Day 1 - Auckland to Rotorua
Auckland
Are you prepared for a genuine, action-filled journey around New Zealand? The largest city, Auckland, is where we start our tour. Before we head to our first stop, it’s time to say hello to your brand-new squad.
Rotorua
Take note of the steam cloud rising from the ground. That’s how you can tell you’re in Rotorua, a natural marvel! After checking into our lakefront Marae Special Stay, you’ll be treated to a delectable lunch and, of course, a traditional Māori welcoming ceremony.
It’s all about Māori stuff today. We’ll go on a quick overview of the charming Ohinemutu Village. Additionally, Tikanga and Kawa—Māori customs and protocols—will be taught to you. After that, you have some free time to explore this stunning seaside location before we have a dinnertime stroll through the town.
There will be more, though. Following supper, you will get the opportunity to hear about the traditional healing and spiritual practices of our Māori instructors. The best first day ever, huh? We believe so!
Accommodation – Marae Special Stays
Included Meals – Lunch, Dinner
Included Experiences
Join a traditional welcome ceremony called Pōwhiri hosted exclusively for you – including singing, speeches, cultural performances and even lunch (Hakari).
Walk down to the home of the Ngāti Whakaue tribe at Ohinemutu. Check out their cooking methods, hot water vents and even outdoor bathing sheds.
Ever wondered what the Māori customs and protocols are? Learn all about their ‘layers of culture’ from the Māori themselves.
Traditional Powhiri Welsome
Day 2 - Rotorua
Rotorua
Good morning, adventurers! There will be a substantial breakfast, calm scenery, and fresh air. You have a whole day to spend discovering this lovely area. It will also be unique.
Because you’re going to learn about traditional Māori performing arts today, such as the incredible epic Haka (written especially for Contiki!). We’ll then assist our hosts in getting ready for steam hangi, or supper, and round off the evening with a breath-taking cultural show.
What a crazy day this has been! And to consider that the journey has only just started…
Accommodation – Marae Special Stays
Included Meals – Breakfast
Included Experiences
Witness Māori culture – beautiful songs, poi dance, traditional weapons. And also the spine-tingling Haka
Day 3 - Rotorua to Blue Duck Station via Taupo
Rotorua
More investigation is required. Before attending our Māori friends’ traditional parting ritual, have breakfast. Give a cheesy signal! Remember to also capture a group photo for your souvenirs.
We’re in New Zealand, so of course we’re going to the National Kiwi Hatchery, where you can see new born kiwis and find out more about kiwi conservation.
Taupō
Feeling peckish? Feel free to stop by a picturesque area in this charming town for lunch. After that, we will return to our next stop by boarding the coach.
Blue Duck Landing Site
You have arrived at a magnificent wilderness, smack dab in the heart of a thick forest. Arriving at our riverside Special Stay, we will also have the opportunity to visit it.
Plus, there will be a tasty supper waiting for you when you return. Stargazing in the natural setting is the perfect way to wind down the night. This is the point of living, I suppose.
Accommodation – Blue Duck Station Special Stay
Included Meals – Breakfast, Dinner
Included Experiences
Experience, we’ll head to National Kiwi Hatchery near Rotorua to learn all about the locals’ efforts to protect New Zealand’s adorable national bird.
Day 4 - Blue Duck Station
Blue Duck Station
I hope you’re eager to explore after a restful night in the kiwi forest. We should get some breakfast first. Spend the day bush walking or horseback riding across picturesque settings.
Want to just go off the road for a while? Take a Jet Boat ride to the Bridge to Nowhere. As you might expect, the way you decide to cap off the evening is also entirely up to you!
Take part in a dinner at the chef’s table or perhaps grill some outdoor BBQ. Whatever the case may be, you can count on a woodsy adventure awaits you.
Accommodation – Blue Duck Station Special Stay
Included Meals – Breakfast
Included Experiences
Settle in and explore the wilderness around the tranquil waters of Whanganui – on a jet boat!
Day 5 - Blue Duck Station to Wellington
Blue Duck Station
Leaving the forest behind (for the time being) is necessary. Because we’re going to our first city site after breakfast!
