Itinerary
- Day 1
Auckland
After being met at Auckland Airport, you'll get transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is open, so take some time to wander around the local area and get oriented at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 2
Auckland to Whitianga
You'll head south across the Hauraki Plains toward Thames, then drive up the western side of the Coromandel Peninsula on a coastal route. Stop at the Driving Creek Railway where you'll take a narrow-gauge train up 120 meters to the EyeFull Tower for views across the area. After that, continue across to Whitianga on Mercury Bay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Driving Creek Railway narrow-gauge train ride to EyeFull Tower
Landmarks Driving Creek Railway EyeFull Tower Hauraki Gulf Firth of Thames 
- Day 3
Whitianga
This morning you'll check out the Coromandel region with its white cliffs, golden beaches, and forests. Head to Hot Water Beach where natural hot springs bubble through the sand, and if the tide is right, you can dig your own spa pool. Later, walk along Hahei's beaches and visit Cooks Beach, named after Captain James Cook who sailed into Mercury Bay in 1769.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hot Water Beach visit
- Hahei beaches visit
- Cooks Beach visit
Optional Activities
- Ferry ride from Cooks Beach back to Whitianga
Landmarks Hot Water Beach Hahei Beach Cooks Beach Mercury Bay - Day 4
Whitianga to Rotorua
Travel south along the Pacific Coast Highway through Whangamata and Tauranga, then turn inland. You'll do a bushwalk with views over Okere Falls before heading to Rotorua. Once there, visit Te Puia, an active geothermal site that also serves as the nation's center for indigenous arts and crafts and runs a Kiwi conservation project.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bushwalk with scenic views over Okere Falls
- Te Puia visit (active geothermal site, indigenous arts and crafts centre, Kiwi conservation project)
Landmarks Okere Falls Te Puia 
- Day 5
Rotorua
Choose your activity when booking: either see Waimangu Volcanic Valley from the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption with its craters and colored steaming lakes, plus a cruise across Lake Rotomahana to see forming silica terraces, or visit Hobbiton Movie Set and explore the Shire across ten acres. In the evening, you'll have a 4-course fusion feast at Te Pa Tu at Tamaki Maori Village with Maori traditions and songs, served outdoors or indoors depending on weather.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (4-course fusion feast at Tamaki Maori Village with Maori traditions, songs, and seasonal cuisine designed by Maori chefs)
Included Activities
- Waimangu Volcanic Valley visit (Option 1) OR Hobbiton Movie Set visit (Option 2)
- Lake Rotomahana cruise with silica terraces viewing (Option 1 only)
- Te Pa Tu Maori experience - 4-course fusion feast at Tamaki Maori Village
Landmarks Waimangu Volcanic Valley Lake Rotomahana Hobbiton Movie Set Tamaki Maori Village - Day 6
Rotorua to Napier
Head south past Huka Falls to Lake Taupo where you can see volcanic peaks on clear days, the same terrain used for Mordor in The Lord of the Rings. Continue to Napier, a seaside town with interesting history. Walk around town and then have dinner with wine at Mission Estate Winery, which has award-winning wines and views over Napier.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Dinner with a glass of wine at Mission Estate Winery with sweeping views over Napier)
Included Activities
- Huka Falls viewing
- Lake Taupo viewpoint
- Napier town exploration on foot
- Mission Estate Winery tour and dinner with wine
Landmarks Huka Falls Lake Taupo Mount Ruapehu Mount Ngauruhoe Mount Tongariro Mission Estate Winery - Day 7
Napier to Wellington
You'll travel to Wellington, New Zealand's capital and home to artists, writers and filmmakers. See the Parliament Buildings and the iconic Beehive building. Take the cable car down to the city centre, then spend time at Te Papa, one of the world's most interesting museums, learning about New Zealand's land, people, wildlife, landscapes and culture.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Parliament Buildings and Beehive viewing
- Kelburn Lookout visit
- Cable car ride to city centre
- Te Papa museum visit
Landmarks Parliament Buildings Beehive Building Kelburn Lookout Te Papa Tongarewa Museum 
- Day 8
Wellington to Nelson
Cross the Cook Strait by ferry, often joined by dolphins riding the bow wave. You'll arrive in Picton on the South Island, then head to Blenheim in Marlborough wine country. Try wines at one of the premier wineries here, known for Sauvignon Blanc. After that, continue to Nelson where you'll stay for two nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch included from Milford Sound cruise), Dinner
Included Activities
- Cook Strait ferry crossing
- Wine tasting at Marlborough winery
Landmarks Cook Strait Picton Marlborough Wine Region - Day 9
Nelson
