Day 8: Wellington - Greytown
Distance: 76 km (approximately)
Travel time: 1.25 hours (approximately)

Wellington is compact, cultured and full of character. Nestled between the harbour and the hills, the downtown area is ideal for explorations on foot. Enjoy cafes, restaurants, museums and all kinds of shops. Dance, theatre and musical performances are a Wellington specialty. As New Zealand's capital, this city is rich in political history. Visit Te Papa Museum on Wellington's waterfront. This is serious fun, not your usual museum - it has exhibitions that will entertain and interest everyone!

The drive to Martinborough whisks you out of the city on a fast moving motorway. You'll wind through the picturesque Hutt Valley before climbing over the Rimutaka Range and descending into the tranquillity of the Wairarapa region. After Featherston travel east towards Martinborough.

Martinborough is known to some as the gourmet capital of the lower North Island. It has over 25 vineyards in the area and lots of great restaurants to test your tastebuds! As Martinborough is a small town you can park up your Britz Campervan and walk to most of the local attractions.

Drive north through the Wairarapa.

Stay in Greytown tonight.

Greytown is filled with great shops and cafes. We recommend the French Baker for a breakfast stop this morning.

Continue your drive up to the north east of the North Island to Hastings and Napier. Only 20km apart, they are both famous in New Zealand for their Art Deco and Spanish Mission-style architecture.

The vineyards are well worth a visit in this area, as some of New Zealand's best wine are born in the Hawkes Bay.

Stay in Napier tonight.

Day 10: Napier - Taupo
Distance: 142 km (approximately)
Travel time: 2.0 hours (approximately)

Enjoy the scenery today on the Napier to Taupo road. Valleys, plains and rugged hill's you get it all on this strech of road.

Taupo is a favourite kiwi holiday spot. Loads to see and do – mostly starting with the largest Lake in NZ, Lake Taupo! Enjoy a hot spa in the thermal pools or catch a trout on the lake! Get amongst it all and go a little crazy with what Taupo has to offer - jetboating, 4x4 motorbiking, white-water rafting, kayaking, jet skiing, tandem skydiving, bungy jumping, horse trekking, parasailing, replica race-car driving, mountain biking, abseiling, rock climbing, skiing and snowboarding – just to name a few!! Try water-skiing, fishing, sailing or fly over and land on the lake in a float-plane. Bungy jump off a platform over the Waikato River, Tandem-skydive for a birds eye view of Lake Taupo, or get up close and very personal with the jaw-dropping Huka Falls in a jet boat or helicopter.

But it's not just the “man-made” attractions that make the Lake Taupo region an adventure-junkies paradise. Take a moment to look around your surroundings. Wild, unspoilt, unmatched. The little town of Turangi at the southern end of the Lake is “Adventure Central”. On its doorstep are the Tongariro River, Tongariro National Park, Kaimanawa Ranges, Lake Taupo and the Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Areas.

After seeing and experiencing everything that Taupo has on offer you won't be leave this place!

Stay in Taupo tonight.

Travel from Taupo to Rotorua today. When you get to Rotorua you can enjoy a hot swim at the Polynesian Spa, or check our the unique culture of New Zealand's Maori people. Rotorua is entertaining in any weather, at any time of the year. Tamaki Maori Village is one of the ‘must sees' in Rotorua. Here you can explore the rituals, music and food of a culture that existed before the Europeans arrived in New Zealand.

After you have had your fill of New Zealand culture head to the Blue and Green Lakes and take a walk. This 40 minute walk will give you chance to clear your head and experience some New Zealands nature.

Stay in Rotorua tonight.

Today head up the Thermal Explorer Highway and turn off at just after Cambridge and head to the Waitomo area.

Take a guided tour through the long galleries and chambers of Waitomo Glowworm Caves. The boat ride will take you through the amazing glow worm grotto which is lit by thousands of tiny living lights.

Take a tour through The Ruakuri Cave to explore the mysteries of the underground universe – hear the hidden waterfall, listen to the legend of the Ghost Walk, see the galleries of crystalline draperies and deep glowwrom flecked river canyons.

Stay in Waitomo tonight

Travel north back to Auckland today.

Overnight in Auckland tonight.

Two of the best island getaways are Waiheke Island and Great Barrier Island.

Auckland's temperate climate, easy access to the coast and variety of activities earn the city consistent top five rankings in international lifestyle surveys. Discover for yourself why it is one of New Zealand's best destinations.

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