21 Day NZ Discovery Adventure Tour

Begin your New Zealand adventure with a scenic journey from Auckland at 9am to the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula. Along the way, enjoy coastal views and countryside scenery before arriving in Hahei, where you can explore the dramatic coastline around Cathedral Cove and spend time swimming, kayaking or relaxing beside the turquoise waters.

Included: Hot Water Beach
Visit one of New Zealand’s most unusual beaches, where geothermal water rises through the sand to create naturally heated pools. The experience is tide dependent, but when conditions are right, it is a memorable way to finish your first day on the road.

Leave the coast behind and travel towards Rotorua, one of New Zealand’s most fascinating geothermal destinations. The landscape gradually changes as bubbling mud pools, steaming vents and volcanic features become more common, giving you a first-hand look at the powerful forces beneath the North Island.

Included: Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Wonderland
Explore one of New Zealand’s most colourful geothermal areas, where vivid mineral pools, steaming landscapes and unusual volcanic formations showcase thousands of years of geothermal activity. The contrasting colours and otherworldly scenery make this a standout stop on the journey to Rotorua.

Spend the day discovering Rotorua, where adventure and Māori culture come together against a backdrop of bubbling mud pools and volcanic landscapes. With everything from luging and zorbing to white-water rafting and cultural experiences available, there are plenty of ways to make the most of your free time, including an evening visit to Mitai Māori Village to experience traditional Māori performances, storytelling and customs alongside the flavours of a traditional hāngī feast.

Travel towards Taupō through the heart of the North Island, with a stop at the famous Hobbiton Movie Set along the way. Take in the lush green countryside that inspired the Shire, then continue towards Taupō through landscapes shaped by the region’s volcanic past before arriving at the shores of the vast Lake Taupō.

Included: Huka Falls Walking Loop
Follow the walking loop to Huka Falls and watch the Waikato River surge through a narrow rocky channel before plunging into a powerful torrent of blue-white water. The viewpoint offers an impressive perspective of one of New Zealand’s most iconic waterfalls and the immense force of the river.

Enjoy a full day in Taupō with the freedom to explore the shores of the vast volcanic Lake Taupō at your own pace. Choose from scenic cruises, adrenaline-fuelled activities or the spectacular Tongariro Crossing, one of New Zealand’s most celebrated day hikes, where rugged volcanic terrain, emerald lakes and dramatic alpine landscapes create an unforgettable adventure for experienced walkers.

Continue west towards Waitomo, where some of New Zealand’s most fascinating landscapes are hidden beneath the surface. After exploring the underground world around Waitomo, continue to Raglan, a relaxed surf town known for its creative atmosphere, rugged coastline and famous black-sand beaches.

Included: Exploration of Waitomo Area
Discover the fascinating landscapes around Waitomo, a region famous for its extensive limestone cave systems and glowworm-lit underground environments. The area offers a range of optional adventures, from gentle cave experiences to more adventurous underground excursions.

Start the day in Raglan, a relaxed coastal town known for its surf culture, creative atmosphere and spectacular black-sand beaches. Spend some time exploring the coastline, watching the surfers or getting out on the water before travelling back to Auckland for your flight to Christchurch. As you arrive in the South Island, the scenery and character of the journey shift dramatically, setting the scene for the next stage of your adventure.

Your South Island adventure begins with a spectacular crossing of the Southern Alps towards the wild West Coast. Travel through the Lewis Pass, passing beech forests, alpine wetlands, rivers and rugged mountain scenery before continuing towards Punakaiki. The journey itself is a highlight, with constantly changing landscapes leading you towards the dramatic coastline of the Tasman Sea.

Spend the day exploring Punakaiki and the remarkable coastline surrounding this small West Coast settlement. The famous Pancake Rocks rise dramatically from the sea, while blowholes send water surging upwards when conditions are right. Beyond the rocks, you can discover rainforest, limestone formations, caves, rivers and secluded coastal landscapes that capture the untamed character of the West Coast.

Included: Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowhole Walk
Follow the coastal walk through native vegetation to the spectacular Pancake Rocks, where layers of limestone have been sculpted over millions of years. Along the way, look for powerful blowholes and crashing waves as the Tasman Sea meets the rugged shoreline.

Continue north along the spectacular West Coast, with opportunities to see rugged beaches, historic lighthouses and colonies of New Zealand fur seals along the way. As the route turns inland, the scenery changes again as you travel through the Nelson Lakes region before reaching the golden beaches and sheltered bays of Abel Tasman National Park. The afternoon offers time to explore the local area or simply settle into the relaxed coastal atmosphere.

