Itinerary
November 7 Auckland (D)
On arrival at Auckland International Airport, you will be met by your guide and be transferred to your hotel. The ‘City of Sails’, nestled between Waitemata Harbour and Manukau Harbour, boasts 49 dormant volcanoes and a population of 1.4 million. With a subtropical climate and diverse culture, Auckland offers vibrant arts, food markets, and outdoor activities. Depart your hotel and begin a sightseeing tour of the city. Highlights include the bustling downtown and waterfront areas and points of historic interest. Visit Mount Eden, an extinct volcano, for a 360-degree panoramic view of this sprawling city. Descend to Auckland’s War Memorial Museum which houses one of the world’s finest collections of Maori artifacts. Pass through quaint Parnell Village and affluent residential suburbs, then follow Tamaki Drive along the waterfront and visit the pretty North Shore via the Harbour Bridge.
November 8 Rotorua (B,D)
Departing the City of Sails, we descend into the fertile Waikato Plains. Here, take a 45-minute guided tour of the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Amidst the glow of these tiny creatures, your guide will deliver an informative and entertaining commentary, sharing stories, cultural legends, and the natural wonders of this living masterpiece. Conclude your visit with a boat trip through the Glowworm Grotto. Depart the magical Waitomo Caves and begin the drive to Middle-Earth! En route, make some stops in the countryside: at the township of Kihikihi and the “English” tree-lined town of Cambridge. Arrive at the Hobbiton movie set and be transported to the Shire, as seen in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. On a 2.5-hour tour, your guide will escort you around the 12-acre set, showing the intricate detailing, pointing out the most famous locations, and explaining how the movie magic was made.
November 9 Rotorua (B,D)
Spend the first half of your day exploring the Mt Tarawera crater. Infamous for its eruption on June 10th, 1886, Mt Tarawera created the world’s youngest geothermal valley of Waimangu. This fully guided walking experience offers unmatched scenic vistas and 360 panoramic views, encompassing the unique landscape and history of the area. Later, be guided through greenstone, wood carving and flax weaving schools at the New Zealand Māori Arts & Crafts Institute, Kiwi Conservation Centre, and Te Whakarewarewa geothermal valley including Pōhutu geyser. To cap off the day, enjoy a cultural performance in a beautifully carved meeting house.
November 10 Hawkes Bay (B,D)
Enjoy a thrilling 30-minute jet boat ride in the hands of a down-to-earth, funny professional jet boat driver who can make a jet boat do things you would never believe possible! The ride takes you along a beautiful river environment, lined with native bush, sheer rock cliff face, and natural hot springs, before reaching Huka Falls where you will have the most unique water-level vantage point for admiring the falls. Depart Taupo and head over to the east coast to the Art Deco capital of the world, Napier. Napier and its neighbour Hastings are rich farming lands supporting vast orchards, vineyards and sheep farming. Wool and fruit growing are the backbone of the region’s economy and Napier is fast gaining an international reputation for winemaking. Immerse yourself in the history of Church Road and learn more about winemaking philosophy on a Church Road Winery and Museum tour, including a tutored wine tasting.
November 11 Wellington (B,L)
Head south today, climbing out of Hawkes Bay and into rolling sheep and cattle farmland. En route, make a stop at Pukaha National Wildlife Centre, an unfenced sanctuary for native wildlife. Here, enjoy a guided tour and some free time to roam the grounds. Perhaps you’ll spot the titipounamu (rifleman), karearea (New Zealand falcon) and the kereru (wood pigeon) nestled in the forest. Later, continue on to Wellington, New Zealand’s capital. This creative, cosmopolitan city is surrounded by the rugged beauty of green hills and has an easily walkable downtown area set around an attractive waterfront. Settle into your harbourfront hotel for the evening.
November 12 Wellington (B)
Travel to the top of Mount Victoria, a site that boasts beautiful panoramic views. Visit the Botanic Gardens to see the Begonia House and Rose Gardens. From the gardens view Victoria University and the elegant houses that fill the surrounding hills. Later, visit the Museum of New Zealand for a guided tour where you’ll see Maori treasures and learn about New Zealand’s history. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore Wellington on your own.
November 13 Christchurch (B,D)
After breakfast, be transferred to the airport for your 1-hour flight to Christchurch, the “Garden City”. Upon arrival, meet your South Island guide and embark on a city tour. Visitors to Christchurch today will witness the rebirth of the city following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. The urban city centre is full of new architecture and immense street art, cocktail bars and bustling restaurants, laneways, and green public spaces. During your tour, see Mona Vale Gardens and the University of Canterbury, the Avon River, and Hagley Park. Travel to the Sign of the Takahe, a historic roadhouse where there are magnificent views of the Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps and the city of Christchurch. This evening, enjoy a progressive dinner tour! Travel on foot down weaving through laneways, gardens and hidden squares, past historic buildings and landmarks revealing gems hidden in plain sight. Stop at your guide’s favourite establishments, sharing kai (food) and tasting the region’s finest beverages. In between courses you will learn about māori and settler culture and see the city come to life at night. Soak up the local feel of Otatauhi (Te Reo Māori for Christchurch) as you enjoy its emerging foodie scene. Between stories, visit locally-loved modern New Zealand restaurants for seasonal shared plates of local produce and savour new favorite bites among dishes you probably wouldn’t order on your own.
