• 11 Breakfast (B)
• 3 Dinner (D)

• Christchurch: Southbound trips start in Auckland and end in Christchurch. Northbound trips start in Christchurch and finish in Auckland. They’re both the same itineraries, just in reverse.
• Sydney: A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.

• Kaikoura: On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, we’ll meet eco-warrior Sabrina Leucht, who has dedicated many years of her life to helping New Zealand’s injured native birds… and is now working to establish the region’s first wildlife hospital.
• Marlborough Sounds: Check out the sunken river valleys of Marlborough Sounds from an iconic Interislander Ferry. You’d wanna get your camera for this one!
• Kaikoura: We’ll take a spectacular drive along the Kaikoura Coast, and pay a visit to a nearby seal colony. Yup, it’s a coastal cuteness overload.
• Ohakune: Tucked just 250m from the Ohakune Mountain Road, Kings Ohakune is peak Kiwiana vibes. We’re talking roaring fireplaces, classic BBQs, hot tubs with epic Mount Ruapehu views and a cosy lodge that’s been welcoming adventurers since 1913. Think: motel-style charm, retro-cute decor, sports on the telly, pool tables, karaoke, darts and local legends repping the Warriors with pride.  
• Mount Ruapehu: It’s not a real carrot, just a statue. But standing at 7.5 metres tall, it still impresses. This famous spot in Ohakune represents all of the carrot farms (and there are plenty here) in town.
• Mount Ruapehu: Today we’ll check out Mt Ruapehu, an active stratovolcano elevated almost 2,800 metres into the air!
• Mount Ruapehu: See even more of the sights made famous by “The Lord of the Rings.”
• Huka Falls: Huka falls is a jaw-jutting display of natural hydro power. Here you’ll see 220,000 litres of water tumble over the waterfall… per second that is(!)
• Rotorua: Wait til you see ’em. Wait til you smell ’em. These geothermic mudpools are a thing to behold.
• Rotorua: On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, we’ll head to National Kiwi Hatchery near Rotorua to learn all about the locals’ efforts to protect New Zealand’s adorable national bird.
• Rotorua: A traditional Maori cultural performance, topped off with a traditional Maori feast… this ought to satisfy even the keenest of culture vultures.
• Auckland: Cameras at the ready folks, the views will be extraordinary here.
• Auckland: With sailboats at every angle, this is a beaut view indeed.
• Whangarei: See the work of the visionary Austrian painter, architect and ecological activist who made New Zealand his spiritual home.  
• Paihia: The Waitangi Treaty Grounds might just be NZ’s most important historical site, marking the place where the British Crown and the Maori people signed their first accords back in 1840.
• Paihia: A dinner of fish ‘n’ chips, enjoyed while overlooking the Bay of Islands in Paihia. Is this heaven? No sir, it’s just salt and vinegar.

Visit the National Kiwi Hatchery to see how rangers incubate eggs and raise vulnerable chicks before release. Peer into nursery windows for delicate bills, speckled shells, and careful husbandry in action.

Staff explain threats to New Zealand’s national bird—from predators to habitat loss—and the science behind recovery programs. Learn why kaitiakitanga (guardianship) runs deep here, and how every visitor can support the kiwi’s future.

Hit the dirt for mountain biking on the Te Mangawhero Trail, a scenic ride linking alpine boardwalks, beech forest, and river flats—with big views back to Ruapehu.

Bikes, helmets, and transfers are arranged, with route tips from local experts. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; reasonable fitness and off-road confidence recommended.

Ascend catwalks for a Harbour Bridge climb above the Waitemata Harbour, soaking in yacht-dotted marinas and the City of Sails skyline. Guides share engineering feats and harbour lore.

Adrenaline lovers can add a classic bungy jump from the bridge platform. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; all safety gear supplied.

Savour multi-sensory ice cream at Giapo, where inventive flavours meet sculptural finishes. Expect silky textures, local ingredients, and playful presentations that elevate dessert to edible art.

Team members explain flavour pairings and serving styles that reimagine gelato traditions. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Explore the volcanic plateau around Mount Ruapehu, an active stratovolcano within Tongariro National Park. Step out at alpine viewpoints to feel crisp air and see tawny tussock plains framed by serrated ridgelines.

These raw volcanic plateau landscapes double as cinematic Middle-earth, with views toward Ngauruhoe for film fans. As Aotearoa’s first national park and a UNESCO site, the area blends Maori significance with geology—an energising window onto Lord of the Rings landscapes.

