Itinerary
- Day 1
Auckland
You'll arrive in Auckland and have the afternoon and evening to yourself. Take time to wander through the harbourside areas where you'll find galleries and design shops scattered throughout the precincts. Later, meet up with the group for dinner at The Grill, where the menu features premium New Zealand grassfed steaks and sustainable line-caught fish.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at The Grill celebrating Aotearoa's culinary treasures - finest quality grassfed steaks from 100% New Zealand owned and operated suppliers, and sustainable line-caught fish)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Horizon by SkyCity Auckland)
Included Activities
- Dinner at The Grill featuring New Zealand grassfed steaks and sustainable line-caught fish
Optional Activities
- Explore harbourside galleries and design-driven stores
Landmarks Mission Bay 
- Day 2
Auckland
Start the day at the interactive All Blacks Experience to get a sense of New Zealand's rugby culture and history. From there, a city sightseeing tour takes you to Mission Bay, Bastion Point, and the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial, all with views across Waitemata Harbour toward the North Shore.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Horizon by SkyCity Auckland)
Included Activities
- Interactive All Blacks Experience
- City sightseeing tour including Mission Bay, Bastion Point, and Michael Joseph Savage Memorial
Landmarks Mission Bay Bastion Point Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Waitemata Harbour - Day 3
Auckland to Rotorua
Travel to the Hobbiton Movie Set for a guided walking tour through the 12-acre set with plenty of opportunities to take photos. You'll have time for lunch on your own before heading toward Rotorua. Once there, the Te Po Indigenous Experience at Te Puia includes a cultural performance, views of the Pohutu Geyser, and a buffet dinner featuring hangi-inspired dishes.
- Meals
- Dinner (Buffet dinner of hāngī-inspired cuisine at Te Puia)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel Rotorua)
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Hobbiton Movie Set
- Te Pō Indigenous Experience at Te Puia including cultural performance in Te Aronui a Rua meeting house
- View of Pohutu Geyser
- Buffet dinner of hāngī-inspired cuisine at Te Puia
Optional Activities
- Lunch at own expense
Landmarks Hobbiton Movie Set Te Puia Pohutu Geyser 
- Day 4
Rotorua to Queenstown
Visit the National Kiwi Hatchery where conservationists share information about New Zealand's national bird and the work going into protecting it. After that, you'll fly to Queenstown. Once you arrive, you can explore the area at your own pace, with options for activities like visiting ski fields, white-water rivers, or bungy jumping, plus checking out the local restaurant scene.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel, Queenstown)
Included Activities
- Guided visit to National Kiwi Hatchery
Optional Activities
- Bungy jumping
- White-water rafting
- Ski field activities
- Fine dining at award-winning restaurants
Landmarks National Kiwi Hatchery 
- Day 5
Queenstown to Milford Sound to Te Anau
Leave Queenstown and travel along Lake Wakatipu while crossing the Devil's Staircase to reach Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park. You'll pass Mirror Lakes, Knobs Flat, and Cleddau Valley along the way. Then board a cruise on Milford Sound/Piopiotahi with a naturalist guide who points out fur seals and dolphins while sharing geological history. A picnic lunch comes with you on the boat.
- Meals
- Lunch (Picnic lunch aboard nature cruise on Milford Sound/Piopiotahi)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel, Queenstown)
Included Activities
- Coach journey skirt Lake Wakatipu and traverse Devil's Staircase
- Views of Mirror Lakes, Knobs Flat, and Cleddau Valley
- Nature cruise on Milford Sound/Piopiotahi with Naturalist guide commentary
- Picnic lunch aboard nature cruise
Landmarks Lake Wakatipu Devil's Staircase Te Anau Mirror Lakes Knobs Flat Cleddau Valley Milford Sound/Piopiotahi Bowen Falls Fiordland National Park 
- Day 6
Queenstown
Spend the day in Queenstown on your own schedule. If you're interested, there are optional activities like jet boat rides or a cruise aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm, though these are at your own expense. In the evening, head to Postmasters Cafe in Arrowtown, a historic cottage with gardens, for dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at Postmasters Cafe, a historic Arrowtown cottage)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel, Queenstown)
Included Activities
- Dinner at Postmasters Cafe in Arrowtown
Optional Activities
- High-octane jet boat ride on Lake Wakatipu
- Cruise aboard historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm with guided farm tour and morning or afternoon tea
Landmarks Lake Wakatipu TSS Earnslaw Walter Peak High Country Farm Postmasters Cafe, Arrowtown - Day 7
Queenstown to Lake Tekapo
Travel through Central Otago's orchards and sample stone fruit from the area. Later, check out the Highlands Motorsport Museum where you'll see rare cars including Michael Schumacher's Benetton F1 car and the Aston Martin Vulcan. The drive to Lake Tekapo takes you through mountain scenery. Tonight you'll experience stargazing at a purpose-built observation crater in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, with expert astronomy guides leading the way.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Peppers Bluewater Resort Lake Tekapo)
Included Activities
- Visit local orchard and sample stone fruit from Central Otago
- Visit Highlands Motorsport Museum
- Stargazing experience at Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve with expert astronomy guides at purpose-built observation crater
Landmarks Central Otago Highlands Motorsport Museum Lake Tekapo Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve 
- Day 8
Lake Tekapo to Christchurch
Travel through Canterbury's grassy plains, mirror-like lakes, and snow-capped mountains toward Christchurch. A guided city tour shows you the Transitional Cathedral, largely made of cardboard, and Turanga, the gold-clad central library, both representing the city's post-earthquake rebuild and new architectural direction.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Distinction Christchurch Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Christchurch including Transitional Cathedral and Turanga central library
Landmarks Transitional Cathedral Turanga Central Library - Day 9
Christchurch area
Head north through rolling countryside to Hurunui Hills farm in North Canterbury where you'll meet the Bamford Family and experience warm Kiwi hospitality. They'll tell you about six generations of premium Merino sheep, wool, and Angus cattle farming. Then move to Waipara Springs Winery for wine tasting and a platter-style lunch among the vines. Back at the farm, enjoy a celebratory dinner featuring Canterbury region produce with your Travel Director and fellow travelers.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Morning tea at Hurunui Hills farm), Lunch (Platter-style lunch at Waipara Springs Winery among the vines), Dinner (Celebratory dinner featuring produce from the Canterbury region)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Distinction Christchurch Hotel)
Included Activities
- Be My Guest farm visit at Hurunui Hills
- Morning tea at Hurunui Hills farm
- Meet farm animals and learn about farm life
- Wine tasting at Waipara Springs Winery
- Platter-style lunch at Waipara Springs Winery
- Celebratory dinner featuring Canterbury region produce
Landmarks Hurunui Hills North Canterbury Waipara Springs Winery - Day 10
Christchurch
After traveling across two islands and spending time with new friends, today is for reflecting on your New Zealand journey and thinking about what adventure might come next.
