Depart USA

Depart the USA on the Wednesday, October 8. You will arrive in New Zealand on Friday, October 10 local time due to time difference and crossing the international date line. Sorry if your birthday is October 9!

Auckland, New Zealand

Kia Ora and welcome to Auckland, New Zealand! Kia Ora (literally means “be well/and Healthy” and is translated as an informal "hi" in the Māori Language). Upon arrival, meet with your guide and transfer to your hotel accommodation. Free day at leisure. 

Auckland City Highlights

Today, experience the best sights of Auckland City! Some of the highlights include the Harbour Bridge, Waterfront, Mission Bay, Tamaki Drive, Savage Point, Parnell Rose Park and Village, Auckland Domain and Gardens and City Centre. We will also visit the Auckland War Memorial Museum. This is where exciting stories of New Zealand’s people, the flora and fauna, and landforms of New Zealand's unique islands are told within a memorial dedicated to those who have sacrificed their lives for their country. In one of New Zealand's most outstanding historical buildings, you will encounter exhibitions that will excite you with the artistic legacy and cultures of the peoples of the Pacific. 

If time permits, we will visit the Auckland New Zealand Temple Site. We will then continue to the iconic Sky Tower of Auckland. Access to the observation deck and to the level where the restaurants are located is via three elevators with a glass front wall, and one with a glass floor.

Auckland - Hamilton - Matamata - Rotorua

This morning after breakfast, you will depart to Hamilton to have a visit the Hamilton New Zealand Temple. After the visit, we continue the journey to Rotorua via Hobbiton. Experience the real Middle-earth™ at the Hobbiton Movie Set, where, in the heart of the Waikato region, you can step into the lush pastures of the Shire™, as seen in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies! You will be fully guided on a walking tour through the Shire, journey past Bag End, explore the inside of our newly completed Hobbit Hole™ on Bagshot Row and into the world-famous Green Dragon™ Inn, where you will be presented with a complimentary, exclusive Hobbit™ Southfarthing™ beverage to conclude your own Middle-earth adventure.

Then on to ROTORUA - located on a volcanic plateau, and formerly a spa town, Rotorua is most famous for its geothermal activity. Rotorua is the main place in New Zealand where aspects of Maori traditions can be seen, from wood carvings, and meeting houses, and Maori dances. Native and introduced tree species abound locally and combined with several picturesque lakes, Rotorua is a fascinating mix of culture and nature.

Rotorua - Waitomo - Rotorua

Leaving Rotorua in the morning, travel through lush farmland to the small town of Waitomo in the King Country. Next we'll take a 45-minute guided tour through the world-famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves, which were discovered in 1887 and are now one of New Zealand’s most popular tourist attractions. See vaulted caverns, stalactites and stalagmites and hear how these limestone formations were created over millions of years. Your tour ends with a boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto, a subterranean cavern illuminated by the lights of thousands of tiny glowworms – it’s magical! 

After your Waitomo Caves tour, we retrace our steps and return to Rotorua. Tonight, we will have a Te Puia e Po - Indigenous Evening Experience Te Pō is an intimate time for sharing knowledge and is also Te Puia’s authentic evening cultural experience - a feast of food, culture and friendship. Te Pō begins with our mouth-watering buffet with locally sourced cuisine and an authentic Māori twist in each dish. Following dinner, you will experience the exhilarating pōhiri (ceremonial welcome) into our beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. Enjoy the beauty and power of traditional waiata (song), mōteatea (chants), poi and haka. Then travel into the geothermal valley on our 36-seat electric passenger shuttle for a hot chocolate upon our naturally heated rock-seating overlooking the dramatically lit Pōhutu Geyser.

Rotorua

Today explore Rotorua city and its surrounding areas. Highlights include Lake Rotorua, Redwood Forest and Government Gardens. Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland Admission into New Zealand's most colorful natural volcanic area. Thousands of years in the making but only 20 minutes’ drive south of Rotorua. Nested with a natural bush setting, walks through this unique volcanic area take between 30 and 75 minutes. 26 key natural features including the world-famous, multi-colored Champagne Pool. After your gondola ride to the top of Mt Ngongotaha, enjoy a premium buffet lunch at Skylines Stratofare Restaurant and Bar. Rotorua's best dining experience features a stunning array of freshly prepared and cooked to order dishes highlighting locally sourced seafood, meat and produce.

