Itinerary
- Day 1
Christchurch
After arriving in New Zealand, you'll take a shared transfer to your hotel in Christchurch. The afternoon is yours to settle in, relax, or wander around the city on your own. Later around 6:00 pm, you'll meet your tour guide and group for dinner together.
- Meals
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Explore Christchurch on your own
- Day 2
Christchurch - Banks Peninsula - Akaroa
This morning includes a short city tour through Christchurch. Then you'll drive over the crater rim mountains to reach Akaroa, a charming harbor town with strong French heritage and historic buildings. If time allows, there's an easy hike to experience the local landscape up close.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Short city tour of Christchurch
- Drive to Akaroa over Banks Peninsula
- Easy hike through New Zealand nature (weather permitting)
Landmarks Banks Peninsula Akaroa - Day 3
Akaroa - Peel Forest - Rakaia
Leaving the peninsula behind, you'll drive toward the Rakaia River and stop in Peel Forest to walk a nature trail. There you can study the endemic plants and birds. In the early evening, you'll meet a local farming family who'll share how they live and work in rural New Zealand. Dinner and overnight are at a rural guesthouse.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Nature trail through Peel Forest to study endemic plants and birds
- Visit to a rural farm with local farmer family
Landmarks Peel Forest Rakaia River - Day 4
Rakaia - Southern Alps - Mount Cook Village
You'll leave the Canterbury Plain and head toward the Southern Alps, where peaks reach 3,000 meters. The landscape changes dramatically as you reach glacier lakes Tekapo and Pukaki with views of Mount Cook. After arriving at Mount Cook Village, an easy hike lets you explore this mountain region (weather dependent). The day ends with dinner together.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Views of glacier lakes Tekapo and Pukaki
- Easy hike in Mount Cook region (weather permitting)
Landmarks Lake Tekapo Lake Pukaki Mount Cook (Aoraki) 
- Day 5
Mount Cook - Mackenzie Highlands - Lindis Pass - Te Anau
Crossing the Mackenzie Highlands takes you through barren steppe landscape and tussock floodplains. You'll pass over Lindis Pass into Otago and continue to Te Anau. In the evening, optional activities include an underground cave tour with thousands of glowworms or a jet boat trip to Lord of the Rings filming locations. You'll spend the night on Lake Te Anau surrounded by mountains.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Glowworm cave tour on western shore of Lake Te Anau
- Optional jet boat tour on river between Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau to Lord of the Rings filming locations
Landmarks Mackenzie Highlands Lindis Pass Lake Te Anau - Day 6
Te Anau - Milford Sound
Today's drive to Milford Sound follows one of New Zealand's most scenic mountain roads. You'll pass Mirror Lakes and the Homer Tunnel, likely spotting Kea parrots along the way. By noon you'll reach Milford Sound for a boat trip past massive waterfalls. Seals appear regularly, and if you're fortunate, you might see penguins or dolphins. After this full day, you return to Te Anau.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Drive on mountain road to Milford Sound
- Boat trip through Milford Sound past waterfalls
- Opportunity to observe seals, penguins, and dolphins
Landmarks Mirror Lakes Homer Tunnel Milford Sound Mitre Peak - Day 7
Te Anau - Queenstown
This morning offers optional activities: either the glowworm cave tour or the jet boat trip to Lord of the Rings locations. In the early afternoon, you'll drive to Queenstown and settle into your accommodation for two nights near Lake Wakatipu. The rest of the day is free to relax or explore on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Glowworm cave tour on western shore of Lake Te Anau
- Optional jet boat tour on river between Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau to Lord of the Rings filming locations
- Explore Queenstown on your own
Landmarks Lake Wakatipu Remarkable Mountains 
- Day 8
Queenstown
Your day in Queenstown is completely free. You could ride the historic TSS Earnslaw steamship on the lake, take the cable car for city and lake views, or join optional activities like Lord of the Rings tours, horseback riding, hiking, or rafting. Your guide is available to help plan what interests you most.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Ride on old steamship TSS Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu
- Cable car ride with views of city and lake
- Lord of the Rings filming locations tour
- Horseback riding
- Hiking
- Rafting
- Day 9
Queenstown - Wanaka - Aspiring National Park - Haast Pass - Franz Josef
This morning you'll cross Crown Range on a high alpine route through pristine landscape with sparse tussock vegetation. After pausing in Wanaka, you'll leave Aspiring National Park behind and cross Haast Pass. Along the way, short walks take you through dense evergreen rainforest, past waterfalls, and along the Tasman Sea coast. You'll reach Franz Josef Town in Westland National Park and have time for a short glacier excursion (weather permitting).
