Itinerary
- Day 1
Christchurch
You'll arrive in New Zealand and get transported to your hotel on a shared transfer (upgrading to a private one is available if you prefer). After settling in from your flight, feel free to relax or walk around Christchurch on your own. Around 6 pm, you'll meet up with your group and tour guide at the hotel, then head out for dinner together.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner together at the hotel)
Included Activities
- Dinner at the hotel
Optional Activities
- Explore Christchurch independently
- Day 2
Christchurch to Akaroa
This morning starts with a short city tour of Christchurch, the 'Garden City' that's constantly changing. From there, you'll travel over the crater rim mountains of the Banks Peninsula to reach Akaroa, New Zealand's first French settlement formed by volcanic activity. Depending on how the timing works out, you'll do a hike to get a close look at New Zealand's nature.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City tour of Christchurch
- Scenic drive through Banks Peninsula
- Nature hike (conditional on timing)
Landmarks/POIs Banks Peninsula - Day 3
Akaroa to Fairlie
After leaving the Banks Peninsula, you'll drive towards the Rakaia River. In Peel Forest, there's a nature trail where you'll check out endemic plants and birds. By early evening, a farming family welcomes the group to share what rural New Zealand life is really like. Dinner happens at your rural guesthouse to wrap up the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Tasty dinner in a cozy atmosphere at rural guesthouse)
Included Activities
- Nature trail in Peel Forest
- Visit to rural farming family
- Dinner at rural guesthouse
Landmarks/POIs Peel Forest - Day 4
Fairlie to Mount Cook
You'll travel through the fertile Canterbury Plain and notice the vegetation changing as you reach the three thousand meter peaks of the Southern Alps. The glacial lakes Tekapo and Pukaki come into view with their glacier world. After that, you continue to Mount Cook Village, surrounded by gigantic mountains. There's an easy hike if the weather cooperates, and dinner happens together in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Easy hike in Mount Cook area (weather dependent)
- Dinner together
Landmarks/POIs Mount Cook (Aoraki) Lake Tekapo Lake Pukaki - Day 5
Mount Cook to Te Anau
Leaving the Mackenzie Highlands behind, which look like a barren steppe landscape, you'll cross the Lindis Pass at 971 meters to reach Otago. The drive then follows Lake Wakatipu towards Southland. By the time you arrive at Te Anau, you'll be surrounded by mountains and rainforest on the shore of the lake.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Lindis Pass Lake Wakatipu - Day 6
Te Anau to Milford Sound
Today's probably the most beautiful mountain road in New Zealand as you head to Milford. You'll pass Mirror Lakes and go through the gloomy Homer Tunnel, with a stop where kea parrots often show up. Milford Sound opens up as New Zealand's landmark fjord, where Mitre Peak rises 1,700 meters straight from the sea. A boat trip takes you past huge foaming waterfalls where seals, penguins and dolphins sometimes appear.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch)
Included Activities
- Scenic drive on Milford Road
- Boat trip in Milford Sound with waterfall views
Landmarks/POIs Milford Sound Mitre Peak Homer Tunnel Mirror Lakes - Day 7
Te Anau to Queenstown
This morning you get to choose between two optional activities: exploring an extensive underground cave system lit by thousands of glowworms on Lake Te Anau's western shore, or taking a jet boat tour on the river between Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau to see 'Lord of the Rings' filming locations. After that, you continue to Queenstown, the adventure capital by Lake Wakatipu with the 'Remarkable' mountains around it. You can relax at your accommodation or explore Queenstown independently.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Glowworm cave tour on western shore of Lake Te Anau
- Jet boat tour to 'Lord of the Rings' filming locations
Landmarks/POIs Lake Te Anau Lake Wakatipu - Day 8
Queenstown
You have a full day in Queenstown, the 'St. Moritz of the South Pacific'. There are countless activities to choose from, so you can either relax at your accommodation or explore the town on your own. Your tour guide is available if you want help and advice figuring out what to do.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Trip on the old steamship TSS Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu
- Cable car ride with views of town and lake
- Lord of the Rings filming locations tour
- Horse riding
- Hiking
- Rafting
Landmarks/POIs Lake Wakatipu - Day 9
Queenstown to Fox Glacier
The Crown Range is a high alpine route you'll drive over, passing through an impressive primeval landscape with sparse tussock vegetation. You'll stop in Wanaka on the lake, then cross the Haast Pass which marks the climate and watershed divide of the Southern Alps. Several stops break up the drive with short walks through dense rainforest, past waterfalls and along the roaring Tasman Sea coast. The route continues through Westland National Park, declared a 'Natural Heritage of Humanity'.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Short walks through rainforest
- Waterfall stops
- Coastal views of Tasman Sea
Landmarks/POIs Crown Range Wanaka Haast Pass Westland National Park - Day 10
Fox Glacier to Punakaiki
A cruise and guided nature walk take you around the glacier world of the Southern Alps, with chances to capture photos of the surrounding glaciers. Later you'll stop in Hokitika, the jade town, for a short stay before heading to Punakaiki. There you'll see the famous 'pancake rocks', bizarre limestone formations constantly washed by the Tasman Sea that create striking stack-like stratification.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Glacier cruise
- Guided nature walk around glaciers
- Visit to Hokitika
- Visit to Pancake Rocks
Landmarks/POIs Hokitika Pancake Rocks - Day 11
Punakaiki to Motueka
You'll travel through the wild and romantic landscape of Paparoa National Park, which reaches up to 1,500 meters high and runs parallel to the coast. Near Cape Foulwind close to Westport, there's a chance on a short hike to see a large colony of sea lions if the weather is good. After leaving the subtropical lowland rainforest, you'll follow the impressive Buller Gorge. Accommodation ends up being in the sun-drenched fruit and wine-growing region near Nelson.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Short hike to sea lion colony at Cape Foulwind (weather dependent)
