Highlights
- Take a boat ride through a North Island grotto lit by thousands of tiny glowworms
- Ascend the Southern Alps' highest pass via the TranzAlpine train
- Skirt sparkling lakes and soaring mountains as you drive toward Queenstown
- See the remote Milford Sound / Piopiotahi by boat and fixed-wing plane
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Auckland, Harbor Cruise & Sky Walk | Auckland |
| Day 2 | Transfer to Rotorua via the Waitomo Caves & Glowworm Grotto | Rotorua |
| Day 3 | Explore Geothermal Rotorua's Hot Springs & Geysers | Rotorua |
| Day 4 | Fly to Historic Christchurch, Stroll the Botanical Gardens | Christchurch |
| Day 5 | Day Trip to Arthur's Pass with TranzAlpine Train & Lunch | Christchurch |
| Day 6 | Full-Day Drive to Queenstown, New Zealand's Adventure Capital | Queenstown |
| Day 7 | Scenic Boat & Plane Trip Across Milford Sound / Piopiotahi | Queenstown |
| Day 8 | Free Day in Queenstown, Evening Steamboat Cruise & Farm Dinner | Queenstown |
| Day 9 | Depart Queenstown |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Auckland, Harbor Cruise & Sky Walk
Kia ora and welcome to New Zealand's North Island! Your driver will be waiting at Auckland's airport to transfer you to your hotel. Take some time to relax before heading out to explore New Zealand's largest city, which sits on a narrow strip of land surrounded by the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean. With two bustling harbors, it's not hard to see why Auckland is nicknamed the "City of Sails."
Start by strolling around the flower-filled Wintergardens and learn about the city's Polynesian and European roots at the Auckland Museum, or see the city from the water as you cruise around Waitemata Harbour and spot the most well-known city landmarks. For supreme views from a different vantage point, scale the 1,075-foot-tall (328 m) Sky Tower with its dizzying observation deck. When hunger calls, return to the ground to delve into the city's world-class dining scene.
Day 2: Transfer to Rotorua via the Waitomo Caves & Glowworm Grotto
In the morning, you'll leave Auckland on a guided bus tour and drive through the lush farmland of the Waikato and King Country regions to Waitomo. Here, you'll enjoy a tour through the world-famous Waitomo Caves, then take a silent boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto—a subterranean cave illuminated by thousands of tiny glowworms. A delicious picnic-style lunch will sate your appetite on your way to Rotorua.
Your next stop will be the Agrodome, an organic working farm where you can learn about farming in New Zealand. Take a tour of the Agrodome farm in an all-terrain vehicle, see how sheep are shorn, and watch a live sheepdog trial. From here, it's on to Te Puia, one of New Zealand's best cultural venues. At Te Puia's marae, you'll receive a traditional welcome and experience a Māori cultural performance, where ancient and modern stories will be told through song, dance, poi, and stick games.
Later, you'll take a guided tour of Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley's active geysers and boiling mud pools, where you can see the world-famous Pohutu Geyser unleash vapor jets up to 98 feet (30 m) high. It's then back to your Rotorua accommodation for the night for a well-deserved rest.
Day 3: Explore Geothermal Rotorua's Hot Springs & Steaming Geysers
Today, you'll have free time to explore Rotorua at your own pace. The geothermal area is peppered with natural hot springs, mud pools, and geysers, thanks to its location within one of the world's most active volcanic regions. The surrounding area also has many redwood forests with accessible trails suitable for hikers and mountain bikers of all abilities. For thrill-seekers, head to Velocity Valley Adventure Park for stomach-dropping attractions, like static skydiving or a giant swing reaching a speed of 80 miles (130 km) per hour.
Alternatively, take a ride on the Rotorua Gondola for soaring lake views. You'll also find luge tracks, a high-adrenaline swing, a zipline, and panoramic dining options. Nature lovers can take an optional three-hour canopy tour accompanied by a guide through Rotorua's native forest and soak up sweeping views of the surrounding hills along the way. If relaxation is on your agenda, today is your chance to relax at the Polynesian Spa on the shore of Lake Rotorua. It's got four alkaline rock pools, each with different temperatures ranging from 96.8 to 107.6˚F (36 to 42˚C).
This evening, you'll enjoy an authentic cultural experience at the Mitai Māori Village and learn how Tamatekapua of the Te Arawa people migrated to the area through a dance display. Watch warriors in traditional dress paddle a waka (canoe) down the Wai-o-Whiro stream and visit the Fairy Spring, where you might spot glowworms. The tour includes a Polynesian hāngī meal, with meat and taro slow-cooked in an earth oven.
Day 4: Fly to Historic Christchurch, Stroll the Botanical Gardens
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Enjoy one last breakfast in New Zealand's North Island before your driver collects you from your accommodation and transfers you to Rotorua Airport. Here, you'll board a flight to the South Island and New Zealand's second-largest metropolis, Christchurch. Once you've touched down in Christchurch and checked into your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to explore. See the city's virtual rebirth following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes as you explore the urban center's modern architecture, street art, cocktail bars, and buzzing restaurants.