Rotorua - Fly - Christchurch

After breakfast, meet with your driver today at hotel lobby and transfer to airport for your domestic flight to Christchurch. Domestic airfare is included! Upon arrival at Christchurch, meet with your driver and guide. Today explore Christchurch and its surrounding areas. Highlights include Botanic Gardens, Canterbury Museum, Cathedral Square, and Christchurch CBD.

Christchurch - Tranz Alpine - Greymouth

Today you will board the TranzAlpine scenic train departing from one coast of New Zealand and arriving at the other. Your train journey is 223.8 kilometres long and takes just four and a half hours. There are 16 tunnels, and 5 viaducts, the highest being the Staircase standing at 73 metres. From your carriage you’ll see the fields of the Canterbury Plains, beautiful gorges and river valleys of the Waimakariri River. The spectacular Southern Alps and the lushness of Beech rain forest. An open-air viewing carriage allows you to get even closer to the stunning scenery and provides many opportunities to photograph your favourite spots. There’s a lot to look forward to before arriving at your destination. Upon arrival, meet with your driver and transfer to Franz Josef via Hokitika

Franz Josef - Wanaka - Queenstown

This morning, we head out of Franz Josef and follow an ancient greenstone trail. View the sheer drop of Thunder Creek Falls and the grand sight of Mt Hooker, flanked on three sides by extensive glaciers. Travel over Haast Pass, marking a change from the rainforest marvel of the wild West Coast to the alpine scenery of the Southern Lakes. From here you will travel further into Central Otago. View Lake Wanaka, where the shoreline is charmingly lined by poplars and willows, followed by the vivid blue waters of Lake Hawea. It is a day of gorgeous lakes, as after Hawea you will travel over to Cromwell, situated next to the sparkling pristine waters of Lake Dunstan. Stop in at a local orchard for a taste of some of the town's delicious stone fruit then continue your journey to Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand. Time permits you to visit a glacier lookout.

Queenstown - Milford Sound Cruise - Queenstown

Transfer to Milford Sound on private vehicle. On arrival at the Milford Wharf, board your Real NZ vessel for your cruise of Milford Sound. The cruise takes in the length of Milford Sound, and offers excellent viewing of waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife. After the cruise excursion, return to Queenstown.

Queenstown City Sightseeing Highlights

This morning we start our Queenstown Highlight tour! Some of these highlights include Arrowtown, View Bungy Jumping, and Lake Wakatipu. Take the 40-minute TSS Earnslaw boat ride across Lake Wakatipu to the shores of Walter Peak High Country Farm. Get off the boat and discover the workings of the farm. Strolling through the property's idyllic lakeside gardens offers fantastic views of the lake and mountains. Fuel up at the farm with a delicious BBQ lunch. Be entertained by the farm demonstration, see the farm dogs at work before returning by steamboat across the lake. 

Queenstown - Mount Cook - Tekapo

After breakfast we will depart to Tekapo via Cromwell, Mackenzie and Mount Cook. After lunch, you may have time to do a self-guided walk at Hooker Valley. We'll Take a boat cruise on the Tasman Glacial Lake and experience the enormity of NZ's largest glacier as you weave in and out of floating icebergs. This is the only tour of its kind in New Zealand and one of the only accessible glacial lakes containing icebergs in the world. It’s a surreal and mesmerizing experience in a totally unique environment. No two days are the same on the Tasman Lake with a constant shifting of conditions, which simply adds to the magic of this very special place. This tour is designed to both thrill and educate as you learn about the ever-changing glacial landscape. With the effects of climate change and other climatic processes taking their toll on New Zealand glaciers, their retreat is sadly imminent. The lateral moraines remind us of the grand scale that the glacier has reached in previous times. Icebergs of every shape and size periodically tear away from the face of the glacier into the rapidly growing lake. It’s difficult to predict when a calving will take place but it’s possible you will witness one whilst you’re on a tour – a spectacular sight.

Lake Tekapo - Christchurch

Enjoy a relaxed start before heading north through South Canterbury, visit the charming boutique village of Geraldine as you travel through to Christchurch. On arrival at Christchurch, free day at leisure to explore the downtown. 3 course dinner is included at Curator's House Restaurant.

Depart Christchurch - Salt Lake City

Wish New Zealand goodbye today after breakfast after we check out from the hotel. Meet your driver at the hotel lobby and transfer to Christchurch Airport for our departure flight back to the USA. Kakete ano! (Farewell and safe travels!)