November 14 Mt. Cook/Aoraki (B,D)
Depart Christchurch and travel across the Canterbury Plains through fields and farms. En route, stop for a farm tour and participate in a sheep shearing demonstration, dog demonstration, and feeding of lambs and deer. Along your journey to Mount Cook Village, travel across the longest bridge in New Zealand which crosses the Rakaia River, a typical New Zealand ‘braided river’ where numerous channels of water flow across a wide gravel bed. Later, enjoy the stunning drive from Lake Pukaki to Mount Cook village where you will hug the edge of the lake for most of the way up the Tasman Valley. After a long journey, catch your first glimpse of Aoraki Mount Cook, the highest and best-known mountain in New Zealand. Check in to your hotel, located right within Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Tonight, take a tour of the night sky through high-powered telescopes.
November 15 Mt. Cook/Aoraki (B)
This morning, take a 3-hour boat tour to encounter New Zealand’s largest glacier, the Tasman Glacier. Learn about the ever-changing glacial landscape as you journey across the terminal lake in custom-built MAC Boats with your experienced guides. Icebergs of every shape and size periodically tear away from the face of the glacier into the rapidly growing lake. Return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure, with the option to take a helicopter excursion at additional cost.
November 16 Queenstown (B,D)
Depart Mount Cook and head for Wanaka, a popular tourist resort on the southern shores of Lake Wanaka. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at leisure at one of the many nice cafés in the area. Afterward, embark on a boat cruise to the remote and magical Mou Waho Island nature reserve, which is predator-free and home to the rare flightless Buff Weka (extinct on the mainland since 1920). Enjoy a one-hour return guided bush walk to reveal the island’s secret – a lake right on top of the island! At the top, have High Tea overlooking the lake and drink in the vibrant birdsong and panorama of the Southern Alps spread out before you. Plant a native tree as part of your eco-experience. If you don’t wish to walk to the top, you may choose to relax and enjoy the birdlife at the beach and shelter at the island base. Later, continue your journey to Queenstown. On the way, stop at the Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge to watch bungy jumpers from the observation deck or take a jump yourself. Arrive at Queenstown: a year-round alpine resort nestled amid steep mountain ranges and pockets of native bush with the jagged peaks of the Remarkables Range rising from the lake. Check in to your hotel with time to freshen up before dinner.
November 17 Queenstown (B,L)
Embark on a day trip to experience New Zealand’s magnificent Fiordland. Make the drive to Manapouri where you will board a cruise crossing the crystal waters of Lake Manapouri to West Arm. Then, board a coach and cross the alpine route of Wilmot Pass through some of Fiordland’s most dense rainforest. On reaching Deep Cove, board a modern catamaran vessel for a cruise exploring the waterways of this serene and isolated fiord. There is plenty of time to explore points of interest and view the spectacular alpine scenery including waterfalls, rainforests, and mountains all the way out to the Tasman Sea. A Nature Guide with specialist knowledge of the region’s history, flora and fauna will provide a detailed commentary. On the return cruise, the vessel’s engines are turned off to enjoy the ‘sound of silence’ returning to Manapouri. Return to Queenstown for dinner at leisure.
November 18 Queenstown (B)
Today is at your leisure to participate in optional activities or to simply relax. Optional tours (at additional cost) include a Dart River Wilderness Jet Tour or a self-guided cycling adventure (E-bike) from Arrowtown to Gibbston Valley.
November 19 Auckland (B)
This morning, be transferred to Queenstown Airport for your 1hr 45min flight to Auckland. Meet your North Island guide and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon and evening at leisure.
November 20 Auckland (B,L,D)
This morning, board your ferry and enjoy a scenic 40-minute cruise to Waiheke Island through the beautiful Hauraki Gulf. This stunning island just off the Auckland coast boasts 92 square kilometres of beautiful beaches, vineyards, olive groves, native bush, and laid-back seaside villages. Tour along the scenic northern route of the island, taking in spectacular views of the Hauraki Gulf. Enjoy a casual lunch at a local vineyard before heading to Onetangi, a 1.87-kilometre-long, north-facing beach with beautiful old Pohutukawa trees. Make one more stop at a well-known olive oil producer on the island and taste their local product. Return the Waiheke Wharf in time to catch the ferry back to Auckland. Enjoy a farewell 3-course dinner at Harbourside Bar & Grill, just metres from your hotel.
November 21 Departure (B)
Bid farewell to beautiful New Zealand, and begin your journey home.
FAQs
Q: How active is this tour?
A: This tour is rated as “Active”. Read more about our activity levels here.
Please note: itinerary subject to change.
Check the pricing page for what is included and excluded in the tour fare.
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