The Ultimate New Zealand Odyssey: From Peaks to Penguins - Sample Itinerary

YOUR DAY

Guided: Upon arrival at Christchurch Airport, a shuttle driver will be waiting for you as you clear customs. This driver will be holding a signboard with your name on it and 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 Christchurch 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.

YOUR DAY

178km, 3 hours driving return

Today you will take the scenic drive over Banks Peninsula to the picturesque French village of Akaroa. This was originally colonised by the French in the 1800’s and now remains the only village in New Zealand to retain its French charm with traditional villas, boutique shops and cafes lining the charming Akaroa Harbour. This afternoon you will experience New Zealand’s true eco-tourism adventure as you cruise out into the majestic surroundings of Akaroa Harbour and naturally encounter wild Hector’s dolphins on their terms, in their place. You will swim near hector's dolphins but Please note you cannot not touch any dolphins, this is a pure natural encounter where you must enter and respect the Hector’s dolphins environment and behaviour. 

YOUR DAY

228km, 3 hours driving

Christchurch is known throughout New Zealand as ‘The Garden City’. You have time this morning for a city tour. This city tour could include a visit to ‘The Sign of the Kiwi’, the most panoramic of Christchurch’s viewpoints, a stroll in the botanic gardens and drive around the bays of Christchurch taking in Lyttelton which was the gateway for many of Christchurch and the Canterbury region’s first settlers. This afternoon you will make your journey inland and south to Lake Tekapo. Perhaps soak in the thermal pools on the lakeside (optional – extra cost) and see the famous Church of the Good Shepherd up close. Following this, you could drive to the top of Mount John to take in some of the most stunning 360 degree views New Zealand has to offer! 

This evening you will enjoy a soak and stargazing tour at Tekapo Hot Springs, located on the edge of the lake. The ultimate in stellar relaxation, Tekapo Star Gazing is the only guided hot pools and star gazing experience in New Zealand. A two-hour experience, the first half of this guided indoor and/or outdoor tour introduces you to Tekapo’s amazing night skies with a unique combination of astronomy and storytelling. You will then enjoy exclusive use of a 37.5 – 38.5℃ hot pool; lie on a floating hammock and feel like you’re soaking in the stars as you explore the wonder of night skies! 

YOUR DAY

105km, 1 hour 15 minutes driving

Today you Take the short drive towards Lake Pukaki and drive along it to reach Mount Cook Village, nestled in the Southern Alps near our tallest mountain. Here you can take one or several nature walks in the national park, or perhaps enjoy an adventure to Tasman Glacier, or a boat ride in Tasman Lake to the terminal face of the glacier (all activities optional – extra cost). Tonight spend the night at the base of Mount Cook with breath taking views of New Zealand’s highest peak.

YOUR DAY

Cruise around the Tasman Glacial Lake and experience the enormity of NZ's largest glacier. The towering ice wall is really quite incredible, with an astonishing history.

On this tour you will explore and learn about the ever-changing glacial landscape as you journey across the terminal lake. Icebergs of every shape and size periodically tear away from the face of the glacier into the rapidly growing lake, making every day different to the next. This is a unique opportunity to truly feel small as the lateral moraines rear up almost 200m, reminding us of the scale and greatness that the glacier has reached in previous times.

With the effects of global warming and other climatic processes taking their toll on New Zealand glaciers, their retreat is imminent. Now approximately 23/23.5km long and 600m deep (at its deepest point), the Tasman Glacier is melting and calving at an exponentially increasing rate. In recent years the Tasman Glacier has changed from a 'melting only' to a 'calving and melting' terminus, resulting in a terminal lake that is rapidly increasing in size.

The rest of the day is free to explore the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park and the beautiful nature walks on offer.

YOUR DAY

320 km, 3 hours 40 Minutes driving

Today you take the drive along Lake Pukaki and back to the coast, stopping in the town of Oamaru, for its Victorian heritage precinct and steampunk artefacts. Continue south along state highway 1 where you will spot the legendary Moeraki Boulders. These boulders are concretions that have been exposed through shoreline erosion from coastal cliffs that back the beach, some of which weigh several tonnes and are up to 3 metres in diameter. Your final part of the drive takes you to Dunedin, “Scotland of the South.” In the evening you may wish to make a visit to the historic Speights Brewery for some sampling of one of New Zealand’s most iconic beers (optional – extra cost).

