Don't miss out your chance to go around entire New Zealand, visit its best places, explore its hidden gems, and try the authentic experience of Aotearoa.
Route: Auckland - Coromandel peninsula - Hobbiton - Waitomo - Rotorua - Waimangu valley - Wai-O-Tapu - Huka Falls - Taupo - Tongariro NP - Wellington - Picton - Nelson - Abel Tasman NP - Blenheim - Kaikoura - Christchurch - lake Tekapo - Mount Cook and Pukaki lake - Clay Cliffs - Oamaru – Moeraki boulders - Dunedin - Te Anau - Milford Sound - Queenstown - Auckland
Day 1
Place: Auckland
Itinerary:
Arrival in Auckland. Airport meet and greet. Transfer to a hotel.
Day 2
Place: Auckland
Itinerary:
10:00 – 14:00 Auckland city tour: Albert Park, Auckland university, Mt Eden, Domein, Mission Bay.
14:00 – 15:30 Lunch at a Belgium pub & restaurant De Fontain, which is famous for its mussels and beer. There are good steaks here as well. Pay direct.
15:30 – 16:10 Driving to the Bethells beach in Western Auckland.
16:10 – 18:00 Te Henga walkway: bush, black sand beach, spectacular views of the Tasman sea.
18:00 – 19:45 Driving to Sky Tower, lifting to Orbit restaurant.
19:45 – 21:15 Dinner at the revolving Orbit restaurant. Extra activity. Booking is essential!
Day 3
Place: Auckland – Coromandel peninsula
Itinerary:
10:00 – 13:00 Driving to Coromandel peninsula.
After lunch we'll visit Hot Water Beach. This is the ultimate bucket list item! Not only is it a fabulous golden beach, you can also dig your own natural spa & sit soaking in hot water watching the sun rise. The name comes from the geothermal activity which pushes underground hot spring water up through the sand, allowing visitors to enjoy this unusual gift for two hours either side of low tide.
Day 4
Place: Coromandel peninsula
Itinerary:
09:40 – 10:00 Tour check-in.
10:00 – 11:00 Hahei Explorer Boat tour with Cathedral Cove.
Today we’ll visit the famous Cathedral Cove where movie “The Chronicles of Narnia. Prince Caspian” was filmed. Also we’ll visit other local coves and beaches.
Day in leisure.
Day 5
Place: Coromandel peninsula – Hobbiton – Waitomo - Rotorua
Itinerary:
08:00 – 11:00 Driving from Whitianga to Hobbiton.
11:00 – 11:30 Tour check-in.
11:30 – 13:30 Tour of the legendary Hobbiton.
13:30 – 14:30 Lunch at Shire's Rest Café (pay direct).
14:30 – 16:00 Driving to Waitomo.
16:00 – 17:00 Tour to Glowworm Cave (it is dry).
17:00 – 20:00 Driving to Rotorua.
Day 6
Place: Rotorua
09:40 – 10:00 Driving to Redwood.
10:00 – 11:30 Redwoods Treewalk Rotorua.
11:30 - 12:00 Driving to SkyLine, lifting by Gondola to the Ngongotaha mountain.
12:00 – 13:00 3 luge rides per person. It’s very funny and suitable for all ages! Pay direct.
13:00 – 14:30 Buffet lunch at Stratosphere restaurant.
14:30 – 15:30 Rainbow Springs tour where you’ll see a kiwi bird.
15:30 – 17:30 Walk along the shore of lake Rotorua, Government gardens, shopping.
17:30 – 18:00 Driving to Te Puia, tour check-in.
18:00 – 21:00 Indigenous Evening Experience at Te Puia. You will see the world famous haka dance, try hangi meal and enjoy Pohutu geyser eruption.
Day 7
Place: Rotorua – Waimangu valley - Wai-O-Tapu – Huka Falls - Taupo
Itinerary:
08:00 – 08:30 Driving to Waimangu valley.
