New Zealand Highlights Package

Auckland + Waiheke Island

Wine Tasting Tour

Pictured: Wine tasting on Waiheke Island

Day 1: Arrival in the City of Sails

Touch down in Auckland and settle into your Central Business District hotel. Explore the fashionable Viaduct or visit the immersive All Blacks Experience.

Overnight: Auckland (M Social Auckland)

Day 2: Wine Paradise

Ferry across to Waiheke Island and your elegant accommodation at The Boatshed, perched above sun-drenched Oneroa Bay. Take the afternoon to visit the local boutiques or simply relax amongst sweeping ocean views.

Overnight: Waiheke Island (The Boatshed)

Day 3: Vineyard Discoveries and Beachfront Dining

Three of Waiheke’s premier vineyards welcome you for tastings that reveal the island’s winemaking artistry. Between sips, your knowledgeable guide shares stories of island history, geography, and culture through scenic countryside drives.

Cap off your wine journey with lunch at the award-winning Three Seven Two restaurant, where Waiheke wines pair perfectly with dishes overlooking Onetangi’s pristine beachfront.

Overnight: Waiheke Island (The Boatshed)

Rotorua

Geothermal Tours | Māori Cultural Experience

Pictured: Māori carving with geothermal steam in the background

Day 4: Geothermal Wonders and Māori Culture

Return to Auckland by ferry, collect your rental car, then journey to Rotorua, New Zealand’s geothermal wonderland and sacred Māori heartland.

Evening brings a fully guided exploration of Te Puia‘s historic thermal valley, where native bush frames erupting geysers and bubbling mud pools. Feel the raw power of Pōhutu Geyser—the Southern Hemisphere’s largest—before savoring a mouth-watering buffet at the world-famous Pātaka Kai Restaurant, followed by an exhilarating cultural performance that brings Māori traditions to vivid life.

Overnight: Rotorua (On the Point Rotorua)

Day 5: Volcanic Landscapes and Healing Waters

Embark on a comprehensive geothermal journey through Rotorua’s otherworldly landscapes. Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland reveals volcanic forces through colorful hot springs and steaming craters, while expert guides explain volcanology, indigenous flora, and Māori history.

Continue to Waimangu Valley for walking trails past incredible hot springs and thermal lakes. Your adventure concludes at the renowned Polynesian Spa, where mineral-rich rock pools overlook the lake, providing the perfect setting for relaxation and reflection.

Overnight: Rotorua (On the Point Rotorua)

Day 6: Aerial Adventures and Wine Country Arrival

Before departing the North Island, soar above Mount Tarawera in a helicopter for spectacular aerial views of crater lakes, the renowned Tarawera Falls, and vibrant Waimangu and Wai-O-Tapu geothermal reserves, with an unforgettable landing on the volcanic peak itself.

Then, fly to the famous Marlborough region, where world-class Sauvignon Blanc flows freely. Collect your rental car and settle into your vineyard lodge for the night.

Overnight: Marlborough (Marlborough Lodge)

Marlborough + Abel Tasman

Wine Tour and Seafood Cruise | Full-Day Charter Boat

Pictured: Kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park

Day 7: Wine, Water, and Local Flavors

Morning brings visits to two distinctive Marlborough wineries—from boutique family operations to iconic estates—where passionate vintners share their craft through tastings of stunning wine ranges.

After a hearty BBQ lunch, board a premium catamaran for a relaxing seafood cruise through the calm waters of the stunning Marlborough Sounds, where views are accompanied by fresh local seafood and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Overnight: Marlborough (Marlborough Lodge)

Day 8: Abel Tasman Coastal Paradise

Drive to Abel Tasman and Nelson, where an easily-accessible coastal paradise awaits. Settle into Te Koi, your hosted lodge set amidst luscious gardens on a secluded point overlooking the stunning Waimea Estuary.

