Itinerary
- Intro
Introduction
- Day 1
Auckland
AucklandIncluded Activities
- Auckland Sky Tower admission with access to viewing platforms
Optional Activities
- SkyWalk - outdoor loop around the tower at 192 meters
- SkyJump - controlled free fall from the tower
- Sky Lounge coffee and light meals
- Orbit Restaurant - 360-degree revolving restaurant
- Stroll through world-class museums and galleries in city center
- Peaceful retreat in the Auckland Gardens
- Walk along the vibrant waterfront
- Fresh seafood and international cuisine at Viaduct restaurants
Landmarks Sky Tower Auckland Gardens Viaduct - Day 2
Auckland
AucklandIncluded Activities
- Auckland Explorer Bus - 24-hour pass
- All Blacks Experience - guided tour and interactive zones
- Weta Workshop - 90-minute guided experience through themed environments
Optional Activities
- Auckland Gallery
- Auckland War Memorial Museum
- Holy Trinity Cathedral
- Parnell Village exploration
- SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium
Landmarks Sky Tower Auckland Gallery Newmarket Auckland War Memorial Museum Holy Trinity Cathedral Parnell Village SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium Weta Workshop - Day 3
Auckland to Paihia
Auckland to Paihia- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Bus transfer from Auckland to Paihia
- Hole in the Rock cruise with skipper-guided boat through islands
- Stop at Otehei Bay on Urepukapuka Island
Optional Activities
- Waitangi Treaty Grounds visit
- Water-based activities - sailing, dolphin watching, kayaking, fishing
- Beach relaxation in Paihia
Landmarks Hole in the Rock Cape Brett Piercy Island (Motukokako) Otehei Bay Urupukapuka Island Waitangi Treaty Grounds - Day 4
Paihia
Paihia- Meals
- Lunch (Locally prepared lunch)
Included Activities
- Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach full day tour
- Sandboarding on Ninety Mile Beach (weather permitting)
- Cape Reinga lighthouse visit
- Coffee break in historic beach town
- Afternoon tea at Ka Uri Unearthed Café and Exhibition
- Locally prepared lunch
Optional Activities
- Walk to Cape Reinga lighthouse
Landmarks Cape Reinga Ninety Mile Beach Cape Reinga Lighthouse - Day 5
Paihia to Auckland
Paihia to AucklandIncluded Activities
- Bus transfer from Paihia to Auckland
Optional Activities
- Morning exploration of Paihia
Landmarks Kawakawa Wellsford Warkworth - Day 6
Auckland to Rotorua
Auckland to Rotorua- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Waitomo Glowworm Caves guided tour
- Te Puia geothermal exploration
- Polynesian Spa Deluxe Lake Spa - soak in four alkaline rock pools
Optional Activities
- Lake Tikitapu Blue Lake Walk
- Kuirau Park - bubbling mud pools and steaming lakes
- Private thermal reserves - Te Puia and Wai-O-Tapu
- Te Pā Tū evening Māori cultural experience
- Ohinemutu - oldest Māori village
- Eat Street restaurants
- Spa treatments and wellness experiences
Landmarks Waitomo Glowworm Caves Te Puia Lake Rotorua Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) Kuirau Park Wai-O-Tapu Polynesian Spa Ohinemutu - Day 7
Rotorua
Rotorua- Meals
- Lunch (Delicious lunch in the party tent at Hobbiton), Dinner (Seasonal kai (Māori cuisine) - four-course feast including seared tuna, pāua, smoked kahawai, kumara, and wagyu dishes)
Included Activities
- Hobbiton Movie Set guided tour
- Lunch at Hobbiton party tent
- Te Pā Tū Evening Māori Cultural Experience - four-hour festival with seasonal kai and feast
Landmarks Hobbiton Movie Set Matamata Te Pā Tū - Day 8
Rotorua to Wellington
Rotorua to WellingtonIncluded Activities
- Bus transfer from Rotorua to Wellington
Optional Activities
- Zealandia eco sanctuary - native bird species observation
