Ultimate Thrillseeker, New Zealand Adventure Hotspots - Sample Itinerary

YOUR DAY

Guided: Upon arrival at Auckland Airport, a shuttle driver will be waiting for you as you clear customs. This driver will take you to your accommodation in the city. The day and night are free to spend at your leisure and your guide will meet you tomorrow morning.

Self Drive: Upon arrival at Auckland Airport you will collect your rental vehicle within the airport terminal. Make your way to your inner city accommodation where the day and night are free to spend at your leisure and prepare for the adventure ahead.

This afternoon/evening depending on your flight arrival time, we recommend taking on the Skyjump off New Zealand's tallst building - The Skytower! It’s the ultimate leap of faith – a jump from NZ’s highest building with nothing but a wire between you and the ground 192m down! SkyJump gives you 11 seconds of pure adrenaline as you plunge 53 floors down at a speed of 85kph. You’ll feel like a total boss when you stick the landing in SKYCITY Plaza (optional - not included)

YOUR DAY

250km, 3.5 hours driving

Today you farewell 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. You'll also enjoy a buffet style feast in the festive marquee next to the Green Dragon! 

Arrive in Rotorua in the late afternoon and perhaps explore Kuirau Park mud pool reserve and view the stunning government gardens and lakefront.

YOUR DAY

This morning you will enjoy the Ultimate Canopy Tour with Rotorua Canopy Tours. This is an unforgettable 3.5-hour Canopy Tour journey. Venture deep into the wilderness to experience prehistoric New Zealand forest at its best. 

Following this, the early afternoon is free for leisure activities. Options include: Rotorua Gondola and Luge, zorbing, a trip to The Buried Village of Te Wairoa or the spectacular Treewalk of the redwood forest. 

This evening you will enjoy an authentic cultural experience at Te Pā Tū (formerly Tamaki Māori Village). 

In the summertime, Te Pā Tū offers their Summer Harvest Celebration experience, "Tū Te Rā." Tū Te Rā is a summer celebration, aligned with the maramataka – the Māori lunar calendar. This is a time 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.

In the winter, Te Pā Tū offers their Winter Matariki Celebration experience, "Tū Te Ihi." Tū Te Ihi references the energy and passion stirred by the Matariki cluster and the promise they herald. Tū Te Ihi celebrates a moment in the earth’s cycle when the stars of Matariki (Pleiades) draw attention. Matariki conjures ancestors as we recall their legacy, and reflect on the year that has been.

YOUR DAY

This morning you will explore the untouched, sacred land of the Ngāti Pikiao tribe, in an intimate, private three-hour 4WD experience. Guided by a local and highly knowledgeable Māori guide, you’ll explore a stunning marae, landscapes and never-before-seen views that look over Rotorua’s lake district. En route, you’ll learn the myths and legends of the Māori people, their rich history and fascinating ways of life. 

This afternoon is free for leisure activities. Options include: Rotorua Gondola and Luge, zorbing, a trip to The Buried Village of Te Wairoa, or a visit to the spectacular Redwoods Treewalk! (all activities listed are optional – extra cost). 

Tonight you will enjoy a twilight kayak glowworm tour which will lead you along the shorelines of a beautiful lake during sunset/dusk en route to a small cavern home to a constellation of glow worms. Once it becomes dark you enter the cavern to be surrounded by a galaxy of glow worms. On your paddle home you will be guided to a series of another 3 small cave locations (weather dependent) before gazing at the stars if the sky as clear and making your way back to the beach you started from.

YOUR DAY

Your first stop for the day is Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland- a Wonderland of Stunning Geothermal Activity. You will visit New Zealand’s largest thermal mud pool, sinter terraces and stunning hot and cold pools of many different colours. 

Your next stop for the day is Waimangu Volcanic Valley - a Wonderland of Stunning Geothermal Activity. You will see the world's largest hot spring, sinter terraces and stunning hot and cold pools of many different colours. You'll also enjoy a cruise above the once famous Pink and White Terraces, buried by the eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886. 

