New Zealand family holiday: campervan & car combo

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    This stunning country is yours to explore

    This stunning country is yours to explore

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    Wander around the Hobbiton movie set | Photo credit: Kiwi Experience

    Wander around the Hobbiton movie set | Photo credit: Kiwi Experience

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    This relaxed family holiday to New Zealand combines both islands

    This relaxed family holiday to New Zealand combines both islands

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    We'll recommend the best sights to see!

    We'll recommend the best sights to see!

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    Spend a day on one of the amazing cycle trails | Photo credit: David Wall

    Spend a day on one of the amazing cycle trails | Photo credit: David Wall

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    Camp in beautiful spots overlooking beaches in New Zealand | Travel Nation

    Camp in beautiful spots overlooking beaches in New Zealand

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    Take family walks through the forests of New Zealand | Travel Nation

    Take family walks through the forests of New Zealand

Tailor-made holidays

Duration(in days): 23

From: Christchurch

To: Auckland

From

£3,495

Inc. International flights (pp - based on 2 adults, 2 children)

Get a quote

or Call +441273099433

See more ideas for: New Zealand

    This relaxed, 3-week New Zealand family holiday combines both islands for an all-over New Zealand adventure. Spend 10 days exploring the South Island’s mountains, lakes, glaciers and wildlife with your campervan, then fly to the North Island for a self-drive tour by car, staying in some excellent family-friendly accommodation.

    Your holiday begins in Christchurch where you will collect your 4-berth campervan. You have 10 days to explore the South Island, home to glacial valleys, world-famous wineries and snow-capped peaks, you have the freedom to go where the whim takes you, we can help you put together an itinerary or you can decide as you travel!

    The second half of your trip takes in the North Island so for this section, we have provided car hire and accommodation so you get to experience the world-renowned New Zealand hospitality. The North Island is packed full of things to do, from Maori cultural feasts to glow worm caves, and for the Lord of the Rings fans, you can even include a trip to Hobbiton!

    This itinerary can be tailored to suit your requirements, please contact one of our consultants to start planning your dream trip.

    This New Zealand family holiday includes

    • International flights
    • All transfers
    • Car & campervan hire
    • All accommodation in the North Island
    • Excursions as mentioned in the itinerary

    Highlights of our New Zealand family holiday

    • Explore New Zealand’s North & South Islands in 3 weeks
    • Travel independently at your own pace with a 4 berth family campervan
    • In the South Island, visit glaciers and mirror lakes
    • Visit Tongariro, the backdrop for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and see 3 dormant volcano
    • See the bubbling hot springs and geothermal caves in Rotorua
    • Let glow worms light the way as you journey through the Waitomo Caves
    • Head to the ‘Shire’ to see the movie set from ‘The Hobbit’

     

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    Itinerary in brief:

    • 9 nights Campervan hire on South Island
    • 2 nights Wellington
    • 2 nights Tongariro
    • 1 night Taupo
    • 2 nights Rotorua
    • 1 night Auckland

     

    Days 1 & 2: Depart UK

    Depart the UK from your chosen airport.

    Included: International flight

    Day 3: Arrive Christchurch

    To give you time to catch up on your sleep after such a long flight, we’ve included one night at a hotel near Christchurch airport, before you collect your campervan the next day.

    Included: Airport hotel

    Days 4-13: Campervan hire - Christchurch to Queenstown

    We’ve included 10 days’ campervan hire to take you from Christchurch to Queenstown in the South Island. We’ve based this itinerary on a 4 berth campervan, but would recommend upgrading to a 6 berth if your budget allows for the extra space and comfort.

    The South Island is yours to explore – we would be happy to suggest an itinerary for you, and can also pre-book powered sites where you can overnight, or supply open-dated vouchers.

