Itinerary
- Day 1
Christchurch
You'll arrive in Christchurch and have the afternoon and evening to explore the city on your own schedule. This is when you'll meet your Travel Director and get to know your fellow travelers at a group gathering.
- Day 2
Christchurch to Lake Tekapo
After spending more time in Christchurch, you'll head toward the Canterbury Plains. The drive takes you past turquoise Lake Tekapo where you can see the Church of Good Shepherd. Later, you'll participate in an Indoor Dark Sky Astronomy Experience with knowledgeable guides who'll help you explore one of the quietest and brightest skies on the planet.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Christchurch tour
- View Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo
- Indoor Dark Sky Astronomy Experience at Tekapo
Landmarks/POIs Church of the Good Shepherd Lake Tekapo Canterbury Plains - Day 3
Lake Tekapo to Dunedin
You'll travel through Waitaki Valley toward Oamaru, which is known for its tree-lined streets and limestone buildings. From there, continue to Dunedin, often called the Edinburgh of the South. The city has atmospheric art-filled alleys and brewery visits if that interests you. While you're in this coastal region, look for fur seals and penguins that live here.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Oamaru and New Zealand's oldest public gardens
Optional Activities
- Speight's Brewery tour and tasting
- Larnach Castle visit
Landmarks/POIs Oamaru Speight's Brewery Larnach Castle Waitaki Valley - Day 4
Dunedin to Invercargill
Head to Invercargill to explore its motor vehicle culture. You'll do a self-guided tour at Classic Motorcycle Mecca, which holds over 300 vintage bikes, the Southern Hemisphere's leading collection. Later, a guided tour and Highlight Dinner at Transport World lets you see classic vehicles and enjoy a meal.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Highlight Dinner at Transport World)
Included Activities
- Self-guided tour of Classic Motorcycle Mecca
- Guided tour and Highlight Dinner at Transport World
Landmarks/POIs Classic Motorcycle Mecca Transport World - Day 5
Invercargill to Stewart Island
You're heading to Stewart Island, which is 85% national park. A guided Village and Bays tour will help you find endemic plants and animals unique to the region. If you want, there's an optional leisurely cruise around Paterson Inlet with a picnic lunch, stopping at Acker's Cottage and Ulva Island.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Village and Bays tour on Stewart Island
Optional Activities
- Leisurely cruise around Paterson Inlet with picnic lunch, including Acker's Cottage and Ulva Island
Landmarks/POIs Stewart Island Paterson Inlet Ulva Island - Day 6
Stewart Island to Queenstown
Spend time at Real Country where you'll meet a local farmer and watch demonstrations of horse communication and working sheep dog mustering. You can try stock whip cracking and interact with farm animals. The tour includes a donation supporting The Fairlight Foundation, which helps women in agriculture. Later, travel to Queenstown at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Real Country Farm Experience with horse communication demonstration
- Working sheep dog mustering demonstration
- Stock whip cracking lesson
- Feed and interact with farm animals
Landmarks/POIs Real Country - Day 7
Queenstown
You have the full day to explore Queenstown and its surroundings. Options include a boat trip to Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park, high-octane jet boat rides on Shotover River, wine tours of local vineyards, or an afternoon cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Milford Sound boat cruise in Fiordland National Park
- Jet boat ride on Shotover River
- Wine tours of surrounding vineyards
- Afternoon cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm with gourmet barbecue dinner
Landmarks/POIs Milford Sound Fiordland National Park Shotover River Lake Wakatipu Walter Peak High Country Farm - Day 8
Queenstown to Franz Josef
Start by exploring Arrowtown's character-filled streets with trees and boutiques. Then journey through the Alpine Southern Lakes region, passing Lake Dunstan, Lake Hawea, and Lake Wanaka with its scenic poplar and willow shoreline. Cross Haast Pass to reach Franz Josef/Waiau at the edge of Westland World Heritage Park. A scenic flight over the glacial landscape is available if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit historic Arrowtown
Optional Activities
- Scenic flight over Franz Josef Glacier and Westland World Heritage Park
Landmarks/POIs Arrowtown Lake Dunstan Lake Hawea Lake Wanaka Haast Pass Franz Josef Glacier Westland World Heritage Park - Day 9
Franz Josef to Hokitika
Travel to Hokitika on the wild West Coast. You can wander the windswept coastline and discover the town's traditional pounamu (native greenstone or jade) artistry. Later, visit Punakaiki's dramatic Pancake Rocks and blowholes, which have been shaped by thundering surf.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- View Punakaiki's Pancake Rocks from a scenic viewpoint
Landmarks/POIs Hokitika Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes - Day 10
Hokitika to Nelson
You'll relax as the coach travels the Heritage Highway toward Nelson. The route winds through Buller Gorge, a deep canyon that's home to New Zealand's longest swingbridge, and passes through Kahurangi National Park with its wild rivers, high plateaus, alpine herb fields and coastal forests.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Buller Gorge Kahurangi National Park - Day 11
Nelson
