New Zealand Odyssey – North to South Islands

You’ll fly to Auckland, New Zealand via the UAE.

Today will be spent travelling to Auckland with a stop-over at Dubai airport.

Touch down on New Zealand’s North Island this morning and meet your local tour manager before transferring to your centrally located hotel, beneath the Sky Tower. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to settle in.

Join your tour manager after breakfast for an introduction to New Zealand’s pretty former capital, Auckland. Start the day’s exploration at Bastion Point, a scenic point which promises panoramic views of the harbours below, and see Savage Memorial, which commemorates the country’s first Labour Prime Minister. Next, continue along Tāmaka Drive for a stop in stylish Parnell, soaking up views of sandy Okahu Bay Beach and the leafy suburban stretches of Judges’ Bay along the way.  

Amongst Parnell’s upscale boutiques and trendy bars, you’ll get a taste for the city’s enduring European influences as you drive past its colonial-era buildings. The Viaduct Harbour is next, and you’ll learn why Auckland is often referred to as the ‘City of Sails’ with its bustling wharves and yacht-lined quays. From here, you’ll be within walking distance of your hotel and will have the rest of the afternoon at leisure to explore the area’s pretty waterside promenades, bustling restaurants and shops.

Following breakfast, check out and drive north through idyllic stretches of coastal farmland to Warkworth’s Parry Kauri Park. This magnificent reserve is home to hundreds of ancient kauri, a resilient tree species which are native to the North Island. You can take in the towering McKinney Kauri, which numbers amongst the oldest trees in New Zealand, whilst discovering the trees’ significance in Māori culture.   

You’ll then travel to coastal Paihia, considered by many to be the birthplace of New Zealand. Nestled on the Bay of Islands, a web of 144 smaller islets connected by shallow waters, few destinations boast as picturesque a location as this delightful seaside town.  

Visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, one of the most significant sites in Aotearoa (Māori New Zealand). Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed by your guide and will discover the significance of this historic site with an escorted tour. As you explore the marae, the focal point of local tribes, you’ll learn about the first agreements between the British Empire and Māori tribes which laid the foundation for co-habitation of the two islands. You’ll also have the chance to admire the striking facades of the marae’s carved meeting house, discover the Ngātokimatawhaorua, the world’s largest ceremonial waka (war canoe), and see the area’s history unfold at Waitangi’s interactive museum.  

Later, drive to your nearby hotel with its waterfront location.

Rise early this morning, have breakfast at the hotel and head out for a cruise around the Bay of Islands, with its 144 subtropical islets. Begin at Cape Brett, home to rugged granite cliffs and a famous hilltop lighthouse which has stood watch over Otuwangha Island for over a century. Though its lighthouse is a recent addition, Cape Brett has guided sailors to New Zealand’s shores for over a millennium with its crystalline rocks glittering in the sunlight.  

Continuing north, you’ll arrive at Piercy Island, also known as Motu Kōkako, home to the striking Grand Cathedral Cave or the ‘Hole in the Rock’. This striking 60-foot sea cave acts as a tunnel through the southern tip of the island and your boat will pass through (weather permitting).  As you glide across the water, watch the waves for the marine wildlife that thrives beneath the surface, from manta rays to migratory orcas.  

Call at Urupukapuka Island, the largest of the bay’s islands, for some free time to explore. If you like a closer look at New Zealand’s pretty coastal landscapes, venture out on one of the island’s scenic walking trails, or perhaps unwind with ocean views at its beachfront café. You’ll then have the choice to return to Paihia or continue with a ferry ride to the coastal town of Russell (payable locally).

Having enjoyed breakfast, leave Paihia behind and head back south toward the delightful spa town of Rotorua, soaking up views of Auckland’s lush farmland and charming rural towns as you go. Cross the Bombay Hills, which mark the border between the Auckland and Waikato regions, before passing through picturesque Matamata, the gateway to the iconic Hobbiton film set. Drive along the leafy country roads of Fitzgerald’s Glade and the Mamaku Plateau before arriving in Rotorua.  

After checking into your new hotel, join your tour manager for a brief orientation tour of the town, with time to view Lake Rotorua and the Government Gardens, a picturesque public park crowned by the impressive Rotorua Museum building. From here, you’ll be free to discover more of the town at leisure, unwind amongst the gardens’ lush scenery or head back to the hotel.

