Cruise the island-studded waters of Northland as you cruise the Bay of Islands in search of playful marine life and secluded coves. Glide past golden beaches and forested headlands, with frequent sightings of seabirds and—conditions permitting—wild dolphins riding the bow wave.

Trace the dramatic coastline to Cape Brett and the famous ‘Hole in the Rock’, through which the skipper may carefully navigate when seas are calm. Hear stories of Maori voyaging, whaling stations and early European traders that shaped this serene maritime landscape.

Explore Aotearoa’s founding place on a guided visit to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Walk the lawns by the Treaty House and flagstaff, admire intricate carving and gather perspective on the momentous Treaty of 1840 that set the relationship between Maori rangatira (chiefs) and the Crown.

View ceremonial structures and traditional waka, and hear how diplomacy, culture and coastline converge at this headland above the estuary. The setting invites time to reflect and pause for photos and reflection across the waters of the Bay of Islands.

Survey the ‘City of Sails’ on a curated drive taking in waterfront bays, the chic streets of Parnell and sweeping views from Bastion Point. This orientation reveals volcanic cones, yacht-filled marinas and the harbour life that defines modern Tamaki Makaurau.

Continue to Auckland War Memorial Museum to encounter treasured Maori taonga, monumental carvings and a great ocean-going waka. Exhibits trace Pacific migrations and the stories that shaped New Zealand, set within an elegant neoclassical landmark in the Domain.

Venture beneath limestone hills to the storied Waitomo Caves, where soaring chambers are trimmed with fantastical stalactites and flowstone. Learn how water and time sculpted this subterranean labyrinth deep in the Waikato.

Drift by boat in near-silence into the glowworm grotto, gazing up at a starry canopy created by bioluminescent larvae. The hushed atmosphere, mirrored waters and living constellations set an otherworldly scene that rewards a slow, attentive gaze.

Step into cinema lore on a guided walk through the Hobbiton Movie Set, the bucolic heart of The Shire. Wander past round-doored Hobbit holes, the Mill and Party Tree while hearing how a Matamata sheep farm became Middle-earth for Peter Jackson’s films.

Conclude at the Green Dragon Inn with a complimentary drink as your guide shares filming secrets and set-building craft. Gentle hills, gardens and lake views complete this playful immersion in storytelling and scenery.

Explore the world’s Art Deco capital with a specialist guide through streets reborn after the 1931 earthquake. See streamlined facades, ziggurats and sunburst motifs, where pastel colours and native patterns meet ocean light.

Hear how architects and town planners embraced modernity, weaving seismic strength into beauty. From the Marine Parade to elegant commercial blocks, Napier’s cohesive style and seaside setting make this walking tour a design lover’s delight.

Take the pulse of the capital on a curated drive through its bays, hillside neighbourhoods and creative quarters. Glide along the lively waterfront before ascending to the Mount Victoria Lookout for expansive views of harbour and hills framed by Tasman breezes.

Gain a sense of Wellington’s culture and government district, with time to appreciate its coffee scene, galleries and venues. The panorama provides context for a compact city where wind, arts and politics meet.

Board the Interislander ferry for a scenic sailing across the Cook Strait, watching the North and South Islands fall away and approach in turn. Sea birds wheel overhead as cliffs and headlands open to sheltered coves.

Glide into the Queen Charlotte Sound among forested ridgelines and drowned valleys, a tranquil counterpoint to the strait’s open waters. This is more than a transfer—it’s a coastal voyage through classic New Zealand seascapes.

Visit a renowned cellar door in New Zealand’s flagship wine region to sample regional wines, with a focus on vibrant Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Learn how maritime breezes, long sunshine hours and stony soils shape the flavour profile in your glass.

Chat with the tasting team about viticulture, terroir and food pairings while comparing aromatic whites and elegant reds. The relaxed setting, framed by vine rows and hills, makes this a delicious pause in wine country.

Skim along a turquoise coastline on a catamaran cruise through Abel Tasman National Park, passing golden bays and granite headlands. See the photogenic Split Apple Rock and a fur seal colony while learning about conservation and local history.

Land at Anchorage for an optional Pitt Head loop walk through scented manuka and fern to sweeping lookout points. Clear waters, sculpted boulders and a relaxed pace define this classic Top of the South day. A packed lunch is included.

Explore the South Island’s largest city on a guided orientation that highlights creative rebuilds, laneway cafes and striking street art. Learn how innovation and resilience shape the present-day urban fabric following the 2011 earthquakes.

Stroll the Christchurch Botanic Gardens beside the willow-lined Avon River to admire heritage trees, seasonal blooms and Victorian glasshouses. The juxtaposition of English-influenced gardens and modern architecture tells the city’s evolving story.

