New Zealand's North Island: 7-Day Luxury Self-Drive Tour with Scenic Lake Taupo Helicopter Flight & Gourmet Wine Tour
There’s something addictive about New Zealand’s north. On the drive from Wellington to Auckland, the stunning landscape ranges from verdant green hills to black-sand beaches, vibrant farmland and vineyards, and it’s worth taking the scenic route for many more reasons than just the scenery. Experience this majestic stretch of winding coastline on this incredible seven-day self-drive tour with included car hire and handpicked guided experiences, then cosy up with five-star hotel stays — including Sofitel Wellington and Hilton Lake Taupo.
Whether you prefer to frolic among the vines and indulge at epicurean eateries or delve deep into underground caverns and soar into the crystal-clear skies, this unique self-drive adventure has something for everyone. Be treated to the epicurean delights of Wellington with a gourmet walking tour, spoil yourself with a stay among some of New Zealand’s oldest vines in Hawke’s Bay and a 4WD safari of Cape Kidnappers. Take in a bird’s eye view of Lake Taupo during an included helicopter flight, witness the majesty of Huka Falls with a jet boat experience and marvel at the fluorescence of Footwhistle Glowworm Caves, before arriving in Auckland.
Your journey takes you to: Wellington — Napier — Taupo — Auckland.
Keen to see the South Island? Kick off your tour with a 7-Day South Island luxury self-drive pre-tour.
Covid-19 health and safety practices: Our expert Tours team is working hard to ensure the highest health standards at every point of your journey. Find out more.
The Handpicked Experiences — Enjoy the luxury of guided tours and the freedom to explore at your own pace
The open road is one of the best ways to explore the North Island’s breathtaking landscapes, but it’s the stops in between that make the journey. This is a luxurious self-drive tour that allows you to set off on a remarkable private escape and enjoy the comforts of guided tours with included experiences along the way.
Spoil the senses on this incredible seven-day self-drive journey, during which you’ll unearth the epicurean wonders of Wellington’s foodie scene with a walking city tour with food tastings along the way. Sit back and enjoy the expertise that comes with a private guided 4WD tour of Cape Kidnappers, the thrills of a helicopter ride over Lake Taupo and the serenity of gliding through Footwhistle Glowworm Caves with a private guide to divulge the cave’s secrets.
Optional South Island Pre-Tour Extension
As New Zealand offers two breathtakingly beautiful islands to explore, it would be a shame to see the wonders of one and leave the other undiscovered. In between the endlessly breathtaking sights that will greet you around every movie-worthy bend of this seven-day pre-tour extension, there’s included tours and off-the-beaten-path experiences, including a sightseeing walk through Christchurch and a ride through unspoiled landscapes on the world-famous TranzAlpine rail journey.
When you’re not on the road, you’ll be soaring above it with a once-in-a-lifetime scenic helicopter flight over Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier, complete with a snow landing, and the crystal glaciers of Fiordland National Park’s Milford Sound. In between the flights and train journey, the bespoke experiences continue with a 4WD safari through Wanaka, a cruise of Lake Wanaka and a visit to the hidden paradise of Mou Waho Island.
Your Optional South Island Extension Includes:
- Six nights of handpicked accommodation in luxury five-star hotels and boutique four-star lodges
- Daily breakfast and selected dining experiences, including afternoon tea at the summit of Mou Waho Island Nature Reserve
- Five days of all-inclusive, full-size AWD car rental with GPS (subject to availability)
- TranzAlpine Railway journey from Christchurch to Greymouth — one of the world’s greatest scenic railway journeys
- Scenic helicopter ride over Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers with guided snow landing
- Guided half-day 4WD safari adventure of Wanaka
- Lake Wanaka Cruise and guided nature walk of Mou Waho Island Nature Reserve
- One-hour scenic flight over Milford Sound and the ‘Big 5’ glaciers
- Select private transfers per itinerary
- Sightseeing with expert local guides per itinerary
Your tour begins at Wellington International Airport (WLG) and ends at Auckland International Airport (AKL). It is recommended you book your departure flight out of Auckland no earlier than 7pm on Day 7. A night of post-tour accommodation in Auckland may be required (at guests’ own cost).
Roundtrip flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately. Please do NOT book your flights until your tour is confirmed.
Private airport transfers are included on the first day only. On the final day, return your car rental to Auckland International Airport or join the optional South Island Extension Program to extend your stay in New Zealand.
