Itinerary
- Day 1
Auckland
You'll be picked up at Auckland Airport and taken to your hotel. After that, the rest of your day is free to check out the local area at your own pace and get oriented to the city.
Optional Activities
- Explore local area of Auckland
- Day 2
Auckland to Russell
Head north from Auckland across the Harbour Bridge to Reed Memorial Park and walk through kauri forests before seeing Whangarei Falls. Continue to the Bay of Islands and visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds to look at the historic meeting house and museum. Then take a ferry to Russell for a two-night stay in this charming village.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walk along elevated canopy through kauri forests at Reed Memorial Park
- View Whangarei Falls
- Visit Waitangi Treaty Grounds including meeting house and museum
- Ferry to Russell
Landmarks Reed Memorial Park Whangarei Falls Bay of Islands Waitangi Treaty Grounds 
- Day 3
Russell
Pick your adventure today. Either take a full-day coach tour to Cape Reinga at New Zealand's tip with a picnic lunch, or do a Hole in the Rock cruise to see Cape Brett Lighthouse, the natural rock formation, and Grand Cathedral Cave. Back in Russell, a local guide will share insights into the town's history.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch (Option 1 only))
Included Activities
- Cape Reinga coach tour with picnic lunch (Option 1)
- Hole in the Rock cruise to Cape Brett Lighthouse with Grand Cathedral Cave visit (Option 2)
- Russell historic town guided tour
Landmarks Cape Reinga 90 Mile Beach Hole in the Rock Cape Brett Lighthouse Grand Cathedral Cave - Day 4
Russell to Auckland
Travel back toward Auckland through rural towns and along beaches. Once you arrive in the City of Sails, take a harbourside sightseeing tour with panoramic views and charming villages, then get a guided tour of the Auckland Museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Auckland sightseeing tour including harbourside and villages
- Guided tour of Auckland Museum
Landmarks Auckland Museum - Day 5
Auckland to Whitianga
Head south across the Hauraki Plains to Thames, then up the western side of the Coromandel Peninsula with coastal views. Visit the Driving Creek Railway where you'll ride a narrow-gauge line 120 meters up to the EyeFull Tower for countryside views. Arrive at the resort town of Whitianga on Mercury Bay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Driving Creek Railway narrow-gauge train ride to 'EyeFull' Tower
Landmarks Coromandel Peninsula Driving Creek Railway EyeFull Tower Mercury Bay 
- Day 6
Whitianga
Explore the Coromandel region's white cliffs, golden beaches, and turquoise waters. Visit Hot Water Beach where natural hot springs bubble up through the sand so you can create your own warm pool (depending on tide conditions). Walk along Hahei Beach and Cooks Beach, both named after Captain James Cook's 1769 visit. Return to Whitianga by ferry or with your driver.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Hot Water Beach
- Explore Hahei Beach and Cooks Beach
Optional Activities
- Ferry ride from Cooks Beach back to Whitianga
Landmarks Hot Water Beach Hahei Beach Cooks Beach - Day 7
Whitianga to Rotorua
Follow the Pacific Coast Highway through Whangamata and Tauranga early on. Take a bushwalk with views over Okere Falls, then continue to Rotorua and its Maori heritage and geothermal activity. Visit Te Puia to see the active geothermal site, check out indigenous arts and crafts, and learn about Kiwi conservation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Bushwalk with views over Okere Falls
- Visit Te Puia geothermal site, indigenous arts and crafts centre, and Kiwi conservation project
Landmarks Okere Falls Te Puia 
- Day 8
Rotorua
Choose between two activities. Explore Waimangu Volcanic Valley with bubbling craters and steaming lakes from the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption, plus a cruise on Lake Rotomahana. Or visit the Hobbiton Movie Set with a guide to explore the Shire. In the evening, have a 4-course fusion dinner at Tamaki Maori Village with traditional songs and seasonal Maori cuisine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Te Pa Tu—4-course fusion feast designed by Maori chefs at Tamaki Maori Village, served outdoors or indoors depending on weather)
Included Activities
- Waimangu Volcanic Valley tour with Lake Rotomahana cruise (Option 1)
- Hobbiton Movie Set tour of the Shire (Option 2)
- Te Pa Tu Maori experience at Tamaki Maori Village with 4-course fusion feast
Landmarks Waimangu Volcanic Valley Mt Tarawera Lake Rotomahana Hobbiton Movie Set Tamaki Maori Village - Day 9
Rotorua to Napier
Head south past Huka Falls to Lake Taupo, where you might spot volcanic peaks used for Mordor in Lord of the Rings. Continue to Napier, a seaside town with interesting history. Walk around and see the sights, then have dinner with wine at Mission Estate Winery where you'll tour vineyards established by missionaries in the 1800s.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with glass of wine at Mission Estate Winery with sweeping views over Napier)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing tour of Napier
- Mission Estate Winery tour and dinner with wine
Landmarks Huka Falls Lake Taupo Mount Ruapehu Mount Ngauruhoe Mount Tongariro Mission Estate Winery - Day 10
Napier to Wellington
