Essence of New Zealand Christchurch → Auckland (2027)

Itinerary

1. Intro

   Introduction
2. Day 1

   Christchurch

   Christchurch Show on map

   Meals

   Dinner (Welcome Dinner)

   Accommodation

   Hotel (Rydges Latimer Christchurch)

   Included Activities

   • Private Heritage Tram Ride Through Christchurch with drinks and canapés
3. Day 2

   Christchurch to Aoraki/Mount Cook

   Christchurch to Aoraki/Mount Cook Show on map

   Meals

   Dinner (Alpine Restaurant at Hermitage Hotel with seasonal menu featuring local ingredients)

   Accommodation

   Hotel (The Hermitage Hotel)

   Included Activities

   • Visit Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Tekapo/Takapō
   • Dinner at Hermitage Hotel's Alpine Restaurant

   Optional Activities

   • Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre visit
   • Stargazing experience with expert astronomer
   • Glacier Explorer Cruise on Tasman Glacier aboard MAC boat

   Landmarks
   Church of the Good Shepherd
   Lake Tekapo/Takapō
   Aoraki/Mount Cook
   Tasman Glacier

   

4. Day 3

   Aoraki/Mount Cook to Dunedin

   Aoraki/Mount Cook to Dunedin Show on map

   Meals

   Dinner

   Accommodation

   Hotel (Distinction Dunedin Hotel)

   Included Activities

   • View Moeraki Boulders/Kaihinaki at Koekohe Beach

   Landmarks
   Lake Pukaki
   Moeraki Boulders/Kaihinaki

   

5. Day 4

   Dunedin to Te Anau

   Dunedin to Te Anau Show on map

   Meals

   Dinner (Taste of Fiordland Dinner at MacKinnon Restaurant & Explorer Bar with regional South Island cuisine)

   Accommodation

   Hotel (Two Nights: Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas)

   Included Activities

   • Guided tour of Larnach Castle and gardens
   • Taste of Fiordland Dinner at MacKinnon Restaurant & Explorer Bar

   Landmarks
   Larnach Castle
   Otago Peninsula

6. Day 5

   Te Anau

   Te Anau Show on map

   Optional Activities

   • Te Anau Glowworm Caves journey
   • Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise
   • Fiordland Jet Boat Ride on Waiau River

   Landmarks
   Te Anau Glowworm Caves
   Doubtful Sound
   Fiordland National Park
   Lake Manapouri

   

7. Day 6

   Te Anau to Queenstown

   Te Anau to Queenstown Show on map

   Accommodation

   Hotel (Three Nights: Millennium Hotel Queenstown)

   Included Activities

   • Milford Sound/Piopiotahi Cruise

   Landmarks
   Milford Sound/Piopiotahi
   Eglinton Valley
   Hollyford Valley
   Milford Road

   

8. Day 7

   Queenstown

   Queenstown Show on map

   Meals

   Dinner (Freedom of Choice dining options including Walter Peak lavish BBQ dinner (succulent meats, vegetables, salads, bread, dessert), Stratosfare Restaurant (New Zealand and international cuisines with views), Fergburger, or Finz Restaurant)

   Included Activities

   • Freedom of Choice Sightseeing - The Lord of the Rings 4WD Safari
   • Freedom of Choice Sightseeing - Wine Tour
   • Freedom of Choice Sightseeing - Skippers Canyon
   • Freedom of Choice Sightseeing - Million Dollar Cruise
   • Freedom of Choice Sightseeing - Dart River Wilderness Jet
   • Freedom of Choice Sightseeing - Best of Queenstown
   • Freedom of Choice - Walter Peak steamer cruise with BBQ dinner
   • Freedom of Choice - Stratosfare Restaurant gondola experience
   • Freedom of Choice - Fergburger
   • Freedom of Choice - Finz Restaurant

   Landmarks
   Lake Wakatipu
   Mount Aspiring National Park
   Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Site
   Dart River
   Arrowtown
   Shotover River Valley
   Bob's Peak
   The Remarkables
   Walter Peak High Country Farm

   

9. Day 8

   Queenstown

   Queenstown Show on map

   Landmarks
   Lake Wakatipu

10. Day 9

    Queenstown to Franz Josef/Waiau

    Queenstown to Franz Josef/Waiau Show on map

    Meals

    Dinner (Four-course degustation fine dining experience)

    Accommodation

    Hotel (Te Waonui Forest Retreat)

