Breakfast at the hotel at your leisure. 

8:00 am - Auckland Sightseeing (Rangitoto Island Walk)

This morning, we will take the 5-minute walk to the ferry terminal to take the ferry and enjoy a beautiful hike up Auckland's youngest island and volcanic crater, Rangitoto. This Iconic Island in the heart of Auckland feels like a world away for the millions who call Auckland home. A climb through the pōhutukawa forest and lava fields gives way to panoramic views of Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf from the summit of this volcanic island.

Please wear appropriate footwear, and bring water and anything else you may need, as Rangitoto Island has nothing on there to buy! Return to Auckland in the afternoon. 

A packed lunch will be provided for you to take with you.

7:00 pm - Dinner at Orbit 360

Tonight, we will dine at Orbit 360, the Skytower's rotating restaurant with spectacular views of Auckland. 

Soaring high above Auckland, you'll discover Orbit, a truly iconic New Zealand brasserie offering diners sensational views - and food to match. Situated at the top of Auckland's Sky Tower, the dining room rotates once every hour, providing a truly unique experience with incredible 360-degree panoramas of the city, the Hauraki Gulf, and beyond.

Lodging:

Hilton Auckland

Breakfast at the hotel at your leisure. 

8:00 am - Auckland to Waiheke Island

This morning, we will ferry out to Waiheke Island to enjoy a guided tour of the Island and stop at several boutique wineries for tastings.

12:30 pm - Lunch at Three Seven Two, Waiheke Island

Three Seven Two is named for the first three numbers of the Waiheke phone number, and it's something of a metaphor for this cheerful beach spot right across the road from Onetangi. It's a sprawling space with a big dining room – terracotta tiles and blond wood chairs – and a big outdoor area of long tables under white tablecloths. The menu, by the excellent Bronwen Laight, is produce-driven and seasonal. 

We'll return to Auckland in the late afternoon and enjoy dinner at one of the beautiful waterfront restaurants that line the Viaduct Harbour.

7:00 pm - Dinner at White + Wong's

White + Wong's 'East meets West' cuisine takes classic street foods from China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand – the noodles, soups, curries, and delicious dumplings – and creates an eclectic menu to pick and choose from to suit.

Flavorsome massaman and red curry pastes made from scratch. Oysters and sashimi with freshly ground wasabi root. We're not purists, so if it's tasty, White + Wong's are steaming it, frying it, and serving it up fresh and fast. In some dishes, you'll find untouched classics like the bang bang chicken and BBQ pork buns, while in others, whole Peking Ducks, numbing & fragrant prawns, and BBQ meats are our take on Chinese street food, tweaked and re-imagined. White + Wong's brings big and fresh Asian flavors to the central viaduct right on the water.

Lodging:

Hilton Auckland

Breakfast at the hotel at your leisure. 

8:00 am - Depart Auckland for Rotorua

Today, we will bid farewell to the 'City of Sails' and head south to Rotorua, a hot spot for Māori culture and geothermal activity. En route, you will visit Hobbiton and The Shire's Rest, the only remaining film set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies.

The drive is about 3.5 hours (~250 km)

11:40 am - Hobbiton Movie Set Tour with lunch. Our Tour will begin at 11:40 am, followed by a meal in the Party Marquee at 1:40 pm. 

Experience the taste of the Shire™ with a delicious buffet lunch served in the Party Marquee. The painted canvas exterior, vibrant bunting, and colorful lanterns immerse visitors in the festive magic of the movies. The Party Marquee is adjacent to The Green Dragon™ Inn, with the garden bar seating overlooking the Hobbiton™ Movie Set, providing an exquisite view for all our guests. This meal is buffet-style from a specially themed table bursting with hobbit fare, with shared table seating to dine family-style with our group.  

Fall in love with the Alexander family sheep farm, just as acclaimed director Sir Peter Jackson did, as you journey through the unequivocal beauty of the land, with the mighty Kaimai Ranges towering in the distance. Our guide will then escort us around the set, showing the intricate detailing, pointing out the most famous locations, and explaining how the movie magic was made.

We will be fully guided around the 12-acre set, past Hobbit Holes™, the Mill, and into the world-famous Green Dragon™ Inn, where we will be presented with a complimentary, exclusive Hobbit™ Southfarthing™ beverage to conclude our Middle-earth™ adventure.

Arrive in Rotorua in the late afternoon, and perhaps you can experience a relaxing soak in the thermal waters of the famous Polynesian Spa (optional – extra cost).

7:00 pm - Dinner at a local restaurant

Lodging:

Regent of Rotorua Boutique Hotel

Breakfast at the hotel at your leisure. 

9:30 am - Waimangu Volcanic Valley + Lake Rotomahana Cruise

Discover the Waimangu Volcanic Valley and Lake Rotomahana with the Full Waimangu Experience. We'll enjoy beautiful walking & hiking trails woven through a natural geothermal ecosystem. Complete the experience with a 45-minute boat cruise around Lake Rotomahana, the final resting place of the Pink & White Terraces.

