New Zealand Magic

Kia ora and welcome to Christchurch, the ‘Garden City’ with a fresh, easy vibe. After arriving, take some time to do things your way. Stretch your legs in the riverside parks, browse the city centre or simply relax and reset after the flight. Tonight, meet your Travel Director and your fellow travellers for a friendly tour briefing and drinks. You’ll get the inside scoop on what’s coming up, plus a few handy tips to help you make the most of every stop. Then it’s an early night or a quick stroll. Your call.

Your South Island adventure kicks off with a classic. Board the TranzAlpine train and cruise towards Arthur’s Pass, rolling through tunnels and over viaducts with big views of snowy peaks, icy rivers and deep gorges. From there, head to Hokitika, the West Coast’s heritage hub and a great place to see pounamu, New Zealand greenstone. Then it’s onwards to Waiau (Franz Josef), gateway to the Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere (Franz Josef Glacier). Want the wow factor? Choose a scenic helicopter flight for a bird’s-eye view, and if the weather plays nice you may even land on the ice.

Today is packed with scenery and tasty pit stops. Travel over Haast Pass where waterfalls tumble beside the road and mountain backdrops keep showing off. The Southern Lakes region rolls into view with Lake Hāwea and Lake Dunstan looking seriously photogenic. You’ll pause at the Jones Family fruit stall to refuel with sweet, flavour-packed stone fruit. Then it’s onto Arrowtown, a former gold rush village with tree-lined streets and boutique shops that feel straight out of a film set. Later, arrive in Queenstown with Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables setting the scene for your next few days.

Queenstown is all about choice, so today you set the pace. Want fast and fun? Add a Choice Experience high-octane jet boat ride and feel the spray and speed. More into nature? Try another Choice Experience with a visit Kiwi Park to meet some of New Zealand’s feathered locals. Wine fans can sip their way through nearby vineyards. However you spend the day, be sure to be back in time for tonight’s highlight. Glide across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue dinner. Good food, great views, holiday sorted.

From the first moment today, nature takes charge. Travel past Mirror Lakes and through the dramatic Cleddau Valley as you make your way towards Milford Sound/Piopiotahi. This World Heritage-listed wonder delivers the goosebump moments, with towering cliffs and waterfalls creating a misty curtain across the fiord. Keep watch for dolphins, they’re often spotted here. After your cruise, journey back through Fiordland National Park where beech forests, meadows and gin-clear rivers shape the landscape. By evening, you’ll arrive in Te Anau, calm and beautiful on the edge of the South Island’s biggest lake. Breathe it in.

Start the morning with a lakeside stroll if you fancy it. Te Anau is at its best early, when the water is glassy and the air feels extra crisp. Then say goodbye to Fiordland’s forested slopes and roll on to Dunedin, often called the Edinburgh of the South. This city has a stylish, historic feel with plenty to explore. Spend the afternoon your way, maybe in art-filled lanes, local cafes or a cold one at Speight’s Brewery. You could also take a Choice Experience to visit grand Larnach Castle or head out to spot wildlife like seals and penguins. Your Travel Director will point you in the right direction.

No alarms if you don’t want them, time is on your side this morning. Take a relaxed wander through Dunedin, perhaps along George Street or around Otago University’s impressive grounds. If gardens are your thing, you can also seek out New Zealand’s oldest public gardens for a peaceful start. Then it’s on to Oamaru, known for its stately tree-lined streets and handsome limestone buildings that give the town a distinctive look. Grab a photo, browse a little and enjoy the change of pace before continuing inland. Tonight you’ll settle into Omarama, a small place with wide skies and a real ‘get away from it all’ feel.

This morning, the Canterbury Plains put on a show. Expect turquoise lakes, mountain peaks and small towns with plenty of character. Stop in Tekapo for an Indoor Dark Sky Astronomy Experience hosted by passionate Local Guides. It’s quiet, calm and the kind of night sky moment you’ll talk about long after the trip. Then it’s back to Christchurch where your Travel Director will guide you through the city’s comeback story on a sights tour. See the Transitional Cathedral, built largely from cardboard and view Tūranga, the striking gold-clad central library. You’ll feel the energy of a city that’s rebuilt with creativity and grit.

