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.

Some Activities and sightseeing options if you have time:

Accommodation: Auckland - 2 nights (or similar)

Meals: Dinner

*The arrival transfer is only valid if arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through Intrepid. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 14 days prior to travel, as we may not be able to confirm a request made within 14 days of travel.

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 glow worms 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.

Included activities

• Hobbiton - Visit to the Lord of the Rings Movie Set
• Hobbiton - Drink at the Green Dragon
• Waitomo - Ruakuri Glow Worm Cave Visit

Meals: Breakfast 

Accommodation Regent of Rotorua - 2 nights (or similar)

Traveling Time: Approximately 5 hrs 30 mins

Fuel up for a geothermal wonderland! After breakfast, explore Te Puia's 70 hectares. Witness Pohutu, the Southern Hemisphere's biggest geyser, alongside bubbling mud pools and hot springs. A guide unveils these marvels. Next, spot iconic kiwis at the Conservation Centre, learning about preservation efforts. Witness Maori artistry at the Ahua Gallery. Savor a hangi lunch, a feast cooked underground. In the evening, consider an optional geyser tour by night.

Included activities

• Rotorua - Visit to Te Puia Geothermal Area with Local Guide & Hangi Lunch
• Rotorua - Ahua Gallery & Kiwi Conservation Centre

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Special information

You will be accompanied by a local guide today, 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.

Say goodbye to Rotorua and drive on to Taupo, sitting on the shores of Lake Taupo – the largest lake in New Zealand. On the way, visit Waiotapu 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 activities

• Rotorua - Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland

Meals Breakfast 

Accommodation - Millennium Taupo or similar (1 night)

Add on activities

• Taupo - Lake Taupo Sailing Adventure - NZD69

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.

Included activities

• Tongariro National Park - Taranaki Falls

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: The Powderhorn Ohakune (or Similar) - 1 Night

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

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.

Included activities

• Wellington - Ferry Cruise through Marlborough Sound

Meals: Breakfast

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.

Meals: Breakfast Dinner

Special information

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

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 may look familiar, as 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, the largest lake in the northwestern South Island of New Zealand.

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, considered the original home of New Zealand craft brewing, for a tour and tasting. Arrive at Punakaiki Resort by late afternoon. Situated in Paparoa National Park, the resort is adjacent to the beautiful Punakaiki beach and the magnificent Pancake Rocks and Blowholes - the perfect spot to reflect and relax.

Included activities

• Greymouth - Monteith's Brewery Tour & Tasting
• Greymouth - Pounamu (Greenstone) Studio Visit
• Christchurch - Leader-led Orientation Walk
• Lake Brunner - Nature Walk

Meals: Breakfest

Accommodation: Punakaiki  - 1 Night

Total Driving Time: approx 5 hours

Continue your journey today to Franz Josef – and here, you’re in for a real treat. Nestled in a rainforest clearing, Franz Josef Glacier Village lies at the heart of the Westland National Park. Welcome to one of the most diverse and beautiful areas of New Zealand.

The magnificent Franz Josef Glacier is widely regarded as the gem of New Zealand’s West Coast glaciers. It tumbles down from the Southern Alps almost to the sea, its ancient icy faces contrasting spectacularly with the surrounding rainforests. Take the opportunity to experience the most spectacular glacier environment anywhere in the world.

Included activities

• Punakaiki - Rocks & Blowhole Visit
• Hokitika - West Coast Treetops Walk
• Franz Josef - West Coast Wildlife Centre Visit with Ranger

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Franz Josef - 2 Nights

Total Driving Time: 4 hours

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 activities

• Franz Josef - Glacier View Walk

Meals - Breakfast

Add on activities

• Franz Josef - Lake Mapourika Scenic Cruise - NZD120
• Franz Josef - Waiho Hot Tubs - from - NZD89
• Franz Josef - Heli-Hiking Tour - from - NZD695
• Franz Josef - Kayaking Excursion - from - NZD145

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.

Keep an eye out for endangered birds as you learn about how the Aspiring Biodiversity Trust is working to reduce predators and save some of New Zealand’s rarest species. Arrive in Wanaka by later afternoon, and settle in to your home for the next two nights - a homestead built on the site of a former sheep station. Located next to the resplendent Wanaka Station Park on the shores of Lake Wanaka, and a short stroll from Wanaka township, you'll be perfectly placed to enjoy all this charming town has to offer.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Wanaka - 2 Nights

Total Driving Time: 4 hours 30 min

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 activities

• Wanaka - Criffel Station Foraging & Lunch Experience with Local Chef

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.

Included activities

• Milford Sound - Overnight Boat Cruise

Meals Breakfast, Dinner

Total driving 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.

Included activities

• Queenstown - Shotover River Jetboat Experience
• Gibbston Valley - Wine Cave Tour
• Arrowtown - Leader-led walk
• Queenstown - Farewell Aperitivo

Meals Breakfast

Total Driving Time: 1 hours 30 min

"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.