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DAY 1: ARRIVE AUCKLAND - ROTORUA Upon arrival in Auckland, you will connect to your short flight to Rotorua, the famed thermal region of New Zealand. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to The Lodge at 199 for a two-night stay. This area is famous for its roaring geysers and swirling, boiling mud pools. Rotorua is in the center of more than 10 lakes, on a volcanic rift that stretches over 125 miles. It is also the seat of traditional Maori culture and home to over one-quarter of New Zealand’s Maori population. (B,D) DAY 2: ROTORUA Today you will take a half-day trip to Mt. Tarawera, an excursion that will involve both a 4x4 vehicle and a helicopter ride. In June of 1886, Mt. Tarawera erupted in an explosive display of fire and lava, and the eruption resulted in the formation of Lake Rotomahana. The area remains a popular destination because of this dramatic history and its magnificent beauty. (B,D) DAY 3: ROTORUA - GISBORNE This morning, you will be transferred to the vehicle depot this morning to collect your rental car for the self-drive to Gisborne. Upon arrival, make your way to the Opou Country House for a two-night stay. This 120-year-old country mansion is set amid rolling farmland and offers expansive, scenic views of the countryside. This afternoon, set out with your guide for a visit to some nearby wineries to sample the region’s famous Chardonnay. Gisborne has a rich history and is the place where the Maori first disembarked their massive waka canoes after their migration to Aotearoa New Zealand and is also the first meeting place of Maori and Europeans with the arrival of Captain James Cook. (D) DAY 4: GISBORNE Opou is located in the village of Manutuke, the Maori heart of the region. The area has five maraes (village squares), a historic church and a local school with a total Maori language immersion section, whose students are renowned across the country for their success in kapa haka (Maori performing arts) competitions. This morning, you will be met for a full day of privately guided touring to explore the Maori culture and heritage of the region. Depart with your Maori guide for a visit to Tolaga Bay and a local village marae, where you will be introduced to the intricacies and warmth of Maori customs. Enjoy tea or coffee with your hosts before setting off by boat on the Uawa River to Cook’s Cove, where Captain Cook’s ships made the first landfall in New Zealand in 1769. Continue on to Whangara, an incredibly scenic village by the sea that served as the location for the movie “Whale Rider.” Before returning to Opou, see the Tairawhiti Museum and the dynamic modern Maori art school, Toikouhura. (B,D) DAY 5: GISBORNE - NAPIER Set out by road for Napier this morning. Follow the Pacific Coast Highway as it winds through the forest; you may want to stop at the Morere Hot Pools at the Morere Springs Scenic Reserve. There are a variety of walking tracks through the rainforest, ranging from easy 20-minute strolls to challenging two- and three-hour hikes. Further along you may want to stop at the Kahungunu Meeting house in Nuhuka, where local residents can point out the exquisite Maori carvings that adorn it. Continue on to explore the Mahia Peninsula. This reserve is one of the last large tracts of lowland coastal forest remaining on the East Coast of New Zealand. This is also a great spot to stop and enjoy a lobster lunch at a local café. Alternatively, you may want to take a more rural route through Tiniroto, a scenic drive past small lakes and the spectacular Te Reinga Falls. Finally , make your way to the Greenhill Lodge for a two-night stay.A region characterized by its sloping hillside pastures and coastal views, Hawkes Bay is popularly known for its wine industry and artist community. (B,D) DAY 6: NAPIER Set out with your guide this morning for a full day of private touring. First, visit some local artists to view their work before checking out the Art Deco city of Napier and it’s coastal scenery. Next, visit some local wineries to taste some of the region’s best wines and sample some of the mouthwatering local cuisine. Hawkes Bay is New Zealand’s second-largest grape growing region, and has a respected 100-year heritage in wine. The varied topography and different soil types -- from fertile silty loams to free-draining shingle -- produces a considerable range of wines, most notably Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah. Continue on to visit with a local Maori community, where you will be introduced to the Powhiri, the Maori welcome ceremony. Weather and time permitting, finish your day at Te Mata Peak, which offers sweeping panoramic views. (B,D) DAY 7: NAPIER - QUEENSTOWN Return your rental car to the airport this morning and board your flight to Queenstown on the South Island. