Itinerary
- Day 1
Christchurch
Starting in Christchurch, you'll see the Cardboard Cathedral and walk through the Botanic Gardens. After that, you head toward Omarama through Geraldine and the Waitaki Valley, where snow-capped mountains line the drive. The scenery shifts throughout the day as you move inland from the city.
Included Activities
- Visit the Cardboard Cathedral
- Explore the Botanic Gardens
- Visit Geraldine and sample local cheeses and produce at Barkers Store
- Travel through the Waitaki Valley
Landmarks/POIs Cardboard Cathedral Christchurch Botanic Gardens Lake Benmore - Day 2
Clyde to Invercargill
You'll spend time in Clyde exploring its gold mining history, then travel to Invercargill for a guided tour of Transport World to see their collection of rare and classic vehicles. Later in the evening, there's a Highlight Dinner included to wrap up the day.
- Meals
- Highlight Dinner (Highlight Dinner at Transport World)
Included Activities
- Visit Clyde historic town centre
- Guided tour of Transport World
- Highlight Dinner at Transport World
Landmarks/POIs Transport World Invercargill - Day 3
Invercargill to Te Anau
The day starts at Templeton Flax Mill with curator Nathan Templeton showing you around. From there, you drive through Southland farmland to Riverton, a charming seaside town, before arriving at Te Anau on the shores of the South Island's largest lake for the evening.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Templeton Flax Mill with presentation from Nathan Templeton
- Visit Riverton
Landmarks/POIs Templeton Flax Mill Lake Te Anau - Day 4
Fiordland National Park
You journey through Fiordland National Park's beech forests and see mirror-like lakes along the way. Then you board a sightseeing cruise through Milford Sound where you'll see towering cliffs, waterfalls, and wildlife like seals, penguins, and kea throughout the cruise.
Included Activities
- Travel through Fiordland National Park
- Milford Sound sightseeing cruise
Landmarks/POIs Fiordland National Park Milford Sound - Day 5
Te Anau to Queenstown
Start the day at Real Country where you'll watch horse communication demonstrations and sheep dog mustering. Later, you explore Arrowtown's historic movie-set streets before heading to Queenstown for a two-night stay in this popular South Island destination.
Included Activities
- Real Country Farm Experience with horse communication and sheep dog mustering demonstrations
- Visit historic Arrowtown
Landmarks/POIs Arrowtown - Day 6
Queenstown
This is a leisure day in Queenstown with an included lunch at Fergburger. You can choose from optional activities like jet boat rides on the Shotover River, vineyard tours, or a cruise on the TSS Earnslaw historic boat to Walter Peak High Country Farm if you want to stay active.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Fergburger, famous for mouthwatering gourmet burgers)
Included Activities
- Lunch at Fergburger
Optional Activities
- Jet boat ride on Shotover River
- Vineyard tours
- Afternoon cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm with gourmet barbecue dinner
- Day 7
Queenstown to Punakaiki
You'll board the TranzAlpine train heading to Arthur's Pass, watching panoramic views of snow-capped peaks and beech forests from your seat. In Greymouth, you check out mining heritage sites, then continue to Punakaiki to see the Pancake Rocks and blowholes from a scenic viewpoint.
Included Activities
- TranzAlpine train journey to Arthur's Pass
- Visit Greymouth
- View Punakaiki's Pancake Rocks from scenic viewpoint
Landmarks/POIs Arthur's Pass Punakaiki Pancake Rocks - Day 8
Punakaiki to Nelson
Traveling along the Heritage Highway toward Nelson, you pass through the dramatic Buller Gorge and see its scenic swingbridge. The route also takes you through Kahurangi National Park where wild rivers, high plateaus, and alpine herb fields create constantly changing views throughout the drive.
Included Activities
- Travel through Buller Gorge
- Travel through Kahurangi National Park
Landmarks/POIs Buller Gorge Kahurangi National Park - Day 9
Nelson
Nelson offers a leisure day where you can choose to stay relaxed or pursue optional activities. If you're interested, there's an Abel Tasman National Park cruise and walk combination available, which takes you through golden beaches and past granite cliffs for the day.
