New Zealand Dive & Drive Adventure

Meet our expert Chris Hawkins

Speak to our Specialist who will be delighted to assist and offer further information on your choices for your diving holiday.

Call Chris Hawkins on 0844 332 9396

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Day 1
Arrive in Auckland and take your private transfer to the Waldorf Stadium apartment for one night located on the Quay Park/Aukland Water Front area. This apartment hotel complex provides luxurious, high quality accommodation in a central location perfect  for exploring the city. Overnight Waldorf Stadium Apartments.

Day 2
Your rental car will be delivered to your accommodation at 09:00am. Today take a 3 hour drive from Auckland to Tutukaka while passing the vineyards of Matakana and the Tawharanui Marine reserve. Arrive at the Pacific Rendezvous for two night’s accommodation in a studio which overlooks the Tutukaka Harbour and breathtaking views of the famous poor Knights Islands. Overnight pacific Rendezvous.

Day 3
Go Diving! Internationally recognised as “the best sub-tropical diving in the world”, the Poor Knights Islands are on every divers ‘must-do’ list and Jacques Cousteau ranked them as one of the top ten sites in the world. A dive on the Poor Knights is a once in a lifetime experience and certainly a highlight of diving in New Zealand. Included are 2 dives on the Poor Knights Island. Overnight pacific Rendezvous.

Day 4
Go diving! The Poor Knights Islands have so much to offer we have scheduled another 2 dives to enjoy this incredible diving location. Once the diving here is completed you take a 2 hour drive north to the Bay of Islands. Paihia is the main tourist centre in the bay with a great beachside atmosphere. Check inb to the Casa Bella Motel for 3 night’s accommodation in a studio.

Day 5
Explore the Bay of Islands. A visit to the Bay of Islands wouldn’t be complete without a cruise amongst the islands or even a trip with the dolphins. Dolphin Discoveries operate daily swimming with the Dolphins Tours and also Discover the Bays cruises. Overnight Casa Bella Motel.

Day 6
Go Diving! The Rainbow Warrior was Greenpeace flagship when it was sunk by French saboteurs on the 10th July 1985 in Auckland Harbour. The Warrior is one of the world’s premier wreck dives and one of the highlights of this trip. Overnight Casa Bella Motel.

Day 7
Today head west from the Bay of Islands as you leave the Pacific Ocean and soon arrive at the Auckland Harbour Bridge and into the city. The drive will take approximately 3.5 hours. Once back in Auckland you check into the Waldorf Stadium Apartments for one night.

Day 8
Today you travel from Auckland to Rotorua. On route we have included an excursion to the Waitomo Caves and a journey through the Tongariro National Park, a World Heritage Site. Three active volcanoes form the backbone of this spectacular region and activities you can participate in include hiking, climbing and mountain biking. Arrive at the Fenton Court Motel for two night accommodation in a One Bedroom Spa Bath Unit.

Day 9
Go Diving! We have included 2 dives at White Island, a unique dive site surrounded by a live volcano estimated to be 200,000 years old. Overnight Fenton Court Motel.

Day 10
Explore Rotorua and the surrounding area. Rotorua sits in the centre of the world’s most volcanically active region evident through the smell of sulphur and no visit here will be complete without visiting one of the many geothermal parks or areas. Once you have finished exploring the area take a flight from Rotorua to Nelson, arriving approximately 15:30. On arrival in Nelson collect your car and take a 45 minute drive to Abel Tasman National Park, the drive takes you around Golden Bay and its popular beaches en route to Abel Tasman Marahau Lodge where you spend one night in a chalet.

Day 11
Included: Tonga Island Seals excursion & guided walk. Once the excursion is complete you take a 2 hour drive from Abel Tasman National Park to Picton where you overnight at the Aldan Lodge Motel.

Day 12 & Day 13
Go Diving – 2 day wreck diving liveaboard. This is all about New Zealand famous wreck dives Lermontov, Koi, Lastingham and Rangitoto. This 2 day liveaboard includes all meals, at least 3 dives per day, technical diving support (including mixed gas & twin rigs), weight belt and cylinder rental.

