New Zealand Beach Tours

Cycle the Arrow River Bridges near Arrowtown and kayak Lake Mapourika's crystal-clear waters in Franz Josef Glacier region. Cruise Milford Sound's fjord past cascading waterfalls and resident seals, with lunch served on board. Visit Kaikōura's peninsula for whale-watching and check out Lake Matheson's mirror-like reflections of Mount Cook.

Stay at Manuia Beach Resort on Rarotonga's white-sand beaches, where you'll find a beachside infinity pool overlooking the lagoon and traditional Polynesian cuisine at On the Beach Restaurant. Take a cruise through Milford Sound's fjords with lunch included, then kayak or check out the Kaikoura coast on the way to Christchurch. Walk through the thermal landscapes of Te Puia Reserve near Rotorua and swim in Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest freshwater lake.

Take the Coastal Pacific train from Christchurch to Kaikoura, a coastal fishing village where the continental shelf drops just meters from shore. Head out on a whale watching boat tour to see giant sperm whales - they're rarely found this close to land anywhere else - plus playful dolphins and fur seals in their natural habitat. Spend mornings walking Kaikoura's rugged beaches and the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway before catching the coastal railway back to Christchurch.

Take the 'Hole in the Rock' boat trip through the Bay of Islands, cruising past 144 subtropical islands and secluded beaches. Kayak or hike in Abel Tasman National Park, where you'll find golden sand beaches like Anchorage Bay and Torrent Bay along the coastal trails. Sail through Milford Sound's fjord, with waterfalls and rainforest-clad cliffs all around, then head back to relax in Paihia's beachfront setting.

This 23-day trip takes you from Christchurch to Auckland, staying at places like Heartland Hotel Queenstown and Scenic Hotel Punakaiki. Spend time on the golden sands of Oriental Bay in Wellington, kayak through the clear waters of the Bay of Islands, and check out the beaches of the Coromandel Peninsula where you can dig your own hot pool at Hot Water Beach. Take the ferry across Cook Strait between Picton and Wellington, with stops at beach towns along Hawkes Bay in Napier.

Paddle through the turquoise waters of Abel Tasman National Park on a 3-hour guided kayak tour, keeping an eye out for seals lounging on sun-warmed rocks between the golden beaches. Spend time on the white sands of Cathedral Cove near Hahei, where rock formations frame the Coromandel Peninsula's coastline. At Hot Water Beach during low tide, dig your own hot pool as thermal springs bubble up through the sand, then sail aboard a catamaran at sunset through the Bay of Islands with stops at Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island.

You can dig into golden sand at Hot Water Beach to create your own natural hot tub heated by underground thermal springs, but it's only accessible at low tide. Kayak the clear waters around Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Peninsula's white sand coastline, then head to Raglan's surf beaches, rated as New Zealand's top wave-riding destination. Try fish and chips during a sunset cruise across Raglan Harbour while taking in coastal views from the water.