    Included Activities

    • Four-course degustation fine dining at Te Waonui Forest Retreat

    Landmarks
    Lake Wānaka
    Lake Hāwea
    Haast Pass
    Westland Tai Poutini National Park
    Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere

    

11. Day 10

    Franz Josef/Waiau to Christchurch

    Franz Josef/Waiau to Christchurch Show on map

    Accommodation

    Hotel (Rydges Latimer Christchurch)

    Included Activities

    • TranzAlpine Train journey from Greymouth to Christchurch

    Landmarks
    Southern Alps
    Canterbury Plains

12. Day 11

    Christchurch to Blenheim

    Christchurch to Blenheim Show on map

    Meals

    Dinner (Highlights of Marlborough Dinner with wine pairings from the region)

    Accommodation

    Hotel (Scenic Hotel Marlborough)

    Included Activities

    • Highlights of Marlborough Dinner with wine pairings at hotel restaurant

    Landmarks
    Kaikōura
    Marlborough Region

13. Day 12

    Blenheim to Wellington

    Blenheim to Wellington Show on map

    Meals

    Lunch (Shared banquet lunch at Allan Scott Family Winemakers)

    Accommodation

    Hotel (Intercontinental Wellington)

    Included Activities

    • Wine tasting and banquet lunch at Allan Scott Family Winemakers
    • Interislander Ferry from Picton to Wellington

    Landmarks
    Allan Scott Family Winemakers
    Marlborough Sounds
    Cook Strait
    Wellington Harbour

14. Day 13

    Wellington

    Wellington Show on map

    Meals

    Breakfast

    Accommodation

    Hotel (Intercontinental Wellington)

    Included Activities

    • Wellington sightseeing tour including Mount Victoria and waterfront
    • Te Papa Museum visit

    Landmarks
    Mount Victoria
    Wellington Waterfront
    Te Papa Museum

15. Day 14

    Wellington to Napier

    Wellington to Napier Show on map

    Meals

    Lunch (Two-course lunch at Craggy Range Winery with wine pairings)

    Accommodation

    Hotel (Scenic Te Pania Hotel)

    Included Activities

    • Craggy Range Winery guided tour, tasting, and two-course lunch with wine pairings

    Landmarks
    Kāpiti Coast
    Craggy Range Winery
    Hawke's Bay

16. Day 15

    Napier to Rotorua

    Napier to Rotorua Show on map

    Meals

    Dinner (Seasonal three-course dinner at Te Pā Tū with seasonal canapés and chef-selected aperitifs)

    Accommodation

    Hotel (Two Nights: Pullman Rotorua)

    Included Activities

    • Te Pā Tū (Māori Village) cultural experience with haka pōwhiri welcome, performances, and seasonal three-course dinner

    Landmarks
    Esk Valley
    Te Pōhue
    Taupō
    Te Pā Tū (Māori Village)

17. Day 16

    Rotorua

    Rotorua Show on map

    Optional Activities

    • Agrodome Farm Show
    • Te Puia Thermal Reserve visit
    • Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
    • Eco-Thermal Tour - visit New Zealand's largest boiling mud pool and hot springs at Waiotapu
    • Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa - 7-step multisensory geothermal and traditional Māori healing experience

    Landmarks
    Agrodome
    Te Puia
    Hobbiton Movie Set
    Waiotapu
    Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa

18. Day 17

    Rotorua to Auckland

    Rotorua to Auckland Show on map

    Accommodation

    Hotel (Crowne Plaza Auckland)

    Optional Activities

    • Auckland Harbour Sailing Cruise
    • All Blacks Experience
    • Wēt ā Workshop Unleashed tour
    • Te Wao Nui - The Living Realm at Auckland Zoo
    • Bush and Beach Wilderness Adventure

    Landmarks
    Auckland Harbour Bridge
    Auckland Zoo
    Wētā Workshop

19. Day 18

    Auckland to Bay of Islands

    Auckland to Bay of Islands Show on map

    Accommodation

    Hotel (Two Nights: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands)

    Included Activities

    • Stop at Parry Kauri Park to view kauri trees

    Landmarks
    Parry Kauri Park
    Hibiscus Coast
    Bay of Islands

20. Day 19

    Bay of Islands

    Bay of Islands Show on map

    Meals

    Dinner (Farewell Dinner)

    Included Activities

    • Bay of Islands Catamaran Cruise to Cape Brett and Hole in the Rock

    Landmarks
    Cape Brett
    Hole in the Rock

21. Day 20

    Bay of Islands to Auckland

    Bay of Islands to Auckland Show on map

    Meals

    Breakfast