Day 14
Disembark from the Go Dive liveaboard and travel from Picton to Kaikoura for a 2.5 hour drive passing New Zealand’s largest wine producing region, Marlborough. This is an ideal chance to enjoy an afternoon sampling the local produce, before making your way towards one of the most spectacular coastlines of the South Island, the Kaikoura Coast where you have an opportunity to go Whale watching and see Giant Sperm, Humpback, Pilot, Blue and Southern Right Whales. Here you overnight at the Anchor Inn Motel, a luxurious 5 star motel located on the Kaikoura waterfront.

Day 15
Included Activity – Seal Swim. As well as its whale population, Kaikoura is also famous for its resident seals and you will experience an exciting and adventurous encounter with these curious animals on either a land based or boat based snorkelling tour. Once you have completed the Seal swim your journey takes you to Christchurch past spectacular coastline and another major wine region, Waipara Valley. Your accommodation in Christchurch awaits, centrally located with a short stroll into the city centre. Overnight Camelot Motor Lodge.

Day 16
Explore Christchurch City and the surrounding area. City highlights include the International Antarctic Centre, Willowbank Wildlife reserve and the Tamaki Heritage Village. Overnight Camelot Motor Lodge.

Day 17
All good things come to an end and your epic New Zealand adventure has now come to an end. Drop off your rental car at Christchurch airport for your return flight back to the UK.

Poor Knights Island

Internationally recognised as "the best sub-tropical diving in the world", the Poor Knights Islands are on every diver's ‘must-do' list. Jacques Cousteau ranked them as one of the top ten sites anywhere. NZ's premier charter operator, professional crew, full equipment hire, 364 days a year, top service, reliability and safety.
Washed by warm currents sweeping south from the Coral Sea, the Poor Knights Islands are an international icon 23km off the Tutukaka Coast. The island's volcanic origins provide myriad spectacular drop offs, walls, caves, arches and tunnels, all inhabited by an amazing array of underwater life. Below the water, for 800 metres around the islands is a marine reserve. Above, the islands are a nature reserve.

The complex underwater landscape is a unique environment. Subtropical and temperate marine life coexist with extraordinary diversity, beauty and density. Over 125 species of fish share this environment with soft corals, encrusting sponges, vibrant anemones, ecklonia kelp forests, mating sting rays, gorgonian fans and myriad other life forms. A dive at the Poor Knights is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, very different to coral reefs or diving on the nearby New Zealand coast.

Wreck Diving

Two former Navy ships, purpose sunk for diving excitement, have been prepared and maintained for easy access penetration diving. When accompanied by a well qualified wreck guide dive master, this is high adventure diving. HMNZS Tui, formerly a US Navy ship, was designed for hydrological survey and submarine hunting spy work and protected New Zealand's anti nuclear protest fleet at Mururua. At 62 metres long she now lies in 30 metres of water just 2km north of Tutukaka Heads.

HMNZS Waikato, a Leander class frigate, complete with guns and helicopter hanger. 113 metres long she now lies in 28 metres of water just 2km south of Tutukaka Heads.Penetrate the wrecks through purpose cut access and exit point, and explore control rooms, bridges, crew living quarters and engine rooms via established routes.

Wreck - The Lermontov now lies on her Starboard side and is fully intact. Diving on the Lermontov is a fantastic experience, with the propellers, damage, funnel, bridge and pool area all easily assessable. Penetration dives are not recommended unless with an experienced guide. Go Dive Marlborough offer external and penetration dives depending on your goals and your experience.

Wreck - The Koi was built in Scotland in 1906, it was a twin screw steamer of 53 net register tons and shipped to New Zealand in sections, where she was assembled and launched the same year.

Wreck - The Lastingham was built in West Hartlepool, England in 1876, it was a twin mast iron sailing ship of 1217 net register tons and underway to New Zealand.

Wreck - The Rangitoto was built in Whiteinch, Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1869, it was a iron steamer ship of 449 net register tons and underway to Wellington.