Itinerary
- Day 1
Auckland
You'll arrive in Auckland today, and there's no set schedule so you can get in whenever works for you. If your flight gets in early, the city centre and wharf are worth a walk around, or head up the Sky Tower if you want views across the whole place. There's a welcome meeting at 6pm back at your hotel, so aim to be there by then.
Optional Activities
- Visit Sky Tower for bird's eye view of the city
Landmarks/POIs Sky Tower Waitemata Harbour Manukau Harbour - Day 2
Auckland to Bay of Plenty
After breakfast, start with a city tour taking in Tamaki Drive and Mission Bay. From there you'll head toward the Waikato region to visit the Hobbiton movie set at Matamata. The guided tour lasts about two hours and you'll walk through the Hobbit holes and other Lord of the Rings filming spots. Later, travel to the Bay of Plenty for a two-night stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Auckland city tour including Tamaki Drive and Mission Bay
- Hobbiton movie set tour with knowledgeable guide - two hours including hobbit holes and mill structures
Landmarks/POIs Tamaki Drive Mission Bay Hobbiton Movie Set Matamata Kaimai Ranges - Day 3
Murupara
Spend the day on Ngati Manawa tribe land in Murupara seeing ancient Maori rock carvings and learning about the area's history and regenerative tourism. You'll discover where the Haka comes from and see Maori weaponry, then watch a traditional performance. There's a traditional Hangi earth oven experience and a buffet lunch included, plus you'll try Kawakawa tea, visit a carved ancestral meeting house, and take a guided walk through native rainforest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Buffet lunch featuring traditional Hangi)
Included Activities
- Visit ancient Maori rock carvings
- Learn about local Maori history and regenerative tourism
- View Maori weaponry and performance art
- See traditional Hangi preparation
- Buffet lunch featuring Hangi
- Kawakawa tea tasting
- Visit carved ancestral meeting house
- Guided walk through Whirinaki Native Rainforest
Landmarks/POIs Murupara Whirinaki Native Rainforest - Day 4
Taupo to Napier
Travel to Taupo with a stop at Wai-o-tapu to see the colorful volcanic features like geysers, hot springs, and mud pools. Check out the Huka Falls and the country's largest lake. By evening you'll reach Napier for a vineyard tour at one of Hawke's Bay's oldest vineyards, with gourmet cheese tasting and wine tasting included.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Wai-o-tapu thermal features tour including geysers, hot springs, and mud pools
- Visit Huka Falls
- Explore Lake Taupo
- Vineyard tour in Hawke's Bay with wine and cheese tasting
Landmarks/POIs Wai-o-tapu Thermal Area Huka Falls Lake Taupo Hawke's Bay Vineyard - Day 5
Napier
Early morning you'll head out on a 4WD exploration of the coastlines, working farms, and native bush. The day finishes at New Zealand's largest privately-owned nature reserve where over 20,000 gannets gather in their natural habitat with views of the plateau and ocean. Later, return to Napier for an expert-led walking tour of the city's Art Deco heritage and architecture.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- 4WD vehicle exploration of coastlines, farms, and native bush
- Visit to New Zealand's largest privately-owned nature reserve with gannet viewing
- Art Deco walking tour of Napier with Napier's Art Deco Trust
Landmarks/POIs Cape Kidnappers Napier Art Deco District - Day 6
Napier to Wellington
Drive south to Wellington, the country's capital and cultural hub. You'll have free time to wander the streets, check out the art scene, try the food and craft beer offerings. If time allows, the Te Papa National Museum is worth visiting, holding Maori treasures, artworks, and a unique Marae.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Te Papa National Museum
Landmarks/POIs Te Papa National Museum - Day 7
Wellington
This is your free day in Wellington so you can shape it however you'd like. Take the cable car at Lambton Quay for city views, explore the Observatory and Botanic Gardens, visit Parliament including the Beehive, or browse museums and galleries. Cuba Street has cafes and boutique shops worth exploring, and Zealandia nature reserve lets you see rare birds, reptiles, and insects if you're keen on wildlife.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Cable car ride from Lambton Quay with Observatory and Botanic Gardens visit
