The Kiwi Way Tour

Tour Highlights:

• Mini railway journey through native Coromandel bush
• Visit Hot Water Beach
• A private guide around a geothermal valley with geysers, mud pools and hot springs
• Visit Waimangu Volcanic Valley – or – Hobbiton Movie Set
• Delve into Māori traditions and enjoy a powerful cultural performance and feast
• Discover Napier’s history and architecture on foot during a tour from a local guide
• Dinner at Mission Estate in Napier
• Travel on Wellington’s famous Cable Car and visit Te Papa museum
• Scenic Interislander Ferry journey across the Cook Strait between islands
• Wine tasting at one of Marlborough’s premier wineries
• Cruise the turquoise waters of Abel Tasman National Park
• Visit world-famous Pancake Rocks and blowholes at Punakaiki
• Join a local eco-guided tour – or – an authentic 4WD adventure
• Explore the historic gold rush village of Arrowtown
• Cruise, with a picnic lunch, on the breath-taking Milford Sound
• Enjoy kiwi hospitality with morning tea at a local home on the shores of Lake Tekapo
• Relax as you’re guided along Christchurch’s Avon River on an authentic Edwardian punt

Sample Itinerary (Subject to Change)

Day 1: Arrive Auckland, New Zealand

Haere mai – welcome to New Zealand. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel.  The rest of your day is spent at your leisure to explore the ‘City of Sails’.

Day 2: Auckland to Coromandel

Travel across the fertile Hauraki Plains to Thames then up the western side of the Coromandel Peninsula.  This coastal drive is quite spectacular. Visit the nearby Driving Creek Railway climbing 120m on a narrow-gauge line to the ‘EyeFull’ Tower for panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and back over the Hauraki Gulf. Drive east to the seaside town of Whitianga on Mercury Bay. 

Day 3: Coromandel Peninsula

White cliffs, golden beaches, inviting turquoise waters and green forests are the colours of the Coromandel, with scarlet highlights courtesy of the flowers of Pōhutukawa trees in summer. At Hot Water Beach warm springs bubble up through the sand, and when the tide is right you can dig out your very own ‘spa’ pool.  Take a walk along the beautiful Hahei beach and visit Cooks Beach – named after Captain James Cook who sailed on the HMS Endeavour into Mercury Bay in 1769.  This area is a popular retreat for Kiwis during summer months.   

Day 4: Coromandel to Rotorua

Travel south along the Pacific Coast Highway through beachside towns of Whangamatā and Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty before heading inland to stop at Okere Falls for a bush walk and scenic lookouts. Rotorua is the centre of New Zealand’s geothermal activity and Māori heritage. No visit to Rotorua would be complete without including Te Puia, not only an active geothermal site, but the nation’s centre for indigenous arts and crafts and a Kiwi conservation project. At Te Puia you will be welcomed by a private guide for your visit.

Day 5: Rotorua

Today you have a choice of sightseeing excursions: visit Waimangu Volcanic Valley, site of the eruption of Mt. Tarawera in 1886 or Hobbiton Movie Set, the delightful setting for The Shire that featured in Peter Jackson’s films, The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit film series.

Tonight visit Tamaki Māori Village for an evening experience including Māori song, tradition and divine seasonal kai (cuisine) within the forest Pā (village) amidst towering trees.

Day 6: Rotorua to Napier

Visit the powerful Huka Falls and Lake Taupō before travelling to Napier, one of the world’s most complete examples of Art Deco architecture, second (arguably) only to Miami Beach. This afternoon a local guide brings history and architecture alive with entertaining stories as you discover Napier on foot. This evening enjoy dinner at New Zealand’s oldest winery, Mission Estate in restores seminary buildings with views of Napier.

Day 7: Napier to Wellington

Travel through the vineyards and orchards of Hawke’s Bay and the bush-clad ranges of the Wairarapa into New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington. See New Zealand’s Parliament Buildings, the Kelburn lookout and take the Wellington cable car before visiting Te Papa Museum of New Zealand featuring New Zealand insights; the shaping of its land, the spirit of its diverse peoples, its unique wildlife, landscapes and its distinctive popular culture.

