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.
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
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/POIs 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
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/POIs 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)
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/POIs 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
Included Activities
- Panoramic viewpoint of Huka Falls
Landmarks/POIs 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
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/POIs 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)
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/POIs 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
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/POIs 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
Included Activities
- Christchurch city tour
- Be My Guest: Afternoon tea with Pavlova Queen Angie at Lake Tekapo
Landmarks/POIs Christchurch Cathedral Christchurch Central Library Lake Tekapo - Day 10
Lake Tekapo to Dunedin
You'll travel through Oamaru to explore its Victorian streetscapes, browsing shops, galleries, and traditional crafts. Then you'll head to Dunedin, the 'Edinburgh of the Southern Hemisphere', where your afternoon is free to wander the castle grounds, take a wildlife cruise to spot little penguins, or visit a brewery.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Oamaru Victorian streetscapes exploration
Optional Activities
- Dunedin castle grounds visit
- Wildlife cruise to spot little penguins
- Brewery visit
Landmarks/POIs Oamaru Victorian Streetscapes Larnach 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
Included Activities
- Jet boating on Lake Manapouri
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience – Pomona Island in Fiordland National Park conservation project
Landmarks/POIs 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
Included Activities
- Cruise on spectacular Milford Sound/Piopiotahi
Landmarks/POIs 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)
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/POIs 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
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/POIs 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)
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/POIs Franz Josef/Waiau West Coast Wildlife Centre Hokitika Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes - Day 16
Punakaiki to Christchurch
You'll explore the Pounamu Pathway for a self-guided storytelling experience about Maori history and culture of the area, created in collaboration with the Weta Workshop. After lunch at legendary Monteith's Brewery, you'll board the scenic TranzAlpine train from Arthur's Pass back to Christchurch, traveling through tunnels and over viaducts with views of snow-capped peaks, icy rivers, beech forests, and gorges. You'll arrive in time for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at legendary Monteith's Brewery), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Pounamu Pathway for an immersive storytelling experience
- Lunch at Monteith's Brewery
- Journey on the TranzAlpine Train through the Southern Alps
Landmarks/POIs Pounamu Pathway Monteith's Brewery Arthur's Pass - Day 17
Christchurch
You'll depart Christchurch today, heading home with all your photos and memories from this New Zealand adventure.
