New Zealand Winter Discovery - 14 Days

Day 2: Full Day at The Remarkables Ski Field

Every ski field is blessed with magnificent views, but the vistas from The Remarkables might be the best in New Zealand. Today you'll hit the slopes of the famous mountain range, which overlooks Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu. The NZSki Bus will pick you up at the hotel and return you at the end of a huge day, navigating a great network of wide, gentle slopes and mega mountain runs. If you're a beginner, there's a great first-timer package that includes a full-day group lesson, a lift pass, and all the gear so you can find your feet and have a blast.

Located just 45 minutes from Queenstown, The Remarkables is a laid-back ski resort that offers something for everyone, with an almost even mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced terrain. While on the mountain, make sure you take a spin on the purpose-built snow tubing lanes before warming up with a steaming hot chocolate at Remarkables Café.

Day 3: Shotover River Canyon Jet Boat Ride, TSS Earnslaw Farm Tour & Dinner

Lean into the thrills of Queenstown and kick off your day with an exhilarating trip through the Shotover River Canyon in a high-speed jet boat that seems to defy gravity. Take a ride on "Big Red" through the spectacular canyon walls of the upper Shotover River. You'll gasp in amazement as your jet navigates 46 miles (75 km) of rapids and narrow twists and turns.

Reward your bravery with a leisurely lunch cruise across the breathtakingly beautiful Lake Wakatipu aboard "The Lady of the Lake." The historic TSS Earnslaw steamship will take you to the lakeside gardens of Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet lunch by the water. Soak up the alpine scenery at the homestead and watch as chefs prepare a seasonal bounty of succulent meats cooked on the outdoor rotisserie and a selection of delicious vegetables and salads. Enjoy desserts and New Zealand cheeses before the return cruise, complete with a singalong from the ship's pianist.

Day 4: Milford Sound / Piopiotahi Full-Day Adventure

Today, you'll experience the world-famous Milford Sound / Piopiotahi from the air and the water. From your glass-roofed bus, you can gaze up at the rocky mountains as you travel along Milford Road. Be mesmerized by the reflective Mirror Lakes, and quench your thirst with pristine glacial water at Monkey Creek. Travel through Homer Tunnel, carved out of solid rock, and marvel at The Chasm, a series of uniquely shaped rocks and potholes formed by erosion. Eventually, you'll descend through the Cleddau Valley into Milford Sound / Piopiotahi.

Board a small boutique boat to enjoy views of Mitre Peak and towering cliffs. Cruise past rugged cliffs covered in native rainforest, with powerful waterfalls that tumble down into the fjord. Keep a look out for seals, dolphins, and penguins in the waters below. The return journey to Queenstown is equally rewarding. Board a 45-minute scenic flight and soar over the glacially carved valleys of the sound and Fiordland National Park. Closer to Queenstown, enjoy a bird's-eye view of the rugged Central Otago region.

Day 5: Drive to Aoraki / Mount Cook, Stargazing Experience

Your epic road trip across New Zealand begins today with a three-hour drive to Aoraki / Mount Cook. New Zealand's highest peak, Mount Cook, measures 12,315 feet (3,754 m) and is also known by its Māori name Aoraki, which means "Cloud Piercer." It's one of 20 peaks in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Collect a rental car in town, then make your way east over the historic Kawarau Bridge. If you haven't already, stop to bungee jump from the bridge (if you're game!) or watch others throw themselves off.

Travel through Lindis Pass, one of New Zealand's highest roads, with the summit reaching 3,185 feet (971 m), into the Mackenzie Basin. The towns of Ōmarama and Twizel are the last stops before you arrive at Lake Pukaki and take the Mount Cook Highway along the shores to the village. Finally, you'll arrive in Aoraki / Mount Cook. In town, stop for a buffet dinner at the Alpine Restaurant in the Hermitage Hotel.

When darkness falls, make the most of the International Dark Sky Reserve. Renowned for their clear, star-studded skies, the Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park and nearby Mackenzie Basin offer an astronomical night to remember. Join a tour to use state-of-the-art telescopes and have your guide explain the constellations, planets, the Milky Way, and faraway galaxies.

