With all the activities you can choose from in each country, then you want to make the most of the chance to lose your breath. Across three weeks on two islands you can hike, kayak, cycle across this diverse land. There's also time for boat cruises and local culture, just to be sure you don't miss out on anything.
Itinerary
Day 1 Auckland
Arrive at any time.
Day 2 Hahei
Enjoy a morning cycle through Karangahake Gorge, then travel onto Hahei for the afternoon.
Day 3 Rotorua Marae
Visit a geothermal area with boiling mud and hotpools. After a traditional greeting on the Marae, learn the traditional arts of the Haka and Poi before a traditional Hangi dinner.
Day 4 National Park
Conquer the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, New Zealand's top-rated 1-day trek. Spend the afternoon on an active volcano.
Day 5 Whanganui River Camp
Canoe along the Whanaganui River to your overnight camp, in the heart of Whanganui National Park. Enjoy a dinner of food taken from the wild.
Day 6 Snowy Waters Lodge
Continue along the Whanaganui River by jet boat visiting old Maori and European settlements before continuing onto Snowy Waters Lodge by bus.
Day 7 Wellington
Transfer to Wellington. Visit the Te Papa Museum before a free evening.
Day 8 Abel Tasman
Transfer by ferry to the South Island. Transfer by water taxi into Abel Tasman National Park
Day 9 Marahau
Sea kayak through Abel Tasman to Marahau.
Day 10 Paparoa National Park
Transfer to Paparoa National Park, before a trek in the park. Overnight on the edge of the Paparoa National Park.
Days 11-12 Franz Josef
Transfer to Franz Josef, stopping at Okarito lagoon en route. Day 12 is free for optional activities in Franz Josef such as glacier trekking.
Day 13 Makarora
Transfer to Makarora, where there are a variety of optional activities available. Options include hiking, jet boat excursion and scenic flights.
Day 14-15 Queenstown
Travel through into the heart of Central Otago, stopping at the resort town of Wanaka. Continue onto the “adventure capital of the world”, Queenstown, in time for an afternoon of optional activities such as from bungee jumping (in its birthplace), jet boating (also born here!), sky diving, rafting, mountain biking, hang gliding, and so much more!
Day 16 Milford Sound
Continue to the fjords of the South Island. Enjoy the stunning scenery of Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound from the deck of a boat.
Day 17 Te Anau
Continue onto Te Anau where you can explore the area surrounding the South Islands largest lake with the option to hike, bike or explore the Te Anau glowworm caves.
Day 18 Central Otago
Cycle the Rail Trail, a route created specially for mountain biking. Cycle through scenery unspolied by traffic and not visible from any roads.
Day 19 Christchurch
Drive through breathtaking central Otago via the Lindis Pass & Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak arriving in Christchurch for the evening.
Day 20 Kaikoura
Transfer to Kaikoura, with optional of whale or dolphin watching in the afternoon.
Day 21 Wellington
Transfer to Picton, visiting a seal colony along the way before taking the ferry back to Wellington where the tour ends upon arrival. Onward travel can be booked after 8pm.
What's Included
- Cycling through Karangahake gorge
- Traditional Hangi dinner
- Tongariro Alpine Crossing walk
- Jet boat and canoeing along Whanganui River
- Wild food dinner
- Te Papa Museum
- Ferry crossing to South Island
- Water taxi to Abel Tasman
- Sea kayak in Abel Tasman
- Trek in Paparoa National Park
- Cruise on Milford Sound
- Cycling the Otago Rail Trail
- 20 breakfasts, 5 dinners. (Allow NZD300-400 for meals not included.)
- Private bus, jet boat, canoe, walk, cycle, sea kayak, ferry, water taxi
- Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides.
- Small group experience; Max 16, avg 12
- Hostels (14nts), hotels (2 nts), camp (3 nts), Maori village (1 nt, multi-share).
Trip Specifics
- Start / Finish: Auckland to Wellington
- Duration: 21 days
- Trip Code: ONAP
- Price: £3459 (available to book in other currencies)
