New Zealand from North to South: Auckland to Queenstown

The CBD (central business district) is full of fashionable restaurants and bars and the stylish Viaduct Basin. It's all going on in the City of Sails. The New Zealand Maritime Museum is within walking distance: it exhibits everything from explorations to Maori sailors to triumphs at the America's Cup. Also nearby is New Zealand's oldest park, the Auckland Domain, and the beautiful tropical glasshouses of the Wintergardens, dating back to the 1920s. The shabby-chic Karangahape Road and the artsy suburb of Ponsonby are well worth exploring, while Rugby lovers must head to Eden Park, south-west of the business district. a climb to the top of Mount Victoria will give you a amazing views of the city. The sun sends Aucklanders running to the beaches of Waitemata Harbour. In fact, you'll soon find out why Auckland is regularly voted as one of the best cities to live in.

Pick up your hire car and drive to Rotorua. Spend the night in a beautiful colonial Victorian Bay Villa built in 1905, just a ten-minute walk from town. It has retained much of its original features, including its intricate fretwork decorations, verandah posts, and Union Jack balustrade. From the verandah, you can admire the garden planted with vines and lemon trees. Breakfast is particularly delicious.

Included in the itinerary - Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland. With its neon and neutral-coloured lakes, creamy, rippling muds, geysers that erupt like clockwork, bubbling hot springs and fumaroles, the pathways around this large park offer visitors the effects of our Earth's chemistry and physics in all their splendour. This is where you can see the real psychedelic side of Mother Nature.
Head to Whakapapa and Tongariro National Park. Stay for two nights in a hotel that is part of the Park's history; it opened in 1929. It's set against the backdrop of the mountains and in front of it there's an immaculate golf course. The inside boasts grand classicism. It's communal areas are opulent, comfortable and well-balanced. One restaurant serves New Zealand cuisine, whilst the other serves small, international dishes to be eaten with your fingers. The bar serves bottles of lovely ale. You can relax in the spa, show off your pool or petanque skills or keep fit in the gym.

In order to preserve their sacred sites, the Maori people donated volcanic mountains Tongariro, Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe to the Crown to ensure that they would not be exploited, and the park was officially established in 1887. Today, it's Middle Earth. There are pristine landscapes all around. Tongariro Alpine Crossing, with its emerald lakes, has become a classic, as has the crater of Mount Ruapehu. There are carefully marked paths, suitable for any type of activity, from a simple walk to a long hike. Climbing, mountain biking, rafting, canoeing and flying are also options. In winter, you can ski on the slopes of Ruapehu.
Optional - Flight over the Tongariro National Park volcanoes.

Drive to Wellington. Overnight stay in the city centre, in a hotel with a Scandinavian-inspired design. boast clean lines. The restaurant serves healthy cuisine and the bar serves craft beers. Guests have access to a nearby gym. The stop for the famous funicular is very close by, which takes you to the hills of Kelburn, where you'll have a beautiful view of the city. Wellington boats a very strong coffee culture. Te Papa Tongarewa, the National Museum of New Zealand, exhibits splendid ethnographic collections, and the largest colossal squid ever caught. Mulgrave Street is home to Old St. Paul's, the former Anglican cathedral, which is a true example of Gothic Revival architecture in the Antipodes (1865-1924).

Ferry to South Island. Two-night stay just west of Kaiteriteri Lagoon. From the hotel, you can see the water shimmering all the way to the sea through the surrounding greenery. The estate is made up of private chalets, which are all well-appointed and eco-friendly. The vegetarian restaurant adds to the hotel's wellness element. Have a nice swim in both the outdoor and indoor pools; and immerse yourself in the bubbles of both the outdoor and indoor Jacuzzis. You may even like to stop by the steam room or the sauna. Spa staff provide professional, holistic treatments. The area is great for cycling; bikes and mountain bikes can be hired from the hotel. The golden sands of Kaiteriteri Beach are just a stone's throw away.

