Itinerary
- Day 1
Christchurch
You'll arrive in Christchurch and have the afternoon to wander around the city on your own. This evening you'll meet your driver guide and the other travelers for a tour briefing and drinks to get acquainted before the journey starts.
Optional Activities
- Explore Christchurch streets at leisure
- Day 2
Christchurch to Omarama
Check out Christchurch's main attractions this morning, including the Cardboard Cathedral and the Botanic Gardens. After that, you'll head across the Canterbury Plains to Geraldine where you'll taste local cheeses at Barkers Store. From there, the route follows the East Coast through the Waitaki Valley and ends in Omarama.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Tour Christchurch highlights
- Visit Cardboard Cathedral
- Stop at Botanic Gardens
- Visit Geraldine and sample local cheeses at Barkers Store
- Travel through Waitaki Valley
- View Lake Benmore
Landmarks/POIs Cardboard Cathedral Christchurch Botanic Gardens Lake Benmore - Day 3
Clyde to Invercargill
Start the day in the historic town of Clyde, exploring its buildings from the gold mining era. You'll then drive to Invercargill for a guided tour of Transport World, which has classic and rare vehicles on display. Dinner happens this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at Transport World)
Included Activities
- Visit Clyde historic precinct
- Guided tour of Transport World
- Dinner at Transport World
Landmarks/POIs Clyde Historic Precinct Transport World - Day 4
Invercargill to Te Anau
Travel through farmland in Southland to reach Templeton Flax Mill for a guided tour and learn about the flax milling industry. Later you'll head to the seaside town of Riverton, and then continue on to Fiordland National Park and Te Anau for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour at Templeton Flax Mill
- Presentation from Nathan Templeton, Mill curator
- Visit Riverton
- Travel to Fiordland National Park
Landmarks/POIs Templeton Flax Mill Riverton Fiordland National Park - Day 5
Te Anau to Milford Sound
You'll pass through Fiordland National Park, driving through beech forests and past mirror-like lakes. The main event is a sightseeing cruise on Milford Sound where you'll see towering cliffs, waterfalls, and wildlife from the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel through Fiordland National Park
- Cruise on Milford Sound/Piopiotahi
- View towering cliffs, waterfalls, and wildlife
Landmarks/POIs Milford Sound/Piopiotahi - Day 6
Te Anau to Queenstown
Meet a local farmer at Real Country to see horse communication demonstrations and sheep dog mustering. After that, you'll visit Arrowtown, a historic town from the gold rush days, then continue to Queenstown where you'll stay for two nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Real Country farm experience
- Demonstrations of horse communication and sheep dog mustering
- Visit Arrowtown historic gold rush village
Landmarks/POIs Real Country Farm Arrowtown - Day 7
Queenstown
This day is free to explore Queenstown and the surrounding area as you like. You'll have time to grab lunch at Fergburger. Optional activities include jet boat rides on the Shotover River, wine tours of nearby vineyards, or an afternoon cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw that includes a gourmet barbecue dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sample Queenstown's world-famous Fergburger
Optional Activities
- Jet boat ride on Shotover River
- Wine tours through surrounding vineyards
- Cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm with gourmet barbecue dinner
Landmarks/POIs Shotover River Lake Wakatipu Walter Peak High Country Farm - Day 8
Queenstown to Christchurch
Start by stopping at Jones Family fruit stall to pick up fresh local stone fruit. You'll cross Lindis Pass, an alpine route with great mountain views including Aoraki/Mount Cook. Next, visit Lake Tekapo to see the Church of the Good Shepherd, and then drive through the Canterbury Plains back to Christchurch.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Stop at Jones Family fruit stall
- Travel over Lindis Pass
- View Aoraki/Mount Cook
- Visit Lake Tekapo
- View Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo
- Travel through Canterbury Plains
Landmarks/POIs Lindis Pass Aoraki/Mount Cook Lake Tekapo Church of the Good Shepherd - Day 9
Christchurch to Punakaiki
Board the scenic TranzAlpine train heading for Arthur's Pass. From the train you'll see snow-capped peaks, icy rivers, beech forests, and river valleys. After you get off, you'll visit Greymouth to see its mining history, then continue to Punakaiki to check out the famous Pancake Rocks and blowholes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- TranzAlpine train journey to Arthur's Pass
- View snow-capped peaks, icy rivers, beech forests, gorges and river valleys
- Visit Greymouth
- View Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and blowholes
Landmarks/POIs Arthur's Pass Greymouth Punakaiki Pancake Rocks - Day 10
Punakaiki to Nelson
Travel south along the Heritage Highway toward Nelson. The route takes you through Buller Gorge, a deep canyon with New Zealand's longest swingbridge, and Kahurangi National Park, which has wild rivers, high plateaus, alpine herb fields, and coastal forests.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel through Buller Gorge
- View New Zealand's longest swingbridge
- Travel through Kahurangi National Park
Landmarks/POIs Buller Gorge Kahurangi National Park - Day 11
Nelson
