Itinerary
- Day 1
Christchurch
You'll arrive at your hotel in Christchurch with room check-in available from around 3 pm. This evening you'll meet your tour guide and get settled in for the night.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Day 2
Port Hills - Sumner Beach
Take a short city tour to see how Christchurch is modernizing, then head to the Port Hills where you'll get views across Banks Peninsula and Lyttelton Harbour from a volcano crater rim that's over 8 million years old. After that, grab a light lunch at a café in Sumner Beach before heading back to the city. The route covers about 40 km total.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Light lunch in a café in Sumner Beach)
Included Activities
- City tour of Christchurch
- Visit to Port Hills with views of Banks Peninsula and Lyttelton Harbour
- Light lunch in Sumner Beach café
Landmarks Port Hills Banks Peninsula Lyttelton Harbour Sumner Beach - Day 3
Christchurch to Lake Tekapo
Travel south through the agricultural areas around Ashburton and Geraldine to reach Lake Tekapo. You can visit the Church of the Good Shepherd while you're there, and if the weather cooperates, there's an optional scenic flight available over the snow-covered Southern Alps. You'll stay overnight at the lake after traveling roughly 250 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit to Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Tekapo
Optional Activities
- Scenic flight over Southern Alps (weather dependent)
Landmarks Church of the Good Shepherd Lake Tekapo Southern Alps 
- Day 4
Cycling
Drive through Mackenzie Country and the Tussok Plateau toward Aoraki Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest peak at 3,724 m. You'll cycle part of the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Track from Twizel to Lake Ohau, about 38 km that takes 3-4 hours mostly on paved paths with some natural tracks. The full day's travel is roughly 60 km, finishing at Lake Ohau Lodge.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cycling on Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Track from Twizel to Lake Ohau (approximately 38 km, approximately 3-4 hours, self-guided)
Landmarks Aoraki Mount Cook Mackenzie Country Tussok Plateau Lake Ohau Twizel 
- Day 5
Lake Ohau to Dunedin
Drive through the Waitaki River valley to the east coast, then continue south to Oamaru where you can see the mysterious Moeraki Boulders on the beach. From there, reach Dunedin, a university city with Scottish heritage and Victorian architecture from its gold-rush days. A short city tour comes before settling in for the night. The drive covers approximately 280 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Moeraki Boulders
- Short city tour of Dunedin
Landmarks Moeraki Boulders Oamaru Dunedin - Day 6
Cycling
Travel through Central Otago wine country passing Cromwell and Alexandra, then cycle the Otago Central Rail Trail, a well-surfaced route following an old railroad line through lovely landscape with small villages under huge skies. About 29 km of cycling takes 2-3 hours, and you'll have a typical pub lunch in a rural setting. After that, head by coach to Queenstown on a deep blue lake surrounded by mountain ranges. Total travel is roughly 300 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Typical pub lunch in rural setting)
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Guided cycle tour on Otago Central Rail Trail (approximately 29 km, approximately 2-3 hours)
- Typical pub lunch in rural setting
Landmarks Otago Central Rail Trail Central Otago Cromwell Alexandra Queenstown 
- Days 7 - 8
Queenstown
You have a free day in Queenstown to choose your own activities. Options include a lake cruise on the historic steamship TSS Earnslaw, riding the cable car to Bob's Peak for panoramic views, walking the lakeshore, or joining optional excursions. A full-day bus trip to Milford Sound with boat included or a half-day plane trip to Milford Sound are both available depending on weather conditions.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Lake cruise on historic steamship TSS Earnslaw
- Cable car to Bob's Peak
- Full-day bus excursion to Milford Sound with boat trip
- Half-day plane excursion to Milford Sound (weather dependent)
Landmarks Queenstown Bob's Peak Milford Sound Fiordland National Park - Day 9
Queenstown to Fox Glacier
Start early in Arrowtown, a restored gold mining settlement, then climb the Crown Range, New Zealand's highest pass road. Follow the shores of Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka to Mount Aspiring National Park, then drive through rainforest to the west coast. An afternoon walk takes you through rainforest toward the Tasman Sea. You'll visit Westland National Park with its glaciers and rare kea mountain parrots, and take a helicopter flight to see jagged glacial ice and snow-capped peaks. Stay near Fox Glacier after traveling about 390 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit to Arrowtown
