New Zealand. Wild New Zealand Luxury Adventure

Upon arrival at Dunedin Airport transfer to the city of Dunedin which remains as it was for thousands of Scottish settlers (and others) back in the 1800’s. You will be brought to your hotel from the airport to allow for a day at leisure to recuperate from your flight or to explore the city of Dunedin. You may visit some central city attractions, perhaps Olveston House, Otago Museum, Dunedin Botanical Garden, Speights Brewery or the Cadbury Chocolate factory (depending on your interests). Overnight in Hilltop on High.

After breakfast we are picked up and head for a short walk to the top of Mount Cargill for an overview of Dunedin. From our vantage point we can see the Otago gold rush left a legacy of ornate Victorian and Edwardian buildings, regarded as the best collection in the Southern Hemisphere. The Flemish Renaissance-styled railway station is one outstanding example. We’ll get a closer look at this, the most photographed building in New Zealand, as well as the First Church of Otago, St Paul's Cathedral, the Town Hall and Clock Tower, St. Joseph's Cathedral, the University of Otago and Baldwin Street - the Steepest Street in the world. After lunch we continue on to the stunning Otago Peninsula ~ a safe haven for a variety of wildlife who thrive despite the wild southern storms that lash this exposed coastline. Our introduction to this environment will be a short coastal walk accompanied by the native birdlife, followed by a visit to the Royal Albatross centre at Taiaroa headland. If you want to see the world's biggest sea bird close-up, then this is as good as it gets. This is a unique opportunity to watch these magnificent birds on their nesting area at Taiaroa Head. From here your guide will take you to one of the Otago Peninsula’s wildlife “hotspots”, where you’ll visit places where the best possible viewing of Hooker's Sea lions, Yellow-eyed Penguins, Blue Penguins, a breeding colony of New Zealand Fur Seals and Royal Albatross can be had. A further 25-30 other estuarine and marine bird species are seen during the experience. Overnight in Hilltop on High.

Note: Of the eight hour tour approximately two hours will be spent hiking in the forest and 30 minutes will be spent walking to the beach to see the penguins.

Depart Dunedin mid morning passing through the farming region of Southland to Queenstown. High country landscapes and trout fishing rivers are features of the road to Queenstown. Arriving in Queenstown we have the rest of the day to enjoy the city at leisure. Overnight in The Rees Hotel, Queenstown (Drive - 298 km / 4 hr 30 mn | Hike 3-5 km 3 hrs).

We are picked up early in the morning for the bus trip to Fiordland National Park. Following a short cruise across island-studded Lake Manapouri and a coach trip on the remote sub-alpine route over Wilmot Pass we will board the Fiordland Navigator at Deep Cove. There is plenty of time on our overnight cruise to soak up the stunning surrounds and to discover the hidden arms of Doubtful Sound – Hall, Crooked and First. Bottlenose dolphins often ride The Navigator’s bow waves, fur seals bask on the rocks and, at times, rare penguins make an appearance. We anchor at a chosen mooring for the night giving us the opportunity to kayak around the shoreline, go exploring in the tender craft with our nature guide or simply relax on deck. Overnight on board Fiordland Navigator. (Drive -170 km / 2.5 hrs).

Disembark from the overnight cruise and return to Te Anau by noon. After lunch travel across Lake Te Anau by water taxi to Brod Bay with its clear water and white sands. From here enjoy a superb walk following the lake edge through beech forest. The track has a gentle gradient and is well maintained suitable for all abilities. While walking common birds we may see are Rifleman, bellbird, South Island robin, yellow crowned parakeet, mohua (yellowhead), tomtit, South Island fantail and New Zealand pigeon. Our guide will show you the native fauna and flora, explain the unique ecological cycle and share conservation efforts made on the Kepler track and surrounding fiordland. Stop to rest on a beach for afternoon tea while enjoying the magnificent view. Overnight Wanaka Homestead. (Drive – 90 km/ 2 hr \ – 7 km/2 1⁄2 hr)

