Head north along the coast, starting with a visit to Tawanui Farm, a large sheep and beef property where you can see working farm life up close. Continue on to Kaikōura, known for its whales, dolphins, and fur seals. Walk the peninsula track for cliff-top views, or book an optional whale or dolphin experience out on the water.

Overnight: Kaikoura

Included Accommodation: Dusky Lodge (or similar)

Included Experience

• Tawanui Farm visit

Optional Activities

• Kaikōura Peninsula Walk
• Dolphin Watch (Paid)

Early risers can head out on the water for a dolphin encounter before breakfast. The group then continues south toward Abel Tasman National Park, with a stop in Marlborough wine country for a tasting along the way.

Overnight: Abel Tasman (Kaiteriteri)

Included Accommodation: Bethany Park Kaiteriteri (or similar)

Included Experience

• Wine Tasting – Whitehaven Cellar Door
• Wine Tasting – Cheese & Cheers

A full free day to explore Abel Tasman National Park’s golden beaches, clear water, and native forest at your own pace. Choose from a range of add-ons, from a skydive over the coastline to a kayaking trip through the park’s coves, a canyoning adventure, or a relaxed sailing trip.

Overnight: Abel Tasman (Kaiteriteri)

Included Accommodation: Bethany Park Kaiteriteri (or similar)

Optional Activities

• Explore the Abel Tasman National Park
• Full day sail in Abel Tasman National Park (Paid)
• Skydive Abel Tasman (Paid)

Stop at the Nelson Lakes for a photo at the wharf before continuing to Hanmer Springs. In the afternoon, walk the Conical Hill Walk, one of the best short walks in the region, before an evening free to explore the village’s restaurants and bars.

Overnight: Hanmer Springs

Included Accommodation: Tussock Peak Lodge (or similar)

Included Experience

• Nelson Lakes
• Conical Hill Walk

A full free day in Hanmer Springs, New Zealand’s best-known alpine hot pool town. Soak in the outdoor thermal pools, take on the hydroslides, or spend the day browsing the boutique shops and cafes along the main street.

Overnight: Hanmer Springs

Included Accommodation: Tussock Peak Lodge (or similar)

Included Experience

• Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools

Optional Activities

• Manuka Skies Stargazing
• Mountain Bike Hire with Map

Head back toward Christchurch, stopping at the Iron Ridge Quarry Sculpture Park, an open-air gallery of large-scale sculpture set against the Waipara River Valley. Back in the city, join a guided walk through Christchurch’s street art precinct.

Overnight: Christchurch

Included Accommodation: Hotel Give (or similar)

Included Experience

• Iron Ridge Quarry Sculpture Park
• Christchurch Street Art tour

Optional Activities

• Waka on Avon (Paid)

A day trip to Akaroa, a small harbor village with a distinctive blend of Maori, French, and English heritage. Along the way, stop at the Little River Historic Railway Station and the Hilltop Lookout Point before arriving in Akaroa itself. The included nature tour visits the Pohatu Penguins colony, with time afterward to explore the village on foot before returning to Christchurch in the evening.

Overnight: Christchurch

Included Accommodation: Hotel Give (or similar)

Included Experience

• Pōhatu Penguins 2 hour nature tour

Optional Activities

• Wildlife Sea Kayaking Safari (Paid)
• Akaroa Nature Cruise (Paid)

Cross the Southern Alps through Arthur’s Pass National Park, one of the most scenic drives in the country. Stop at Castle Hill to see its limestone rock formations, then walk to the Devil’s Punchbowl waterfall through native beech forest. The day ends in Franz Josef, home to one of the steepest and fastest-moving glaciers in the country, with a group pizza dinner in the evening.

Overnight: Franz Josef

Included Accommodation: Rainforest Retreat (or similar)

Included Experience

• Devils Punchbowl waterfalls
• Walk the Castle Hill track

A full free day in Glacier Country. Start with an included pounamu (greenstone) jewelry carving experience, a hands-on cultural activity with a story behind every piece. From there, choose your own adventure: walk to the glacier viewpoint, book a heli-hike onto the ice, take a scenic flight, or try an off-road quad bike tour.

Overnight: Franz Josef

Included Accommodation: Rainforest Retreat (or similar)

Included Experience

• Greenstone jewellery carving

Optional Activities

• Franz Josef Scenic Flight – 50 Minutes (Paid)
• Glacier Encounter (Paid)

Start with a visit to the West Coast Wildlife Centre, home to the South Island’s largest kiwi incubation facility. Continue to Lake Matheson for a walk around its famous mirror reflections of Aoraki Mt Cook, then on to Wanaka, home of the well-known lakeside Wanaka Tree.

Overnight: Wanaka

Included Accommodation: Adventure Hostel Wanaka (or similar)

Included Experience

• Thunder Creek Falls
• Lake Matheson Mirror Lake

Optional Activities

• West Coast Wildlife Centre

En route to Queenstown, stop at the Kawarau Bridge, site of the world’s first commercial bungy jump. Once in Queenstown, New Zealand’s self-styled adventure capital, spend the evening at the lakefront with the rest of the group.

Overnight: Queenstown

Included Accommodation: Nomads Queenstown (or similar)

Included Experience

• Kawarau Bridge Bungy Visit
• Arrowtown Visit

Optional Activities

• Spirit of Queenstown (Paid)

A full free day built around choice. Adrenaline seekers can book bungy jumping, jet boating, white water rafting, or skydiving, while a slower pace might mean a bike ride, a lake cruise, a vineyard visit, or a stop at one of Queenstown’s well-known waterfront eateries.

Overnight: Queenstown

Included Accommodation: Nomads Queenstown (or similar)

Optional Activities

• Kawarau Bridge AJ Hackett – various options (Paid)
• Kiwi Crawl (Paid)
• NZONE Skydive (Paid)

An early start for the drive to Piopiotahi, Milford Sound. Stop in Te Anau along the way, then continue through Fiordland National Park with photo stops before boarding an included scenic cruise through the fjord, keeping an eye out for dolphins, fur seals, and birdlife.

Overnight: Queenstown

Included Accommodation: Nomads Queenstown (or similar)

Included Experience

• 2 hour Milford Sound boat cruise
• Day Trip to Milford Sound

The final leg runs back through the Mackenzie Basin. Stop at Lake Pukaki for its striking blue color, then at Lake Tekapo around lunchtime, before visiting the Church of the Good Shepherd on the lakeshore. From there it’s on to Christchurch, where the tour concludes.

Included Experience

• Lake Pukaki Visit

Optional Activities

• Church of the Good Shepherd