New Zealand Odyssey: Auckland, Napier, Wellington, Queenstown & More

Kia Ora and welcome to Auckland, New Zealand. Meet your guide on your arrival at Auckland Airport and take a 3 hour city sightseeing tour, including Auckland Harbour Bridge, Auckland Viaduct, the CBD and All Black Experience.

Learn the story, feel the passion and experience the All Blacks story close and personal. The All Blacks Experience is a state-of-the-art guided encounter that showcases the All Blacks, and New Zealand's national teams in black, through exceptional innovation and technology. This full sensory and interactive experience allows you to celebrate New Zealand’s rugby heritage, achievements, and culture. This isn’t just about the All Blacks. It’s a homage to all those that wear the black jersey and represent New Zealand with the dignity, strength and the skill required to be the best of the best.

Tonight enjoy a fabulous 3 course Welcome Dinner with your Tour Director and fellow travel companions at the SkyCity Auckland Orbit Restaurant. Soaring high above Auckland, a truly iconic New Zealand brasserie offering diners sensational views - and food to match. Situated at the top of Auckland’s Sky Tower, the dining room rotates once every hour, providing a truly unique experience with amazing 360-degree panoramas of the city, the Hauraki Gulf and beyond.

Today starts with breakfast at your hotel.  This morning you will catch the ferry from downtown Auckland to beautiful Waiheke Island. Waiheke Island boasts 92km of pristine beaches, stunning coastal headlands, wineries, olive groves and seaside villages and is approximately a 40-minute cruise from Auckland. One of New Zealand’s most popular destinations, Waiheke Island has been rated as one of the top island escapes in the world. On your tour today, you will visit three of Waiheke’s top vineyards and sample a range of their wines. Along the way enjoy a commentated scenic drive, learning about the Island’s history, geography, people, and culture from your knowledgeable local guide. After your wine tasting experience sit back, relax, and enjoy a lunch and a glass of Waiheke wine or beer at a local favourite before heading back to Auckland on the ferry, arriving at approximately 5.30pm.  The night is free to explore Auckland’s nightlife and restaurant scene.

Travel south from Auckland over the Bombay Hills to the rich farmland of the Waikato region. Your journey takes you through undulating green hills signaling that you are approaching The Shire. Enjoy commentary on the way to Hobbiton with insights into the areas you are travelling through, along with some background to the movies. On arrival at Shire’s Rest you embark on your Hobbiton Movie Set tour. This location is the largest “green set” in the world and the only part of the set remaining in New Zealand. You see 44 hobbit holes, the Mill and double arch bridge, and the party tree. At this stunning location, you can take a photo at the gate to Bilbo’s house, “Bag End”, looking out over the whole set to the hills in the distance. The tour ends with Buffet lunch in the Hobbiton Party Marquee before heading to Rotorua. Check in to your accommodation with time to freshen up before an amazing evening at Te Puia and Maori Arts and Crafts Institute - where History is carved and woven into meeting houses, canoes, weapons and jewellery. You will also experience the wonders of the thermal area by stepping into an ancient valley where geysers, mud pools and boiling waters still play after 40,000 years.

Te Pō is an intimate time for sharing knowledge and is also Te Puia’s authentic evening cultural experience - a feast of food, culture and friendship. Te Pō begins with a mouth-watering buffet with locally sourced cuisine and an authentic Māori twist in each dish. Following dinner, you will experience the exhilarating pōhiri (ceremonial welcome) into a beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. Enjoy the beauty and power of traditional waiata (song), mōteatea (chants), poi and haka. Then travel into the geothermal valley for a hot chocolate upon naturally heated rock-seating overlooking the dramatically lit Pōhutu Geyser.

In the morning, visit one of Rotorua's most natural and popular geothermal parks - Wai O Tapu. Y our local guide will explain the volcanic and geothermal processes of Rotorua and New Zealand. You will see volcanoes, geysers, New Zealand's largest boiling mud pool and many multicoloured hot springs on your journey around volcanic landscapes, farmland and through native and exotic forests. At Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland the amazingly colourful hot springs and moon-like landscapes are the key features along with the famous Lady Knox geyser.

