Cross the narrow top of the North Island from the Hokianga to the Bay of Islands. A stop at Marsden Estate for a wine tasting sets a relaxed pace. You’ll arrive in Paihia with the afternoon free to swim, walk the coastal path or take the passenger ferry to the old whaling town of Russell. Find more ideas on our Northland activities page.

Included Accommodation: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands (or similar)

Plan your own day on the water or on land. Sail out to the Hole in the Rock, look for dolphins, paddle a kayak between islands, or take a coach trip to Cape Reinga, where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. Use your combo pass to explore the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840. Tonight the group gathers there again for a hāngī dinner cooked in the ground.

Included Accommodation: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands (or similar)

Travel back towards Auckland with a lunch stop in Matakana, a village of cafes, galleries and small shops, and an optional wine tasting at The Vintry. From Auckland, you’ll fly to Christchurch for the South Island part of the tour. Guests on the 4 Day Far North Escape finish in Auckland, and from here the group is all travelers aged 18 to 39.

Included Accommodation: Lylo Christchurch (or similar)

Leave the Canterbury Plains and climb into the Southern Alps over Lewis Pass. The quiet road runs through red beech forest and past alpine wetlands and the Lewis River, with stops to stretch your legs. By evening you’ll reach Punakaiki on the West Coast, where the rainforest runs right down to the Tasman Sea.

Included Accommodation: Punakaiki Beach Camp (or similar)

Start with the Pancake Rocks, layers of limestone where the sea shoots up through blowholes when the tide is high. The rest of the day is yours. Kayak up the Pororari River gorge, explore caves, walk the tracks of Paparoa National Park, or gather driftwood for a group bonfire on the beach. See our West Coast activities for more.

Included Accommodation: Punakaiki Beach Camp (or similar)

Head north to the lighthouse at Cape Foulwind and watch the fur seals on the rocks below. The road then heads inland past Nelson Lakes to the top of the South Island. If the tide allows, there may be a chance to gather green-lipped mussels on the way. You’ll spend the next three nights at Marahau, on the edge of Abel Tasman National Park.

Included Accommodation: The Adventure Inn (or similar)

Drive over Tākaka Hill, known locally as marble mountain, into Golden Bay. Explore the Ngārua Caves, then walk to Te Waikoropupū Springs, the largest cold water springs in the Southern Hemisphere. The day ends at Wharariki Beach, with its sea stacks and huge dunes, looking towards Farewell Spit.

Included Accommodation: The Adventure Inn (or similar)

Get out into Abel Tasman National Park. Take a water taxi up the coast and walk back along the Abel Tasman Coast Track, kayak past seal colonies and granite headlands, or spend the day swimming off a golden beach. Listen out for tūī singing in the bush. Our Nelson and Abel Tasman activities page lists every option, and our guide to the best national park tours covers the park in more depth.

Included Accommodation: The Adventure Inn (or similar)

Travel through the vineyards of Marlborough and stop for a Sauvignon Blanc tasting in the region that made it famous. Browse our Marlborough activities for more wineries. Then follow the Pacific coast south, stopping at Ohau Point to watch the seals, before reaching Kaikōura and its snow-capped mountains.

Included Accommodation: Dusky Lodge (or similar)

The deep ocean canyon off Kaikōura brings whales, dolphins and seabirds close to shore. Use the morning for a whale watching cruise, a dolphin swim or a seal kayak, then head south to Christchurch. The afternoon is free to explore the city’s street art, laneway bars and food markets. See our Kaikōura day tours and Christchurch activities.

Included Accommodation: Lylo Christchurch (or similar)

Head inland to Lake Tekapo and its bright turquoise water. Visit the stone Church of the Good Shepherd on the shore, try the local bike trails, or soak in the hot pools at Tekapo Springs. Tekapo sits inside the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, and tonight you’ll join a stargazing experience under some of the clearest skies on earth. Our Mount Cook and Mackenzie tours page has more.

Included Accommodation: Lakes Edge Holiday Park (or similar)

Enjoy a slow morning by the lake, then drive south past Lake Pukaki and over the Lindis Pass to Queenstown. The adventure capital of the world is your home for the next three nights. Spend the evening getting to know the town, from its lakefront bars to its famous burger joints.

Included Accommodation: Lylo Queenstown (or similar)

Travel through Te Anau and into Fiordland National Park on the Milford Road, one of the most scenic drives in the country. At Milford Sound, cruise between sheer cliffs and waterfalls that drop straight into the sea, with a good chance of spotting dolphins and seals. See more on our Fiordland and Milford Sound activities page.

Included Accommodation: Lylo Queenstown (or similar)

This is the day to tick off the big thrills. Try the world’s first commercial bungy at Kawarau Bridge, swing across the Shotover Canyon, skydive over the Remarkables or blast up the river on a jet boat. Prefer something slower? Go horse riding, mountain biking or ride the luge. Browse all Queenstown activities before you choose.

Included Accommodation: Lylo Queenstown (or similar)

Stop in Wanaka to walk the lakefront and see its famous lone willow. Then take the Haast Pass road through the mountains to the West Coast, with stops at the Blue Pools and Fantail Falls. Continue north past lakes and rainforest to Franz Josef. See more on our Wanaka activities page.

Included Accommodation: Rainforest Retreat (or similar)

Pull on crampons and explore the glacier on a helicopter heli-hike, one of the most memorable days on any South Island trip. You can also quad bike through the rainforest, kayak on Lake Mapourika or relax in the Glacier Hot Pools. It’s a good day to celebrate with the group before the last drive.

Included Accommodation: Rainforest Retreat (or similar)

Drive up the coast to Hokitika, home to greenstone carvers and a driftwood beach. Then climb over Arthur’s Pass, stopping at the limestone boulders of Castle Hill. The tour finishes mid-afternoon at Lylo Christchurch, a 10-minute walk from the airport. Book flights after 5:00pm for domestic travel or after 7:00pm for international travel.