Luxury New Zealand Honeymoon Tour Itinerary

Welcome to Auckland. Today is yours to unwind after your journey, easing into the rhythm of your 18-day luxury honeymoon through New Zealand. Known as the “City of Sails,” Auckland is set amongst a collection of extinct volcanic cones and framed by two sparkling harbours (Waitematā & Manukau), where life flows effortlessly between land and sea. The narrow isthmus offers a rare contrast - calm, sunlit shores along the Pacific Ocean and the rugged beauty of the wild west coast along the Tasman Sea.

On arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel. After settling in, take time to relax or head out for a gentle introduction to the city. A stroll along the vibrant waterfront is the perfect way to start, where you’ll find a lively collection of restaurants, bars, and harbourside views.

Accommodation: Auckland - 3 Nights

Just 45 minutes by ferry from Auckland, across the beautiful Hauraki Gulf, Waiheke Island is a tranquil paradise. Since the late 1970's Waiheke Islands benign climate has seen the growth of a flourishing wine industry. A "small is beautiful" philosophy yields low quantities of extremely high quality fruit, which is made into international award-winning wines. Embark on a delightful gourmet food and wine journey. Experience succulent fresh oysters, award-winning olive oil, and other locally-produced delicacies paired with wines from the island's top boutique vineyards. You'll visit an acclaimed olive oil mill, followed by two vineyards offering gourmet tastings to complement their wines. After a platter lunch at one of the island's top vineyard restaurants, you'll be chauffeured back to catch the ferry back to Auckland.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Discover the wild beauty of Auckland’s west coast on a half-day Bush and Beach Wilderness Experience through the Waitākere Ranges. Travel through lush native rainforest, where ancient kauri trees and cascading streams create a tranquil backdrop for short guided walks. Continue to the dramatic black-sand coastline of Piha Beach, famous for its powerful surf and iconic Lion Rock. Along the way, enjoy panoramic viewpoints and insightful commentary on the region’s unique ecology and Māori heritage, before returning to Auckland.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Collect your rental vehicle and journey to the stunning Coromandel Coast, a region renowned for its rugged beauty, golden beaches, and relaxed coastal charm. Settle into a two-night stay in a private boutique retreat at Cooks Beach, perfectly positioned for a peaceful escape.

Spend your time at leisure exploring the surrounding natural wonders - swim in pristine, uncrowded beaches, wander through lush native forests, or simply unwind and take in the tranquil coastal scenery from your lodge. The Coromandel Peninsula is a favourite getaway for New Zealanders, celebrated for its dramatic coastline, hidden coves, and laid-back atmosphere, offering the ideal balance of relaxation and natural discovery.

Approximate Distance: 190 km | 117 miles  Total Driving Time: 2 hours 30 mins

Included Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Cooks Beach - 2 Nights

The Coromandel Peninsula offers a variety of free activities to explore, from its stunning natural beauty to its vibrant art scene. Whether you're seeking relaxation on pristine beaches, uncovering the area's rich history, or simply taking in breathtaking views, there's something for everyone. With its laid-back pace, the Coromandel invites you to slow down and immerse yourself in its peaceful surroundings.

• Relax at Hot Water Beach: A must-see beach where you can dig your own hot spring pool in the sand at low tide.
• Visit Cathedral Cove: Explore this stunning beach framed by a large natural rock arch and enjoy its peaceful atmosphere and golden sands.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Rotorua, in the heart of New Zealand’s North Island, is renowned for its extraordinary geothermal activity and rich Māori heritage. Steam rises from the earth across the city, accompanied by the distinctive scent of sulphur, revealing the powerful forces shaping the landscape. Iconic natural attractions include the Pōhutu Geyser, which erupts multiple times daily, along with bubbling mud pools, vivid silica terraces, and naturally heated springs that highlight the region’s dynamic volcanic environment.

Enjoy a restorative geothermal journey experience, where mineral-rich waters and Māori healing traditions come together in a deeply immersive experience focused on relaxation, renewal, and connection to place within this remarkable setting.

Approximate Distance: 210 km | 128 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours

Included Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Rotorua - 2 Nights

Enjoy free time exploring the wonders of Rotorua at your own pace before setting out in the evening for a magical glow worm kayaking experience. Paddle across calm waters as dusk falls, drifting through a peaceful canyon framed by native bush. As night settles in, thousands of glow worms illuminate the rock walls above, creating a mesmerising display that reflects softly on the water.