Day 8: Wellington to Nelson

Your day starts with one of the most beautiful ferry journeys in the world across Cook Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound. On arrival in Picton,  travel to Blenheim in the heart of the Marlborough wine country (famous for its Sauvignon Blanc) and enjoy wine tasting at one of Marlborough’s premier wineries. Stay in Nelson for 2 nights.

Day 9: Abel Tasman National Park

Abel Tasman National Park is a mosaic of golden coves and turquoise lagoons sheltered by forested ranges. This morning from Kaiteriteri, your tour includes a choice of one activity from these three options: Scenic Cruise (3-4 hour cruise), Beaches & Bays (2.5 hour walk) or Forest and swing bridge (4 hour walk).

Day 10: Nelson to Punakaiki

Driving via the Nelson Lakes National Park – a landscape of rugged peaks, forests, stunning glacial lakes and the beginning of the Southern Alps. Follow the Buller River Gorge – one of the world’s best but least-known scenic drives, carved out of the forest by 19th century prospectors. Travel south to the small settlement of Punakaiki – renowned for its wild, rugged coastline and the famous ‘Pancake Rocks’ – these stratified limestone stacks.

Day 11: Punakaiki to Fox Glacier

Journey south along the Great Coast Road (recently voted one of the top ten coastal drives in the world by Lonely Planet) through historic towns to Hokitika and then on to the small remote village of Fox. The rivers of snow and ice of the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers flow from vast snowfields high in the Southern Alps, down almost to sea level. Weather permitting, an optional helicopter ride with a snow landing is an amazing terrific way to experience the grandeur of these West Coast glaciers (additional cost).

Day 12: Fox Glacier to Wanaka

Visit Lake Matheson for a morning walk– when conditions are right the lake perfectly mirrors Mt. Cook. Travel over Haast Pass along the river road into Mt. Aspiring National Park to the pretty resort town of Wānaka.

Day 13: Wanaka

This morning you have a choice of excursion either take a boat across the lake to an island for a guided walk or a 4×4 back country adventure.

Day 14: Wanaka to Te Anau

Depart Wānaka, stopping at the much photographed Cardrona Pub before travelling to historic Arrowtown, a delightful gold rush village and on to Lake Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland National Park.

Day 15: Te Anau to Milford Sound to Queenstown

The journey from Te Anau to Milford Sound is one of the most scenic experiences. Fiordland National Park, part of the Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Area is one of the great wilderness areas of the Southern Hemisphere. The scenery is spectacular with lofty mountains and deep valleys carved out by glaciers. Described by Rudyard Kipling as the ‘eighth wonder of the world’, Milford Sound is breathtaking in any weather. Cruise past towering Mitre Peak to the Tasman Sea. After the cruise travel through to Queenstown.

Day 16: Queenstown

Queenstown is surrounded by mountains and set on the shores of crystal-clear Lake Wakatipu, the perfect backdrop for a visit full of adventure, exploration or relaxation. Today is spent at your leisure.

Day 17: Queenstown to Twizel

Continue north through the rugged Kawarau Gorge, past Lake Dunstan and across the Central Otago countryside to Lindis Pass. Drive along Lake Pukaki to Mt. Cook Village, home to New Zealand’s tallest peak, Aoraki (Mt. Cook) and stay overnight in the rural town of Twizel.

Day 18: Twizel to Christchurch

Visit a local home on the shores of Lake Tekapo and learn the secrets of making the kiwi dessert ‘Pavlova’. See the tiny Church of the Good Shepherd set against a majestic backdrop of the Southern Alps, one of New Zealand’s most photographed spots. Travel across the high country through small rural towns and across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. The most English of New Zealand cities had a succession of earthquakes in 2010 & 2011, the city combines urban regeneration and innovation with heritage, culture and creativity.

Day 19: Christchurch

This morning join punting boatmen, with straw boaters and traditional Edwardian dress for a relaxing cruise in flat-bottomed punts along the River Avon through the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Then journey in style onboard a heritage tram through the changing face of Christchurch’s city centre. Tonight enjoy a relaxed farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 20: Depart Christchurch, New Zealand

Today you will farewell New Zealand. After breakfast you will be transferred to Christchurch Airport.