• Return economy airfares from Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne included. (other cities available on request)
• City sightseeing tour in Auckland and visit Auckland Museum
• Delve into Māori life at Tamaki Māori Village and enjoy a powerful cultural performance and feast, Te Pā Tū
• A private guide around Te Puia’s geothermal valley with geysers, mud pools and hot springs
• Visit a volcanic valley and explore the site of a buried village devastated by an 1886 eruption
• Redwood Forest Treewalk on elevated suspension bridges
• Fly from Rotorua to South Island’s Christchurch
• Relax as you’re guided along Christchurch’s Avon River on an authentic Edwardian punt
• A heritage tram pass for self-exploring Christchurch
• Journey on the famous TranzAlpine Scenic Train from Christchurch to Greymouth
• Discover tranquil Lake Matheson
• Choose between – Lake Wānaka cruise with eco-guided island tour – or – an off-road 4WD safari through a High Country farm
• Explore the historic gold rush village of Arrowtown
• Jet boat adventures on Lake Te Anau and the Waiau River
• Visit a working Southland farm with sheep-shearing and dog-mustering demonstrations
• Scenic journey, with photo stops, into Fiordland National Park
• Scenic Cruise, with a picnic lunch, on the breathtaking Milford Sound
• Free day to enjoy Queenstown’s sights and activities
• Visit Mt Cook Village with time to explore or enjoy optional activities
• Enjoy true Kiwi hospitality with morning tea at a local home on the shores of Lake Tekapo

Day 1 Auckland

Haere mai – welcome! Arrive in Auckland where you will be met and transferred to your accommodation. Spend the afternoon and evening at your leisure exploring the ‘City of Sails’.

Accommodation: M Social, Auckland

Day 2 Auckland to Rotorua

This morning, enjoy an Auckland City tour, including panoramic views from Bastion Point, the informative Māori and Pacific Islands displays at the Auckland Museum, quaint Parnell Village, and some of the most popular waterfront areas. Departing Auckland, we travel to Rotorua – the heart of New Zealand’s famous thermal and cultural region. On arrival, we will enjoy a city tour, before checking into our central accommodation. This afternoon we have some time out to relax before travelling to a local Marae (Māori Village).

This evening visit Tamaki Māori Village for Te Pā Tū. The evening experience and feast is aligned to and changes with the maramataka (Māori lunar calendar). Feast on Māori song, tradition, and divine seasonal kai (cuisine) within the forest Pā (village) amidst towering Tawa trees, blazing bonfires, and forest-formed amphitheatre. Hākari (feasting) begins with forest horotai (canapes) and culminates in a lavish four-course fusion feast. Hāngī is featured in varied seasonal menus designed by Māori chefs served to table, al fresco when warm, or in the wharekai (dining room) if cooler.

During summer months, Tū Te Rā celebrates harvest and concepts concerning ancient Māori warfare and peace. Over winter months, Tū Te Ihi celebrates the Matariki star cluster with mystical ritual, energy, and passion. Return hotel transfers included – other travellers will be on board.

Accommodation: Millennium Hotel, Rotorua

Meals Included – Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3 Rotorua to Christchurch

Rotorua is the epicentre not only of New Zealand’s geothermal activity but of Māori heritage. No visit to Rotorua would be complete without a stop at Te Puia, where we explore its active geothermal sites, experience the nation’s centre for indigenous arts and crafts, and learn about Kiwi conservation projects. At Te Puia, it’s part of their culture to welcome, guide, entertain, and treat you like part of the family. Next travel out to the Redwood Forest and enjoy a Redwood Treewalk Day Walk, consisting of 28 suspension bridges traversing between 22 Californian coastal redwoods that are 120-years old. The elevated walkways give walkers a unique view of the native undergrowth below from up to 12 metres above the ground. At 700-metres long, the walkway allows plenty of time to appreciate the beauty of the forest, offering a perspective quite different from what you experience on the ground.

