Itinerary
- Intro
Introduction
- Day 1
Auckland
Auckland- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Hotel Grand Chancellor)
Optional Activities
- Stroll around Auckland city centre and wharf
- Visit Sky Tower for bird's eye view of the city
Landmarks Sky Tower Tamaki Drive Mission Bay - Day 2
Auckland - Matamata - Lake Okataina
Auckland - Matamata - Lake Okataina- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Lakes Lodge Wilderness Retreat - Okataina Rotorua)
Included Activities
- Auckland city tour including Tamaki Drive and Mission Bay
- Hobbiton movie set guided tour (two hours)
Landmarks Tamaki Drive Mission Bay Hobbiton Movie Set Kaimai Ranges - Day 3
Murupara - Whirinaki Forest
Murupara - Whirinaki Forest- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Buffet lunch featuring traditional Hangi (Māori earth oven) food)
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Lakes Lodge Wilderness Retreat - Okataina Rotorua)
Included Activities
- Māori cultural experience with ToeToe family
- Viewing of ancient Māori rock carvings
- Haka performance
- Viewing of Māori weaponry
- Māori performance art
- Traditional Hangi experience and buffet lunch
- Kawakawa tea (native medicine plant brew)
- Visit to carved ancestral meeting house
- Guided walk through Whirinaki Native Rainforest
Landmarks Whirinaki Native Rainforest - Day 4
Rotorua - Wai-O-Tapu - Taupo - Napier
Rotorua - Wai-O-Tapu - Taupo - Napier- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Quality Inn)
Included Activities
- Wai-O-Tapu geothermal park self-guided tour
- Huka Falls visit
- Lake Taupo exploration
- Napier walking tour (Tour Leader-led)
Landmarks Wai-O-Tapu Huka Falls Lake Taupo Hawke's Bay - Day 5
Napier
Napier- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Quality Inn)
Included Activities
- 4WD vehicle coastal exploration tour
- Gannet Safari at private nature reserve
- Hawke's Bay vineyard tour and wine tasting
Landmarks Hawke's Bay - Day 6
Napier - Pūkaha - Wellington
Napier - Pūkaha - Wellington- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Bay Plaza Hotel)
Included Activities
- Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre guided visit
- Wellington orientation tour (Tour Leader-led)
Optional Activities
- Visit Te Papa National Museum
Landmarks Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre Te Papa National Museum - Day 7
Wellington
Wellington- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Bay Plaza Hotel)
Optional Activities
- Cable car ride from Lambton Quay
- Visit the Observatory
- Stroll through Botanic Gardens
- Visit Parliament Buildings and the Beehive
- Explore museums and art galleries
- Browse boutique shops around Cuba Street
- Visit Zealandia wildlife sanctuary
- Guided day or night tours at Zealandia
- Harbourside walk
Landmarks Lambton Quay Botanic Gardens Parliament Buildings Cuba Street Zealandia - Day 8
Wellington to Picton
Wellington to Picton- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast box or limited selection served early)
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Jasmine Court)
Included Activities
- Cook Strait ferry crossing
- Picton orientation tour (Tour Leader-led)
Optional Activities
- Scenic boat tour of Queen Charlotte Sound
- Water taxi to Kaipupu Sanctuary island nature reserve
Landmarks Cook Strait Marlborough Sounds Queen Charlotte Sound Kaipupu Sanctuary - Day 9
Marlborough Sounds - Queen Charlotte Track
Marlborough Sounds - Queen Charlotte Track- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Jasmine Court)
Included Activities
- Marlborough Sounds boat excursion
- Motuara Island visit
- Queen Charlotte Track walk (approximately 11 km / 7 miles, approximately 4 hours)
Landmarks Marlborough Sounds Motuara Island Queen Charlotte Track - Day 10
Picton to Christchurch
Picton to Christchurch- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Bealey Quarter)
Included Activities
- Kaikōura orientation walk (Tour Leader-led)
- Seal Colony visit
Optional Activities
- Farewell dinner (not included)
Landmarks Kaikōura Seaward Kaikōura Range - Day 11
Christchurch
Christchurch- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Bealey Quarter)
Optional Activities
- City centre stroll
- Visit Hagley Park
- Visit Christchurch Botanical Gardens
- Explore New Regent Street
- Visit Riverside Market
- Visit Little High Eatery
- Explore craft beer scene
Landmarks Hagley Park Christchurch Botanical Gardens New Regent Street Riverside Market Little High Eatery Avon River - Day 12
