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New Zealand is spectacular and wonderful and my impressions of the country are given in this gallery. The itinerary of our two-week trip is presented below, travelling mainly by car (self-drive). At the sites, extensive hiking and trekking into the mountains, forests, hills, and even a glacier were involved, which offered breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes. We visited both the North and South Islands.

Day 1: Arrival in Auckland. Sites: City centre, Sky Tower, harbour, main streets.
Day 2: Auckland-Whangarei-Paihia (by car). Sites: Muriwai, gannet breeding grounds on the rocks at Muriwai beach, Wellsworth, Leigh, Paihia, Bay of Islands.
Day 3: Paihia-Cape Reinga (day trip, by bus). Sites: Puketi forest, Cape Reinga & Lighthouse, Spirits Bay, Te Paki sand dunes, The Bluff, Ninety Mile Beach.
Day 4: Paihia-Matamata-Hamilton (by car). Sites: Hamilton, Wairere falls (153m, highest in North Island), around “Hobbiton” areas near Matamata.
Day 5: Hamilton-Waitomo-New Plymouth (by car). Sites: Waitomo caves & glowworms, New Plymouth, spectacular coastline between Awaking and New Plymouth.
Day 6: New Plymouth-North Egmont (Mt Taranaki)-Wanganui (by car). Sites: Mt Taranaki (taking Summit Track).
Day 7: Wanganui-Whakapapa Village-Taupo (by car). Site: Mt Ruapehu (“Modor”), Mt Ngauruhoe (“Mt Doom”), Chateau Tongariro, Lake Rotopounamu, Lake Taupo.
Day 8: Taupo-Waiotapu-Rotorua (by car), Rotorua-Christchurch (by plane). Sites: Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland, Huka falls, Waikato river, Huka Jet, Christchurch.
Day 9: Christchurch-Greymouth (by train, TranzAlpine), Greymouth-Franz Josef Village (by car). Sites: Spectacular train ride over the Southern Alps, Arthur’s Pass, Franz Josef glacier.
Day 10: Franz Josef Village-Haast-Wanaka (by car). Fox glacier & guided trek, Haast Pass, Lake Wanaka, Lake Hawea.
Day 11: Wanaka-Lake Tekapo-Ashburton-Christchurch (by car). Sites: Lindi’s Pass, Lake Pukaki with view of Mt Cook, Lake Tekapo.
Day 12: Christchurch-Lyttelton (by car), Christchurch-Auckland (by plane). Sites: Exploring Christchurch and Bank’s Peninsula: Lyttleton, Summit Road, Lyttleton harbour.
Day 13: Auckland-Harbour-Davonport (by boat): Auckland harbour, exploring Davonport, Auckland by night from Davonport.
Day 14: Departure from Auckland.