YOUR DAY

In and around Dunedin there is much to see and explore. In the morning your Dunedin city tour could include sights such as Baldwin Street, ‘The Steepest Street in the World’ with gradients reaching up to 35%! Other sights include the historic railway building, university campus buildings and the Otago Museum. In the afternoon you will take a tour out to the penguin colony to view yellow eyed penguins, the world’s rarest (included activity). Following this, head down the road to the albatross colony on the peninsula to view these magnificent huge birds up close. In the evening there is the option to visit to the historic Speights Brewery for a tour, some sampling of one of New Zealand’s most iconic beers and a delicious kiwi meal (not included).

YOUR DAY

290km, 3.5 hours driving

Today our South Island tour takes us inland to Te Anau- known as the gateway to Fiordland National Park which covers approximately 1.2 million hectares. In the afternoon there is the possibility to take one of the many short walks in the area. This evening in Te Anau you will take a tour by boat across Lake Te Anau to the glow worm caves to view the shimmering light of thousands of luminous glow-worms in a 12,000 year old grotto (included activity).

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). This morning you will experience all that the fjords have to offer with a 1.5 hour boat cruise featuring pristine waterfalls and towering mountains plunging into the Tasman Sea (included activity). Keep a look out for dolphins, seals and the Fiordland crested Penguin. On your trip back to Te Anau there is the opportunity to enjoy several short walks in the Fiordland National Park.

YOUR DAY

175km, 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. The afternoon is free to spend as you wish in Queenstown, and there is plenty to see and do! Perhaps enjoy a walk around the botanic gardens on the lake, enjoy a drop of Central Otago pinot noir at a nearby winery, or sample some fresh local cuisine on offer on the lakefront. Tonight 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 dinner atop the hill in the exclusive Stratosfare restaurant with breathtaking views over Lake Wakatipu across to The Remarkables (included activity). 

YOUR DAY

4 Hour Winery & Craft Brewery Tour

Today is free to explore Queenstown at leisure and take part in some of the fantastic activities that this ‘Adventure Capital of the World’ has to offer. Options for the adventurous include: Skydiving, Bungy Jumping, Jet Boating, Canyon Swings, White Water Rafting, Flyboarding and Paragliding. If you feel like taking a more relaxed approach to the day, a cruise on the TSS Earnslaw 100 year old steam ship or a walk through Queenstown’s Botanic Gardens are not to be missed. Perhaps drive out to the head of Lake Wakatipu and experience the breath-taking scenery of the Glenorchy area.

This afternoon you will visit three unique locations around Queenstown and Gibbston with a minimum of 12 tastings of some of the finest drops in the region. Now, here’s the twist, if beer is more your thing then bounce from vines to hops and taste some local craft beers instead. Better yet, we depart at 3:00pm meaning you can still go out paddle-boarding or bungy jumping in the morning, or even fly in from out of town. Shared antipasto platters are also included at our final stop, a perfect starter for once you finish the tour and head into town for a meal (or more wine).

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. Your next stop is a visit to New Zealand’s famous Gibbston Valley underground wine cave. Look, smell and taste over 18 spectacular cool-climate wines and enjoy a scrumptious lunch (included). 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. Options include a walk up one of our favourite look out spots featuring 360 degree views of Lake Wānaka, Mount Aspiring National Park and the Clutha River, a visit to Stuart Landsborough’s Puzzling World, kayaking on the lake, a visit to the Warbirds and Classic cars Museum or even fishing on the lake for some brown or rainbow trout. Perhaps take on the majestic Rob Roy Glacier hike or venture Roy's Peak if you're feeling especially fit! This afternoon you will visit one of Lake Wanaka’s 5 islands Mou Waho Island is the most remote and most beautiful. With its steep rocky coastline, small secluded beaches, diverse birdlife, and a hidden lake (Arethusa pool) which sits atop the island. 