Day 7: International Antarctic Centre, Progressive Māori Dinner Tour

This morning, you'll go behind the scenes at a penguin habitat and penguin welfare center, the International Antarctic Centre. Explore off-limits areas and find out what it takes to keep these little stars happy while learning about their daily routines, penguin feeding and husbandry, and the long-term goals of the program. Your pass includes general admission, so you can also visit "Antarctica" with the snow and ice experience and survive an Antarctic storm.

This evening, you'll embark on a unique gastronomic experience that connects Christchurch's booming culinary scene with Māori culture. Over three hours, you'll enjoy a progressive dinner with drinks across the city, led by a local host. From sophisticated vineyards to artisan distilleries, get ready to immerse yourself in the city's stirring foodie scene like never before. As you explore, your host will share tales and popular Māori phrases with this sensory-rich experience.

Day 8: Drive to Kaikōura via Hanmer Hot Springs

Cross the rolling hills of North Canterbury's major wine region, the Waipara Valley, this morning as you head toward the spectacular Kaikōura coast, about 2.5 hours north. Allow time for a detour and visit Hanmer Springs for a dip in the mineral hot pools. Continue on and cross the Hawkswood Range before descending to the Kaikōura coastline, where the road hugs the ocean for the last leg of the drive.

Kaikōura draws in huge numbers of visitors each year for its abundant sea life, which thrives in the local icy waters. Unlike other popular sea-watching spots, Kaikōura's whales, seals, and dolphins tend to visit year-round, so you may be able to spot them from a boat trip no matter when you visit. 

Day 9: Kaikōura Whale Watching Tour, Drive to Picton

This morning, sail the South Pacific on a special catamaran designed for whale watching. During your 3.5 hours on the water, you'll be looking for giant sperm whales and will likely also spot fur seals and dusky dolphins leaping through the waves while albatross swoop overhead. Depending on the season, you might also catch southern right, pilot, or blue whales and, if you're lucky, migrating humpbacks. When you return to dry land, jump back behind the wheel and follow the coast to Picton, located at the top of the South Island.

As you leave Kaikōura, you'll take in the scenic shoreline and keep a lookout for native wildlife as you go. Stop to see fur seals at Ohau Point and take a quick stroll inland to glimpse the pups playing in the waterfall upstream. Continuing on, you'll have the ocean on one side, and the Kaikōura ranges on the other before traversing the dry hills of Marlborough, New Zealand's largest wine-producing region. Visit one of the vineyards surrounding Blenheim for a wine tasting or a gourmet lunch before beginning the final leg of your journey to Picton. On arrival, return your rental car and settle in for the night.

Day 13: Drive to Auckland via Hobbiton & Waitomo 

Today, you'll drive three hours north to Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. Your scenic journey passes through J.R.R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth and the Hobbiton Movie Set, where you'll explore Bilbo's house and drop into the Green Dragon Inn to sip ale, cider, or ginger beer. The next stop is the Waitomo Glowworm Caves to discover an ancient world 30 million years in the making. Glide through the starry wonderland of the Glowworm Grotto and experience a serene ambience like no other under this galaxy of tiny living lights.

Back on the road, you'll continue north through lush Waikato dairy farms and over the Bombay Hills to Auckland. 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." Use the rest of your afternoon to explore this urban playground. For supreme views of the city, scale the 1,075-foot (328 m) Sky Tower with its dizzying observation deck, or make your way to Mount Eden, one of its 48 volcanic cones.

Day 14: Depart Auckland

Your epic adventure to New Zealand has come to an end. If you have time before your flight, use your morning to take a walk through the city or soak in one of the nearby beaches. When the time is right, drive to Auckland Airport with enough time to return the rental car ahead of your departing flight. Safe travels!

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to New Zealand? Check out these other New Zealand itineraries, explore different ways to spend two weeks in New Zealand, or discover the best time to visit New Zealand.