It’s true that sheep outnumber people in New Zealand six to one, but lucky for ewe, this untamed land also boasts an impressive number of soaring mountains, lush rainforests, and stunning fiords. The North Island’s Bay of Plenty sets the stage for the abundance of spectacular sights you’ll see on both of New Zealand’s breathtaking islands. Rotorua’s shooting geysers are only surpassed by the South Island’s soaring Southern Alps, which you’ll reach from charming Christchurch by way of the scenic TranzAlpine train. Throughout your tour of New Zealand, you’ll have the opportunity to walk along the Franz Josef Glacier, warm your toes in natural hot springs, and partake in all of the fun that Queenstown, the “Adventure Capital of the World,” has to offer. With so many ways to work up an appetite, you’ll appreciate a special barbecue on a local farm and a traditional cooked-in-the-ground hot stone Hangi dinner.
Day 1
Welcome to Aotearoa (the Máori word for ‘land of the long white cloud’)! Hotel check-in available upon arrival. A pre-night is not required for early check-in. Schedule flights to arrive by 4:30 pm in time for a welcome meeting and dinner
DinnerDay 2
AUCKLAND Guided sightseeing includes Queen Street, Auckland Domain (Auckland’s oldest park), and historic Parnell Village. Drive to Bay of Islands.
BAY OF ISLANDS Visit Waitangi Treaty House to discover the history of New Zealand. Free time this evening
Breakfast
DinnerDay 3
BAY OF ISLANDS Scenic cruise includes the Hole in the Rock with the chance to view dolphins and other marine wildlife. Free time this afternoon and evening. (B)
BreakfastDay 4
BAY OF ISLANDS Scenic drive to Rotorua.
ROTORUA In the evening, enjoy a traditional [LF] Hangi dinner (roasted meats and vegetables cooked underground with hot stones), followed by an authentic Máori (indigenous Polynesian people) cultural performance with singing, dancing, and storytelling. (B,D)
ENHANCE YOUR FREE TIME in Rotorua with a visit to an authentic Máori (indigenous Polynesian people) village, including a cultural performance, traditional Hangi dinner (roasted meats and vegetables cooked underground with hot stones), and chance to learn the Haka (traditional Máori war dance). This and many more options throughout your tour are available with MyGlobus. Get local maps and tips for free time on your GlobusGO mobile app
Breakfast
DinnerDay 5
ROTORUA Guided sightseeing includes a visit to Rainbow Springs Nature Park to see native bush and wildlife including the shy Kiwi bird and Te Puia, home to New Zealand’s largest geyser, boiling mud pools, and silica terraces. Free time this afternoon before [LF] dinner at a local family’s home
Breakfast
DinnerDay 6
Scenic drive through farmlands and past Lake Taupo en route to Marton.
MARTON Visit to a [LF] local farm includes a visit with the farm’s owners and a barbecue lunch before driving to Wellington.
WELLINGTON Free time this evening
BreakfastLunchDay 7
WELLINGTON Sightseeing tour includes a scenic cable-car ride, the botanic gardens, the famous Beehive and Parliament buildings, and 360-degree views from Mount Victoria. Visit Te Papa Museum of New Zealand. Free time the remainder of the day
BreakfastDay 8
Fly to Christchurch.
CHRISTCHURCH Guide sightseeing includes famous landmarks and the city’s spectacular gardens. Free time this evening
BreakfastDay 9
CHRISTCHURCH Scenic TranzAlpine train trip through Canterbury Plains, the Waimakariri River, and the Southern Alps en route to Arthur’s Pass. Continue with a scenic drive to Franz Josef.
FRANZ JOSEF Free time this evening
Breakfast
DinnerDay 10
FRANZ JOSEF (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) Walking tour in Glacier Valley along the Waiho River bed with a Local Guide. A short climb rewards you with spectacular views of the glacier. Free time this afternoon and evening
BreakfastDay 11
FRANZ JOSEF Scenic drive along the coast of the Tasman Sea and across Haast Pass en route to Queenstown.
QUEENSTOWN Guided tour and [LF] tasting at a local winery. Free time this evening
BreakfastDay 12
MILFORD SOUND Full-day sightseeing in Fiordland National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) includes a scenic cruise in Milford Sound with the chance to see marine wildlife, waterfalls, glaciers, and rainforests. Late evening return to Queenstown. Please note that the excursion to Milford Sound may happen on Day 13 depending on weather and road conditions today
BreakfastLunchDay 13
QUEENSTOWN Free day followed by a special farewell dinner. (B,D)
ENHANCE YOUR FREE TIME in Queenstown with an independent bicycle trip along country roads, through farmlands, and amid some of New Zealand’s most gorgeous scenery. This and many more options throughout your tour are available with MyGlobus. Get local maps and tips for free time on your GlobusGO mobile app
Breakfast
DinnerDay 14
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning
BreakfastDay 15
ARRIVE IN AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
Day 16
AUCKLAND–BAY OF ISLANDS
Day 17
BAY OF ISLANDS
Day 18
BAY OF ISLANDS–ROTORUA
Day 19
ROTORUA
Day 20
ROTORUA–MARTON–WELLINGTON
Day 21
WELLINGTON
Day 22
WELLINGTON–CHRISTCHURCH
Day 23
CHRISTCHURCH–TRANZALPINE TRAIN–ARTHUR’S PASS–FRANZ JOSEF
Day 24
FRANZ JOSEF
Day 25
FRANZ JOSEF–QUEENSTOWN
Day 26
QUEENSTOWN. EXCURSION TO MILFORD SOUND
Day 27
QUEENSTOWN
Day 28
QUEENSTOWN
Day 29
Dinner
Day 30
BreakfastDinner
Day 31
Breakfast
Day 32
BreakfastDinner
Day 33
BreakfastDinner
Day 34
BreakfastLunch
Day 35
Breakfast
Day 36
Breakfast
Day 37
BreakfastDinner
Day 38
Breakfast
Day 39
Breakfast
Day 40
BreakfastLunch
Day 41
BreakfastDinner
Day 42
Breakfast
Day 43 ARRIVE IN AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND.