This evening is free for leisure.

YOUR DAY 

322 km, 4 hours driving + 2 hour flight

This morning you return North to Auckland, stopping en route at the magical Waitomo. Waitomo is New Zealand’s most extensive underground caving network, and is best known for the Glow Worm Caves. Here you will take a 3 hour guided blackwater rafting tour (Black Labyrinth) through the spectacular Caves and see the impressive glow-worms that light up the cave roof. 

Following this, you continue to Auckland where you depart the North Island and fly south to New Queenstown. Queenstown is a beautiful town located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by the magnificent Southern Alps. 

Enjoy 4 nights in Queenstown.

YOUR DAY

47km, 1 hour 10 minutes return

This morning you will drive up to the top of the Remarkables mountain ranges to hit the slopes. The Remarkables are a superb place to test out the New Zealand conditions. This world-class ski field really lives up to its name! There are breathtaking views to be admired, both from the slopes and from look out spots on the drive, featuring 360-degree views of Queenstown and the lake below and also many sites used in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. The Remarkables features a fantastic network of progressive terrain parks with wide, gentle slopes for beginners of all ages and big mountain steeps for the experts in the family. This field also boasts purpose built snow tubing lanes. After a fantastic day skiing we will head back down to Queenstown where there is the opportunity to dine in one of Queenstown’s many fine lakefront establishments. Your ski package today includes lift passes & recreational skis/snowboard + boot & pole hire (Helmets additional. Goggles and gloves cannot be hired, only purchased).

Today in and around Queenstown there are many possibilities. It is a day entirely for your leisure. For the adventurous among us there is skydiving, bungy-jumping, paragliding and white water rafting. For those who prefer to take a more relaxed approach to the day a cruise on the 100 year old TSS Earnslaw steam ship or a walk alongside Lake Wakatipu are not to be missed!

YOUR DAY

Today you will drive out to the head of Lake Wakatipu and experience the breath-taking scenery of the Glenorchy area. 

Surrounded by magnificent snow-capped mountains, pristine lakes and rivers, ancient beech forests and at the edge of Mount Aspiring and Fiordland national parks, the frontier town of Glenorchy has provided the backdrop for many films, including The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Enjoy a funyaks experience which combines the thrill of a wilderness jet boat ride, and allows you to get even closer to the untouched wilderness with an unforgettable float downstream on an inflatable canoe (Funyaks!). Explore the dramatic landscape of this iconic UNESCO World Heritage Area – an untouched natural wonderland - with its pristine waters, hidden side streams and the ancient Rockburn chasm. 

Return to Queenstown late afternoon.

YOUR DAY

32km, 45 minutes driving return

Today we have another full day dedicated to hitting the powder. The beautiful Coronet Peak ski area is also nearby and sits above Arrowtown. Stunning high points and rolling trails offer seasoned skiers and snowboarders an experience to remember while the gentle lower slopes are perfect for beginners. Sitting at 1649m above sea level, don’t forget to take in the stunning views of the valley and surrounding snow capped peak. By the end of today’s ski run you should be really getting the hang of the kiwi ski style – both on and off the slopes! Perhaps enjoy the evening with a visit to Queenstown’s iconic Ice Bar or snuggle up in a cosy bistro in front of the fireplace.

YOUR DAY

Today you will enjoy Mountain biking on one of New Zealand's favorite Mountains. Coronet Peak's trails attract every level of rider offering wider, more flowy trails for beginners to runs filled with berms and expert features designed to challenge advanced riders. The views offered here are exceptional and with chair lifts to take you up, you won't be as puffed out at the end of the day! Tonight enjoy the night life of Queenstown. 

YOUR DAY

Today you have an extra day to explore Queenstown as there is so much to see and do! 