Enjoy breakfast this morning ahead of a morning under your own steam, perhaps with a visit to the hotel’s spa or a stroll along the lake’s waterfront.  

Alternatively, you can join an optional excursion to the original Hobbiton filming set used in Peter Jackson’s cinematic adaptations of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. At Matamata, you’ll enter the 1,250-acre sheep farm that helped bring the Shire to life, calling first at the popular Hobbiton Sign for a brief photo stop. Accompanied by an expert guide, you can then walk around the Hobbiton set, a sprawling site spanning over 10 acres, which was purpose-built under Jackson’s instruction. See Bag End amongst the iconic hobbit holes, stop for a drink at the Green Dragon Inn and discover how Tolkien’s vision for Middle Earth was realised amongst the Waikato’s mountainous farmland. At the end of the tour, visit the Shire’s Rest café, before returning to Rotorua.  

This afternoon, an excursion to New Zealand’s National Kiwi Hatchery will showcase the invaluable impact of wildlife conservation. As you explore the sanctuary’s incubation centre, the world’s most successful kiwi hatchery, learn about the initiatives which aim to combat the threats to native kiwi, enjoying up-close views of the centre’s newest hatchlings. Your visit will also make a positive impact on kiwi conservation across New Zealand with all proceeds going towards rehabilitation projects.  

Rotorua’s spectacular geothermal park, Te Puia, will be your next stop today and you’ll experience the best of its dramatic landscapes on a guided evening tour. Descend into the Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley, where you’ll be immersed in silica terraces, colourful mud pools and steaming lakes. The undeniable highlight will be the Pohutu Geyser, a particularly active spout where you might even see an eruption in action.

After exploring Te Puia, settle in for a Te Po experience, highlighting the customs, local delicacies and rich cultural heritage of the region’s native tribes. Throughout the evening, you'll enjoy live performances of a Māori waiata (song), a mōteata (ceremonial chant) and the famous haka in the park’s meeting house, before visiting the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, where young local people keep the unique carving and weaving methods of their ancestors alive. Finally, head  to the park’s restaurant for a traditional buffet dinner.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before departing through Kaingaroa’s, New Zealand’s largest pine tree forests. Your journey will pause at thundering Huka Falls, home to whitewater rapids and cascading waterfalls, before continuing south with another stop at the fishing town of Taupo, built on the country’s largest lake.  

You’ll then be treated to more picturesque natural landscapes crossing the Tongariro Volcanic Plateau, with its colourful alpine peaks. As you drive, your tour manager will point out the unmistakable cones of the region’s three active volcanoes, Tongariro, Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe. The final leg of today’s journey will feature panoramic views of the pretty Kapiti Coast and will conclude in Wellington, the stylish national capital. Built around a striking natural harbour, this delightful hilltop city is the political and culinary capital of New Zealand. On arrival in the city, you’ll have the chance to view its striking parliament buildings with a drive past the 20th-century Parliament House and the neighbouring ‘Beehive’, the executive wing of the country’s government.  

Cap the day’s exploration with a memorable view of the city – from above – on an easy-going cable car ride through Kelburn’s trendy suburbs and its hillside overlooks.

Draw your time on North Island to a close this morning with breakfast in Wellington before crossing the Cook Strait by ferry. During the sailing, you’ll soak up your first few sights of the South Island’s magnificent coastal vistas, passing through Marlborough Sounds, a vast series of drowned sea valleys. Later, moor at the lively harbour town of Picton before heading further inland aboard a coach through wine-making Blenheim.  

Here, you’ll stop at an award-winning winery where you’ll learn about Marlborough’s rapidly developing vineyards before sampling some of the finest local labels. You’ll then pass through the Rai Valley before reaching Nelson, New Zealand’s largest fishing port and a popular artists’ retreat on the exquisite Tasman Bay.

An excursion into one of South Island’s most celebrated national parks follows breakfast today. Enjoy a brief journey east along the island’s idyllic Tasman coast, which numbers amongst the sunniest spots in New Zealand, before arriving at the popular Abel Tasman National Park.  

Your exploration will begin with a cruise along the park’s northern coast, where you can admire its rugged granite cliffs, gold-sand beaches and crystal waters. Amongst each scenic corner, spot seals, dolphins and kororās, the world’s smallest penguin species, alongside the reserve’s colourful birdlife. You’ll then stop in Anchorage, where you can opt for a walk along Abel Tasman Track.   