- Afternoon rainforest walk toward Tasman Sea
- Helicopter flight over glaciers and mountain peaks (weather permitting)
Landmarks Arrowtown Crown Range Lake Hawea Lake Wanaka Mount Aspiring National Park Westland National Park Fox Glacier 
- Day 10
Fox Glacier to Greymouth
Travel to Franz Josef Glacier where gray meltwater flows from jagged ice through lush rainforest to the sea. Continue north along the west coast through Ross, a former gold mining town where you can pan for gold yourself. Visit Hokitika, center of greenstone processing, and watch workers cut jade into gems. You'll stay overnight in Greymouth, the largest West Coast town, after covering roughly 210 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit to Franz Josef Glacier
- Gold panning in Ross
- Greenstone cutting workshop in Hokitika
Landmarks Franz Josef Glacier Ross Hokitika Greymouth - Day 11
Greymouth to Nelson
Check out Paparoa National Park and the famous Pancake Rocks near Punakaiki, limestone formations carved by Tasman Sea surf into huge stacks. If conditions allow, you'll see the splashing water fountains. From there, head inland along the Buller River through a rugged gorge to reach Tasman Bay and Nelson, a town known for its artists and craftspeople. The route is approximately 320 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit to Pancake Rocks, Paparoa National Park
Landmarks Paparoa National Park Pancake Rocks Punakaiki Buller River Tasman Bay Nelson - Day 12
Abel Tasman National Park
Travel to Abel Tasman National Park for a 3-hour guided kayak tour among golden sandy beaches between rainforest and turquoise ocean, watching for seals on rocks. Well-surfaced paths let you walk through tree-high ferns, or you can relax on the beach and swim in the Tasman Sea. An alternative boat tour is available instead of kayaking if you prefer. You'll return to Nelson after traveling about 130 km total.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- 3-hour guided kayak tour in Abel Tasman National Park
Optional Activities
- Optional boat tour along Abel Tasman National Park coastline (alternative to kayaking)
Landmarks Abel Tasman National Park 
- Day 13
Cycling
Travel through Marlborough province to the Marlborough Sounds and visit Havelock, a small coastal town centered on Greenshell Mussel farming. Continue through extensive vineyards of New Zealand's largest wine region and take a short wine tour by bike to taste Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Stay overnight in Blenheim or nearby Picton after roughly 140 km of travel and about 6 km of cycling that includes wine tasting.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Wine tour by bike through Marlborough vineyards (approximately 6 km, approximately 3 hours including wine tasting, guided)
Landmarks Marlborough Sounds Havelock Pelorus Sound Blenheim Picton 
- Day 14
Ferry
Head to the ferry port in the morning for an approximately 3.5-hour mini-cruise from Picton to Wellington. You'll relax on board and watch for dolphins while passing through the Marlborough Sounds with their lonely seaclochs and bays before crossing Cook Strait. Transfer to your centrally located hotel in Wellington and stay overnight after this 30 km journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Ferry journey through Marlborough Sounds to Wellington (approximately 3.5 hours)
Landmarks Marlborough Sounds Cook Strait Wellington 
- Day 15
Wellington to Ruapehu
Travel north along the Kapiti coast with views of the island offshore, then head inland across the farmlands of Manawatu region. Reach the central plateau of the North Island characterized by three active volcanoes: Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro. This landscape is protected as Tongariro National Park, New Zealand's oldest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stay overnight in a village in or near the national park after roughly 340 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Landmarks Kapiti Coast Manawatu Ruapehu Ngauruhoe Tongariro Tongariro National Park - Day 16
Cycling
Travel alongside Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake formed by a huge volcanic eruption under 27,000 years ago. Stop at Huka Falls to see the foaming Waikato River cascades. Cycle the Waikato Valley to the Aratiatia hydroelectric power station covering about 17 km over 2 hours. Continue through geothermal areas with steaming streams toward Rotorua, then visit Waimangu Volcanic Valley on a walk to experience volcanic activity up close. After a short city tour in Rotorua, enjoy a Maori cultural evening with traditional dances, songs, haka, and a hangi feast. Total travel is roughly 190 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Hangi feast, typical Maori feast originally cooked in an earth oven)
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit to Huka Falls
