Itinerary
- Intro
Introduction
- Day 1
Auckland
Auckland- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner with drinks)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Radisson RED Auckland)
Included Activities
- City sights tour including historic Parnell, Auckland Museum and Domain, Wynyard Quarter, and Viaduct Harbour
Landmarks Auckland Museum Wynyard Quarter Viaduct Harbour - Day 2
Auckland to Rotorua
Auckland to Rotorua- Meals
- Dinner (Buffet dinner of locally sourced hāngī-inspired cuisine at Te Puia)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sudima Lake Rotorua)
Included Activities
- Te Pōi Indigenous Experience at Te Puia including cultural performance in Te Aronui a Rua meeting house, Pohutu Geyser viewing, and buffet dinner of locally sourced hāngī-inspired cuisine
Optional Activities
- Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa
- Amphibious vehicle tour of surrounding lakes
- Low impact zipline through ancient forest
Landmarks Te Puia Pohutu Geyser Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa - Day 3
Rotorua to Napier
Rotorua to Napier- Meals
- Lunch (Packed picnic lunch infused with traditional cuisine - 'Forest to Fork')
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Swiss Belhotel)
Included Activities
- Whirinaki Forest guided tour with local Māori guides sharing tribal stories and history of Ngati Manawa people - MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience
- Native rainforest trails and 1,000-year-old Totara trees
- Packed picnic lunch with traditional cuisine - 'Forest to Fork'
- Forest bathing (whakatauki) and hot kawakawa tea
Landmarks Whirinaki Forest - Day 4
Napier
Napier- Accommodation
- Hotel (Swiss Belhotel)
Included Activities
- Private walking tour of Art Deco quarter with local expert guide from Art Deco Trust - MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience
Optional Activities
- Wine tour of Hawke's Bay wineries
- Tour of the Gannet Colony, the largest nesting colony of its type in the world
Landmarks Napier Art Deco Quarter Gannet Colony - Day 5
Napier to Wairarapa
Napier to Wairarapa- Meals
- Dinner (Country fare with seasonal platter overlooking the lake at Urlar vineyard)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Copthorne Solway Park)
Included Activities
- Visit to Tui Brewery in Mangatainoka including museum, bar, and restaurant
- Wine tasting and seasonal platter at boutique Wairarapa Vineyard Urlar with hosts Tess and Brian
Landmarks Tui Brewery Urlar Vineyard - Day 6
Wairarapa to Wellington
Wairarapa to Wellington- Accommodation
- Hotel (James Cook Grand Chancellor)
Included Activities
- Greytown Honey processing factory tour and demonstration with fifth-generation beekeeper Karly - MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience
- Honey tasting session and production of your own jar of honey to take home
- Greytown exploration including Victorian architecture and boutique stores and cafes
- Wellington orientation tour including Mount Victoria peak for 360-degree harbour and city views
Landmarks Greytown Mount Victoria - Day 7
Wellington to Blenheim
Wellington to Blenheim- Accommodation
- Hotel (Scenic Hotel Marlborough)
Included Activities
- Cook Strait cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound to Marlborough
- Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre visit including Knights of the Sky and Dangerous Skies exhibitions featuring World War I and II aircraft and memorabilia
Landmarks Queen Charlotte Sound Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre - Day 8
Blenheim
Blenheim- Accommodation
- Hotel (Scenic Hotel Blenheim)
Optional Activities
- Wine tour of local vineyards
- Iconic Mail Boat cruise in Queen Charlotte Sound delivering mail and supplies with scenic views, wildlife encounters, and commentary
- Day 9
Blenheim to Christchurch
Blenheim to Christchurch- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Wyndham Garden)
Landmarks Kaikoura - Day 10
Christchurch to Lake Ohau
Christchurch to Lake Ohau- Meals
- Dinner (Family-style dinner at Lake Ohau Lodge)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Lake Ohau Lodge)
Included Activities
- Christchurch city sights exploration
- Church of the Good Shepherd viewing at Lake Tekapo
- Afternoon tea at Angie and Stan Taylor's lakeside home with Pavlova Queen demonstration and farming stories
- Family-style dinner at Lake Ohau Lodge
Landmarks Church of the Good Shepherd Lake Tekapo - Day 11
Lake Ohau to Queenstown
Lake Ohau to Queenstown- Accommodation
- Hotel (Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown Lakefront)
Included Activities
- Jones Family fruit stall visit in Cromwell
- Highlands Motorsport Park Museum exploration in Cromwell
- Arrowtown exploration
- Burger at world-famous Fergburger in Queenstown
Landmarks Highlands Motorsport Park Museum Arrowtown Fergburger - Day 12
Queenstown
Queenstown- Accommodation
- Hotel (Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown Lakefront)
Optional Activities
- High-octane jet boat ride
- Wildlife centre visit to discover New Zealand's birds
- Historic TSS Earnslaw cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm with guided farm tour and morning or afternoon tea
Landmarks Lake Wakatipu Walter Peak High Country Farm - Day 13
Queenstown to Milford Sound
Queenstown to Milford Sound- Meals
- Dinner (Three-course buffet meal preceded by hors d'oeuvres aboard Milford Mariner), Breakfast (Cooked breakfast aboard Milford Mariner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Milford Mariner)
Included Activities
- Journey through Devil's Staircase to Te Anau
- Scenic drive through World Heritage-listed Fiordland National Park viewing glaciers, mountain ranges, and Mirror Lake
- Transit through hand-hewn Homer Tunnel
- Overnight cruise aboard iconic Milford Mariner
- Milford Mariner cruise with viewing of waterfalls, rainforest, mountains, Fur Seals, and sea birds
- Kayak or tender exploration of Milford Sound shoreline
- Specialist nature guide commentary
Landmarks Devil's Staircase Te Anau Fiordland National Park Mirror Lake Homer Tunnel Milford Sound - Day 14
Milford Sound to Wanaka
Milford Sound to Wanaka- Accommodation
- Hotel (Wanaka Hotel)
Landmarks Lake Wānaka - Day 15
Wānaka to Fox Glacier Township
Wānaka to Fox Glacier Township- Accommodation
- Hotel (Heartland Fox Glacier)
Optional Activities
- Scenic flight over Fox and Franz Josef Glacier (Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere) with possible glacier landing if weather permits
Landmarks Lake Hawea Makarora Haast Pass Franz Josef Glacier (Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere) - Day 16
Fox Glacier Township to Christchurch
Fox Glacier Township to Christchurch- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner with Travel Director)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Wyndham Garden)
Included Activities
- Drive through Hokitika
- Scenic drive through Southern Alps and Arthur's Pass
- Farewell dinner with Travel Director
Optional Activities
- Scenic flight over Fox and Franz Josef Glacier (Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere) with possible glacier landing if weather permits
Landmarks Hokitika Arthur's Pass - Day 17
Christchurch
Christchurch
