Highlights
- Take an adventurous climb up the Auckland Harbour Bridge
- Connect with Maori culture at an evening of food, song, and dance in Rotorua
- Stand atop New Zealand's largest glacier with a half-day heli-hike experience
- Marvel at the beauty of Milford Sound / Piopiotahi from the air and water
- Stay at chic 5-star city hotels and peaceful luxury lodges
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Auckland, Harbour Bridge Climb, Dinner at Ahi Restaurant | Auckland |
| Day 2 | Exclusive Waiheke Wine Trip, Walking Tour of Auckland | Auckland |
| Day 3 | Drive to Rotorua, Wai Ariki Spa, Glowworm Tour, Redwoods Treewalk | Rotorua |
| Day 4 | Scenic Floatplane Tour, Te Pō Guided Cultural Evening | Rotorua |
| Day 5 | Fly to Christchurch, Tramway Dinner Experience | Christchurch |
| Day 6 | Drive to Aoraki / Mount Cook, Scenic Flight & Backcountry Tour | Aoraki / Mount Cook |
| Day 7 | Mount Cook Heli-Hike Adventure | Aoraki / Mount Cook |
| Day 8 | Drive to Queenstown, Shotover River Jet Boat, Evening Onsen | Queenstown |
| Day 9 | Fly-Cruise-Fly to Milford Sound / Piopiotahi, Afternoon Wine Tour | Queenstown |
| Day 10 | Glenorchy 4WD Safari, Depart Queenstown |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Auckland, Harbour Bridge Climb, Dinner at Ahi Restaurant
Kia ora! Begin your adventure in Auckland, the country's largest city. Located toward the top of the North Island, this region boasts a subtropical climate, with winter temps rarely dipping below freezing. A private driver will be waiting to transfer you to The Hotel Britomart, a 5-star urban haven of calm in downtown Auckland. An easy walking distance from most attractions, it's a great base for your city stay, surrounded by world-class restaurants, chic boutiques, and lively bars.
Day 2: Exclusive Waiheke Wine Trip, Walking Tour of Auckland
Board a ferry from downtown Auckland this morning and enjoy a pleasant cruise through the Hauraki Gulf to Waiheke, New Zealand's famous wine island. On arrival, your private guide will whisk you to the first vineyard for a tasting and light lunch. Later, visit two more estates to taste local wines, plus a craft brewery and distillery, where you'll try an award-winning whisky. As a private experience, you can tailor the day to your interests, adding visits to local artist studios, sculpture gardens, or a scenic coastal walk. After, take a return ferry back to the city.
This afternoon, you'll discover central Auckland's hidden lanes, legends, and landmarks on a private three-hour walking tour. Your knowledgeable local guide will lead the way, sharing stories as you pass sights and pausing for refreshment stops. At the end, they'll leave you at a popular city bistro for a late afternoon aperitif and tasting platter on Auckland's waterfront.
Day 3: Drive to Rotorua, Wai Ariki Spa, Glowworm Tour, Redwoods Treewalk
Your great winter road trip begins today as you pick up your rental car and cruise three hours south to Rotorua, New Zealand's famous geothermal city. This area is one of the world's most active volcanic regions, and you'll find bubbling mud pools, steaming geysers, and plenty of natural hot springs. Once you arrive, check into your luxurious lodge, the 5-star On The Point, a boutique stay at the edge of Lake Rotorua. Settle into your suite and squeeze in a game of tennis or pay a visit to the property's resident sheep and donkeys.
After this morning's drive, nothing will feel better than an indulgent session at Wai Ariki Spa. Embark on a restorative journey grounded in te ao Māori principles, Ngāti Whakaue culture, and traditional healing practices. 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 of this two-hour multisensory, immersive progression.