- Cycling along Waikato Valley to Aratiatia hydroelectric power station (approximately 17 km, approximately 2 hours, guided)
- Walk through Waimangu Volcanic Valley
- City tour of Rotorua
- Maori cultural evening with traditional dances, songs, haka, and hangi feast
Landmarks Lake Taupo Huka Falls Waikato River Waikato Valley Aratiatia hydroelectric power station Waimangu Volcanic Valley Rotorua 
- Day 17
Rotorua to Whakatane
Travel to Whakatane, one of New Zealand's sunniest places. White Island draws attention from the coast with its smoke signals. You can take an optional half-day boat trip to Whale Island (Moutohora) where guides lead you across the island with rare native birds and seal colonies, followed by a refreshing dip in Sulpher Beach's hot springs. Alternatively, explore Whakatane itself or visit a marae, a traditional Maori meeting place. The route covers about 90 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Half-day boat trip to Whale Island (Moutohora) with guided island tour, rare native bird viewing, seal colony visit, and hot springs at Sulpher Beach
- Visit to marae, traditional Maori meeting place
Landmarks Whakatane White Island Whale Island Sulpher Beach - Day 18
Rotorua
You have a free day in Rotorua, which sits in the middle of exciting thermal areas and serves as an important cultural center for the Maori. There's much to experience at your own pace around the city and surrounding region.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Landmarks Rotorua - Day 19
Whakatane to Coromandel Peninsula
Make a detour to Hobbiton near Matamata to visit the only surviving film set from The Hobbit movie trilogy. Then travel through the fertile Bay of Plenty hinterland to the Coromandel Peninsula, settling in a small coastal town on the scenic east side for the night after roughly 320 km of travel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Hobbiton film set near Matamata
Landmarks Hobbiton Matamata Bay of Plenty Coromandel Peninsula - Day 20
Coromandel Peninsula to Auckland
Explore the natural paradise of Coromandel Peninsula with its rugged interior rock formations and soft sandy beaches. Visit Hot Water Beach near Hahei where thermal springs rise through the sand at low tide for fun swimming. Take a short hike to Cathedral Cove with its white sandy beach and dramatic rocky backdrop. Continue northwest to Auckland, New Zealand's largest city beautifully situated on a natural harbor with 53 volcanic cones. The drive is approximately 270 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Hot Water Beach
- Hike to Cathedral Cove
Landmarks Coromandel Peninsula Hot Water Beach Hahei Cathedral Cove Auckland - Day 21
Bay of Islands
You have a free day in Bay of Islands. Optionally join a full-day bus excursion to Cape Reinga at New Zealand's northern tip where the South Pacific and Tasman Sea meet, with a sandy drive along the seemingly endless Ninety Mile Beach (tide dependent). Alternatively, explore a hike to Haruru Falls.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Full-day bus excursion to Cape Reinga including drive on Ninety Mile Beach
- Hike to Haruru Falls
Landmarks Cape Reinga Ninety Mile Beach Haruru Falls 
- Day 22
Bay of Islands to Auckland
Cruise on an excursion boat through the maze of islands in Bay of Islands, where colonial development of New Zealand began in the 19th century. Visit Cape Brett with its famous Hole in the Rock formation. Watch for dolphins and keep an eye out for occasional killer whales. Stop at Urupukapuka Island to walk along white sandy Otehei Bay or climb a nearby hill for panoramic views. Drive from Bay of Islands via Whangarei back to Auckland for the night after roughly 240 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Excursion boat cruise through Bay of Islands maze of islands
- Visit to Cape Brett and Hole in the Rock
- Stop at Urupukapuka Island with walks
Landmarks Bay of Islands Cape Brett Hole in the Rock Urupukapuka Island Otehei Bay Whangarei Auckland - Day 23
Auckland
Your individual departure from Auckland.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Auckland - Day 24
Auckland to Bay of Islands
Head north over the harbor bridge on State Highway 1 through Whangarei to the subtropical Bay of Islands. Late afternoon, join a romantic Sundowner Cruise on a sailing catamaran at sunset through the bay with views of Old Russell. Return to land for an atmospheric walk along the promenade, then take the passenger ferry back to Paihia. Stay overnight near the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where a treaty between the British Crown and Maori founded New Zealand in 1840. Travel is roughly 240 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Sundowner Cruise on sailing catamaran at sunset through Bay of Islands
- Stroll through historic coastal town of Russell
Landmarks Whangarei Bay of Islands Russell Paihia Waitangi Treaty Grounds
