This 15-day trip is a comprehensive, distinctive, and diverse tour of the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The trip is designed to provide travelers with a stimulating and insightful perspective on this beautiful country, and features a wide range of activities and excursions. The mix of culture, active content, and stunning scenery will make for a truly fulfilling experience; and the comforts of top-end accommodation, the services of world-class guides, and the wonderful food throughout will make the trip an absolute pleasure for our guests.

Welcome to New Zealand!

Auckland, also known as the city of sails, is situated between two large harbors and dotted with 48 extinct Volcanic cones. New Zealand’s largest city with a population of over 1.3 million people– is home to one-third of  New  Zealanders.  The city’s  mix of  urban sophistication  and coastal  setting has inspired  a  lifestyle that regularly ranks in the world’s top 10.

Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Today we will visit Coromandel Town, and drive along the Creek Railway. The 1-hour return trip on our innovatively designed trains takes you through replanted native kauri forest and includes 2 spirals, 3 short tunnels, 5 reversing points and several large viaducts as it climbs to the mountain-top terminus.

You will enjoy a visit to a local pottery studio.

In the afternoon, choose between one of the following activities:

Cathedral Cove Classic:

Rated by NZ’s leading tour companies as one of the best sea kayaking trips in the country, the “Cathedral Cove Classic” has got it all. Paddle through incredible sea caves, explore volcanic islands in the  Marine  Reserve and enjoy a cappuccino at our independent Cathedral Cove beachfront cafe. Appreciated by travelers for over ten years the “Cathedral Cove Classic” is now seen as one of New Zealand’s premier eco-tourism attractions.

The Remote Coast tour:

The Remote Coast tour is all about getting further off the beaten track and exploring coastline that is rarely seen by other travelers. For millions of years,  enormous ocean swells have pounded the coastline and carved it  into the magnificent sea  kayakers’  paradise we  have  today.  You  will  be  amazed  by  huge  sea  caves,  tunnels  and  old volcanic islands before enjoying refreshments deep inside what we believe to be New Zealand’s most beautiful blowhole.

Today we head to Rotorua. Rotorua sits squarely on the  Pacific  Ring of  Fire,  so volcanic activity is part of the city’s  past and present. Explore the geothermal areas and discover the unique culture of  New  Zealand’s  Maori people.  Rotorua is entertaining in any weather, at any time of the year.

In the afternoon, you will experience the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour. The Hobbiton Movie Set Tour is a real must-do for every The Lord of the Rings fan travelling through New Zealand, but it really is an interesting and entertaining experience for all. Your tour starts with a drive through the picturesque working sheep farm with spectacular views across the Kaimai Ranges towards the Hobbiton Movie Set. Your experienced and knowledgeable tour guide will escort you through the ten-acre site of where the LOTR movie set used to be.

In the evening, get ready for a cultural experience. In Maori tradition, Te Po (the night) was an imperative time. It was when Ranginui (Sky Father) and Papatuanuku (Earth Mother) lay in a firm embrace. When they were separated, light permeated Te Po, and Te Ao Marama (the world of life) began. Traditionally, Te Po is an intimate time for sharing knowledge. Te Po is also Te Puia’s authentic evening cultural experience – a feast of food, culture, and friendship. It begins every night at Te-Heketanga-a-Rangi (The Heavenly Origins). Space comprises twelve monumental carvings reaching skywards, each one representing a Maori deity. Hear the stories of the past and see how these traditions live on today.

Your Waimangu Volcanic Valley walk or hike takes you on an ecology-focused adventure of the craters of this beautiful valley.  As you  walk through  the youngest  eco-systems in  the world, you will view  a  range of geothermal activity, native plants, and bird-life, an event not to be missed. At any stage of your walk, you can take our  courtesy shuttle  bus,  which regularly  circles the  valley,  back to  the  Waimangu  Visitor  Centre. Accessible for most ages and physical abilities. Open every day.

Enjoy a day at leisure, or partake in an optional Tongariro National Park Mt Ruapehu flight tour. The breathtaking views of New Zealand’s oldest National Park are stunning and unique. Thermal and Volcanic with live craters, lava flows, glaciers, lakes and more. Or fly over pioneering places in the Ruapehu District like The Bridge to Nowhere, the Raurimu Spiral. An interesting flight commentary is provided in English by the pilots and main volcanic and cultural points of interest are highlighted.

