Itinerary
- Days 1 - 2
Frankfurt to Auckland
Your flight departs Frankfurt heading to Auckland, New Zealand. You'll land in the afternoon on Day 2, and your room will be ready whenever you arrive. Take the rest of the day to settle in and adjust to the time zone at your own pace. You're staying 2 nights in Auckland.
- Day 3
Auckland
In the afternoon, your tour guide takes you around Auckland to help with the time zone adjustment and show you the city. That evening, dinner happens at the Sky Tower, Auckland's most recognizable landmark, giving you a nice welcome to the country.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Welcome dinner at the Sky Tower)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing tour of Auckland
- Welcome dinner at the Sky Tower
Landmarks/POIs Sky Tower - Day 4
Auckland to Coromandel Peninsula
After a big breakfast, you'll cross the green Hauraki Plains heading to the Coromandel Peninsula. The region has gorgeous bays, rolling hills, dense forests, long beaches, and rugged coastlines. You're staying 2 nights on Coromandel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Big breakfast)
Included Activities
- Travel across Hauraki Plains to Coromandel Peninsula
Landmarks/POIs Coromandel Peninsula - Day 5
Coromandel Peninsula
Today focuses on Mercury Bay's best beaches. You'll head to Hot Water Beach, which gets its name from underground hot springs beneath the sand. From there, Cathedral Cove shows you a spectacular rocky cave formation connecting two white sand beaches.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Mercury Bay beaches
- Visit Hot Water Beach
- Visit Cathedral Cove
Landmarks/POIs Hot Water Beach Cathedral Cove Mercury Bay - Day 6
Coromandel to Rotorua
You're traveling to Rotorua, which sits in an active volcanic area and serves as a major center of Maori culture. In the evening, a traditional Hangi dinner in a Maori village gives you insight into indigenous rituals and traditions. You're staying 1 night in Rotorua.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional Hangi dinner in a Maori village)
Included Activities
- Visit to Maori village with traditional Hangi dinner
Landmarks/POIs Rotorua - Day 7
Rotorua to Tongariro National Park
This morning you'll hike through Waimangu Valley (2 to 4 km, roughly 2 hours, about 115 meters elevation change). The walk takes you past bubbling mud holes and colorful lake terraces created by volcanic activity underground. Later, you'll see more sulfur pools by boat before heading to Tongariro National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with three volcanoes. You're staying 1 night there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike in Waimangu Valley with views of mud holes and lake terraces
- Boat trip through sulfur pools
Landmarks/POIs Waimangu Valley Tongariro National Park - Day 8
Tongariro to Wellington
After a half-day drive, you reach Wellington, New Zealand's capital with maritime character and known as the 'Windy City'. Your afternoon is free to walk around the harbor or visit Te-Papa Museum. That evening, you'll go on a guided foot safari in Zealandia, a protected area where you might spot kiwis using flashlights.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Night safari in protected area Zealandia
Optional Activities
- Visit Te-Papa Museum
- Explore Wellington harbor
Landmarks/POIs Te-Papa Museum Zealandia Wellington Harbor - Day 9
Wellington to Nelson
You're taking the Inter-Islander ferry, which ranks among the world's most beautiful ferry crossings. Three hours pass while you move through the Marlborough Sounds with its waterways and fjords. In the afternoon, you'll taste a local Sauvignon Blanc wine from the region. You're staying 2 nights in Nelson.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Ferry crossing through Marlborough Sounds
- Wine tasting at a Marlborough winery
Landmarks/POIs Marlborough Sounds - Day 10
Nelson
You have a free day to spend in and around Nelson however you like. If interested, an optional excursion to Abel Tasman National Park is available, featuring turquoise waters and an easy coastal hike (10 km, roughly 4 hours, about 150 meters elevation). The trail crosses a suspension bridge over River Falls on the way to Anchorage beach.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Bus and water cab to Abel Tasman National Park
