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About the tour
This small group, German-speaking tour is packed with stunning scenery, natural history and geological encounters as you travel from Auckland to Christchurch (or reverse) over three weeks. This tour is ideal for those looking to get off the beaten track. Highlights include staying with local farm families on the South Island, staying at a rustic lodge on the Whanganui River, sailing through the stunning Marlborough Sounds and cultural encounters with local Māori in Whakatane. With an experienced German-speaking you will travel off the beaten track in a comfortable minibus, with a maximum of 14 guests. Choose from a selection of guaranteed departure dates
Meals
Daily breakfast, 2 x picnic lunches and 8 x dinners.
Accommodation
3 Star Accommodation
Included in the price
Hahei
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Hahei
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Day-wise Itinerary
ExpandDay 1: Arrival At Auckland
- Welcome to New Zealand. Your transfer will be waiting at the airport to take you to your accommodation (English-speaking group transfer included. Private German-speaking transfer driver for an additional charge).
- You have time to relax after the your long flight or to explore Auckland on your own. At 6:00 p.m. you will meet with your guide and the other travellers in the group to discuss the exciting trip ahead.
Day 2: Explore The Coromandel Peninsula.
- After breakfast, we leave Auckland for the Coromandel Peninsula. We cross the peninsula, which is characterized by volcanic formations and native rainforest, full of tree ferns and tea trees. We visit the rare and mighty kauri trees, (which are up to 2000-year-old) - New Zealand's representative of the araucaria family.
- In Mercury Bay we explore the jewels of New Zealand’s beaches. If time allows, we can hike to Cathedral Cove in Hahei. With long, white sandy beaches, we encourage you to take a swim in the South Pacific. If the tide and time allows, we can visit Hot Water Beach, where you can dig a pool in the sand and warm yourself in underground hot springs.
- In the evening, we'll relax and get to know each other better over dinner.
- Included Meals: B, D
Day 3: Explore Bay Of Plenty
- Today’s journey deepens our insight into the rich geological history of the Coromandel Peninsula. Again and again we enjoy open coastal views, and pass the gold mining town of Waihi, plus Mount Maunganui volcano right on the coast, as well as extensive kiwi plantations and beaches, until we reach Whakatane.
- We stay in this Māori-influenced location in the Bay of Plenty, known for its mild climate and long sandy beaches. The highly active White Island volcano is found here which, according to “Lonely Planet”, is number 5 on the list of the most impressive volcanoes on earth.
- We spend the afternoon/evening with local Māori. We learn lots about Māori music, art, culture and history, and take a short, guided walk. We get to experience and eat a hāngi together – a traditional Māori meal cooked in the ground.
- Meals: B, D
Day 4: Explore Rotorua
- If you wish, this morning you have the opportunity to experience White Island from above on a panoramic flight (optional). We journey through forests and along numerous lakes we reach the to reach the Rotorua region, known for its highly active thermal springs and geysers. In the afternoon, you have time to explore Rotorua and the many activities on offer here, such as the Polynesian Spa, the Redwoods Treewalk or a scenic flight with Volcanic Air.
- You also have the opportunity to visit the world-famous Hobbiton (all activities optional).You can experience White Island today in different ways: either a comfortable photogenic panoramic flight directly over the crater or up close by boat and geologically guided hiking tour (both optional).
- We spend the afternoon / evening in a small group with a local Māori tribe. For an authentic dinner, we build our own earth oven under expert instruction, in which we then cook our dinner. While we wait for our "Hangi", the traditionally prepared food, we learn a lot about music, art, culture and history of the Maori on a guided hike.
- After dinner together, we no longer leave our hosts as strangers but as friends.
- Meals: B
Day 5: Explore Whanganui River National Park.
- Through forests and along numerous lakes we reach the Rotorua region, known for highly active thermal springs and geysers. Volcanic events have shaped this region, the wonders of which we admire in Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, the most colourful of the geothermal attractions. Here we find coloured sinter terraces, the boiling Champagne Pool, bubbling mud holes, craters and the stinking fumes of the sulphur fumaroles. We continue to the foaming Huka Falls and along Lake Taupo, with a view of the three active volcanoes of Tongariro National Park: Mount Tongariro (1968m) with and its sister volcanoes, Mount Ngauruhoe (2291m) and Mount Ruapehu (2797m).
- Due to the constantly changing, partly moon-like landscape, and the spectacular views, this national park has become one of the most popular in New Zealand. We turn off the main road and head into the Whanganui River National Park.
- Our journey leads leads mainly through Māori country along an old post road. Our accommodation today can only be reached by jet boat and in this seclusion, we forego the standards of city hotels. Here we can see appreciate the Whanganui River, in the middle of nature, and take a guided walk to the Bridge to Nowhere.