You have a free day to rest or explore the Nelson area however you like. There's an optional experience available to visit Abel Tasman National Park for a cruise and walk combination. This would let you see golden beaches surrounded by sculpted granite cliffs.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Abel Tasman National Park cruise and walk combination
Landmarks/POIs Abel Tasman National Park - Day 12
Nelson to Wellington
Take a cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound and up the Tory Channel. You'll cross Cook Strait, moving from the South Island to the North Island while navigating through arms and inlets. The cruise ends in Wellington, New Zealand's capital.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound
- Cruise up Tory Channel
- Cruise across Cook Strait
Landmarks/POIs Queen Charlotte Sound Cook Strait - Day 13
Wellington to Napier
You'll get a tour of Wellington's highlights in the morning. After that, you'll travel to Napier and explore its well-preserved 1930s architecture, with buildings in Striped Classical, Spanish Mission, and Art Deco styles that were rebuilt following the 1931 earthquake.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Tour Wellington highlights
- Travel to Napier
- View Napier's 1930s architecture
Landmarks/POIs Wellington Napier Art Deco Quarter - Day 14
Napier
Take an easy walk through the compact Art Deco Quarter with a local guide from the Art Deco Trust who'll explain Napier's architectural history. The afternoon is free for optional activities like wine tours of Hawkes Bay vineyards or a safari to see the gannet nesting colony at Cape Kidnappers.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Art Deco walking tour in Napier
Optional Activities
- Wine tour of Hawkes Bay vineyards
- Safari to Gannet nesting colony at Cape Kidnappers with Gannet Safaris Overland
Landmarks/POIs Napier Art Deco Quarter Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony - Day 15
Napier to Rotorua
See Lake Taupo and Huka Falls before heading to Rotorua's geothermal area. At Te Puia you'll explore a geothermal valley, watch a traditional jade carving workshop, see a cultural performance in the Te Aronui a Rua meeting house, and view the Pohutu Geyser. Dinner is a buffet of hangi-inspired food.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Buffet dinner of hāngī-inspired cuisine)
Included Activities
- View Lake Taupo
- View Huka Falls
- Guided Te Puia Indigenous Experience
- Traditional cultural performance in Te Aronui a Rua meeting house
- View Pohutu Geyser
- Pounamu (Jade) carving workshop
- Buffet dinner of hāngī-inspired cuisine
Landmarks/POIs Lake Taupo Huka Falls Te Puia Pohutu Geyser - Day 16
Rotorua
You have a free day in Rotorua to do what you like. Options include relaxing in the steamy thermal springs at Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa, visiting Hobbiton Movie Set to see Lord of the Rings and Hobbit filming locations, or taking a scenic flight for aerial views of the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Relax at Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa thermal springs
- Hobbiton Movie Set tour
- Scenic flight
Landmarks/POIs Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa Hobbiton Movie Set - Day 17
Rotorua to Auckland
Drive from Rotorua to Auckland, known as the City of Sails. You'll participate in an interactive All Blacks Experience that takes you through New Zealand's national rugby team's history using displays and presentations. The experience ends with a traditional haka performance.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Interactive All Blacks Experience
- Traditional haka performance
Landmarks/POIs All Blacks Experience - Day 18
Auckland to Bay of Islands
Travel to the Bay of Islands, which has about 140 islands surrounded by turquoise water. Visit the Treaty Grounds where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840. A local specialist guide will explain the site's importance, and you'll see the world's largest ceremonial war canoe and a carved meeting house.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour and cultural performance at Waitangi Treaty Grounds
- View world's largest ceremonial war canoe
- View carved meeting house
Landmarks/POIs Treaty of Waitangi Grounds - Day 19
Bay of Islands
You have a free day to explore the Bay of Islands at your own pace. Optional activities include traveling to Cape Reinga at New Zealand's northernmost point via Ninety Mile Beach, sailing on a historic tall ship, taking a cruise to the Hole in the Rock, or touring Russell to learn about the Bay's early history.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Travel to Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua via Ninety Mile Beach
- Glide on historic tall ship
- Cruise to Hole in the Rock
- Tour of Russell
Landmarks/POIs Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua Ninety Mile Beach Hole in the Rock Russell - Day 20
Bay of Islands to Auckland
Head south to Whangarei, New Zealand's most northerly city, and explore the local basin with its riverside galleries and museums. Later you'll return to Auckland for a final dinner and drinks with your Travel Director and travel companions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner and drinks with Travel Director and travel companions)
Included Activities
- Explore Whangarei
Landmarks/POIs Whangarei - Day 21
Depart Auckland
The tour ends today. You'll depart with memories of New Zealand's most inspiring attractions and the new friendships you've made over the three-week journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