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can embark on a 90-minute walk along the Pitt Head Loop Trail. On the way, pass through thriving manuka forests and dense bushland, with animal-spotting opportunities abound, to Te Pukatea Bay, one of the park’s most picturesque beaches. Afterwards, reboard the vessel and enjoy a complimentary packed lunch as you start the voyage back to Nelson.

Today, bid farewell to sunny Nelson after breakfast and drive to Christchurch, getting a taste of South Island’s glorious mountain scenery along the way. Pass the town of Brightwater, the former home of New Zealand’s atom-splitting nuclear physicist, Lord Rutherford, before continuing through the evergreen woodland landscapes of Golden Downs Forest. Continue through Murchison, a remote gold rush town on the expansive Four Rivers Plain, where you’ll get a glimpse of the region’s famous whitewater rapids.  

Drive through the colourful beech groves of Maruia Forest, which were saved from mass deforestation following widespread protests in the 1970s, before climbing through Lewis Pass. Here, you’ll witness a striking array of mountain valleys before coming to the charming alpine town of Hanmer Springs to find lunch (payable locally). Complete the day’s road trip with a drive across Canterbury Plains, New Zealand’s largest stretch of flat lowland, for historic Christchurch.

Join your tour manager this morning for an insightful introduction to the ‘Garden City’, Christchurch. Having been badly damaged by an earthquake in 2011, the city has since undergone large-scale restoration work, and you’ll learn about the innovations that are reshaping its neighbourhoods. Your first stop today, the Cardboard Cathedral, exemplifies the project, using a series of lightweight cardboard tubes as supports which are able to better withstand tremors. 

You’ll then visit the city’s art gallery, with its unique, tremor-resistant facades, which was used as the Civil Defence headquarters during the earthquakes. Two poignant stops at the Bridge of Remembrance and the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial follow where you can pay your respects to the victims of the 2011 tremors. Afterwards, continue to the bustling New Regent Street, a row of 40 Spanish-inspired boutiques, for some shopping at your own pace. Complete the day’s exploration amongst the city’s famous botanical gardens and board a traditional punt for an easy-going ride along the River Avon. Accompanied by specialist boaters in traditional dress, you’ll explore the city’s botanical gardens by small boat and will enjoy fascinating insights into the city’s history and this treasured pastime. 

You’ll receive a complimentary full-day tram pass and will have the rest of the day free to spend as you wish.

Today’s scenic journey will take you through Canterbury Plain’s bucolic farmland stretches towards university-city Dunedin. Have breakfast in Christchurch before leaving the city for the next leg.  

Drive through Burke’s Pass, a quaint small town with period architecture, before continuing into Mackenzie Country, a major centre of Otago’s gold rush. Stretch your legs with a brief stop at the Church of the Good Shepherd, for its sprawling views over Lake Tekapo.  

Continue along the nearby Lake Pukaki, a spectacular glacial lake, before arriving at Mount Cook Village, home to the imposing Mount Cook, Australasia’s tallest peak. Here, you’ll have the choice between admiring this 3,700-metre-tall wonder from the ground or taking to the skies on a wish-list optional helicopter ride above the magnificent glacial valleys of the Mount Cook National Park. Comprising over 70,000 hectares of glacial valleys, snow-capped summits and rugged shrubland, your soaring 20-minute flight will showcase the best of the reserve’s dramatic vistas. After a time in the sky, you’ll land on a snowfield high in the mountains for truly inspiring views over Otago’s surrounding landscapes before reconvening with the rest of the group below.  

This evening, you’ll arrive at the beautiful small town of Twizel for your next overnight stay.

Your destination today will be South Island’s charming Scottish enclave, Dunedin, known as the ‘Edinburgh of the South’. Start your journey after breakfast with a drive along Omarama’s Waitaki River, passing the towering Aviemore and Benmore hydroelectric dams. Take a break in coastal Oamaru, home to impressive streetscapes adorned in the town’s characteristic local limestone. A short way further south, you’ll come to Moeraki, a seaside village made famous for its peculiar spherical boulders before passing through the Otago Hills to welcoming Dunedin where you’ll stay for the next two nights.

After breakfast, embrace Dunedin’s Scottish heritage today with a guided tour of the city’s most historic landmarks. Starting at the magnificent University of Otago, New Zealand’s oldest academic institution, view its ornate, blue-stone buildings and manicured gardens. Your next stop, the Octagon, promises an abundance of neo-Gothic buildings to admire and the city’s 19th-century town hall at its centre. Finals stops at St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Robert Burns statue, dedicated to Scotland’s national poet, conclude the morning’s sightseeing.