Cross the island in panoramic comfort aboard the TranzAlpine train, watching the patchwork of the Canterbury Plains rise to gorge country and high tussock plateaus. Picture windows frame braided channels and blue-grey shingle fans.

Admire the Waimakariri River and soaring viaducts en route to Arthur’s Pass, a masterpiece of alpine rail engineering. Commentary and open-air viewing cars enhance the spectacle, with countless chances to pause for photos and reflection.

Lift off for a 20-minute scenic helicopter flight over the dramatic icefall and seracs of Franz Josef Glacier, tracing its path from the high neve to rainforest-clad valleys. Crevassed ice and blue caves reveal an ever-shifting frozen world.

Touch down for an unforgettable alpine landing to feel the crisp air and vast silence of the Southern Alps. This included flight is weather dependent; alternative flying opportunities are typically offered in Queenstown or the Aoraki/Mount Cook region.

Enter a realm of sheer rock faces and plunging cascades as you cruise Milford Sound beneath vertiginous cliffs. Gaze up at Mitre Peak and feel the spray from the thundering Stirling Falls as the vessel noses close to the flow.

Watch for dolphins, New Zealand fur seals and seasonal penguins set against glacially carved walls. Gliding these deep, inky waters reveals why Fiordland is a UNESCO World Heritage treasure. A packed lunch is provided.

Wander the tree-lined main street of Arrowtown’s historic gold-rush settlement, where preserved shopfronts and galleries evoke the frontier 1860s. Step by rustic miners’ cottages and explore leafy lanes shaped by the Arrow River.

Hear tales of prospectors and Chinese miners who forged communities in this alpine valley. Today’s boutiques and cafes sit within carefully conserved buildings, creating a leisurely encounter with Otago’s colourful past.

Absorb sweeping vistas of Aoraki/Mount Cook rising above the turquoise, glacier-fed waters of Lake Pukaki. Weather permitting, the Southern Alps appear startlingly close, their snowfields and serrated ridgelines mirrored in the lake.

Travel through the Mackenzie Basin’s high country and, time allowing, appreciate the stone-built Church of the Good Shepherd on nearby Lake Tekapo. Stark light, big skies and alpine air define this classic South Island panorama.

Delve into the culture behind New Zealand’s famed teams in black at the interactive All Blacks Experience. Stand amid a multisensory haka, explore stories of legacy and unity, and try your hand at interactive skills challenges on a virtual training field.

Exhibits reveal how Maori traditions, teamwork and discipline shape national identity through sport. This optional activity is at additional cost and bookable on tour, subject to availability.

Sail Lake Wakatipu aboard the century-old TSS Earnslaw, a coal-fired steamship with open viewing of its gleaming engine room. Enjoy alpine vistas en route to Walter Peak High Country Farm, where lakeside gardens frame mountain backdrops.

Feast on a wood-fired barbecue lunch at the Colonel’s Homestead and watch a traditional farm demonstration before the scenic return cruise. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Explore Singapore’s futuristic horticultural wonderland at Gardens by the Bay, where the towering Supertree Grove rises above lakes and themed gardens. Stroll the waterfront paths and, time permitting, visit the immersive Cloud Forest and Flower Dome conservatories.

As daylight fades, the skyline glows across Marina Bay and the Supertrees awaken in colour and sound. This optional activity is at additional cost and can be arranged locally with your Tour Manager.

Discover the Garden City on a morning of urban contrasts as you join a guided panoramic tour past the Padang, Esplanade and waterfront theatres, pausing by the iconic Merlion before weaving through vibrant Chinatown and Little India. The route reveals how colonial boulevards and soaring skylines sit alongside temples, shophouses and hawker culture.

Continue with a guided exploration of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the city’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn about the Gardens’ distinct zones—Tanglin, Central, Bukit Timah and Tyersall-Gallop—while strolling lakesides and rainforest paths that showcase a living gallery of equatorial botany.

Experience Rotorua’s geothermal heart at Te Puia, where the Pohutu Geyser erupts amid silica terraces, mud pools and steaming vents in the Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley. A local guide introduces traditional carving and weaving, connecting artistry with place.

As evening falls, share a buffet featuring hangi-cooked dishes and witness a powerful cultural performance of waiata, poi and haka inside a carved meeting house. The combination of landscape, kai (food) and korero (stories) offers a resonant window into Maori life.

Feel the raw power of the Huka Falls as the Waikato River funnels through a narrow volcanic gorge to create a thundering torrent of azure water. Boardwalks and lookouts bring you close to the roar and spray.

Learn how geothermal waters and hydro activity shape the Taupo region while photographing the striking blue hues against bush-covered banks. The spectacle is short, intense and memorable—nature’s force on full display.