Wellington
Greetings from Wellington! After we settle into our hotel, we will immediately board a coach to take a guided tour of the city. If you’re interested in New Zealand’s history and culture, you should definitely go out Te Papa National Museum (where you can also see the enormous squid).
After that, we can have a stroll around the city while you eat a walkabout dinner. While you and your pals unwind for the evening.
Accommodation – Abel Tasman | Accommodation Mercure Wellington | Hotels in wellington
Included Meals – Breakfast
Included Experiences
Hop onto a coach and explore the city’s thriving art culture. We’ll visit the Old St Paul’s Cathedral, museums, Oriental Bay, Mt Victoria Lookout, Wellington Zoo and so much more!
Day 6 - Wellington to Marlborough Sounds
Wellington
Get out of that warm, fuzzy bed. The time has come to go on a ferry ride from north to south!
Marlborough Sounds
Step right up to the breath-taking South Island. You can spend your leisurely lunch hour in Picton indulging in some delectable fare (perhaps at a breezy waterfront location). While today is at your leisure, why not take a tour of some of Marlborough’s most prestigious vineyards? A stroll about dinner is in our future, and then you and your newfound friends will spend the night at a neighbourhood watering hole. Tonight is going to be fantastic.
Accommodation – Local Hotel
Included Meals –
Included Experiences
Wanna know more about New Zealand’s history & culture? We’ll visit the Te Papa Museum where you’ll find everything you need from the colossal squid to the ancient Moa.
Check out the sunken river valleys of Marlborough Sounds from an iconic Interislander Ferry. You’d wanna get your camera for this one!
Day 7 - Marlborough Sounds
Marlborough Sounds
It would be wonderful if you could start each day here, wouldn’t it? The same. Perhaps a day off could make up for it? Seeking entertainment options?
What about a sail across the vast expanse of the ocean? Or you may take a picnic lunch and walk through the verdant scenery. Just like last night, we will conclude the day in the same manner. Some old-fashioned music and a picnic lunch. Very nice.
Accommodation – Local Hotel
Included Meals – Breakfast
Included Experiences
Get ready to spot fur seals, penguins, korimako, tūi, wētā and geckos (but no predators!) at this beautiful sanctuary. We’ll explore with a volunteer who helps manage it.
Jump on a jetty to visit the Queen Charlotte track, Meretoto, and Captain Cook’s favorite anchorage before checking out the beautiful Resolution Bay. And to reward all that walking, we’ll do a delicious picnic lunch too.
Day 8 - Marlborough Sounds to Christchurch via Kaikoura
Marlborough Sounds
Let the sun rise! Straight from breakfast, we will be hopping aboard our coach to continue our adventure farther south.
Kaikoura
A satisfying lunch is in order to quell those hunger feelings. Now, you may be wondering the same thing. Also, your eyes are in for a treat. Come here for lunch at one of the numerous picturesque restaurants, and you may eat it while gazing out at the breath-taking mountains and ocean.
Christchurch
Murals that blend styles. Unconventional yet delicious food. Picturesque river vistas. Your trip manager will lead you on a guided tour of Christchurch to highlight the city’s many attractions. One more walkabout meal will round out the evening.
Accommodation – BreakFree on Cashel Christchurch Accommodation New Zealand
Included Meals – Breakfast
Included Experiences
Day 9 - Christchurch to Wanaka
Christchurch
Travellers, get down! The morning is at your leisure. Do whatever makes you happy. What about having a picture-perfect breakfast at a bistro overlooking the water? And now we’re off to see yet another breath-taking location.
Wanaka
Wow, what a sight. You are about to see views you will never forget. We’ll get settled at our hostel and then hit the peaceful trails of this town, stopping for dinner along the route. You’re free to do everything you want all night long in this breath-taking location. How fortunate you are.
Accommodation – The Brownston
Day 10 - Wanaka
Wanaka
Get ready for an escapade! The entire day is at your leisure. There are a lot of cafés in the area where you may get breakfast. Here, thrill seekers may do anything from rock climbing and kayaking to skydiving. Another option would be to take a water taxi around Mou Wahi Island. Before you turn in for the night, go for a stroll about town and pick up some dinner. It has been quite a day, yet I am exhausted.