YOUR DAY

285 km, 4 hours driving

You leave the world of open valleys, lakes and barren mountains to discover Westland National Park, 131,600 hectares of lush native rainforest and its multitude of waterfalls. The walking possibilities are endless today around Haast, some of which feature spectacular waterfalls and deep blue coloured pools where it is possible to see trout swimming. One of our favourite spots at The Road Trip is Ship Creek, an isolated beach featuring native Totara trees hugging rugged coastline. This afternoon there is the possibility of a scenic flight over or a heli-hike on the stunning Franz Josef Glacier, one of the only places in the world where you can experience a Glacier surrounded by rainforest (optional – extra cost). Tonight you will have the chance to relax and unwind with a soak in the Glacier Hot Pools, each filled with pure water from the Glaciers (optional – extra cost).

YOUR DAY

217 km, 2 hours and 45 minutes driving

This morning you drive north, through Hokitika to have a look at the greenstone factory where you can view up close how the local people carve necklaces and sculptures from the precious stone. Next up check out the stunning Hokitika Gorge with its beautiful bright blue waters and surrounding native forest. From here you pass through Greymouth (named so for the Grey River flowing through the town) where you can perhaps stop for lunch. Early afternoon, you arrive in Punakaiki where you can explore the pancake rocks and blowholes situated right next to the village; a bizarre, rugged, rocky landscape which impresses thousands of visitors each year with its powerful forces of nature. You have the option of enjoying a true blue New Zealand pub meal this evening before calling it a night (optional – extra cost).

YOUR DAY

300km, 3.5 hours driving

This morning you will head North along the unbelievably picturesque Coast Road towards Underworld Adventures in Charleston. Here they will kit you up for the trip of a lifetime through their glowworm caves. The journey starts with a trip on their rainforest train, a walk through the rainforest and a journey into their large limestone cave. Following this you will lie on a tube and drift under the light of thousands upon thousands of glow worms on the cave ceiling. This particular cave has more glowworms than any other cave in NZ and the experience is truly cathartic. Continue up to the Tasman region. Abel Tasman National Park is New Zealand’s smallest but certainly one of its most spectacular. There is the option for walking in the national park and catching a water taxi from different pick up points. In the evening you may wish to enjoy the sunset from one of the area’s picturesque beaches (all activities mentioned are optional and at an extra cost). 

YOUR DAY

Today you'll board a cruise to Medlands Beach where you can relax, swim and explore then cruise back to Kaiteriteri to kayak in the shelter of one of of New Zealand's most popular bays. You'll also walk a section of the Abel Tasman Coastal Track - NZ's most popular. this trip includes 1 hour kayaking, up to 1.5 hours walking + a 2 hour cruise. Abel Tasman is New Zealand’s smallest National Park and is famous for its golden beaches, turquoise waters, native bush and spectacular scenery. Observe Abel Tasman's playful inhabitants – dolphins, fur seals, penguins and sea birds. The rest of the afternoon is free to spend at leisure.

YOUR DAY

193 km, 3 hours driving + 3 hour and 30 minute ferry ride

From one area of stunning beauty to the next. Driving through Nelson you will head over the Whangamoa Ranges and through to Picton. Here you board a ferry to the North Island across the Cook Strait. The scenic ferry ride takes you through the Marlborough Sounds, arriving in Wellington in the early evening where you will collect your new rental car and make your way to your hotel. 

YOUR DAY

Today is your day to explore the Coolest Little Capital in the World! This morning you could take the Cable Car from the city up to Kelburn, where you will be able to wander the beautiful Botanical Gardens. Late morning, perhaps hop on the free shuttle to Zealandia, the world’s first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary, with an extraordinary 500-year vision to restore a Wellington valley’s forest and freshwater ecosystems as closely as possible to their pre-human state. The 225 hectare ecosanctuary is a groundbreaking conservation project that has reintroduced 18 species of native wildlife back into the area, 6 of which were previously absent from mainland New Zealand for over 100 years. Tonight why not enjoy one of the delicious restaurants the city is famous for? Wellington is known as the cultural capital of New Zealand and due to its small size, the majority of the city can easily be covered on foot. 