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to The Sofitel Queenstown for a three-night stay. (B) DAY 8: QUEENSTOWN Enjoy a nature adventure today as you set out from Queenstown with your driver. First, join a small group to shoot up the Dart River on a jetboat and then down to the Rock Burn Chasm. Next, take a guided walk to the lower Routeburn via Lake Sylvan. The scale and beauty of the natural scenery and environment is truly astonishing. Return to Queenstown for an evening at leisure to sample any of the local restaurants. (B,L) DAY 9: MILFORD SOUND DAY TRIP You will be transferred to your flight to Milford Sound this morning. Upon arrival at Milford Sound, board your cruise; the magnificent Mitre Peak, mirrored in the sparkling surrounding waters, dominates the area. The weather is unpredictable and it is not unusual for it to rain or be cloudy, so be prepared for this possibility, though inclement weather should not diminish the experience. Return by small plane this afternoon. (B,L) DAY 10: QUEENSTOWN - FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER This morning, pick up your rental car and set out by road for the west coast and make your way to glacier country. This incredibly scenic drive will afford you numerous opportunities for photo opportunities or short walks. Upon arrival in Franz Josef, make your way to the Westwood Lodge for an overnight stay. (B) DAY 11: FOX GLACIER - NELSON Early this morning, board a helicopter for your twin glacier experience, which begins with a flight over both major glaciers – Fox Glacier and Franz Josef - and then lands on the ice, where you explore the expanse of the surrounding glacier. Experience magnificent views of ice pinnacles, glacial lakes, blue crevasses and steep rock valley walls with cascading waterfalls. After this exhilarating experience, continue your self-drive up the west coast of the South Island. This full day journey winds through stunning landscapes and through small towns such as Hokitika, once a very large gold mining town and now home to a bustling community of greenstone artisans that you may want to visit. Continue on to Punakaiki, whose famous pancake rock formations perch out above the crashing surf. Feel free to explore this natural wonder before continuing on to Nelson along incredibly scenic roads. In Nelson, make your way to the Sunnybank Homestead,one of Nelsons earliest, and now protected, Heritage Homes– built in 1856. Enjoy two nights here. (B) DAY 12: NELSON Set out this morning for a privately guided, full day art tour of Nelson, including visits to the Hoglund Art Glass Studio and the Wearable Arts Museum. Margaret, your hostess at Sunnybank Homestead, displays work at this unusual museum -- she is a sculptor, painter, and designer in her own right. After a gourmet picnic lunch, you will be taken to some local wineries before returning to Nelson in the afternoon. (B,L) DAY 13: NELSON - AUCKLAND Return your rental car to the airport and board your flight to Auckland. Upon arrival in Auckland, the ‘City of Sails,’ you will be met and transferred to the Hilton Hotel for a two-night stay. Sophisticated and stylish, Auckland has earned a reputation for its innovative cuisine, excellent shopping, and cosmopolitan lifestyle. (B) DAY 14: AUCKLAND Explore New Zealand’s capital city with an eye to its Maori history on a privately guided tour. First visit Maungakiekie (One Tree Hill), originally the site of a Maori fortified village, for views of the Hauraki Gulf, Auckland City and Rangitoto Island. Learn the traditional history of this sacred mountain and the Maori creation myths. Next, visit a sheltered Kauri grove for a lesson in traditional Maori flax preparation and weaving before driving to the Waitakere Ranges on the west coast of Auckland for a stop at Titirangi for lunch at a great local cafe. Continue out into the regional park for a brief bush walk and an optional swim in the fresh river water. Learn about Tane Mahuta, God of the Forest, and the traditional uses of plants used for Maori medicine. If time permits, we will also go to the summit of one of the peaks to get a birds-eye view of the rainforest, west coast and spectacular views back to the city. Finish the day in the realm of Tangaroa, God of the Sea, with a barefoot walk upon the desolate and often stormy Whatipu Beach, Auckland's wildest black sand beach. If your tour takes place on Saturday, enjoy a side trip to Otara Market, the South Pacific's largest Maori and Polynesian market. (B) DAY 15: DEPART AUCKLAND This morning, take a harbour cruise on an NZL 40, which was an America’s Cup grand prix sailing racer. Relax on board or help sail this incredible machine as you cruise around the harbour. This afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward international flight. (B) |