This morning we head out for a leisurely hike along Haast Pass. The graveled path provides easy walking through silver beech forest with boardwalks and a swinging bride to the viewing platform overlooking Blue Pools where you may see large brown and rainbow trout feeding in the crystal clear pools. We head to Davis Flat following the Bridle Track, the original horse-only access to the West Coast following the upper reaches of the Makarora River. We meet our vehicle at the top end at Haast Pass so there is no need to back track. We enjoy lunch at Cameron Flat with commanding views over the Makarora River to the main divide of the Southern Alps. After lunch we embark on a 4WD for the spectacular high country surrounding Lake Wanaka. Here we experience the stark beauty of the Southern Alps from a viewpoint high above the lake with far-reaching views to the snow-capped peaks of Mount Aspiring National Park. This journey will take you to virtually untouched landscapes with your local guide providing fascinating insight into the flora and ecosystem unique to this part of the world. Walking along a deserted ridgeline with only the sound of wind rustling through the ancient tussock grasses will provide you with some very impressive photo opportunities. We round off the day in style with a wine tasting at New Zealand’s most scenic vineyard, Rippon Vineyard, tasting some of the quality wine this region is renowned for. Overnight Wanaka Homestead. (Drive - 230 km / 3 hr 20 mn / Hike – 3 km / 45 minutes).

Flying from a small plane discover the beautiful alpine wilderness area of the Southern Alps, the majority of which are very remote and can only be discovered from above. Flying from Wanaka, we view Mount Aspiring and glaciers, Olivine Ice Plateau, lush rainforest and Sutherland Falls before turning to soar over Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park and then landing at Milford for a short bush walk. Upon our return to Wanaka airport we continue our journey as we head north to the rugged West Coast. Along the way we encounter wild beaches, forested wetlands, moss-covered rainforest, wide river valleys, mountains cloaked in snow, non-stop waterfalls. All that is why we consider this the best day-trip in New Zealand. We first pass the beautiful Lakes Wanaka and Hawea. The wilderness town of Makarora is a chance for us glimpse the famous ‘bra fence’ – it’s become a local legend. The road snakes through Aspiring National Park, and the vegetation becomes more lush as we head towards the coast. We climb up the Haast River Valley to Haast Pass enjoying the waterfalls and river scenery. Just over Haast Pass the Wild West coast awaits us. Lots of short walks and a parade of Kodak moments are available before we arrive at our accommodation in Franz Josef. Overnight Fox Glacier Lodge. (Drive - 285 km / 4hr / Hike – 2 x 1 km / 1 hr).

Today we will enjoy a breathtaking guided walk onto the Franz Josef Glacier. First explored in 1865, the Franz Josef Glacier has been moving forward at a rate of about 1 meter a day since 1985. The Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers are unique relics of the last ice age. Mighty rivers of solid white, tumbling down ice- hewn rock valleys, they are classically beautiful in the glacial sense. Nowhere else in the world have glaciers advanced so close to the sea at this latitude. We take an easy, 40-minute flat walk up the bed of the river flowing from the glacier (flat, basic path amongst river gravel). When we reach the glacier, our local professional glacier guides assist us to fit crampons to our boots. Then we follow them as they cut small steps into the ice, enabling our easy exploration of the crevasses and ice formations. This is a non- technical activity suitable for all ages with medium fitness. (If the glacier-walking section does not appeal there is a heli-hike option to the upper glacier, or we can arrange for a guided walk to the glacier viewpoint. After lunch we take a 1-hour gentle walk around beautiful Lake Matheson, a small lake stranded when the glacier retreated thousands of years ago. Today it is surrounded by native beech forest. On a calm, cloudless day there can be wonderful reflections of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. Overnight Fox Glacier Lodge. (Hike – 1 hour track / 2 hours ice).

