A fantastic itinerary to capture the adventure and diving opportunities that New Zealand has to offer in abundance.
Spend 14 nights touring New Zealand, taking in both the north and south islands and the country’s best dive sites, including Poor Knights, the Rainbow Warrior and the wreck of the HMNZS Canterbury.
Suggested Itinerary
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Days 1-2
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Depart the UK for Auckland
Why not take the opportunity to break your journey in Los Angeles or one of the Pacific islands such as Fiji?
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Day 3:
Drive to Tutukaka
From Auckland, drive to Tutukaka on the Paradise Coast (2.5 hours). This is a tranquil stretch of coastline with stunning beaches and coastal walks.
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Day 4:
Poor Knights Marine Reserve
Named by Jacques Cousteau as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world, the warm currents allow for a unique blend of subtropical and temperate marine life. Divers can observe over 125 species of fish, soft corals, vibrant sponges, sting rays, kelp forests and Rikoriko, an immense sea cave reputed to have hidden a marauding Japanese submarine during WW ll.
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Day 5:
HMNZS Waitako and Tui
Diving the Twin Wrecks (Tutukaka Coast) of HMNZS Waikato and Tui, scuttled to create artificial reefs, lying at 30 metres. Drive to the Bay of Islands, New Zealand?s Winterless North, with 144 islands, secluded bays and an abundance of marine life including marlin, whales, penguins and dolphins.
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Day 6:
Rainbow Warrior
Controversially bombed and sunk in 1985, this artificial reef has matured into an ever-growing host to marine life and is an excellent shallow water wreck dive suitable for certified open water divers. It is the home to schools of golden snapper and john dory making this, one of the world’s most famous wrecks, a most memorable dive.
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Day 7:
Wonders of Cape Brett
This striking headland includes the famous Hole in the Rock tunnel, Cathedral Cave on Piercy Island, and the dramatic Deepwater Cove. Kingfish, kahawai, trevally, and maomao cruise the sheer rock faces, which plunge to 37 metres in places.
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Day 8:
Wreck of the HMNZS Canterbury (F421)
Scuttled in 2007, this is becoming a popular artificial reef for marine life and divers to explore. Sitting upright on the ocean floor in sheltered waters, this is a spectacular dive especially for enthusiastic underwater photographers.
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Day 9:
Drive to the Coromandel
Take time to relax and enjoy the beautiful beaches and native bush.
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Day 10:
Alderman Islands, Cormandel Coast
Located 20 km off the coast, this series of island peaks are remnants of volcanoes with spectacular scenery, great visibility and a varied marine life, these are often compared with the Poor Knights.
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Day 11:
Drive to The Bay of Plenty, Whakatane
Drive to Whakatane - The Bay of Plenty, a beautiful town with wonderful bush walks, recreational activities and panoramic seascapes.
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Day 12:
The Bay of Plenty, White Island Volcano
A unique opportunity to dive a live volcano with an abundant variety of marine life including king fish, sting rays and large schools of blue maomao, this is an exciting dive. What makes it truly unique are the bubbling underwater fissures creating an underwater jacuzzi.
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Day 13:
Fly to Picton, South Island
This waterfront village is nestled between the hills and sea at the top of the South Island, New Zealand's gateway to the glorious sunny Marlborough Sounds Maritime Park.
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Day 14:
Mikhael Lermontov wreck, the Red Giant (Marlborough Sounds)
In 1986, this 170 metre luxurious cruise liner sunk under mysterious circumstances and became one of the most accessible diving wrecks of the modern era. Still intact, the wreck is a treasure trove of artefacts. Everything from bottles of Russian vodka to a fully stocked library awaits you below deck.
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Day 15:
Riwaka Caverns
A relatively easy freshwater cave dive, reached via a short bush walk and entered through a three metre sump. The highlight of the dive is the massive chamber at the end of the second sump. Here scuba equipment is removed and stalactite and stalagmite formations can be admired and explored. The sheer size of this chamber is totally unexpected - a magnificent waterfall of pink limestone cascades ten metres down one side.
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Days 16-17
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Drive to Christchurch and fly back to UK
Time to leave New Zealand and catch the evening flight back to the UK, via Auckland and Los Angeles.
Please note: Guide price excludes flights. Dive Worldwide can arrange these as part of your itinerary.