08:30 – 11:00 Hiking in Waimangu valley (boat cruise is not included). Waimangu Volcanic Valley geothermal park encompasses beautiful Lake Rotomahana and is set in pristine NZ forestry. Lake Rotomahana is the newest of NZ’s larger, naturally formed lakes – protected as a wildlife refuge, it's home to large numbers of birds all year round. Intact remnants of the fabled Pink & White Terraces, once the 8th Wonder of the World & buried in June 1886 when Mt Tarawera erupted, have been found on the bed of the lake.
11:00 – 11:30 Driving to Wai-O-Tapu.
11:30 – 13:00 Tour of Wai-O-Tapu geothermal park. New Zealand's Wai-O-Tapu, renowned for being NZ’s most colourful geothermal area has been named in the '20 Most Surreal Places you need to see to believe'. A short drive from Rotorua or Taupo, Waiotapu (Maori for 'sacred waters') is an active geothermal area, with the Lady Knox geyser & many hot springs distinguished by their uniquely colourful appearance.
13:00 – 13:40 Driving to Huka Prawn Park.
13:40 – 15:00 Lunch at Huka Prawn Park restaurant. Pay direct. You may take a thrilling Huka Falls Jet ride (extra activity, booking is essential)
15:00 – 15:30 Honey centre where you can buy famous hilarious Manuka honey and cosmetics made with honey.
15:30 – 16:30 Huka falls and Taupo lake lookout. Just north of Lake Taupo you'll find NZ's most visited attraction, the magnificent Huka Falls, where more than 220,000 litres of water thunder over the cliff face every second. Forced into a narrow ravine of hard volcanic rock, the wide Waikato River bursts through in an awesome display of natural hydro power. Hike there along the Huka Falls Trail, an easy one hour walk through exotic & native forests.
16:30 Hotel check-in.
In the evening we recommend relaxation in thermal pools of Wairakei Terraces (extra activity, pay direct).
Day 8
Place: Taupo – Tongariro NP (Ohakune)
Itinerary:
09:00 – 11:00 Driving to Tongariro National Park.
11:00 – 13:00 Taranaki Falls Loop track. An option: 30-minute Volcanic Explorer Flight (extra activity, booking is essential).
13:00 – 14:30 Lunch at Chateau Tongariro (pay direct)
An option is Tongariro Crossing hike (without a guide). Departure from Taupo is at 7 am, pick-up at the end of the track is at 4-5:30 pm.
Day 9
Place: Tongariro NP (Ohakune) – Wellington
10:00 – 16:00 Driving to Wellington.
Free evening in the capital of New Zealand. You are welcome to visit a theater or an opera or a ballet.
Day 10
Place: Wellington – Picton - Nelson
Itinerary:
09:00 – 13:00 Wellington City tour: Mt Victoria lookout, Te Papa Tongarewa museum, The Parliament (The Beehive), White House.
13:00 – 13:30 Driving to ferry terminal.
13:30 – 14:45 Ferry check-in.
14:45 – 17:55 Driving by ferry to South island.
18:00 – 18:30 Luggage claim.
18:30 – 20:30 Driving to Nelson. Hotel check-in.
Day 11
Place: Nelson – Abel Tasman NP - Nelson
Itinerary:
07:00 – 08:15 Driving to Abel Tasman NP.
08:15 – 08:30 Tour check-in.
08:30 – 16:30 Abel Tasman Kayaking: Kayak & Pitt Head Nature Loop
Kayak: Marahau to Observation Beach or the reverse approx 2 hours.
Unguided walk: walk to Anchorage via Pitt Head Loop approx 3 hours. Tourists may ignore Pitt Head Loop and stay on Anchorage beach and relax waiting for a water taxi.
We provide: a top quality double or single kayak, lifejacket, paddle, spray shirt, paddle jacket, dry bags to keep your camera safe, a detailed map and a full safety briefing with a qualified guide.
What to bring: water bottle, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, towel, swimsuit, wool or fleece jumper, wind jacket, change or clothes, camera and any medication to ensure you have the best time possible.
Lunch is included.
16:30 – 18:00 Returning to Nelson.
Day 12
Itinerary:
Wine tour in the famous Marlborough region: wine tasting in 3 wineries – Cloudy bay, Fromm (with lunch pay direct), Wairau River.
Free time in Blenheim.