You MUST complete your booking form within 7 days of booking. Following its completion, our Tours Concierge will be in touch to assist with any additional arrangements – including flights.
Important: Please allow for travelling time from international countries. International flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately. It is your responsibility to make your own travel arrangements and ensure that you arrive in Christchurch on your chosen tour start date.
A visa may be required for the destination you are visiting. It is each traveller’s responsibility to ensure they are holding a current visa. Please take the time to visit our preferred vendor’s website Visas Direct to assist you with any visa application requirements and processes. If you require any supporting documentation when applying for your visa please let us know and we would be more than happy to assist.
Need flights? Our dedicated flights concierge can assist with all your flight requirements, contact sales@luxuryescapes.com
Important Destination Information:
Time zone: GMT +12
Telephone: +64
Currency: NZ
Accessing money: ATMs are widely available with credit cards widely accepted within the city. Cash is advised when visiting rural areas.
Language: English
Climate: A hive of geothermal marvels and volcanic activity, it’s only fitting that the North Island is warmer and more tropical than its southern counterpart. It could be considered T-shirt weather even in winter when temperatures drop to 16°C, but an umbrella is advised.
Optional Pre-Tour Extension: 7-Day South Island Luxury Self-Drive Tour
Extend your journey and discover the wealth of beauty the South Island has to offer with an optional seven-day luxury South Island self-drive tour extension.
Day 1: Arrive in Wellington, New Zealand
Welcome to Wellington. In an otherwise resolutely outdoorsy nation, New Zealand’s capital is overflowing with cosmopolitan cool. Discover its easily walkable heart with edgy cafés, boutique food factories and a world-class restaurant culture set around a glittering waterfront.
On arrival at Wellington International Airport (WLG), you will be met by our local representative and transferred by private vehicle to the five-star Sofitel Wellington hotel. The opulence of this French heritage brand is apparent from the moment you step inside its gold and bronze-hued lobby. Enjoy the best of the city from a premium location, just across the road from the 25-acre Wellington Botanic Gardens, and easy access to the Jardin Grill restaurant hidden within the hotel.
Accommodation: Sofitel Wellington
Day 2: Wellington
After breakfast, dive into Wellington’s world-renowned foodie scene with a likeminded group of gourmands. Meet at the i-SITE Visitor Centre, where you will taste, drink and discover the city’s culinary delights on a gourmet walking tour. Sip some of the finest beans Wellington has to offer at a boutique coffee roastery and café (coffee roasting on weekdays only), try the fruits of Wellington’s fertile soil at select food specialists and get your fill of regional cheeses, honey, chocolates and more.
With an afternoon free, why not surround yourself with history at Te Papa Museum of New Zealand? Take the Kelburn Cable Car to the Botanic Gardens for breathtaking panoramas over the harbour and skyline or mingle with the local wildlife at Zealandia (Karori Wildlife Sanctuary), a 250-acre valley set around Karori Reservoir.
Accommodation: Sofitel Wellington
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Wellington — Napier (323km/200 miles — 4.5 hours non-stop drive time)
This morning, make your own way to Wellington Ferry Terminal to collect your full-size AWD rental vehicle for your drive to Napier.
Leave Wellington behind for the flat plains of Hutt Valley and journey north across the breathtaking Rimutaka Range to Featherston. Continue through the Wairarapa’s wide river valleys and undulating hill country to Woodville — a stop at Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre, a breeding sanctuary for the endangered cheeky kaka, takahe and giant eel, is highly recommended. Then, continue to the produce and wine haven of Hawke’s Bay.
An Art Deco time capsule surrounded by some of the finest red wine growing areas in New Zealand, Napier and its neighbour, Hastings, are places to be swilled, sniffed and sipped at your own pace.
Accommodation: The Crown Hotel or similar (See Fine Print for details)
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Napier — Te Awanga — Cape Kidnappers
Experience the extraordinary sandstone headland of Cape Kidnappers this morning on a private three-hour guided 4WD safari of the coast from Napier to Te Awanga.
Together with your private guide, you will enjoy a journey from coast to cape to see the world’s largest and most accessible gannet colony. En route, through gorgeous rolling pastures and steep native bush, enjoy a running commentary of the area’s farming operation. On arrival, take in the scenery from the cliff’s edge, 100m above the ocean, and enjoy refreshments (provided by your guide) surrounded by beautiful winged gannets.