This evening, you can choose between two after-dark adventures. The first is a glowworm tour, where you'll walk through a native forest, guided by the sound of running water and your flashlight. As towering banks rise up on either side, turn off the lights and watch thousands of glowworms light up, forming constellations all around you. Alternatively, choose to explore Rotorua's Redwoods Treewalk. Under the shroud of darkness, wander among a soaring redwood forest where 30 lanterns, more than 40 infinite color spots, and feature lights illuminate the 115-year-old redwood trees, ferns, and pungas.
Day 4: Scenic Floatplane Tour, Te Pō Guided Cultural Evening
Today you'll take to the skies to see the beauty of Rotorua's wild geothermal activity from above in a floatplane. This small-group excursion takes you above Mokoia Island and over the volcanic peak of the 3,680-foot (1,121 m) Mount Tarawera. Continue south, over the Waimangu Valley, to view other natural landmarks like Frying Pan Lake, Inferno Crater, and the Wai-O-Tapu reserve. Follow the Waikato River to the hidden valley of Orakei Korako, then land on the river, where you'll swap to a boat and then begin a land-based exploration of Rotorua.
This afternoon, you'll learn more about the area's rich Māori culture, starting with a visit to the green and orange sulfur pools, bubbling mud baths, and spurting geysers at Te Puia Springs. Here, the Pohutu Geyser erupts up to 20 times a day, shooting a plume of scalding water up to 100 feet (30 m) into the sky. Then, visit the Kiwi Conservation Centre, a refuge for native birds, including New Zealand's national bird, the flightless kiwi, and learn about carving and weaving with artists at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute.
Having worked up an appetite, sit down at the Pātaka Kai Restaurant for a buffet where every dish has an authentic Māori twist. Following the meal, you'll enter a beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua, for a cultural performance including a traditional welcome ceremony and a demonstration of the rousing haka.
Day 5: Fly to Christchurch, Tramway Dinner Experience
Head to the airport this morning to drop off your rental car and catch a quick two-hour flight to the South Island, landing in Christchurch. Collect a rental car at the airport and make the short drive to your base for the night—a luxurious hotel known as The George. Named after Sir George Seymour, one of the pioneers who arrived on one of the First Four Ships to Canterbury in 1850, the 5-star hotel pays homage to its historic past while featuring modern elements for an elevated stay. From its central location, you can visit picturesque Hagley Park and the River Avon within minutes.
After settling in, head out for a stroll to get your bearings in this walkable city. After a remarkable rebirth from the devastating 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, the urban center is full of new secrets, from modern architecture and vibrant street art to cocktail bars and bustling restaurants. Later in the evening, board a historic colonial-style dining tram for a four-course dinner. As you roll along the inner city tram loop, you'll enjoy a movable feast while spotting the city's main landmarks.
Day 6: Drive to Aoraki / Mount Cook, Scenic Flight & Backcountry Tour
Leave Christchurch behind this morning and head east toward Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, home to the highest mountains and longest glaciers in the country. Make sure to bring along your winter gear—you're venturing into cooler winter temps as you make your way south. Along the spectacularly scenic 4.5-hour drive, you'll cross the Canterbury Plains, travel over undulating sheep country to Fairlie, ascend to Lake Tekapo, and skirt the western shore of Lake Pukaki.
On arrival, check into the high-end Mount Cook Lakeside Retreat, set on 163 acres (66 ha) on the shores of Lake Pukaki, less than 20 miles (32 km) from Mount Cook. You'll stay in a private villa with windows that frame views of the snow-topped Ben Ohau Range, furnished in farm-chic style with vaulted wooden ceilings and fireplaces. Settle into the Ashley Mackenzie Villa for private access to the spa, while other villas have their own spa pool.
Later, you can get your bearings in this rugged landscape with a scenic flight over turquoise glacial lakes, golden tussock lands, and braided river systems. Pass remote sheep stations and the magnificent Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. You could also venture into the wilderness of Mackenzie Country by 4WD. This small-group backcountry tour rolls across breathtaking landscapes as you discover towering mountains, glaciers, and river crossings while learning about the geology, ecology, and history of the South Island.