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Views and stops in Wanaka
- Short walks through southern beech rainforest
- Views of Haast Pass
- Coastal views of Tasman Sea
- Short excursion in glacier region (weather permitting)
Landmarks Crown Range Wanaka Aspiring National Park Haast Pass Westland National Park Franz Josef - Day 10
Franz Josef - Hokitika - Punakaiki
An early morning glacier experience in the Southern Alps is the highlight (the specific activity depends on your departure date). If you're traveling until April 2025, you'll take a helicopter flight over the glacier with the option to land in the snow. From October 2025 onward, it's a cruise and walk through the glacier region. Later you'll drive to jade town Hokitika and then Punakaiki to see the famous pancake rocks, limestone formations shaped by the Tasman Sea. Your hotel is near the beach.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Helicopter flight over Southern Alps glacier world with snow landing (departures until April 2025, weather permitting)
- Cruise & Walk through glacier world (departures from October 2025)
- Visit to Punakaiki Pancake Rocks
Landmarks Hokitika Punakaiki Pancake Rocks - Day 11
Punakaiki - Paparoa National Park - Buller Gorge - Nelson
You'll travel through wild landscape between Punakaiki and Westport, with Paparoa National Park's folded mountain belt running parallel to the coast. Moving inland, you'll leave the subtropical rainforest and pass through the imposing Buller Gorge. After crossing sunny fruit and wine growing areas near Nelson, you'll reach your overnight accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Scenic drive through Paparoa National Park
- Travel through Buller Gorge
- Views of subtropical rainforest and tree ferns
Landmarks Paparoa National Park Buller Gorge Nelson - Day 12
Nelson - Abel Tasman National Park - Kaiteriteri - Picton
A boat takes you through Abel Tasman National Park, one of New Zealand's most popular parks, passing numerous bays and coastal forest where you can watch fur seals. During a beach stop, you choose to hike or relax on the golden sand before the boat returns to Kaiteriteri. From there you'll drive through Nelson to Picton in the Marlborough region. The day concludes with dinner together in a relaxed setting.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat trip through Abel Tasman National Park bays and coastal areas
- Observation of New Zealand fur seals
- Beach stopover with option to hike or relax
Landmarks Abel Tasman National Park Kaiteriteri Picton - Day 13
Picton - Marlborough Sounds
You'll switch to a boat to explore the Marlborough Sounds, one of New Zealand's most beautiful water areas. The deeply carved inlets form a labyrinth of drowned river valleys. You'll pass small bays and secluded beaches before mooring at hard-to-reach spots. Motuara Island bird sanctuary offers chances to see rare long-legged flycatchers and saddle-billed starlings. You'll also visit Ship Cove, a favorite anchorage of Captain Cook. Overnight is at Punga Cove in a scenic shoreline setting.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat exploration of Marlborough Sounds
- Visit to Motuara Island bird sanctuary
- Observation of rare flycatchers and starlings
- Visit to Ship Cove (Captain Cook's anchorage)
Landmarks Marlborough Sounds Motuara Island Ship Cove - Day 14
Marlborough Sounds - Marlborough - Wellington
A wine tasting in the Marlborough region introduces you to New Zealand's largest wine growing area, famous for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. In the early afternoon, you'll leave the South Island and cross the Cook Strait on the Interislander ferry, arriving in Wellington on the North Island.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Wine tasting in Marlborough region
Landmarks Marlborough Wine Region Cook Strait 
- Day 15
Wellington
Wellington's compact and culturally rich character means most highlights are within walking distance. You can explore the harbor area, hills, shopping districts, and cafes on your own. Food enthusiasts will appreciate the city's dining and wine scene. Consider visiting Te Papa Tongarewa National Museum, riding the cable car up to botanical gardens, or checking out Oriental Bay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Te Papa Tongarewa National Museum
- Explore botanical gardens and cable car
- Visit Oriental Bay
- Walk city center between harbor and hills
- Explore Wellington's food and wine scene
Landmarks Te Papa Tongarewa National Museum Wellington Botanical Gardens Oriental Bay - Day 16
