Itinerary
- Day 1
Christchurch
You'll land in Christchurch and get a sense of how the city has rebuilt since the 2010/11 earthquakes changed everything. This evening you'll meet your Travel Director and the other travelers at a Welcome Reception to kick things off.
- Day 2
Christchurch to Omarama
The day starts with a tour of Christchurch to see the Cardboard Cathedral and walk through the Botanic Gardens with their riverside setting and interesting plant life. After that you'll head through changing landscapes, stopping at Barkers Store in Geraldine before moving into the Waitaki Valley with its snow-capped mountains, then on to Omarama for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Distinction Heritage Gateway Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Cardboard Cathedral in Christchurch
- Stop at Botanic Gardens in Christchurch
- Visit Geraldine and historic Barkers Store to sample local cheeses and produce
- Travel through Waitaki Valley
Landmarks Cardboard Cathedral Botanic Gardens Lake Benmore - Day 3
Omarama to Invercargill
You'll spend time in Clyde, a small historic town with gold mining heritage, where old buildings now operate as cafes and shops. From there it's on to Invercargill where you'll get a guided tour of Transport World to see Bill Richardson's collection of rare and classic vehicles. The day wraps up with a Highlight Dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Highlight Dinner at Transport World)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kelvin Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Clyde historic town
- Privately guided tour of Transport World Invercargill
- Highlight Dinner at Transport World
Landmarks Clyde Transport World Invercargill 
- Day 4
Invercargill to Te Anau
You'll pass through Southland farmland to reach Templeton Flax Mill where a curator will walk you through the flax mill industry in a Make Travel Matter Experience. After that, the route goes through Riverton and into Fiordland National Park, ending in Te Anau on the shores of the South Island's largest lake.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Distinction Luxmore Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided tour and presentation at Templeton Flax Mill from Nathan Templeton, Mill curator
- Visit Riverton
Landmarks Templeton Flax Mill Riverton Fiordland National Park 
- Day 5
Te Anau to Milford Sound
The drive takes you through Fiordland National Park's beech forests, flats, meadows and mirror-like lakes to Milford Sound. You'll get out on an included sightseeing cruise to see towering cliffs, waterfalls, and wildlife including seals, penguins and the Kea, New Zealand's alpine parrot.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Distinction Luxmore Hotel)
Included Activities
- Scenic sightseeing cruise on Milford Sound (Piopiotahi)
Landmarks Milford Sound Fiordland National Park 
- Day 6
Te Anau to Queenstown
You'll spend time at Real Country farm experiencing country life and southern hospitality in a Make Travel Matter Experience. There you can watch horse communication demonstrations and sheep dog mustering, try stock whip cracking, and interact with farm animals. Later you'll head to Queenstown with the afternoon free to do your own thing.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown)
Included Activities
- Real Country Farm Experience with demonstrations of horse communication and sheep dog mustering
- Stock whip cracking lesson at Real Country
- Feed and interact with farm animals at Real Country
Landmarks Real Country Farm 
- Day 7
Queenstown
Queenstown is yours to explore. You'll have an included lunch at Fergburger, famous for its gourmet burgers and lively vibe. Beyond that, optional experiences available include jet boat rides on the Shotover River, vineyard tours, or an afternoon cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue dinner (own expense).