Optional Activities
- Abel Tasman National Park cruise and walk combination
Landmarks/POIs Abel Tasman National Park - Day 10
Nelson to Wellington
You board the Interislander Ferry for a cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound, Tory Channel, and Cook Strait, crossing from the South Island to the North Island. The ferry journey ends in Wellington, New Zealand's capital city, where you'll arrive later in the day.
Included Activities
- Interislander Ferry cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound, Tory Channel, and Cook Strait
Landmarks/POIs Queen Charlotte Sound Cook Strait - Day 11
Wellington to Napier
Traveling to Napier, you explore its beautifully preserved 1930s Art Deco architecture. The city was rebuilt after a devastating 1931 earthquake, and the architecture includes Striped Classical, Spanish Mission, and Art Deco styles throughout the downtown area.
Included Activities
- Guided Art Deco Walking tour in Napier
Landmarks/POIs Napier - Day 12
Napier to Rotorua
You start at Huka Falls where massive amounts of water surge through a volcanic gorge each second. Then you move to Rotorua's geothermal areas with mud pools and geysers, tour a pounamu jade carving workshop, and finish with a Highlight Dinner of hangi-inspired cuisine and cultural performance ending at the Pohutu Geyser with hot chocolate.
- Meals
- Highlight Dinner (Hangi-inspired cuisine with cultural performance in the finely carved meeting house Te Aronui a Rua)
Included Activities
- Visit Huka Falls
- Guided tour of Maori Arts & Crafts Institute Te Po Indigenous Experience at Te Puia
- Traditional pounamu jade carving workshop tour
- Highlight Dinner with hangi-inspired cuisine and cultural performance at Te Aronui a Rua meeting house
- View Pohutu Geyser with hot chocolate
Landmarks/POIs Huka Falls Pohutu Geyser Te Puia Maori Arts & Crafts Institute - Day 13
Rotorua
Rotorua gives you a leisure day with choices for how to spend your time. You can relax at Wai Araki Hot Springs and Spa, tour Hobbiton Movie Set if you're interested in Lord of the Rings, or take a scenic flight for views from above the region.
Optional Activities
- Relax at Wai Araki Hot Springs & Spa
- Hobbiton Movie Set tour
- Scenic flight
Landmarks/POIs Hobbiton Movie Set - Day 14
Rotorua to Bay of Islands
You travel to the Bay of Islands, which has 140 islands surrounded by turquoise sea. The day includes exploring the Treaty of Waitangi site where the treaty was signed in 1840, viewing the world's largest ceremonial war canoe and a carved meeting house with guide commentary on the historical importance.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Landmarks/POIs Waitangi Treaty Grounds Bay of Islands - Day 15
Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands offers a day of freedom with several optional activities to choose from. You can travel to Cape Reinga via Ninety Mile Beach, cruise on a historic tall ship, visit Hole in the Rock, or explore Russell and learn about how the area was settled.
Optional Activities
- Travel to Cape Reinga via Ninety Mile Beach
- Historic tall ship cruise
- Cruise to Hole in the Rock
- Tour of Russell and Bay of Islands settlement sites
Landmarks/POIs Cape Reinga Ninety Mile Beach Hole in the Rock Russell - Day 16
Bay of Islands to Auckland
You visit Whangarei, the island's most northerly outpost where waterfalls meet beaches and galleries sit alongside museums. Then you enjoy the scenic drive back to Auckland where a Farewell Dinner with drinks brings the tour to an end, giving time to reflect with your Travel Director and companions.
- Meals
- Farewell Dinner (Farewell Dinner with Travel Director and travel companions)
Included Activities
- Visit Whangarei
- Farewell Dinner with Travel Director
Landmarks/POIs Whangarei - Day 17
Departure
You depart from Auckland today, leaving with memories from three weeks of exploring New Zealand's attractions across both the North and South Islands. The journey from coast to mountains, cities to national parks, ends as you head home.
