DAY 1 : Auckland

On arrival in Auckland, self drive passengers will collect your rental car and drive to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free.

DAY 2 : Auckland - Rotorua (3 hrs drive from Auckland)

The central North Island town of Rotorua is one of New Zealand’s foremost tourism destinations known for its powerful Māori culture experiences and amazing geothermal parks.

The Rotorua Redwood Forest is the home of Elliot the Dragon and where Pete comes across his mysterious new friend. The 110-year-old trees tower above the forest floor and the numerous tracks and trails are popular with walkers and bikers.

For a dragons-eye-view of the forest floor below, the new Redwood Forest Treewalk takes you high above ground to stroll amongst giants. Or explore the forest by zipline with Rotorua Canopy Tours. (B)

DAY 3 : Rotorua

Explore the best of the Maori world in Rotorua. Places such as Te Puia offer cultural experiences that combine dramatic Maori performances – singing, dancing and haka (war dances) with delicious Maori food and arts. Te Puia is also a thermal reserve featuring more than 500 springs and the famous Pohutu Geyser which erupts up to 20 times a day, spurting hot water up to 30m skyward.

Other geothermal options to explore are Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley, Wai-O-Tapu or Waimangu Volcanic Valley. (B)

DAY 4 : Rotorua - Wellington ( (5 hrs 30 mins drive from Rotorua)

New Zealand’s capital city Wellington is known for its contribution to film and Weta Workshop, once again, played an important role in bringing Disney’s Pete’s Dragon to life. Weta Workshop tours have been named one of the top 10 studio tours in the world. Film fans can meet members of the creative team and see first-hand how they create jaw-dropping special effects. (B)

DAY 5 : Wellington

Just 30 minutes out of Wellington is Battle Hill Farm Park, which is where Pete makes the leap off a cliff only to land on Elliot’s back. The Battle Hill Farm Park is home to cycle trails and mountain bike tracks.

Explore Mt Victoria – a 10-minute drive from Miramar – was used to film several of the forest scenes in Disney’s Pete’s Dragon. The prominent tree-covered city landmark offers sweeping views across Wellington and is a favourite picnic spot and leisure destination for locals and tourists. The area has also become popular with filmmakers looking for a natural landscape in close proximity to the city and Miramar studios. (B)

DAY 6 : Wellington - Queenstown (1,20 hrs flight from Wellington)

Queenstown is a hugely popular tourist destination and there is nowhere more exciting or diverse to shoot a movie than in the adventure capital of the world. Situated on the shores of Lake Wakatipu beneath The Remarkables mountain range, Queenstown has movie star good looks.

The beautiful lakes and snowy alps are picture-perfect for a flight on the back of a dragon. Take your own leap off the edge, much like Pete in the film, with A J Hackett Bungy, home of the world’s first commercial bungy operation, a visit to Queenstown without a bungy jump is like a visit to Disneyland with no space mountain. (B)

DAY 7 : Queenstown

Not far from Queenstown, on the northern tip of Lake Wakatipu, sits Glenorchy and the gateway to Paradise. Paradise is true to its namesake and the picturesque location has to be seen to be believed. Travel one of New Zealand’s most scenic driving routes, then journey up the river aboard a Dart River Jet Boat and, as you zoom through the shallow river on your way to Paradise, you won’t believe what you are seeing. (B)

DAY 8 : Queenstown - Southland (2 hrs 30 mins drive from Queenstown)

The small South Island town of Tapanui (Pop. 900), located in the Otago region of the lower South Island, was transformed into Millhaven, a small fictional logging town in America’s Pacific Northwest, for Disney’s Pete’s Dragon. Tapanui is renowned for its incredible fishing in rivers brimming with brown trout and salmon. The Pomahaka River offers world class fishing with some of the biggest brown trout to be found anywhere in the world.

If fishing isn’t your thing, then grab a bike and jump on the Clutha Gold Trail one of the New Zealand Cycle Trail’s Great Rides. The trail is 72 kilometres/ 45 miles long and follows one of the country’s longest rivers through a landscape rich with goldminers’ tales of bust and boom.(B)

DAY 9 : Queenstown - Departure day

Your arrangements conclude today with a departure transfer or the return of your rental car. We trust you enjoyed your New Zealand Vacation! (B)