Enjoy a leisurely day in Nelson where you can sleep in or explore at your own pace. There's an optional activity to visit Abel Tasman National Park for a cruise and walk combination through this coastal area with golden beaches framed by sculpted granite cliffs.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Abel Tasman National Park cruise and walk combination
Landmarks/POIs Abel Tasman National Park - Day 12
Nelson to Wellington
You'll board a cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound and up the Tory Channel, crossing Cook Strait from the South Island to the North. The journey navigates a maze of arms and inlets before reaching Wellington, New Zealand's capital.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cruise the Cook Strait from Picton to Wellington
Landmarks/POIs Queen Charlotte Sound Tory Channel Cook Strait Wellington - Day 13
Wellington to Napier
Start by touring Wellington's highlights, then travel to Napier. You'll discover Napier's beautifully preserved 1930s Art Deco architecture that rebuilt the city after a 1931 earthquake destroyed its commercial centre. The rebuilding featured Striped Classical, Spanish Mission and Art Deco styles.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Wellington tour
Landmarks/POIs Wellington Napier - Day 14
Napier
A local guide from the Art Deco Trust will lead you on a walking tour through Napier's compact Art Deco Quarter, bringing the city's architectural history to life. This experience helps preserve Napier's Art Deco heritage. The afternoon is free to relax or join optional wine tours of Hawkes Bay vineyards or Gannet Safaris to Cape Kidnappers.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Art Deco Walking Tour in Napier
Optional Activities
- Wine tour of local Hawkes Bay vineyards
- Safari to Gannet nesting colony at Cape Kidnappers with Gannet Safaris Overland
Landmarks/POIs Napier Art Deco Quarter Cape Kidnappers - Day 15
Napier to Rotorua
Travel through Lake Taupo, the largest and perhaps bluest lake in the country, and view Huka Falls. You'll reach Rotorua where a traditional pounamu (jade) workshop teaches you about carving. This evening, delve into Maori culture at the Te Po Indigenous Experience at Te Puia, which includes a cultural performance and the Pohutu Geyser, ending with a hangi-inspired buffet dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Hāngī-inspired buffet dinner at Te Puia)
Included Activities
- Discover the significance and craft of Pounamu (Jade) carving
- Guided Te Pō Indigenous Experience at Te Puia
- View Pohutu Geyser
Landmarks/POIs Lake Taupo Huka Falls Te Puia Pohutu Geyser - Day 16
Rotorua
You have a flexible day in Rotorua with plenty of options. Relax in the steamy thermal springs at Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa, or tour the Hobbiton Movie Set to visit sights featured in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. A scenic flight is also available for a bird's-eye view of the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa thermal springs
- Hobbiton Movie Set tour - Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit filming locations
- Scenic flight
Landmarks/POIs Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa Hobbiton Movie Set - Day 17
Rotorua to Auckland
Travel from Rotorua to Auckland, the City of Sails. Along the way, you'll take a break from the journey. Upon arrival, visit the interactive All Blacks Experience to go through New Zealand's rugby team's remarkable history via displays and presentations, and experience a traditional haka performance.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Join an interactive All Blacks Experience in Auckland
Landmarks/POIs All Blacks Experience Auckland - Day 18
Auckland to Bay of Islands
Head to the Bay of Islands, which comprises 140 droplets of land ringed by turquoise sea. Visit the Treaty Grounds where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 between Captain William Hobson and Maori chiefs. Your specialist guide, perhaps a descendant of an original signatory, will explain the site's significance and point out the world's largest ceremonial war canoe and a carved meeting house.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour and Cultural Performance at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Landmarks/POIs Treaty Grounds Bay of Islands - Day 19
Bay of Islands
Explore the Bay of Islands at your own pace. You can travel up to Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua, the very top of New Zealand, via idyllic Ninety Mile Beach, or glide around on a historic tall ship, cruise to the Hole in the Rock, or join a tour of Russell to learn more about the Bay of Islands settlement history.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore the Bay of Islands, a stunning coastal paradise with golden beaches, and lush islands
Optional Activities
- Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua tour via Ninety Mile Beach
- Historic tall ship cruise
- Hole in the Rock cruise
- Russell tour
Landmarks/POIs Cape Reinga Ninety Mile Beach Hole in the Rock Russell - Day 20
Bay of Islands to Whangarei to Auckland
Travel to Whangarei, the island's most northerly outpost where waterfalls meet beaches and galleries meet museums. From there, continue back to Auckland for a final dinner with your Travel Director and travel companions to reflect on your New Zealand adventure.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with Travel Director and travel companions)
Landmarks/POIs Whangarei - Day 21
Depart Auckland
You'll depart Auckland with memories of three weeks exploring New Zealand's attractions and new friendships from fellow travelers.