Following your three-hour 4WD safari, enjoy an afternoon to explore as you please before joining a small-group progressive dinner. Decant the food and produce legacy of New Zealand’s oldest wine region with a guided visit to three of the area’s top restaurants.
Your first stop might be Vidal Restaurant — New Zealand’s first winery restaurant — for a choice of entrée, with up to six premium Vidal wines available for tasting. Savour stunning views from the top of Te Mata Peak across the Heretaunga Plains en route to your next possible venue: Terroir, the restaurant at the world-renowned Craggy Range Winery. Enjoy an à la carte main, perfectly matched with three wines. Then, you might visit New Zealand’s oldest winery, Mission Estate, where you can enjoy a dessert accompanied by two paired dessert wines.
Accommodation: The Crown Hotel or similar (See Fine Print for details)
Meals: Breakfast & Three-Course Progressive Dinner with paired New Zealand Wines
*Note: restaurants visited are subject to change.
Day 5: Napier — Taupo (143km/88 miles — 2 hours non-stop drive time)
Travel inland and climb through some of New Zealand’s most rugged scenery along the gorgeous Ahimanawa Range today. Before entering Taupo, you will pass through part of the man-made Kaingaroa Forest, blanketed in luscious pines.
Fringed by soaring green forest on the edge of the glittering Lake Taupo, Taupo is filled with undulating rivers and streams, offering an outdoor wonderland of water-skiing, sailing, kayaking, hiking and cycling.
On arrival, check into the Hilton Lake Taupo. This evening, enjoy an included three-course dinner featuring fresh local, seasonal produce at the hotel.
Accommodation: Hilton Lake Taupo or similar (See Fine Print for details)
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 6: Taupo
Gain a unique perspective of Lake Taupo’s natural splendour this morning with a 90-minute scenic cruise of the largest crater lake in the world. Sit back and watch this glorious display of nature unfurl before you as you depart from Taupo Boat Harbour and glide through the northern bay, spying Māori rock carvings and enjoying complimentary tea, coffee and homemade muffins.
Throughout this tranquil cruise, enjoy a commentary of the volcanic history of the lake and Māori mythology while taking in spectacular snowcapped mountain views of the World Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park.
Returning to Taupo Marina, you will be transferred to a helicopter for a 12-minute scenic flight over the top end of Lake Taupo, Craters of the Moon, Wairakei Natural Thermal Valley and the torrent of Huka Falls. After landing, hop on a jet boat for 30-minutes of adrenaline-fulled fun at Huka Falls.
Speed along this magnificent waterway to reach the awe-inspiring majesty of Huka Falls. From this unique vantage point, you will be able to witness 220,000 litres of water per second barrelling over the 11m-high waterfall.
Following your adrenaline-spiked adventure, return to your luxurious River Birches accommodation.
Accommodation: Hilton Lake Taupo or similar (See Fine Print for details)
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Taupo – Waitomo Glowworm Caves – Depart Auckland (163km/101 miles — 2.5 hours non-stop drive time)
Bid farewell to Lake Taupo this morning as you head north into the geothermal wonderland of Wairakei, passing Tokoroa, Putaruru, the Arapuni Hydro Power Station, the farming centre of Kihikihi and Otorohanga en route. From the turnoff at Hangatiki, it’s a short drive to Waitomo.
Under the green hills of Waitomo lies a labyrinth of caves and underground rivers, illuminated by fluorescent glowworms. On arrival, you will enjoy a private tour through native bush to the cave entrance of the famous Footwhistle Glowworm Caves to see this natural marvel for yourself.
Formation lights cast a warm glow over the stunning cave formations as the guide tells of the insect life here — the glowworm, tuna and eel. After a relaxed stroll through the cave, be seated in Footwhistle’s Cathedral to see it lit up by a dazzling magnesium torch.
Drive Waitomo — Auckland (210km/130 miles — 2 hours and 45 minutes non-stop drive time)
Continue your journey to diverse Auckland, passing through Kiwiana Town, Mount Pirongia — an extinct volcano and Waikato’s highest peak — and along the glittering Waikato River into the vibrant heart of the city.
On arrival, return your rental car to Auckland Airport for your onward journey or drop it off at the city centre brand to extend your stay in Auckland.
Meals: Breakfast