This afternoon fly to Christchurch. Join punting boatmen, resplendent with straw boaters and traditional Edwardian dress, for a relaxing cruise in flat-bottomed punts along the River Avon through the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Afterwards, enjoy a journey in style onboard a beautifully restored heritage tram through the changing face of Christchurch’s city centre.

Accommodation: Distinction Hotel, Christchurch

Meals Included – Breakfast

Day 4 Christchurch to Fox Glacier

From Christchurch, traverse the Southern Alps aboard the famous TranzAlpine rail journey to Arthurs Pass. From your carriage you’ll see the fields of the Canterbury Plains and farmland, followed by the spectacular gorges and river valleys of the Waimakariri River. Your train then climbs into the Southern Alps. On arrival in Arthurs Pass, reboard your coach to continue the journey to the West Coast. Pass through historic towns reaching Hokitika and its galleries specialising in pounamu (greenstone) jewellery and art works. Continue south through forests and farmland, with views of the Alps to the east and the Tasman Sea to the west, to Franz Josef, then on to the small remote village of Fox. The huge rivers of snow and ice of the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers flow from vast snowfields high in the Southern Alps, down almost to sea level.

Accommodation: Te Weheka Retreat, Fox Glacier

Meals Included – Breakfast

Day 5 Fox Glacier to Wānaka

Have your camera ready for your visit to nearby Lake Matheson for a morning stroll – when conditions are right the lake perfectly mirrors beautiful Mt. Cook in its still waters. Head over the Haast Pass along the river road beside the icy river and deep into Mt. Aspiring National Park. The atmosphere lightens as we reach lovely Lake Wānaka, reflecting the mountain peaks that in winter offer superb skiing, and the pretty resort town of Wānaka.

Accommodation: Edgewater Resort, Wānaka

Meals Included – Breakfast

Day 6 Wānaka

This morning you have the choice of two excursions:

Lake Cruise & Island Nature Walk – Join a passionate local eco-guide as you depart Wānaka by boat and cruise to the predator-free Mou Waho Island. From the beach landing, a walking track climbs steadily through native vegetation, alive with birdsong, leading to the island’s secret – a hidden lake, complete with its own tiny islands. The 3km return track is uneven in places however hiking poles are provided and the guide moves at the pace of the group, with breaks and seating at regular intervals. Upon reaching the lake you can relax or even swim, or choose to continue a little further to the summit for sweeping 360-degree views of Lake Wānaka, its surrounding mountains, and the Arethusa Pool below. Take part in the island’s future by planting a native tree, leaving your mark on this important conservation refuge.

OR

Rugged Off-Road 4WD Safari – The perfect mix of incredible scenery, history, heritage, and farming life. Explore remote and seldom travelled back roads of an authentic New Zealand High Country farm overlooking sparkling Lake Wānaka. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, glaciers and wild river valleys, you’ll see farm animals including Red Deer, cattle, and sheep, up close and in their natural environment. Visit historical sites and experience what life was like for Wānaka’s first farmers. With two optional walks through pristine alpine meadows and ancient lakeside forests, this journey offers a unique insight into Wānaka’s rich history, heritage, modern-day farming life, and breathtaking scenery.

This afternoon is at your leisure to relax or enjoy your own choice of activities.

Accommodation: Edgewater Resort, Wānaka

Meals Included – Breakfast

Day 7 Wānaka to Te Anau

Depart Wānaka, with your first stop at the much-photographed Cardrona Pub, before traversing the Crown Range Road to visit historic Arrowtown – a delightful gold rush village nestled below the beautiful peaks that surround the sparkling Arrow River. Continue your journey via the road pinned between the base of the Remarkables mountain range and spectacular Lake Wakatipu. Journey through a glacial-formed valley that is now farmland, to reach Lake Te Anau, the largest (by volume) freshwater lake in the South Island and gateway to Fiordland National Park. On arrival in Te Anau, discover the wild beauty of Fiordland by jet boat. Journey from the glistening lakefront in Te Anau to the quiet banks of the Waiau River, travelling the waters as far as the deserted shores of Lake Manapouri. Visit a 220-acre working farm, featuring a fully restored 100-year-old woolshed, for an authentic Southland experience. Meet a local farmer and gain insight into New Zealand’s agricultural heritage, and enjoy a sheep-shearing and dog-mustering demonstration.

