Itinerary
- Day 1
Auckland
You'll arrive in Auckland whenever works best for you, then head out to check out the waterfront area on your own. Later this evening, you'll meet up with your group for drinks and dinner to get the New Zealand trip started.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Horizon by SkyCity Auckland)
Optional Activities
- Explore Auckland's hip new waterfront precincts
- Day 2
Auckland
After breakfast, you'll get an exclusive after-hours tour of the Americas Cup exhibition at the New Zealand Maritime Museum where you'll learn about the city's boat-building history. Your guide then takes you around Auckland, stopping at Bastion Point, Michael Joseph Savage Memorial, and Mission Bay for photos. The afternoon is yours to explore at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Horizon by SkyCity Auckland)
Included Activities
- Exclusive after-hours guided tour of the Americas Cup exhibition at the New Zealand Maritime Museum
- Auckland city tour including Bastion Point and Michael Joseph Savage Memorial
- View Mission Bay
Optional Activities
- Afternoon exploration of Auckland
Landmarks New Zealand Maritime Museum Bastion Point Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Mission Bay - Day 3
Auckland to Rotorua
You'll leave Auckland early and head to a working dairy farm for an exclusive family-style Be My Guest lunch in the Red Barn, where you'll make your own butter before eating a farm-to-table meal. After that, you'll continue to Rotorua to see Maori artisans working at Te Puia, then explore Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve with its geysers and hot springs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Family-style Be My Guest lunch in the Red Barn on a working dairy farm, farm-to-table prepared by onsite chef), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel Rotorua)
Included Activities
- Be My Guest: Lunch in the Red Barn on a dairy farm
- Butter churning experience at the dairy farm
- Farm-to-table lunch prepared by onsite chef
- Visit Te Puia to see Maori artisans at work
- Guided tour through Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve
Landmarks Te Puia Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve 
- Day 4
Rotorua
This morning you can choose from optional sightseeing experiences or just relax and explore Rotorua on your own. Tonight you'll head to Te Pa Tu Maori Experience for forest seasonal canapes with chef choice aperitif, followed by a three-course dinner featuring Maori cuisine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Three-course dinner featuring Maori cuisine with forest ai horotai (seasonal canapes) and chef choice aperitif)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel Rotorua)
Included Activities
- Te Pa Tu Maori Experience with three-course dinner featuring Maori cuisine
Optional Activities
- Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa thermal waters experience
- Amphibious WWII-era Duck tour across Rotorua's three lakes
Landmarks Te Pa Tu Maori Experience - Day 5
Rotorua to Wellington
You'll leave Rotorua and travel to Huka Falls to see the massive waterfall where 220,000 litres of water barrel over every second. From there you'll continue to Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake, then cross the volcanic Central Plateau to reach Wellington, the capital city set on a beautiful harbour.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Rydges Wellington)
Included Activities
- Panoramic viewpoint of Huka Falls
Landmarks Huka Falls Lake Taupo 
- Day 6
Wellington
Start your day with coffee at one of Wellington's popular cafes. You'll join a city sights tour to see the iconic cable car, parliament, and Mt. Victoria, ending at Te Papa, the national Museum of New Zealand where you can visit the exhibitions (entrance fee applies). The rest of your afternoon and evening is free for exploring optional tours or dining around the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Rydges Wellington)
Included Activities
- City sights tour including iconic cable car, parliament, and Mt. Victoria
Optional Activities
- Visit Te Papa national Museum of New Zealand exhibitions
- Lord of the Rings fans special tour and visit to Weta Workshop
- Visit Zealandia's ecosanctuary restoring 225 hectares of forest
- Dinner at restaurants and bars throughout Wellington
Landmarks Wellington Cable Car Parliament of New Zealand Mt. Victoria Te Papa (Museum of New Zealand) Weta Workshop Zealandia - Day 7
Wellington to Kaikoura
You'll cruise the Cook Strait from the North Island to the South, passing through Queen Charlotte Sound and its maze of arms and inlets before reaching the sleepy village of Picton. The drive continues to Kaikoura where you might see sperm whales, dolphins, and fur seals near shore. You'll hear a biodiversity talk from Sabrina Luecht about the wildlife hospital being developed here, then dine at Hiku celebrating Kaikoura's fresh seafood and produce.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at Hiku celebrating Kaikoura's kai moana, fresh produce, marine life, and dramatic sea and mountain scapes)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sudima Kaikoura)
Included Activities
- Cruise Cook Strait through Queen Charlotte Sound to Picton
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience – Kaikoura Wildlife Centre Trust biodiversity talk with Sabrina Luecht
- Dinner at Hiku restaurant
Landmarks Queen Charlotte Sound Picton Kaikoura Wildlife Centre Trust - Day 8
Kaikoura to Christchurch
You can take a relaxed morning or sign up for optional local wildlife experiences like scenic flights, dolphin cruises, or kayaking tours to spot seals and marine life. After that you'll drive along the coast and Canterbury Plains to reach Christchurch, known for its innovative architecture, art institutions, and restaurants.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Distinction Christchurch Hotel)
Optional Activities
- Scenic flight over dramatic beaches with whale spotting
- Dolphin cruise to see pods of dolphins
- Kayaking tour of the coast to see seals
Landmarks Canterbury Plains - Day 9
Christchurch to Lake Tekapo
You'll explore Christchurch, which rebuilt itself after the 2010/11 earthquakes with eye-popping cardboard-crafted Cathedral and gold-clad central library. Later you'll travel to Lake Tekapo for a Be My Guest afternoon tea at Morelea, the home of local farmers Stan and Angie Taylor overlooking the emerald lake. Angie will demonstrate her famous pavlova while Stan shares farming stories.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Be My Guest afternoon tea at Morelea with pavlova demonstration by Angie Taylor), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Distinction Mackenzie Country Hotel Twizel)
