New Zealand Vacation: Off the Beaten Track Adventure

Wanaka

Scenic Flight and Jetboat Excursion | Wine Tour

Pictured: Mountain biking in Wanaka

Day 1: Alpine Lake Arrival

Welcome to New Zealand! Arrive in Auckland and catch your connecting flight to Queenstown, where adventure begins immediately. Collect your rental car for the scenic hour-long drive to Wanaka, where your lakeside resort awaits with magnificent Southern Alps views. Settle in with dinner overlooking the pristine lake waters.

Overnight: Wanaka (Edgewater Resort)

Day 2: Wilderness Immersion

Embark on an extraordinary journey into Mt Aspiring National Park with a scenic flight to the remote Siberia Valley. Witness rugged mountains, glaciers, pristine lakes, and dense rainforest from above before landing for a guided bush walk through river valleys and native beech forests. Complete your adventure with an exhilarating jetboat ride down the Wilkin Valley to Makaroa.

Overnight: Wanaka (Edgewater Resort)

Day 3: Central Otago Wine Discovery

Discover Central Otago’s hidden vineyard gems and the passionate characters crafting award-winning wines in this stunning region. Visit four boutique vineyards where dedication to excellence produces exceptional vintages, paired with gourmet tastings that showcase the fertile terroir of New Zealand’s premier wine country.

Overnight: Wanaka (Edgewater Resort)

Lake Moeraki

Helicopter Tour with Glacier Hike

Pictured: Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki

Day 4: West Coast Journey

Embark on one of New Zealand’s most spectacular drives, winding along pristine lakefronts through Mt Aspiring National Park and over the breathtaking Haast Pass to the wild west coast. Allow time for short hikes and photo opportunities as dramatic landscapes unfold. Arrive at Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki, your eco-retreat sanctuary amid inspiring coastal scenery, where complimentary guided tours, hiking, kayaking, and fishing await.

Overnight: Lake Moeraki (Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki)

Day 5: Glacier Adventure

Experience the ultimate New Zealand thrill: walking on a glacier’s surface! Helicopter to Franz Josef Glacier’s pristine ice fields, then gear up with crampons for guided exploration of ice caves, towering pinnacles, and dramatic seracs. Expert guides reveal the glacier’s secrets before your scenic helicopter return, leaving you with stories to share over evening refreshments.

Overnight: Lake Moeraki (Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki)

Pictured: The Helicopter Line

Hokitika

Quad Bike Adventure Tour

Pictured: Across country quad bikes, Franz josef glacier

Day 6: Coastal Discovery

Continue your scenic west coast adventure to charming Hokitika, renowned for stunning beaches, rich gold mining heritage, and vibrant arts scene. This coastal gem specializes in New Zealand’s treasured greenstone or jade, offering authentic cultural experiences along the rugged coastline.

Overnight: Hokitika (Rimu Lodge)

Day 7: Quad Bike Exploration

Set out on an exhilarating quad bike tour through Franz Josef’s diverse landscapes! Navigate stony braided riverbeds and glacial-fed rivers while learning local history from expert guides. Drive through dense rainforest to ancient 10,000-year-old moraines, viewing snow-capped peaks and the Franz Josef glacier plunging into green forest canopy.

Pause at a wilderness shelter for hot chocolate while hearing ancient Maori legends, glacier geology, and pioneer tales. Embrace the mud and adventure as you explore this wild terrain.

Overnight: Hokitika (Rimu Lodge)

Day 8: Hokitika at Leisure

Today unfolds at your own pace in this captivating west coast town. Explore the stunning turquoise waters of Hokitika Gorge, visit local jade carving studios where artisans work New Zealand’s treasured greenstone, or simply relax on the scenic beach listening to the Tasman Sea.

Overnight: Hokitika (Rimu Lodge)

Punakaiki

Rainforest Train | Glowworm Caves

Pictured: Kayaking in Punakaiki.

Day 9: Punakaiki Pancake Rocks

Journey north along the wild west coast, where windswept beaches meet stark sea cliffs plunging into the roaring Tasman Sea. Watch hazy fog drift over the Southern Alps as you navigate this dramatic strip between ocean and mountains, with scenery growing more spectacular with each northward mile.

Overnight: Punakaiki (Scenic Hotel Punakaiki)

Day 10: Underground Wonderland

Discover New Zealand’s hidden underground world on the open-air Rainforest Train through lush vegetation and towering limestone cliffs. Enter a secret subterranean realm where your guide leads you through maze-like, multi-leveled cave systems to a lazy underground river.

Experience blackwater tubing through the labyrinth as thousands of glowworms illuminate cave ceilings like a starlit sky. Emerge into daylight and float down gentle river rapids back to the train for an unforgettable conclusion.

Overnight: Punakaiki (Scenic Hotel Punakaiki)

Nelson + Farewell Spit

Wildlife Tour | Craft Beer and Wine Tour

Pictured: Abel Tasman National Park

Day 11: Nelson’s Sunny Coast

Drive north through mountains cloaked in lush green rainforest to reach Nelson, a vibrant coastal city celebrated for its sunny climate, thriving arts scene, and proximity to Abel Tasman National Park. Settle into Pihopa Retreat, where luxury accommodations nestle within beautifully landscaped gardens, creating a serene and elegant atmosphere.

Overnight: Nelson (Pihopa Retreat)

Day 12: Farewell Spit Wildlife

Explore Farewell Spit Nature Reserve on a guided eco-tour showcasing New Zealand’s diverse wildlife. Visit Cape Farewell’s clifftops where countless seals and pups bask on rocks below, then discover marine life in Fossil Point’s tide pools. Climb the landmark lighthouse while learning Maori legends, before ascending sand dunes for panoramic views of wind-swept landscapes stretching to the ocean. Return to your peaceful garden retreat.

Overnight: Nelson (Pihopa Retreat)

Day 13: Downtown Nelson Move

Relocate from your tranquil garden retreat to the heart of Nelson’s vibrant downtown. The Sails in Nelson places you in the center of this gorgeous sunny city’s art, culture, food, wine, and craft brewing scene. Visit the fascinating World of Wearable Art Museum, explore the bustling downtown galleries and boutiques, or discover the waterfront promenade just steps from your accommodation.

Overnight: Nelson (The Sails in Nelson)

Day 14: Craft Beer and Wine

Nelson’s award-winning wines and craft beer take center stage today. Join local guides for visits to two premier wineries, a craft brewery, and New Zealand’s oldest pub, where craft beer tasting trays await. Meet passionate brewers and vintners who make this region a beverage lover’s paradise.

Overnight: Nelson (The Sails in Nelson)

Marlborough Sounds

Leisure Time in Wine Country

Pictured: Cycling among the vines in Marlborough

Day 15-16: Marlborough Sounds Sanctuary

Complete your scenic South Island journey driving through the northern reaches along the magnificent Marlborough Sounds to Picton, where a water taxi transports you to your secluded lodge. Tucked beside Lochmara Bay’s water’s edge, the lodge features its own sandy beach surrounded by bush-clad hills.

Explore on nature walks, bike the Queen Charlotte Track, kayak through picturesque sounds, and discover incredible marine life in the underwater observatory. After each day’s adventures, famous Marlborough sauvignon blanc provides the perfect refreshment.

Overnight: Marlborough Sounds (Lochmara Lodge)

Day 17: North Island Departure

Journey to Picton Ferry Terminal for the crossing to Blenheim on North Island. Here, your private driver transfers you to the airport for your homeward journey, carrying memories of New Zealand’s hidden gems and off-the-beaten-track adventures.