Day 1 Auckland 
Meeting, Orientation Walk, Dinner
We’ll have our “Welcome to New Zealand” meeting in the late afternoon in our hotel in Auckland. After the meeting we’ll head out for an orientation walk of the neighborhood and then get to know each other better over dinner in a local restaurant.

M Social Hotel (3 Nights)

Day 2 Auckland 
Auckland Tour, Auckland Museum
After breakfast we’ll discover Auckland on a walking tour. Then a guided tour of the Auckland Museum to learn more about NZ’s history and Maori culture. The afternoon is free for your own explorations in the City of Sails using the public transportation provided by the tour.

Day 3 Auckland
Waiheke
Today we'll board the passenger ferry for a 40-minute scenic ferry ride to Waiheke Island. Upon arrival we meet our private bus and driver and visit Waiheke Whisky distillery and a local winery. We'll indulge in tastings at both, and lunch together. In the afternoon we'll visit a local sculpture park and learn about the local arts scene.

Day 4 Rotorua
Hobbiton
We’ll depart Auckland and head south to Matamata. Today we visit Hobbiton; film set for Peter Jackson’s epic fantasy movies The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Whether you can quote the movies word-for-word, or you don't even know what a Hobbit is, everyone comes away enjoying this insight to the fantasy land of Middle Earth. Lunch at Hobbiton and then onwards to Rotorua

Hotel Millennium (2 nights)

Day 5 Rotorua
Wai O Tapu, Te Puia, Hangi
New Zealand's first people, the Māori, have a strong presence in the geothermal town of Rotorua. We have special connections for a more intimate and genuine experiences mot enjoyed by most other tours. Visit Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Wonderland, Te Puia and an exclusive family homestead where we enjoy lunch with a local Māori family. We'll conclude our Māori immersion day with a Hangi - their traditional dinner and performance.

Day 6 Christchurch/Oamaru 
Flight, Oamaru, Blue Penguins
A morning flight takes us from Rotorua to Christchurch on the South Island (flight included). Then we’ll drive south across the Canterbury Plains, crossing New Zealand’s longest bridge over a braided river to the Victorian heritage town of Oamaru. This evening after dinner we’ll visit Blue Penguins, the world’s smallest, in their natural environment. We'll observe as they return from their day’s fishing and learn about conservation efforts from the colony guides.

Poshtel (1 night)

Day 7 Queenstown 
Moeraki Boulders, Wine Tasting
Today is a another beautiful day for scenery as we head west to picturesque Queenstown. Our first stop is at Moeraki where large mysterious boulders line the beach. We then head inland to the heart of the Central Otago Wine Region. Enjoy some friendly hospitality and a gourmet kiwi lunch at Ophir. Otago is the world’s most southerly wine region and we’ll discover what makes this the ideal place for Pinot Noir at a local winery. In the early evening we arrive in Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world.

Ramada Queenstown Central (2 Nights)

Day 8 Queenstown 
Milford Sound
The amazing scenery continues today as we make a day trip to Milford Sound. Stunning views greet us at every bend, all the way to the climax of the Sound itself. We’ll take various stops for photographs and short hikes along the way. At Milford we enjoy a 2-hour nature cruise with commentary from a local guide. We cruise the full length of the fjord, admiring waterfalls, rainforest, towering peaks, and wildlife. We’ll return to Queenstown in time for a beautiful sunset. For those interested, we can arrange an optional scenic flight for the return trip to Queenstown.

Day 9 Queenstown 
Free Day
Today is a vacation from our vacation. You have the full day at leisure in Queenstown. There are plenty of options available, including cruising on an old steamboat on Lake Wakatipu, mountain biking, luge riding, or jet boating.

Day 10 Franz Josef 
Lake Wanaka
Leaving Queenstown, we make a short drive to the Wanaka. We’ll stop at Lake Wanaka for a visit with a local artist and then skirt the western side of Lake Hawea, climbing gradually up and over Haast Pass. There will be stops for short walks along the way, and we’ll arrive in Franz Josef township in the early evening, where we’ll dine together.

Scenic Hotel (2 Nights)

Day 11 Franz Josef
FJ Glacier, Lake Matheson
This morning we'll make a short drive to the Franz Josef Glacier Valley. Hike on a couple of short trails and see the glacier in the far distance (weather permitting). Later in the afternoon we have a longer guided nature walk around beautiful Lake Matheson to learn more about New Zealand’s unique flora and fauna.

Day 12 Christchurch 
Hokitika, Transalpine scenic train
Travelling up the west coast this morning we’ll arrive in the town of Hokitika, famous as a center for greenstone (jade) carving. We learn about the importance of greenstone to the Maori and its cultural significance today. We’ll meet master carvers who will have pre-shaped stones that we get to polish and take home as our taonga (treasure) from the whenua (land) of Aotearoa (New Zealand). In the afternoon we wave goodbye to our bus and board the train to Christchurch. One of the world’s great train rides, we travel in comfort through chiseled alpine mountains while crossing deep gorges and ice-fed rivers, arriving in the evening.

Fable Hotel (2 Nights)

Day 13 Christchurch
Quake City, Dinner
This morning we start with a short walk to Quake City. This unique multi-sensory attraction informs, engages, and educates visitors about the region’s earthquakes. Your afternoon is free. Christchurch is known as the ‘Garden City’ due to its many parks and gardens. Tonight we’ll share memories of our tour and toast new friends at our final dinner together.

Day 14 – Tour Over After Breakfast
Imprint will assist with airport transfers.