The below itinerary is only a suggestion, we offer tailor-made personal service and solutions to help you plan your perfect vacation. This itinerary is also available in the reverse direction.
Day 1 Arrive Queenstown>
Welcome to New Zealand! Upon arrival into Queenstown, enjoy a private transfer to Eichardt’s Private Hotel, which will serve as your luxurious accommodation for the next 3 nights. With a fantastic location in the heart of Queenstown, Eichardt’s has Lake Wakatipu on its doorstep.
Day 2 Milford Sound Scenic Helicopter Flight and Cruise
Discover the Milford Sound from two very different perspectives: soaring high above waterfalls and rainforests by air, and then cruising through vast fjords and mountainous peaks by boat. Lift off from Queenstown and fly over the breath-taking snow-capped Southern Alps before landing at Milford Sound Airport. You will then be escorted to board a scheduled small cruise boat for an informative trip through the sound. On completion of the cruise, board the helicopter again for more amazing scenery from the air – this time taking a moment to land on top of an age-old glacier. We shut down the helicopter to enjoy the peace and quiet for a bit before continuing back to Queenstown.
Day 3 Queenstown – Today you have the choice of one of three excursions
Today you can personalize your Queenstown experience by choosing one of these three tours, all sure to leave you with lifelong memories:
1. Full Day Private Gourmet Food & Wine Tour
On this private tour of Central Otago’s vineyards, enjoy tastings at four wineries in the Gibbston Valley/Queenstown and Bannockburn/Cromwell regions. See New Zealand’s largest underground wine cave, stop for a cheese tasting and enjoy a delightful platter-style lunch with a glass of premium wine (varietal or vineyard preferences can be included to suit your interests if advised in advance). Stroll through historic Old Cromwell Town (time and weather permitting) then take a drive through the Kawarau Gorge to see the historic Kawarau Bridge and the original AJ Hackett Bungy.
2. Full Day Private Famous Routeburn Track Hike
Follow your private guide through Mount Aspiring National Park to experience one of New Zealand’s Great Walks. Journey for approximately 2.5 hours through a 130 million-year old world of ferns, mosses, lichens and beech forest, then watch as the woodland parts to reveal the rich grassland of Routeburn Flats. Stop here for a delicious Kiwi style picnic lunch, then head back to explore forgotten paths of the Maori as you travel along their old greenstone trails.
3. Half Day Wilderness Safari - Jetboat & Forest Walk / Evening Gondola, Dinner & Stargazing
Surrounded by breathtaking snow-covered peaks, hidden valleys, waterfalls and glacial valleys, take a thrilling jet boat through the ever-changing shallow channels of the Dart River’s braided system. Enjoy a guided walk through ancient native Beech forest, then journey back by bus with stops to view some of New Zealand’s most spectacular scenery. This evening you’ll be whisked up to Bob’s Peak for dinner with panoramic views, then taken stargazing with a guide to view constellations through telescopes.
Day 4 Queenstown to Mahu Whenua Ridgeline Homestead
This morning is free to explore Queenstown at your leisure before departing on a private transfer to Mahu Whenua Ridgeline Homestead for a 2-night stay. Spanning over 55,000 hectares, the property consists of four adjoining high country sheep stations – Motatapu, Mt Soho, Glencoe and Coronet Peak – which when combined stretch from Glendhu Bay in Wanaka all the way to Arrowtown in Queenstown. This entire area plays home to some of New Zealand’s most iconic and dramatic natural alpine scenery, and the Homestead offers plenty of views.
Day 5 Mahu Whenua Ridgeline Homestead
We’ve kept today free from planned activities so you can sit back and enjoy the comforts of the Ridgeline Homestead. For those who enjoy more sedentary activities, on-site cooking classes with Mahu Whenua's chef, riverside picnics and spa services are all available. Should you wish for something slightly more active, private guides can take you out for on-site activities like horse trekking, hiking, or four-wheel driving through the high country sheep stations.
Day 6 Mahu Whenua to Rotorua
Transferring back to Queenstown airport, you’ll board a short domestic flight to Rotorua; a geothermal wonderland and sacred place for New Zealand’s Indigenous Maori people. Upon arrival we have included a private transfer to Solitaire Lodge, which will serve as your home for the next 2 nights. The Lodge sits on the shores of legendary Lake Tarawera, meaning each of the luxurious suites features 180 degree views of the sparkling waters and magnificent volcano beyond, Mount Tarawera.