- We end the a memorable day with a typical New Zealand barbeque meal.
- Included meals: B, D
Day 6: Transfer To Wellington
- After breakfast, the jetboat brings us back to civilization. Our onward journey follows the historically-significant Whanganui River, on beautiful and little-used backcountry roads. The strong Māori influence can be clearly seen and felt in this hinterland. After countless bends, we reach the city of Whanganui with its stylish Art Deco buildings. In the evening we reach Wellington via the Kapiti Coast.
- Meals: B
Day 7: Explore Wellington
- Today you have the opportunity to explore the capital city of New Zealand, Wellington.
- Surrounded by nature and fuelled by creative energy, Wellington is a compact city with a powerful mix of culture, history, nature and cuisine. Fuel your visit with strong coffee and world-class craft beer – Wellingtonians are masters of casual dining, with plenty of great restaurants, night markets and food trucks. Make sure to visit Te Papa National Museum, take the cable car up to the Botanic Gardens or relax in Oriental Bay.
- Included meals: B
Day 8: Enjoy Marlborough Sounds
- This morning we take the ferry across the Cook Strait towards the "Marlborough Sounds", through deeply carved sea roads, a labyrinth of "drowned" valleys. The area is part of a botanical transition zone between the North and South Island.
- We are changing our means of transport for the next two days to undertake a trip nature excursion into more remote areas. We travel on a sailing ship through the Marlborough Sounds, one of the most beautiful sailing areas in New Zealand. Here, we often also see Cape petrels and dark brown reverbs.boobies. If you’re lucky, you may spot little penguins, dolphins and New Zealand's fur seals are also common here.
- After an eventful day, we reach our remote lodge and enjoy an exclusive dinner in a cozy atmosphere. From here, it is possible to hike a section of the Queen Charlotte Track (optional).
- Included meals: B, D
Day 9: Transfer To Picton
- After breakfast we board our sailing ship again. Today we sail past small bays, secluded beaches and hills covered with thick bush. We, go ashore on the island of Motuara Island (a bird protection reserve) and may observe rare long-legged flycatchers, starlings and saddleback birds.
- After, we visit Captain Cook's preferred anchorage, "Ship Cove" (the sailing tour is weather dependant and sometimes has to be adjusted). Back on solid ground, we check into our hotel in Picton.
- Included meals: B, L
Day 10: Explore Abel Tasman National Park
- Today, we travel through the Marlborough region, the biggest wine-growing area in New Zealand, known for world-class Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.
- We reach Abel Tasman National Park, a coastal paradise, renowned for its golden beaches. We take a boat past numerous bays and coastal forest before disembarking for an easy hike through the national park - one of the most popular in the country. New Zealand fur seals can often be seen here. You have the opportunity for a swim before we return by boat. If you don't want to hike, you can relax on the beach or take a different boat trip option (on request).
- Meals: B
Day 11: Explore Punakaiki
- On the way to the West Coast we cross the spectacular Buller Gorge. We experience an impressive change of flora and reach subtropical lowland rainforest. A wildly romantic landscape awaits us between Westport and Greymouth, with the mountain belt of the Paparoa National Park running parallel to the coast.
- A short walk takes us to the Pancake Rocks (limestone formations formed 30 million years ago and eroded by mildly acidic rain, wind and seawater). At high tide, spectacular blowholes can also be witnessed.
- Our hotel for the night is right on the beach in Punakaiki.
- Included Meals: B
Day 12: Explore Fox Glacier
- We continue further down the West Coast and make a stop in the jade town of Hokitika. The long sandy beach here is filled with driftwood and stones, making Hokitika a unique and fascinating destination. Every year there is a driftwood sculpture competition. Hokitika is also the former centre of the gold rush on the west coast, we continue along the west coast.
- South of Hokitika, the striking, elongated mountain range of the Southern Alps stands out, their peaks rising abruptly to an altitude of 3500m. In Franz Josef Town we are within reach of the glaciers of the Southern Alps. If the weather is good, we take a walk in this fascinating region.
- Included Meals: B
Day 13: Explore Queenstown
- This morning, we invite you to take a helicopter flight over the fascinating glacial world of the Southern Alps, which you definitely won’t forget quickly (weather-dependent). Landing on the glacier is a particular highlight. As a natural weather barrier, this high mountain ridge is responsible for one of the most extreme rainfall regimes. Large ice masses collect above the snow line, forming fast-flowing valley glaciers.
- We then continue onto the "most beautiful rainforest routes in the world", stopping for short walks through dense evergreen southern beech, rimu and kahikatea rainforest, to waterfalls and the open coast of the roaring Tasman Sea. Over the Haast Pass, and past the high mountains of Mount Aspiring National Park, we reach Wanaka. After a short stop at in this picturesque location, we drive over the "Crown Range", a spectacular alpine road, through an imposing primeval landscape with barren tussock grasslands. We spend two nights in Queenstown, not far from Lake Wakatipu. This beautiful lake and surrounding mountains defines the landscape of Queenstown.