The historic city is known for its green spaces like Hagley Park and the Botanical Gardens—it's nicknamed the Garden City, after all—so a stroll through one is always a good idea. For something more imbued with history, take a tour down the Avon River / Ōtākaro led by guides in Edwardian costume, or ride one of the city's 19th-century trams past Cathedral Square and the Canterbury Museum. If you have time, you could venture out to the Heathcote Valley, 15 minutes from the heart of the city, to ride the Christchurch Gondola into the collapsed rim of an extinct volcano.
Day 5: Day Trip to Arthur's Pass with TranzAlpine Train & Lunch
Start your morning early as you transfer to the Christchurch Railway Station and board the TranzAlpine train. You'll spend the next 2.5 hours experiencing one of the world's greatest rail journeys, traveling from east to west as you traverse the windswept Canterbury Plains, cut through deep river valleys, and enter Arthur's Pass National Park. Your ticket includes a premium breakfast served on board, and access to the open-air viewing carriage, where you can soak up the panoramic vistas as you ascend the Southern Alps to reach Arthur's Pass Village, the highest-altitude settlement in the country.
Here you'll disembark and spend some time exploring the village and its surrounding landscapes with your guide and small group, setting off on a series of nature hikes to spot impressive waterfalls (and the area's friendly kea birds) at a relaxed pace. Break for lunch in the village, then begin the return trip to Christchurch—this time traveling by van and taking your time as you wind your way eastward via a series of scenic stops like Castle Hill, where you can see the dramatic cluster of limestone rock formations known by the Māori as Kura Tāwhiti (Treasure From Afar).
Day 6: Full-Day Drive to Queenstown, New Zealand's Adventure Capital
Get ready for the next leg of your journey as you pick up a rental car and set off on an epic, six-hour road trip south to Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand. You'll start by crossing the pastoral Canterbury Plains, with the countryside becoming increasingly hilly as you leave Geraldine. As you follow the shores of Lake Pukaki, you'll be rewarded with extraordinary views of its turquoise waters and the mountainous Mount Cook National Park. Be sure to stop at the lookout and take a few photos of the 12,316-foot (3,754 m) Aoraki / Mount Cook from the lake's southern tip.
Pass through the lakeside town of Twizel, and pause in Ōmarama, where you can grab lunch at Wrinkly Rams, a local café serving food and beverages with a side of live sheepshearing. From here, you'll follow one of the country's highest roads, the tussock-lined Lindis Pass, then enter the Kawarau Gorge as you near Queenstown. Adrenaline junkies should stop at the Kawarau Bridge, home of the original bungee jump, before continuing toward the impressive Remarkables mountain range, Lake Wakatipu, and Queenstown itself.
Day 7: Scenic Boat & Plane Trip across Milford Sound / Piopiotahi
Rise bright and early for a full day discovering Milford Sound / Piopiotahi. The road from Queenstown to Milford is famed for its scenery, so it's worth trading your independence for a small group tour so you can sit back and take it all in. Beyond the usual highlights, your driver will make additional stops at off-the-beaten-path locations away from the tour bus crowds. You'll see Fiordland's golden tussock valleys, the Mirror Lakes, and plenty of alpine views along the way.
On arrival, switch to a small boat nature cruise and get up close to the rainforests and waterfalls of the fjord itself and the iconic Mitre Peak. As you glide through the fjord's pristine waters, keep your eyes peeled for seals, penguins, birds, and dolphins. Round off the day with a scenic 45-minute fixed-wing flight back to Queenstown, providing you with a birds-eye view of the fjord and its surrounding peaks. Take some time at your accommodation to rest and freshen up, then head into town—this busy resort has many restaurants and bars to suit every preference.
Day 8: Free Day in Queenstown, Evening Steamboat Cruise & Farm Dinner
Today is yours to explore Queenstown at your own pace. This is the self-proclaimed adventure capital, with plenty of opportunities for adrenaline-inducing activities like paragliding and bungee jumping. For more relaxing ways to spend the day, you can walk, jog, or bike around Lake Wakatipu. Then, check out nearby Arrowtown or brave the steep, winding trip to Macetown to learn more about New Zealand's 19th-century gold rush. The nearby resort town of Wānaka also makes for a popular day trip, and you can book a tour to re-live scenes from The Lord of the Rings.
For a bit of afternoon adventure, take an exhilarating ride through the Shotover River Canyons in a high-speed jet boat that seems to defy gravity. Be prepared to get wet as your jet navigates through 46 miles (75 km) of rapids and narrow twists and turns. Or, hop on the Skyline Gondola, one of the steepest cable car lifts in the Southern Hemisphere. Oenophiles can consider taking a tasting tour of boutique vineyards in Gibbston, Bannockburn, and Cromwell—three sub-regions known for their cool-climate wines.
This evening, celebrate the final evening of your trip as you step aboard the TSS Earnslaw steamship for a cruise across Lake Wakatipu to the Walter Peak High Country Farm. Here, enjoy a barbecue dinner featuring rotisserie-cooked meats, seasonal vegetables, and salads, followed by dessert and New Zealand cheeses. After the meal, step back on board the steamboat and join a sing-along with the ship's pianist as you cruise back toward the lights of Queenstown.
Day 9: Depart Queenstown
Your whirlwind adventure comes to a close today as you drive to the airport, drop off your rental car, and board your flight—catching some final mountain views as you depart. Safe travels!
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