Itinerary
- Day 1
Auckland
You'll arrive in Auckland whenever works best for you, then head out to explore the waterfront areas that give the city its character. Later this evening, you'll meet up with the rest of your group for drinks and dinner to get to know everyone and start your New Zealand trip off right.
- Meals
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Explore Auckland's waterfront precincts
- Discover Auckland's hip neighborhoods
- Day 2
Auckland
Your morning includes a behind-the-scenes look at the New Zealand Maritime Museum's America's Cup exhibition, where you'll see how the city built boats and check out a replica of the famous yacht. After that, your guide takes you around to Bastion Point and the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial, both with nice views over Mission Bay. You'll have the afternoon free to walk around and see what else catches your interest in the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- America's Cup Tour at New Zealand Maritime Museum
- Guided Auckland city tour including Bastion Point and Michael Joseph Savage Memorial
- View Mission Bay
Optional Activities
- Afternoon exploration of Auckland
Landmarks/POIs New Zealand Maritime Museum Bastion Point Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Mission Bay - Day 3
Auckland to Rotorua
This afternoon you'll head to Rotorua for a private after-hours tour of Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland. You'll see the Devils Bath and mud pools that bubble away, then relax with a mocktail and canapes by the champagne pool. Later tonight, you'll experience Maori culture at Te Pā Tū Māori with seasonal canapes, an aperitif chosen by the chef, and a three-course dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Three-course dinner at Te Pā Tū Māori Experience with forest kai horotai and chef choice aperitif)
Included Activities
- Exclusive after-hours guided tour of Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
- View Devils Bath and mud pools
- Mocktail and canapes at champagne pool
- Guided Indigenous Experience at Te Pā Tū Māori Experience
- Forest kai horotai (seasonal canapes)
- Chef choice aperitif
- Three-course dinner at Te Pā Tū Māori Experience
Landmarks/POIs Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland Te Pā Tū Māori Experience - Day 4
Rotorua
Today's yours to decide what you want to do. You can relax in the thermal waters at Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa, or if you're after something more active, hop into an amphibious WWII-era Duck and zip across Rotorua's three lakes. It's completely up to you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa
- Amphibious WWII-era Duck tour across Rotorua's three lakes
Landmarks/POIs Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa - Day 5
Rotorua to Wellington
You'll leave Rotorua and head toward Wellington, stopping at the dramatic Huka Falls where 220,000 litres of water plunge down every second. On the drive, you'll cross the volcanic Central Plateau with views of Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake. By evening you'll reach Wellington, which sits nicely on a harbor and is the capital city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- See Huka Falls from a panoramic viewpoint
- View Lake Taupo
Landmarks/POIs Huka Falls Lake Taupo - Day 6
Wellington
Start your Wellington morning with coffee at one of the city's cool cafes, then join a guided tour that hits the cable car, parliament, and Mt. Victoria. You'll visit Te Papa, the national Museum of New Zealand, where entrance fees apply for certain exhibitions. In the afternoon, you can opt to join a Lord of the Rings tour to Weta Workshop or check out Zealandia's ecosanctuary. Later, you're free to explore Wellington's restaurants and bars on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Wellington guided city tour including cable car, parliament, and Mt. Victoria
- Visit Te Papa (Museum of New Zealand)
Optional Activities
- Te Papa exhibition visits (entrance fee applies)
- Weta Workshop special tour and visit
- Zealandia ecosanctuary visit
Landmarks/POIs Te Papa Wellington Cable Car Parliament Mt. Victoria Weta Workshop Zealandia - Day 7
Wellington to Kaikoura
You'll cruise across the Cook Strait from the North Island to the South, sailing through Queen Charlotte Sound with its maze of arms and inlets, then arrive at Picton. From there, you'll continue to Kaikoura where sperm whales, dolphins, and fur seals often appear near shore. Sabrina Luecht from the Kaikoura Wildlife Centre Trust will give you a talk about conservation work in the area. Dinner tonight is at Hiku restaurant, which celebrates Kaikoura's marine heritage with fresh local produce and views of the dramatic seascape.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at Hiku celebrating kai moana, fresh produce, and marine life)
Included Activities
- Cruise Cook Strait into Queen Charlotte Sound
- Travel through Queen Charlotte Sound to Picton
- Biodiversity talk from Kaikoura Wildlife Centre Trust founder
- Dinner at Hiku
Optional Activities
- Wildlife viewing (Sperm Whales, dolphins, fur seals)
Landmarks/POIs Cook Strait Queen Charlotte Sound Picton Kaikoura Wildlife Centre Trust - Day 8
Kaikoura to Christchurch
Your morning is relaxed, though you can sign up for optional wildlife experiences if you want: scenic flights over whale-spotted beaches, dolphin-spotting cruises, or kayaking tours to see seals. Later you'll follow the coast and Canterbury Plains heading to Christchurch, a city known for its innovative architecture, art institutions, and restaurants.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Scenic flight over dramatic beaches with whale spotting
- Dolphin-spotting cruise
- Kayaking tour of the coast for seal viewing
Landmarks/POIs Kaikoura Wildlife Centre Trust - Day 9
Christchurch to Lake Tekapo
You'll explore Christchurch and see how the city has rebuilt since the 2010/11 earthquakes, with the cardboard cathedral and the gold-clad central library as highlights. Join your guide for a tour of the city's cosmopolitan culture. In the afternoon, you'll head to Morelea near Lake Tekapo for an exclusive afternoon tea with locals Stan and Angie Taylor. Angie will show you how she makes her famous pavlova while Stan talks about his lifetime of farming in New Zealand.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Afternoon tea with Pavlova dessert at Morelea with views over Lake Tekapo)
