18 Day Premium New Zealand Encompassed Itinerary

Welcome to North Island! Your adventure starts in Auckland, New Zealand's bustling hub. You’ll be collected from the airport and transferred to your hotel.  Explore beaches, harbors, volcanic wonders, and rolling farmlands. At 6pm, meet your local guide and fellow travelers for a welcome gathering. Have free time before? Learn the story of legendary All Blacks rugby in an interactive experience. In the evening, bond with your group over dinner at a charming local bistro showcasing New Zealand's bounty.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Auckland - 2 Nights

Auckland's urban energy fades as a ferry whisks travelers to Waiheke Island, a haven of sandy beaches and acclaimed wineries. With a bit of luck, dolphins or orcas might grace the journey. The day unfolds like a wine lover's dream: tours of three distinctive wineries unveil their production secrets, culminating in delightful tastings. A delicious lunch and scenic drives with postcard-worthy photo stops round out the island escape. Returning to Auckland in the late afternoon, the evening is free to explore the city at your own pace.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, embark on a journey to Waitomo's magical caverns. Explore Ruakuri Cave's glittering formations with a guide, marveling at glowworms and subterranean waterfalls. Descend the spiral entrance to this enchanting underworld. Next, travel to Hobbiton, where the Shire comes alive. Tour the movie set, peek into hobbit holes, and sip a drink at the Green Dragon Inn. Your day ends in Rotorua, ready for new adventures.

Meals: Breakfast 

Approximate Travel Time: 5 hours 30 mins

Accommodation: Rotorua - 2 Nights 

Fuel up for a geothermal wonderland! After breakfast, explore Te Puia's 70 hectare geothermal valley on a guided tour. Witness Pohutu, the Southern Hemisphere's biggest geyser erupt, along with bubbling mud pools and hot springs. Next, spot iconic kiwis at the Conservation Centre and learn about preservation efforts. Witness Māori artistry at the Ahua Gallery. For lunch savor a traditional hangi lunch, a feast cooked underground. In the evening, you might consider consider an optional geyser tour by night to see these wonders in a different light.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Say goodbye to Rotorua and drive on to Taupō, sitting on the shores of Lake Taupō – the largest lake in New Zealand. On the way, visit Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, where you will walk through thousands of years of geothermal history and volcanic features, including New Zealand's largest mud pool and bubbling basins bursting with vibrant colors. The rest of the day is yours to discover all that this picturesque part of the country has to offer. One of the best ways to enjoy the lake is to get on its waters – speak to your leader to find out about the sustainable sailing and cruising options available to you this afternoon. You may like to try your hand at fishing, or perhaps take a flight over the spectacular Tongariro National Park.

Included Meals: Breakfast 

Approximate Travel Time: 2 hours

Accommodation: Taupō - 1 Night

Today will be spent uncovering the natural wonders of Tongariro National Park, as spiritually significant as it is spectacular. Your leader will guide you on a scenic two-hour walk to the Taranaki Falls, an impressive 20-metre cascade tumbling over volcanic cliffs. Later in the day, head to your Feature Stay accommodation at the Powderhorn Chateau and settle in. The chateau provides a stunning base for the evening, surrounded by the soaring peaks of Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro – the views are simply unbeatable.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Ohakune - 1 Night (or Skotel Alpine Resort)

This morning, make tracks for Wellington, New Zealand’s trendy capital city. After settling in, hop aboard a private catamaran and get to know the city on an evening cruise around Wellington Harbour. Return to land after an hour and join your group for dinner at a fantastic waterfront restaurant – the perfect chance to reminisce about your North Island adventure.

Meals: Breakfast

Approximate Travel Time: 3 hours 45 mins

Accommodation QT Wellington (or similar) - 1 Night

This morning, check out of your hotel after breakfast and head to the South Island. Cross the Cook Strait on board a ferry, taking in some pretty unforgettable views along the way. Your introduction to New Zealand’s South Island sets the tone for the rest of the journey – pass through the iconic landscapes of the Marlborough Sounds as you cruise into Picton Harbour. Travel onward by private vehicle to Christchurch. Settle into your accommodation and enjoy a free evening.

Meals: Breakfast

Approximate Travel Time: 5 hours

Accommodation: Christchurch -  2 Nights

Enjoy a free day in Christchurch. The city has great food and drink culture and museums for all interests so take it easy and fill your day with as much or as little as you choose. A meeting will take place in the evening at 6pm to welcome any new travellers joining you for the next leg of your adventure. Then enjoy a three course dinner at a local restaurant which celebrates local producers and encapsulates the culinary culture of the region.

Note: As this is a combination trip, the travellers in your group and your group leader are likely to change today.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Journey to Punakaiki on the South Island's rugged and remote West Coast, one of New Zealand's most unspoiled and ancient destinations.

Take a morning stroll with your leader around some of the landmarks of Christchurch. Next set off along the Great Alpine Highway No 73 driving through Castle Hill – the spectacular mountain scenery where parts of The Chronicles of Narnia movie were filmed against this dramatic backdrop, and Arthurs Pass. After lunch in Moana, enjoy a short stop at Lake Brunner.

Spend the afternoon in Greymouth, stopping into a boutique studio to learn about the prized west coast jade known locally as Pounamu (Greenstone). Then continue to Monteith's Brewery for a New Zealand craft beer tour and tasting. Arrive at Punakaiki by late afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast

Approximate Travel Time: 5 hours

Accommodation: Punakaiki - 1 Night

After breakfast, explore the Punakaiki Rocks and Blowholes before the drive to Franz Josef. Along the way, stretch your legs at the charming west coast town of Hokitika and enjoy an exhilarating treetop adventure on a walk through the ancient Rimu and Kamahi tree canopy. In the afternoon, take a private ranger-guided tour of the West Coast Wildlife Centre – home of the official breeding programme for the world's rarest kiwi, the Rowi. Also keep an eye out for tuatara (a reptile endemic to New Zealand). Arrive in Franz Josef in the late afternoon, where you’ll have a free evening.