Landmarks/POIs Paparoa National Park Cape Foulwind Buller Gorge - Day 12
Motueka to Picton
Abel Tasman National Park is one of New Zealand's most popular parks, and you'll travel there by boat through numerous bays and coastal forest areas where New Zealand fur seals hang out. During a stopover, you can choose between an easy hike or relaxing on the beach. The boat picks you up and brings you back to Kaiteriteri, then you travel via Nelson to the Marlborough region and continue to Picton.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat trip through Abel Tasman National Park
- Wildlife viewing (New Zealand fur seals)
Optional Activities
- Easy hike during stopover
- Beach relaxation during stopover
Landmarks/POIs Abel Tasman National Park Kaiteriteri - Day 13
Picton to Marlborough Sounds
A boat takes you to the Marlborough Sounds, a collection of deeply cut inlets forming a labyrinth of river valleys conquered by the sea long ago. You'll pass small bays, secluded beaches and mountains covered in dense bush. You go ashore on Motuara Island to see rare saddlebacks in this bird sanctuary.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat trip through Marlborough Sounds
- Landing on Motuara Island
- Rare saddleback bird viewing
Landmarks/POIs Marlborough Sounds Motuara Island - Day 14
Marlborough Sounds to Wellington
The boat brings you back to Picton where you'll transfer to the Interislander ferry. This crosses the Cook Strait from the South Island to Wellington on the North Island.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Interislander ferry crossing Cook Strait
- Day 15
Wellington
Explore New Zealand's capital on your own. The city is compact, culturally interesting and full of character. The city center between the harbor and hills is perfect for walking around, with shopping, cafes, transport, accommodation and key sights all within reach. Te Papa Tongarewa National Museum, botanical gardens (accessible by cable car), and Oriental Bay are the main highlights worth checking out.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Te Papa Tongarewa National Museum
- Explore botanical gardens by cable car
- Visit Oriental Bay
- Shopping, cafés, and independent exploration
Landmarks/POIs Te Papa Tongarewa National Museum Oriental Bay - Day 16
Wellington to Bridge to Nowhere Lodge
You'll travel along the Kapiti coast and through fertile farmland to Whanganui with its stylish Art Deco buildings. From there, you pass through Whanganui National Park with its varied landscapes and villages that have strong Maori influence. At Pipiriki, you transfer to a jet boat for a ride to the remote 'Bridge to Nowhere' and do a guided hike to relics from ancient times. Your accommodation is only accessible by jet boat, far from civilization.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Jet boat ride to Bridge to Nowhere
- Guided hike to ancient relics
- Dinner together at lodge
Landmarks/POIs Bridge to Nowhere Whanganui National Park - Day 17
Bridge to Nowhere Lodge to Rotorua
After breakfast, the jet boat takes you back through Maori land along an old post road to get back to civilization. You'll continue to Tongariro National Park with its constantly changing, sometimes moon-like landscape. From there you can see Mount Tongariro at 1,968 meters, Mount Ngauruhoe at 2,291 meters, and Mount Ruapehu at 2,797 meters. The route follows Lake Taupo past the foaming Huka Falls and arrives in Rotorua, known for its Maori culture and highly active thermal springs and geysers.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Jet boat return journey
Landmarks/POIs Tongariro National Park Mount Tongariro Mount Ngauruhoe Mount Ruapehu Lake Taupo Huka Falls - Day 18
Rotorua
You'll explore the volcanic wonders shaped by natural events. Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is the most colorful thermal area with colorful sinter terraces, the bubbling Champagne Pool, mud holes, craters and sulfur fumaroles. Optionally, Hobbiton is available in the morning. In the afternoon, explore Rotorua and its many activities. The evening includes spending time with the Maori and gaining insights into indigenous culture over dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with Maori cultural experience)
Included Activities
- Visit Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
- Maori cultural experience and dinner
Optional Activities
- Day trip to Hobbiton
- Polynesian Spa
- Redwoods Treewalk
- Independent exploration of Rotorua
Landmarks/POIs Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland - Day 19
Rotorua to Whitianga
You'll journey north to the Coromandel Peninsula. The route passes the volcano Mount Maunganui right by the sea and the gold mining town of Waihi. You'll get insights into the fascinating geological history of the Coromandel Peninsula with its strong 'South Sea character'. The road winds northwards slowly with sweeping views of coastal landscape and offshore islands. The picturesque seaside resort of Tairua has extensive sandy beaches inviting swims in the South Pacific.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Mount Maunganui Coromandel Peninsula - Day 20
Whitianga to Auckland
In Mercury Bay, the 'Bay of Islands of the Coromandel', you can hike to Cathedral Cove, a popular visitor destination. This coastal walk ends on sandy beaches lined with fiery red blooming Pohutukawa trees (Nov-Jan season). Alternatively, at low tide, dig a pool in the sand at Hot Water Beach and warm yourself in underground hot springs. You'll see rare, mighty kauri trees, New Zealand's Araucaria family representatives that can live up to 2,000 years. A side road crosses the peninsula with bizarre volcanic formations and typical New Zealand forest. You reach Auckland, the 'City of Sails', in the afternoon and review the trip over dinner together.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner reviewing the trip)
Included Activities
- Hike to Cathedral Cove
- Visit to kauri trees
- Dinner together reviewing the trip
Optional Activities
- Hot Water Beach experience at low tide
Landmarks/POIs Cathedral Cove Hot Water Beach - Day 21
Auckland
Your trip ends today with a transfer to the airport on a shared transfer (private transfer is available for extra cost).
- Meals
- Breakfast
