20 Day New Zealand North and South

Depart from Auckland and travel south east stopping off at popular Cathedral Cove. This marvellous coastal spot can be reached only by foot or boat and is undoubtedly one of the ‘must see’ sites on the Coromandel Peninsula.

Drive to unique Hot Water Beach where you can dig up your own personal spa pool in the sand (tide dependent).

Overnight in beach side cabins and BBQ dinner. Dinner included. 

Arrival in Rotorua around lunchtime: this area is popular for its Maori heritage and thermal activity. You'll have the opportunity to do some optional activities such as white water rafting, zorbing or the luge (additional cost).

In the evening, you will be welcomed into the authentic Tamaki Maori Village, discovering more about Maori art forms, ancient rituals and traditions. You'll also join a traditional Maori hangi (feast) with your Maori hosts.

(The overnight cultural stay is subject to minimum numbers and will be substituted with an ecocultural walk -including lunch- and an evening cultural experience. Overnight accommodation will be at YHA Treks).

Overnight in a Rotorua hotel with thermal pools. Breakfast and dinner are included. 

Begin the day with a swim in a natural hot river before travelling to Huka Falls.

Then it’s off to stay at the eco award-winning Blue Duck Station, a working sheep and beef farm, where you will enjoy a farm safari and see conservation work in action in this unique place. During summer months there's also the chance to go on a short kayak through the gorge at the base of the Kaiwhakauka Falls.

Dinner will be cooked using local produce. Breakfast and dinner included. 

Drive to the Tongariro National Park to hike the Tongariro Crossing, rated as New Zealand’s best one-day walk.

As an alternative, other options include shorter walks around this volcanic region or visiting the Volcanic Centre Museum. Accommodation tonight is an alpine lodge in the park. Breakfast and dinner included. 

Today we leave the park behind and we make our way to Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city.

Sightseeing in the city will include Parliament buildings and the iconic Beehive. There is plenty to do in Wellington, for example visiting Te Papa, the national museum and art gallery or the botanical gardens. Breakfast included. 

Depart Wellington and travel across the marvellous Cook Strait reaching the coastal town of Picton. Here we'll join the coach that takes us through Marlborough, New Zealand’s best wine region to Abel Tasman National Park.

You'll enjoy a delicious wine tasting and discover New Zealand's world famous Sauvignon Blanc at a local winery. Visit the stunning sandy golden beaches and then head to your accommodation for a taste of seafood and a BBQ dinner.  Breakfast and dinner included. 

The day is entirely yours to explore this charming area. Walk the coastal track admiring some of New Zealand’s best beaches or choose any of the optional activities on offer including sailing or sea kayaking (own expense).

Tonight you'll be provided with BBQ facilities for you to self-cater. Accommodation in cabins adjacent to the National Park. Breakfast included. 

Drive to peaceful Hanmer Springs, first travelling through Kahurangi and Nelson National Parks, both offering beautiful sceneries and superb walks.

Picnic lunch spending the afternoon relaxing in the hot pools. Dinner is a group meal and is included as well as breakfast.

Kaikoura is popular for its large variety of wildlife including whales, dolphins, seals and albatross.

We get to Kaikoura early so you can choose from the many optional activities such as walking around the cliff tops to see the seals and amazing views or a whale-watching cruise (additional cost). Breakfast is included. 

The day begins with a stunning journey across the Canterbury Plains, followed by a short stop in Christchurch (don't forget your camera today!). Next we travel over the famous Arthur’s Pass and down onto the West Coast. Around almost every corner there’s a new picturesque landscape offering stunning photo opportunities.

You'll also visit Hokitika, famous for pounamu (jade) and the Bushman’s Centre to learn more about local history. The journey ends at Franz Josef to see the famous glacier. We sleep in a rainforest lodge at Franz Josef. Dinner is included.

The whole day is spent at Franz Josef, a World Heritage area. Apart from the stunning glacier, this area is famous for its excellent walking trails. There are many great options here but a highly recommended guided trip will enable you to get closer to the glacier.

Tonight dinner is self-catering; there are plenty of local cafes and restaurants for you enjoy or you can make use of the self-catering kitchen. Breakfast is included. 

We travel down the coast towards Mount Aspiring National Park. Enroute we'll enjoy some breathtaking sceneries including Lake Matheson, New Zealand’s most photographed lake.

We'll also stop off at a waterfall and travel over a spectacular alpine pass. At the national park you'll have plenty of time to enjoy some of its activities including walking, scenic flights or jet boating (own expense). We spend the night in chalets. 

Breakfast and dinner included. 

Today is the perfect day for real thrill seekers as we head to the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown. Enroute we visit Wanaka, a picturesque town and a wonderful spot of lunch.

We then head to Bungy Bridge where you can either jump or simply watch. In the evening we’ll visit Queenstown’s lively nightspots. Breakfast included. 

Enjoy two free days to explore Queenstown. Optional activities and meals are at your own expense. Overnight accommodation included.

Fiordland National Park, with its amazing sceneries, is our destination today.

Within the National Park there’s Doubtful Sound, a true treasure of New Zealand. We board a purpose built boat and with the help of a nature guide we’ll be able to view fur seals, penguins and dolphins. There are also sea kayaks to enjoy. The night is spent on the boat, anchored in a secluded bay. Dinner is included.

We leave the boat and head through the amazing Otago Region, boasting interesting relics of the gold rush. Optional ice curling (additional cost) in the evening.

We'll stay in a unique accommodation in Otago Gold Country. Breakfast and dinner are included. 

Today we grab mountain bikes and ride parts of the Otago Gold Mining Trail. The trail is fine for all levels of riding abilities.

We then travel to Rangitata, one of the oldest sheep stations within the region. A campfire awaits you in the evening. Breakfast is included. 

Set off in the morning for an express trip via Christchurch to Picton and Wellington. Enjoy the views of the beautiful Marlborough Sounds and some great harbour shots of the capital city as we take a flight over the Cook Strait and Marlborough Sounds.

Today is an express journey from Wellington to Auckland. Enroute we stop for photos and to have lunch in the township of a dual World Heritage area – National Park. Breakfast is included.