- Included Meals: B
Day 14: Visit St. Moritz Of The South Pacific
- We spend the day in Queenstown, the "St. Moritz of the South Pacific", as this popular vacation holiday spot is also often called. The day is at your leisure. You have the day to yourself and are spoiled for choice to try one of the countless activities available here. Perhaps you would like to take a trip on the old steamship, the “TSS Earnslaw,” on Lake Wakatipu, or can take the cable car up and enjoy the wonderful views of the city and lake.
- You can also go hiking, rafting, biking or join a tour of the Lord of the Rings locations (all activities optional).
- Your tour guide will be happy to assist you in choosing your activities.
- Included Meals: B
Day 15: Explore Te Anau
- Today we travel towards Fiordland National Park, New Zealand’s largest and most undeveloped national park. Hardly any landscape embodies the term ‘wilderness’
- better than Fiordland. In the west, 14 fiords penetrate deep into the primeval forests of a rugged alpine world and snow-capped mountain peaks rise up to 2700 meters above alpine grasslands. First, we drive to Te Anau, the gateway to Milford Sound. In the afternoon you have the option to visit the Te Anau glowworm caves - don’t miss out on this experience. Alternatively, you can take a jetboat tour on the river between the Manapouri and Te Anau lakes (all activities optional).
- Meals: B
Day 16: Visit Milford Sound
- Today marks a highlight of our journey.
- On New Zealand’s most beautiful mountain road, to Milford Sound, we pass the Mirror Lakes and the gloomy Homer Tunnel and will probably even meet kea – the only alpine parrots in the world. Around noon we will reach one of New Zealand’s most famous attractions and the most beautiful end of the world, Milford Sound. Lush vegetation looms in front of the reflecting fiord and in the background, Mitre Peak, a huge mountain, rises 1700m up from the sea. If you are lucky, you might spot seals, penguins and dolphins on our boat trip past huge, foaming waterfalls.
- We return to Te Anau for the evening, surrounded by mountains and rainforest.
- Meals: B, L
Day 17: Explore Mount Cook
- After breakfast we leave Fiordland National Park. We travel over the Lindis Pass and through Mackenzie Country. Sparse rainfall makes this highland appear barren with tussock plains spanning the hills like a carpet, We continue to Mount Cook Village, where we spend the night in a cozy complex surrounded by gigantic mountains. Māori call New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki (3724m). Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is alpine in the purest sense - with sky-scraping peaks, glaciers and permanent snow fields, all set under a star-studded sky.
- We end the day with dinner together in a comfortable haven in one of the most unforgiving parts of New Zealand.
- Included Meals: B, D
Day 18: Explore Tekapo
- Depending on the weather this morning, we can take a gentle hike in these impressive mountains before leaving this rugged alpine world behind. Both the Hooker Valley and Tasman Glacier Tracks offer spectacular views of this imposing area. At both the Pukaki and Tekapo lakes we have another opportunity to admire the magnificent glacial world of Mount Cook. We continue to the Canterbury Plains and leave the 3000m peaks of the Southern Alps behind.
- Again, we experience a spectacular change in vegetation. The Canterbury Plains are one of New Zealand's most fertile farming areas. In the early evening we visit a stylish local farm, where we get an insight into the life and work of the New Zealand rural population on a farm tour. We spend the night in various rural guest houses with warm local hosts.
- The day ends having dinner and experiencing true New Zealand hospitality.
- Included Meals: B, D
Day 19: Explore Akaroa
- This morning we continue over the Canterbury Plains towards the Rakaia River and to the Banks Peninsula, an area created by volcanic activity.
- We end the day at the town of Akaroa, a former French settlement, which will have you entranced with its historic buildings, magnificent harbour and passion for fine food.
- Meals: B, D
Day 20: Explore Christchurch
- Our journey to Christchurch today leads us back over the mountains of the crater rim of the Banks Peninsula.
- We take a short city tour through the 'Garden City' of New Zealand, as Christchurch is often called. After the devastating earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, Christchurch was rebuilt as a more creative and funky urban centre. Wander through the streets admiring the colourful murals that tell stories of the city's resilience and indomitable spirit. You can take the historic tram, visit the newly built cathedral, the Arts Centre or the award-winning Botanical Garden (all optional).
- Today is the last evening of our trip and we invite you to a dinner, where you and your fellow travellers can review and celebrate the experiences you have had together over the last three weeks.
- Included Meals: B, D
Day 21: Depart From Christchurch
- Your journey across New Zealand sadly ends today and a transfer will take you to the airport.
- Included Meals: B