Included Activities
- Christchurch city tour
- Be My Guest: Afternoon tea with Pavlova Queen Angie at Lake Tekapo
Landmarks Christchurch Cathedral Christchurch Central Library Lake Tekapo - Day 10
Oamaru to Dunedin
You'll start in Oamaru walking through the Victorian streets, checking out the local shops and galleries scattered throughout the area. The traditional crafts on display here give you a real sense of the town's character. After spending time there, you'll head to Dunedin for the afternoon. Once you arrive, there's plenty to do depending on what interests you. The castle grounds are worth a visit if you want to explore the architecture and grounds, or you could join a wildlife cruise to see the little penguins in their natural habitat. If you're into it, there's also a local distillery where you can try some sustainable gin and learn about how it's made.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Scenic Hotel Southern Cross)
Optional Activities
- Explore shops, galleries and traditional crafts in Oamaru's Victorian streetscapes
- Wander the manicured grounds of Dunedin's stately castle
- Wildlife cruise to spot little penguins
- Sample sustainable gin
Landmarks Oamaru Victorian Streetscapes Dunedin Castle - Day 11
Dunedin to Te Anau
You'll travel through sheep farms and rugged mountains to reach Te Anau on the South Island's largest lake. You'll experience jet boating on Lake Manapouri where you can participate in a conservation experience supporting community efforts to restore native plants and wildlife. You'll stop in quiet spots to take in the surroundings, spot trout, and learn about this unique area within Fiordland National Park.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas)
Included Activities
- Jet boating on Lake Manapouri
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience – Pomona Island in Fiordland National Park conservation project
Landmarks Lake Manapouri Pomona Island Fiordland National Park - Day 12
Te Anau to Queenstown
You'll head towards Milford Sound through Fiordland National Park, traversing native rainforest, alluvial flats, meadows, mirrored lakes, waterfalls, dramatic rocky ranges, and ancient valleys. You'll go on a Milford Sound boat tour cruising through this wild expanse before arriving in Queenstown, known as the 'Adventure Capital of New Zealand', for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel, Queenstown)
Included Activities
- Cruise on spectacular Milford Sound/Piopiotahi
Landmarks Fiordland National Park Milford Sound/Piopiotahi 
- Day 13
Queenstown
You'll choose from a long list of optional activities including Skippers Canyon, a Central Otago wine tour, Kiwi Birdlife Park, jet boating on the Shotover River, or a Lord of the Rings themed Glenorchy tour. Your day ends with a TSS Earnslaw cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue dinner and farm show.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Gourmet barbecue dinner at the Colonel's Homestead, Walter Peak High Country Farm)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel, Queenstown)
Included Activities
- Cruise Lake Wakatipu on TSS Earnslaw Steamship to Walter Peak
- Gourmet BBQ dinner and farm show at Walter Peak High Country Farm Colonel's Homestead
Optional Activities
- Skippers Canyon gorges exploration
- Central Otago wine tour
- Kiwi Birdlife Park visit
- Shotover River adventure with KJet
- Lord of the Rings Glenorchy Scenic Tour
Landmarks Lake Wakatipu TSS Earnslaw Walter Peak High Country Farm Skippers Canyon Shotover River Kiwi Birdlife Park Glenorchy - Day 14
Queenstown to Franz Josef
You'll travel from Arrowtown through Central Otago's gleaming lakes and into alpine scenery that turns into rainforest along the West Coast. You'll arrive in Franz Josef, home to Franz Josef Glacier. An optional helicopter flight lets you potentially land and walk across the ice-fall for a bird's-eye view of this gem-like glacier.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier)
Included Activities
- Panoramic viewpoint of Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere
Optional Activities
- Helicopter flight over Franz Josef Glacier with potential landing and ice-fall walk
Landmarks Arrowtown Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere 
- Day 15
Franz Josef to Punakaiki
You can sleep in or explore the small village of Franz Josef, perhaps visiting the West Coast Wildlife Centre. You'll travel to Hokitika, home of native jade greenstone, then head to Punakaiki to see the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. You'll stand at the water's edge and listen for the 'whoosh' of water bursting through the blowholes. Later you'll stay at the eco-friendly Ocean View Retreat dining on local specialities with wine and views of the surf.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at Ocean View Retreat with local specialities and wine, views of thundering surf)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Scenic Hotel Punakaiki)
Included Activities
- Visit Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and stay at an Eco Resort located right on the beach
Optional Activities
- West Coast Wildlife Centre visit
Landmarks Franz Josef/Waiau West Coast Wildlife Centre Hokitika Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes - Day 16
Punakaiki to Christchurch
Start your day walking through the Pounamu Pathway, a Maori cultural storytelling experience that Weta Workshop created. The path takes you through the region's history and traditions with some really thoughtful displays and narratives. Around midday, head to Monteith's Brewery for lunch, where you can grab some food and check out the brewery itself. After lunch, make your way to the Greymouth station to board the TranzAlpine train. This scenic route heads to Christchurch and passes through tunnels, crosses impressive viaducts, and winds past snow-capped peaks, icy rivers, and beech forests. You'll see alpine valleys roll by your window for most of the journey. The train arrives in Christchurch by evening, giving you time to settle in before dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Monteith's Brewery), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Distinction Christchurch Hotel)
Included Activities
- Self-guided journey through Pounamu Pathway - immersive Maori cultural storytelling experience
- Lunch at Monteith's Brewery
- Journey on TranzAlpine Train from Greymouth to Christchurch
Landmarks Pounamu Pathway Monteith's Brewery Greymouth - Day 17
Christchurch
You'll depart Christchurch today, heading home with all your photos and memories from this New Zealand adventure.
