• Experience the geothermal wonders and Maori culture of Rotorua

• Take to the Whanganui River for an

• unforgettable wilderness adventure

• Discover the flavours of New Zealand’s local produce

• Enjoy an exhilarating zipline adventure

• through Kaikoura’s native forest

• Experience the wild West Coast, from glowworm

• caves to the iconic Pancake Rocks

• Kayak on the largest unmodified estuarine lagoon,

• feeding ground for thousands of wading birds

• Journey through the remote landscapes of the West

• Coast and Haast to beautiful Lake Wanaka

• Stay at historic Braemar Station and experience

• life on a working high‐country farm

• Enjoy the spectacular landscapes of Aoraki/

• Mt Cook and the Mackenzie Basin

I have done 3 trips with Venus Adventures under the guidance and leadership of Julie and loved every minute of them. I could never travel on my own and to have the company of ladies from all parts of the world, and such an experienced leader in Julie who makes everyone feel welcome and valued was fantastic. I am certainly looking forward to more adventures with this fabulous tour group. Many thanks.

Your adventure kicks off at midday, rolling south out of Auckland into the impossibly green Waikato countryside. First stop: Hamilton Gardens, a proper warm-up before the main event — an unforgettable evening in Middle-earth at Hobbiton, capped off with the spectacular Evening Banquet Tour. Round Shire doors, real hobbit gardens, and dinner like nothing you've had before. From there, it's off to your bed for the night.

Stay: Matamata — Broadway Motel or similar

Meals: D

Highlights: Hamilton Gardens • Scenic Waikato countryside • Hobbiton Movie Set • Dinner in the Shire

Buckle up for a day that throws geothermal drama, culture and nature at you all at once. After breakfast, head to Rotorua for an Airstream boat blast across Lake Rotoiti, then step into the otherworldly Waimangu Volcanic Valley, all steam vents and technicolour pools. There's a chance to try your hand at traditional flax weaving before the day closes out with a warm, memorable Maori home-hosted dinner — real hospitality, real stories.

Stay: Rotorua Jetpark or similar

Meals: B, L, D

Highlights: Lake Rotoiti Airstream boat adventure • Waimangu Volcanic Valley • Traditional flax weaving • Maori culture and storytelling • Home-hosted dinner

Start among giants — literally — at Rotorua's Redwood Forest, where the Redwoods Treewalk lifts you high into the canopy for a totally different view of the forest floor. Then it's south to Taupo, pausing beside the thundering Huka Falls before easing every muscle in the thermal waters of Wairakei Terraces.

Stay: Taupo — Anchorage Resort or similar

Meals: B, L

Highlights: Redwoods Treewalk • Huka Falls • Wairakei Terraces hot pools

Today we head towards the mountains and the Tongariro National Park. Meeting at a central location in Taupo, we’ll start with a short tour briefing, load up and head oƯ for a visit to the Tongariro National Park
Visitor Centre and a short walk. Depending on conditions and the group’s energy. We’ll finish in Ohakune with the option to explore one of the beautiful forest walks around the Mangawhero River.

Stay: Powderhorn Chateau

Meals: B, L, D

Highlights: Scenic Central North Island landscapes • Taihape gumboot throwing • Tongariro National Park • Mangawhero forest walks

The Whanganui National Park is a special place which was created to protect the upper reaches of the Whanganui River. Once an important transport route for both Maori and early European settlers, the river flows from Tongariro National Park to the Tasman Sea through wild lowland forests. Today’s excursion on the Whanganui River will be a truly memorable excursion. A short transfer to Pipiriki and we start our adventure with a 55 minute jet boat journey upriver 32 kms to the Mangapurua Landing, through an area of spectacular natural features with deep river gorges covered with lush native vegetation. From the drop off it’s an easy grade 40 minute walk following in the footsteps of the early pioneers along the old roadway to the “BRIDGE TO NOWHERE” . Here you will stop for lunch on this historical monument of a bygone era and learn the history from your local guide. The next part of your adventure is an easy grade canoe back down the Whanganui River to Pipiriki, through a landscape of remote hills and bush clad valleys. We’ll pass through the scenic gorge of the Manganui o te Ao River and the Ngaporo and Autapu rapids should provide some ‘gentle’ excitement. More exotic trees and farmland, an eel weir and the Paparoa rapid follow before reaching the boat ramp below Pipiriki village. A short transfer back to Ohakune for a second night.

Stay: Powderhorn Chateau

Meals: B, L

Leaving Ohakune behind, you'll roll south into the Wairarapa, possibly detouring through Taihape (the self-proclaimed Gumboot Capital of New Zealand) for a fun round of that quintessential Kiwi sport - gumboot throwing! Then it's a change of pace entirely — the charming wine village of Martinborough, with a relaxed vineyard lunch and tasting, before continuing on to Wellington.

Stay: West Plaza Hotel or similar

Meals: B, L

A full free day in the capital. Wander the cafés and galleries, dive into Te Papa, ride the cable car up for the views, or just find a good spot to watch the harbour go by. However you spend it, it's yours.

Stay: West Plaza Hotel or similar

Meals: —

An early start gets you across Cook Strait, and the ferry crossing itself is a highlight — the Marlborough Sounds unfold in front of you as a jaw-dropping welcome to the South Island. After lunch, the coastal road leads to Kaikoura, where you'll close the day with a walk along the dramatic Kaikoura Peninsula.

