10-Day Boutique Tour - Relax, Unwind, Indulge

Want to see some highlights of New Zealand and discover some of the diversity of our landscapes but still want to relax and enjoy your surroundings? Then, this more appropriate journey and our selection of soft but luxurious adventure activities will be perfect for you.

Cruise the world-renowned Bay of Islands on a private charter. Then, take an unforgettable cultural guided tour to experience the traditional customs, practices, and beliefs of our indigenous Māori people. Experience breathtaking scenery up close on a flight over Aoraki Mt Cook, glaciers, braided rivers, and glacial lakes. Take an off-the-beaten-track soft adventure tour to ensure you experience the true character of the Wanaka and Queenstown region. Be in awe of Fiordland with towering Mitre Peak and waterfalls like Stirling and Bowen Falls, which plummet down its sheer sides.

Day 1: Auckland City – Domestic flight to Bay of Islands(3 nights)

Meet and greet at the airport, and transfer to your hotel.
The Bay of Islands is a subtropical micro-region known for its stunning beauty & history. For those who love beaches and water activities, it's paradise. A 35-minute flight north of Auckland, the Bay of Islands encompasses 144 islands between Cape Brett and the Purerua Peninsula and includes the boutique towns of Russell and Kerikeri. Just north of Russell - you'll enter a maritime adventure playground with abundant wildlife, including penguins, dolphins, marlins, whales, gannets and more.
Many of the islands here have walking tracks. Relax in one of the luxury boutique lodges set within beautiful grounds, offering spectacular views of the Bay of Islands.

Day 2: Bay of Islands

Set your course for adventure, luxury, and the beauty of the Bay of Islands. Join us for a charter boat – your gateway to a world of sun, sea, and unforgettable memories. Whether you prefer relaxation, taking the helm, or exploring beautiful islands, the choice is yours. We customise all our cruises to match your preferences and adapt to the weather conditions. In a sheltered bay, drop anchor and indulge in activities like swimming, paddleboarding, and snorkelling in the crystal-clear turquoise waters, all while a delicious lunch is prepared. Following our stopover, we'll set sail back to your drop-off point, possibly encountering dolphins or orcas along the way.

Day 3: Bay of Islands

Cape Reinga is the ultimate northern New Zealand. See two oceans collide & discover the place of leaping, where Maori spirits begin their final journey.
Explore Ninety Mile Beach, renowned for spectacular sunsets and boasting one of the best left-hand surf breaks in the world. This never-ending paradise is officially a highway, but it is only suitable for 4WD vehicles and is safe to drive only at specific times of the tide.
Or, for the discerning traveller wanting a private, fully inclusive full-day experience, Take a "Cape Reinga VIP" tour by helicopter.

Day 4: Bay of Islands – Domestic flight (VIA AKL) to Rotorua (2 nights)

On New Zealand's North Island, Rotorua is well-known for its fascinating geothermal activity, Māori culture, hot springs and mud pools. It is a must-visit stop in New Zealand, full of attractions and things to do.
Journey deep into the Tarawera region's history, culture and natural wonders with an unforgettable guided tour. Your guide will enthral, educate and amuse you with tales of Tarawera's history and legends, and you'll enjoy a unique combination of Māori culture and geothermal and ecological elements throughout. Our Culture & Eco-tours offer the opportunity to savour a superb blend of beauty, history and culture honestly and authentically.

Day 5: Rotorua- Day trip to Lake Taupo

The town of Taupo sits at the edge of Australasia's largest lake. Local attractions include trout fishing, skiing, and geothermal parks. Beautiful Lake Taupo is a massive volcano with a fiery history. Its most recent eruption, 181 AD, was large enough to change the sky as far away as Europe and China. According to Maori legend, the lake is the pulsating heart of Maui's fish (New Zealand's North Island). Lake Taupo is a fantastic region for year-round mountain biking, with the recent completion of the Great Lake Trail. Along with cycling, there are excellent hiking and golf opportunities.
Relax on a private charter boat to explore the shores of Lake Taupo, learn about the famous Māori Rock Carvings and enjoy a BBQ meal on this scenic trip.

