Remarkable New Zealand

Haere mai – Welcome! Upon arrival into Auckland you will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel. The rest of the day and your first evening offer free time for you to explore the local area and find somewhere for dinner.

Auckland – Coromandel Peninsula – Whitianga. Today we leave Auckland behind and drive across the fertile Hauraki Plains to the Firth of Thames – a large shallow bay that is home to a variety of birdlife. We ride the Driving Creek Railway, climbing 120-metres through native forest on this narrow-gauge railway to the EyeFull Tower – a viewpoint with panoramic views over the surrounding area. After our railway ride, we journey east across the Coromandel Peninsula, sampling yet more of the region's spectacular scenery. Reaching the town of Whitianga on Mercury Bay, the evening is at leisure.

Enjoy a free day on the Coromandel Peninsula, exploring all that it has to offer at your own pace. Pay a visit to Hot Water Beach, where warm springs bubble up through the sand. Opt for a walk along the sandy beach at Hahei or visit the beach named after James Cook who arrived in Mercury Bay aboard HMS Endeavor in 1769. Cooks Beach is today a popular holiday retreat for Kiwis, and is sure to amaze you.

From Cooks Beach you can choose to catch the short ferry ride back to Whitianga and walk to our accommodation or travel back with our driver.

Whitianga – Rotorua. Departing Whitianga, we follow the Pacific Coast Highway through the coastal towns of Whangamata and Tauranga before turning inland. We visit a bushwalk with views over majestic Okere Falls before reaching Rotorua, the epicentre of Maori heritage and New Zealand’s geothermal activity. We enjoy an included visit to Te Puia with a private local guide. This active geothermal site is also the nation’s centre for indigenous arts and crafts, as well as a Kiwi conservation project. You may be able to catch a glimpse of New Zealand’s endangered but iconic national emblem.

Your choice of activity today must be made at the time of booking. Please let our Reservations team know which included activity you would like to partake in.

Today we have a choice between two different activities. Option 1 is a visit to the Waimangu Volcanic Valley which is the site of the Mt Tarawera eruption in 1886. This monumental event reshaped the landscape permanently, giving rise to the valley we explore today. As we wander through we encounter bubbling craters and brilliantly coloured steaming lakes. We embark on a cruise across Lake Rotomahana to the location of the silica terraces where we witness the gradual formation of new silica terraces.

Option 2 is a Middle-earth experience with a visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set where we explore the iconic Shire. Our guide will walk us through the ten-acre site, sharing insights on how the movie set was brought to life. We get to see the Hobbit holes, Green Dragon Inn, The Millhouse, and other film structures, witnessing the transformation of this beautiful Waikato farmland into Middle-earth's Shire.

In the evening we head to the Tamaki Maori Village for Te Pa Tu. The experience aligns with the Maori lunar calendar, offering Maori traditions, songs, and seasonal cuisine within the forest village. We enjoy a 4-course fusion feast designed by Maori chefs and served outdoors or in the dining room, depending on the weather.

Return hotel transfers are included, and we join other travellers for this enriching experience.

Rotorua – Napier. This morning we head south, stopping to visit Huka Falls and passing vast Lake Taupo. If clear skies permit, from here we should be able to see the peaks of Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro, where lays the volcanic terrain that acted as the backdrop of ‘Mordor’ in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. We continue our journey to Napier, a joyful seaside town that was rebuilt in Art Deco style after a 1931 earthquake. We enjoy a walking tour of the colourful town with a local guide.

This evening we are treated to dinner with a glass of wine at the Mission Estate Winery. First set up by missionaries in the mid-19th century, today these vineyards produce award-winning wines and offer sweeping views over Napier.

Napier – Wellington. This morning we make our way to New Zealand’s capital city - Wellington. We ride the Wellington Cable Car for incredible views over the city and enjoy an included visit to the Te Papa Museum, the country's national museum. Here you will learn more about the history, culture and wildlife of New Zealand. The evening is at leisure.

Wellington – Nelson. Today we embark on one of the world's most scenic ferry rides, as we say goodbye to the North Island and cross the Cook Strait. The boats are often accompanied by dolphins riding the bow wave, a joyful experience. Arriving in Picton on the South Island, we head to Blenheim in the heart of Marlborough wine country. There's included wine tasting at one of the area's best wineries before we complete our journey to the delightful town of Nelson.