Guided by local experts, you’ll learn about the surrounding environment and the fascinating bioluminescent life of the glow worms, all while immersed in the quiet beauty of this natural night-time wonder.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Return your rental vehicle at Rotorua Airport before boarding your flight to Nelson. On arrival, collect your new rental vehicle and make your way to your accommodation.

Nelson is known for its vibrant creative community of working artists, giving the city a relaxed, bohemian atmosphere. Enjoying some of the highest sunshine hours in New Zealand, the Nelson region is an ideal year-round destination. Located in the north-west of the South Island, it is surrounded by sheltered mountain ranges, golden beaches, national parks, and boutique wineries and breweries. From Nelson, it is easy to access three distinctly different national parks, each offering its own unique landscapes and outdoor experiences.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Nelson - 2 Nights

Enjoy a day in Nelson at leisure, immersed in its relaxed, creative atmosphere and strong community of working artists. Explore galleries, studios, and local markets that showcase the region’s vibrant arts scene, or wander the charming streets lined with cafés and boutiques. Take time to relax and soak up the sunshine, or venture further afield to discover golden beaches, nearby national parks, and boutique wineries and breweries that make this region so unique.

Included Meals: Breakfast
 

Travel from Nelson to Blenheim, journeying through the scenic landscapes of the top of the South Island. As you make your way into the heart of Marlborough, the scenery opens into rolling vineyards, fertile plains, and distant mountain ranges, signalling your arrival in New Zealand’s premier wine region. Blenheim offers a relaxed pace, surrounded by award-winning wineries, gourmet food producers, and beautiful countryside to explore.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Blenhiem - 2 Nights

Discover the very best of Marlborough on a full-day Icons tour, showcasing the region’s world-renowned wine and gourmet food scene alongside its stunning natural landscapes. Visit a selection of award-winning wineries for guided tastings and behind-the-scenes insights, and enjoy a leisurely lunch featuring fresh local produce. Travel through picturesque vineyard-covered valleys and sweeping coastal scenery, experiencing the relaxed charm, rich flavours, and warm hospitality that make Marlborough so iconic.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Travel south through Marlborough, New Zealand’s renowned wine region, where rolling vineyards and cellar doors line the route. Continue along the scenic East Coast, with ever-changing views of hills, farmland, and the Pacific Ocean as you make your way to Kaikōura. 

Framed by dramatic mountains and sea, Kaikōura is famed for its rich marine environment and abundant wildlife. Offshore, deep underwater canyons and converging currents create nutrient-rich waters that support whales, dolphins, and seabirds, while fur seals are often seen along the rugged shoreline. It’s a spectacular meeting of land and sea.

Approximate Distance: 245 km | 151 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Included Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Kaikoura - 2 Nights

Today you’ll experience the remarkable coastal environment of Kaikōura from the water on a guided wildlife kayaking adventure. Paddle along the rugged shoreline where the mountains meet the sea, surrounded by some of New Zealand’s most diverse marine life.

Glide quietly across calm coastal waters, keeping watch for fur seals basking on the rocks and swimming nearby. Depending on conditions, you may also encounter seabirds soaring overhead and other marine species drawn to this nutrient-rich coastline.

This immersive experience offers a unique perspective of Kaikōura’s dramatic landscape, where the meeting of ocean currents and deep underwater canyons creates a thriving habitat just beneath your kayak.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Depart Kaikōura and continue south along the scenic coastal highway toward Christchurch. The journey offers spectacular views where the mountains meet the Pacific Ocean, with opportunities to pause and take in rugged shorelines, sweeping beaches, and open farmland along the way.

Arrive in Christchurch, a vibrant city known for its blend of innovation, heritage, and beautifully restored green spaces. Set along the Avon River and framed by the Canterbury Plains, Christchurch offers a relaxed yet cosmopolitan atmosphere, with plenty to explore at your own pace upon arrival..

Approximate Distance: 180 km | 112 miles  Total Driving Time: 2 hours 30 mins

Included Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Christchurch - 2 Nights

Enjoy some free time at leisure in Christchurch, with the opportunity to explore the city at your own pace, wander the riverside precincts, browse local shops, or simply relax and soak up the atmosphere.

