New Zealand: Untamed Landscapes

Cross the International Date Line in flight and “lose” a day.

Your flight continues to New Zealand.

Welcome to New Zealand! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.

Head out to explore the breathtaking Milford Sound in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park, home to some of the most memorable scenery in the world.

• Travel through the Five Rivers farming region and past Lake Te’Anau
• Pass through beautiful beech forests and stop at the glittering Mirror Lakes
• Sip on a glass of wine as you cruise around Milford Sound, in view of Mitre Peak
• See the temperate rainforest and waterfalls that line the shores of the picturesque sound
• Try to spot dolphins, penguins, seals, and whales (seasonal)

Spend a free day in Queenstown or add excursions.

Enjoy a scenic drive through the island’s Southern Alps to Franz Josef Glacier, stopping at Lake Hawea, Lake Wānaka, Knight’s Point, and Thunder Creek Falls along the way.

Please note: On some departures, you may stay overnight in Fox Glacier.

This morning, join a local guide for a hike along the Waiho River in the Franz Josef Glacier valley.

• Walk alongside the Waiho River bed, which is fed by the melting snow and ice from Franz Josef Glacier
• Admire the snowcapped glacier and verdant landscape within the valley
• Learn about the glacier’s history and how it got the name Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere in Māori culture

Enjoy a free late-morning at Franz Josef Glacier or add an excursion.

Please note: This excursion is weather-dependent and may be offered on day 6.

Then, transfer down the scenic west coat of the South Island to Punakaiki. Settle in to your eco-friendly seaside hotel before sitting down for an included dinner.

Leave Hokitika behind as you set out for your eco-hotel in the Abel Tasman region, making scenic stops en route.

• Join your Tour Director for a walk along a trail to the distinctive “pancake” rocks in Punakaiki
• Learn how salt water and wind have weathered the limestone as you admire views of the coastline and mountains
• View natural forming blowholes and caves formed by sea erosion
• Stop at the Cape Foulwind Seal Colony to see the area’s famous residents
• Pass through the dramatic Buller Gorge before arriving in the Abel Tasman region

Tonight, join a local Kiwi family at their house and enjoy a home-cooked meal featuring traditional food and drink.

Head out to explore Abel Tasman National Park with your Tour Director.

• Journey by boat through the South Island’s pristine coves and turquoise waters
• Visit breathtaking Kaiteriteri Beach
• Enjoy free time to explore the national park

Please note: For an additional cost, you can book hiking, paddle boarding, and kayaking activities through your Tour Director.

Spend free time in the Abel Tasman region or add an excursion.

On your way to Wellington, stop for a wine tasting in Marlborough.

• Sip four of the region’s signature wines, including its renowned sauvignon blanc
• Enjoy some light snacks like bread, cheese, olives, caviar, and cured meats

Then, board a ferry in Picton for a scenic cruise across the Cook Strait to the city of Wellington on the North Island.

Get to know Wellington, the southernmost capital city of any sovereign state, on a guided tour led by your Tour Director.

• Take in views of the city from Mount Victoria
• Walk along the Wellington waterfront
• Explore the interactive exhibitions at Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand’s national museum, on a self-guided tour

Please note: The sightseeing tour of Wellington may move to day 10 on some departures.

Spend a free evening in Wellington or add an excursion.

Head to Rotorua, which is located in the heart of the North Island’s Maori country. Make photo stop along the way at Lake Taupo and Tongariro National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Visit a Maori village this evening and sit down to a traditional hangi feast of specialties that have been cooking in the steaming ground.

Set off on a sightseeing tour of the Rotorua region today.

• Learn about Operation Nest Egg at Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park, New Zealand’s largest kiwi hatchery
• Visit the village of Whakarewarewa, which is home to thermal springs and bubbling hot pools
• Join a local Whakarewarewa guide to learn about the lifestyle and traditions of the Maori people, who live in harmony with nature in the village
• Try some traditional sweet corn, which is cooked in geothermal hot pools
• Visit Rotorua’s Government Gardens, a public park and site of great historical importance to the local Maori people
• Take a guided tour of an Agrodome, a unique type of farm where you’ll see a variety of animals as well as a fruit orchard and olive grove
• Sample kiwi and honey produced on-site before enjoying free time to shop

Please note: For an additional cost, you can book a tour of the Hobbiton movie set through your Tour Director.

En route to Auckland, stop at Waitomo Caves to try your hand at spelunking. Then, take a subterranean cruise to view the remarkable Glowworm Grotto on a guided tour.

Later, take a walk along Auckland Harbour with your Tour Director.

Please note: For an additional cost, you can book a dinner at the Sky Tower through your Tour Director.

Enjoy a free day in Auckland or add an excursion.

This evening, celebrate your trip with your fellow travelers at a farewell dinner.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your stay to explore Fiji.