Itinerary
- Day 1
Christchurch to Lake Tekapo
Start the day in Christchurch with a city tour, then head south through the Canterbury Plains toward Lake Tekapo. You'll see the turquoise waters and snow-capped mountains along the way. Stop at the stone Church of Good Shepherd for photos and a closer look at the landscape. By evening, you'll participate in an indoor dark sky astronomy session where guides help you explore the night sky in this region known for minimal light pollution.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Distinction Heritage Gateway Hotel)
Included Activities
- Christchurch city tour
- Church of Good Shepherd visit
- Indoor Dark Sky Astronomy Experience
Landmarks Church of the Good Shepherd Lake Tekapo Canterbury Plains 
- Day 2
Lake Tekapo to Dunedin
Travel through the Waitaki Valley toward Oamaru and visit New Zealand's oldest public gardens with their tree-lined streets and limestone architecture. Continue on to Dunedin, where you can explore art-lined alleys, stop by Speight's Brewery, or check out Larnach Castle if time allows. Watch for fur seals and penguins around the area, earning Dunedin the nickname 'Little Galapagos' of the South Island.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Dunedin Leisure Lodge)
Included Activities
- Oamaru public gardens visit
- Dunedin exploration
Optional Activities
- Speight's Brewery tour
- Larnach Castle visit
Landmarks Oamaru Public Gardens Speight's Brewery Larnach Castle 
- Day 3
Dunedin to Stewart Island
Head to Invercargill as your gateway to Stewart Island, an island that's 85% national park. Join a guided village and bays tour to see endemic plants and animals found nowhere else. You have the option to take a leisurely cruise around Paterson Inlet with picnic lunch, visiting Acker's Cottage and Ulva Island to observe native birds and plants in their natural habitat.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kelvin Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided Village and Bays tour
Optional Activities
- Paterson Inlet cruise with picnic lunch
Landmarks Stewart Island Paterson Inlet Ulva Island - Day 4
Stewart Island to Queenstown
Spend your day at Real Country, a working farm where you'll meet a local farmer and learn about horse communication and sheep dog demonstrations. Try your hand at stock whip cracking and interact with farm animals. A portion of the day's proceeds supports The Fairlight Foundation, which helps women in agriculture. After that, travel to Queenstown and spend the rest of the day at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown)
Included Activities
- Real Country Farm Show - Horse communication demonstration
- Real Country Farm Show - Working sheep dog mustering
- Real Country Farm Show - Stock whip cracking lesson
- Real Country Farm Show - Farm animal interaction
Landmarks Real Country Farm 
- Day 5
Queenstown
This day in Queenstown is completely yours to plan. If you want to stay active, consider an optional cruise into Milford Sound through World Heritage Fiordland National Park, or take a high-speed jet boat on the Shotover River. Wine tasting at local vineyards is another option, or you could book an afternoon cruise on the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown)
Optional Activities
- Milford Sound cruise and tour
- Shotover River jet boat ride
- Vineyard wine tasting tours
- TSS Earnslaw cruise to Walter Peak High Country Farm with gourmet barbecue dinner
Landmarks Milford Sound Fiordland National Park Shotover River Lake Wakatipu Walter Peak High Country Farm - Day 6
Queenstown to Franz Josef
Travel through Alpine country in the Southern Lakes region, passing through Arrowtown with its charming tree-lined streets. Stop at Lake Dunstan where you can buy fresh stone fruit, then continue past Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka with their poplar and willow-lined shores. Cross over Haast Pass and arrive at Franz Josef at the edge of Westland World Heritage Park. An optional scenic flight over the glacier is available if weather cooperates.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier)
Included Activities
- Arrowtown exploration
- Alpine scenic drive through Southern Lakes
Optional Activities
- Scenic flight over Franz Josef Glacier
Landmarks Arrowtown Lake Dunstan Lake Hawea Lake Wanaka Haast Pass Franz Josef Glacier Westland World Heritage Park 
- Day 7
Franz Josef to Hokitika
Travel along the wild West Coast to Hokitika, one of the few communities in this remote area. Wander through the windswept coastline and explore the town's pounamu, which is native New Zealand greenstone or jade. Later, head to Punakaiki and see the famous Pancake Rocks and blowholes, which were shaped by the powerful surf over time.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Scenic Hotel Punakaiki)
Included Activities
- Hokitika coastal exploration
- Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and blowholes visit
Landmarks Hokitika Punakaiki Pancake Rocks - Day 8
Hokitika to Nelson
