New Zealand's Ultimate Food, Wine & Culture Honeymoon - 7 Days

Highlights

• Hop around Waiheke, New Zealand's famous wine island, at your pace
• Experience the best of Rotorua's geothermal sights and Maori culture
• See the best of Napier's Art Deco architecture in a vintage car tour
• Cycle across Hawke's Bay wine region while dropping into wineries
• Ride the Wellington Cable Car to the top for epic views over the bay

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Auckland, Waiheke Island Adventure, Dinner at Ahi Restaurant 

Kia ora! You've landed on New Zealand's North Island, where your food and culture-filled honeymoon begins in Auckland, the country's largest city. With two bustling harbors and more than 500,000 sailboats and yachts, it's easy to see why Auckland is nicknamed the "City of Sails." A private driver will be waiting to transfer you to your accommodation. Drop your bags and head straight down to the ferry terminal for the boat to Waiheke Island, a natural paradise of beaches, forests, olive groves, and vineyards.

Once on the island, look for the Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus so you can explore Waiheke at your own pace. Choose to stay on for a scenic 90-minute loop tour of the island or hop off at any of the 16 stops to explore vineyards, restaurants, shops, art galleries, beaches, and nature walks. Return to Auckland by ferry in time for dinner. This evening, you'll taste seasonal New Zealand cuisine at Ahi, a chic restaurant that honors passionate local suppliers and growers. Try delicious dishes paired with wine, each telling the food story of Aotearoa (the Māori name for New Zealand).

Day 2: Drive to Rotorua via Waitomo Caves & Hobbiton, Māori Feast & Performance

It's time to begin your New Zealand honeymoon road trip! First, collect a rental car and cruise to Rotorua, New Zealand's famous geothermal city, three hours south. This is one of the world's most active volcanic regions, with bubbling mud pools, steaming geysers, and natural hot springs. As you journey into the heart of the North Island, stop to explore the impressive underground caverns of the Waitomo Caves and take a guided tour of the famous Hobbiton Movie Set. Located on a farm near Matamata, discover the film location created for "The Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" movies.

Day 3: Jade Workshop, Crater Hike, Wai Ariki Spa Experience

This morning, you'll have the rare opportunity to meet New Zealand jade artists in their studio. Gain an in-depth introduction to pounamu—the art of carving jade—with a private visit covering jade's rich history and cultural significance. Local artists will demonstrate the carving process, and you'll select your very own piece of pounamu. Learn how to string your honeymoon keepsake into a necklace to take home. After, it's time to conquer the 3,680-foot-high (1,121 m) Mount Tarawera with a private guided crater hike.

This volcanic peak last erupted in 1886, destroying the legendary pink and white terraces and creating the world's youngest geothermal valley of Waimangu. You'll explore this remarkable landscape and discover the area's history with your local guide's help. After, reward yourself with an indulgent session at Wai Ariki Spa. Nestled on the foreshore of Lake Rotorua, Wai Ariki Spa offers a two-hour restorative journey. Under the guidance of the local iwi (tribe), you'll move from heat to cool, mud to water, and air to steam to maximize the therapeutic benefits.

Day 4: Visit Wai-O-Tapu, Drive to Napier, Art Deco Vintage Car Tour

Start your day exploring Rotorua's famous geysers, bubbling mud holes, steaming vents, and sulfurous pools at Wai-O-Tapu. Choose short walks showcasing the distinctive landscapes and volcanic activity, including the famous Mud Pool. Learn about the Lady Knox Geyser with a guide, then watch it erupt to huge heights. After, make the three-hour drive to Napier, a coastal city set among the vineyard-grooved landscape of Hawke's Bay.

In 1931, a violent earthquake and subsequent fires destroyed most of the commercial heart, and the people of Napier rebuilt their city with an Art Deco flare. On arrival, check out the city's distinctive architectural heritage in style with a private tour in a 1930s vintage car. Take a spin around Napier's famous Art Deco Quarter, as well as the historic Port Ahuriri and a nearby Art Deco suburb, as your driver shares stories of the city's past. Afterward, check into your remote lodge in the hills in time for dinner.

Day 5: Hawke's Bay Wine Cycling Tour

Saddle up for a full-day Hawke's Bay adventure that combines fresh air, exercise, and the region's impressive wines. This self-guided cycling tour kicks off with visits to wineries clustered around Havelock North, including Craggy Range, Black Barn, and Te Mata Estate. At each stop, you'll taste their acclaimed vintages. Afterward, continue on the trail, weaving through picturesque orchard country alongside the Tuki Tuki River.

Your scenic ride continues along the Hawke's Bay coastline, taking you to the coastal settlement of Te Awanga for lunch. Around this area, you'll visit even more renowned wineries, including Elephant Hill, Te Awanga Estate, and Clearview Estate. After a full day of cycling and wine tasting, return to the lodge in the late afternoon, where you can soothe tired muscles with a treatment in the opulent on-site spa.

Day 6: Gannet Safari, Drive to Wellington, Ride the Cable Car & Explore

This morning, a private guide will take you on a special bird-watching safari, traveling by 4WD across riverbeds, broad rolling pastures, and steep gullies. After pausing at a spectacular clifftop to enjoy views across the Mahia Peninsula, you'll reach the world's largest mainland gannet colony, where you'll be able to get within a few feet of these remarkable birds. From there, it's time to hit the road for Wellington, New Zealand's capital. Partway along the 4.5-hour drive, stop for lunch in Palmerston and visit the Te Manawa Cultural Centre or wander the Victoria Esplanade.

Once in the windy city of "Welly," take a ride on New Zealand's only remaining funicular railway, the historic Wellington Cable Car. Enjoy great city and harbor views from the Kelburn Lookout, and visit the Cable Car Museum, which houses much of the original machinery. Then, it's a two-minute walk to the Space Place at Carter Observatory, where you can explore astronomical artifacts and digital versions of southern skies. If you have time, return with a downhill walk via the beautiful Wellington Botanic Gardens, then find a cozy restaurant for your last romantic dinner in New Zealand.

Day 7: Depart Wellington

It's time to say goodbye to New Zealand! If you have time before your flight, visit the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa or the fascinating Wētā Workshop. Then, make the short drive to the airport with enough time to return your rental car before your departing flight home or onward. Safe travels!