Leave the west coast dunes behind and cross Northland to the Bay of Islands. A tasting at Marsden Estate winery breaks up the journey. Once you arrive in Paihia, the afternoon is free for a swim, a waterfront stroll or a ferry across to historic Russell. For more ideas, see our Bay of Islands and Northland activities.

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

A full free day in one of New Zealand’s favourite summer spots. Book a boat trip out to the Hole in the Rock, look for bottlenose dolphins, kayak the sheltered bays, or ride a bus along Ninety Mile Beach to Cape Reinga. Your included combo pass opens the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the birthplace of modern New Zealand. After dark, share a traditional hāngī dinner with the group at Waitangi.

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

Head back south with a stop in Matakana, a village of weekend markets, galleries and small shops. There’s time for an optional wine tasting at The Vintry before you arrive in Auckland. Guests on the 4 Day Far North Escape leave the group here, and the 18 to 39 section of the trip starts tomorrow.

Included Accommodation: Lylo Auckland (or similar)

Drive to the Coromandel Peninsula, known for pōhutukawa trees and white beaches. Paddle a kayak around the headland to Cathedral Cove and swim beneath its giant stone arch. Later, if the tide allows, grab a spade at Hot Water Beach and dig a hot pool in the sand as the sun goes down. Explore more things to do in the Coromandel.

Included Accommodation: Hahei Top 10 Holiday Park (or similar)

Travel inland to Rotorua, where the ground steams and the air smells of sulphur. Walk the trails of Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland to see boiling mud, colourful silica terraces and the famous Champagne Pool. The evening is free to explore town or soak in a hot pool.

Included Accommodation: Haka House Rotorua (or similar)

Pick your adrenaline today. Ride the luge down Mount Ngongotahā, zorb down a grassy hill, or raft the Kaituna River and drop over its 7 metre Tutea Falls. In the evening, many travelers join a cultural performance and hāngī feast at Mitai Māori Village. Find more options on our Rotorua activities page.

Included Accommodation: Haka House Rotorua (or similar)

Film fans can visit the Hobbiton Movie Set this morning and wander the green hills of the Shire. Our Lord of the Rings tours cover even more locations. In the afternoon, see the bright blue water of Huka Falls up close on a short loop walk, then watch the sun set over Lake Taupō with a cold drink in hand.

Included Accommodation: Finlay Jacks Backpackers (or similar)

Taupō is one of the best places in the world to skydive, with lake and volcano views all the way down. Prefer your feet on the ground? The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a full-day hike across an active volcanic landscape, past red craters and the Emerald Lakes. Visit our Lake Taupō activities and Tongariro and Ruapehu activities pages for more ideas.

Included Accommodation: Finlay Jacks Backpackers (or similar)

Go below ground in Waitomo, where thousands of glowworms light up the cave ceilings like stars. You can float through on a quiet boat ride or choose a wetter adventure with black water rafting and abseiling. See all the options on our Waitomo activities page. Tonight you’ll stay in Raglan, a relaxed surf town on the west coast.

Included Accommodation: Raglan Backpackers (or similar)

Catch an early wave at Raglan, where the long left-hand point break draws surfers from around the world. Lessons are easy to book for first-timers. Later you’ll drive to Auckland Airport and fly to Christchurch to begin the South Island part of your trip.

Included Accommodation: Lylo Christchurch (or similar)

Head west over the Southern Alps on the Lewis Pass road. Expect beech forests, tussock valleys and clear alpine rivers, with stops for photos along the way. You’ll reach the rugged West Coast by the evening and settle in at Punakaiki.

Included Accommodation: Punakaiki Beach Camp (or similar)

Stroll out to the Pancake Rocks, where the limestone looks like stacks of pancakes and the sea sprays through blowholes at high tide. Spend the rest of the day kayaking the river gorge, exploring caves or walking the rainforest tracks of Paparoa National Park. Our West Coast activities page has more.

Included Accommodation: Punakaiki Beach Camp (or similar)

Drive north along the coast to Cape Foulwind, where New Zealand fur seals laze on the rocks below the lighthouse. Continue past the lakes and forests of the Buller region to Marahau, the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park.

Included Accommodation: The Adventure Inn (or similar)

Wind over Tākaka Hill into quiet Golden Bay. Explore the Ngārua Caves, then walk to Te Waikoropupū Springs, where the water is so clear you can see straight to the bottom. Finish at wild Wharariki Beach, with its sand dunes, sea arches and views of Farewell Spit.

Included Accommodation: The Adventure Inn (or similar)

Spend the day in Abel Tasman National Park however you like. A popular choice is to kayak along the coast in the morning, then walk back on the Abel Tasman Coast Track to Marahau. You can also simply relax on one of the park’s golden beaches. See our Nelson and Abel Tasman activities for all the options.

Included Accommodation: The Adventure Inn (or similar)

Stop in Marlborough for a tasting of the crisp Sauvignon Blanc that made the region famous. Our Marlborough activities page lists more vineyards to visit. Then follow the coast road south past the seal colony at Ohau Point to Kaikōura, where the mountains meet the sea.

Included Accommodation: Dusky Lodge (or similar)

Kaikōura is one of the best places in the world to see whales, dolphins and seals. Spend the morning on a whale watching cruise or swimming with dusky dolphins, then head south to Christchurch. The evening is free to explore the city’s street art, bars and restaurants. Check our Kaikōura day tours before you go.

Included Accommodation: Lylo Christchurch (or similar)

Cross the Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo, famous for its milky turquoise water. Visit the little stone Church of the Good Shepherd on the lakeshore, then relax at Tekapo Springs or ride the mountain bike trails. After dark, look up: Tekapo sits inside the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, one of the best places on earth for stargazing. Discover more on our Mount Cook and Mackenzie tours page.

Included Accommodation: Lakes Edge Holiday Park (or similar)

Drive past Lake Pukaki, where on a clear day you can see Aoraki Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain, at the end of the lake. Continue over the Lindis Pass into Central Otago and arrive in Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world. Settle in and get ready for the big activities ahead.

Included Accommodation: Lylo Queenstown (or similar)

Travel through Te Anau and along the Milford Road to Fiordland, stopping at Mirror Lakes and the Homer Tunnel on the way. At Milford Sound, board a cruise past towering cliffs and thundering waterfalls, with a good chance of seeing seals and dolphins. Our Milford Sound and Fiordland activities page has more options.

Included Accommodation: Lylo Queenstown (or similar)

Today is the big one. Queenstown is where commercial bungy jumping began, and you can jump from the historic Kawarau Bridge or try the Shotover Canyon Swing. You could also skydive over the Remarkables, race through narrow canyons on a jet boat or just take the gondola up for the view. Browse all Queenstown activities before you decide.

Included Accommodation: Lylo Queenstown (or similar)

Stop at Lake Wanaka and its famous lone willow tree before crossing the Haast Pass into the rainforest. On the way, walk to the Blue Pools and Thunder Creek Falls, then follow the wild coastline north to Franz Josef. See more on our Wanaka activities page.

Included Accommodation: Rainforest Retreat (or similar)

Fly by helicopter onto the ice for a guided heli-hike, with crampons on your boots and blue ice caves around you. If that’s not for you, try quad biking through the rainforest, walk the glacier valley, or soak in the Glacier Hot Pools. It’s a great way to wind down before the final day.

Included Accommodation: Rainforest Retreat (or similar)

On the final day, drive north to Hokitika, known for its pounamu (greenstone) carvers. Then cross the Southern Alps on Arthur’s Pass, stopping for a walk among the limestone rocks at 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, or stay on and see more Christchurch and Canterbury activities.