Kōwhai 20 Day Auckland to Queenstown Coach Tour

Welcome to New Zealand!

On arrival in Auckland, you will be met and transferred to your waterfront hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure. Explore Viaduct Harbour, discover nearby cafés and restaurants, or simply relax before your 20-day New Zealand adventure begins.

Travel north across Auckland Harbour Bridge to A H Reed Memorial Park, where an elevated walkway winds through ancient kauri forest. Continue to Whangārei Falls before reaching the Bay of Islands. Visit the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds to discover the significance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and explore the museum, carved meeting house and ceremonial waka. Afterwards, take a ferry to Russell for a relaxing two-night stay.

Discover Northland with a choice of two included excursions, each offering a different perspective on the region's coastal landscapes and heritage.

Option 1: Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach. Travel by ferry to Paihia before joining a guided coach excursion to Cape Reinga, where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meet. Visit the lighthouse and discover the area's significance in Māori tradition. Continue along Ninety Mile Beach, with an opportunity to try sandboarding if conditions permit. This full-day excursion runs approximately 7.00 am–7.00 pm from Russell, with lunch included.

Option 2: Hole in the Rock Cruise and Historic Russell. Cruise through the Bay of Islands towards Cape Brett Lighthouse and the famous Hole in the Rock, with a possible passage through the opening when conditions allow. Stop at Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island for time to explore or enjoy lunch at your own expense. Afterwards, discover Russell's maritime history on a guided tour, including Flagstaff Hill.

Return south to Auckland for an afternoon exploring the city's highlights. Visit Bastion Point for views across Waitematā Harbour, then continue through historic Parnell and along the waterfront to Viaduct Harbour. Enjoy a guided visit to Auckland Museum, where exhibitions introduce New Zealand's Māori and Pacific heritage, history and cultural traditions. Spend the evening at leisure.

Travel across the Hauraki Plains to Thames before following the scenic coastline of the Coromandel Peninsula. Visit Driving Creek Railway for a narrow-gauge train journey through regenerating native forest, crossing bridges and tunnels to reach the EyeFull Tower lookout. Enjoy views across the surrounding hills and coastline before continuing to Whitianga, your coastal base for the next two nights.

Explore the Coromandel Peninsula's beautiful coastline, beginning at Hot Water Beach, where naturally heated water rises through the sand at suitable tide times. Continue to Cathedral Cove for a scenic coastal walk and views of its impressive limestone archway, subject to track conditions. Later, visit Cooks Beach before choosing to return to Whitianga by passenger ferry and on foot, or travel back with your driver.

Follow the Pacific Coast Highway through Waihī and Mount Maunganui before heading inland towards Rotorua. Stop at Okere Falls for a short bushwalk overlooking the waterfalls and Kaituna River. Continue to Te Puia for a guided experience through its geothermal landscape, discovering steaming geysers, bubbling mud pools, traditional Māori arts and crafts, and kiwi conservation. Settle into your Rotorua hotel for a two-night stay.

Choose between two memorable daytime experiences before enjoying an evening of Māori culture, storytelling and dining at Te Pā Tū.

Option 1: Waimangu Volcanic Valley and Lake Rotomahana. Explore the geothermal landscape created by the 1886 Mount Tarawera eruption. Walk through Waimangu Volcanic Valley, passing steaming lakes, hot springs and volcanic formations. Enjoy a cruise on Lake Rotomahana while learning about the lost Pink and White Terraces and the region's volcanic history.

Option 2: Hobbiton Movie Set. Step into Middle-earth on a guided tour of Hobbiton Movie Set near Matamata. Wander past charming Hobbit Holes, the Green Dragon Inn and other recognisable film locations while discovering behind-the-scenes stories from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Visit Bagshot Row and explore a beautifully furnished Hobbit Hole interior.

Evening: Te Pā Tū Māori Cultural Experience

This evening, attend Te Pā Tū for a Māori cultural experience featuring traditional performances, storytelling and seasonal dining. The programme reflects the maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar, with a four-course dinner featuring Māori ingredients and culinary traditions. Return hotel transfers are included, and the experience is shared with other visitors.

Depart Rotorua and visit the powerful Huka Falls before continuing past Lake Taupō, with views towards the volcanic peaks of Tongariro National Park on clear days. Travel onwards to Napier, renowned for its beautifully preserved Art Deco architecture. Join a local guide for a walking tour through the historic centre, learning about the city's rebuilding after the 1931 earthquake. This evening, enjoy dinner at Mission Estate, one of New Zealand's historic wineries.