In the evening, you’ll join a guided progressive dining experience showcasing the best of local cuisine, culture, and storytelling. Travel between a selection of hand-picked venues as you enjoy seasonal dishes and regional flavours, thoughtfully paired with insights into Māori culture and the evolving story of the city. It’s a relaxed and engaging way to experience Christchurch through food, people, and place.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Leave the city today and travel westwards through the Canterbury plains, you will find a superb location for some great photos Lake Tekapo. Tekapo is one of three significant, neighboring lakes that border the Mackenzie Valley in New Zealand's South Island. Golden tussock grass carpets the surrounding hillside and roll away into the distance where the Southern Alps frame the horizon. The charming 'Church of the Good Shepherd' sits alone on its shores and the views to our highest mountain, Aoraki mt Cook are remarkable.

Tonight you will be inspired by our universe as you view the night skies in this World Heritage Sky Park, at Mt John Observatory.

Approximate Distance: 235 kms | 136 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours 15 mins

Included Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Tekapo - 2 Nights

Today is a free day.  You have the option to make a return day trip to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. A day in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park offers a rich connection with nature. Explore alpine trails, glacial rivers, and scenic lookouts with breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks. Prefer a slower pace? Enjoy a peaceful picnic or simply soak in the dramatic surroundings. As night falls, the park’s clear skies provide an exceptional stargazing experience. Whether you seek adventure or quiet reflection, this spectacular landscape caters to every nature enthusiast with unforgettable moments.

Approximate Distance: 105 kms | 65 miles  Total Driving Time: 1 hour 15 mins (each way)

Included Meals: Breakfast

From Lake Tekapo, journey through sweeping alpine landscapes, open tussock country, and winding mountain roads that highlight the South Island’s raw beauty en route to Queenstown. Arrive in this vibrant lakeside destination on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, framed by the dramatic peaks of the Southern Alps.

Queenstown is widely regarded as New Zealand’s adventure capital, set within a striking alpine landscape and offering a dynamic yet relaxed atmosphere. The town has a vibrant energy year-round, complemented by a strong food and beverage scene, boutique shopping, and a lively lakeside setting. There is a broad range of experiences available, from adrenaline-filled pursuits to more leisurely ways to take in the scenery, with opportunities to explore the surrounding natural beauty, nearby regions, and spectacular viewpoints at a more relaxed pace.

After a day of discovery, unwind in the soothing Onsen Hot Pools, soaking in warm waters while taking in sweeping mountain views.

Approximate Distance: 265 km | 165 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours 30 mins

Included Meals: Breakfast, Pre-Dinner Drinks and Canapes

Accommodation: Queenstown - 3 Nights

Although celebrated as New Zealand's 'adventure capital' Queenstown offers far more than a fast paced action-packed holiday. Head down the Gibbston Valley wine trail to sample some of the region's best Pinot. Browse the waterfront cafes and have lunch at Michelin star chef Josh Emett's 'Rata.' - but if you do really want the adrenaline rush Queenstown is known for, take your pick from the Shot over Jet, Nevis Bungy, Canyon Swing, Zipline, Luge or Heli-ski.

The perfect way for you to end an action packed day is to take a cruise on the TSS Earnslaw vintage steamship along Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Farm. Enjoy high country hospitality and a carvery style buffet, featuring the best of New Zealand meats, fresh vegetables and garden salads. You may well find the house dessert specialties hard to resist! An entertaining after dinner show provides a glimpse into farming life.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Central Otago wine is so much more than a taste experience. Taste wines at four of the best vineyards in the Gibbston, Bannockburn and Cromwell regions whilst enjoying the Scenery of Kawarau Gorge, the Otago Goldfields, Historic Old Cromwell Town and Lake Dunstan and then enjoy a delightful gourmet platter lunch at the award winning Carrick Winery Restaurant. Whether you know wine intimately or just enjoy the odd glass, your visit is an interactive experience, sharing the scenery and culture with your guide and your small group.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Pre-Dinner Drinks and Canapes

"Haere rā" Goodbye! and Bon Voyage!

Today you will return your rental vehicle to Queenstown Airport prior to your onward flight. We know you will love your Luxury New Zealand Honeymoon and our promise to you is to make it as hassle-free and hospitable as possible - ensuring that today you leave with a library full of photos, and huge smiles when recalling your time in New Zealand! There maybe time for some last minute excursions or shopping before making your way for your outbound flight.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Ready to find out more? Talk to us here in New Zealand about the 'Luxury New Zealand Honeymoon'  - We Guarantee it will be the Holiday of a Lifetime!