New Zealand Tour Itinerary

Most people I know would travel to New Zealand via free and easy and plan out their itinerary on their own. In fact, before we decided to sign up with Haka Tours, we did some calculations and decided that we were too busy to plan out the whole trip. So kc went and did some research and suggested a few tours but in the end it was Haka Tours that attracted us with the itinerary and cost as well.

Just to share, here's the itinerary for our whole trip starting from South Island, Christchurh ending in Auckland. So, do we recommend Haka Tours to those who wanted to enjoy New Zealand, at least for me, it's a yes. I like them for the flexibility and small groups and we can choose to pay after the end of the trip for additional activities. Those optional activities that I highlighted in blue are those that we choose.

Day 1 – Christchurch to Lake Tekapo
Meeting time – 8am (introductions and breakfast)
Optional Activities – Hot Air Ballooning, Surf Lessons
Accommodation – YHA Tekapo – 03 680 6857
Driving time – 3 hrs

Day 2 – Lake Tekapo to Queenstown
Optional Activities – Scenic Flight, Kawarau Bridge Bungy
Accommodation – Pinewood Lodge, Queenstown – 03 442 8273
Driving time – 3 hrs

Day 3 – Queenstown
Optional Activities – skydiving, paragliding, hand gliding, Shotover Canyon Swing, Nevis bungy, Nevis Arc, Kawarau Bridge bungy, quad biking, white-water rafting, extreme jet boating, sledging, heli-mountain biking, snowboarding/skiing in Winter, day trip to Milford Sound (coach or flight), horse trekking, Ziptrek
Accommodation – Pinewood Lodge, Queenstown – 03 442 8273
Driving time – n/a

Day 4 – Queenstown to Wanaka
Optional Activities – Queenstown activities in the morning, then Monster Trucks at Cardrona
Accommodation – Purple Cow Backpackers, Wanaka – 03 443 1880
Drive time – 1 hr

Day 5 – Wanaka to Franz Josef
Optional Activities – skydiving at Wanaka, acrobatic flight, wakeboarding
Accommodation – Chateau Franz – 03 752 0738
Driving time – 4 hrs

Day 6 – Franz Josef
Optional Activities – glacier trek, heli-hike, quad biking
Accommodation – Chateau Franz – 03 752 0738
Driving time – n/a

Day 7 – Franz Josef to Christchurch
Accommodation – Haka Lodge, CHCH – 03 980 4252
Driving time – 2 hrs, 4 hrs train journey

Day 8 – Christchurch to Kaikoura
Optional Activities – Hot Air Ballooning, Surf Lessons, Tank Driving
Accommodation – Dusky Lodge, Kaikoura – 03 319 5959
Driving time – 2.5 hrs

Day 9 – Kaikoura to Wellington
Optional Activities – Dolphin Swimming, Whale Watch, Surfing lesson
Accommodation – YHA Wellington City – 04 801 7280
Driving time – 2.5 hrs to Picton, 3 hr on ferry

Day 10 - Wellington
Accommodation – YHA Wellington City – 04 801 7280
Optional Activities – Windsurfing, Mountain Biking, Adrenalin Forest

Day 11 – Wellington to Taupo
Accommodation – Blackcurrant Backpackers 07 378 9292
Driving time – 4 hrs

Day 12 - Free Day Taupo
Optional Activities – skydiving, bungy, sailing, parasailing, mountain biking, Tongariro Crossing
Accommodation – Blackcurrant Backpackers 07 378 9292
Driving time – n/a

Day 13 – Taupo to Rotorua
Optional Activities – Zorb, Bungy, Skydiving, Agrodome Sheep Show
Accommodation – YHA Treks – 07 349 4088
Driving time – 2 hours

Day 14 – Rotorua to Waitomo Caves
Optional Activities – white-water rafting, sledging, gondola and luge track, Hobbiton
Accommodation – Waitomo Backpackers – 07 878 3395
Driving time – 2 hrs

Day 15 – Waitomo to Coromandel
Optional Activities – 4 hour Lost World Caving Trip, Black Water Rafting
Accommodation – Turtle Cove, Whitianga – 07 867 1517
Driving time – 3 hrs

Day 16 – Coromandel to Auckland
Optional Activities – sea kayaking
Accommodation – YHA Auckland International, 5 Turner St – 09 302 8200
Driving time – 2.5 hrs