You’ll have the afternoon at leisure for further exploration, perhaps with a visit to the Museum of Natural Mysteries for an introduction to the peninsula’s diverse local wildlife or the city’s Public Art Gallery. If you’d prefer an afternoon’s wildlife-spotting, you can join an optional trip to the Royal Albatross Colony.

Travel along the Otago Peninsula to spot playful sea lions, before heading to Taiaroa Head’s Royal Albatross Centre for an introduction to these majestic seabirds. Accompanied by an expert guide, learn about the Northern Royal Albatross’ unique behaviours and its significance in Māori culture before catching a glimpse of the birds in the wild from the centre’s observation decks. Afterwards, head out in search of the elusive hoiho, or yellow-eyed penguin, with a visit to a nearby conservation centre, before returning to your Dunedin hotel.

Following breakfast, venture into Otago’s dairy-farming heartland, the Taieri Plains, on the next leg of your journey towards Te Anau, a region of exquisite natural beauty. As you drive, watch the fertile pastures give way to rugged grassland hills and mountain deer farms.  

Arriving in Te Anau, the idyllic gateway to Fiordland National Park, delve beneath the surface for a tour of the region’s sprawling cave systems. Start your experience above ground, glide across the misty waters of Lake Te Anau, the largest body of water on South Island, before learning about the caves with a visit to the Cavern House centre. Here, you’ll learn about the captivating ecosystems that thrive underground with interactive exhibits introducing the caves’ famous glowworm species, which can only be found in New Zealand.  

Led by an expert guide, descend beneath the ground for a tour of the winding limestone passages and roaring subterranean waterfalls of this 12,000-year-old cave system. Marvel at the spectacular rock features, carved over the centuries by rushing waters, and watch the process in action as you explore on foot. A gentle ride by a small boat follows and will take you deep into one of Te Anau’s grottos, dimly lit by luminous glowworms, for a magical end to the day’s excursion. Later this evening, head back across Lake Te Anau to the hotel for check-in.

One of your tour’s undeniable highlights awaits today with an exploration of the UNESCO-listed Fiordland National Park. After an early breakfast, drive along the reserve’s dramatic glacial valleys to Milford Sound where you’ll board a vessel for a scenic cruise around the fjord’s impressive landmarks.  

Home to a diverse range of snow-capped peaks, still waters and temperate rainforests that line its banks, this spectacular natural wonder was carved over more than two million years by ice age glaciers. Keep an eye out for the diverse species of seals and dolphins that are known to reside nearby – you might even catch a rare glimpse of the Southern Right Whale, which is occasionally sighted in Milford Sound. You’ll also be given a packed lunch, which you can enjoy while looking out for wildlife, or admiring the ice-age landscapes.  

You’ll see the cascading Bowen and Stirling Falls, the park’s only two permanent waterfalls, as well as the imposing Mitre Peak, a cluster of five mountains which mark the mouth of the fjord. You’ll then sail back along the fjord, for more opportunities to soak up the sights, before boarding a coach for the drive through Cleddeau Gorge, Eglinton Valley and the Homer Tunnel back to Te Anau, before continuing to the alpine town of Queenstown.

Your final full will be yours to enjoy as you wish, with time at leisure in alpine Queenstown. For the very best views over the town’s glorious mountain vistas, consider a gondola ride up to the Skyline Queenstown Skydeck, or stroll along the banks of Lake Wakatipu to explore Queenstown’s lush waterside gardens.  

Later this afternoon, step aboard a traditional coal-fired steamship, the TSS Earnslaw, for an optional cruise across Lake Wakatipu. Soak up Queenstown's picturesque lakeside vistas before arriving at Walter Peak High Country Station for an engaging live farming show. Learn about the rural lifestyle of the local ranchers, see a sheepdog display in action and meet the farm animals. Afterwards, settle into a dining room at the Colonel’s Homestead for a buffet-style lunch. Later evening, return to the ship for the journey back across the lake and enjoy a sing-along on the water courtesy of the ship’s pianist before mooring at Steamer Wharf.

After breakfast, spend a few final hours at leisure in idyllic Queenstown. Later this afternoon, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your return flight.

Arrive back in the UK at the end of a once-in-lifetime holiday.