Christchurch - Arthur's Pass National Park - Hokitika - Fox Glacier
Christchurch - Arthur's Pass National Park - Hokitika - Fox Glacier- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Heartland Hotel)
Included Activities
- Arthur's Pass National Park visit
- Otira Viaduct Lookout visit
Optional Activities
- Devil's Punchbowl Falls walk (approximately 2 km, weather and time dependent)
- Scenic helicopter flight over Fox Glacier
Landmarks Arthur's Pass National Park Otira Viaduct Lookout Devil's Punchbowl Falls Hokitika Fox Glacier Southern Alps Westland Tai Poutini National Park - Day 13
Fox Glacier - Lake Matheson - Haast Valley - Wanaka
Fox Glacier - Lake Matheson - Haast Valley - Wanaka- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Lodge (Te Wanaka Lodge)
Included Activities
- Lake Matheson visit
- Fox Glacier walking track
- Haast Pass visit
- Wanaka orientation tour (Tour Leader-led)
Optional Activities
- Thunder Creek Falls walk
- Fantail Falls walk
- Roaring Billy Falls walk
Landmarks Lake Matheson Fox Glacier Aoraki/Mount Cook Haast Valley Haast Pass Thunder Creek Falls Fantail Falls Roaring Billy Falls Mount Aspiring National Park Makaroa - Day 14
Wanaka
Wanaka- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Lodge (Te Wanaka Lodge)
Optional Activities
- Jet boat ride
- Wilderness walk through moss-covered forest with waterfalls and glacier-fed streams
- Boat tour to Mou Waho Island Nature Reserve
- Visit Stevenson Island
- Guided nature expert tour of islands
- Unguided island exploration
- Various walking trails (one-hour to full-day options)
Landmarks Lake Wanaka Mount Aspiring Mou Waho Island Nature Reserve Stevenson Island - Day 15
Wanaka - Arrowtown - Queenstown - Te Anau
Wanaka - Arrowtown - Queenstown - Te Anau- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Distinction Luxmore Hotel Te Anau)
Included Activities
- Arrowtown visit
- Queenstown foreshore and town walk
- Lake Te Anau boat crossing
- Glowworm caves tour (including boat through cave system)
Landmarks Arrowtown Lake Wakatipu Queenstown Lake Te Anau Te Anau Glowworm Caves Fjordland National Park - Day 16
Te Anau - Milford Sound
Te Anau - Milford Sound- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch on board the cruise boat)
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Distinction Luxmore Hotel Te Anau)
Included Activities
- Milford Road scenic drive
- Milford Sound cruise with nature guide commentary
- Milford Sound Lookout Track walk
- Mirror Lakes visit
- Lake Gunn visit
- Picnic lunch on board the cruise boat
Landmarks Milford Road Milford Sound Fjordland National Park Milford Sound Lookout Track Mirror Lakes Lake Gunn - Day 17
Te Anau to Dunedin
Te Anau to Dunedin- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Kingsgate Hotel Dunedin)
Included Activities
- Dunedin arrival and free time
Optional Activities
- Afternoon wildlife cruise to see albatrosses and marine mammals
- Explore Dunedin cafes and microbreweries
- Visit Baldwin Street (one of the world's steepest residential streets)
- Explore Dunedin's central business district
Landmarks Dunedin Otago Peninsula Royal Albatross Centre Baldwin Street - Day 18
Dunedin - Larnach Castle - Moeraki Boulders - Omarama Cliffs - Twizel
Dunedin - Larnach Castle - Moeraki Boulders - Omarama Cliffs - Twizel- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at the hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Distincton Mackenzie Country Hotel)
Included Activities
- Larnach Castle visit (self-guided)
- Moeraki Boulders walk
- Omarama Clay Cliffs visit
- Dinner at hotel
Landmarks Larnach Castle Moeraki Boulders Moeraki Beach Omarama Clay Cliffs Twizel Mackenzie County - Day 19
Twizel - Mount Cook National Park - Lake Pukaki - Lake Tekapo - Christchurch
Twizel - Mount Cook National Park - Lake Pukaki - Lake Tekapo - Christchurch- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Bealey Quarter)
Included Activities
- Lake Pukaki visit
- Lake Tekapo visit
- Church of the Good Shepherd visit
- Final dinner (arranged by tour leader)
Optional Activities
- Helicopter ride over Aoraki/Mount Cook (weather dependent)
- Walking trails in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park (short 30-minute trails available)
Landmarks Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Aoraki/Mount Cook Lake Pukaki Lake Tekapo Church of the Good Shepherd Southern Alps - Day 20
Christchurch
Christchurch