From Rotorua you travel along the geothermal highway and past the edge of the largest man-made radiate pine forest in the world - the Kaingaroa Forest towards Taupō. Travel past Taupō which sits on the shores of New Zealand's largest lake, Lake Taupō. From Taupō you'll travel over the Ahiminawa Ranges to Napier. Napier has the highest concentrations of Striped Classical, Spanish Mission and Art Deco building styles in the world. The commercial centre was completely rebuilt following a catastrophic earthquake in 1931. Napier is also at the centre of one of the largest and most vibrant wine-producing areas in New Zealand. The evening is at leisure in Napier.

After breakfast, experience Art Deco Napier with a luxurious vintage car tour along with an exclusive opportunity of a guided walk inside some of the city’s most iconic buildings.  Discover Napier's Art Deco heritage in style in a luxurious 1930's vintage car.  Your deco-dressed driver will transport you back in time as they relay the history of the area.  Your journey will take in Napier's famous Art Deco Quarter, historic Port Ahuriri and a delightfully quaint Art Deco residential suburb. Your tour includes visits to the world-renowned Municipal Theatre or the Bluff Hill Scenic Lookout and includes plenty of opportunities to stop for photographs.  Enjoy lunch then visit a selection of the local wineries in the region.

Breakfast is at your hotel. Next stop, Wellington! Leaving the 1930's inspired city of Napier you will travel through the countryside of the Hawke's Bay and Manawatu. Travelling along the Kāpiti Coast line into the capital city of Wellington. Wellington sits on a wonderful deep natural harbour and is surrounded by bush clad hills. The city centre itself is quite compact (only around 1 square kilometre) and exploring on foot is relatively easy. You can easily stroll the famous cafes and restaurants within the city and New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa, is also close by. On arrival in Wellington, take an orientation tour through the CBD, the waterfront, Mt Victoria including a oneway tour in the Wellington Cable Car.

One of the city’s most iconic experiences, Wellington Cable Car leads to some of the best views of the capital. For over 120 years, the Cable Car has trundled up and down the Kelburn hillside. The five-minute trip has become a Wellington must-do for tourists. The 612m journey travels through three tunnels and over three bridges. At the top you’ll have risen 120m above sea level. The views of the city below and harbour and hills beyond are, predictably, spectacular.

Start your day with breakfast at your hotel before visiting Te Papa. The Introducing Te Papa Tour provides an overview of Te Papa's highlights, Maori taonga (treasures) and New Zealand history and allows plenty of time to explore Te Papa on your own! The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is the national museum of New Zealand. New Zealand’s geology and natural environment and the stories of New Zealand’s indigenous people, the Maori, are celebrated in Te Papa’s permanent exhibitions, while Te Papa’s Marae is a vibrant contemporary meeting house and a living communal centre, unique in a museum. An exciting range of exhibitions display New Zealand’s diverse art and visual culture and top-rating international exhibitions tour regularly.

It is time to head to the South Island! Interislander's Cook Strait ferries travel between Wellington and Picton New Zealand. The 92km voyage takes 3 hours and has been described as "one of the most beautiful ferry rides in the world". All the ships have bars on board, cafes and food courts, cinemas on all 3 ships. Your trip across the Cook Strait will be both enjoyable and unforgettable. On arrival, we make our way to Blenheim. Situated on the fertile Wairau Plains in the Marlborough district, Blenheim's varied attractions include its wine industry, the waterways of the Marlborough Sounds, gourmet foods, adventure activities, relaxing recreation opportunities and much more.

Marlborough is best known for wine and the unique Marlborough Sounds – explore both on your exclusive Marlborough Icons Tour. A Marlborough wine tour visiting two wineries in the morning is followed by a delicious waterside village lunch (own cost. Relax and enjoy the stunning Marlborough Sounds with the exclusive afternoon Seafood Odyssea Cruise

As you cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui, sample local seafood such as salmon, and Greenshell mussels, with Marlborough sauvignon blanc for the definitive wine/food match.
Discover the natural beauty of Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui while relaxing aboard our well-appointed catamaran. Learn about this fascinating industry in the Marlborough Sounds from our knowledgeable crew and take in the picturesque scenery, keeping an eye out for local wildlife including seals, dolphins and birds.