    Highlights to consider including on your trip are:

    • Blenheim, Nelson and Abel Tasman at the top of the South Island
    • Glaciers on the West Coast
    • Wanaka and Fiordland ending in Queenstown
    • Wildlife enthusiasts will enjoy the East Coast towns of Oamaru and Dunedin for Blue Penguins, fur seals and native birds.
    Included: 10 day campervan hire

    Days 14 & 15: Wellington

    Today you’ll drop off the campervan and fly over to Wellington in the North Island. We’ve included 2 nights here – it’s a cool capital city, and very compact so everything is close by. We’d recommend a visit to Te Papa – the national museum of New Zealand –and it's free!

    If the family are fans of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, a visit to the Weta Workshop is highly recommended, as well as a tour of the local filming locations.

    We’ve arranged for you to pick up your hire car on your second day here.

    Included: Domestic flight & hotel

    Days 16 & 17: Tongariro

    Head north to the centre of the North Island. You’ll immediately understand why the region was chosen as the backdrop for the Lord of the Rings trilogy; the park’s three dormant volcanoes, immortalized in the films, rise high above the clear waters of Lake Taupo.

    There’s a range of hiking and touring options to explore this stunning location. The Tongariro Crossing is regarded as one of the best one-day walks in the world.

    Included: Car hire & hotel

    Day 18: Taupo

    Make your way to Taupo today, home to the largest lake in New Zealand and located just south of one of New Zealand’s premier tourist spots, Huka Falls, where more than 220,000 litres of water thunder over the cliff face every second.

    Included: Car hire & hotel

    Days 19 & 20: Rotorua

    The city of Rotorua sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, so there’s evidence of volcanic activity everywhere you look. Explore the geothermal areas and discover the unique culture of New Zealand’s Maori people. Rotorua is entertaining in any weather, at any time of the year.

    There is so much to see and do in Rotorua. If you are keen to visit a thermal park Wai-O-Tapu is about a 30-minute drive from town and is one of the most colourful. Or further afield The Hidden Valley of Orakei Korako which is accessible by boat offers bubbling hot springs, geothermal caves and geysers in a completely natural environment. In town, you can visit Te Puia, maybe the most famous of all the thermal parks – we’d highly recommend a private guide here.

    Included: Car hire & hotel

    Day 21: Rotorua to Auckland, via Waitomo

    On your way up to Auckland, we suggest stopping off in Waitomo for something completely different – it’s less than a 2-hour drive from Rotorua.

    Under the green hills of Waitomo lies a labyrinth of caves, sinkholes and underground rivers. The easiest way to see the caves is with a walking or boat tour. If you’re into adventure, try the unique experience of blackwater rafting – you could crawl, swim or float through the caves on a rubber tube. Or you could abseil or zip-line through the darkness.

    Included: Car hire & hotel

    Day 22: Depart Auckland

    Make the most of your last day and head to Hobbiton in Matamata – just over an hour from Waitomo and on the way up to Auckland where you’ll fly out of. After a chance to do a movie set tour and enjoy a drink in the Shire, you can head up to Auckland airport where you’ll drop off your hire car in time for your onward flight.

    Included: Car hire & International flight

    Day 23: Arrive UK


    Why not add in a stopover in Singapore on the way?

    What's included
    • International flights
    • Return airport transfers
    • 10 days campervan hire
    • 8 days fully inclusive car hire
    • Accommodation in the North Island
    • Meals as mentioned in the itinerary

    New Zealand is a year-round destination and there is always something to see and enjoy whatever time you decide to travel. High season runs from December to February (summer), prices will be at a premium at these times and availability limited so it is advisable to book in advance. March to April and September to November can be a great time to travel as the weather is fine and the crowds fewer. Low season is May to August (winter) for most of New Zealand, this is, however, the best time for skiing and so ski towns such as Queenstown will be at their busiest.

    Are you looking for more New Zealand ideas?

    We’re experts in planning tailor-made holidays, so whether you’re looking for a luxury New Zealand holiday, ideas for a road trip or multi-stop flights to New Zealand with stopovers – let us help you with the planning. Our experts can tailor-make precisely the trip you’re looking for – this itinerary is purely a suggestion, so please contact us with your dates and requests, and we’ll put together a bespoke quotation for you.
     

    Not included
    • Additional insurance for campervan
    • Any meals not mentioned
    • Personal expenses
    • Tips & gratuities