Travel into Golden Bay, a remote and spectacular corner of the South Island known for its long beaches, clear water and dramatic coastal landscapes. Explore the fascinating Ngārua Caves before visiting Te Waikoropupū Springs, where exceptionally clear water emerges from an underground system. The day continues towards Wharariki Beach, where wind-shaped dunes, sea arches and rugged coastline create an unforgettable northern edge to the South Island.

Today is dedicated to discovering Abel Tasman National Park, famous for golden beaches, sculpted granite headlands and calm turquoise water. Walk a section of the renowned coastal track, swim in a sheltered bay or choose an optional kayak and water-taxi adventure to explore further along the shoreline. Keep an eye out for native birds and marine life as you relax in one of New Zealand’s most beautiful coastal environments.

We leave the coast and travel through the renowned Marlborough wine region, where vine-covered valleys sit beneath rugged mountain ranges. Pause for a tasting of the region’s famous Sauvignon Blanc before continuing south along the coast to Kaikōura. On arrival, admire the town’s remarkable setting, where the mountains rise dramatically from the Pacific Ocean and marine wildlife thrives just offshore.

Included: Marlborough Wine Tasting
Sample the flavours of Marlborough, New Zealand’s world-famous Sauvignon Blanc region, amid its picturesque vineyard landscapes. It is a relaxed and delicious stop before we continue south to Kaikōura.

Spend the morning enjoying Kaikōura’s exceptional marine environment, with optional opportunities to spot whales, see seals or swim with dolphins. The town’s deep offshore waters create one of the best wildlife-viewing locations in New Zealand, while the surrounding mountains make the coastline especially dramatic. Once in the city, spend the afternoon discovering its creative neighbourhoods, cafés, parks and revitalised central areas.

Included: Kaikōura Coastline & Marine Wildlife
Experience the spectacular Kaikōura coastline, where deep offshore waters support an extraordinary variety of marine life. Keep watch for fur seals, seabirds, dolphins and whales as the mountains meet the sea.

Travel from Christchurch into the heart of the South Island, surrounded by wide-open plains and the Southern Alps. Arrive at Lake Tekapo and experience the Aoraki Mackenzie region, the world’s largest International Dark Sky Reserve, renowned for its exceptionally clear night skies and spectacular views of the stars and Milky Way.

Included: Church of the Good Shepherd
Visit the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd on the shores of Lake Tekapo, one of New Zealand’s most photographed landmarks. The historic stone church offers beautiful views across the lake towards the Southern Alps.

Continue through some of the South Island’s most impressive alpine scenery as you make your way towards Queenstown. Enjoy some free time around Tekapo before travelling south, with opportunities to stop and take in the changing landscapes along the way. Arriving in Queenstown, settle in before exploring the energetic streets and lakeside setting of New Zealand’s adventure capital.

Set out from Queenstown through the spectacular landscapes of Fiordland National Park towards Milford Sound. Travel through alpine scenery, rainforest, valleys and waterfalls before reaching the dramatic fiord, with an optional cruise offering an unforgettable view from the water.

Included: Transport to Milford Sound
Journey through the mountains and rainforest of Fiordland to Milford Sound, with spectacular scenery along the way. The road journey is an experience in itself, leading to one of New Zealand’s most iconic natural landmarks.

Enjoy another full day in Queenstown, with the freedom to choose your own adventure. Take your pick from world-famous experiences such as bungy jumping, canyon swinging, skydiving and jet boating, or opt for something more relaxed with a scenic bike ride, a ride on the gondola or a leisurely afternoon exploring the town. Surrounded by Lake Wakatipu and dramatic mountains, Queenstown makes an unforgettable base for a final burst of adventure.

We leave Queenstown and travel through the stunning landscapes of Central Otago, stopping in picturesque Wānaka before continuing towards the West Coast. Cross the dramatic Haast Pass, where mountains, waterfalls and ancient rainforest lead the way to glacier country.

Arrive in Franz Josef, a small township surrounded by lush rainforest and spectacular alpine scenery. This remarkable region is one of the few places in the world where glaciers descend so close to temperate rainforest.

Spend the day exploring Franz Josef and choosing from a range of unforgettable optional adventures. From the icy landscapes of the glacier to the surrounding rainforest and rivers, there are plenty of ways to experience this extraordinary region.

Take a guided glacier hike, soar above the mountains on a scenic helicopter flight or combine both on a heli-hike adventure. Alternatively, enjoy quad biking, kayaking or a relaxing soak while surrounded by the dramatic scenery of the West Coast.

Finish your three-week adventure with a spectacular journey back towards Christchurch. Stop in Hokitika to explore its distinctive West Coast character before crossing the Southern Alps through Arthur’s Pass, where rugged peaks, alpine valleys and dramatic mountain scenery provide a fitting finale to the trip. Arrive in Christchurch with three weeks of beaches, geothermal landscapes, wildlife, mountains, glaciers and unforgettable road-trip memories behind you.