Welcome to Aotearoa (the Máori word for ‘land of the long white cloud’)! Hotel check-in available upon arrival. A pre-night is not required for early check-in. Schedule flights to arrive by 4:30 pm in time for a welcome meeting and dinner
DinnerDay 44 AUCKLAND–BAY OF ISLANDS.
AUCKLAND Guided sightseeing includes Queen Street, Auckland Domain (Auckland’s oldest park), and historic Parnell Village. Drive to Bay of Islands.
BAY OF ISLANDS Visit Waitangi Treaty House to discover the history of New Zealand. Free time this evening
Breakfast
DinnerDay 45 BAY OF ISLANDS.
BAY OF ISLANDS Scenic cruise includes the Hole in the Rock with the chance to view dolphins and other marine wildlife. Free time this afternoon and evening. (B)
BreakfastDay 46 BAY OF ISLANDS–ROTORUA.
BAY OF ISLANDS Scenic drive to Rotorua.
ROTORUA In the evening, enjoy a traditional [LF] Hangi dinner (roasted meats and vegetables cooked underground with hot stones), followed by an authentic Máori (indigenous Polynesian people) cultural performance with singing, dancing, and storytelling. (B,D)
ENHANCE YOUR FREE TIME in Rotorua with a visit to an authentic Máori (indigenous Polynesian people) village, including a cultural performance, traditional Hangi dinner (roasted meats and vegetables cooked underground with hot stones), and chance to learn the Haka (traditional Máori war dance). This and many more options throughout your tour are available with MyGlobus. Get local maps and tips for free time on your GlobusGO mobile app
Breakfast
DinnerDay 47 ROTORUA.
ROTORUA Guided sightseeing includes a visit to Rainbow Springs Nature Park to see native bush and wildlife including the shy Kiwi bird and Te Puia, home to New Zealand’s largest geyser, boiling mud pools, and silica terraces. Free time this afternoon before [LF] dinner at a local family’s home
Breakfast
DinnerDay 48 ROTORUA–MARTON–WELLINGTON.
Scenic drive through farmlands and past Lake Taupo en route to Marton.
MARTON Visit to a [LF] local farm includes a visit with the farm’s owners and a barbecue lunch before driving to Wellington.
WELLINGTON Free time this evening
BreakfastLunchDay 49 WELLINGTON.
WELLINGTON Sightseeing tour includes a scenic cable-car ride, the botanic gardens, the famous Beehive and Parliament buildings, and 360-degree views from Mount Victoria. Visit Te Papa Museum of New Zealand. Free time the remainder of the day
BreakfastDay 50 WELLINGTON–CHRISTCHURCH.
Fly to Christchurch.
CHRISTCHURCH Guide sightseeing includes famous landmarks and the city’s spectacular gardens. Free time this evening
BreakfastDay 51 CHRISTCHURCH–TRANZALPINE TRAIN–ARTHUR’S PASS–FRANZ JOSEF.
CHRISTCHURCH Scenic TranzAlpine train trip through Canterbury Plains, the Waimakariri River, and the Southern Alps en route to Arthur’s Pass. Continue with a scenic drive to Franz Josef.
FRANZ JOSEF Free time this evening
Breakfast
DinnerDay 52 FRANZ JOSEF.
FRANZ JOSEF (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) Walking tour in Glacier Valley along the Waiho River bed with a Local Guide. A short climb rewards you with spectacular views of the glacier. Free time this afternoon and evening
BreakfastDay 53 FRANZ JOSEF–QUEENSTOWN.
FRANZ JOSEF Scenic drive along the coast of the Tasman Sea and across Haast Pass en route to Queenstown.
QUEENSTOWN Guided tour and [LF] tasting at a local winery. Free time this evening
BreakfastDay 54 QUEENSTOWN. EXCURSION TO MILFORD SOUND.
MILFORD SOUND Full-day sightseeing in Fiordland National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) includes a scenic cruise in Milford Sound with the chance to see marine wildlife, waterfalls, glaciers, and rainforests. Late evening return to Queenstown. Please note that the excursion to Milford Sound may happen on Day 13 depending on weather and road conditions today
BreakfastLunchDay 55 QUEENSTOWN.
QUEENSTOWN Free day followed by a special farewell dinner. (B,D)
ENHANCE YOUR FREE TIME in Queenstown with an independent bicycle trip along country roads, through farmlands, and amid some of New Zealand’s most gorgeous scenery. This and many more options throughout your tour are available with MyGlobus. Get local maps and tips for free time on your GlobusGO mobile app
Breakfast
DinnerDay 56 QUEENSTOWN.
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.