Day 6: Lake Taupo – Domestic flight to Christchurch, drive Mt Cook (2 nights)

Christchurch - Over a decade after two earthquakes devastated the city, it is being rebuilt and reimagined. Some of the eye-catching blue-stone heritage buildings may have gone, but in their place are new spaces designed for modern city living. This includes more green spaces, with the most considerable swath of land twice the size of Central Park in New York.
Lake Tekapo is about 3 hrs drive southwest of Christchurch in the Mackenzie Basin. The township faces north across the remarkable turquoise-coloured lake to the mountainous drama of the Southern Alps. Lake Tekapo gets its intense milky-turquoise colour from the fine rock flour (ground by glaciers) suspended in the water.
Picturesque by day and dazzling by night, Lake Tekapo is part of a UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve, making it the perfect spot for stargazing.

Day 7: Mt Cook National Park

Visit Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park to glimpse Mt Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand. See glaciers and snowy peaks set under a star-studded sky.
Fly in a ski plane and a helicopter on the same day for an unforgettable experience of Aoraki/Mount Cook. Enjoy a scenic adventure that includes a glacier snow landing. From take-off to landing, you will enjoy spectacular views! Fly up the Tasman Valley over the breathtaking blue glacier lake. See the Hochstetter Icefall and the cloud-piercing Aoraki/Mount Cook before landing on the upper snowfields of the Tasman Glacier. Enjoy this unique alpine environment before swapping aircraft and returning to Mount Cook Airport.
One of the most popular walks in Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park. Pass through Hooker Valley and walk beside the Hooker River. Find out more about this famous track.

Day 8: Mt Cook Drive to Wanaka/Queenstown (3 nights)

Central Otago is known for its wine, cycling, and powerful landscapes on New Zealand's South Island. Taste your way around the sunny Pinot Noir vineyards, cycle the Otago Central Rail Trail, or explore picturesque heritage towns.
For wine lovers and enthusiasts alike, the area showcases exceptional Central Otago wines and tells tales of this industrious and proud wine region. Taste your way around sunny Central Otago's Pinot Noir vineyards.
A lively town buzzing with a carefree spirit, Wānaka's picture-perfect location and easy outdoor access make it the ultimate base for your holiday. Or stay: Queenstown is the home to the ultimate adventure activities. Explore one of New Zealand's top travel destinations and indulge in extreme sports or pure relaxation.

Day 9: Wanaka – Trip to Fiordland National Park

Take a flight/cruise excursion into Milford Sound. Described by Rudyard Kipling as the 'eighth wonder of the world", it was carved out during successive ice ages and, at its deepest point off Mitre Peak, plunges to a depth of 265 meters. The extraordinary splendour of this region is unsurpassed anywhere else in the world, a daring claim in a country that offers exceptional beauty around every corner. Fly from Wanaka to magnificent Milford Sound and enjoy spectacular views of the mountains, lakes, and forests of the Fiordland National Park. At Milford Sound, your launch cruise travels the entire length of Milford Sound. Return to Wanaka via the famous Sutherland Falls and glaciers of the Fiordland National Park.
Or: Heli Picnic at Middle Earth Waterfalls. Fly through the Moonlight saddle and over the Richardson Mountains to Mt Earnslaw, past the blue ice of the hanging glacier before descending to land on the valley floor, over 1000 metres below. Enjoy an unforgettable picnic under the numerous waterfalls and dramatic hanging glaciers. You'll have time to take lots of photos and explore a bit – walk behind the waterfalls to dip your toes into the icy water if you dare!

Day 10: Wanaka - Trip to Mt. Aspiring National Park

Stretch your legs and feed your soul in this beautiful wilderness of native forests, towering mountains and long river valleys. Named for Mt Aspiring, one of New Zealand's highest peaks, this park is a dreamland of mountains, glaciers, river valleys and alpine lakes.
Experience New Zealand's most authentic 4WD adventure. It perfectly combines incredible scenery, history, heritage, and farming life. Wild and empty silence and jaw-dropping mountain-top scenery with views for days are just the beginning. Explore the remote and seldom-travelled back roads of an authentic New Zealand High Country farm overlooking sparkling Lake Wanaka.
Or: Come with us on a scenic and exciting jet boating adventure full of action and spins in New Zealand's most spectacular ice-carved landscape. Jet Boat the Matukituki River past Rocky Mountain and Treble Cone, an area of stunningly unique mountain formations where scenes from the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings were filmed. This is shallow, braided river jet boating, the most exciting of all jet boating experiences and pure New Zealand adventure at its best