Active at the most beautiful end of the world

Itinerary

1. Day 1

   Auckland

   Auckland Show on map

   Optional Activities

   • Explore Auckland on your own
2. Day 2

   Auckland to Paihia

   Auckland to Paihia Show on map

   Meals

   Dinner (Welcome dinner at Duke of Marlborough Hotel overlooking the harbor)

   Included Activities

   • Travel along the Hibiscus Coast
   • Welcome dinner at Duke of Marlborough Hotel

   Landmarks
   Bay of Islands
   Duke of Marlborough Hotel

3. Day 3

   Waipoua Forest

   Waipoua Forest Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Twilight Encounter tour in Waipoua Forest with Maori guide
   • Visit to Tane Mahuta

   Optional Activities

   • Day trip to Hole in the Rock

   Landmarks
   Waipoua Forest
   Tane Mahuta
   Hole in the Rock

4. Day 4

   Waipoua to Waikato

   Waipoua to Waikato Show on map

   Landmarks
   Waikato

   

5. Day 5

   Waikato to Tongariro National Park

   Waikato to Tongariro National Park Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Explore Hamilton Gardens

   Optional Activities

   • Explore Waitomo glow worm caves (if time permits)

   Landmarks
   Hamilton Gardens
   Tongariro National Park
   Mount Ruapehu
   Mount Ngauruhoe
   Mount Tongariro
   Waitomo Glow Worm Caves

   

6. Day 6

   Tongariro National Park

   Tongariro National Park Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Tongariro Alpine Crossing hike (or shorter alternative hike)

   Landmarks
   Emerald Lakes

7. Day 7

   Tongariro to Wellington

   Tongariro to Wellington Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Tour of Zealandia bird sanctuary

   Landmarks
   Zealandia Bird Sanctuary

   

8. Day 8

   Wellington

   Wellington Show on map

   Optional Activities

   • Relax on Oriental Bay
   • Visit museums and art galleries
   • Harbor and hillside walks
   • Historic cable car to Botanic Gardens
   • Visit Te Papa Tongarewa Museum
   • Browse Courtenay Place or Kuba Street for food and dining

   Landmarks
   Oriental Bay
   Te Papa Tongarewa Museum
   Botanic Gardens
   Courtenay Place

9. Day 9

   Wellington to Nelson

   Wellington to Nelson Show on map

   Included Activities

   • Ferry crossing to South Island
   • Short hike at Pelorus Bridge

   Landmarks
   Marlborough Sounds
   Picton
   Pelorus Bridge

10. Day 10

    Abel Tasman National Park

    Abel Tasman National Park Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Catamaran trip along Abel Tasman coast
    • Hike through Abel Tasman National Park

    Landmarks
    Abel Tasman National Park
    Tonga Island

    

11. Day 11

    Nelson to Kaikoura

    Nelson to Kaikoura Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Boat tour for whale watching in Kaikoura

    Landmarks
    Kaikoura

12. Day 12

    Kaikoura to Hokitika

    Kaikoura to Hokitika Show on map

    Landmarks
    Lewis Pass
    Greymouth

13. Day 13

    Hokitika to Franz Josef Glacier

    Hokitika to Franz Josef Glacier Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Explore Hokitika galleries and pounamu jewelry
    • Helicopter flight over glacier world

    Landmarks
    Franz Josef Glacier
    Fox Glacier

    

14. Day 14

    Franz Josef to Wanaka

    Franz Josef to Wanaka Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Two-hour rainforest hike in Westland National Park

    Optional Activities

    • Short hike (if time permits)

    Landmarks
    Westland National Park
    Haast Pass
    Lake Hawea
    Lake Wanaka

    

15. Day 15

    Wanaka

    Wanaka Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Hiking of various difficulties
    • Bike tour
    • Fishing
    • Canyoning
    • Climbing
    • Skydiving
    • Explore Wanaka town
16. Day 16

    Wanaka to Te Anau

    Wanaka to Te Anau Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Visit Queenstown
    • Boat trip to see glow worms on Lake Te Anau

    Landmarks
    Queenstown
    Lake Wakatipu
    Lake Te Anau
    Fjordland National Park

    

17. Day 17

    Doubtful Sound

    Doubtful Sound Show on map

    Meals

    Dinner (Dinner on board ship)

    Included Activities

    • Lake Manapouri boat crossing
    • Wilmot Pass bus journey (670 meters elevation)
    • Doubtful Sound fjord excursion with wildlife viewing
    • Guided exploration of Fiordland National Park flora and fauna

    Landmarks
    Fiordland National Park
    Lake Manapouri
    Wilmot Pass
    Doubtful Sound
    Deep Cove

    

18. Day 18

    Te Anau to Dunedin

    Te Anau to Dunedin Show on map

    Meals

    Breakfast

    Landmarks
    Otago Peninsula

    

19. Day 19

    Aoraki/Mount Cook

    Aoraki/Mount Cook Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Boat trip to observe royal albatrosses
    • Visit to Moeraki Boulders

    Optional Activities

    • Short hike on the way to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park

    Landmarks
    Otago Peninsula Royal Albatross Colony
    Moeraki Boulders
    Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
    Aoraki/Mount Cook
    Lake Pukaki

    

20. Day 20

    Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park

    Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Show on map

    Included Activities

    • Hooker Valley hike (or alternative hike of varying difficulty)

    Optional Activities

    • Sightseeing flights
    • Tasman Glacier tour
    • Stargazing tour

    Landmarks
    Hooker Valley
    Tasman Glacier

21. Day 21

    Aoraki/Mount Cook to Christchurch

    Aoraki/Mount Cook to Christchurch Show on map

    Meals

    Dinner (Final group dinner with fellow travelers)

    Included Activities

    • Final group dinner in Christchurch

    Optional Activities

    • Visit glacial lake Tekapo

    Landmarks
    Lake Tekapo
    Canterbury Plain

22. Day 22

    Christchurch

    Christchurch Show on map