Our first visit of the day will be the White Heron colony near Whataroa, a brief stop to see New Zealand’s only nesting site for this graceful bird. We continue our journey north as the road between Franz Josef and Greymouth provides great views of the Wild West coast. The road is rural, but with a wild streak. The farmland is trying to turn back into forest, and the beauty of the rivers is raw and primeval. We detour to the beach and breathe the salt spray air. Should time allow a stop at Shantytown, a reconstructed 1880s gold rush town, and Hokitika, a frontier town whose treasure is greenstone these days. We arrive in Greymouth with its long gold mining history. The TranzAlpine scenic train, rated one of the world’s great scenic railway journeys, traverses a route between Greymouth and Christchurch, from one coast of New Zealand to the other. From our carriage we’ll see the lush beech rain forest of the West Coast before our train climbs into the Southern Alps. Our train then navigates through the spectacular gorges and river valleys of the Waimakariri River before descending onto the fields of the Canterbury Plains. Overnight at Chateau Blanc Suites. (Drive -180 km / 2 hr 30 mn) + (Train - 4 hr 30 mn).

This day in Christchurch is free to relax and explore the city and surroundings at your leisure on your own or arrangements can be made to join any number of local guided excursions. The attractions of central Christchurch are right outside our boutique accommodation’s front door. With a day at leisure you’re free to explore the city: From Cathedral Square we can take in the Art Centre, Art Gallery, Museum and Botanic Gardens. After buying a picnic lunch from a hidden little bakery/delicatessen you can rent a car, take a taxi and hire a local guide and drive to the Port Hills for a hilltop hike (gentle grade, narrow path) with 360-degree views north over the city and south into Lyttelton harbour. Ask us for a list of wineries in the area that you can visit. You can also join a local day excursion to a Canterbury farm where local hosts show you around and give guests an insight into their rural lifestyle. City restaurants may have their airs and graces, but nothing beats the wholesome and hearty hospitality of a farmhouse feast. Overnight Chateau Blanc Suites.

OPTION: Ask about the optional tour of Tamaki Heritage Village presenting an interactive play entitled, “Lost in Our Own Land”. Hosted by the local indigenous people, on this 3.5-hour event guests will traverse 20 acres of land (open air live theatre) with a cast of many representing 180 years of New Zealand history. The Maori Village, the fortified Pa, and the Colonial Town all come to life. Participants travel aboard trams and old steam trains as part of this theatre experience. At the end of the event you dine on the traditional hangi (cooked beneath the ground in earthen ovens) and a colonial banquet feast.

An early morning transfer and assistance to board the TranzCoastal Train heading to the Marlborough region. This journey is a scenic feast of New Zealand, with the Kaikoura mountain ranges on one side of our train and the rugged Pacific Ocean coastline on the other. We travel through some of New Zealand’s finest horticultural and farmland areas, and see amazing wildlife such as dolphins, seals and penguins from the comfort of your train carriage. Stepping off the train we board the Delphinus for the Dolphin Watch Ecotour to Motuara Island. Cruising through the majestic Marlborough Sounds on a scenic eco- journey to Motuara Island wel’ll see playful dolphins, fur seals and seabirds. The island is predator free and the bird life is relatively unafraid of humans. Small blue penguins nest in boxes alongside a well- formed track, which gradually climbs to a spectacular vantage point. Rare saddleback, melodic bellbirds, cheeky robins, native pigeons and parakeets can be heard. We will have approximately 2 hours to explore the island. Return to Picton and proceed to Nelson for overnight at Wakefield Quay B&B on the waterfront. (Train - 5 hr 15 mn, Cruise – 4 hrs, Drive 113 km/ 1.5 hrs).

Saturday is Marketplace day in Nelson. We join local activities to create our own plan along with our guide! Held weekly in Montgomery Square the market attracts craftsman, local farmers with their fine produce, fisherman, street performers with plenty of the unexpected. We sample local fare by heading into the rolling Moutere Hills where we find most of Nelson’s wineries. The wines – Reisling, chardonnay, sauvignon, and pinot noir – have intense fruit flavors, good acidic balance and weight. After sampling these delicacies our afternoon adventure begins with a medium-grade hike (gentle slopes, good track, easy pace) into the Kahurangi National Park hosted by local people from the Friends of Flora conservation group. They will introduce us to New Zealand’s native species, and the campaign to protect the Flora Valley from introduced predators. The nature, views over Tasman Bay, picnic lunch and exercise make for a wonderful day. Overnight at Wakefield Quay B&B.