Accommodation: Distinction Hotel Luxmore, Te Anau

Meals Included – Breakfast

Day 8 Te Anau to Milford Sound to Queenstown

The journey from Te Anau to Milford Sound is one of the most scenic experiences you can have on four wheels. Fiordland National Park, part of the Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Area, is one of the great wilderness areas of the Southern Hemisphere. The scenery is spectacular with lofty mountains and deep valleys carved out by Ice Age glaciers. Described by Rudyard Kipling as the ‘eighth wonder of the world’, Milford Sound is breathtaking in any weather. Board a comfortable vessel for a cruise past towering Mitre Peak to the Tasman Sea. Keep an eye peeled for seals and dolphins which are often seen in the waters of the fiord. Following the cruise, retrace your journey back to Te Anau, travelling via the Cleddeau Gorge, Homer Tunnel, and the lovely Eglinton Valley, then across the Southland farmlands and around spectacular Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown.

Accommodation: Scenic Suites, Queenstown

Meals Included – Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9 Queenstown

Surrounded by majestic mountains and set on the shores of crystal-clear Lake Wakatipu, the natural beauty and the unique energy of Queenstown create the perfect backdrop for a visit full of adventure, exploration, or relaxation. Today is free for you to do your own thing: thrill-seekers may choose to zip-line at Bob’s Peak, get drenched on a Shotover jet-boat ride or go white-water rafting. Other enjoyable but less hair-raising activities include the gondola ride up to Bob’s Peak, or a 4WD safari to Skippers Canyon. Boutique wineries and local gardens welcome visitors, and the classic steamship TSS Earnslaw is an elegant way to discover Lake Wakatipu during a cruise to Walter Peak High Country Farm.

Accommodation: Scenic Suites, Queenstown

Meals Included – Breakfast

Day 10 Queenstown to Mt. Cook to Twizel

Continue north through the rugged Kawarau Gorge, past pretty Lake Dunstan, and across the distinctive Central Otago countryside to the Lindis Pass. Descend into the unique Mackenzie Basin, where the Southern Alps dominate the horizon. Take a beautiful drive along Lake Pukaki to Mt. Cook Village, home to New Zealand’s tallest peak, Aoraki/Mt. Cook. We stay overnight in the rural town of Twizel.

Accommodation: Distinction Mackenzie Country Hotel, Twizel

Meals Included – Breakfast

Day 11 Twizel to Christchurch

Visit a local home set on the shores of Lake Tekapo and learn the secrets of making a Pavlova – a truly Kiwi dessert! For morning tea, enjoy the taste of your pavlova as you drink in the views of this beautiful lake. View the Church of the Good Shepherd, one of New Zealand’s most-photographed spots; a tiny church set against a majestic backdrop of the Southern Alps. Pass across the high country’s tussock plains, through the small rural towns of Fairlie and Geraldine, and onto Ashburton. From here travel across the fertile Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. This most English of New Zealand cities suffered a succession of terrible earthquakes in 2010/11. Post-earthquake the city combines urban regeneration and innovation with heritage, culture, and creativity. This is the final part of our journey together, so tonight we enjoy a relaxed farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Accommodation: Distinction Hotel, Christchurch

Meals Included – Breakfast, Dinner

Day 12 Depart Christchurch

Haere rā – farewell from New Zealand. After breakfast you are transferred to the Christchurch Airport for your return home, taking with you your fond memories of your time in New Zealand. Alternatively, should you wish to extend your stay, we can assist you with additional travel arrangements.

Meals Included – Breakfast