Itinerary
- Day 1
Auckland
You'll arrive in Auckland at your own pace and have time to walk around the waterfront precincts where you'll see plenty of yachts moored in the harbors. Later this evening, you'll meet your Travel Director who will give you a briefing about the tour ahead.
Optional Activities
- Explore waterfront precincts
- Day 2
Auckland to Bay of Islands
Head north toward the Bay of Islands, known for its 140 islands surrounded by turquoise water. You'll visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where the Treaty was signed back in 1840. A cultural performance welcomes you, followed by a guided tour of the site where you'll see the world's largest ceremonial war canoe and a carved meeting house.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Waitangi Treaty Grounds
- Cultural performance at Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Landmarks/POIs Waitangi Treaty Grounds - Day 3
Bay of Islands
Today the Bay of Islands is yours to explore however you'd like. You can drive to Cape Reinga via Ninety Mile Beach, take a scenic cruise through the islands (lunch included) and check out the hole in the rock, or join an organized tour of Russell to learn more about how the area was settled.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Travel to Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua via Ninety Mile Beach
- Scenic cruise among 144 islands including lunch and visit to hole in the rock
- Tour of Russell (all own expense)
Landmarks/POIs Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua Ninety Mile Beach Russell - Day 4
Bay of Islands to Whangarei to Auckland
You'll travel to Whangarei, New Zealand's most northerly city, and have freedom to explore on your own. The place combines natural landscapes with contemporary culture and gives you a real sense of the country before heading back to Auckland.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Whangarei at leisure
Landmarks/POIs Whangarei - Day 5
Auckland to Waitomo to Rotorua
After seeing Auckland's city sights, you'll head to Waitomo Caves for a cruise through underground waterways lit up by thousands of glowworms. From there, continue to Rotorua and visit Te Puia's geothermal valley, watch a cultural show, see the Pohutu Geyser, and finish dinner with locally sourced hangi-inspired food at a buffet.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Buffet dinner of locally sourced hangi-inspired cuisine at Te Puia - MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Waitomo Caves including glowworm cruise
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - Te Pō Indigenous Experience with cultural performance at Te Puia
- Guided tour of Te Puia's geothermal valley
- View of Pohutu Geyser
- Buffet dinner of locally sourced hangi-inspired cuisine at Te Puia
Landmarks/POIs Waitomo Caves Te Puia Pohutu Geyser - Day 6
Rotorua
Rotorua is yours to explore at your own pace today. Your Travel Director will give you tips on what to see. You can relax at Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa if you want to unwind, or head to Hobbiton to see the Lord of the Rings movie sets in the countryside.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa
- Hobbiton - Lord of the Rings movie sites tour (all own expense)
Landmarks/POIs Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa Hobbiton - Day 7
Rotorua to Lake Taupo to Wellington
Start by viewing Huka Falls, a natural wonder where 220,000 liters of water drops over an 11-meter-high waterfall each second. You'll see Lake Taupo's vivid blue waters from panoramic viewpoints. Then travel across the Kapiti Coast to Wellington, New Zealand's capital, which has lots of restaurants and bars to explore.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- View of Huka Falls from panoramic viewpoint
Optional Activities
- Explore Wellington restaurants and bars at leisure
Landmarks/POIs Huka Falls Lake Taupo Kapiti Coast - Day 8
Wellington to Picton
Begin your day in Wellington with coffee at one of its cool local cafes. You'll take a city sights tour of the area, and then board a cruise across Cook Strait from the North Island to the South Island, passing through a series of arms and inlets along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Wellington city sights tour
- Cruise the Cook Strait from Wellington to Picton
Landmarks/POIs Cook Strait - Day 9
Picton to Kaikoura to Christchurch
Travel to Kaikoura where you can spot marine wildlife from the beach, possibly seeing seals or sperm whales offshore. Kaikoura is known as New Zealand's marine wildlife center. Later, continue to Christchurch, which has rebuilt and reinvented itself. Your Travel Director will suggest some key restaurants for dinner tonight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Spot marine wildlife from Kaikoura Beach