Day 7: Mount Cook Heli-Hike Adventure
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
You'll have this morning free to enjoy the amenities at your lakeside retreat. If you're feeling adventurous, start your exploration of Aoraki / Mount Cook at your own pace with a relaxed hike. New Zealand's highest peak measures 12,315 feet (3,754 m) and is known by the Māori title Aoraki, which means "Cloud Piercer." Take it easy with a hike along the one-hour Tasman Lake Trail or Governor's Bush loop track, or embark on the two-hour Kea Point or Red Tarns tracks.
After some relaxing downtime back at the lodge, you'll don your snow gear and venture farther into the icy landscapes with an afternoon heli-hike experience. This half-day, small-group excursion starts with an exhilarating helicopter ride to the mighty Haupapa / Tasman Glacier. Witness the icebergs of Tasman Lake and fly past the famous Hochstetter Ice Fall and the east face of the peak before landing on the glacier. Then, you'll explore this world of ice equipped with crampons, an ice ax, or walking poles. As your guide cuts steps in the ice, they'll share fascinating tales and facts about the glacier and its ecology
Day 8: Drive to Queenstown, Shotover River Jet Boat, Evening Onsen
Drive three hours south today to New Zealand's adventure capital, Queenstown. You'll pass trout fishing rivers and high country scenery en route before reaching New Zealand's famous adventure capital, set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, with a dramatic backdrop of The Remarkables mountain range. Check into the secluded Rosewood Matakauri, a luxury lodge set on the shores of the lake, and settle into one of the sumptuous suites or private villas.
Later, you'll get your first taste of Queenstown's famous adrenaline sports with a jet boat ride on the upper Shotover River. Whiz through the chiseled canyon, zipping along at high speeds while your daredevil captain performs exhilarating spins. Wind down afterward with an evening soak in a hot pool under the stars. Based on the Japanese bathing tradition, Onsen offers cedar-lined steaming pools on a cliffside overlooking the Shotover River. Enjoy an hourlong soak accompanied by a drink and snack as you take in the alpine scenery.
Day 9: Fly-Cruise-Fly to Milford Sound / Piopiotahi, Afternoon Wine Tour
Any trip to New Zealand should include a visit to the spectacular Milford Sound / Piopiotahi. If you're short on time but ready for the adventure, the Fly-Cruise-Fly option from Queenstown takes you to the heart of the Fiordland region and back in half a day. Your scenic flight from Queenstown will soar over the rugged backcountry of Central Otago, offering views of alpine lakes, lush rainforest, rugged snowcapped mountains, and the glacially carved valleys of Milford Sound / Piopiotahi and Fiordland National Park.
On arrival, you'll board an intimate and immersive two-hour cruise and simply relax while taking in the passing scenery of Mitre Peak, cascading waterfalls, towering cliffs, and native animals. If lucky, you'll spot seals, dolphins, and rare Fiordland crested penguins. Afterward, fly back to town and spend the afternoon touring four of Central Otago's finest and off-the-beaten-track cellar doors, including a visit to New Zealand's famous Gibbston Valley underground wine cave. Sample over 18 spectacular cool-climate wines, learning local stories, facts, and legends along the way.
Day 10: Glenorchy 4WD Safari, Depart Queenstown
On your final morning in New Zealand, you'll traverse the countryside searching for the filming locations that brought Tolkien's Middle-earth to the big screen on a Glenorchy 4WD safari. Today's off-road adventure will give you the chance to experience the otherworldly panoramic landscapes as you follow one of the South Island's most scenic drives. Look outside your window for brilliant views of the Southern Alps, and enjoy the ride as you explore "The Lord of the Rings" filming locations such as Isengard, Ithilien Camp, Lothlórien, Fangorn Forest, and the Battle of Amon Hen.
Later on, you'll hop back in the car for the final time and make your way to the airport to drop off your rental and catch your departing flight. Safe travels!
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