• 17 Breakfast (B)
• 4 Dinner (D)
• 1 Lunch (L)

Join a guided tour of Bill Richardson Transport World, home to more than 300 meticulously restored vehicles. From vintage trucks to classic petrol pumps, the scale and storytelling bring New Zealand’s motoring history to life.

Hear tales of road-building ingenuity, see rare marques and retro design touches, and feel the nostalgia of an era when chrome, enamel and hand-painted livery ruled the highways. It’s a Southland institution with serious horsepower.

Cruise the fiord of Milford Sound / Piopiotahi beneath granite walls and ribboning waterfalls like Stirling Falls. Watch for basking fur seals, shearwaters and, if you’re lucky, dolphins riding the bow wave.

Glacial carving and relentless rain have created a dramatic world of sheer cliffs and jewel-toned rainforest. The misty mountain passes and mirror-black waters frame Mitre Peak’s iconic silhouette—an elemental South Island moment.

Meet a local farmer at Real Country and witness horse communication and a deft sheepdog muster. Step into day-to-day high-country life as skill, patience and partnership take centre stage in this hands-on rural encounter.

Gain insight into the traditions that shaped southern farming communities—working animals, open skies and practical know-how. The authenticity of the demonstrations grounds you in a proud, living heritage.

Wander tree-lined Buckingham Street in Arrowtown, a former gold-rush settlement of restored cottages and shopfronts. Explore the Chinese miners’ settlement by the river and soak in the small-town alpine atmosphere.

Learn how fortune-seekers from around the world built a community in the 1860s, leaving stories etched in timber, corrugated iron and schist. Cafés, galleries and leafy lanes make this a charming pause between mountains and river valleys.

Pause for photos at the Church of the Good Shepherd, a stone chapel perched on turquoise Lake Tekapo with the Southern Alps as a backdrop. The lake’s glacial hue and alpine light make every angle striking.

Built in 1935 to honour Mackenzie Basin pioneers, the chapel frames snow-capped peaks through its altar window. It’s a contemplative spot where still water, big skies and mountain grandeur meet.

Board the TranzAlpine for a classic rail odyssey over viaducts and through tunnels to Arthur’s Pass. Panoramic carriages reveal beech forests and ice-blue rivers carving the Waimakariri Gorge.

As peaks rise and valleys unfurl, commentary brings geology and pioneer stories to life. It’s New Zealand’s rail icon: a smooth, front-row seat to alpine drama and South Island scale.

Follow boardwalks to the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and blowholes, where wind and waves surge through limestone stacks layered like a stone mille-feuille. Coastal forest, surf and spray set an elemental scene.

Formed over millions of years, these Dolomite Point formations are most dramatic at high tide as the ocean booms through caverns. Interpretive panels decode the geology while lookout points invite lingering photos.

Cruise from Picton through the Queen Charlotte Sound and along the Tory Channel before crossing Cook Strait to Wellington. Forested headlands, coves and seabirds accompany a voyage through the Marlborough Sounds’ intricate waterways.

On deck, trace the wakes of inter-island travel that connect North and South. The shifting mood—from sheltered inlets to open strait—reveals a maritime landscape central to everyday Kiwi life.

Join a guided panoramic tour of the capital to see the Parliament Buildings and the Beehive, the waterfront and characterful Cuba Street. A sweep up to Mount Victoria Lookout frames harbour and hills.

Hear how creative energy, coffee culture and compact geography shape Wellington’s rhythm. Optional time at Te Papa can deepen context, from Aotearoa’s natural history to contemporary Maori art and design.

Walk with a Local Specialist from the Art Deco Trust to decode Napier’s Spanish Mission and Stripped Classical facades. Geometric sunbursts, zigzags and pastel hues reveal a city reborn after the 1931 earthquake.

Stories of resilience, architects and artisans animate Marine Parade and the compact downtown. The result is an open-air gallery where form, function and Hawke’s Bay light combine beautifully.

Discover the craft of Pounamu carving at a traditional workshop, learning how this treasured stone is shaped into pendants and taonga. Watch artisans cut, sand and polish designs that carry meaning and whakapapa.

Hear about Pounamu’s cultural significance to Maori, its origins in South Island rivers, and the values of guardianship and respect. The studio’s earthy scent and steady tooling rhythms set a reflective tone.

Dive into rugby’s heartbeat at the interactive All Blacks Experience. Multimedia exhibits chart legends, jerseys and test-match drama before a spine-tingling, live haka brings the mana of the national team close.

From grassroots to global stage, discover how teamwork, culture and innovation shaped New Zealand’s most famous side. It’s part museum, part theatre—crafted to spark pride and adrenaline in equal measure.

Explore Oban and the coves of Rakiura / Stewart Island on a guided Village & Bays tour. Visit scenic lookouts, hear local stories and scan sheltered waters for seabirds and coastal wildlife.

With 85% of the island protected as national park, leafy bush, quiet beaches and fishing wharves set a soulful tone. This is an Optional Experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Step inside Classic Motorcycle Mecca to see more than 300 bikes spanning a century of engineering, design and racing lore—Invercargill’s tribute to speed and style. Stories of innovators, including local hero Burt Munro, rev the imagination.

