Exploring New Zealand's Wonders

From geothermal springs and extensive glaciers to stunning fjords and Maori culture, experience New Zealand at its best. Spend two nights discovering the sun-soaked Bay of Islands. Stand in awe of the giant kauri tree. Spend two nights in Christchurch and see how the city is reinventing itself. Admire the ice fields and glaciers surrounding Aoraki / Mount Cook. Stay in Dunedin, a little slice of Scotland in the South Pacific. Cruise Milford Sound in dramatic Fiordland. Savour a captivating three-night stay in Queenstown, the “Adventure Capital of the World.” The Kiwi lifestyle welcomes you.

Date: November 05 -  23, 2026

Price: From $10,599 CAD per person

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart from Home

Cross the International Dateline and begin the adventure of a lifetime by skipping a day ahead.

Day 2: Auckland, New Zealand

Meals: Dinner

Your tour opens in Auckland, the “City of Sails,” consistently rated one of the world’s best places to live. Auckland’s Polynesian population instills into its chic atmosphere the vibrant feel of the Pacific Islands. As arrival times will vary greatly, there are no scheduled activities through the afternoon. This evening, meet your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner.

Day 3: Auckland

Meals: Breakfast

Come to know the best of Auckland during a panoramic city tour featuring the America’s Cup Village, the War Memorial, bustling Queen Street, and the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The full afternoon is yours to explore New Zealand’s largest city on your own.

Day 4: Auckland - Rotorua

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Depart Auckland and travel south to the town of Rotorua, known for geothermal activity and Maori culture. On the way, stop in at the Red Barn for a guided tour of a local farm and a morning tea. Upon reaching Rotorua, marvel at the height and age of the Redwoods in the Whakarewarewa Forest; some of these trees are over 120 years old and nearly 250 feet tall.

Day 5: Rotorua

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Find yourself amid the dramatic geothermal landscape of Rotorua, known as the Maori capital of New Zealand. Visit Whakarewarewa, a Maori cultural and geothermal experience. Explore an authentic Maori village where people live using natural geothermal resources to cook, bathe and heat their homes as they have done for centuries. In the evening, experience ceremonial Maori rituals at an authentic hangi dinner and performance.

Day 6: Rotorua - Wellington

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Today, travel to Wellington – New Zealand’s capital city, known as the “Windy City,” a coastal city nestled against the mountains.

Day 7: Wellington

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Embark on a city tour of Wellington. See the Beehive — New Zealand’s Parliament; and the Old Government Building — the largest wooden building in the Southern Hemisphere. Then, get to know Wellington for its reputation as a foodie destination and explore the culinary scene on a walking food tour. Visit some Wellington institutions and try some Kiwi favorites before enjoying an afternoon and evening at leisure. With your free time, perhaps you'll explore the vibrant waterfront, where you can stroll along Queen’s Wharf, visit Te Papa Museum, or relax at a harbourside café while soaking in views of Wellington’s picturesque harbour.

Day 8: Wellington

Meals: Breakfast

Continue your exploration of New Zealand’s capital city with a full free day at leisure. Perhaps you’d like to see the rugged coast of New Zealand on a half-day tour to Seal Coast, or take a half-day Lord of the Rings tour to get closer to the filming locations and learn about its legacy in Wellington.

Day 9: Wellington - Picton - Christchurch

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Board a ferry and sail across Cook Strait. Experience what is considered to be one of the most beautiful ferry rides in the world. Arrive in Picton on the South Island and continue along the breathtaking east coast to the largest city on the South Island, Christchurch.

Day 10: Christchurch

Meals: Breakfast

Christchurch, the “Garden City,” is still rebuilding and recreating itself after a devastating earthquake in 2011. See firsthand how this city is evolving on a sightseeing tour that highlights the city’s magnificent gardens and elegant park district. Pay a visit to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, a leader in the conservation of New Zealand species. Here, you’ll have the chance to view New Zealand’s “Big 5” – kiwi, kaka, tuatara, kea, and takahe. Learn about the local Indigenous culture of the Maori, with a paddle on the Avon River in a traditional canoe or waka.

Day 11: Christchurch

Meals: Breakfast

In Christchurch this morning, it’s your choice! Visit Quake City, a museum dedicated to recounting the Canterbury earthquakes and how the city has rebuilt - OR- get to know Christchurch’s long history of exploration in Antarctica during a visit the International Antarctic Centre. Continue to explore Christchurch your way with free time for the rest of the day.

Day 12: Christchurch - Aoraki / Mount Cook Region

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Journey through New Zealand’s unspoiled wilderness and arrive in the Aoraki / Mount Cook region, where extensive glaciers blanket the rugged peaks. The Maori word Aoraki means “cloud piercer.” This is where famed New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary honed his skills before conquering Everest. You can take a nature walk, enjoy an optional glacier flightseeing tour (weather permitting), or simply meditate on the beauty of the Southern Alps.

Day 13: Aoraki / Mount Cook Region - Dunedin

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Travel to Dunedin, situated on the southeast coast of New Zealand. One of the earliest European settlements on the islands, Dunedin holds proudly to its Scottish heritage and traditions. Visit Baldwin Street – the world’s steepest public road as awarded by the Guinness Book of Records. Enjoy a free afternoon before dinner at a local Ale House.

Day 14: Dunedin

Meals: Breakfast

Start your morning with a panoramic tour, visiting Larnach Castle the Royal Albatross Centre, the only mainland breeding location in the world for these otherworldly birds. Albatrosses are the focus in many seafaring myths, and their epic wingspan can reach nearly 10 feet.

Day 15: Dunedin - Queenstown

Meals: Breakfast

Drive past vineyards, amazing landscapes and the charming towns of Central Otago as you head to Queenstown. Dubbed the “adventure capital of the world,” it’s a mountainside town set against the shores of Lake Wakatipu. In the afternoon, take a gondola to Bob’s Peak for stunning views of the area.

Day 16: Queenstown - Milford Sound - Queenstown

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

During a cruise of the beautiful Milford Sound, you will see why this fjord is one of the most visited sites on the South Island. With rock faces that rise nearly 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) on either side, the scenery will take your breath away. On your return to Queenstown, perhaps you will consider an optional scenic flight, allowing you to see the landscape from an entirely new perspective.

Day 17: Queenstown

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Enjoy a relaxed start to your day or head out to explore. Try an optional tour taking you through the stunning Queenstown countryside showcasing many of the locations where blockbuster movies have been filmed and learn about the gold rush that first brought travellers to the region. This evening, cruise Lake Wakatipu surrounded by Queenstown’s stunning landscape aboard an iconic coal-fired steamship. Then, enjoy a BBQ dinner lakeside followed by a sheepdog demonstration before cruising back.

Day 18: Queenstown - Tour Ends

Meals: Breakfast

Your adventure comes to a close today, leaving you with many memories.

Call us to discover New Zealand's wonders!!