Landmarks Taupō Lake Taupō Tongariro National Park Mt Ruapehu Mt Ngauruhoe Kapiti Coast Zealandia Courtenay Place Te Papa - Day 9
Wellington
WellingtonIncluded Activities
- Guided tour of Te Papa - Museum of New Zealand
- Wellington Half Day Tour including Mt Victoria, Weta Cave Museum, cable car, Lady Norwood Rose Gardens, Beehive and Houses of Parliament
Optional Activities
- Cuba Street vintage shopping and trendy cafes
- Street art and underground exhibitions
Landmarks Te Papa - Museum of New Zealand Mt Victoria Weta Cave Museum Wellington Cable Car Lady Norwood Rose Gardens Beehive Houses of Parliament Cuba Street - Day 10
Wellington to Picton
Wellington to Picton- Meals
- Breakfast (Complimentary breakfast in Premium Plus Lounge), Lunch (Complimentary lunch in Premium Plus Lounge)
Included Activities
- Wellington to Picton ferry with exclusive Premium Plus Lounge access
- Complimentary drinks, light snacks, lunch or breakfast in Premium Plus Lounge
Optional Activities
- Explore Picton's cafes, restaurants and galleries
- Floating maritime museum visit
- Aquarium visit
- Queen Charlotte Track - premier walking trail
Landmarks Pencarrow Head Lighthouse Red Rocks (seal colony) Oterangi Bay Cook Strait Kaikōura Ranges Marlborough Sounds Queen Charlotte Sound Queen Charlotte Track - Day 11
Picton to Kaikōura
Picton to KaikōuraIncluded Activities
- Bus transfer from Picton to Kaikōura
Optional Activities
- Whale watching boat trips
- Swimming with black dolphins
- Bird watching - observe native albatrosses
- Kaikōura Peninsula walk
- Ohau Point - fur seal viewing
- Fyffe House - historic whaling museum
- Fish and chips from local restaurants
- Lavendyl Lavender Farm visit
Landmarks Blenheim Marlborough wine region Kaikōura Ranges Kaikōura Coast Kaikōura Peninsula Ohau Point Fyffe House Lavendyl Lavender Farm - Day 12
Kaikōura
KaikōuraIncluded Activities
- Whale Watching Kaikōura catamaran tour
Optional Activities
- Kaikōura Peninsula Hiking Trail - 5 minutes to 3 hours (various routes available)
- Hinau route - 45 minutes round trip
- Mt Fyffe hike - 1 to 8 hours round trip with multiple difficulty options
Landmarks Kaikōura Peninsula South Bay Point Kean Seaward Kaikōura Range Mt Fyffe Kowhai River - Day 13
Kaikōura to Christchurch
Kaikōura to ChristchurchIncluded Activities
- Bus transfer from Kaikōura to Christchurch
Optional Activities
- International Antarctic Center visit - experience frozen continent, see little blue penguins, Haaglund vehicle ride
- Canterbury Museum visit
- Christchurch Art Gallery visit
- Streetcar historic ride
- Avon River boat trip
- Cultural restaurant tour
- Sumner beach suburb visit
- Banks Peninsula exploration
- Lyttleton Harbour Saturday markets
Landmarks Waipara Valley International Antarctic Center Canterbury Museum Christchurch Art Gallery Christchurch Botanic Gardens Avon River Sumner Banks Peninsula Lyttleton Harbour - Day 14
Christchurch to Aoraki-Mt Cook
Christchurch to Aoraki-Mt Cook- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Small group tour from Christchurch to Aoraki-Mt Cook National Park via Lake Tekapo
- Church of the Good Shepherd viewing
- Lake Pukaki views
- Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre Museum and Theatre Explorer Pass
Optional Activities
- Scenic flight and glacier landing with Mt Cook Ski Planes
- Tasman Glacier viewing
- Short walks in and around the park
- Big Sky Stargazing Tour (gold-level dark sky reserve)
Landmarks Canterbury Plains Fairlie Lake Tekapo Church of the Good Shepherd Lake Pukaki Aoraki-Mt Cook Southern Alps Aoraki-Mt Cook National Park Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre Tasman Glacier - Day 15
Aoraki-Mt Cook
Aoraki-Mt CookIncluded Activities
