Itinerary
- Day 1
Auckland to Lake Tarawera
- Start point
- Sky Tower, 93 Federal St., Auckland, Auckland Region 1010, New Zealand (Pick up zone outside Sky City, 20 m from Sky Tower base, 07:00)
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Meet at Sky Tower in downtown Auckland
- Water taxi ride on Lake Tarawera at noon
- Hike alongside Lake Tarawera
- Swimming at pumice beaches on Lake Tarawera
Optional Activities
- Café stop for breakfast en route to Rotorua
Landmarks Sky Tower Lake Tarawera Mount Tarawera 
- Day 2
Te Urewera to Whirinaki Forest
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch on the way), Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive through Te Urewera
- Easy hike through native beech forest to Whirinaki Forest Hut
- Access to forest hut beside Whirinaki River
Optional Activities
- Evening campfire
Landmarks Te Urewera Whirinaki River - Day 3
Whirinaki Forest to Rural Property Cabins
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike down the valley track through podocarp rainforest
- Wildlife spotting opportunities (blue ducks, robins, kaka parrots)
Optional Activities
- Side track exploration to ancient rata forest area
Landmarks Whirinaki Valley - Day 4
Volcanic Plateau to Tongariro National Park
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Exploration of thermal park on the Volcanic Plateau
- Natural hot river bathing experience
- View Huka Falls
- Visit Lake Taupo
- Relaxation at pumice beach (summer swimming available)
Optional Activities
- Evening swim at Lake Taupo (summer only)
Landmarks Huka Falls Lake Taupo Waikato River 
- Day 5
Tongariro Alpine Crossing Start
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike through tussock-grasslands from Whakapaha
- Cross the low saddle between Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe volcanoes
- Hike to backcountry hut with mountain views
Landmarks Mount Ruapehu Mount Ngauruhoe Tongariro National Park - Day 6
Tongariro National Park Alpine Hut
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Ohineopango Springs (approximately 1 hour walk)
- Visit historic hut near Ohineopango Springs
- Off-trail exploration option over ash-moraine ridges and lava cliffs
- Alpine hut stay with mountain peak views
Optional Activities
- Remote lake viewpoint hike (off-trail route)
Landmarks Ohineopango Springs Mount Tongariro Oturere Hut - Day 7
Tongariro Alpine Crossing to National Park Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Hike through lava fields and ash valleys
- Climb to Emerald Lakes
- Complete the Tongariro Alpine Crossing
- Hike through lava valleys and steaming craters
- Descent through alpine foliage and mineral streams
Optional Activities
- Climbing high on volcanic peaks (weather dependent)
Landmarks Emerald Lakes Tongariro Alpine Crossing - Day 8
Tongariro National Park to Wellington
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive through Rangitikei valley and coast to Wellington
Optional Activities
- Visit National Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa)
- Visit Parliament House (Beehive)
- Explore vibrant café scene
- Walking tours of downtown area
Landmarks Te Papa (National Museum of New Zealand) Parliament House (Beehive) - Day 9
Wellington
Optional Activities
- National Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa)
- Parliament House (Beehive) tours
- Weta Workshop (advance booking required)
- Maritime Museum
- Zealandia ecological restoration project
- South coast bus trip with South Island views
- City-bush-garden-hilltop walks
- Craft beer and café exploration
Landmarks Te Papa Parliament House Weta Workshop Zealandia - Day 10
Wellington to Abel Tasman National Park
- Meals
- Lunch (Snack on Tonga Quarry beach), Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic flight from Wellington to Nelson
- Boat cruise to Tonga Quarry
- Snack on Tonga Quarry beach
- Hike on Abel Tasman Coast Track to Bark Bay
Landmarks Abel Tasman National Park Kaiteriteri Beach Tasman Bay 
- Day 11
Abel Tasman National Park
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike from Bark Bay to Torrent Bay
- Cross suspension bridge above Falls River
- Hike to Anchorage campsite
- Swimming in bay and inlet
Optional Activities
- Side trip to Falls River cascades
- Cleopatra's Pool swimming stop
- Boulder hopping and pool exploration in Falls River valley
Landmarks Torrent Bay Falls River Cleopatra's Pool Anchorage - Day 12
Abel Tasman National Park Waka Experience
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch in Motueka after waka experience), Dinner (Organic home-cooked meal by hosts)
Included Activities
- Traditional karakia blessing ceremony
- Waka paddling experience
- Exploration of Abel Tasman coves
- Visit to Adele Island wildlife refuge
- Observation of New Zealand fur seal breeding colony
- Stories of local Māori history and customs
- Drive south through Motueka
Landmarks Adele Island Kaiteriteri Beach - Day 13
Paparoa National Park
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch after Charleston hike), Dinner
Included Activities
- Short hike through lush West Coast bush in Charleston