Stay: Sudima or similar

Meals: B

Highlights: Cook Strait and Marlborough Sounds • South Island coastal journey • Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway • Seabirds and marine life

A day built for adventure and indulgence in equal measure. Start with an adrenaline hit on the zipline, follow it with a visit to a local gin distillery, then spend the afternoon at Hapuku Kitchen's Forage & Feast experience — great food, good stories, and plenty of time to relax with the group.

Stay: Sudima or similar

Meals: B, D

Highlights: Ziplining adventure • Kaikoura mountain and coastal views • Local gin tasting • Forage & Feast experience

Early risers can head out on the water for a whale-watching excursion before the group turns inland toward the mountains. There's free time to explore the alpine village of Hanmer Springs, before finishing the day soaking in the hot pools at Maruia Springs, wrapped in nature and quiet.

Stay: Maruia Springs

Meals: B, D

Highlights: Optional whale watching • Hanmer Springs short walks • Maruia Springs hot pools and spa

Today is history and wild landscapes in equal measure. Reefton delivers a slice of gold-mining heritage, with the option of a gin tasting tied to the story of Little Biddy. From there, Charleston brings an underground adventure through glow worm caves, before the drive continues to Punakaiki, with time for a walk if the day allows.

Stay: Scenic Punakaiki Hotel

Meals: B, L, D

Highlights: Reefton historic gold-mining town • Little Biddy story and tasting • Blackwater tubing or glow worm cave experience • West Coast rainforest • Punakaiki coastline

If you haven't already, the famous Pancake Rocks and blowholes are the morning's first stop. From there, the West Coast unfurls in dramatic fashion, with time to explore the Pounamu Pathway and the town of Hokitika before continuing to Franz Josef.

Stay: Scenic Franz Josef or similar

Meals: B, D

Highlights: Pancake Rocks and blowholes • Pounamu Pathway • Hokitika • West Coast scenery

Glide across the glassy surface of Lake Mapourika by kayak, ringed by ancient rainforest and the towering Southern Alps. Head ashore for a walk through native forest, keeping an eye out for tui, kereru, fantails and whatever else the bush wants to reveal. The afternoon is yours — take a scenic flight, find a local walk, or simply sink into the hot springs.

Stay: Scenic Hotel or similar

Meals: B

Highlights: Mapourika Lake kayaking • West Coast rainforest • Glacier views • Optional scenic flight

The heart of Glacier Country, the Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier, offer the most accessible rivers of ice in the world, plunging down through rainforest almost to sea level. This morning, depending on the
weather, we’ll pick from one of several hikes in the area to experience this dynamic, glacial environment.Then comes one of New Zealand's great scenic drives: the Haast Pass, cutting through rainforest, alpine tussock, lakes and mountains on the way to Wanaka, your base for the next two nights. Round out the day with an optional Mt Iron walk or a relaxed local bite by the lake.

Stay: Clearbrook or similar

Meals: B, L, D

Highlights: Southern Alps • Haast Pass • Spectacular waterfalls • Lake Wanaka views

After breakfast at a local café, a guide drives you roughly 90 minutes to the trailhead of the Rob Roy Glacier Track. The path winds through beech forest, waterfalls and a lush undergrowth of ferns and moss, opening up at the tree line to alpine views of hanging glaciers beneath Mount Rob Roy. It's a gradual, mostly uphill walk — and watch your snacks, the local kea (mountain parrots) have sticky fingers. Back in Wanaka by late afternoon, the evening is free to explore your guide's local favourites.

Stay: Clearbrook or similar

Meals: L

The road to Queenstown runs through historic Arrowtown, where you can try your luck at gold panning before wandering its charming streets, shops and cafés. Once in Queenstown, ride the Skyline Gondola for sweeping views, take on an optional luge run, or simply raise a cocktail to the lake before dinner.

Stay: Blue Peaks or similar

Meals: B, D

Highlights: Arrowtown historic gold-mining village • Gold panning • Queenstown Skyline Gondola, luge rides and cocktails • Lake and mountain views

A day entirely on your terms. Sleep in and browse the town's cafés and outdoor shops, or lean into Queenstown's reputation as New Zealand's adrenaline capital: bungy jumping, jet boating, rafting, ziplining, off-road driving, mountain biking, hiking — with mountains, lakes and trails all around, there's no shortage of ways to fill the day.

Stay: Blue Peaks or similar

Meals: —

Leaving Queenstown, the road winds north through the wide-open Mackenzie Country toward Aoraki/Mount Cook — a rugged world of ice and rock best explored on foot. The Hooker Valley Track follows the Hooker River across three swingbridges, past icebergs and glaciers, to a lake with front-row views of Aoraki/Mount Cook and the Mueller Glacier on a clear day. Tonight, you'll sleep in the village itself, with the sunset lighting up the surrounding peaks.

Stay: Hermitage or similar

Meals: B, L, D

The final leg brings more spectacular scenery, tracing the edge of Lake Pukaki through the Mackenzie Basin. Stop at a local high-country farm station for a genuine, behind-the-scenes look at life on the land — the history, the landscape, the day-to-day of working New Zealand farming — and a chance to meet the people who call this place home. In Lake Tekapo, visit the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd before continuing to Geraldine for a final taste of local produce and lunch at Barkers. The day, and the trip, closes with a celebratory dinner in Christchurch — time to swap stories, toast new friendships and reflect on twenty unforgettable days.

Stay: Sudima or similar, Christchurch

Meals: B, L, D

Your Epic New Zealand adventure is over! What an incredible journey it has been! With bags full of beautiful gifts and souvenirs, and a phone full of stunning photos, it is time to depart this amazing little country at the bottom of the world!