About This Trip

Itinerary

• Day 1

  Day 1 Arrival in Auckland | Arrival Auckland in the morning. Meet & greet at the airport by your guide and transfer to your central city hotel. In the afternoon, visit Auckland by coach. As the economic capital of New Zealand, Auckland is home to a third of the country’s population. Steel and glass towers might dominate the city centre, but less than an hour away, you will find deserted beaches and nature tracks surrounded by primeval forests. Option to visit Auckland Museum for an introduction to New Zealand natural history and Maori culture. Dinner at the revolving Orbit restaurant, while you embrace a 360° panorama over the city and the harbour, high above street level. Accommodation 1 night in Auckland.

• Day 2

  Day 2 Rotorua's Geothermal Wonders | Travel South to New Zealand richest farming region: Waikato. Suggested lunch in a farm in Tirau. Option to visit Hobbiton movie set (The Lord of the Rings) located in the picturesque district of Matamata, with rolling hills and green pastures. As you arrive Rotorua, take a panoramic tour of this popular tourist destination located at the heart of one of the world’s most active volcanic region. Sulphur smells and fumaroles are omnipresent around the lake, and Maori culture is in the forefront. Guided tour at Te Puia. You will see the typical architecture at the marae, the geothermal geysers and other geothermal display in Te Whakarewarewa thermal valley, visit the Maori Arts & Crafts institute, and you may have the opportunity to view kiwi birds in the nocturnal enclosure. Cultural evening at Mitai village, where you will be initiated to the Maori traditions with a musical performance followed by a hangi dinner feast. A night walk in the forest to view the native glow worms will close the evening before the transfer back to the hotel. Accommodation 1 night in Rotorua.

• Day 3

  Day 3 Fly to Queenstown - Adventure Capital | Walk through Wai-O-Tapu, a stunning wonderland of natural volcanic display, smoking craters, boiling mud and colourful acidic pools. Late morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Queenstown. Arrive Queenstown in the afternoon. Transfer to the hotel and rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation 3 nights in Queenstown Queenstown is known as the Adventure Capital of New Zealand. Located on the shore of Lake Wakatipu, it is surrounded by majestic mountains and a very popular destination year-round. In search of adrenalin rush? Name it and you will find it here: bungy jumping, jet-boat, rafting, skydiving, winter sports… But Queenstown can also be a sophisticated city, with excellent restaurants and shopping.

• Day 4

  Day 4 Milford Sound & Fiordland National Park | Early start for a full day exploring Fiordland National Park, one of the world’s most wondrous sites. New Zealand’s largest national park is listed as World Heritage by the Unesco. High peaks quite often wrapped in snow, thick rainforest with ancient trees and mosses, glacial valleys with fast-flowing torrents, and 13 protected fiords are a sanctuary for rare and endangered animals. As you reach Milford Sound, you will embark for a 1h45 scenic cruise on the fiord. You will sail the dark waters all the way to the Tasman Sea, close to the waterfalls that cascade down the basalt mountains and observe fur seals basking on the rocks. A picnic lunch is included on board. Travel back to Queenstown in the afternoon.

• Day 5

  Day 5 Arrowtown & Gibbston Valley | This morning, you will head to Arrowtown, a historic village born of the Gold Rush in 1862, which heritage has been well preserved. Later, travel to the Gibbston Valley wine district, renowned for its Pinot Noir amongst the best in the world, and stop at Kawarau Bridge, where you can witness the famous Bungy Jump. The gorges that surround the river below are particularly picturesque. Suggested lunch at a vineyard restaurant before returning to Queenstown in the early afternoon. Afternoon options include: Cruise on Lake Wakatipu on a historic steamship and BBQ lunch at Walter Peak Farm. Visit to New Zealand largest wine cave with tasting included 4WD safari on The Lord of the Rings filming locations Jetboat ride on the spectacular Shotover River Tonight’s dinner is at the panoramic restaurant on top of Bob’s Peak, overlooking the city, lake and Remarkables Mountains. Access is by gondola.

• Day 6

  Day 6 Queenstown to Christchurch | Depart Queenstown and travel to the Mackenzie Country, a land of wide skies amongst the purest in the world, golden grassland scattered here and there by sheep or dairy pastures, vivid turquoise lakes and canals, surrounded in season by the colourful display of wild lupins. In the background, the high mountain peaks of the Southern Alps and glaciers. Lunch stop at Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, on the feet of New Zealand tallest mountain, before continuing towards Christchurch. There will be photo stops at the turquoise lakes Pukaki and Tekapo before you start the descend towards the Canterbury Plains, one of New Zealand main farming region. Christchurch is the largest city of the South Island and is known as “the Garden City” due to its many parks and gardens. Despite the earthquakes that damaged the city centre in 2011, it is still home to many magnificent historic buildings in the neo-gothic style preferred in the late 19th century, when it was settled. The new city that emerged projects a vision of a vibrant “City-in-a-Garden” with lots of pedestrian areas and green spaces, in particular along the picturesque Avon River. Dinner tonight is onboard the Tramway Restaurant, as you travel on a loop around the city centre. Accommodation 1 night in Christchurch.

• Day 7

  Day 7 Depart Christchurch | Time permitting, enjoy a panoramic of full city tour of Christchurch before heading to the airport for your outgoing flight.

Terms & Conditions

Recently Booked