Optional Activities
- Dine at recommended restaurants in Christchurch
Landmarks/POIs Kaikoura Beach - Day 10
Christchurch to Lake Tekapo
Take a guided Christchurch city tour to see how the city has rebuilt following the 2010-11 earthquakes, including the Transitional Cathedral made largely from cardboard and Turanga, the gold-clad central library. Head toward the Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo and see the turquoise waters and snow-capped mountains. Later, join a guided indoor Dark Sky and Astronomy Experience with local specialists.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Christchurch city tour
- View of Church of the Good Shepherd in Tekapo
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - Guided indoor Dark Sky & Astronomy Experience in Tekapo
Landmarks/POIs Transitional Cathedral Turanga Central Library Church of the Good Shepherd Lake Tekapo Canterbury Plains - Day 11
Lake Tekapo to Clyde to Gore to Te Anau
Visit the historic town of Clyde, where the town center has old gold mining buildings now converted into cafes and shops. Continue to Gore, known as New Zealand's Country Music capital, then head toward Fiordland National Park and Te Anau, situated on the shores of the South Island's largest lake.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Clyde town centre
- Visit Gore, the Country Music capital of New Zealand
Landmarks/POIs Clyde Gore Fiordland National Park - Day 12
Te Anau to Milford Sound
Travel through Fiordland National Park with its beech forests, alluvial flats, and mirror-like lakes. Clear rivers shape the landscape as you head to Milford Sound. You'll go on an included sightseeing cruise to see towering cliffs, waterfalls cascading down, and wildlife including seals, penguins, and the Kea bird native to New Zealand.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Journey through Fiordland National Park
- Cruise on tranquil Milford Sound/Piopiotahi
Landmarks/POIs Milford Sound/Piopiotahi Fiordland National Park - Day 13
Te Anau to Arrowtown to Queenstown
Travel along the Devil's Staircase from Kingston to Queenstown on a winding road with lake and mountain views overlooking Lake Wakatipu. Visit the historic gold rush village of Arrowtown with its tree-lined streets and character-filled shops. Arrive in Queenstown for a two-night stay and board the historic TSS Earnslaw steamship across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue dinner and farm show.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Gourmet barbecue dinner and farm show at Walter Peak High Country Farm)
Included Activities
- Visit historic gold rush village of Arrowtown
- Cruise Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak on TSS Earnslaw Steamship
- Gourmet barbecue dinner and farm show at Walter Peak High Country Farm
Landmarks/POIs Lake Wakatipu Devil's Staircase Arrowtown Walter Peak High Country Farm - Day 14
Queenstown
Today Queenstown is yours to spend however you'd like. You can try a high-octane jet boat ride, visit Kiwi Park to see New Zealand's native birds, or simply walk around town and check things out on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Jet boat ride (own expense)
- Kiwi Park (own expense)
Landmarks/POIs Kiwi Park - Day 15
Queenstown to Franz Josef
Journey past Lake Hawea and through Haast Pass with its powerful waterfalls and dramatic mountain backdrops until you reach Franz Josef. You'll take a scenic flight over Franz Josef Glacier and may have the chance to land on it if the weather cooperates.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- View Franz Josef Glacier from a panoramic viewpoint
Optional Activities
- Scenic flight over Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere with potential landing (own expense)
Landmarks/POIs Lake Hawea Haast Pass Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere - Day 16
Franz Josef to Hokitika to Christchurch
Stop in Hokitika to explore pounamu (native greenstone or jade) and browse jewelry. Then board the TranzAlpine train heading for Christchurch, traveling through tunnels and over viaducts with views of snow-capped peaks, icy rivers, beech forests, gorges, and river valleys. Tonight you'll have dinner and drinks to celebrate your holiday.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner and drinks to toast your holiday)
Included Activities
- Journey on the TranzAlpine Train through the Southern Alps
Optional Activities
- Explore pounamu (greenstone/jade) in Hokitika
Landmarks/POIs Hokitika - Day 17
Christchurch
Your tour ends today. You can depart Christchurch airport anytime. Take time to reflect on your New Zealand adventure across two islands, visiting multiple glaciers, countless lakes, thermal springs, black and white beaches, and seeing a wide variety of wildlife.