In the afternoon, take a trip to the top of the Skyline Gondola to see the town and surrounding mountains and Lake Wakatipu from the best vantage point. You will enjoy a scrumptious lunch atop the hill in the exclusive Stratosfare restaurant with breathtaking views over Lake Wakatipu across to The Remarkables. You will also get to Luge! Jump in your specialised Luge cart and enjoy a thrilling, gravity fuelled downhill ride. Take it easy on the blue track or zoom around the curves and over the bumps of the red track, then hop on the chairlift and do it all over again - once is never enough!

YOUR DAY

67 km, 1 hour and 30 minutes driving 

Today you will drive over the Crown Range to the picturesque lakeside town of Wanaka. En route you could visit Arrowtown, one of the key towns in the Central Otago Gold Rush of the 1860s. You can visit the historic Arrowtown Chinese Settlement and wander around the many boutique shops that the village has to offer. 

Cardrona is a one of New Zealand’s top family friendly ski and snowboarding areas with 345 hectares of superb powder and magnificent views. After a fantastic day skiing we will head back down to Wanaka where there is the opportunity to dine in one of Wanaka’s many fine lakefront establishments. Your ski package today includes lift passes & recreational skis/snowboard + boot & pole hire (Helmets additional. Goggles and gloves cannot be hired, only purchased). The afternoon is free to explore Wanaka and enjoy the scenery of this quaint resort town!

YOUR DAY

67 km, 1 hour and 30 minutes driving 

Today you will drive over the Crown Range to the picturesque lakeside town of Wanaka. En route you could visit Arrowtown, one of the key towns in the Central Otago Gold Rush of the 1860s. You can visit the historic Arrowtown Chinese Settlement and wander around the many boutique shops that the village has to offer. From here drive over the Pass to Cardrona. You’ll feel alive when you ride our three-wheeled mountain carts! The most accessible gravity-fuelled activity, this is the only place in the country you can have a mountain carting experience. The afternoon is free to explore Wanaka and enjoy the scenery of this quaint resort town! 

YOUR DAY

Today is a chance to explore the beautiful lakeside town of Wanaka. Today you will experiance the best in adventure tourism with Wildwire’s adventures. The "Lord of the Rungs" is the world’s highest waterfall cable climb. Reaching the top will take you through 450m of vertical terraine. A climbing path, where climbers attach themselves to a cable that is fixed to the rock along the route, climber then climb the path on a series of metal rungs, pegs and ladders. This enables those with no climbing experience to reach remote locations and enjoy places and sights that they might not otherwise be able to experience. Tonight, relax in one of the many famous restaurants Wanaka has to offer.

YOUR DAY

260km, 3 hours driving

This morning your South Island tour takes you to the beautiful town of Arrowtown via The Crown Range, New Zealand’s highest highway. Arrowtown was an important location in the gold rush of Central Otago in the 1860s and is now a historic town with a very special vibe. Perhaps browse the preserved Chinese gold mining village or wander the boutique shops the town has on offer. 

Following this, perhaps enjoy a wine tasting at Amisfield Bistro & Cellar Door, overlooking the stunning Lake Hayes. 

You will drive a further 2 hours to Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park.

YOUR DAY

240km, 4 hours driving

Be prepared for one of the jewels of the New Zealand landscape! The drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound is one of the most spectacular in the world and certainly a highlight on any New Zealand tour. En route you will see spectacular valleys, breath taking mountains and hopefully spot the cheeky Kea (New Zealand’s mountain parrot). 

Late morning you will experience all that the fjords have to offer with a kayak and cruise tour, featuring pristine waterfalls and towering mountains plunging into the Tasman Sea. Keep a look out for dolphins, seals and the Fiordland crested Penguin. On your trip back to Te Anau there is the opportunity to take some short walks in the Fiordland National Park.

YOUR DAY

175 km, 2 hours driving

This morning you will head to Queenstown, ‘New Zealand’s adventure capital of the world’. Skirting your way around Lake Wakatipu makes for some stunning photography and you will be amazed by the Remarkables Mountain Range, one of the most famous back drops for Lord of the Rings. 

Today you will transfer to Queenstown Airport for your further travel arrangements. We trust you've had a wonderful time here in New Zealand!