Hit the road towards Kaikōura, where dramatic coastline meets big ocean views. This is New Zealand’s marine wildlife centre, so keep your eyes peeled for seals lounging on the rocks or even a whale offshore if luck is on your side. Continue north as the scenery shifts again, skirting the pink-tinged crystallisation ponds of the Lake Grassmere Salt Works. Then arrive in Picton, a pretty seaside fishing village and your gateway to the Marlborough Sounds. Tonight is perfect for a relaxed dinner by the water and a slow stroll through town. Tomorrow brings a ferry crossing, so enjoy the calm while you’ve got it.

Today you swap wheels for water. Board the ferry and cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound, up the Tory Channel and across Cook Strait from the South Island to the North. Find a spot on deck and watch the inlets and forested hills slide by as you weave through the sounds. Then it’s into Wellington, New Zealand’s cool little capital with a serious cafe game and a lively creative streak. On arrival, enjoy a city sights tour to get your bearings. After that, you’re free to track down a great coffee, a tasty dinner spot or a hidden bar. Your Travel Director has the local tips.

The road north serves up classic New Zealand scenery, with Lake Taupō stretching wide and bright as you travel. Before long you’ll reach Rotorua, where steam rises from the earth and the air carries that unmistakable geothermal edge. Tonight, go deeper into Māori culture at Te Puia on the Te Pō Indigenous Experience. You’ll begin with an exhilarating performance inside the beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. Then see the powerful Pōhutu Geyser in action before sitting down to a buffet dinner of locally sourced, hāngī-inspired flavours.

Rotorua is made for choosing your own adventure. Choose a Choice Experience and ease into a slower day with a soak at Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa, perfect for tired legs and holiday mode. If you’re a film fan, today is also a great chance to join a Choice Experience to visit Hobbiton and step into the world of The Lord of the Rings. Even if you’ve never seen the films, the rolling farmland and cute details make it a fun countryside escape. Not sure what suits you? Your Travel Director can share tips for walks, viewpoints and local favourites. However you spend it, you’ll finish the day feeling recharged.

Time to chase some glow. Cross the Waikato region and head to the Waitomo Caves, where thousands of glowworms turn the darkness into a twinkling ceiling of light. You’ll cruise through limestone waterways and feel like you’ve stepped into another world. Then it’s onwards to Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest city and a place that loves its harbours. You’ll see why from a lookout at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, with boats and yachts adding sparkle to the water below. Tonight, enjoy a free evening to explore the waterfront, grab a bite or simply relax. Your Northland chapter starts tomorrow.

Farewell to the ‘City of Sails’ as you travel north to the Bay of Islands, where turquoise water wraps around more than 140 islands. It’s a beauty spot with real significance too. At the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, learn where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 between Captain William Hobson and Māori chiefs. Your Local Guide will bring the stories to life, often with a personal connection to the site. You’ll see the world’s largest ceremonial war canoe and a richly carved meeting house, and gain a deeper understanding of New Zealand’s history. The views are stunning, and the meaning runs deep.

Today is all about freedom and your Bay of Islands wish list. Go big with a Choice Experience up to Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua, travelling via the dreamy sweep of Ninety Mile Beach. Prefer to stay on the water? Cruise out to the iconic Hole in the Rock with a Choice Experience to enjoy island views, salty air included. You can also choose a tour of Russell to hear stories of early settlement and seaside life. Or keep it simple, find a great cafe, take a coastal walk and let the scenery do the work. Your Travel Director can help you pick what fits.

This morning you start heading south, with a handy stop in Whangārei along the way. It’s a quick snapshot of Northland life, where nature and modern culture sit side by side. Take a brief stroll, grab a coffee and enjoy one last hit of fresh coastal air. Then settle back in for the drive to Auckland, watching the landscapes shift as you return to the city. Tonight, raise a glass with dinner and drinks to toast your adventure from glaciers to glowworms and just about everything in between. Swap photos, swap stories and enjoy that end-of-trip glow with your travel mates.

It’s time to say haere rā to Auckland. If you’ve got a little spare time, squeeze in one last waterfront wander or a final flat white before you go. Then it’s onward to the airport with a camera roll full of highlights, from Milford Sound/Piopiotahi’s waterfalls to Rotorua’s steaming valleys and the jewel-blue Bay of Islands.