: COROMANDEL PENINSULA
After breakfast, enjoy some time in Auckland and discover the “city of sails”! Departure for the next stage of your itinerary: Tairua, in the Coromandel Peninsula. Renowned worldwide for its natural beauty, mysterious forest and golden beaches with crystal-clear waters, Coromandel is full of idyllic spots.

DAY 5: COROMANDEL – ROTORUA
After breakfast, head to the north of the Coromandel where you can relax at Hot Water Beach. Natural hot water, its bubbles rising from deep within the earth, lets you dig your own Jacuzzi right on the beach (only at low tide)… with the ocean just in front of you, as cold as the water is hot!
You will continue on to Hahei Beach, passing by Te Pare, a historic reserve on the site of a former Maori pa (fortified village). After a short hour’s walk along the cliff, you can descend to the beach at the striking Cathedral Cove: a giant arch of white rock.
Arrival in Rotorua by the end of the day: you will discover the heart of the Pacific’s geothermal activity, an integral part of Rotorua’s past and present. The town is also home to the Te Arawa tribe, who have lived by this geothermal lake for over 600 years. Rotorua will captivate you with its unique geothermal phenomena and offer an unparalleled cultural experience: geysers, bubbling mud pools, marae, hangi feasts… We invite you to experience the benefits of Rotorua’s waters at the Polynesian Spa.

DAY 6: ROTORUA
Breakfast.
An exceptional day. You will be immersed in Rotorua’s geothermal activity. We recommend starting with the Wai-O-Tapu site, where the geyser can reach heights of 20 metres! (the geyser erupts at 10:30am each morning). You can explore the bubbling pools, geysers and the natural beauty of this geothermal wonder!
Suggestion for the afternoon: take the opportunity to shop for souvenirs… nowhere else will you find as much choice when it comes to Maori art and culture.
You can also book the following activities in advance:
•Hells Gate WaiOra: Entry to the geothermal park, mud bath in a private cabin, Aira Spa.
•Polynesian Spa
•Helicopter or seaplane flight over Orakei Korako or White Island.
And why not end the day with a Maori dinner show at Te Puia, savouring the hangi, a traditional Maori feast.

DAY 7: ROTORUA – PIPIRIKI
Breakfast in Rotorua and early departure for the next stage: Pipiriki, to discover “The Bridge to Nowhere”.
You will share stories of the Awa (river, in Maori) with your guide, along with some secrets of this historic and cultural icon of New Zealand. Along the way, you won’t miss the deep fern-covered gorges, caves and other spectacular landscapes unique to this region. It is aboard a jet boat that you will uncover this well-hidden secret of New Zealand, following in the footsteps of Maori tribes in the middle of nowhere…

DAY 8: PIPIRIKI – WELLINGTON
Breakfast.
Departure for New Zealand’s capital: Wellington, a colourful, charming town set between hills and harbours.
Arrival in Wellington in the afternoon. Don’t miss the Te Papa Museum, the national museum offering a unique and authentic experience of the country’s culture, history and treasures. The museum closes at 6:00pm (admission is free).

DAY 9: WELLINGTON – NELSON
Breakfast.
Very early departure to drop off your vehicle. After a 3-hour ferry crossing, you will land in Picton, on the South Island, where your new vehicle will be waiting for you.
During the crossing, you will discover the Marlborough Sounds, dotted with small islands, bays and forests. On the way to Abel Tasman National Park, you will take the scenic Queen Charlotte Drive, with a stop in Nelson… where you’ll find echoes of the French Riviera!

DAY 10: ABEL TASMAN
Breakfast.
A day to explore the park. You will be won over by its forests and turquoise-watered beaches. Abel Tasman offers a wide range of activities: hiking on marked trails, kayaking, cruising, or simply lounging on the beach…

DAY 11: NELSON – GREYMOUTH
Breakfast.
You will leave the park for Greymouth and its surrounding region. You will wind along the coastal road to Greymouth, not missing the Pancake Rocks, a rock formation resembling stacked pancakes… against which the Tasman Sea crashes relentlessly. A number of walks will punctuate your day.

DAY 12: GREYMOUTH – FOX GLACIER / FRANZ JOSEF
Breakfast.
Departure in the morning, arriving in Fox Glacier by late morning. In the early afternoon, a walk to the base of the glacier. Along with Argentina, New Zealand is one of the few countries where glaciers descend to such low altitudes (250m), so close to the ocean — an unusual sight amid this landscape of forest, rock and water. Helicopter flight available as an option.

DAY 13: FOX GLACIER / FRANZ JOSEF – QUEENSTOWN
Breakfast.
You will head towards Queenstown, passing through the small town of Wanaka. Located at the southern tip of the lake of the same name, Wanaka is one of the most popular resort towns in the country. Arrival in Queenstown in the late afternoon. A mountain resort town, spectacularly set between lake and mountains. Well known for its extreme sports, but also for its cuisine and wine, lake cruises, hot springs, shopping and golf!

DAY 14: QUEENSTOWN
Breakfast.
Free day in Queenstown. Don’t miss the Skyline Gondola up Bob’s Peak, one of Queenstown’s symbols. By the end of the day, you will head towards Fiordland National Park, following the shores of Lake Wakatipu to Te Anau.

DAY 15: QUEENSTOWN – TE ANAU – MILFORD SOUND – TE ANAU
Breakfast.
Early departure towards Fiordland National Park, following the shores of Lake Wakatipu to Te Anau. The road to Milford Sound is considered one of the most beautiful in the country. You will set off on a 1.5-hour cruise through the Fiords (around 3:00pm).
Return to Te Anau by the end of the day.

DAY 16: TE ANAU – TWIZEL
After breakfast, you will cross inland through the fruit-growing region of Central Otago, then along the shores of Lake Pukaki, with sweeping views of Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak.

DAY 17: TWIZEL – CHRISTCHURCH
Breakfast.
Heading to Lake Tekapo, in the Mackenzie region, its turquoise colour the result of the rocky bed left by this glacier. You may take a walk in the surrounding area or simply admire the view. A short walk to the Church of the Good Shepherd.
Before reaching Christchurch, you will take the scenic road between Lyttelton and Sumner to appreciate the beauty of the Banks Peninsula.

DAY 18: CHRISTCHURCH
After breakfast, free day to explore Christchurch, depending on your flight time.
Arrival in Sydney in the afternoon, then connection for your flight to Singapore.
Arrival in Singapore in the evening, departing for Paris by the end of the day.
Dinner and overnight on board.

DAY 19: PARIS
Arrival in Paris early in the morning.

Summary:
– 1 night in Auckland in a charming hotel with breakfast
– 1 night in Coromandel in a charming hotel with breakfast
– 2 nights in Rotorua in a charming B&B with breakfast
– 1 night in Pipiriki in a charming hotel with breakfast
– 1 night in Wellington in a charming B&B with breakfast
– 2 nights in Nelson in a charming hotel with breakfast
– 1 night in Greymouth in a charming B&B with breakfast
– 1 night in Franz Josef in a charming lodge with breakfast
– 2 nights in Queenstown in a charming B&B with breakfast
– 1 night in Te Anau in a charming B&B with breakfast
– 1 night in Twizel in a charming hotel with breakfast
– 1 night in Christchurch in a charming hotel with breakfast

***This itinerary is a suggestion and may be subject to change depending on availability at the time of booking***