Spend the day in Abel Tasman National Park with its golden coves, turquoise lagoons and forests. Board a small cruiser at Kaiteriteri with stops for swimming and walking. Back at Kaiteriteri, choose to relax in town, do a shorter 7km (2.5 hour) self-guided walk to Anchorage Beach, or take a longer 10.5km (4 hour) walk with South Head lookout, Falls River swing-bridge and Cleopatra's Pool.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Abel Tasman National Park cruiser tour with swimming and exploring stops
Optional Activities
- Relax in Kaiteriteri at leisure
- 7km (2.5 hour) self-guided walk to Anchorage Beach
- 10.5km (4 hour) self-guided walk to Anchorage Beach including South Head lookout, Falls River swing-bridge and Cleopatra's Pool
Landmarks Abel Tasman National Park Kaiteriteri Beach Anchorage Beach South Head Lookout Falls River Swing-Bridge Cleopatra's Pool 
- Day 10
Nelson to Punakaiki
You'll journey through Nelson Lakes National Park with rugged peaks, lush forests, glacial lakes and the Southern Alps. Check out the charming village of St. Arnaud, then head inland along the Buller River Gorge for scenic driving. Follow the coastline south to Punakaiki, a small settlement known for its wild shoreline and the Pancake Rocks, limestone formations shaped by nature.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Nelson Lakes National Park drive
- St. Arnaud village exploration
- Buller River Gorge scenic drive
- Pancake Rocks viewing
Landmarks Nelson Lakes National Park St. Arnaud Buller River Gorge Pancake Rocks - Day 11
Punakaiki to Fox Glacier
Leave Punakaiki and travel to Hokitika on the West Coast. Browse galleries of greenstone jewelry and artwork, then head to Hokitika Gorge to see the blue-green waters flowing through rugged rocks. Continue south to Franz Josef and Fox village, where the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers flow from high snowfields down nearly to sea level.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hokitika greenstone jewellery and artwork gallery visit
- Hokitika Gorge exploration
Optional Activities
- Helicopter ride over the glaciers at extra cost
Landmarks Hokitika Hokitika Gorge Franz Josef Glacier Fox Glacier - Day 12
Fox Glacier to Wanaka
Start at Lake Matheson where Mount Cook reflects perfectly in the water on clear days. Head up over Haast Pass along the river road, which took over 40 years to complete, traveling deep into Mt Aspiring National Park to Lake Wanaka and the resort town of Wanaka.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Lake Matheson visit
Landmarks Lake Matheson Haast Pass Mt Aspiring National Park Lake Wanaka Mount Cook 
- Day 13
Wanaka
Pick your activity when booking: either take an eco tour by boat to an island, hike through native vegetation to find a hidden mountaintop lake and trek to the summit for 360-degree views, watching for the rare Buff Weka flightless bird, or do a 4WD adventure on remote back roads of an authentic farm with Lake Wanaka as backdrop, get close to farm animals and historical sites. The afternoon is free to relax in Wanaka.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Eco tour with boat cruise to island, native vegetation hike and mountaintop lake (Option 1) OR 4WD farm adventure with historical sites and optional alpine hikes (Option 2)
Optional Activities
- Optional hikes through alpine meadows and lakeside forests (Option 2 only)
Landmarks Lake Wanaka Arethusa Pool - Day 14
Wanaka to Te Anau
From Wanaka, stop at the iconic Cardrona Pub, then go through Crown Range road to historic Arrowtown, a charming gold rush village beneath peaks near the Arrow River. Continue along the scenic road between the Remarkables mountain range and Lake Wakatipu before crossing a glacial valley turned farmland to reach Lake Te Anau, the South Island's largest freshwater lake and entry point to Fiordland National Park.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cardrona Pub stop
- Arrowtown exploration
Landmarks Cardrona Pub Arrowtown Arrow River Crown Range Remarkables Mountain Range Lake Wakatipu Lake Te Anau Fiordland National Park - Day 15
Te Anau to Queenstown
You'll experience one of the world's most scenic drives through Fiordland National Park, part of the Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Area, with towering mountains and deep valleys carved by ancient glaciers. Reach Milford Sound and board a comfortable cruise past the iconic Mitre Peak to the Tasman Sea, keeping watch for seals and dolphins. Head back to Te Anau and drive through Southland farmlands around Lake Wakatipu to get to Queenstown.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch included during Milford Sound cruise), Dinner
Included Activities
- Milford Sound scenic drive through Fiordland National Park
- Milford Sound cruise to Tasman Sea with Mitre Peak viewing
Landmarks Fiordland National Park Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Area Milford Sound Mitre Peak Tasman Sea Lake Wakatipu - Day 16
Queenstown
Your New Zealand adventure ends today. A transfer takes you to Queenstown Airport for your flight home.