After breakfast, experience a unique NZ attraction – the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre and the outstanding Knights of the Sky exhibition, featuring Sir Peter Jackson’s own collection of WW1 aircraft and artifacts. The story of aviation in the Great War is brought to life in sensational sets created by the internationally acclaimed talent of WingNut Films and Weta Workshop. A must-do for all visitors to Marlborough, you don’t have to be an aviation enthusiast to be swept up in the displays and stories of a bygone era including the exploits of the Red Baron.

Continue south to the picturesque coastal town of Kaikōura. Kaikōura's environment is truly spectacular – the village is caught between the rugged Seaward Kaikōura Range and the Pacific Ocean. Kaikōura’s special talent is marine mammal encounters – whales, fur seals and dolphins live permanently in the coastal waters. There are plenty of cafés, restaurants and shops to explore.

On arrival in Kaikoura, check in at Whalewatch Kaikoura, Whaleway Station for a whale watching tour. A typical whale watch tour may encounter New Zealand Fur Seals, pods of Dusky dolphins and the endangered Wandering Albatross. Depending on the season you may also see migrating Humpback Whales, Pilot Whales, Blue Whales and Southern Right Whales. Kaikoura often hosts the world's largest dolphin - the Orca - and is home to the world's smallest and rarest, the Hector's.

After breakfast, we journey to Christchurch, stopping enroute at Tawanui Farm. Enjoy an unforgettable visit with breathtaking views of the Kaikōura mountain ranges. Tour Tawanui farm on a 6 seater ATV farm bike. This experience gives you an in-depth look at our way of life. Meet the farm dogs, see them working the sheep and cattle and learn about regenerative farming practices. From here we jump on Energy Jet for an exciting blast up the Hrunui River followed by a delicious gourmet Riverside BBQ. Embrace a total, rural New Zealand experience with a family who has lived in Cheviot for five generations.

On arrival ijn Christchurch, enjoy an orientation tour before arriving to your accommodation and freshen up before a special dinner. The Tramway Restaurant offers curated seasonal dining combined with evening sightseeing in central Christchurch for a truly unique experience. Enjoy the luxury of the air-conditioned, colonial style dining tram and be treated to the finest service, cuisine and beverages New Zealand has to offer. The fine dining-style menu changes seasonally and includes a welcome drink, starter, entrée, desert, tea and coffee. Incorporate fabulous dining with inner city vibrancy and heritage - truly a mix of the old and the new.

Experience the beauty of the South Island on a scenic tour drive from Christchurch to Queenstown. It is stunning scenery along the way with incredible views of the Canterbury Plains, including a visit to the Church of the Good Shepherd in Lake Tekapo. On arrival check in to your accommodation before our Farewell Dinner at another breathtaking location. Take a scenic ride in the iconic Skyline Gondola and take in the stunning views as you ride the steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere! You’ll be carried 480 metres above Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu to the top of Bob's Peak, where you’ll enjoy a spectacular 220-degree panorama with breath-taking views of Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Walter and Cecil Peak and, of course, Queenstown.

When you get to the top, there's more to enjoy! Tonight is a sumptuous buffet dining experience at Skyline’s Stratosfare Restaurant & Bar. As you dine, the floor to ceiling windows and panoramic views of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains will captivate you.

Depart Queenstown and travel to Milford Sound via Te Anau. Enjoy the scenic views along the way.

Take the time to enjoy the best of Milford Sound with a leisurely cruise. Exploring the length of the fiord you’ll learn about the history of the region and benefit from the knowledge of your specialist nature guide. Experience the cool spray of a waterfall as you move in close to sheer rock faces or watch out for dolphins, seals and, in season, the rare Fiordland crested penguins. Experienced skippers tailor the cruise to take into consideration weather and recent wildlife sightings, ensuring you’ll see the best that Milford Sound has to offer on the day.

Informative, participative, and relaxed, this is the perfect way to experience what’s been called the “eighth wonder of the world”. Buffet lunch is included. At the end, return to Queenstown by coach, or perhaps upgrade your experience to a scenic flight or helicopter flight back (additional cost – must be prebooked)

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning at the hotel.  This is the end of your New Zealand Odyssey.  If you are flying out of Queenstown today you will be transferred to the airport.  Of course, if you have the time, why not stay longer and explore some different parts of New Zealand!