18-Day Ultimate Luxury Discovery Tour of New Zealand

Experience New Zealand your way with a fully customised, private itinerary. Every tour is guided by a dedicated local expert and designed just for you. We specialise in exclusive journeys that create genuine connections with New Zealand’s people and landscapes—unforgettable moments you won’t find anywhere else.

Day 1 | Welcome to Auckland

Personal airport meet-and-greet and private transfer.
Explore Auckland's vibrant waterfront precincts and stylish Ponsonby neighbourhood.
Enjoy world-class dining, galleries, and boutique shopping.
Optional: Discover Hidden Auckland with a local guide. Discover the city's hidden lanes, legends, landmarks and best places to eat, shop and go

Day 2 | Coromandel Peninsula

Discover the Coromandel's pristine beaches and native forests.
Visit Cathedral Cove, world-famous for its spectacular natural rock archway, pristine white-sand beaches, and crystal-clear turquoise waters.
Dig your own natural spa pool at Hot Water Beach, famous for geothermal water that bubbles up through the sand.
Enjoy coastal walks, local art galleries, and spectacular scenery.

Day 3 | Tauranga & Mount Maunganui

Explore one of New Zealand's most loved beach destinations.
Relax on golden sand beaches and enjoy vibrant seaside cafés, or walk around Mauao, a majestic 232-meter extinct volcanic cone.
Experience an enchanting, magical evening glowworm-kayaking adventure.

Day 4 | Rotorua & Lake Taupō

Discover Māori history and culture with a local guide.
Step into the ancient, spiritual heart of Aotearoa with Whirinaki Forest Footsteps — a Māori-owned, guided forest tour.
Visit the geothermal wonderland of Orakei Korako. It boasts New Zealand’s largest geyser field, rare thermal caves, and colourful silica terraces
Continue to the shores of Lake Taupō, New Zealand's largest lake, occupying the massive caldera of an ancient supervolcano

Day 5 | Tongariro National Park & Rangitīkei

Explore the dramatic volcanic landscapes surrounding Tongariro National Park. New Zealand's oldest national park and a dual UNESCO World Heritage site
Walk to the spectacular Taranaki Falls, which combines dramatic volcanic history with lush native beech forests and sweeping mountain vistas
Arrive at a working farm stay in the Rangitīkei region.

Day 6 | Rangitīkei River Adventure

Raft through the beautiful Rangitīkei River gorges, famed for their dramatic 80-meter-high papa (white mudstone) cliffs, thrilling whitewater, and untouched native bush.
Picnic beside remote waterfalls and explore filming locations from The Lord of the Rings.
Discover landscapes featured in The Lord of the Rings films.
Meet farm animals and enjoy hands-on experiences perfect for families.

Day 7 | Wellington

Discover New Zealand's vibrant capital city, home to a world-class film industry—often dubbed "Wellywood".
Or: Visit Te papa Museum, one of the world's first bicultural museums.
Visit Zealandia Ecosanctuary and search for kiwi and native wildlife.
Discover Wellington's food, arts, and waterfront culture.

Day 8 | Marlborough Sounds

Cruise across the Cook Strait and through the Marlborough Sounds.
This 22-kilometre voyage between Wellington and Picton offers a dramatic blend of extreme oceanic physics, unpredictable weather, and stunning natural beauty.
Visit a working aquaculture farm and enjoy fresh local seafood.
Settle into the stunning Marlborough region for a two-night stay.

Day 9 | Marlborough Sounds Exploration

Walk, kayak, or cycle sections of the famous Queen Charlotte Track.
Discover secluded bays, native forest, and spectacular coastal scenery. It is a breathtaking 1,500-km network of ancient sunken river valleys.
Enjoy the relaxed pace of the Sounds.

Day 10 | Kaikōura, Christchurch & Akaroa

Travel to the coastal town of Kaikōura, which perfectly blends giant, deep-sea marine life with towering snowy mountains.
Choose between swimming with wild pods of dolphins, whale-watching giant Sperm Whales, or taking part in an exhilarating coastal eco-zipline adventure.
Or take more time and explore Christchurch's revitalised city centre.
Continue to Akaroa and visit New Zealand's largest mainland little penguin colony.

Day 11 | Oamaru

Discover charming rural towns and local artisan producers.
Explore Oamaru's beautifully preserved Victorian Precinct, celebrated globally for its pristine, 19th-century limestone architecture, and its status as the Steampunk Capital of New Zealand
Experience the unique character of this historic coastal town.

Day 12 | Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park

Visit the Moeraki Boulders and the historic town of Oamaru.
Explore the remarkable Clay Cliffs formations.
Journey through the Mackenzie Basin to Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park.
Discover alpine landscapes, glaciers, and stunning mountain scenery.
Enjoy an exclusive World-Class dark-sky stargazing experience. The pristine environment makes it one of the best places on Earth to connect with the cosmos.

Day 13 | Central Otago & Clyde

Experience the spectacular Grand Traverse scenic flight. You will see jaw-dropping landscapes, including massive glacial valleys, bright turquoise lakes (like Lake Tekapo), braided river systems, and New Zealand's highest peaks and largest glaciers
Discover Cromwell's orchards, heritage precinct, and wine country.
Explore the historic gold-mining town of Clyde.

Day 14 | Wānaka & Central Otago

Cycle part of the spectacular Lake Dunstan Trail, with the path clinging to steep rock cliffs and crossing a giant suspension bridge.
Enjoy Central Otago's renowned wineries and alpine scenery.
Alternative: Take an exciting alpine 4WD backroads encounter with free-ranging red deer, sheep and Angus cattle. Jaw-dropping scenery allows for incredible photography
Relax in the lakeside town of Wānaka.

Day 15 | Mt Aspiring National Park

Explore one of New Zealand's most spectacular wilderness regions.
Cruise and hike Mou Waho Island Nature Reserve, with its Mind-Bending Geography, featuring a "lake-on-an-island-on-a-lake".
Enjoy guided walks through native forest and alpine valleys.
Optional: Journey with us into the heart of Mount Aspiring National Park, where glacier-fed rivers meet cinematic landscapes.

Day 16 | Central Otago - Te Anau

Central Otago is a uniquely dramatic inland region famous for its continental climate, rugged schist landscapes, and gold rush heritage.
Towns like Cromwell have reinvented themselves as foodie hotspots. The region is covered in architecturally designed cellar doors.
End your day at Lake Manapouri, which is celebrated as New Zealand’s most beautiful lake.
The entrance of Fiordland National Park is also the iconic gateway to Doubtful Sound.

Day 17 | Overnight Doubtful Sound Cruise

Cruise through the untouched wilderness of Doubtful Sound. It offers an untouched, spiritual wilderness experience characterised by deep waters, cascading waterfalls, and rare wildlife far away from crowds
Enjoy an unforgettable overnight experience in one of New Zealand's most remote regions.

Day 18 | Glenorchy & Queenstown