We spend today soaking up the beauty of Abel Tasman National Park, with its golden coves, turquoise lagoons and forested ranges. Since there are few roads in this national park, we explore it by boat. Boarding a small cruiser at Kaiteriteri, we enjoy a morning on the water, passing Split Apple Rock and watching for fur seals along the coastline. We also visit the golden sands of Anchorage and other scenic bays before returning to Nelson in the afternoon.

Nelson - Kaikōura. Leaving Nelson, we travel through farmland and vineyards in Marlborough before heading down the spectacular Pacific coastline to Kaikōura – where the mountains meet the sea. This town is world-famous for its marine life, and today we enjoy one of two included excursions.

Option 1: is a Whale Watch cruise, where we set out by catamaran in search of the resident giant sperm whales, as well as dolphins, seals and seabirds.

Option 2: is Wings Over Whales, a 30-minute scenic flight offering a bird’s-eye view of Kaikoura’s coastline, mountains and the marine life that thrives offshore.

Kaikōura - Christchurch. This morning, we follow the dramatic coastline south, with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean before climbing over the Hundalee Ranges and passing through the rural countryside of North Canterbury. Arriving in Christchurch, we explore the city in classic style.

We take to the River Avon on traditional punts, guided by boatmen in Edwardian dress. Afterwards, we enjoy a ride on a beautifully restored heritage tram through the heart of the city – a chance to see how Christchurch has blended its heritage with modern innovation.

Christchurch - Fox Glacier. Today, we cross the Southern Alps aboard the world-famous TranzAlpine train, regarded as one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world. From the Canterbury Plains, the line climbs into Arthur’s Pass National Park, offering views of deep river gorges and snow-dusted peaks.

Rejoining our coach at Arthur’s Pass, we continue to the West Coast, stopping in Hokitika, known for its greenstone carving and artisan shops. Following the coast south, we arrive at Franz Josef before continuing to our overnight stop in the village of Fox Glacier.

This morning, we visit nearby Lake Matheson for a gentle stroll. On calm days the lake offers perfect mirror views of Aoraki/Mount Cook – New Zealand’s tallest mountain.

We then journey over the Haast Pass into Mount Aspiring National Park, a landscape of rivers, waterfalls and alpine scenery. By late afternoon we reach the lakeside resort town of Wanaka, where the evening is free to enjoy at leisure.

Today offers a choice of two included activities.

Option 1 is an eco tour, beginning with a cruise across Lake Wanaka to a predator-free island. Here we hike through lush native bush to a hidden mountaintop lake and enjoy panoramic views across the lake and surrounding peaks. Look out for the rare flightless Buff Weka, reintroduced here after disappearing from mainland New Zealand.

Option 2 is a 4WD high-country adventure, exploring a working sheep and cattle station. We travel remote back roads, learn about the history of farming in the region, and enjoy incredible views across Lake Wanaka.

The afternoon is at leisure to relax or explore Wanaka at your own pace.

Wanaka - Te Anau. Departing Wanaka, we stop for a photo at the historic Cardrona Pub before continuing to the gold rush village of Arrowtown. Following the road alongside Lake Wakatipu and through the Remarkables mountain range, we arrive in Te Anau – the gateway to Fiordland National Park.

This afternoon we enjoy the Fiordland Jet experience, travelling by jet-boat along the Waiau River to Lake Manapouri. Surrounded by forest and mountains, this is one of the most scenic jet-boat rides in New Zealand.

We also visit Woodstone Farm, where we gain an insight into New Zealand’s farming heritage. A restored woolshed, sheep-shearing demonstration and working farm dogs bring rural life to life.

Te Anau - Milford Sound - 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.

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.

Queenstown - Mt. Cook - 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, then stay overnight in the small town of Twizel.

Twizel - Christchurch. Today we visit a local home on the shore of Lake Tekapo. We learn how to make a traditional Kiwi pavlova and can taste our creation whilst overlooking the lake. We also visit the Church of the Good Shephard, which is one of the most photographed spots in New Zealand. The Southern Alps tower n the background, making for quite the photograph.

Passing through the rural towns of Fairlie, Geraldine and Ashburton, we finally reach Christchurch. The city has been rebuilt following cataclysmic earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, and is once more a modern, thriving city.

Today your adventure in New Zealand comes to an end. A transfer takes you to Christchurch Airport for your flight home.