Panorama - 24 Day New Zealand Small Group Tour

The Ultimate New Zealand Tour
Discover why New Zealand remains one of the worlds most sought after destinations on this ultimate touring holiday. Travellers often remark that they wish they had longer to explore and enjoy the places they visit which is why this leisurely, 24 day journey features a minimum 2 night stay at every stopover point. All the 'must see' & 'must do' activities have been included in your holiday along with some exclusive extras, but the unhurried nature of the itinerary also allows you plenty of time for self exploration. There is an incredible choice of places to visit and sightseeing excursions to enjoy as you relax and savour the lifestyle that is New Zealand.

Code Green: Experiences Of A Lifetime
This beautiful, inspiring Lonely Planet publication profiles 82 amazing travel experiences worldwide. New Zealand is featured twice and both eco-cultural activities are included in this tour. Descendents of New Zealand's first Polynesian explorer, Kupe, will lead you on a guided walk of the worlds largest Kauri forest. This ecologically significant environment is brought to life by not only the sounds & sightings of its inhabitants but by friendly Maori guides who willingly share their knowledge, stories, song and musical instruments to enlighten and enhance this tranquil and spiritual location. The second excursion is the famous Kaikoura Whale-watching encounter, a totally unique experience where you'll get up close to this giant mammal.

Your Small Group Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Auckland
On arrival at Auckland airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your city hotel. The 'City of Sails' is New Zealand's largest and most vibrant, offering an exciting array of cosmopolitan experiences.
Stay Rendezvous Hotel (2 nights)

Day 2 Auckland sightseeing & harbour cruise (B)
Enjoy a comprehensive scenic tour this morning that will introduce you to the sights of Auckland. Commence the day with a visit to Auckland Skytower, the tallest tower in the southern hemisphere and the city’s most prominent landmark. It’s a fantastic way to see the entire city, its twin harbours and magical islands. Next we drive past Auckland University en-rote to Auckland Domain, the city’s oldest park situated on a 62,000 year old volcano. Continue on to the trendy shopping area of Parnell village with its historic old buildings transformed into boutiques, antique, craft & specialty shops. Continue along the scenic waterfront route of Tamaki Drive before returning to the downtown area where your board a 50-foot yacht for a 90-minute relaxing cruise on the magnificent Waitemata Harbour. You can sit back and watch it all happen or help the professional crew by taking the helm and trimming the sails. The rest of the day is then free for you to relax, shop or sightsee at your own pace.
Stay The Duxton Hotel

Day 3 Hibiscus Coast, Northland Twilight Encounter (B,D)
Take a step back in time today as we first travel over the Harbour Bridge and north along the Hibiscus Coast. Continue on to the small beach resort of Opononi. After lunch, enjoy a guided boat cruise board of the beautiful & twisting harbour of Hokianga, an area that boasts the oldest Maori & European settlements in New Zealand.

This evening, you will enjoy an eco-cultural experience unlike any other. ‘Twilight Encounter’ was one of only two NZ experiences rated amongst 82 global experiences worldwide by Lonely Planets newly released publication, Code Green: Experiences of a Lifetime. These 82 amazing journeys all have a positive impact on the environment, culture & economy in the destinations in which they operate. Tonight, descendants of NZ's first Polynesian discoverer, Kupe, will take you on a guided walk of the largest kauri forest in the world and introduce you to their relationship with Mother Nature, both spiritually and culturally. This ecologically significant environment, in former times a home and playground to Maori, is brought to life by not only the sounds and potential sightings of its inhabitants but by friendly, experienced local Maori guides who willingly share their knowledge, stories, song and musical instruments to enlighten and enhance this tranquil and spiritual location. 'Twilight Encounter' is an experience that allows visitors to enter the Waipoua forest at a unique time …a time not experienced by many; a time when its inhabitants change; a time when seeing is replaced with listening and a time when the clouds and sun are replaced by stars and the moon.
Stay Copthorne Hokianga Hotel

Day 4 Explore the Bay of Islands (B)
This morning, a short drive brings you to Paihia, a seaside village nestled on the shores of the Bay of Islands National Maritime Park. Enjoy a brief visit to the historic Waitangi Treaty House & then take a ferry to the township of Russell for exploration & lunch. This afternoon, enjoy a cruise out to Cape Brett & the Grand Cathedral Cave … otherwise known as the famous ‘Hole in the Rock’.
Stay Copthorne Hokianga Hotel

Day 5 Bay of Islands, Rotorua (B)
Today we travel south to the geothermal city of Rotorua whose raw beauty has enchanted visitors from around the world for over 160 years. Here you can stand upon volcanoes, peer into massive craters & see boiling mud and exploding geysers whilst native forests cloak the land. It is also home to a deep-rooted Maori culture and the opportunity to experience a traditional hangi (feast) & cultural show should not be missed.
Stay Millennium Rotorua Hotel (2 nights)

Day 6 Exclusive Lake Tarawera Cruise, Te Wairoa Buried Village (B,L)
The days highlight is an exclusive cruise across the pristine, clear waters of Lake Tarawera at the base of a gigantic dormant volcano. You’ll experience spectacular scenery & some of the country’s best trout fishing & have the opportunity to soak in the thermal waters of Hot Water Beach before enjoying a gourmet picnic lunch. This afternoon, visit the Blue & Green Lakes and then wander around the famous buried village of Te Wairoa.