Travel south through Hawke's Bay and the Wairarapa region, stopping in charming Greytown to explore its historic buildings, boutique shops and cafés. Continue to Wellington, New Zealand's capital, for an afternoon of sightseeing. View Parliament and the distinctive Beehive, enjoy panoramic views from Kelburn and ride the iconic Wellington Cable Car into the city. Visit Te Papa, New Zealand's national museum, before settling into your hotel.

Board the Interislander ferry for a scenic journey across Cook Strait and through the sheltered waterways of Queen Charlotte Sound to Picton. Continue into Marlborough, renowned for its vineyards and Sauvignon Blanc, where you will enjoy a local wine tasting near Blenheim. Travel onwards through the South Island's picturesque countryside to Nelson, your base for the next two nights.

Discover the golden beaches and sheltered bays of Abel Tasman National Park on a scenic coastal cruise. Pass Split Apple Rock and explore the coastline around Anchorage, Bark Bay, Tonga Quarry, Awaroa and Tōtaranui, keeping watch for New Zealand fur seals and seabirds. Afterwards, return to Nelson for a short city orientation tour, with the remainder of the afternoon free to explore or relax.

Travel through the Rai Valley and Marlborough's wine country before following the Pacific coastline south to Kaikōura, where mountains meet the sea. This afternoon, choose between two wildlife experiences showcasing the region's remarkable marine environment.

Option 1: Kaikōura Whale Watch Cruise. Join a purpose-built catamaran for an approximately two-hour cruise in search of Kaikōura's resident sperm whales. Keep watch for dolphins, fur seals and seabirds while learning about the region's rich marine ecosystem. Wildlife sightings depend on natural conditions.

Option 2: Wings Over Whales Scenic Flight. Take to the skies on an approximately 30-minute fixed-wing scenic flight above Kaikōura's coastline. Enjoy aerial views of the mountains and Pacific Ocean while looking for whales and dolphins in the waters below. Flight operation and wildlife sightings depend on conditions.

Follow the Pacific coastline south from Kaikōura before travelling through the Hundalee Ranges and North Canterbury countryside to Christchurch. Enjoy a traditional punting experience along the Avon River, gliding past the leafy surroundings of the Botanic Gardens. Afterwards, discover the city's heritage and evolving centre aboard a beautifully restored Christchurch Tram before settling into your hotel.

Board the TranzAlpine train for a spectacular journey across the Canterbury Plains and into the Southern Alps, passing the Waimakariri River's dramatic gorges and mountain scenery. Rejoin your coach at Arthur's Pass and continue to the West Coast. Stop in Hokitika, renowned for its pounamu (greenstone) craftsmanship, before travelling south through Franz Josef to Fox Glacier village.

Begin the day with a walk through native forest to Lake Matheson, famous for its reflections of Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman on clear, calm days. Continue south along the West Coast before travelling inland through Haast Pass and Mount Aspiring National Park. Follow forested valleys, rivers and alpine landscapes to the lakeside town of Wānaka, where you will spend the next two nights.

Discover Wānaka's remarkable natural landscapes with a choice of two included morning excursions, followed by an afternoon at leisure.

Option 1: Mou Waho Island Nature Walk and Lake Cruise. Cruise across Lake Wānaka to Mou Waho Island, a protected conservation reserve. Enjoy a guided 3 km return walk to Arethusa Pool, a hidden lake above Lake Wānaka, with an optional climb towards the summit. Learn about local conservation efforts and participate in native tree planting.

Option 2: High Country 4WD Adventure. Explore a working High Country farm on a guided 4WD adventure. Travel along remote farm tracks through rugged mountain landscapes, discovering the region's farming history, historic sites and rural traditions. Enjoy views across alpine valleys and lakes, with opportunities for optional short walks.

Depart Wānaka and stop at the historic Cardrona Hotel before crossing the scenic Crown Range to Arrowtown, a charming former gold-mining settlement. Continue past Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables towards Te Anau. On arrival, enjoy a jet boat journey along the Waiau River towards Lake Manapouri, followed by a working farm visit featuring sheep-shearing and working-dog demonstrations.

Journey through Fiordland National Park along the spectacular Milford Road, passing Eglinton Valley, Homer Tunnel and Cleddau Gorge. At Milford Sound, board a scenic cruise beneath the dramatic cliffs and iconic Mitre Peak, with opportunities to spot waterfalls, seals and dolphins. Enjoy a picnic lunch during your cruise before travelling back through Fiordland and continuing along Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown for your final night.

After breakfast, transfer to Queenstown Airport for your onward flight. Your Kōwhai Tour finishes in Queenstown. Additional accommodation or onward travel arrangements can be organised separately.