- Parliament Buildings and Beehive tour
- Museum and art gallery visits
- Zealandia nature reserve visit to see rare birds, reptiles, and insects including hihi, tuatara, saddleback, kaka, and little spotted kiwi
- Leisurely walk along Wellington harbourside
Landmarks/POIs Wellington Cable Car Botanic Gardens Parliament Buildings Zealandia Cuba Street - Day 8
Wellington to Nelson
Cross the Cook Strait to the South Island, arriving at Picton at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound. Drive west along the South Island's coastline to Nelson, a relaxed city known as the sunshine capital. You'll have time to explore before heading to your hotel just outside the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Picton Queen Charlotte Sound Abel Tasman National Park - Day 9
Abel Tasman National Park
Spend the day exploring Abel Tasman National Park by boat and on foot. Take a water taxi from Kaiteriteri Beach to Torrent Bay, wade through shallow waters to the golden beach, then walk leisurely for two to three hours through native forest to Medlands Beach. You'll cross an impressive suspension bridge and explore several coves along the Coastal Path. There's time for lunch and swimming before the water taxi returns you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Water taxi to and from Kaiteriteri Beach and Torrent Bay
- Leisurely walk from Torrent Bay to Medlands Beach through native forest
- Suspension bridge crossing
- Exploration of multiple coves along Abel Tasman Coastal Path
Landmarks/POIs Abel Tasman National Park Kaiteriteri Beach Torrent Bay Medlands Beach - Day 10
West Coast to Hokitika
Drive the Great Coast Road toward Hokitika, one of the country's best coastal routes. Stop at Punakaiki Rocks to see the dramatic coastal rock formations and visit the seal colony at Cape Foulwind. Arrive in Hokitika, a historic gold mining town with about 4,000 people today, known for New Zealand greenstone craft galleries. If the weather cooperates, catch the sunset from Sunset Point.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Punakaiki Rocks coastal formations
- Seal colony viewing at Cape Foulwind
Landmarks/POIs Punakaiki Rocks Cape Foulwind Hokitika Hokitika River Sunset Point - Day 11
Hokitika to Fox Glacier
Cross the Hokitika River and drive south through native Rimu and Kahikatea pine forests heading to Fox Glacier. You'll learn about the region's glacial history and the 60 glaciers in the park. The landscape here is dramatic with shapes carved by glacial deposits from the Alps. Optional activities include glacier valley walks, heli-hikes onto the glacier, or scenic helicopter flights.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Glacier valley walks (short walks within old glacier valley)
- Heli-hikes onto glacier
- Scenic helicopter flights over Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers
Landmarks/POIs Fox Glacier Franz Josef Glacier Southern Alps - Day 12
Fox Glacier to Wanaka
Visit Lake Matheson in the morning for reflections of Aoraki/Mount Cook (if weather permits). Walk the glacial valley trail from Fox Glacier car park across the ancient moraine landscape. Continue through Haast River Valley and Aspiring National Park to Wanaka, sitting impressively on the shores of a pristine lake surrounded by mountain peaks.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Lake Matheson visit and walk
- Fox Glacier walking track through glacial valley and ancient moraine
Landmarks/POIs Lake Matheson Fox Glacier Aoraki/Mount Cook Haast River Valley Aspiring National Park Lake Wanaka Makaroa - Day 13
Wanaka
You have a free day in Wanaka to do what suits you. Options include jet boat rides through wilderness areas with waterfalls and glacier-fed streams, or boat cruises across the lake to remote Mou Waho Island Nature Reserve where you might see rare flightless Buff Weka. There are also numerous walking trails here ranging from one-hour hikes to full-day options.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Jet boat ride and wilderness walk through moss-covered forest, waterfalls, and glacier-fed streams
- Lake Wanaka boat cruise to Mou Waho Island Nature Reserve with rare Buff Weka viewing
- Various hiking trails of varying difficulty