Day 7 Lake Taupo, Napier (B)
An hour south of Rotorua is Lake Taupo, itself a gigantic volcanic crater following an enormous explosion in AD183. View Huka Falls & the Wairakei Geothermal project and take time to walk around this popular lakeside resort. Journey on to Napier, often referred to as the Art Deco capital of the world. On arrival we embark on a guided walking tour of the town before checking into our hotel.
Stay The Crown Hotel (2 nights)

Day 8 Explore Hawke’s Bay Wine country (B)
A day to explore the region at your own pace. Walk along Napier's Marine Parade & visit the many attractions along the way, visit Cape Kidnappers - home of the largest & most accessible mainland gannet colony in the world, enjoy a guided wine & gourmet tour of some of New Zealand’s leading vineyards & wineries, experience an early morning hot-air balloon ride over vineyards, orchards & olive groves, play an exciting round of gold on one of the countries leading & most challenging courses, fly fish for brown & rainbow trout in the region’s many rivers … your choices are endless!

Day 9 Fly Napier / Nelson (B)
Today we fly to Nelson (flight included), a city of charm based on a harbour that is home to the busiest fishing port in New Zealand. The Nelson region is an area of diverse beauty that enjoys a Mediterranean-type climate & boasts the greatest number of sunshine hours in New Zealand. It is home to a thriving arts & crafts colony where locals enjoy a relaxed & easy-going lifestyle.
Stay Heritage Rutherford Hotel (2 nights)

Day 10 Abel Tasman National Park Cruise & Walk (B, L)
Today you can choose from a number of included Cruise & Walk or Cruise only options in the famous Abel Tasman National Park. Cruise into protected bays & view the fur seal colony on Tonga Island. The launch hugs the shore, travelling in close to idyllic beaches fringed by native forest. The Abel Tasman Coastal track is well formed & shaded and comes out onto protected beaches excellent for swimming. Your Tour Host will give you details of the various choices available & will be happy to guide you onto the best tour that suits your own individual needs.
Stay Heritage Rutherford Hotel

Day 11 Blenheim, Kaikoura (B)
Heading east, we make our way to Blenheim on the sunny Wairau Plains. The major urban centre for the Marlborough region, Blenheim is also the centre of a thriving wine industry. Continue on to the coastal town of Kaikoura, a place for unparalleled wildlife adventures. It is a timeless place where the presence of man is ignored by seals who lounge along the rocky shoreline, dolphins play within sight of the shore and giant sperm whales feed all year round. Abundant sea life means great seafood and local restaurants offer everything from fresh fish & chips to delicious whole crayfish (lobster).
Stay White Morph Inn

Day 12 Whalewatch excursion (B)
Today, enjoy the second activity featured in the Lonely Planets publication, Code Green: Experiences of a Lifetime. Every Whale Watch tour is a unique experience & sightings may vary from day to day. Giant sperm whales are the star of the show and are year-round residents. A typical Whale Watch tour may encounter fur seals, pods of Dusky dolphins & the endangered Wandering Albatross. Depending on the season, you may also see migrating Hump Back whales, Pilot whales, Blue whales & Southern Right whales. Kaikoura also attracts the largest concentration and variety of seabirds on mainland New Zealand including 13 species of Albatross, 14 varieties of Petrel & 7 types of Shearwater. This afternoon is free to pursue other activities … perhaps a Dolphin Encounter or maybe enjoy an interactive & intimate cultural exchange with local Maori.
Stay White Morph Inn

Day 13 Lake Tekapo, Mt Cook (B,D)
Travel south along the Kaikoura Highway before skirting Christchurch, the South Islands largest city to travel across the rich pastoral farmland of the Canterbury Plains. Heading inland, travel over Burkes Pass & enjoy breathtaking views as you descend towards the stunning glacial fed lake of Tekapo. Stop to view the tiny Church of the Good Shepherd, built of local stone and oak in 1935. Travel up the western side of Lake Pukaki to the Mt Cook National Park, a World Heritage listed site. Mt Cook is Australasia's highest mountain at 3764 metres. The park covers over 70,000 hectares of breathtaking alpine scenery and is also home to the Tasman Glacier; the longest in the Southern hemisphere.
Stay Aoraki Mt Cook Hermitage Hotel