- Coastal hiking trail to Anchorage beach (easy, 10 km, approximately 4 hours, approximately 150 vertical meters)
- Cross suspension bridge over River Falls
Landmarks/POIs Abel Tasman National Park Anchorage Beach River Falls Suspension Bridge - Day 11
Nelson to Punakaiki
Traveling down the west coast, you'll see the wild Tasman Sea throughout the drive. The group stops in Westport to walk to a small seal colony. Later, you'll see the Pancake Rocks in Paparoa National Park, where the sea has shaped limestone into layered formations. You're staying 1 night in Punakaiki.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Stop at seal colony in Westport
- Visit Pancake Rocks in Paparoa National Park
Landmarks/POIs Westport Seal Colony Pancake Rocks Paparoa National Park - Day 12
Punakaiki to Franz Josef Glacier
You're visiting a glacier that reaches almost into the rainforest zone. If interested, an optional helicopter flight over the glacier takes about 20 minutes. Not far away sits Lake Matheson, where calm weather brings perfect reflections of the surrounding mountains on the water. You're staying 1 night near the glacier.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Franz Josef Glacier
- Visit Lake Matheson
Optional Activities
- Helicopter flight over Franz Josef Glacier
Landmarks/POIs Franz Josef Glacier Lake Matheson - Day 13
Franz Josef Glacier to Queenstown
After breakfast, you'll drive to Queenstown, crossing the Haast Pass and passing the glacial lakes Hawea and Wanaka. Once in Queenstown, a walk to Lake Wakatipu shows you the sunset behind mountains overlooking the water. You're staying 2 nights in Queenstown.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Pass Haast Pass
- View glacial lakes Hawea and Wanaka
Optional Activities
- Walk to Lake Wakatipu
Landmarks/POIs Haast Pass Lake Hawea Lake Wanaka Lake Wakatipu - Day 14
Queenstown
Your day is free to structure however you want. Nature lovers can take the cable car up to 450-meter Bobs Peak and try various hiking trails. Those wanting adventure have options like jet boats, mountain biking, or a cruise on a steamboat.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Cable car to Bobs Peak (450 meters high)
- Hiking trails from Bobs Peak
- Jet boat experience
- Mountain biking
- Steamboat cruise
Landmarks/POIs Bobs Peak - Day 15
Queenstown to Te Anau
You're traveling via one of New Zealand's most beautiful roads to Milford Sound, the country's most famous fjord. A catamaran ride lets you experience the landscape on the water. In the evening, you'll explore Te Anau Caves by boat, reaching a grotto where thousands of glowworms create a natural light show. You're staying 1 night in Te Anau.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Catamaran ride on Milford Sound
- Boat to Te Anau Caves
- Glowworm grotto visit
Landmarks/POIs Milford Sound Te Anau Caves - Day 16
Te Anau to Lake Ohau
You'll visit a town from the gold rush era with Wild West character, full of cafes and shops worth exploring. From there, a pass road takes you to a high plateau. You're staying 1 night near Lake Ohau.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore gold rush era town
Landmarks/POIs Lake Ohau - Day 17
Lake Ohau to Christchurch
Today highlights the highland lakes: Pukaki, Tekapo, and Ohau, all with bright turquoise water. You'll stop at the Church of the Good Shepherd, where a large window frames mountain views instead of a traditional altarpiece. At a family-run country estate, you'll learn about farm life and working methods in the region. From there, you continue to Christchurch, staying 2 nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- View lakes Pukaki, Tekapo, and Ohau
- Visit Church of the Good Shepherd
- Visit family-run country estate
Landmarks/POIs Lake Pukaki Lake Tekapo Church of the Good Shepherd - Day 18
Christchurch
The 2011 earthquake left visible marks on Christchurch, but during your tour, the inhabitants' optimism and innovative spirit become clear. In the evening, a joint farewell dinner brings the group together to reflect on the entire trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Farewell dinner
Optional Activities
- Tour of earthquake-affected areas in Christchurch
Landmarks/POIs Christchurch - Days 19 - 20
Christchurch to Frankfurt
You're flying from Christchurch back to Frankfurt, arriving the following day.