Day 13
Place: Blenheim – Kaikoura - Christchurch
Itinerary:
09:00 – 11:30 Driving to Kaikoura. There is a fur seal colony on your way. Park a car and enjoy these cut creatures.
11:30 – 13:00 Lunch with crayfish at the Pier Hotel restaurant (pay direct).
13:00 – 13:15 Driving to Whale Watch Kaikoura.
13:15 – 16:45 Whale Watch Boat Tour.
17:00 – 20:00 Driving to Christchurch. Hotel check-in.
Day 14
Place: Christchurch
Itinerary:
10:00 – 13:00 Christchurch city tour: Cathedral Square - Transitional Cathedral - 185 white chairs – Botanic gardens. Canterbury museum as an option.
13:00 – 14:30 Lunch at Curators House. Pay direct.
14:30 – 15:00 Driving to Antarctic centre.
Free evening in the city. Shopping. We may eat at Christchurch Tramway Restaurant. Extra activity. Booking is essential.
Day 15
Place: Christchurch – Lake Tekapo – Mt Cook
Itinerary:
08:00 – 12:00 Driving to Tekapo.
12:00 – 12:30 Free time on the shore of Tekapo lake. Making cool Insta photos in front of The Church of Good Shepherd and The Sheepdog Memorial.
12:30 – 14:00 Lunch at a local café (pay direct).
14:00 – 15:30 Driving to Hooker Valley parking. We’ll stop on viewpoints near stunning Pukaki lake.
15:30 – 18:30 Hooker Valley track, 10 km return through the flat valley, we’ll pass 3 suspended bridges. Mount Cook views are stunning. An option is Abel Tasman Glacier heli tour (booking is essential).
Day 16
Place: Mt Cook – Clay Cliffs - Oamaru – Moeraki boulders - Dunedin
Itinerary:
08:00 – 09:40 Driving to Clay Cliffs.
09:40 – 10:30 Hiking in Clay Cliffs.
10:30 – 13:00 Driving to Oamaru.
13:00 – 14:00 Steampunk HQ Oamaru Musem: you will acquire absolutely unforgettable museum experience! (pay 10 NZD entry fee direct)
14:00 – 15:30 Lunch at a local café (pay direct).
15:30 - 16:00 Driving to Moeraki beach.
16:00 – 17:00 Photo shooting with Moeraki boulders.
17:00 – 18:00 Driving to Dunedin.
Hotel check-in. Dinner at the restaurant of the Speigts brewery, the oldest brewery in the country. Pay direct.
Day 17
Itinerary:
09:00 – 11:00 Dunedin city tour: Octagon square, The First church, railway station, Otago university, Baldwin street – the steepest street in the world.
11:00 – 11:45 Driving to Penguin Place, tour check-in.
11:45 – 13:15 Dunedin Penguin Tour. This 90-minute tour introduces you to the conservation efforts of Penguin Place, a private conversation reserve dedicated to the survival of the rare Yellow Eyed Penguin.
13:15 – 14:00 Driving to Glenfalloch restaurant.
14:00 – 15:30 Lunch (pay direct).
15:30 – 20:30 Driving to Te Anau.
Day 18
Place: Te Anau – Milford Sound - Te Anau
Itinerary:
08:30 – 10:30 Driving to Milford Sound.
10:30 – 11:00 Cruise check-in.
11:00 – 12:40 Milford Sound Scenic Cruise, lunch is included.
12:40 – 15:00 Returning to Te Anau.
15:00 – 18:00 Walking along the lake shore to the beginning of the Kepler track. The route is flat and beautiful.
Day 19
Place: Te Anau - Queenstown - Auckland
Itinerary:
09:00 – 12:00 Driving to Queenstown.
12:00 – 14:00 Skyline Gondola & Buffet Lunch
14:00 – 16:30 Free time in Queenstown city centre, shopping.
Evening flight to Auckland. Accommodation at a hotel near the airport. If you'd like you are welcome to stay in Queenstown.
Day 20
Place: Auckland
Itinerary:
09:30 – 10:00 Transfer to the airport by a hotel’s shuttle.
10:00 – 12:05 Flight check-in.
12:05 Departure from New Zealand.
The End
We'll be happy to see you in New Zealand again!