- Glacier Explorers tour - boat tour on Tasman Glacier terminal lake viewing icebergs and ice cliffs
Optional Activities
- Governor Bush Hike - 1 hour round trip through silver beech forest
- Bowen Bush Walk - 10 minutes round trip through forest
- Glencoe Walk - 30 minutes round trip with village viewpoint
- Red Tarns route - 2 hours round trip with lookout views
- Kea Point hike - 1-2 hours with Mueller Glacier views
- Hooker Valley route - 1.5 to 4 hours to various destinations
Landmarks Tasman Glacier Tasman Lake Mt Cook Village Governor Bush Bowen Bush Glencoe Lodge Hooker Glacier Mueller Glacier Red Tarns Black Birch Stream Kea Point Mt Sefton Hooker Valley Alpine Memorial - Day 16
Aoraki-Mt Cook to Queenstown
Aoraki-Mt Cook to QueenstownIncluded Activities
- Day tour from Mt Cook to Queenstown
- Queenstown Skyline Gondola ride to Bob's Peak
Optional Activities
- TSS Earnslaw steamship cruise to Walter Peak Station
- Queenstown Gardens exploration
- Ben Lomond Walkaway hiking
- Queenstown Hill Walking Track
- Waterfront cafes and outdoor restaurants
Landmarks Mackenzie Country Omarama Lindis Pass Cromwell Kawarau Gorge Queenstown Queenstown Skyline Gondola Bob's Peak The Remarkables Walter Peak Cecil Peak Coronet Peak Lake Wakatipu Queenstown Gardens Ben Lomond Queenstown Hill - Day 17
Queenstown
Queenstown- Meals
- Dinner (Gourmet BBQ buffet at Colonel's Homestead Restaurant featuring seasonal New Zealand produce, succulent meats, vegetables, salads, desserts, New Zealand cheeses, tea and coffee)
Included Activities
- Wilderness Jet Experience - jetboat ride through Mount Aspiring National Park with glacier-fed rivers and 360-degree turns
- TSS Earnslaw Cruise - steamship cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm
- Walter Peak High Country Farm sheep herding demonstration
Landmarks Mount Aspiring National Park Lake Wakatipu Walter Peak High Country Farm Glenorchy - Day 18
Queenstown
Queenstown- Meals
- Lunch (Platter-style lunch at a winery restaurant with wine tasting)
Included Activities
- Boutique wine tour visiting three wine sub-regions with tastings
- Platter-style lunch at a fourth winery restaurant with wine tasting
Optional Activities
- Old Cromwell historic settlement walk
Landmarks Gibbston wine region Bannockburn wine region Cromwell wine region Old Cromwell - Day 19
Queenstown to Milford Sound
Queenstown to Milford Sound- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Milford Sound cruise and coach tour from Queenstown with luxury glass-roofed coach
- Boat cruise through Piopiotahi-Milford Sound fjord
Landmarks Lake Wakatipu Te Anau Milford Road Piopiotahi-Milford Sound - Day 20
Queenstown to Franz Josef
Queenstown to Franz JosefIncluded Activities
- Coach transfer from Queenstown to Franz Josef
Optional Activities
- Scenic flights from Franz Josef
- Helicopter glacier trekking
- Glacier hiking trails
- Forest and mountain hikes
Landmarks Lake Dunstan Lake Wanaka Lake Hawea Makarora Mount Aspiring World Heritage Park Haast Pass Southern Alps West Coast Franz Josef Glacier - Day 21
Franz Josef
Franz JosefIncluded Activities
- Franz Josef Cruise and Nature Walk on Lake Mapourika with private rainforest trail access
Landmarks Lake Mapourika Westland Tai Poutini National Park Kiwi Sanctuary - Day 22
Franz Josef to Christchurch
Franz Josef to ChristchurchIncluded Activities
- Small group tour from Franz Josef to Christchurch via Hokitika and Arthur's Pass
Optional Activities
- Hokitika greenstone mining exploration
- Hokitika beach exploration
- Photo stops along the route
- Short hikes along the way
Landmarks West Coast Hokitika Hokitika Beach Arthur's Pass Southern Alps - Day 23
Christchurch
ChristchurchLandmarks Christchurch Airport
