12-Day New Zealand Highlights

The route, stop by stop.

The North Island comes first, from an Auckland base, and the domestic flight to Queenstown on day 6 starts the South Island half without a long drive. The route then runs through Wānaka and the Mackenzie Country to finish in Christchurch.

1. Auckland2 nights
2. Rotorua2 nights
3. Auckland1 night
4. Domestic flight
5. Queenstown4 nights
6. Wānaka1 night
7. Christchurch1 night

1. 01
   Day 1

   Arrive in Auckland

   1. Auckland

   Packed dinnerOvernight Auckland

   Arrival day, kept light after the long-haul flight.

   Highlights

   • Arrival in Auckland and transfer to the hotel
   • A relaxed first evening
2. 02
   Day 2

   Auckland city day

   1. Auckland

   BreakfastLunchDinnerOvernight Auckland

   The city’s skyline, harbour and coast in one day.

   Highlights

   • Sky Tower entry
   • A guided Auckland city tour
   • Free time to explore the city independently

   

3. 03
   Day 3

   Hobbiton and the redwoods

   1. Auckland
   2. Matamata
   3. Rotorua

   BreakfastLunchDinnerOvernight Rotorua

   South through the Waikato to the film set, then on to Rotorua.

   Highlights

   • Guided tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set near Matamata
   • Drive on to Rotorua
   • A walk among the redwoods of Whakarewarewa Forest

   

4. 04
   Day 4

   Geothermal Rotorua

   1. Rotorua

   BreakfastLunchDinnerOvernight Rotorua

   Volcanic landscapes, Māori culture and an evening in the hot pools.

   Highlights

   • Rotorua’s geothermal landscapes
   • A Māori cultural experience
   • An evening in the geothermal hot pools at the Polynesian Spa

   

5. 05
   Day 5

   Taupō and the glowworm caves

   1. Rotorua
   2. Taupō
   3. Waitomo
   4. Auckland

   BreakfastLunchDinnerOvernight Auckland

   Lake Taupō and the Huka Falls, then Waitomo on the way back north.

   Highlights

   • Lake Taupō
   • The Huka Falls
   • The Waitomo Glowworm Caves
   • Return to Auckland for the night, ready for the morning flight

   

6. 06
   Day 6Flight day

   Fly to Queenstown

   1. Auckland
   2. Queenstown

   BreakfastLunchDinnerOvernight Queenstown

   The domestic flight opens the South Island half of the tour.

   Highlights

   • Domestic flight from Auckland to Queenstown
   • The Skyline Gondola for alpine views over the town
   • Time beside Lake Wakatipu

   

7. 07
   Day 7

   Shotover Jet and Arrowtown

   1. Queenstown
   2. Arrowtown

   BreakfastLunchDinnerOvernight Queenstown

   A jet boat on the river, a gold-mining town, and an ice bar to end the day.

   Highlights

   • A Shotover Jet boat ride on the Shotover River
   • The historic gold-mining town of Arrowtown
   • A visit to the Below Zero Ice Bar to finish the day

   

8. 08
   Day 8

   Milford Sound

   1. Queenstown
   2. Milford Sound

   BreakfastLunchDinnerOvernight Queenstown

   A full day through Fiordland National Park to the fiord.

   Highlights

   • The road through Fiordland National Park
   • A scenic cruise of about two hours on Milford Sound, below the peaks and waterfalls

   

9. 09
   Day 9

   Glenorchy and the Kawarau Bungy Centre

   1. Queenstown
   2. Glenorchy
   3. Kawarau Gorge

   BreakfastLunchDinnerOvernight Queenstown

   Alpine scenery at the head of the lake, then the home of commercial bungy.

   Highlights

   • Glenorchy, at the head of Lake Wakatipu
   • The Kawarau Bungy Centre, site of the world’s first commercial bungy jump

   A bungy jump is not included. It can be booked and paid locally.

   

10. 10
    Day 10

    Wānaka and the lake country

    1. Queenstown
    2. Wānaka

    BreakfastLunchDinnerOvernight Wānaka

    Wānaka, Puzzling World and the South Island’s lake country.

    Highlights

    • Wānaka and Puzzling World
    • A drive through the South Island lake country
    • The Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo

    

11. 11
    Day 11

    Aoraki / Mount Cook lookout to Christchurch

    1. Wānaka
    2. Lake Pukaki
    3. Christchurch

    BreakfastOvernight Christchurch

    Alpine views on the way across the Mackenzie Country to Christchurch.

    Highlights

    • An Aoraki / Mount Cook lookout
    • A stop at Lake Pukaki
    • The International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch
    • A visit to an aquatic centre

    

12. 12
    Day 12

    Departure

    1. Christchurch

    BreakfastDeparture day

    The tour ends after breakfast.

    Highlights

    • Breakfast at the hotel
    • Departure transfer
    • Lunch provided when the flight time allows

Sightseeing order can change with weather, road conditions and operator timetables.

Six set dates, one deadline each.

Each departure has its own book-before date. Dates and availability are confirmed at booking.

1. Earliest open departure Departs 4December2026 Book before 25 October 2026 16 days left to book
2. Departs 8January2027 Book before 25 November 2026 47 days left to book
3. Departs 5February2027 Book before 31 December 2026 83 days left to book
4. Departs 4March2027 Book before 31 January 2027 114 days left to book
5. Departs 2April2027 Book before 28 February 2027 142 days left to book
6. Departs 6May2027 Book before 31 March 2027 173 days left to book

Departures past their book-before date are offered on request. Booking status, New Zealand date: 2026-10-09

Included, and not.

Notes for your booking.

• Vegetarian and other dietary preferences can be catered for. Send them with the booking.
• All itineraries can be amended or combined with other itineraries. Advise the changes when you request a quote.
• Sightseeing order can change with weather, road conditions and operator timetables.

Placing clients on this package.

1. 1

   Send the departure date, the number of travellers split into adults and children, and any dietary or accessibility needs to b2b@explera.co.nz as a new email, or use the quote form.

2. 2

   We reply with trade net rates and availability, and the package can run white-label under your brand.

3. 3

   Send each booking before its deadline.