Included Activities
- Christchurch guided tour
- Be My Guest: Exclusive afternoon tea with Pavlova Queen Angie at Lake Tekapo
- Pavlova demonstration by Angie Taylor
- Farm stories from Stan Taylor
Landmarks/POIs Christchurch Cathedral Christchurch Central Library Lake Tekapo - Day 10
Lake Tekapo to Dunedin
You'll check out Oamaru's Victorian heritage with its shops, galleries, and traditional crafts among some of the Southern Hemisphere's best-preserved Victorian streetscapes. From there, head to Dunedin, known as the Edinburgh of the Southern Hemisphere. Your afternoon is yours to do what you like: visit the stately castle grounds, take a wildlife cruise to spot little penguins, or stop at a brewery to refuel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Oamaru's Victorian streetscapes
Optional Activities
- Visit Dunedin's stately castle
- Wildlife cruise to spot little penguins
- Brewery visit in Dunedin
Landmarks/POIs Oamaru Larnach Castle - Day 11
Dunedin to Te Anau
You'll travel from sheep farms toward rugged mountains heading to Te Anau, the South Island's largest lake. After that, you'll experience jet boating on Lake Manapouri, home to Pomona Island where native birds are protected through conservation efforts. You'll stop in quiet spots, take in the surroundings, spot trout, and learn about the unique environment and history within Fiordland National Park.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Jet boating experience on Lake Manapouri
- Visit to Pomona Island conservation project area
- Learn about Fiordland National Park history and environment
Landmarks/POIs Lake Manapouri Pomona Island Fiordland National Park Lake Tekapo - Day 12
Te Anau to Queenstown
You'll journey toward Milford Sound through Fiordland National Park, passing through native rainforest, alluvial flats, meadows, and lakes with waterfalls and rocky ranges. Then comes the spectacular Milford Sound boat tour where you'll cruise through wild scenery. After that, you'll head to Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise on spectacular Milford Sound/Piopiotahi
Landmarks/POIs Fiordland National Park Milford Sound - Day 13
Queenstown
Queenstown has tons of optional activities to choose from. You can explore Skippers Canyon gorges, do a cool-climate wine tour in Central Otago, visit Kiwi Birdlife Park, or try the Shotover River with KJet. If you're into Lord of the Rings, there's a Glenorchy scenic tour available. Your day wraps up with a cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw steamship to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Gourmet barbecue dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm with farm show)
Included Activities
- Cruise Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak on TSS Earnslaw Steamship
- Gourmet barbecue dinner and farm show at Walter Peak High Country Farm
Optional Activities
- Skippers Canyon gorges tour
- Central Otago wine tour
- Kiwi Birdlife Park visit
- Shotover River with KJet
- Glenorchy Scenic Tour
Landmarks/POIs Skippers Canyon Central Otago Kiwi Birdlife Park Shotover River Glenorchy Lake Wakatipu Walter Peak High Country Farm - Day 14
Queenstown to Franz Josef
You'll travel from Arrowtown through Central Otago's gleaming lakes to the West Coast. The landscape shifts from alpine scenery into rainforest as you head to Franz Josef. Optional helicopter flights over Franz Josef Glacier offer views from the air, and depending on conditions, you might even land on the glacier itself.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- See Franz Josef Glacier from a panoramic viewpoint
Optional Activities
- Helicopter flight over Franz Josef Glacier (conditions pending with possible glacier landing)
Landmarks/POIs Arrowtown Central Otago Franz Josef Glacier - Day 15
Franz Josef to Punakaiki
You can sleep in or walk around the small Franz Josef village and check out the West Coast Wildlife Centre. Later you'll head to Hokitika, known for its native jade greenstone, then continue to Punakaiki to see the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes, limestone formations that started forming 30 million years ago. Listen for the whoosh of water as sea spray bursts through the blowholes. You'll spend the night at Ocean View Retreat, an eco-friendly waterfront property with local specialities, wine, and views of the thundering surf.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at Ocean View Retreat with local specialities and wine)
Included Activities
- Visit Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes
- Stay at Ocean View Retreat on the beach
Optional Activities
- Explore Franz Josef/Waiau village
- West Coast Wildlife Centre visit
Landmarks/POIs West Coast Wildlife Centre Hokitika Punakaiki Pancake Rocks Punakaiki Blowholes - Day 16
Punakaiki to Christchurch
You'll explore the Pounamu Pathway, experiencing Maori history and the Mawhera Pa settlement through a self-guided storytelling experience developed with Weta Workshop. Lunch happens at legendary Monteith's Brewery. After that, you'll board the scenic TranzAlpine train from Arthur's Pass back to Christchurch, traveling through tunnels and over viaducts with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, icy rivers, beech forests, gorges, and valleys. You'll arrive in Christchurch for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at legendary Monteith's Brewery), Dinner
Included Activities
- Self-guided journey through Pounamu Pathway
- Explore Maori history and Mawhera Pa settlement
- Lunch at Monteith's Brewery
- Journey on the TranzAlpine Train through the Southern Alps
- Scenic train views of peaks, rivers, forests, and valleys
Landmarks/POIs Pounamu Pathway Mawhera Pa settlement Monteith's Brewery Arthur's Pass - Day 17
Christchurch to Departure
Your New Zealand tour comes to an end today. You'll depart from Christchurch and head home, carrying memories of the incredible landscapes and experiences you've had across the country.
- Meals
- Breakfast