Accommodation – The Brownston
Day 11 - Wanaka to Doubtful Sound via Lake Manapouri
Wanaka
Today, we must bid farewell to Wanaka. You shouldn’t cry about this just yet, though. Reason being, we have another breath-taking lake to visit after breakfast.
Lake Manapouri
Have you prepared your camera? We’re going to take a boat ride around Lake Manapouri to see the breath-taking scenery. And that’s not all either. Wilmot Pass is also a stop where we’ll drive through verdant jungles. Is this it? This is the pinnacle of natural beauty. Our journey to a famous New Zealand attraction will begin in the evening when we hop on an overnight boat.
Doubtful Sound
We are pleased to have you aboard. Spending the night aboard a sumptuous yacht (complete with on-board cooks!) is in your future! So, get going. Relax with a cup of tea in the afternoon and prepare for more excitement! You’ll paddle across placid seas and maybe even jump into the frigid Fiord. Following our thrilling journey, we will return to the ship for a delectable chef-prepared dinner with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Once you make new friends, there’s nothing but fun times, games, music, and cruising. Fabulous.
Accommodation – Overnight Cruise
Included Meals – Breakfast
Included Experiences
Hop on a boat (with a viewing deck!) for a ride across New Zealand’s second largest lake. Rugged cliffs, beautiful bays and serene waters – you won’t find this kinda natural beauty anywhere else.
Hop on our private coach to ride over the Wilmot Pass that can only be reached by boat. Be prepared to witness a kaleidoscope of stunning rainforest scenery and waterfalls.
This is your chance to learn all about the land, flora and fauna around this Fiordland. Best part? You’ll have a nature specialist to give you all the details.
Ready for the coolest once-in-a-lifetime experience? It’s time to jump into glacial waters at Doubtful Sound.
A guided kayaking tour is the ultimate way to get up close to the beautiful waters of Doubtful Sound. Jaw-dropping waterfalls, dolphins, penguins, seals – there’s no end to astonishing sights here.
Sip some refreshing tea and chef-made cakes that are traditional to New Zealand, all on board a cruise.
Day 12 - Doubtful Sound to Queensland via Lake Manapouri
Doubtful Sound
Need another day to see all that Fiordland National Park has to offer? Holy cow! An expert on the area’s natural history will lead us on a guided tour of Doubtful Sound today. After that, you’ll board a coach to see Wilmot Pass from a different angle.
Lake Manapouri
It’s time to return to Lake Manapouri and embark on our voyage to the end of the vacation.
Queenstown
After exploring the lake, I bet you’re famished. Dinner is on us today, so there’s no need to worry! Before tomorrow’s adventure, make sure you get a good night’s sleep.
Accommodation – Nomads
Included Meals – Breakfast
Included Experiences
Day 13 - Queenstown
Queenstown
In Queenstown, you may start your day with a healthy breakfast fit for a king or queen. You have the entire day to yourself to discover everything this place has to offer. We wager you’ll want to partake in everything from skydiving and bungee jumping to canyon swings and climbing waterfalls to vineyard tours and zip line. You and your team can grab dinner afterward, and then you can get some rest for tomorrow’s expedition.
Accommodation – Nomads
Included Meals – Breakfast
Included Experiences
Day 14 - Queenstown
Queenstown
Just in case you didn’t know, today we’re going to cross things off your bucket list. It is your day off, so go ahead and get some breakfast and go sightseeing. Take in the stunning views of Walter Peak from the Earnslaw Cruise, plant trees, and eat a delicious, locally-prepared meal all in one glorious day! Enjoy every moment of your final full day of your journey.
Accommodation – Nomads
Included Meals – Breakfast
Included Experiences
Day 15 - Queenstown To Christchurch
Queenstown
It is time to bid farewell after 15 days of exploring, learning about, and experiencing New Zealand’s culture, towns, and sticks. This has been quite the journey! Ride the shuttle to Christchurch if that’s what you’ve decided!
Christchurch
Finally, the journey has ended. Make sure you swap contact information with your team. Because we are willing to wager that you will desire to repeat this enchanted adventure after experiencing it once.
