Itinerary
- Day 1
Auckland
You'll land in Auckland and make your way to the hotel, where check-in opens at 3 pm. After dropping off your bags and getting settled, there's time to freshen up before heading down in the evening. That's when you'll meet up with the rest of your tour group and get to know everyone before the trip officially starts.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
- Day 2
Auckland to Rotorua
You'll drive from Auckland toward the Coromandel Peninsula and stop at Hot Water Beach, where hot spring water seeps through the sand at low tide. The route then heads through Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park on the way to Rotorua. You're staying two nights here, which is the heart of Maori culture in New Zealand.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Hot Water Beach
- Travel through Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park
Landmarks Hot Water Beach Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park 
- Day 3
Rotorua
Start your day at Whakarewarewa Thermal Park to see the spouting geysers and mud pools up close. After that, you'll visit Te Puia Cultural Center where you can observe kiwi birds and learn about Maori traditions. Lunch features hangi earth oven specialties, and later you'll watch Polynesian dances and songs performed by Maori artists.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Hangi buffet lunch with Maori specialties and Polynesian dances and songs)
Included Activities
- Visit Whakarewarewa Thermal Park
- Explore Te Puia Cultural Center
- Observe kiwi birds
- Hangi buffet lunch with Maori performance
Landmarks Whakarewarewa Thermal Park Te Puia Cultural Center 
- Day 4
Rotorua to Napier
Travel to Wairakei for a traditional welcome from the Ngati Tuwharetoa tribe and an exchange with the tribal elder. From there, you'll see the Huka Falls before continuing to Lake Taupo. The afternoon takes you southeast through forest areas toward the coastal town of Napier.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Meet with Ngati Tuwharetoa tribe and tribal elder
- View Huka Falls
- Visit Lake Taupo
Landmarks Huka Falls Lake Taupo - Day 5
Napier to Wellington
You'll drive south through Hastings and pass through fertile farmland on your way to Wellington. Once you arrive, there's a short city tour followed by a trip up Mount Victoria for views of the national capital, which sits in a semicircle along the sheltered bay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Wellington city tour
- View from Mount Victoria
Landmarks Mount Victoria - Day 6
Wellington to Nelson
Take the ferry from Wellington across Cook Strait through the Marlborough Sounds, keeping an eye out for dolphins along the way. After reaching Picton, a coach takes you through New Zealand's largest wine-growing region to Nelson, a town known for its artists and craftspeople.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Ferry from Wellington to Picton
- Cruise through Cook Strait and Marlborough Sounds
Landmarks Marlborough Sounds - Day 7
Abel Tasman National Park
This is a day trip by bus and boat to Abel Tasman National Park. You'll see golden sandy beaches tucked between green rainforest and turquoise ocean, and watch for seals warming themselves on rocks. The boat ride offers great views before you return to Nelson by boat and bus.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Day trip to Abel Tasman National Park
- Boat trip through the park
- Bus and boat transfer
Landmarks Abel Tasman National Park - Day 8
Nelson to Punakaiki
Drive through the impressive Buller River gorge to reach the west coast. You'll walk to a large seal colony at Cape Foulwind, then continue south along the wild coastline. The route includes the famous Pancake Rocks in Paparoa National Park, steep limestone cliffs carved by the Tasman Sea with water fountains shooting through.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Walk to seal colony at Cape Foulwind
- View Pancake Rocks in Paparoa National Park
Landmarks Cape Foulwind Pancake Rocks Paparoa National Park - Day 9
Punakaiki to Franz Josef
Start at a jade factory in Hokitika, then travel through former gold mining towns of Ross and Harihari along the evergreen west coast to Franz Josef Glacier Valley. You'll explore Westland National Park with its imposing glaciers, huge rainforests, and mountain massifs. An optional helicopter flight is available if weather permits.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit jade factory in Hokitika
- Travel through gold mining towns
Optional Activities
- Helicopter flight over Southern Alps and glacier landscape (weather dependent)
Landmarks Franz Josef Glacier Westland National Park - Day 10
Franz Josef to Queenstown
Drive through rainforests and cross Haast Pass to enter Mount Aspiring National Park. Continue through Central Otago along the idyllic lakes of Wanaka and Hawea to Arrowtown, a beautifully restored gold mining town, and then on to Queenstown.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Drive through west coast rainforests
- Cross Haast Pass
- Visit Arrowtown
Landmarks Mount Aspiring National Park Lake Wanaka Lake Hawea Arrowtown 
- Day 11
Queenstown
You have the day to yourself in Queenstown. Optional activities include a boat trip on the historic steamship TSS Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu, or riding the cable car up Bob's Peak to relax at the Skyline Cafe. Several great hiking trails also start from the Bob's Peak mountain station if you prefer.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Boat trip on TSS Earnslaw steamship on Lake Wakatipu
- Cable car to Bob's Peak
- Relaxation at Skyline Café
- Hiking trails from Bob's Peak mountain station
Landmarks Lake Wakatipu Bob's Peak - Day 12
Queenstown to Te Anau
Drive through pristine mountain scenery to Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park. You'll take a boat trip through the UNESCO World Heritage fjord almost to sea, experiencing untouched wilderness. Later, continue to Te Anau.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Drive through mountain scenery to Milford Sound
- Boat trip through Milford Sound fjord
Landmarks Milford Sound Fiordland National Park 
- Day 13
South Otago to Dunedin - Otago Peninsula
You're heading through South Otago's farmland on the way to Dunedin, a town with a strong Scottish feel to it. In the afternoon, there's a boat trip out to Taiaroa Head where you can see royal albatrosses at the world's only known mainland colony. Keep your eyes open for seals, dolphins, yellow-eyed penguins, and other seabirds along the way. After that, you'll transfer to your Dunedin hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Boat trip to Taiaroa Head cliffs
- Viewing of royal albatrosses, seals, dolphins, yellow-eyed penguins and seabirds at Otago Peninsula
Landmarks Taiaroa Head Otago Peninsula - Day 14
Te Anau to Twizel
Begin with a city tour through Dunedin, shaped by the gold rush with Victorian architecture reflecting past prosperity. Continue along the Otago coastal landscape to see the legendary Moeraki Boulders, those strangely shaped stone balls. You'll travel via Oamaru and Waitaki Valley with many reservoirs inland to Twizel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Dunedin city tour
- View Moeraki Boulders
Landmarks Moeraki Boulders Aoraki Mount Cook 
- Day 15
Twizel to Christchurch
Cross the MacKenzie Plateau through golden tussock landscape to Lake Tekapo. An optional alpine flight is available in good weather. Then head to Christchurch for a short tour of the South Island's largest city, including its botanical garden with exotic trees.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive across MacKenzie Plateau to Lake Tekapo
- Christchurch city tour
- Visit botanical garden
Optional Activities
- Alpine flight from Lake Tekapo (weather dependent)
Landmarks Lake Tekapo Christchurch Botanical Garden - Day 16
Christchurch
The group tour ends after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
