Itinerary
- Day 1
Christchurch
- Meals
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Explore Christchurch on your own
- Day 2
Christchurch - Banks Peninsula - Akaroa
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Wine tasting in Marlborough region
Landmarks Marlborough Wine Region Cook Strait 
- Day 15
Wellington
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Meals
- Breakfast