Overnight: Abel Tasman/Nelson (Te Koi)

Day 9: National Park Exploration

Get a taste of all Abel Tasman has to offer from the comfort of a private charter boat. Stay on board and relax, take a kayak for a paddle, go for a swim, snorkel over the marine reserve, or be dropped off for a bush walk. Enjoy a delicious lunch and then do it all again.

Overnight: Abel Tasman/Nelson (Te Koi)

Scenic West Coast

Underground Cave Rafting | Glacier Hike via Helicopter

Pictured: Franz Josef glacier hike

Day 10: Pancake Rocks and Cave Adventures

Journey to Punakaiki, where nature began its artwork 30 million years ago. Stop to experience cave rafting adventure like no other—complete with spectacular formations, water-sculpted canyons, and one of the world’s best glowworm displays. Located in the spectacular Paparoa National Park, you’ll inner tube through the gorgeous untouched Metro/Te Ananui cave.

Overnight: Punakaiki (Scenic Punakaiki)

Day 11: West Coast Wilderness

Travel down New Zealand’s scenic West Coast to Franz Josef, gateway to the glacier of the same name. Enjoy your evening with space and seclusion in the rainforest.

Overnight: Franz Josef (Rainforest Retreat)

Day 12: Glacier Walking Adventure

Today brings a rare treat—a guided walk on a glacier! Join our mates at The Helicopter Line for a helicopter ride to the top of Franz Josef Glacier and hike its surface with expert guides.

From crevasses and ice caves to the splendor of clean blue ice, immerse yourself in unique surroundings, breathe the fresh mountain air, and enjoy one of the world’s most exhilarating experiences before your helicopter ride down.

Overnight: Franz Josef (Rainforest Retreat)

Queenstown

Full-Day Dart River Adventure

Pictured: Dart River, Mt Aspiring National Park

Day 13: Journey to Queenstown

Drive down the west coast through Haast Pass, stopping for short hikes to Thunder Creek Falls and the Blue Pools. The breathtaking drive leads to Queenstown, where majestic views of the Remarkables Ranges and Lake Wakatipu await.

Overnight: Queenstown (Azur Lodge)

Day 14: Dart River Wilderness Experience

Your adventure begins with an exhilarating jet boat ride up the Dart River deep into Mount Aspiring National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Travel back downstream in unique Funyaks (inflatable canoes) through pristine waters flowing from the Southern Alps to Lake Whakatipu.

Explore channels and side-streams in this spectacular wilderness while witnessing native flora and fauna. Enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch by the river’s edge, taking in native bird sounds and the serenity of beech forest, before a scenic coach journey back through filming locations from the Lord of the Rings trilogy and X-Men: Origins.

Overnight: Queenstown (Azur Lodge)

Dunedin + Otago Peninsula

Afternoon Wildlife Cruise

Pictured: New Zealand fur seal in the Otago Peninsula

Day 15: Wildlife Capital Awaits

Travel to Dunedin, known as the Wildlife Capital of New Zealand. This beautifully preserved Victorian and Edwardian city sits surrounded by dramatic hills at the foot of a long, picturesque harbor.

Overnight: Dunedin (Distinction Dunedin)

Day 16: Otago Peninsula Wildlife Encounters

Visit a remote Otago Peninsula beach with dramatic coastal cliff views and perhaps some sea lions. Continue to Wellers Rock Wharf for a one-hour wildlife cruise around Taiaroa Head and out to sea, watching royal albatross glide across the water and playful fur seals beneath a historic lighthouse.

The final stop brings you to a Yellow-eyed Penguin conservation reserve, where you’ll visit the on-site rehabilitation center before taking trails through native bushland to viewing hides, hoping to watch the world’s rarest penguin return ashore.

Overnight: Dunedin (Distinction Dunedin)

Day 17: Farewell to Paradise

Time to say farewell to New Zealand and return home with magical memories to last a lifetime. Drop off your rental car at the airport and begin your journey home.