Landmarks/POIs Lake Wanaka Mou Waho Island Nature Reserve Mount Aspiring - Day 14
Wanaka to Te Anau
Leave Wanaka for Queenstown, stopping at Arrowtown, a charming old gold-mining town with historic clapperboard buildings and a Chinese settlement worth seeing. Explore Queenstown's resort-like vibe and foreshore area, then continue to Te Anau, the gateway to Fjordland National Park on Lake Te Anau. Visit the famous glowworm caves with a boat cruise out on the lake to see hundreds of glowworms in limestone caves that are 12,000 years old.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Stop at Arrowtown to learn about gold rush history
- Queenstown exploration of foreshore and town
- Glowworm cave visit by boat across Lake Te Anau
Landmarks/POIs Arrowtown Queenstown Lake Wakatipu Te Anau Lake Te Anau Te Anau Glowworm Caves - Day 15
Fjordland National Park
This is a full adventure day in UNESCO World Heritage Fjordland National Park. Boat across Lake Manapouri to West Arm, then coach over Wilmot Pass through dense rainforest. Board the Fiordland Navigator boat at Deep Cove for a cruise through dramatic scenery with expert guides pointing out resident dolphins, fur seals, and penguins. Enjoy a picnic lunch on board in this rugged Sounds environment, then return by boat and coach to Te Anau.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch on board Fiordland Navigator)
Included Activities
- Lake Manapouri boat crossing to West Arm
- Coach journey over Wilmot Pass through rainforest
- Fiordland Navigator cruise through Deep Cove with expert nature guide commentary
- Picnic lunch on board
- Wildlife viewing of dolphins, fur seals, and penguins
Landmarks/POIs Fjordland National Park Lake Manapouri Wilmot Pass Deep Cove - Day 16
Te Anau to Dunedin
Drive four hours south-east to Dunedin, often called the 'Edinburgh of the South', arriving in time for lunch. This picturesque city has Scottish heritage with towers and spires, founded by Scottish pioneers in the mid-1800s. Board a boat for a wildlife cruise around Weller's Rock and Tairua Head to see the world's only mainland albatross nesting place and New Zealand fur seals. Optional visits include Larnach Castle or St Paul's Cathedral.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Wildlife cruise around Weller's Rock and Tairua Head with albatross and fur seal viewing
Optional Activities
- Visit Larnach Castle
- Visit St Paul's Cathedral
- Speight's Brewery visit and meal
Landmarks/POIs Dunedin Otago Peninsula Weller's Rock Tairua Head Larnach Castle St Paul's Cathedral Speight's Brewery - Day 17
Dunedin to Twizel
Start with a short visit to Dunedin's city gardens. Head up the coast to see incredible boulders scattered across Moeraki Beach, then continue to the limestone town of Oamaru with its well-preserved Victorian precinct. Explore the steampunk museum, distillery, and quirky shops. Continue to rural Twizel in Mackenzie County, located within the International Dark Sky Reserve where the Milky Way is visible at night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Dunedin city gardens visit
- Moeraki Beach boulder viewing
Optional Activities
- Oamaru steampunk museum visit
- Oamaru distillery visit
- Oamaru quirky shops exploration
Landmarks/POIs Dunedin City Gardens Moeraki Beach Oamaru Twizel - Day 18
Twizel to Christchurch
Explore Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park with optional helicopter flights directly over the mountain (weather permitting) or weather-dependent walks through the various park trails. Head toward Christchurch with stops at glacial Lake Pukaki to see Mount Cook glaciers, and Lake Tekapo to visit the Church of the Good Shepherd with views of mountains and lake. Arrive in Christchurch late afternoon or early evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park exploration
Optional Activities
- Helicopter ride over Aoraki/Mount Cook and park
- Scenic walks through Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
Landmarks/POIs Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Aoraki/Mount Cook Lake Pukaki Lake Tekapo Church of the Good Shepherd - Day 19
Christchurch
Your tour ends this morning at your Christchurch hotel. There are no planned activities so you're free to head to the airport at any time. If your flight leaves later in the day, luggage storage is available at the hotel.
