25 Day Grand Adventure Tour

Leave Auckland behind and journey north towards the wild landscapes of Northland. Along the way, discover the history of the mighty kauri trees, cool off beside crystal-clear lakes and finish the day overlooking the Tasman Sea in Omapere.

Included: Kauri Museum & Kai Iwi Lakes
Visit the Kauri Museum to discover the story of New Zealand’s mighty kauri trees, then enjoy a scenic stop at the crystal-clear Kai Iwi Lakes surrounded by native forest and sandy shores.

Included: Tāne Mahuta Guided Tour
Step into Waipoua Forest and meet Tāne Mahuta, New Zealand’s largest living kauri tree. Learn about these ancient giants and their importance to the forest and Māori culture.

Continue across the Far North from the rugged west coast towards the sparkling Bay of Islands. After a relaxed afternoon wine tasting, arrive in Paihia with the evening free to explore the waterfront or enjoy an optional adventure.

Included: Marsden Winery Wine Tasting
Enjoy a relaxed wine tasting at Marsden Winery and sample wines from the Northland region. It’s a chance to unwind with the group while discovering the area’s emerging wine scene.

Enjoy a free day in the Bay of Islands, with plenty of ways to experience its beautiful beaches, islands and marine life. Choose an optional cruise, dolphin encounter or kayaking adventure, or simply relax by the waterfront before an evening of Māori culture and food.

Included: Waitangi Treaty Grounds & Hāngī Dinner
Explore the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds to learn about Māori culture and New Zealand’s history, then enjoy a traditional hāngī dinner and experience Māori hospitality.

Begin the journey south with a relaxed stop in Matakana, a charming village known for its boutique shops, galleries, food and surrounding vineyards. Take time to enjoy lunch, browse the local offerings or simply soak up the laid-back atmosphere before continuing to Auckland. This easy-going day provides a pleasant transition from Northland back into New Zealand’s largest city.

Set off for the spectacular Coromandel Peninsula, where forested hills meet turquoise waters and beautiful beaches. Explore Cathedral Cove, enjoy time by the coast and finish the day at Hot Water Beach, where natural thermal pools appear in the sand around low tide.

Included: Hot Water Beach
Dig your own warm pool in the sand at Hot Water Beach when the tide is right. This unique geothermal experience combines a beautiful coastal setting with one of Coromandel’s most memorable natural attractions.

Travel from the Coromandel to Rotorua, following the Thermal Highway through the volcanic heart of the North Island. As you journey through this geothermal region, watch the landscape transform with steaming vents, bubbling mud pools and colourful mineral-rich waters before arriving in Rotorua for more geothermal wonders.

Included: Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Wonderland
Explore one of New Zealand’s most fascinating geothermal areas, filled with colourful pools, steaming vents and unusual volcanic formations. The otherworldly landscape showcases thousands of years of geothermal activity beneath the North Island.

Spend the day discovering Rotorua at your own pace, with a huge range of optional activities to choose from. Get your adrenaline pumping with white-water rafting, luging or ziplining, or slow things down with a relaxing geothermal experience, Māori cultural activity or soak in the region’s natural hot pools. With its bubbling mud pools, steaming geysers and lush native landscapes, Rotorua offers plenty of ways to experience the unique character of the North Island.

Continue south towards Taupō, stopping at the famous Hobbiton Movie Set for a glimpse into the magical world of Middle-earth. Later, watch the powerful Huka Falls before relaxing beside the vast waters of Lake Taupō.

Included: Huka Falls Walking Loop
Follow the walking loop to one of New Zealand’s most impressive waterfalls, where the Waikato River surges through a narrow rocky gorge. Take in the powerful blue waters and surrounding scenery before continuing to Taupō.

Enjoy a free day in Taupō with endless opportunities for adventure and relaxation. Take to the water by jet boat or sail across the vast waters of Lake Taupō, soar above the region on a skydive or challenge yourself on the spectacular Tongariro Crossing. For a more relaxed experience, discover the area’s rich Māori heritage, including traditional carvings and stories that reflect the deep cultural connection to the lake and surrounding landscapes.

Head underground in Waitomo, where a network of caves hides an extraordinary world beneath the countryside. After exploring the area, continue to Raglan and unwind with a drink beside its laid-back black-sand coastline.

Included: Waitomo Area Exploration
Discover the fascinating landscapes surrounding Waitomo, with opportunities to explore its famous underground cave systems. Optional activities such as glowworm tours and underground adventures let you experience the region from a different perspective.

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.

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.

Begin the final day with a stop in beautiful Hokitika before travelling east through the Southern Alps. Cross Arthur’s Pass, one of the country’s most spectacular mountain routes, with dramatic peaks, valleys and alpine scenery along the way. Arrive in Christchurch in the afternoon, bringing your 25-day journey through New Zealand to an unforgettable close.