Wellington - Whanganui - Whanganui River National Park
You'll travel along the Kapiti coast through fertile farmland to Whanganui, known for its stylish Art Deco buildings. Passing through parts of Whanganui National Park, you'll notice strong Maori influence in the villages and landscapes. At Pipiriki, you'll switch to a jet boat for an exciting ride through Whanganui River National Park along a historic post road. A guided walk takes you to the Bridge to Nowhere. Your accommodation is accessible only by jet boat, overlooking the river in natural surroundings. Dinner is a traditional New Zealand meal.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Typical New Zealand meal)
Included Activities
- Drive along Kapiti coast
- Visit Whanganui with Art Deco buildings
- Jet boat ride through Whanganui River National Park
- Guided walk to Bridge to Nowhere
Landmarks Kapiti Coast Whanganui Whanganui National Park Bridge to Nowhere Whanganui River - Day 17
Whanganui River National Park - Tongariro National Park - Rotorua
After breakfast, you'll take a jet boat back through Maori country along the historic post road. From there, you'll head to Tongariro National Park with its ever-changing, sometimes lunar landscape. You'll see Mount Tongariro, Mount Ngauruhoe, and Mount Ruapehu volcanoes, then travel along Lake Taupo with views of the foaming Huka Falls. By evening you'll settle into Rotorua, a town shaped by Maori culture and known for active thermal springs and geysers.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Jet boat ride back to civilization
- Travel through Tongariro National Park
- Views of volcanic peaks
- Travel along Lake Taupo
- View Huka Falls
Landmarks Tongariro National Park Mount Tongariro Mount Ngauruhoe Mount Ruapehu Lake Taupo Huka Falls Rotorua - Day 18
Rotorua
This morning offers an optional visit to Hobbiton (available from October 2025 onward). In the afternoon, you'll explore Rotorua on your own, with activities like the Polynesian Spa or Redwoods Treewalk available. This evening you'll spend time with local Maori people who'll share their culture and history. Dinner is a traditional Maori meal. You'll stay a second night in Rotorua.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional Māori meal)
Optional Activities
- Hobbiton day trip (available for departures from October 2025)
- Polynesian Spa
- Redwoods Treewalk
- Explore Rotorua on your own
Landmarks Polynesian Spa Redwoods Treewalk - Day 19
Rotorua - Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland - Coromandel Peninsula - Tairua
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is the morning's main activity, featuring colorful sinter terraces, the boiling Champagne Pool, bubbling mud holes, and sulfur fumaroles. Heading north to Coromandel Peninsula, you'll pass Mount Maunganui and the gold mining town of Waihi, enjoying sweeping coastal views with offshore islands. By evening you'll reach the seaside resort of Tairua with extensive sandy beaches perfect for swimming. Dinner wraps up the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
- Views of Champagne Pool and geothermal features
- Coastal views of Coromandel Peninsula
Landmarks Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland Champagne Pool Mount Maunganui Waihi Coromandel Peninsula Tairua - Day 20
Tairua - Mercury Bay - Cathedral Cove - Hot Water Beach - Auckland
You'll explore Mercury Bay (also called the Bay of Islands) and New Zealand's beach treasures with extensive white sandy beaches for swimming. Cathedral Cove hike remains closed due to 2023 storm damage, but kayaking from Hahei is an option or you can relax on the beach. At low tide, you can dig your own pool at Hot Water Beach and warm yourself in underground hot springs (depending on tide timing). You'll see remains of ancient Kauri trees, some reaching 2,000 years old. After crossing the peninsula's side roads with volcanic formations and typical forest, you'll arrive in Auckland, the City of Sails. A final dinner celebrates your journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Mercury Bay beaches
- Cathedral Cove experience (kayaking or beach relaxation)
- Hot Water Beach pool digging and hot springs (tide and time permitting)
- Views of ancient Kauri trees
Landmarks Mercury Bay Cathedral Cove Hahei Beach Hot Water Beach Coromandel Peninsula Auckland - Day 21
Auckland
Your New Zealand trip concludes today. A shuttle will transport you to the airport for your flight home or onward travel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