Today we discover the beauty of New Zealand's Abel Tasman National Park and the Tonga Island Marine Reserve in a relaxed and unhurried day while cruising the sound. After boarding our boat at Stephens Bay we cruise around the headland to Split Apple Rock to get the best views and photos during our scenic cruise. Here we may see several shags drying their wings above the warm rocks after their early morning fishing. The boat itinerary is flexible so if there is something to see on our day trip, like dolphins riding the bow wave or New Zealand fur seals fishing, then we'll go take a look. Similarly if there's a particular bay we want to visit or park feature we want to see then just tell the skipper. We find a sheltered bay for a light lunch where we can swim, sea kayak, go ashore for a bush walk, or just relax on the boat while the crew prepares a delicious platter style lunch with fresh local ingredients. There’s plenty of snorkeling equipment on board for our enjoyment. Overnight at Wakefield Quay B&B (Drive -100 km / 1.5 hrs / Hike – 2 hours).

We depart mid morning and drive to Blenheim stopping enroute along the way to tour various wineries of your guide’s recommendations. Blenheim is the heart of wine-growing Marlborough; there are more than 20 wineries within driving distance of the town. Selective tasting is the order of the day! After the tour you’ll have the afternoon to explore the town’s pleasing selection of cafes, restaurants, pubs, shops and golf courses . . . or you may proceed directly to enjoy the tranquility of your accommodations at Uno Piu Homestead where you will enjoy a gourmet dinner in one of New Zealand’s most personable and highly rated B&Bs. (Tour – 4 hrs, Drive 2.25 hrs / 190 km).

Hop on the Inter-island morning ferry to Wellington where you are free to explore on your own. There are many activities in Wellington. The city offers many vantage points of Wellington's most famous sights, landmarks, and icons. Highlights include: The famous Beehive and Parliament Buildings, Old Saint Paul's Cathedral, the finest example of Revival Gothic architecture in the Southern Hemisphere, Exquisite Lady Norwood Rose Gardens to name a few. First and foremost go and visit Te Papa, New Zealand's National Museum. Te Papa is a ground breaking, interactive museum with free admission. The architecture is stunning, and the outlay is unbelievable. The cable car provides a relaxing journey up to the beautiful Botanical Gardens. Wellington Zoo is a wonderful walk. Cricket at the Basin Reserve gives an insight into the cultural heritage. Take a trip on the ferry across to Eastbourne and Day's Bay. See a live play at Downstage. Stroll down Wellington's shopping capital, Lambton Quay. Swim and surf at Lyall Bay Beach, and Scorching Bay. Cycle out to the Lighthouse, and see the rocks on which the Wahine was wrecked. Check out Wellington's Victoria University Law School, the ex parliamentary buildings are the largest wooden structures in the Southern Hemisphere. Overnight in downtown Wellington at Bolton Hotel. (Drive -28 km / 1/2 hr) + (Ferry - 3 hr).

Continue exploring local areas of Wellington and especially consider the optional Kapiti Island excursion. Overnight in downtown Wellington at Bolton Hotel.

This morning catch a flight to KeriKeri, our gateway to the Far North. A short drive from the Kerikeri airport takes us to the Kerikeri Bakery, the local hotspot for a late lunch. Its reputation for Kiwi flavor through cuisine and personalities is not to be missed. We continue through the rolling hills of the Far North to the beautiful white sandy beach on Karikari Bay. The area holds many sites significant to local Maori and early European settlement (whaling, gum-digging, fishing). From the nearby Puheke Hill, the highest point in the area, you can get extensive views of Karikari Bay, Puheke Bay to the east and Karikari Beach to the west. Karikari Beach is perfect for relaxing, swimming, fishing and bird watching, as the beach is home to the endangered NZ dotterel. Whales are commonly seen from the beach. Time permitting we may visit the local vineyard, the cheese factory and of course the chocolate factory. Overnight in Doubtless Bay at Summerfields Country Retreat. (Drive -60km /1 hr) + (Flight - 2 hr 30 mn) (Hike – 3 km/2 hr).

