Active Nature Retreat: New Zealand and Fiji Explorer Package

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1
Welcome to New Zealand! Your journey begins in Queenstown—a city known for outdoor adventures and some of the world’s most picturesque scenery. Settle into your beautiful hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure to explore the wonderful restaurants and bars in town.
Hotel St Moritz

Day 2
Rise early this morning and enjoy breakfast overlooking Lake Wakatipu. You will be picked up at your hotel for a multi-day guided hiking adventure on the Hollyford Track! Meet your small group and pick up your gear, then embark on a 12-mile hike to Pyke Lodge. You will follow the swift, clear waters of the Hollyford River, beneath the gaze of the mighty Southern Alps in Fiordland National Park. Retrace the footsteps of original Māori and early pioneer explorers, as the track undulates gently through native beech forest and beside impressive tumbling waterfalls.

At the end of the first day of your guided walk adventure, you’ll be welcomed at Pyke Lodge by your friendly lodge hosts. Here you’ll enjoy hot showers, impressive 3 course cuisine, and the opportunity to relax with a post-dinner drink and savor the majesty of Mt Madeline while reflecting on a great first day of your guided walk experience.
Pyke Lodge

Day 3
Today, you’ll cover just over 9 miles by foot and your main pack will be transported to Martins Bay Lodge while you carry a smaller day pack (provided) for your daily essentials. After an initial short walk, board a jet boat for the next part of your adventure. Enjoy a thrilling scenic ride along the Hollyford River and down to Lake McKerrow, where the glassy waters whisk past and the mountains rise dramatically above. You may even encounter a family of bottlenose dolphins who regularly visit the lower river and lake.

The human history in the Hollyford Valley is as incredible as the scenery. Throughout your multi-day adventure, you’ll discover the triumphs and tragedies of ill-fated Jamestown and pass ancient forests with thousand-year-old giants. Thunderous surf on the rugged West Coast is a prelude to a bay of boulders, where the rare Fiordland crested penguin is a seasonal visitor. Continue on, and Long Reef plays host to a rookery of native New Zealand fur seals.

Martins Bay Lodge welcomes you with warm hospitality and creature comforts to cap off an unforgettable second day.
Martins Bay Lodge

Day 4
After another hearty breakfast, you’ll be ready for your final 5-mile walk, exploring Martins Bay Spit, a famous landmark separating the powerful Tasman Sea from the Hollyford Valley. Here, you will view historical sites, where chief Tutoko and his people guarded entry into the Hollyford Valley and its highly valued jade gathering areas. Your guide will also highlight the flora and fauna of this unique environment, helping you to discover the diversity of this remote area. You will have the opportunity to explore the sand dunes and wander along the isolated beach at your own pace.

Returning to Martins Bay Lodge for lunch, your lodge hosts bid you farewell as you board a helicopter for a scenic flight along the rugged coastline and into the dramatic Milford Sound, where you’ll marvel at the grandeur of vertical granite walls rising from the sea. Once in Milford, you’ll be met by your return shuttle host and travel along the impressive Milford Road back to Queenstown. Enjoy a relaxing evening to prepare for tomorrow’s adventure!
Hotel St Moritz

Day 5
Leave the bright lights of Queenstown and set a course for one of New Zealand’s most remote high country farms. Explore at your own pace on an easy, self-guided adventure that includes 2 beautiful lake cruises and an unforgettable cycle ride with spectacular views at every turn. Follow an easy 9-mile marked trail along a quiet country road with panoramic alpine views, soaking up the best of New Zealand’s stunning scenery.
Hotel St Moritz

Day 6
Today, enjoy a private transfer to the airport and a short flight to Rotorua. Pick up your rental car and take the scenic drive, approximately 2.5 hours, along Lake Taupo and into Tongariro National Park. Your hotel is framed by beautiful snow-capped mountains, which you will explore tomorrow. This evening, treat yourself to a massage or a soak in the sauna to soothe the muscles before your next trek.
Chateau Tongariro

Day 7
Today, you will explore the famed Tongariro Alpine Crossing, filled with dramatic scenery formed by volcanic activity. The landscape on Mt Tongariro is peppered with craters that have been active at different periods. The track leads through the perfectly flat moonscape of South Crater; climbs to the edge of Red Crater; skirts around Central Crater; and then leads down past the steaming Te Maari Crater. There are scoured volcanic rocks, lava flows frozen in time, mountain springs and brightly colored emerald lakes. No matter what the weather, this is a hike of a lifetime.

Summer offers a majestic landscape with rich colors and varying textures released from within the earth’s crust. Winter is pristine snow with the call of an adventure! Wrap up in warm layers and have your crampons fitted by your guide before heading off with your ice-axe to experience the snow-covered volcanos.
Chateau Tongariro

Day 8
Today, drive through mountain scenery that transforms into rolling green hills as you make your way to Auckland. The glowworm caves of Waitomo and the Hobbiton Movie Set make fantastic stops en route. Once in Auckland, there are plenty of restaurants and shops to explore. However, your luxurious hotel has everything you need: restaurants and bars, a lovely outdoor cafe overlooking the harbor, and the fabulous SO Spa.
Sofitel Auckland

Day 9
It’s time to explore beautiful Fiji! Drop off your rental car at the airport and fly to Fiji, where you’ll enjoy a road transfer to the stunning Namale Resort & Spa. Just because you’re seeking out the most thrilling and off-the-beaten-path experiences in Fiji doesn’t mean you have to rough it. Your home for the next 7 nights is a spacious Ocean Tropical Bure with warm traditional Fijian design and a private deck surrounded by tropical foliage, with views of the turquoise Koro Sea beyond. Namale’s all-inclusive rates include all meals and drinks, a private dine-out experience, daily laundry, WiFi, access to a beautiful hydrotherapy room, an indoor entertainment area with bowling and basketball, and tons of outdoor activities to enjoy.
Namale Resort & Spa

Day 10 – 15
At Namale, you can do as little or as much as you like. Your spa lover’s package includes two couples’ massages and a special Sunset Bliss couples’ spa experience, so you can completely relax and unwind after all your New Zealand adventures. But there’s much more than the spa and the beach to explore!

Known as the Soft Coral Capital of the World, Fiji’s seas are bursting with world-renowned dive sites, coral reef systems teeming with life, and plenty of opportunities for marine life sightings, from sea turtles and octopus to myriad tropical fish and dolphins. Explore the island trails, lined with thick foliage, papaya and banana trees, ferns, and orchids, and reward your efforts with a cool dip in a freshwater waterfall.

Be sure to spend a day enjoying the iconic Sandbar Picnic and Snorkel experience (additional cost). Venture 20 minutes by boat to a completely remote, deserted sandbar, where you’ll be castaway—but with plenty of champagne! Snorkel and swim in the warm waters, learn to crack a coconut, or simply lounge on the beach with a cool drink in hand.

Countless activities are included in your stay, like kayaking, paddle boarding, wake boarding, hand line fishing, horseback riding, water skiing, volleyball, tennis, golf, and much more! You will never run out of things to do. Whenever you need a break, your private deck is the perfect place to lounge with a cool cocktail and enjoy the warm tropical breeze.
Namale Resort & Spa

Day 16
Today marks the end of your incredible adventures in New Zealand and Fiji. Enjoy a transfer to the airport and begin your journey home, with plenty of great photos and stories to share with friends and family when you return!