New Zealand adventure tour: with rental car to Milford Sound

Today you will take over your rental car and start your flexible journey along the North Island. The drive takes you along coastal roads and green hills to Paihia in the Bay of Islands. Your accommodation awaits you with modern comfort and a fantastic view. Optional: you can explore the Whangārei region.

You drive along the west coast to Matakohe, past the Waipoua Forest with its millennia-old Kauri trees. The charming Matakohe House B&B awaits you for a peaceful night. Optional: Guided tour of the Waipoua Forest, 4WD sand dune adventure at Opononi, visit to the Kauri Museum in Matakohe.

The route from Hahei leads over Tairua and Kopu through the green hinterland with stations in Omahu, Paeroa, and Te Aroha. It continues over Gordon and Tapapa to Rotorua, passing rural villages like Te Ohaki Pa and Selwyn. Optional: visit Hobbiton, the film set of the Lord of the Rings films, with a guided Hobbiton Movie Set Tour.

Today the journey takes you over Lake Taupo to the Tongariro National Park. Your accommodation, the Powderhorn Chateau, is located right at the foot of the volcanoes and offers ideal conditions for hiking and experiencing nature. Optional: Both the Whanganui National Park are easily accessible from the hotel.

Included: you take the ferry from Wellington to Picton and continue your journey through Spring Creek, Havelock, Rai Valley, Nelson, Richmond, and Motueka until you finally reach the coastal village of Mārahau. The Abel Tasman Lodge is just a five-minute walk from the entrance of Abel Tasman National Park and is located close to cafés, restaurants, as well as providers of kayak tours and water taxis. Optional: explore Abel Tasman National Park.

The route from Mārahau to Hokitika takes you through the Motueka Valley, over Murchison and Reefton to the rugged west coast of New Zealand. In Murchison, the white-water capital of the country, rivers like the Buller invite you to kayak, raft, or jet boat. Reefton impresses with its historical role as the first city in the southern hemisphere with public electricity. Hokitika awaits you with Maori greenstone, glowworm caves, and the impressive Hokitika Gorge. Optional: The Shantytown Heritage Park with a museum and a steam train.

The route leads from Franz Josef over Fox Glacier and Gillespies Beach to the wild West Coast at Bruce Bay and Ship Creek, continuing through Haast and the Haast Pass with a short stop at the Blue Pools to Wānaka. From there, it goes over Cardrona and the historic Cardrona Hotel to Arrowtown and finally to Queenstown. The main attractions include Lake Matheson at Fox Glacier, the hiking trails along the coast at Ship Creek, the Blue Pools at Haast Pass, the charming Arrowtown, and Queenstown with the Skyline Gondola. Optional: Cruise over Lake Wakatipu on board the TSS Earnslaw, a century-old coal-powered steamship.

The route from Queenstown to Te Anau goes through Frankton, Garston, and Mossburn. In Te Anau, the route to Milford Sound and the Great Walks such as the Milford, Kepler, and Routeburn Track begins. Visit the bird sanctuary, the Trout Observatory, or the Fiordland Cinema. Optional: Boat tours to the glowworm cave, excursions to the Mirror Lakes, and scenic flights by seaplane or helicopter are available.

From Te Anau, the route leads over Invercargill, Fortrose, and Waipapa Point through the Catlins with stops at Slope Point, Curio Bay, Purakaunui Falls, Nugget Point, and Kaka Point. Further over Balclutha and Milton to Dunedin with possible visits to Olveston Historic Home, Larnach Castle, Royal Albatross Centre, yellow-eyed penguin colony, Speight’s Brewery, Taieri Gorge Railway, and Vogel Street. Optional: Peninsula Encounter & Wildlife Cruise.

The route from Twizel to Christchurch passes through Lake Tekapo with the Church of the Good Shepherd and Burkes Pass, through Geraldine with historical buildings, continuing over Ashburton to Christchurch. There you can expect highlights such as the Botanical Garden, the Antarctic Centre, the Christchurch Tram, the art galleries, the Riverside Market, and the Avon River. Inclusive: Christchurch Attractions, Tram.