- Hike through limestone river canyon in Paparoa National Park
- Multiple river crossings on canyon trail
- Camping under Ballroom Overhang cave
- River crossing safety instruction
- Firewood collection activity
Optional Activities
- Evening side canyon exploration following stream to cave
Landmarks Buller Gorge Charleston Paparoa National Park Ballroom Overhang - Day 14
Paparoa National Park to Hokitika
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Hike out through limestone canyon
- Visit Pancake Rocks and blowholes at Punakaiki
- Drive down the West Coast to Hokitika
- Bike fitting for tomorrow's Wilderness Trail cycle
Optional Activities
- Fish and chips dinner on Hokitika beach
- Dining at local cafés in Hokitika
- Pounamu (greenstone) shopping in Hokitika
Landmarks Pancake Rocks Punakaiki Blowholes Hokitika - Day 15
West Coast Wilderness Trail Cycle
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Breakfast at Hokitika café
- Cycling on West Coast Wilderness Trail (unguided, self-paced)
- Celebration drink at Theatre Royal Hotel in Kumara
- Drive through Southern Alps to Arthur's Pass
- Stay at private hut with amenities
Landmarks West Coast Wilderness Trail Arahura River Kumara Theatre Royal Hotel Arthur's Pass - Day 16
Arthur's Pass National Park
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Overnight hike up Edwards River
- Hike to Edwards Hut above bushline
- River crossings on kiwi-style track
- Alpine valley views from hut
- Kiwi bird spotting and listening opportunity
Landmarks Edwards River Edwards Hut Arthur's Pass National Park - Day 17
Arthur's Pass to Methven
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch en route back to road)
Included Activities
- Hike back out from Edwards Hut to road
- Drive through Castle Hill limestone formations
- Drive through Rakaia Gorge
- Arrive at Methven village
Optional Activities
- Optional morning hike toward Falling Mountain for expanded alpine views
Landmarks Falling Mountain Castle Hill Lake Lyndon Rakaia Gorge - Day 18
Arthur's Pass to Aoraki/Mt Cook
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive through Mackenzie Country
- Dayhike to Sealy Tarns
- Views of valley glaciers and Mount Sefton icefalls
- Views of Aoraki/Mt Cook and moraine walls
- Stay at private hut in Aoraki/Mt Cook village
Optional Activities
- Additional hike to Mueller Hut (weather and time dependent)
Landmarks Aoraki/Mt Cook Sealy Tarns Mueller Hut Mount Sefton Mackenzie Country 
- Day 19
Aoraki/Mt Cook
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast with postcard view of Aoraki/Mt Cook), Lunch
Included Activities
- Hike up Sebastopol to Red Tarns (alternative option)
- Hooker Valley Track hike (alternative option, 3 hours, 10km)
- Drive through Mackenzie Country and Lindis Pass
- Drive to Lake Hawea accommodation
Optional Activities
- Guided heli-hike on Tasman Glacier (from NZ$795)
- Relaxation at the hut
- Information centre visit to learn about park's natural history and pioneering mountaineers
Landmarks Tasman Glacier Sebastopol Red Tarns Hooker Valley Hooker Glacier Lake Lake Hawea Lindis Pass - Day 20
Lake Hawea to Wanaka to Aspiring Hut
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Wanaka township
- Hike across grassed flats to Aspiring Hut
- Views of Mt Aspiring
- Kea (alpine parrot) encounters
Optional Activities
- Steep climb through beech forest to Cascade Saddle Track bushline
Landmarks Wanaka Matukituki Valley Mt Aspiring Aspiring Hut Cascade Saddle Track 
- Day 21
Matukituki Valley to Eglinton Valley
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lakeside picnic at Wanaka), Dinner
Included Activities
- Early morning hike down Matukituki Valley floor
- Return to Wanaka with lakeside picnic
- Drive over Crown Range with summit views
- Drive through Wakitipu Basin
- Arrive at Eglinton Valley campsite
Optional Activities
- Swimming in Lake Wanaka (depending on season and weather)
Landmarks Crown Range Wakitipu Basin Te Anau Eglinton Valley 
- Day 22
Milford Sound and Key Summit
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive through Fiordland National Park
- Milford Sound cruise to Anita Bay entrance
- View Mitre Peak
- Wildlife viewing (dolphins, penguins, fur seals)
- Hike up to Key Summit on Routeburn Track
- Nature walk through forest to alpine vegetation
- Views of Hollyford Valley and Darran Mountains
Optional Activities
- Milford Sound sea kayaking (space limited, advance booking required, NZ$139)
Landmarks Fiordland National Park Milford Sound Mitre Peak Anita Bay Key Summit Routeburn Track Hollyford Valley Darran Mountains - Day 23
Fiordland to Queenstown
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Short hike to waterfall near campsite
- Drive to Queenstown
- Celebratory group dinner
Optional Activities
- Waterfall shower experience
Landmarks Queenstown - Day 24
Queenstown Departure
- End point
- Heritage Queenstown, 91 Fernhill Rd, Queenstown, Otago 9300, New Zealand (Heritage Hotel, Queenstown (please confirm location when booking))
Optional Activities
- Hiking in Queenstown region
- Cycling tracks in Queenstown region
- Adventure activities in Queenstown
Landmarks Queenstown