Day 14 Tasman Glacier Explorer (B,D)
This morning, you get to experience the Tasman Glacier, New Zealand’s largest, in the most unique way possible. An experienced guide will whisk you away in a stable MAC Boat to explore the melting ice-face of the Tasman Glacier where you will also get to touch & taste 400-year old icebergs that have been carved into the murky waters of the lake. This afternoon is free to enjoy local walks, sightsee or simply relax in your spectacular surroundings. Optional Ski-plane & helicopter flights are also available subject to weather conditions.
Stay Aoraki Mt Cook Hermitage Hotel

Day 15 Omarama, Lindis Pass, Queenstown (B)
After a leisurely breakfast, journey south through the towns of Twizel & Omarama in the MacKenzie Country before beginning the ascent over the Lindis Pass into the historical gold mining region of Central Otago. Relax as you take in the spectacular scenery that changes from rugged ranges and mirror lakes to the winding Kawarau River Gorge before emerging into the lush green farmland that surrounds the beautiful alpine resort of Queenstown, regarded as New Zealand's premier destination.
Stay Heritage Queenstown

Day 16 & 17 Explore Queenstown and Fiordland National Park (B)
Enjoy two full days to experience this magnificent resort. Surrounded by majestic mountains, Queenstown boasts adventure activities in all forms, from extreme to relaxed exploration. Here you can take a thrilling jet boat ride, pan for gold, raft the white water rapids, take a wine trail, fish for trout, play golf or 4WD sheer canyons. It is also a great base from which to explore the Fiordland National Park, gateway to the awesome Milford & Doubtful Sounds. There are numerous activities from which to choose and your Tour Host will be pleased to offer advice and help you in your selection.
Stay Heritage Queenstown

Day 18 Historic Arrowtown, Crown Range, Lake Wanaka (B)
Set beneath the rugged Crown Range is Arrowtown, a fascinating collection of mining cottages with an atmosphere straight out of last century. Enjoy time to stroll through this historic village located beside the Arrow River, once a haven for the gold prospectors of the 1860’s. A spectacular drive over the Crown Range brings us to Lake Wanaka with its breathtaking mountain & lake views.
Stay Edgewater Resort Hotel

Day 19 Wanaka at leisure (B)
An inspiring place to indulge in tranquillity, Lake Wanaka also has plenty of action-packed activities available for those who can’t keep still! We recommend some time out, soaking up the atmosphere & splendour that is Wanaka. Watch the last light fall across the still waters that reflect the snow capped peaks of Mt Aspiring National Park & reflect on life the way it should be.
Stay Edgewater Resort Hotel

Day 20 Haast Pass, Fox & Franz Josef Glaciers (B)
Today, view incredible scenery as you travel past the untouched native forests and pristine lakes of the World Heritage Westland National Park and Haast Pass. On to Fox & Franz Josef Glaciers, our stay for the next 2 nights.
Stay Te Weheka Inn

Day 21 Explore West Coast Glaciers (B)
A full day to enjoy the delights of this region at your own pace. A number of optional glacial adventure and exploration activities are available. Full day & half day glacier walks, heli-hikes & helicopter flightseeing excursions are all possible subject to weather conditions.
Stay Te Weheka Inn

Day 22 Spectacular Tranz Alpine train, Christchurch (B)
Journey north along the wild & rugged West Coastline to Greymouth. Here you board the award-winning Tranz Alpine for a coast-to-coast journey through the Southern Alps. This spectacular train adventure has been rated as one of the 6 most scenic journeys in the world. Having reached the alpine village of Arthur's Pass at 747 metres above sea level, the Tranz Alpine winds its way over massive viaducts, through spectacular river gorges and the stunning Waimakariri River valley before finally crossing the huge and fertile patchwork farmlands of the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.
Stay Millennium Hotel

Day 23 Explore Christchurch & surrounds (B)
Christchurch is the nation’s second largest city. It is a city alive with colour, atmosphere and world class attractions. You can ride a punt down the Avon River through beautiful Hagley Park; enjoy a day excursion to the quaint seaside village of Akaroa, home to the early French settlers of the 1840’s; travel to Hanmer Springs & soak in its natural thermal waters; savour a sumptuous dinner aboard the Tramway Restaurant or maybe even try your luck at the Christchurch Casino ... the choices are numerous.
Stay Millennium Hotel

Day 24 Depart Christchurch (B)
At leisure today until you transferred to the airport for your flight home or onward journey to your next destination.

Here, we bid you ‘Haere Ra’, a fond farewell and hope you leave with many happy memories of your stay in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Click here for a printer friendly version of this itinerary

 What's Included

Departure Dates

Tour Prices
Per Person in NZ$