A Maori guide will pick us up as we follow the original stagecoach route from Paihia to Hokianga. This trail was first established by early Maori and then frequented by traders and merchants who transported supplies, kauri, gum and timber between the coasts during the 19th and early 20th century. Meandering through the unique Wairere Boulder Valley, where 2.8 million year old geological rock formations eclipse us, we continue to the Waipoua Kauri Forest. Here our guide continues providing us with an in-depth interpretation of the many myths and legends of the local hapu (sub-tribe). The Waipoua Kauri Forest provides a natural stage for an unforgettable encounter with some of the largest remaining kauri trees in the world. We will meet a national icon, the mighty Tane Mahuta (the Lord of the Forest), the largest known kauri tree in the world. Estimated to be 2,000 years old his mighty girth is over13 metres and he stands an impressive 51 metres tall. Overnight in Doubtless Bay at Summerfields Country Retreat. (Drive - 350 km / 5.5 hr | Hike – 5 km/ 3 hrs).

A short drive this morning takes us the Wairakau Stream track the trailhead for the Tortora North hike. This gives us access to the unspoilt and isolated Lane Cove and Dukes Nose in the Western Arm of Whangaroa Harbour. We walk through a variety of forest types, towering rock cliffs, and pristine waterfalls all set on the shores of New Zealand’s finest harbor. We return by boat passing the beautiful outer reaches of Whangaroa Harbour. Overnight in the Bay of Islands at Copthorne Hotel and Resort. (Drive - 85 km / 1hr 15 mn | Hike 5.6 km -- 3.5 hours).

With one day left in New Zealand we begin with a visit to New Zealand’s birthplace, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, one of New Zealand’s most important sites of historical significance. This is where Maori chiefs and European representatives of the Crown signed New Zealand’s founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi. The Treaty Grounds are steeped in history and open to much interpretation. A knowledgeable Maori guide will walk us through the site and share its history including a journey in traditional and contemporary story and song by the resident dance troop.
After lunch our next stop is Opua, where we embark for our overnight cruise that will take us back to the roots of New Zealand human history. Northland (Te Tai Tokerau), is regarded as the birthplace of New Zealand. The route follows this historical and cultural path from the arrival of Maori and Europeans to the region, to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 between Maori and the British Crown. With 144 islands and abundant marine and bird life the Bay of Islands is one of New Zealand’s finest sub- tropical maritime parks. Ipipiri, our small expedition ship, offers a relaxed environment where you can do as much or as little as you like. The following activities are complimentary and are available to all passengers: Snorkelling (fins and mask provided), kayaking, island excursions including beach and bush walks, and swimming. If relaxation is more your style, then you can choose to soak up the views from the sundeck, read a book, play a board game or chat with the knowledgeable crew.

Your accommodation for the night is in one of 30 deluxe cabins. All rooms have ensuite bath and uninterrupted sea views so you can watch the sun set or rise from the privacy of your room. Overnight on board the Ipipiri Cruise.

Dismbark in the morning and rendezvous with our guide for the short drive from the port to today’s hike in Puketi Forest, a sanctuary protected since 1951 for the giant Kauri tree. Here we begin a very memorable walk through the heart of the Puketi Forest and experience one of New Zealand's native subtropical rainforests. Our walk takes us through regenerating scrubland, podocarp and hardwood beech forest along the banks of a river, and unusual stunning mature kauri stands. Te Tangi o te Tui is Puketi's giant Kauri, the fourth largest in the country with a height of 50.9 meters and a diameter of 3.94 meters. Puketi Forest also has populations of endangered kokako, native short-tailed bats, giant kauri snails and kiwi: with a bit of luck we may hear or see them as well. Afternoon transfer for flight to Auckland with connections to international departure to Los Angeles.