Your Itinerary
Day 1: Auckland to Whakatane
Haere mai! Welcome to New Zealand. Your adventure begins in the country's largest city – Auckland, or Tamaki Makaurau in Maori. Join your group for a welcome meeting at 8 am, then set right off, heading southeast to the coastal town of Tauranga on the Bay of Plenty. Join a local Maori guide and learn about this historic area – this is one of the first spots that early voyagers landed in waka (canoes) and the site of later clashes between the British and Maori. After, take a stroll on the beach and grab lunch. Then, continue down the coast into Eastern Bay of Plenty and Whakatane, where you'll stay tonight. Settle in, then take a cruise along the Ohiwa Harbour and visit a Maori-owned and operated oyster farm.Here, you’ll learn how to shuck them yourself before tucking into a delicious kaimoana (seafood) dinner.
This morning, make your way inland towards the North Island's geothermal region. Stop at Okere Falls for a short walk with some lovely waterfall views – you may glimpse some kayakers and rafters in the rapids. After, head to iconic Rotorua, famous for its beautiful forests, adrenaline-fueled activities and Maori culture. When you get there, visit an Ohinemutu village, where the locals will welcome you into a marae (meeting house) with a Powhiri ceremony of speeches, songs and cultural rituals. After, continue to your central hotel and have the evening to relax. Your trip leader will have some great recommendations for dinner.
Today is yours to explore all Rotorua has to offer. Maybe you've been craving some heart-pounding adventure and zip lining or perhaps whitewater rafting is calling your name. Or take the chance to visit the New Zealand Maori Arts & Craft Institute at Te Puia. If that's all just too much moving about, simply relax at one of the local spas that make use of Rotorua's geothermal waters and soak in a naturally heated mineral pool.
After breakfast this morning, make your way to Orakei Korako, a lesser-known geothermal region. Stop in Taupo for lunch before making your way to New Zealand's remote and winding Forgotten World Highway – the country's oldest heritage road and home to historic pioneer settlements and dramatic gorges. If there’s time, take a short walk to the towering Mt Damper Falls. By evening, reach the Republic of Whangamomona – a self-declared micro-nation whose past ‘presidents’ have included a goat and a poodle! Learn about the region’s fascinating history before spending the night at the historic Whangamomona Hotel.
Continue the drive along the Forgotten World Highway to the rural region of Taranaki, known for its photogenic conical volcano – Mt Taranaki – black-sand beaches and strong arts culture. Take a few short walks on the volcano before making your way to New Plymouth for the afternoon. When you get there, maybe visit one of the town's art galleries or head to a local restaurant.
This morning, make your way up the coastline to the Waikato region – famous for its cave formations and glowworms. You'll get to see these remarkable bioluminescent insects up close on a private tour in the remote Spellbound Cave. Your local guide will put out all lights so you can immerse yourself in the galaxy of glowworms around you as you float through the cave on a gentle boat ride. After, head back out into the daylight and return to Auckland. Maybe head out with your group for dinner.
Your adventure continues today with an included flight from Auckland to Christchurch. When you arrive, check into your hotel and enjoy a free evening to get ready for the next leg of your trip, which kicks off early tomorrow morning. Maybe grab a bite and brew at Riverside Market, take a stroll along the historic facades of New Regent Street or have a soak under the stars in the He Puna Taimoana Hot Pools.
Today you'll have a second meeting with the new members of your group at 8 am. After your meeting, it’s time to hit the road, first heading to Hanmer Springs in the Lewis Pass National Reserve. Check out the natural hot pools surrounded by greenery as the snow dusted peaks of the Southern Alps look on. You can take a dip. Next, travel to Reefton to meet a local storyteller and learn about the town's gold mining past. Head into the town centre to then meet the 'bearded miners' for a cup of manuka enhanced black billy tea and watch the technique of gold panning. Finally, drive through the spectacular Buller Gorge to Westport and maybe end the day with a group dinner.
Start your day with a stop at the wild Cape Foulwind and admire incredible views of the mountains and rugged coastline. The headland is home to a fur seal breeding colony so keep your eyes peeled, they can easily blend in with the rocks! Continue to Charleston this morning to join a train ride in open carriages through primeval rain forest. ‘The Nile River Rainforest Train’ recreates a bygone era where bush trams once prevailed. Experience the spectacular wilderness of the Nile River Canyon in Paparoa National Park. Next up is Punakaiki, a town with less than 100 residents, but famed for its so-called Pancake Rocks. These layers of fossilised animals and plants, formed over 30 million years ago, were thrust above the surface by the moving earth and sculpted by wind and water. At high tide the sea is forced through blowholes in the limestone to burst metres into the air – it’s an entertaining sight! Continue to Kumara, a former goldrush town with an intriguing history (this little place was the home of New Zealand’s longest serving Prime Minister!). On arrival, settle into your hotel. Once the sun has gone down, be sure to look up. With very little light pollution, the stargazing in Kumara is absolutely out of this world (literally!).