Meals: Breakfast

Approximate Travel Time: 4 hours

Accommodation: Franz Josef - 2 Nights

Begin your day with a self-guided walk to see the icy wonderland created by the Franz Josef Glacier, one of the steepest glaciers in New Zealand. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you may like to join an optional heli-hiking tour and get even closer to this incredible glacier. Other optional activities include kayaking, a scenic cruise on Lake Mapourika or a soak in the hot tubs at Franz Josef.

Included Meals - Breakfast

The drive from Franz Josef to Wanaka is one of the most scenic in New Zealand, as the windswept West Coast gives way to ancient forests and mountain passes. There's beauty around every bend as you navigate the Haast Pass, with woodland walks and dramatic waterfalls along the way - perfect for picnic stops.

Depart Franz Josef for the picturesque resort town of Wanaka, the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park, located in the Otago region. Stop along the way at Makorora and visit the Aspiring Biodiversity Trust, an organisation which strives to protect and restore indigenous biodiversity. After lunch, take a guided flora and fauna walk with a local ornithologist and ecologist before continuing on to Wanaka

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Approximate Travel Time: 4 hours 30 mins

Accommodation: Wanaka - 2 Nights

Enjoy a sleep in or perhaps start your day with a hike up Mt Iron for a view over Lake Wanaka and the surrounding peaks. Today's experience is one of the real highlight's of your trip. Central Otago is a region well known for food and wine, and today you will visit the spectacular Criffel Station for a chef-guided tasting and foraging tour, followed by a delicious lunch, washed down with some excellent Central Otago wines.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Depart Wanaka for the drive to Te Anau. Along the way, take in a spectacular scenic drive across the Crown Range and by the shores of Lake Wakatipu. After lunch, continue on to your embarkation point for your Feature Stay, an overnight cruise surrounded by the spectacular beauty of Milford Sound, also known by its Te Reo (Maori) name Piopiotahi. Aboard your purpose-built vessel, enjoy a full length journey of the fjord out to the Tasman Sea, with the possibility to see wildlife such as seals, penguins and dolphins. You will also have access to a specialist guide with information on the fjord's history and natural environment. For those who are keen, kayaking and/or small boat tours allow a truly immersive experience of this special place. Finish your day with a delicious three-course dinner before settling down in your cosy cabin.

Note: The Milford Sound Cruise is seasonal and weather dependent. Some departures may require a slight shift in itinerary to make sure the cruise is included. If the Cruise has finished for the season, the Feature Stay will instead be the Milford Sound Lodge.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Approximate Travel Time:  5 hours + stops along the way

After a leisurely onboard breakfast surrounded by some of New Zealand’s most spectacular scenery, you’ll disembark and travel to Queenstown with plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs along the way. After another stop in pretty Te Anau for lunch, you’ll arrive in plenty of time to check into your boutique hotel in Queenstown.

Meals Breakfast

Accommodation: Queenstown - 2 Nights

Total Driving Time: approx around 3.5 hours.

Today is the grand finale of your trip. In the morning, take an exhilarating jetboat ride on the Kimi Akau (Shotover River), deep into the spectacular Shotover Canyons. Speeding over water as shallow as 10cm, this is an amazing white water experience, operated by the Ngai Tahu, Maori people who have a centuries-old connection with this land. Continue on for a leader-led walk through historical Arrowtown, then enjoy a wine tasting at Gibbston Valley. Perhaps toast the end of your journey with a New Zealand-inspired gin & tonic or glass of Otago wine at a bar & restaurant with arguably the most spectacular views in all of Queenstown.

Meals Breakfast

Approximate Travel Time: 1 hours 30 mins

"Haere rā" Goodbye! and Bon Voyage!

Your New Zealand adventure ends this morning after breakfast. As this trip spends very little time in Queenstown, we recommend you spend an extra day or two here if you want to experience all the town has to offer. Let First Light Travel know if you would like us to find additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

Meals Breakfast

So what are you waiting for? Contact First Light Travel and book your Holiday in New Zealand - We Guarantee you it will be the Experience of a Lifetime!

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 15 (Milford Sound) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

2. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.

3. The Milford Sound Cruise is seasonal and weather dependent. Some departures may require a slight shift in itinerary to make sure the cruise is included. Trips departing on 5 September 2024 (PHPZC240905), 7 November 2024 (PHPZC241107), and 12 November 2024 (PHPZC241121) will stay in Queenstown on day 7 and board the Milford Sound cruise on day 8.

4. On the trip departing on 8 May 2025 (PHPZC250508) the Milford Sound cruise has finished for the season so the Feature Stay will instead be at the Milford Sound Lodge.

5 . PHPZC241031, PHPZC241121 and PHPZC241219 will stay at the Skotel Alpine Resort in Whakapapa Village, instead of the Powderhorn Chaeau Ohakune.

6. You will be accompanied by a local guide on Day 4, while your trip leader has a rest day as per NZ legal requirements. Your trip leader will ensure you're ready to enjoy your time in Rotorua, before taking a 24 hour break. They will of course be available in case of emergencies.

Itinerary Variations:
The provider strives to improve trip itineraries. If improvements can be made, or if circumstances beyond their control make changes necessary, the provider reserves the right to vary itineraries and to make substitutions.