Our first stop for the day is Waimangu Volcanic Valley - a wonderland of geothermal activity. We will visit the world's largest hot spring, sinter terraces, and stunning hot and cold pools of many colors. We'll also enjoy a cruise above the once-famous Pink and White Terraces buried by the eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886.

1:00 pm - Lunch at Atticus Finch

Atticus Finch was created with your enjoyment in mind!

The Atticus Finch team will transform our dining experience into more than just a meal—a destination for lingering over lively conversation, playful plates, and thoughtful concoctions.

4:30 pm - Te Pā Tū - Tū Te Rā Summer Harvest Celebration

Pick-up from the hotel at 4:30 pm. 

Tū Te Rā is a summer celebration aligned with the maramataka – the Māori lunar calendar. This is when the sun expresses optimal energy, the days are longer, and light nourishes the natural world. Tū Te Rā celebrates the abundant harvest of this season and explores concepts, rituals, and stories of ancient Māori warfare and peace in a feast of culture and cuisine.

This four-hour evening is a feast of knowledge and divine seasonal kai (cuisine) in our forest Pā (sanctuary), with its tawa trees and crackling bonfires.

Kai horotai (morsels) welcomes guests with seasonal favorites that may include crispy pork and candied apple encased in kawakawa leaves, pāua (abalone), pickled pikopiko (native fern frond), smoked fish, ika mata (ceviche) and chilled kawakawa tea.

Within the forest-formed amphitheater, attention shifts to stories relayed through haka, song, and drama before torchlight guides manuhiri (guests) to an al fresco dining space with a three-course feast.

The famous hāngī shares a table with Māori fusion dishes developed and curated by celebrated Māori chefs, prepared by our ringawera (hot hands). If the weather is inclement, we serve dinner al fresco on warmer nights and in our wharekai (dining room).

Celebration Includes
 — Haka Pōwhiri
 — Four hours haka, song, connection
 — Forest kai horotai (summer season canapes)
 — Complimentary chef choice aperitif
 — Seasonal three-course dinner

Please note this is a cashless site, accepting all major credit and debit cards for bar purchases. 

Lodging:

Regent of Rotorua Boutique Hotel

Breakfast at the hotel at your leisure. 

Today's itinerary includes a private tour of the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves and a domestic flight to Queenstown, New Zealand.

321 km, 4 hours driving, 2-hour flight

9:30 am - Cave World Waitomo - Private Footwhistle Glow Worm Cave Tour

Our private guide will help enhance every aspect of our time at Footwhistle. After meeting the guide at the Caveworld office, we will enjoy an air-conditioned scenic shuttle to our family-owned cave. Our guide will bring the rich history of Waitomo to life, setting the scene for your journey into the earth. This tour will be about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Our tour begins with a short walk through breathtaking New Zealand bush, where you might catch a glimpse of our native NZ birds – part of the Caveworld conservation effort. Our guide will lead us down to the entrance of the cave, where, on this intimate tour, we will discover the beauty of the New Zealand Glowworm and learn about the cave formations and beauty of Footwhistle Cave (also known to local Maori as Te Anaroa Cave).

This tour is the perfect opportunity to take your Camera or tripod and take your time getting those unique shots. The environmentally conscious solar-powered lights are kept low so you can appreciate the magnificent Glowworm displays at their best, only inches away. 

As you journey through the cave, you will be delighted and amazed, always with the soothing sound of the Footwhistle cave stream flowing in the darkness below.

Complete the tour by enjoying a complimentary Kawakawa tea while you relax in our ponga hut nestled in native forests and surrounds. Please note that this tour could be challenging if you struggle with Claustrophobia. 

11:30 am - Lunch at Stoked Eatery

We'll take a slight 15-minute detour to the small town of Te Kuiti and enjoy a Set Munu lunch at Stoked Eatery!

Following this, we'll continue to Auckland, departing the North Island and flying south to New Queenstown. Queenstown is a beautiful town on Lake Wakatipu's shores and surrounded by the magnificent Southern Alps.

5:45 pm - Depart from Auckland Airport (AKL)

7:40 pm - Arrive at Queenstown Airport (ZQN)

8:30 pm - Dinner at Hilton Queenstown

Lodging:

Hilton Queenstown 

Breakfast at the hotel at your leisure.

9:00 am- Milford Sound Fly-Cruise- Fly

Take off from Queenstown and fly above the rugged backcountry of Central Otago before heading westward to where the glacial-fed rivers empty into Lake Wakatipu. Witness what the power of nature has created over the years as you journey over two remarkable National Parks: Mt Aspiring and the world heritage-listed Fiordland National Park.