Today begins with a visit to the Hokitika Gorge, one of the West Coast’s most stunning spots. Shimmering turquoise waters wreathed with lush native bush make a sight to remember. Then it’s on to the Okarito Lagoon, alive with the calls of over 70 unique species of birds. Head out on a nature walk culminating in a lookout point from which, on a clear day, you can enjoy an unbeatable view over Westland (Tai Poutini) National Park from the snow-capped Southern Alps (Ka Tiritiri o te Moana) across extensive native forest to the lagoons and beaches of the coast. Continue your journey south to the Fox Glacier township, your gateway to the dramatic and enormous Fox Glacier and your base for the evening.
Kick off the day with a gentle walk around the glittering Lake Matheson, dubbed the ‘mirror lake’ for its dark waters which perfectly reflect the towering Southern Alps – if you take one picture of your West Coast adventure, this should be it! The rest of the day is yours to make the most of what this amazing slice of the country has to offer. Perhaps head back to Franz Josef Glacier or you may want to visit a pounamu (greenstone) workshop and learn how to carve your own original piece. There’s also no shortage of interesting walks and cosy pubs if you fancy a more low-key afternoon – have a chat to your leader about your options for the day.
Make tracks for Wanaka, making plenty of interesting stops along the way. First up is Ship Creek, where you’ll take a walk through quintessentially rugged West Coast scenery. You can either walk through shady swamp forest, or explore windswept sand dunes and coastal forest. Then it’s on to Mt Aspiring National Park. Make the short walk to the incredible Thunder Creek Falls, featuring an impressive 96-metre-tall cascade. Arrive in Wanaka and enjoy an evening at leisure.
With Lake Wanaka as the star of the show and surrounding mountains only complimenting its beauty, there’s no doubt this is one of the most attractive towns in New Zealand. Today is completely free for you to enjoy the surroundings of Wanaka, and there's certainly no shortage of amazing things to see and do here, so be sure to chat to your leader for their top tips. You may like to take a pleasant bike ride along the shores of Lake Wanaka or get on the water and cruise to Mou Waho Island, where you’ll find an island in a lake on an island in a lake! There are heaps of beautiful short walks in the area, and a visit to the famous #thatwanakatree is a must. Or simply find a cosy cafe to admire the view.
Depart Wanaka this morning and drive through the magnificent scenery of the Crown Range. Arrive in Queenstown in the late morning, then a meeting will take place to welcome any new travellers joining you for the next leg of your journey. After the meeting, head to the lovely lakeside town of Te Anau – gateway to Fiordland National Park. Watch the stunning landscapes pass by as you round the bottom of Lake Wakatipu with the aptly named The Remarkables in the background. Continue to the shores of the South Island’s biggest lake, which extends into the fiords and deeply forested mountains. Tonight, there's a chance to head underground by boat and see the thousands of glowworms illuminate the subterranean caves.
The stunning, unforgettable sights of the fiords are best experienced by boat, so today you’ll set off for a memorable cruise on Milford Sound, known locally as Piopiotahi. Sail along the waters that pour out into the Tasman Sea, and look out for bottlenose dolphins and fur seals at play. Nature feels close here in the silence of the sound as you make your way past countless tumbling, misting cascades, soaring icy peaks, lush rainforest and twisting inlets. Soak up the surrounds so stunning that they feel almost fake, and breathe in the crisp mountain air. Afterwards get a different perspective of the sound, surrounded by native bush, as you take on the lookout track with your leader. There’s a bit of a climb, but the views are more than worth it to look down on the water and up at the peaks. The spectacular views keep on coming with a Mirror Lakes walk, where the peaks and greenery reflect in the clear lake waters. Return to Te Anau in time for dinner this evening – maybe seek out some local fare like venison or even lobster for dinner.
This morning it’s time to swap one side of the island for the other as you make your way to what feels like a forgotten corner of Otago – the Catlins. This untamed coastal wilderness is home to rugged cliffs, dense forest, and some spectacular hidden waterfalls. Visit Nugget Point and its lighthouse, situated on a rocky outcrop jutting out into the South Pacific Ocean, and hike through dense forest to pretty McLean Falls.
Head to the very bottom of the island and take a ferry across the Foveaux Strait to the country’s third largest landmass, remote and rugged Stewart Island. It takes about one hour to travel the 30-kilometre strait. The island is almost entirely national park, which makes its unspoiled forests, beaches and bays a haven for hikers of all abilities as well as birdwatchers – it’s home to endangered brown kiwi and the flightless Stewart Island kiwi. In the Maori language the island is known as Rakiura, which means ‘the land of glowing skies’.
Enjoy a full free day to explore the island as you discover the coast and Rakiura National Park. Optional activities include cruises on the bays and inlets spotting penguins and seabirds and walks along forested coastal tracks past early Maori settlements. Learn about the local flora and fauna, and relax on the beach for a picnic lunch. Take in the views over glistening William Bay and see if you can spot the mountains of the South Island in the distance. Return to your accommodation and enjoy the rest of the evening to relax after your full day of island exploration. Perhaps join the group for dinner at a local restaurant tonight.
Head back over to the mainland, then continue back to Queenstown. Your trip comes to an end today when you arrive back in Queenstown at approximately 2pm. If you have extra time to spend in Queenstown, make sure to get out and take advantage of the numerous adventure activities on offer. The Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu not only serve as spectacular props to get your adrenaline fix, they’re also beautiful to look at. The town is also a great base for exploring Central Otago’s excellent vineyards and historic mining towns.