Round things out with a nostalgic stop at Toot Sweets for handcrafted treats and vintage jars. This is an Optional Experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Feel the rush on a high-octane jet boat ride through the Shotover River canyons. Skim past rock walls and spin through narrow chutes as your driver unleashes 360-degree turns in crystal-clear water.

Born in New Zealand, the jet boat is an alpine original—purpose-built for shallow braided rivers. This is an Optional Experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Sample cool-climate varietals in a landscape of schist terraces and mountain backdrops. Cellar doors pour Central Otago Pinot Noir, vibrant aromatics and elegant chardonnay while sharing vineyard stories and craft.

Gibbston and nearby subregions pair alpine air with meticulous winemaking for expressive, age-worthy wines. This is an Optional Experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Cruise Lake Wakatipu aboard the vintage TSS Earnslaw, a 1912 coal-fired steamship. Disembark at Walter Peak for gardens, station tales and a generous gourmet BBQ dinner overlooking the Remarkables.

Engine-room viewing, live piano singalongs and twilight mountain silhouettes complete the atmosphere. This is an Optional Experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Boat along sculpted granite headlands to golden bays, then step ashore to walk a section of the Abel Tasman Coast Track. Native bush, clear shallows and sunlit beaches set an easy-going rhythm.

This marine reserve is famed for turquoise water, playful seals and sheltered coves. Choose shorter or longer walks to match your pace. This is an Optional Experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Savour Hawke’s Bay classics at selected cellar doors: chardonnay and Bordeaux-style blends, with expressive syrah from the famed Gimblett Gravels terroir. Expect generous textures and coastal freshness.

Winemakers share regional history from early mission vines to today’s contemporary craft. This is an Optional Experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Travel by 4WD across rolling farmland and cliff-top tracks to the mainland colony of Australasian gannets at Cape Kidnappers. Watch sleek birds wheel on ocean thermals and settle on nest sites.

Dramatic sandstone bluffs and sweeping Pacific views add scale to the wildlife encounter. This is an Optional Experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Sink into mineral-rich pools at Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa on the Rotorua lakefront. Thermal warmth and contemporary design draw on Te Arawa healing traditions for deep relaxation.

From steam rooms to cold plunges, the circuit balances heat and stillness with gentle lake breezes. This is an Optional Experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Step into Middle-earth on a guided tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata. Meander past colourful hobbit holes, the Party Tree and gardens before relaxing at the Green Dragon Inn.

Filmmaking anecdotes reveal how rolling farmland became the Shire, from set dressing to perspective tricks. This is an Optional Experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Take to the skies by helicopter or floatplane for sweeping views of steaming valleys and crater lakes. Circle Mount Tarawera or trace the sinuous waterways of Waimangu from above.

From this vantage, geothermal colour palettes and fault lines become a living map of the volcanic heartland. This is an Optional Experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Taste Canterbury’s artisan bounty with a stop at the historic Barker’s Foodstore & Eatery in Geraldine. Sample small-batch preserves, chutneys and regional specialties paired with local cheeses for a flavour-led pause amid alpine foothill scenery.

Learn how seasonal fruit from South Canterbury inspires recipes cherished around New Zealand. The warm country-store atmosphere and shelves of craft condiments make this a delicious snapshot of rural food culture and hospitality.

Stroll the gold-rush streets of Central Otago’s Clyde, where schist-stone storefronts and miners’ cottages line a compact historic precinct. Pause to photograph weathered facades set against rugged hills and a crystalline sky.

Discover how the 1860s gold boom shaped the town’s layout and enduring character. Independent galleries, cafés and antique nooks inhabit former trading posts, creating a slow-paced encounter with frontier heritage and local life.

AAT Kings

Explore Christchurch’s reborn heart on a guided orientation taking in the innovative Cardboard Cathedral and the tranquil Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Glide past the Avon River and contemporary street art as the city’s post-quake creativity and English-garden charm come into view.

Hear how architect Shigeru Ban’s temporary cathedral became a symbol of resilience, and wander avenues shaded by mature trees and heritage glasshouses. This experience blends modern design with botanical serenity, offering a graceful snapshot of a city redefining itself.

Visit thundering Huka Falls, where the Waikato River funnels through a narrow chasm, exploding into turquoise foam. Viewpoints and walkways bring you close to the river’s immense power.

Interpretive panels explain how volcanic geology and hydro energy shape this landscape. The falls’ colour and roar offer a visceral North Island moment—pure, kinetic water against native bush.

Experience Te Po at Te Puia in Rotorua, beginning with a warm welcome and dynamic kapa haka inside the carved meeting house Te Aronui a Rua. Stroll the geothermal valley to witness the Pohutu Geyser erupting into the night air.

Stories, song and carving traditions deepen your understanding of Te Arawa culture before a generous buffet of hangi-inspired flavours rounds out the evening. It’s a sensory immersion in heat, rhythm and hospitality.