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at leisure at Fergburger)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown)
Included Activities
- Lunch at Fergburger (at your leisure)
Optional Activities
- High-octane jet boat ride on Shotover River
- Vineyard tours in surrounding areas
- Afternoon cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm with gourmet barbecue dinner (all own expense)
Landmarks Fergburger Shotover River Lake Wakatipu TSS Earnslaw - Day 8
Queenstown to Christchurch
You'll start at a local orchard called Mrs Jones to pick up fresh stone fruit, then head over The Lindis Pass alpine crossing with its panoramic mountain views including Mount Cook. A stop in Tekapo lets you see the Church of the Good Shepherd on the shores of turquoise Lake Tekapo before driving through the Canterbury Plains back to Christchurch.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ibis Hotel Christchurch)
Included Activities
- Visit local orchard Mrs Jones
- Travel over The Lindis Pass
- Visit Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo
Landmarks Mrs Jones Orchard The Lindis Pass Mount Cook Lake Tekapo Church of the Good Shepherd 
- Day 9
Christchurch to Punakaiki
You'll travel on the TranzAlpine train toward Arthur's Pass, passing through tunnels and over viaducts with views of snow-capped peaks, icy rivers, beech forests, gorges and river valleys. After reaching Greymouth, known for its mining history, you'll continue to Punakaiki to see the Pancake Rocks and blowholes, then settle in at a coastal eco retreat.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Scenic Hotel Punakaiki)
Included Activities
- TranzAlpine train journey to Arthur's Pass
- Visit Greymouth
- Visit Punakaiki's Pancake Rocks and blowholes
Landmarks Arthur's Pass Greymouth Punakaiki Pancake Rocks - Day 10
Punakaiki to Nelson
Your coach heads toward Nelson along the Heritage Highway, weaving through Buller Gorge with its deep canyon and New Zealand's longest swingbridge, and Kahurangi National Park featuring wild rivers, high plateaus, alpine herb-fields and coastal forests.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (The Rutherford Hotel)
Included Activities
- Travel through Buller Gorge
- Travel through Kahurangi National Park
Landmarks Buller Gorge Kahurangi National Park - Day 11
Nelson
Nelson is completely free for you to do as you please. Sleep in if you want or get active. There's an optional trip to Abel Tasman National Park for a cruise and walk combination (own expense) where you can explore one of the country's most known coastal tracks with golden beaches and sculpted granite cliffs.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (The Rutherford Hotel)
Optional Activities
- Cruise and walk combination in Abel Tasman National Park (own expense)
Landmarks Abel Tasman National Park - Day 12
Nelson to Wellington
You'll board the Interislander ferry from the South Island to the North Island with a window seat to watch the scenery unfold as you move through Queen Charlotte Sound, up the Tory Channel and across Cook Strait with its maze of arms and inlets before arriving in Wellington, the capital.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Travelodge Wellington)
Included Activities
- Cruise on Interislander Ferry across Cook Strait
Landmarks Queen Charlotte Sound Tory Channel Cook Strait 
- Day 13
Wellington to Napier
The journey takes you to Napier where you'll discover well-preserved 1930s architecture. Following the massive 1931 earthquake that destroyed the commercial centre, rebuilding happened quickly using the architectural styles of that era including Striped Classical, Spanish Mission and Art Deco.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Scenic Hotel Te Pania)
Included Activities
- Guided Art Deco walking tour in Napier
Landmarks Napier Art Deco District - Day 14
Napier to Rotorua
You'll visit Huka Falls where about 220,000 litres per second of water surge through a narrow volcanic gorge. Later you'll reach Rotorua to explore a traditional Pounamu jade carving workshop and learn about the cultural significance of New Zealand greenstone in Māori tradition. The evening includes a Highlight Dinner with hangi inspired cuisine and cultural performance in the carved meeting house Te Aronui a Rua, ending with hot chocolate while viewing the Pohutu Geyser.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Highlight Dinner of hangi inspired cuisine and cultural performance at Te Aronui a Rua meeting house)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sudima Lake Rotorua)
Included Activities
- Visit Huka Falls
- Guided Pounamu (jade carving) workshop in Rotorua
- Explore geothermal wonders of Rotorua
- Highlight Dinner of hangi inspired cuisine and cultural performance at Te Aronui a Rua meeting house
- View Pohutu Geyser with hot chocolate
Landmarks Huka Falls Pohutu Geyser - Day 15
Rotorua
Rotorua is open for you to explore on your own schedule. Hobbit fans can visit the Hobbiton Movie Set from The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies. If relaxation appeals more, the Wai Araki Hotel Springs and Spa is an option. Adventure seekers can ask about scenic flights (own expense) for a unique perspective of the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sudima Lake Rotorua)
Optional Activities
- Hobbiton Movie Set tour
- Wai Araki Hotel Springs & Spa
- Scenic flight (all own expense)
Landmarks Hobbiton Movie Set - Day 16
Departure
Your New Zealand tour comes to an end. You've traveled across two islands, seen all kinds of attractions, and spent time with people who know how to make the most of a trip.