Included in the itinerary - Hiking and kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park. Founded in 1942, one of the most attractive parts of this National Park is its coastline. Walk from Marahau to Watering Cove along a section of the Coast Track, the region's best-loved hiking trail for New Zealand hikers. You'll be accompanied by an expert guide. Enjoy lunch on the beach then return to Marahau by sea kayak. Along the way, sea lions, dolphins or penguins frequently come and join you on the ride. On Adele Island you'll find the Saddleback, a bird that is considered a good omen in Maori culture. All day long, you'll be amazed by the contrasts of colour between forest, sand and water.

Drive to Greymouth. Spend the night about nine miles away on the coast of Punakaiki, overlooking the Tasman Sea. A path leads to the beach, which is just below the garden. There are only four rooms, all of which have a balcony overlooking the rolling waves. It exudes simple comfort, like much of New Zealand's hospitality. Breakfast, which is made up of carefully selected ingredients, sets you up for the day. When you return from your day of exploration, take a seat on the terrace and tuck into a pizza or a plate of antipasti. Greymouth is the West Coast's cultural and economic hub. Since the end of the Gold Rush, business hasn't stopped; the area is well known for its's forestry, jade mining, fishing and breweries.

Drive to the Fox Glacier in Westland Tai Poutini National Park. Stay overnight on the edge of the park in a beautiful, modern cottage with panoramic views of the Southern Alps, Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. Inside, the decor is classic and the rooms are comfortable. The sea is just a little to the west, but you're just about to leave it all behind as the mountains are calling.

Drive to Wanaka. Spend the night in the village at the bottom of Roys Bay. The rooms are divided into wood-sided maisonettes. There is certainly no lack of creature comforts. Breakfast is served at a large, shared table. On site, the day spa offers massages, treatments and an outdoor Jacuzzi to re-energise guests. The fireplace in the library perfectly complements these little pleasures. Lake Wanaka and the surrounding landscapes are great for outdoor activities in all seasons. Pinot Noir also benefits from the region's conditions; world-class wines are produced here.

Head to Lake Te Anau in the Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend two nights in a modern guesthouse. The rooms and common areas are immaculate. The owners of the guest house are passionate about what they do. They cook all meals, serving up fish they have caught themselves and home-grown produce from their sustainable garden. In a place where there is such a varied landscape, from mountains to lakes to fjords, the wildlife you can find here seems endless, particularly the bird species. For instance the Kakapo, a large, flightless parrot and the Takahe, which is also flightless. Both birds are protected species here.

Included in the itinerary - Milford Sound Cruise, Fiordland National Park. Cruising on the fjord, with its steep, jagged walls that sometimes rise more than 3,500ft above the water, allows you to experience geology in all its glory. There are also two spectacular waterfalls: Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls. Large dolphins play alongside the boat, and you'll spot seals, rockhopper penguins and, sometimes, humpback or mink whales. The conditions in the fjord are perfect for black corals to grow below the surface of the water. The 5,520ft Mitre Peak, which is a particularly picturesque mountain, dominates everything around it.

Drive to Queenstown. Night in Frankton Arm, on Lake Wakatipu. The bedrooms and common areas are worth particular mention for their beautiful views of the surrounding areas. There's something quite lavish about this guest house. From the South Pacific bar to the tennis court, you can enjoy your last few days in New Zealand in an amazing setting. Queenstown is New Zealand's adventure capital. Take a fantastic tour of Wakatipu Lake on the TSS Earnslaw steamship dating back to 1912, where you'll be transported back in time to another era of travel.
Included in the itinerary - Private hot pool with view The facility is located on the side of a cliff above the Shotover River canyon. The hot pools, which have a Japanese style, are filled with crystal-clear water where you can control the temperature. Your cabin offers complete privacy and views of the Shotover River. The retractable ceiling means you can change the setting depending on the weather.