YOUR DAY

85km, 1 hour 15 minutes driving

This morning you will depart wellington and head to the gorgeous Wairarapa. This region is known for its temperate climate, rolling countryside and delicious wines, and is a favourite of James Cameron (the filmmaker) who owns a large farm in the area. Perhaps stop in Greytown, voted the most beautiful small town in New Zealand on your way to the quaint village of Martinborough. This is a great chance to stroll around the town square, enjoy some great local food and tour the nearby wineries - you can even hire a bike to take a leisurely ride to visit the local vineyards!

YOUR DAY

287km, 3.5 hours driving

This morning you depart Martinborough and continue North to the beautiful Tongariro National Park. In the afternoon you’ll arrive in the beautiful ski resort of Ohakune where you may wish to take a hike in the National Park itself. Enjoy a night at the Powderhorn Chateau where the cast of Lord of the Rings stayed for a prolonged period during filming of the trilogy! We recommend a drive up Mt Ruapehu to see Gollum's Pool! (As well as some stunning views from high up the mountain).

YOUR DAY

185 km, 2 hours and 30 minutes driving

Heading north today, you will reach Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake. Winding your way around the lake, you will reach the lakeside holiday town of Taupo, which offers up great dining opportunities for lunch. Further down the road, make a stop at the mind-blowingly powerful Huka Falls and have a look, or take a spin in the Huka Falls Jet and experience the thrill from beneath (optional – extra cost). Continuing on the ‘Thermal explorer highway,’ you will arrive at 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 (included activity). You will arrive in Rotorua late afternoon where you could have a walk through the wonderful redwood forests or a look at Rotorua's lovely Government Gardens and lakefront. Tonight perhaps enjoy a soak in the natural hot springs of Polynesian Spa (optional – extra cost).

YOUR DAY

This morning you will explore the untouched, sacred land of the Ngāti Pikiao tribe, in an intimate, small group 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 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.

YOUR DAY

250km, 3.5 hours driving

Today you will head towards the sunny Coromandel Peninsula. 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 (included activity). Perhaps even enjoy lunch at the Green Dragon Inn (not included). Following this, drive through lush native forest and end up in Whitianga, where the afternoon/evening is free to enjoy this beachside paradise.

YOUR DAY

This morning you will enjoy a glass bottom boat cruise from Whitianga. You'll see Cathedral Cove and its fabulous white sandy beaches, iconic native New Zealand trees and incredible rock formations. Stunning volcanic coastline including sheer cliffs, towering pinnacles, blowholes and sea caves such as Orua Sea cave. Look through the glass panels to see a diverse amount of marine life including red snapper, red moki, leatherjackets and schools of demoiselles and blue mau mau. Look closely through the kelp forest to spot stingrays, crayfish and octopus. On the surface keep your eyes peeled for blue penguins, sea birds and marine mammals such as dolphins, orca and seals. 

The rest of the day is free to explore the beauty of The Coromandel Peninsula. Options include bathing at The Lost Spring, a visit to New Chum's Beach, horse-riding at a local farm or kayaking to the idyllic other worldly paradise of Whenuakura/Donut Island (all optional – extra cost).

YOUR DAY

193km, 3 hours driving

This morning you depart Whitianga and head to NZ’s largest city, Auckland. There may be time for a walk through one the region’s many Kauri Tree forests, where you will encounter the flora and fauna of New Zealand’s North Island at its best. You follow the coast road to the town of Coromandel, where you will take a trip on ‘The Driving Creek Railway’- New Zealand’s only narrow-gauge mountain railway, with a working pottery and wild life sanctuary (included activity). From here continue on to Auckland where you will spend the night before driving north tomorrow.

YOUR DAY

This morning you will ferry out to Waiheke Island to enjoy a guided tour of the Island, stopping at a number of boutique wineries such as Casita Miro, Kennedy Point Winery and Stonyridge for wine tastings. You will finish your tour at Mudbrick Winery where you will enjoy a delicious lunch with incredible views out over the Hauraki Gulf towards Auckland City (lunch is additional cost). Return to Auckland in the late afternoon, and perhaps enjoy dinner at one of the wonderful waterfront restaurants that line the Viaduct Harbour.