New Zealand

FLY London to Auckland - stopovers are available in cities such as Dubai or Singapore and can help break up the journey.

TIP - you'll probably be fairly tired on arrival so a flight that arrives in the evening when you can go straight to your hotel and bed, is a very good idea!

COLLECT YOUR CAR - after a good night's sleep, collect your car and your adventure begins!

** N.B. For the ferry crossing - most car hire companies require you drop the car off in Wellington and collect a new one in Picton.

Rotorua is one of New Zealand's 'Must See' places with bizarre geothermal landscapes of bubbling mud pools and geysers. Driving into the town is interesting in itself - we saw steam rising from the side of a road and went to investigate. It turned out there was a park nearby with steaming, boiling mud pools which you can just wander around for free.

A slight detour on the way down to Wellington but well worth the one night here. Napier is famous for its art-deco architecture from the 1930's and makes for a very pleasant stop by the sea.

The best city in New Zealand in my opinion with a great shopping, arts and restaurant culture and fantastic views over the harbour from the hills above. A 2 night stay is recommended.

COLLECT YOUR CAR - if you have left your car in Wellington, collect a new car and drop off in Christchurch.

From Picton, it's a 2 hour drive to Kaikoura, which I think is one of the highlights of any trip to New Zealand and yet so many tours seem to miss this out, or only allow for a short stay. Most people think of whale watching, and it is excellent, but there are also seals and dolphins you can swim with.

Ferry Crossing - the Interislander ferry makes the crossing from Wellington to Picton about 4-5 times per day, and is considered to be one of the most scenic ferry crossings in the world. On board there are cafes, shops, a cinema and bar, plus the observation deck. For a small premium, adults can upgrade to 'Premium Plus' class which gives extra comfort, wifi and a meal with wine or soft drink.

Christchurch is still recovering from the recent earthquake, and it is clear that it will be a few more years yet before it is fully re-built. However that does not mean you should miss it out - a walk around the city reveals some of the issues such as whether or not to demolish the badly damaged cathedral, but also some of the inspired ways that the city is coming to life once again - the colourful shipping crates that have been turned into shops, and the 'cardboard' cathedral, just out of town.

COLLECT YOUR CAR - you will now keep the car until the end of your holiday.

The two glaciers of Franz Josef and Fox are about 30 minutes drive from each other along a scenic and winding road. If you're coming from Greymouth, it makes sense to stay at Franz Josef - all the activities you might want are here.

Train from Christchurch to Greymouth - one of the world's top 6 train journeys, this is a spectacular journey from Christchurch on the east coast to Greymouth on the west coast. You'll pass through stunning scenery and valleys, up and across the Southern Alps via Arthur's Pass.

The place to come for all the hair raising activities you never want to do such as bungee jumping and jet-boating, and Queenstown certainly does have more of a buzz about it than other cities. There are some nice restaurants by the harbour, where there's also an ice bar, and this is also the place to come for cruises on the famous TSS Earnslaw steamship. The drive along the Lake Wakatipu to Glenorchy (the end of the lake as on TV) is spectacular.

Te Anau is a very good place to stay the night before a cruise to either Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound, as otherwise the transfer from Queenstown is quite long, especially if you're just doing a day cruise.

While a day trip can be spectacular, nothing beats the overnight cruise which gives you far more time to take in the wonderful scenery, waterfalls, mountains and wildlife, and a more relaxing and peaceful experience.

You will cruise the full length of Milford Sound with an on-board nature guide, and get the chance to explore on tenders or kayaks, or just watch the scenery from the deck. A 4 course evening buffet dinner is served, and next morning after a full buffet breakfast there is time for more exploring before the return to Milford.

The boat has 28 cabins, all with en-suite bathrooms, and there are viewing decks and the observation lounge.

On the way to Mount Cook, you could of course stop back at Queenstown for the night, but you've already been, and there is a quaint little town called Arrowtown just a little further on. It's a delight to wander round and visit the Chinese settlement, and to do the lovely riverside walk. I had an afternoon there but would quite happily have stayed for dinner as there are some tempting restaurants.

The drive to Mount Cook is almost as spectacular as the mountain itself - we stopped endlessly for photo stops as the road follows the edge of Lake Pukaki for much of the 30 mile drive to the village.

There are a number of walks possible from fairly easy to serious hiking. The visitor centre has a huge amount of information about Mount Cook and the options available.

Please note that accommodation can get booked up several months in advance, especially in peak season.

On the way back to Christchurch you must make a stop at Lake Tekapo, a small town by the turquoise lake. Lupins flower at certain times of year and you can get wonderful panoramic views from the observatory above the town. A great place to stop for a coffee.

NEXT Day - FLY Christchurch to London.