Itinerary
- Intro
Introduction
- Day 1
Auckland
Auckland- Meals
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Explore Auckland independently
- Day 2
Auckland to Coromandel Peninsula
Auckland to Coromandel Peninsula- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Cathedral Cove
- Experience Hot Water Beach thermal pools at low tide
Optional Activities
- Swimming at Mercury Bay beaches (weather permitting)
Landmarks Cathedral Cove Hot Water Beach Mercury Bay - Day 3
Coromandel Peninsula to Rotorua
Coromandel Peninsula to Rotorua- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Mount Maunganui - Day 4
Rotorua
Rotorua- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional hangi dinner)
Included Activities
- Visit Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland (colorful sinter terraces, mud pools, craters, sulfur fumaroles)
- Evening with local Māori cultural experience
- Traditional hangi dinner
Optional Activities
- Day trip to Hobbiton (alternative to Wai-O-Tapu)
- Polynesian Spa
- Redwoods Treewalk
Landmarks Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland - Day 5
Rotorua - Taupo - Whanganui River
Rotorua - Taupo - Whanganui River- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Typical New Zealand dinner prepared on-site)
Included Activities
- Visit Huka Falls
- Jet boat transfer to lodge
- Short hike to Bridge to Nowhere
Landmarks Huka Falls Lake Taupō Mount Tongariro Mount Ngauruhoe Mount Ruapehu Bridge to Nowhere - Day 6
Whanganui River to Wellington
Whanganui River to Wellington- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 7
Wellington
Wellington- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Te Papa Tongarewa National Museum
- Browse city art galleries
- Historic cable car to Wellington Botanic Gardens
- Harbor and hills walks
- Oriental Bay beach
- Zealandia Sanctuary
Landmarks Te Papa Tongarewa National Museum Wellington Botanic Gardens Cuba Street Courtenay Place Oriental Bay Zealandia Sanctuary - Day 8
Wellington to Picton to Marlborough Sounds
Wellington to Picton to Marlborough Sounds- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Interislander ferry crossing Wellington to Picton
- Passage through Marlborough Sounds
Landmarks Cook Strait Marlborough Sounds - Day 9
Marlborough Sounds to Picton
Marlborough Sounds to Picton- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Boat ride through Marlborough Sounds
- Visit Motuara Island bird sanctuary to observe saddleback birds
Optional Activities
- Explore Picton independently
Landmarks Motuara Island - Day 10
Picton to Motueka
Picton to Motueka- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat ride through Abel Tasman National Park
- Leisurely walk or beach time in the national park
Optional Activities
- Swimming in Abel Tasman National Park
Landmarks Abel Tasman National Park - Day 11
Motueka to Punakaiki
Motueka to Punakaiki- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive through Buller Gorge
- Visit Pancake Rocks
Optional Activities
- Short hike to sea lion colony at Cape Foulwind (weather permitting)
Landmarks Buller Gorge Cape Foulwind Paparoa National Park Pancake Rocks - Day 12
Punakaiki to Hokitika to Fox Glacier
Punakaiki to Hokitika to Fox Glacier- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Hokitika and its galleries
- Short walk through glacial landscape at Fox Glacier
Optional Activities
- Helicopter flight over Franz Josef and Fox glaciers (weather permitting)
Landmarks Hokitika Fox Glacier Franz Josef Glacier - Day 13
Fox Glacier to Wanaka to Queenstown
Fox Glacier to Wanaka to Queenstown- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Mount Aspiring National Park Lake Wanaka Crown Range Lake Wakatipu The Remarkables - Day 14
Queenstown
Queenstown- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Historic steamship TSS Earnslaw cruise on Lake Wakatipu
- Gondola ride with views of town and lake
- Guided 'Lord of the Rings' filming locations tour
- Horseback riding
- Hiking
- Rafting
Landmarks TSS Earnslaw - Day 15
Queenstown to Te Anau
Queenstown to Te Anau- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Underground cave tour with glowworms on western shore of Lake Te Anau
- Leisurely stroll around Te Anau
- Film about Fiordland National Park at local theater
Landmarks Lake Te Anau Fiordland National Park - Day 16
Milford Sound day trip
Milford Sound day trip- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Scenic drive to Milford Sound
- Boat tour through Milford Sound fjord with views of cliffs and waterfalls
Optional Activities
- Wildlife spotting (seals, dolphins, penguins)
Landmarks Mirror Lakes Homer Tunnel Milford Sound - Day 17
Te Anau to Twizel
Te Anau to Twizel- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Landmarks Lindis Pass Mackenzie Country - Day 18
Twizel to Mount Cook to Lake Tekapo to Fairlie
Twizel to Mount Cook to Lake Tekapo to Fairlie- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike through Mount Cook National Park alpine landscape (such as Hooker Valley, depending on weather/time)
- Visit rural host family
- Dinner with rural hosts
Landmarks Mount Cook (Aoraki) Mount Cook National Park Hooker Valley Lake Pukaki Lake Tekapo - Day 19
Fairlie to Akaroa
Fairlie to Akaroa- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Dolphin-watching tour in Akaroa Harbor
Landmarks Banks Peninsula Akaroa - Day 20
Akaroa to Christchurch
Akaroa to Christchurch- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Short city tour including cathedral under reconstruction, arts center, and botanical garden
Optional Activities
- Stroll through downtown area
- Historic streetcar ride
Landmarks Christchurch Botanical Garden Christchurch Cathedral Arts Center - Day 21
Christchurch
Christchurch- Meals
- Breakfast