Day 7 Morning Private Eco Thermal Park Tour – Wai-o-Tapu and Waimangu
Visit Rotorua's most natural and popular geothermal parks today: Wai O Tapu and Waimangu Volcanic Valley. As you drive around volcanic landscapes and exotic forests you’ll see plenty of volcanoes, geysers and hot springs, along with New Zealand’s largest boiling mud pool. Learn all about these natural wonders from your local naturalist guide, who will explain the volcanic processes of both Rotorua and New Zealand. Wai-o-tapu is known for its amazingly colourful hot springs, moonlike landscapes and the famous Lady Knox geyser, and at Waimangu Volcanic Valley you’ll learn about the native flora and fauna plus the Mt Tarawera eruption that occurred in 1886.
Day 8 Rotorua to Auckland with Private Waitomo Footwhistle Cave Tour
Leaving the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua this morning, enjoy your private driver guide's commentary as you travel through lush farmland to the King Country region. On arrival in Waitomo, meet your private Guide and take a short walk through breath taking New Zealand native bush to the cave entrance. Your guide will light candles setting the scene for an intimate cave experience. See glowworms and cave formations up close and appreciate the beauty of Footwhistle Cave (which is also known to local Maori as Te Anaroa Cave). Around a corner lie the bones of one of New Zealand's lost treasures, the ancient Moa bird. As the lights cast a warm glow over the stunning cave formations, your guide will speak a bit on the insects that live here - titiwai, the glow worm and tuna, the eel. After enjoying a relaxed stroll through the cave, take a seat in Footwhistle's Cathedral to see it lit up by a dazzling magnesium torch.
After the caves, continue through the beautiful Waikato region – the dairy farming capital of New Zealand – and northward to Auckland. Your tour concludes upon your afternoon arrival to the Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour.
Day 9 Auckland – Today you have the choice of one of five tours
Today you can personalize your Auckland experience by choosing one of these five tours, all sure to leave you with lifelong memories:
1. Full Day Private Waiheke Island Gourmet Food & Wine Tour
Travel by ferry to beautiful Waiheke Island, Auckland’s food and wine neighbor just 12 miles away. Sample succulent New Zealand oysters, award-winning olive oil and other locally produced foods, all accompanied by wines from some of Waiheke’s top vineyards. Your private guide will provide an entertaining and informative commentary as you go, and treats may include wild honey, the famous local green herb spread and artisan cheeses. A lunch platter at one of the area's top vineyard restaurants is included.
2. Half Day Private Art, Food & Fashion Downtown Walking Tour
Discover the more cultured, creative and indulgent side of Auckland with a private walking tour of Auckland Art Gallery, leading dealer galleries, artisan food producers and top fashion labels. Cameras are welcome, but please respect the privacy of the property owners and the copyright of the artist. Food and wine tastings will be provided during the tour, but full meals are not included. You are welcome to purchase additional food and beverages at your own cost.
3. Half Day Private Gourmet Tasting Tour
Discover some of Auckland’s best eateries and artisan food producers on this short – and very easy – downtown walking and tasting tour. The route takes in Britomart, one of the city’s coolest new entertainment precincts filled with bars, restaurants and boutiques that you can explore once the tour concludes. Tour highlights include a local artisan bakery, an award-winning cheese producer, a hand-crafted gelato factory, a chocolatier and desert restaurant, plus a leading New Zealand coffee house.
4. Full Day Private Tawharanui Nature and Kiwi Tour with Picnic Dinner
Much of New Zealand's insect, marine and bird life is nocturnal, and this tour through native forest offers a great opportunity to experience what goes on in the dark. Tawharanui Regional Park is home to the New Zealand brown kiwi, the morepork (New Zealand owl) and Weta, all of which are nocturnal animals. Experience how the bush environment changes after sunset as your private guide takes you on a search for nocturnal wildlife.
5. Full Day Private Auckland’s City Sights & Maori Cultural Performance Tour
Experience Auckland’s fascinating Maori culture on a very personal tour to important historic sites. Learn how this unique living culture is an integral part of what Auckland and New Zealand has to offer, from its well-known cityscapes to its numerous volcanoes and the amazing West Coast. Finish with a visit to the Auckland Museum with its Maori and Polynesian Gallery. You can enjoy the Museum's Maori Cultural Performance to see a postural war dance (the haka) first-hand.
Day 10 Depart Auckland
After a wonderful trip, it’s time to say goodbye to the food, wine, and wildlife of New Zealand. We have included a private transfer to the airport to begin your journey home.