Make your way to Wellington, New Zealand's capital and home to artists, writers, and filmmakers with a trendy cafe culture. See Parliament Buildings and the iconic Beehive, then take in views from Kelburn Lookout. Ride the cable car down and visit Te Papa, one of the world's most exciting museums, for a full lesson in New Zealand's land, people, wildlife, and culture.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sightseeing tour of Wellington including Parliament Buildings and 'Beehive'
- Kelburn Lookout visit
- Cable car ride to city centre
- Visit to Te Papa museum
Landmarks Parliament Buildings Beehive Kelburn Lookout Te Papa 
- Day 11
Wellington to Nelson
Cross Cook Strait on one of the world's most beautiful ferry journeys, often with dolphins riding the bow wave. Arrive in Picton on the South Island and travel to Blenheim in Marlborough wine country. Do wine tasting at a premier winery famous for Sauvignon Blanc, then head to the town of Nelson for a two-night stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Cook Strait ferry crossing
- Wine tasting at Marlborough winery
Landmarks Cook Strait Picton Marlborough wine region Blenheim - Day 12
Nelson
Spend the day in Abel Tasman National Park with its golden coves, turquoise lagoons, and forest ranges. Since few roads exist here, you'll explore by small cruiser from Kaiteriteri with stops for swimming and walking. After the cruise, choose to relax, do a short 7km walk to Anchorage Beach, or tackle a longer 10.5km walk including South Head lookout and Cleopatra's Pool. Return to Nelson for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Abel Tasman National Park cruise from Kaiteriteri
Optional Activities
- Relax in Kaiteriteri at leisure
- 7km self-guided walk to Anchorage Beach (2.5 hours)
- 10.5km self-guided walk to Anchorage Beach including South Head lookout, Falls River swing-bridge, and Cleopatra's Pool (4 hours)
Landmarks Abel Tasman National Park Kaiteriteri Anchorage Beach South Head Lookout Falls River Swing-Bridge Cleopatra's Pool 
- Day 13
Nelson to Punakaiki
Go through Nelson Lakes National Park with rugged peaks, lush forests, and glacial lakes in the Southern Alps. Explore the charming village of St. Arnaud, then follow the Buller River Gorge before heading south along the coastline to Punakaiki with its wild shoreline and the famous Pancake Rocks, striking limestone formations shaped by nature.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Nelson Lakes National Park
- Visit St. Arnaud village
- Travel through Buller River Gorge
Landmarks Nelson Lakes National Park St. Arnaud Buller River Gorge Pancake Rocks 
- Day 14
Punakaiki to Fox Glacier
Leave Punakaiki for the West Coast and visit Hokitika to check out galleries of greenstone jewelry and artwork. Stop at Hokitika Gorge to see the blue-green waters flowing through rocks. Continue south to Franz Josef and then Fox village, home to the massive Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers that flow from snowfields almost to sea level.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Hokitika galleries of greenstone jewellery and artwork
- Explore Hokitika Gorge
Optional Activities
- Helicopter ride over the glaciers at extra cost
Landmarks Hokitika Hokitika Gorge Franz Josef Glacier Fox Glacier - Day 15
Fox Glacier to Wanaka
Start the day at Lake Matheson, which mirrors Mount Cook in its waters on clear days. Head up over Haast Pass along the river road, a remarkable engineering feat that took over 40 years to complete, and travel through Mt Aspiring National Park to Lake Wanaka and the resort town of Wanaka.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Lake Matheson
Landmarks Lake Matheson Haast Pass Mount Cook Mt Aspiring National Park Lake Wanaka 
- Day 16
Wanaka
Pick between two included options. Take an eco tour by boat to a hidden island where you'll hike through native vegetation to a mountaintop lake with 360-degree views and spot the rare flightless Buff Weka bird. Or do a 4WD adventure on scenic back roads of an authentic farm with optional alpine hikes. Spend the afternoon relaxing or exploring town.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Eco tour by boat to island with native vegetation hike and summit views (Option 1)
- 4WD farm adventure with optional alpine hikes (Option 2)
Optional Activities
- Afternoon leisure time in Wanaka
Landmarks Lake Wanaka Arethusa Pool - Day 17
Wanaka to Te Anau
Start from Wanaka and stop at the iconic Cardrona Pub. Go through the Crown Range road to historic Arrowtown, a charming gold rush village with peaks nearby and the Arrow River. Continue along scenic roads between the Remarkables mountain range and Lake Wakatipu before crossing a glacial valley turned farmland to Lake Te Anau, the South Island's largest freshwater lake.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Stop at Cardrona Pub
- Explore historic Arrowtown village
Landmarks Cardrona Pub Crown Range Arrowtown Arrow River Remarkables Lake Wakatipu Lake Te Anau Fiordland National Park 
- Day 18
Te Anau to Queenstown
Experience one of the world's most scenic drives from Te Anau to Milford Sound through Fiordland National Park with towering mountains and deep valleys carved by ancient glaciers. Take a comfortable cruise past iconic Mitre Peak and look for seals and dolphins. After the cruise, head back to Te Anau, then journey through Southland farmlands and circle Lake Wakatipu to reach Queenstown.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch on Milford Sound cruise)
Included Activities
- Drive through Fiordland National Park
- Milford Sound cruise with lunch
Landmarks Fiordland National Park Milford Sound Mitre Peak Tasman Sea 
- Day 19
Queenstown
Your New Zealand adventure ends today. A transfer takes you to Queenstown Airport for your flight home.
