New Zealand Luxury

Day 1: Arrive Auckland, New Zealand

Welcome to New Zealand.  On arrival you will be met and transferred to downtown Auckland where you will take a 35-min ferry to Waiheke Island. The rest of your day is at leisure. Stay in Waiheke Island at The Boatshed (Boatshed Suite) for 3 nights.

Days 2-3: Waiheke Island

Your stylish boutique hotel on Waiheke Island is perched above the beach with beautiful coastal scenery. Your stay includes an arrival drink, gourmet breakfast, complimentary non-alcoholic minibar and wifi.

Your time on Waiheke island is free to recalibrate and explore the island at your leisure.  One day we have included this experience:

Waiheke Island & Wine – visit three of the islands top boutique vineyards for tastings and a scenic tour of the island with a local guide. Lunch is included

Day 4: Waiheke Island – Auckland

Return to Auckland by ferry and make your way to your downtown Auckland hotel. Stay in Auckland at Sofitel Auckland (Superior Room) for 3 nights.

Days 5-6: Auckland

Spend a few days discovery New Zealand’s largest city, positioned between two coastlines.  One day we have included the following experience:

Essence of Auckland Small Group Tour – this introduction to the ‘City of Sails’ includes the iconic highlights. See beautiful beaches, panoramic views of several volcanoes, the Auckland Harbour Bridge, Westhaven Marina and the Auckland Domain. From Tamaki Drive there are sweeping views across the Harbour towards Bastion Point, Mission Bay and Rangitoto Island, the youngest and largest volcano in the Auckland volcanic field.

Day 7: Auckland – Rotorua

Pick up your rental vehicle today and start your journey south to the Waikato Region (approximately 2.5 hours driving) to Matamata and the Hobbiton Movie Set.  We have included the following experience:

Hobbiton Movie Set and Farm Tour – from The Shire’s Rest, join a 2.5 hour tour to experience the real Middle-earth in the heart of New Zealand’s North Island. You will be welcomed to the Alexander family sheep farm as you journey through beautiful scenery, with the mighty Kaimai Ranges towering in the distance. Take a guided walking tour around the movie set, showcasing the intricate details and famous locations to explaining how movie magic was made here.

Continue driving to Rotorua (approximately 1 hour) and the remainder of your day is at your leisure to start exploring around the lake. Your boutique lakeside accommodation is a small lakeside hideaway surrounded by gardens, a secret grotto, private jetty and unspoiled views of Lake Rotorua., Stay in Rotorua at Black Swan Lakeside Boutique Hotel (Lakeside Room) for 3 nights.

Days 8-9: Rotorua

You have a couple of days to explore Rotorua, known for its geothermal activity including bubbling mud pools, natural hot springs and shooting geysers, unique Māori culture as well as scenic lakes and surrounding forests. During your stay we have included the following experiences:

Cultural & Geothermal Spa Experience – a transformative guided journey of rejuvenation and cultural immersion, where ancestral traditions converge with the soothing therapeutic experience of geothermal heat, water, mud and steam. This experience includes a welcome, waterfalls showers, fire and ice caves, geothermal pool, mud lounge and steam room.

An Evening at Te Puia – You will be welcomed for a world-famous hāngī buffet dinner. The cultural performance will take place at the beautifully carved meeting house which includes a pōwhiri (traditional welcome), waiata (song), mōteatea (traditional chant) poi and haka. Your evening culminates with hot drnk and steamed dessert surrounded by steam and the geyser terrace bathed in coloured light.

Day 10: Rotorua – Hawkes Bay

Leave Rotorua and drive south to the Hawkes Bay region.  This part of the journey takes approximately 3-3.5 hours, or you may choose a slightly different route and slower trip to stop at Huka Falls and beautiful Lake Taupo along the way.

On arrival in Hawkes Bay the rest of your day is at your leisure. Your boutique hotel in Havelock North is an elegant small historic country estate built in 1885 set amongst acres of gardens and orchards, just 6 mins from Havelock North Village and 15 mins from Napier city.  There are just 12 suites here, an elegant restaurant, tennis court, outdoor seasonal swimming pool, spa, bikes and wifi.  Stay in Hawkes Bay at Mangapapa Hotel (Deluxe Room) for 3 nights.

Days 11-12: Hawkes Bay

This region is steeped in food and wine production, with a myriad of offerings for foodies and wine-lovers. World-class wineries, farmers’ markets, artisan food producers and some of the finest agricultural and horticultural scenery await! Hawke’s Bay also prides itself on a vibrant cultural scene, stunning beaches and charming villages around the region. There are many outstanding wineries you can choose to visit, taste or perhaps dine at. We have included the following experience during your stay:

Napier Art Deco Guided Walk –  start with a 20-minute movie about the 1931 earthquake in Napier, which lead to the rapid rebuild of the region within 2 years. Then walk back in time on a guided walking tour of the Art Deco Quarter with a variety of buildings in the styles of the 1930s – Stripped Classical, Spanish Mission, and above all Art Deco, the style of the 20th Century. Napier’s Art Deco is unique, with Maori motifs and the buildings of Louis Hay, admirer of the great Frank Lloyd Wright. Along the way your guide will share stories of the earthquake that destroyed the city and the remarkable recovery.

Day 13: Hawkes Bay – Queenstown

Return your rental car today in Napier and fly south from Napier to Queenstown (flight not included in package price). On arrival in the South Island, you will be met at the airport and transferred by private car to your Queenstown hotel.  The rest of your day is at your leisure. Stay in Queenstown at Sofitel Queenstown (Superior Room with Spa) for 5 nights.

Days 14-17: Queenstown & Southern Lakes

This region is jam packed with options on ways to spend your time here. Queenstown is a lakeside resort known as New Zealand’s adventure playground for a reason! From bungy jumping, wine tasting, hiking, ziplining, gondola rides, luging, off road tours and so much more. We have included the following experiences during your stay:

Milford Sound Small Group Tour with Scenic Flight – After an early start, travel in comfort to Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound with the extra comfort of extended legroom and panoramic windows for the best views. Join a stunning two-hour cruise on the fjord – see waterfalls, fur seals, penguins and occasionally dolphins. If the weather permits, complete your day with the ultimate scenic 45-minute flight with stunning alpine scenery from above.

Back Country Jetboat Adventure – Journey through the Dart River’s ever-changing braided river system on a jetboat.  Enjoy breathtaking snow-capped mountains, ancient native forest, waterfalls and glacier valleys frozen in time and an easy 20-minute guided walk through ancient native beach forest.

Day 18: Depart Queenstown, New Zealand

Say farewell to New Zealand today, you will be transferred by private car to Queenstown Airport (flight not included).