Relax as the coach travels along the Heritage Highway toward Nelson. The route winds through Buller Gorge, a deep canyon featuring New Zealand's longest swingbridge. You'll also pass through Kahurangi National Park with its wild rivers, high plateaus, alpine herb fields, and coastal forests as part of the scenic journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (The Rutherford Hotel)
Included Activities
- Buller Gorge scenic drive
Landmarks Buller Gorge Kahurangi National Park - Day 9
Nelson
This day in Nelson gives you complete freedom to relax or explore as you wish. If you want to get out and see something, consider an optional cruise and walk combination in Abel Tasman National Park. The park features golden beaches framed by sculpted granite cliffs and one of New Zealand's most well-known coastal tracks for hiking.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (The Rutherford Hotel)
Optional Activities
- Abel Tasman National Park cruise and walk combination
Landmarks Abel Tasman National Park - Day 10
Nelson to Wellington
Board the Interislander ferry for a scenic cruise from the South Island to the North Island. You'll travel through Queen Charlotte Sound, up the Tory Channel, and across Cook Strait, navigating through a maze of arms and inlets. Arrive in Wellington, New Zealand's cool little capital city, by the end of the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Travelodge Wellington)
Included Activities
- Interislander Ferry cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound
Landmarks Queen Charlotte Sound Cook Strait 
- Day 11
Wellington to Napier
Travel to Napier, famous for its beautifully preserved 1930s architecture. After a devastating earthquake in 1931 destroyed the commercial centre, the city was rebuilt quickly using the architectural styles popular at the time, including Striped Classical, Spanish Mission, and Art Deco designs.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Scenic Hotel Te Pania)
Included Activities
- Napier 1930s architecture tour
Landmarks Napier - Day 12
Napier to Rotorua
Travel through scenic natural landscapes, passing Lake Taupo, which is the largest and perhaps bluest lake in New Zealand, and the thundering Huka Falls. Arrive in Rotorua, where you'll see an otherworldly landscape with mud bubbling from geysers and steam rising from Earth's cracks. Explore Te Puia's geothermal valley and the Maori Arts & Crafts Institute. Later, enjoy a highlight dinner featuring hangi-inspired cuisine and a cultural performance in the finely carved meeting house Te Aronui a Rua, finishing at the Pohutu Geyser with hot chocolate.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Highlight Dinner - hangi inspired cuisine and cultural performance in Te Aronui a Rua meeting house with hot chocolate at Pohutu Geyser)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sudima Lake Rotorua)
Included Activities
- Lake Taupo viewing
- Huka Falls viewing
- Te Puia geothermal valley tour
- Maori Arts & Crafts Institute guided tour
- Highlight Dinner - hangi inspired cuisine and cultural performance
Landmarks Lake Taupo Huka Falls Te Puia Pohutu Geyser 
- Day 13
Rotorua
Today in Rotorua offers multiple options to choose from. Relax in the steamy thermal springs at Wai Araki Hot Springs & Spa, explore Hobbiton Movie Set to see Lord of the Rings and Hobbit filming locations, or book a scenic flight for a bird's-eye view of the region. Your travel director can offer recommendations based on your interests.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sudima Lake Rotorua)
Optional Activities
- Wai Araki Hot Springs & Spa
- Hobbiton Movie Set tour
- Scenic flight
Landmarks Wai Araki Hot Springs & Spa Hobbiton Movie Set - Day 14
Rotorua to Bay of Islands
Travel to the Bay of Islands, which comprises 140 islands ringed by turquoise water. This destination holds special historical significance as the place where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 between Captain William Hobson and Maori chiefs. Your guide will explain the treaty's importance and point out the world's largest ceremonial war canoe and a carved meeting house.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Copthorne Hotel and Resort)
Included Activities
- Bay of Islands scenic viewing
- Treaty of Waitangi site visit with guide
Landmarks Bay of Islands Treaty of Waitangi site - Day 15
Bay of Islands
Spend a free day exploring the Bay of Islands however you'd like. Travel up to Cape Reinga at the very top of New Zealand via idyllic Ninety Mile Beach, 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 early settlement of the Bay of Islands area.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Copthorne Hotel and Resort)
Optional Activities
- Cape Reinga tour via Ninety Mile Beach
- Historic tall ship cruise
- Hole in the Rock cruise
- Russell tour
Landmarks Cape Reinga Ninety Mile Beach Hole in the Rock Russell - Day 16
Bay of Islands to Auckland
Your three-week New Zealand adventure concludes today. After collecting memories and friendships throughout the tour, prepare for your journey home from Auckland.
- Meals
- Breakfast