Upon landing at Milford Sound Airport, you are welcomed to a view of Mitre Peak, standing tall at the head of the fiord. Surrounded by some of the most magnificent scenery in the world, you’ll board your Mitre Peak Cruises vessel and begin your voyage cruising the length of the 16km fiord out to the Tasman Sea. Listen to the informative commentary and interact with our hosts while enjoying the complimentary tea, coffee, and water onboard. 

Complete your journey with a scenic flight over the Southern Alps back to Queenstown. Be captivated by the breathtaking and awe-inspiring views that can only be experienced from the air.

7:00 pm- Dinner at a local restaurant

Lodging:

Hilton Queenstown 

Breakfast at the hotel at your leisure. 

Rated one of the world's "Top Ten Classic Hikes," the Routeburn Track is a must-do. It combines personal achievement with awe-inspiring scenery to make this trip unmissable. 

We will enjoy a relaxed pace stroll on the half-day walk ( Nature Trail to Bridal Veil Falls) through the breathtaking forest. Surrounded by rivers, waterfalls, and native birds, you will be transported to a world of peace. In other words, this is the ultimate alpine adventure. 

The famous Fergbaker will provide a packed lunch to take with you, including chicken sandwiches, sweet muffins, and a bottle of still water. Your guide will collect these fresh from Fergbaker this morning and pick up some fresh fruit and muesli bars for a snack.

5:45 pm - Skyline Queenstown - Gondola Return 

We plan to arrive at the Gondola base (53 Brecon Street) by 5:00 pm to ensure sufficient time to collect our tickets and take the Gondola to the top of Bob's Peak. 

We'll take a scenic ride in the iconic Skyline Gondola and enjoy the stunning views as we ride the steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere! We'll be carried 480 meters above Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu to the top of Bob's Peak, where we'll enjoy a spectacular 220-degree panorama with breathtaking views of Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Walter and Cecil Peak, and, of course, Queenstown.

At the top, we'll enjoy a sumptuous dinner experience at Skyline's Stratosfare Restaurant & Bar. As you dine, the floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, and the surrounding mountains will captivate your day. Please note this is a buffet dinner. 

Lodging:

Hilton Queenstown 

Breakfast at the hotel at your leisure. 

This morning, we will visit one of Lake Wanaka's five islands. Mou Waho Island is the most remote and beautiful. With its steep rocky coastline, small secluded beaches, diverse birdlife, and a hidden lake (Arethusa pool), which sits atop the island. 

We'll depart the hotel as a group and meet at the boat at the jetty next to the Marina on Lakeside Road 1 at 8:50 am. 

9:00 am - Mou Waho Island Cruise and Nature walk (~4 hours)

A visit to Mou Waho Island offers the perfect combination of a lake cruise, nature walk, wildlife encounter & outstanding panoramic views. A thirty-minute cruise takes us to this nature reserve in the middle of Lake Wanaka, surrounded by stunning alpine vistas.

Once on Mou Waho Island, your eco guide points out the varied native plants and birdlife, including the rare Buff Weka, a very curious flightless bird (extinct on mainland NZ since 1920)

A one-hour guided bush walk on return is included, which takes you up to reveal the island's secret – a serene lake right on top of the island! Unique and very photogenic (Optional). Or you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the birdlife at the beach and shelter at the island base with your own morning or afternoon tea.

Please note:

Wear good walking shoes and bring a water bottle, day backpack, hat, or rain jacket, depending on the weather. Also, bring any medications you may require on the tour, e.g., EpiPen for allergies.

Following this, we will enjoy a wine tour with Wanaka Wine Tours. This small group wine tour offers a relaxed and personal introduction to the wines and scenery of the Central Otago region. This tour is a great way to explore award-winning vineyards hidden amongst the rugged landscape of Central Otago. 

1:30 pm - Wanaka Wine Tours - Boutique Central Otago Wine Trails

We will be picked up at 1:30 pm from the Lake Wanaka Isite, 103 Ardmore Street. 

Discover some of Wanaka and Central Otago's fabulous vineyards and scenery while meeting numerous characters that produce these gorgeous, award-winning wines. We'll take you to the little gems quietly making a big name for themselves with their dedication to creating the best possible wine. Here, you'll get up close and personal with the vineyard owners and winemakers. The Boutique Wine Tour includes tastings at three vineyards and a delicious barrel-cooked, 5-course banquet lunch, matched with five unique wines. Whether you are a complete wine novice or a dedicated wine connoisseur, we will ensure you have an enjoyable time!

6:30 pm - Dinner at Cardrona

Our in-house bar and restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and popular amongst house guests, locals, and visitors. Our focus is on serving traditional pub favorites with a twist, using the freshest seasonal produce from the region. Central Otago is home to some of New Zealand's top artisan food producers, and we endeavor to buy locally wherever possible. Our wine list features top-quality drops from some of the region's best wineries, and we have a selection of premier craft beers on tap.

Lodging:

Hilton Queenstown