Today we depart for Wellington.

Wellington, located at the southern end of the North Island of New Zealand, has been referred to as “the coolest little capital in the world” by Lonely Planet. The city situated between a stunning and sparkling harbour and verdant, rolling hills. It is renowned for its arts, heritage, culture, and native beauty.

In the afternoon, we visit the museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. We will embark on a fun and informative tour of Te Papa’s highlights, including the natural environment, Māori culture and treasures, art, history, and the colossal squid. The tour concludes with an exhilarating ride in Our Space, a radical interactive visitor experience.

Onward to explore New Zealand’s rugged and beautiful South Island. This is where the most stunning and stark scenery of the country is found. Sheer, towering mountains. Deep fjords. Jagged glaciers. Lush forests. This segment of the trip is all about exploring the natural beauty of New Zealand!

You will board the Interislander cruise for the day, transferring to Nelson, via Picton.

On the cruise you will have access to the Kaitaki Plus, a  superior lounge designed for those who appreciate the luxury of comfort and privacy. Wander the decks and enjoy the ship’s facilities, then return to your Kaitaki Plus lounge, and an oasis of peace and calm. The lounges has comfortable seating, as well as offering daily newspapers, the latest magazines, and a variety of teas, coffees, juices and cookies, all available free of charge. Kaitaki Plus also offers complimentary beer, wine, and snacks.

Today we will explore the Abel Tasman National Park, which protects a large area of 225.3 km ² on the north coast of New Zealand’s South Island. It’s located between the two gulfs of Golden Bay and Tasman Bay, about 70 km from Nelson. The national park is famous for numerous small bays with sandy beaches and turquoise waters and his granite cliffs. That said, more than three-quarters of the national park is forested. Seabirds dominate the wildlife of the park. The park is also a home for penguins. In 1642 the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman was the first European to reach New Zealand and went to anchor here. This area became New Zealand’s smallest national park in 1942, exactly 300 years after Abel Tasman’s landing – It was established and named in honor of the discoverer.

We will embark on a full Scenic Cruise from Kaiteriteri to Totaranui and return, viewing fur seals and visiting beaches on the way. An unguided walk in the park, see lush native bush, beautiful golden beaches, hear native birdsong then pick-up time to suit your travel requirements.

The next few days, we work our way down the West Coast, through Punakaiki, Franz Josef Glacier, Fox Glacier and Mount Cook, and onwards to Queenstown. The drive and scenery are stunning.

We will stop and disembark our vehicle at points along the way to explore the stunning scenery and vistas with our guide as we traverse this route!

Today we make our way from Punakaiki to Fox Glacier, stopping and disembarking along the way to explore the stunning scenery and vistas with our guide as we traverse this route!

Today’s Milford Sound cruise is an authentic experience – it’s about feeling like a local rather than a tourist. This exclusive three-hour cruise is the longest in Milford Sound, and the 180 capacity boat is capped at 75 people, so you’ll have all the time and space you need to get up close and personal with this breathtaking region. The three onboard nature guides are experts on the area and rove the boat with microphones, taking you through the sights, sounds, wildlife (and equally wild history!) of the Sounds. With fewer people on board, you can ask more questions, delve deeper, learn and experience more – hands on. You’ll also drink pure glacial water, touch original artifacts and pounamu (greenstone) and get soaked under spectacular waterfalls (bring your swimsuit!). A genuine Kiwi BBQ included for you to enjoy during your cruise, as well as a tour of the incredible Milford Deep Underwater Observatory where you’ll go below the fiord to view unique marine life.

In the evening, enjoy a Skyline Gondola & Buffet Dinner. Scenic gondola  rides for  quick and  easy access  to  Queenstown’s  most spectacular views!  Gondola rises  450 vertical meters above Queenstown on an average incline of 37.10 to the Skyline complex on Bob’s Peak. Upon ascending and taking in the awesome view, enjoy the Taste of New Zealand buffet of legendary proportions in the Skyline Restaurant.