Visit Huka Falls to watch the Waikato River funnel through a tight chasm before erupting in a thunderous cascade. Feel cool mist from footbridges as glassy turquoise water accelerates beneath you.

Some 220,000 litres surge past each second, a natural power display where geology and hydrology meet. Volcanic pumice beds lend the river its colour—perfect for quick photos and quiet awe amid the roar.

Explore Rotorua’s geothermal mud pools, where plopping clay and sulphur-scented steam drift across boardwalks. Stand near hissing vents and feel heat rising from the ground beneath your feet.

Set within the Taupo Volcanic Zone, these otherworldly terraces reveal a landscape shaped by pressure and time. Mineral colours stain the earth and the air hums—an evocative encounter with the region’s restless earth.

Join a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, New Zealand’s most significant historic site. Walk between the Treaty House, the carved Te Whare Runanga, and the flagstaff above the bay.

Included entry to the Museum of Waitangi deepens the story of the Treaty of Waitangi (1840) between Maori rangatira and the British Crown. Taonga (treasures) and interactive exhibits illuminate a nation’s founding in a serene coastal setting.

Taste fish ’n’ chips by the water in the Bay of Islands, paper-wrapped, crunchy, and sprinkled with salt and vinegar. Choose locally caught fish and enjoy sea breezes as harbour lights begin to glow.

This Kiwiana ritual is simple, social, and satisfying—best savoured where it belongs, right beside the sea. A relaxed evening that pairs comfort food with postcard views and easy conversation.

Explore ZEALANDIA ecosanctuary—Te Mara a Tane—a vast predator-fenced sanctuary minutes from the city. Wander forest tracks as tui, kaka, and rare takahe return to a restored soundscape.

Discover how fencing excludes stoats, rats, and possums so birds and tuatara can thrive in this near-urban refuge. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Unwind with a soak in mineral hot pools in Rotorua, where steam drifts across lakeside terraces and native plantings. Choose pools at different temperatures to ease travel-tired muscles.

Fed by geothermal springs rich in silica and sulphur, these baths are central to Rotorua’s wellness culture. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Join a dawn canopy tour, sipping coffee on platforms high in ancient forest as birds awaken at first light. Cross swing bridges and listen to the canopy chorus gather.

Then launch onto long ziplines for a thrilling aerial glide while guides share conservation stories. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Circle the tower on the Sky Tower SkyWalk for 360-degree views of the Tamaki Makaurau skyline—no handrails, just cables and confidence. Lean out over the city for an extra thrill.

Prefer descent to views? Choose the SkyJump, a controlled drop of around 192 metres to street level. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Drift skyward on a parasailing adventure over the Bay of Islands, launching softly from a boat’s stern. From your harness, trace emerald islets, sand-fringed coves, and the sweep of the bay.

Solo, tandem, or triple options keep things social or serene. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; take-off and landing are done on the boat for easy participation.

Set sail on catamaran sailing across an island-dotted seascape. Lounge on bow nets as the skipper trims sails for a smooth glide, with time to swim in clear water at sheltered bays.

Watch for dolphins and gannets while you hear short tales of maritime history and marine ecology. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Cruise the Interislander Ferry across Cook Strait into the tranquil Marlborough Sounds. Claim a spot on deck as forested hills and sinuous, sunken valleys slip past in shifting light and sea breeze.

This iconic crossing links the South and North Islands, with chances to spot dolphins and seabirds riding the wind. Photographers love the silvered water and misty headlands—an elemental New Zealand passage framed by big skies and brilliant blues.

Join a guided orientation tour of compact, creative Wellington to see the Parliament Buildings and the Beehive, Cuba Street’s cafes, and the breezy, wind-sculpted waterfront.

Hear how the city became capital in 1865 and about New Zealand’s progressive history, including women’s suffrage in 1893. Tips for independent exploring—like visiting Te Papa Tongarewa or harbourside bars—help you tune into the capital’s cultural pulse.

Contiki

Visit a wild seal colony on the rugged Kaikoura Peninsula, where New Zealand fur seals bask on wave-splashed rocks. Stroll the headland, breathe the briny air, and watch kelp sway in the surge as snow-capped ranges rise inland from the coast.

This natural encounter showcases marine life nourished by the nearby Kaikoura Canyon. Guides encourage respectful distances so you can safely observe and photograph the colony—a coastal moment to pause for photos and reflection amid the sound of surf and seabirds.

Meet a local wildlife biologist at Kaikoura Wildlife Rescue for an insightful MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience. Hear how injured seabirds and forest species are treated today—and how a dedicated wildlife hospital will transform regional care.

Learn about threats from fishing line to road hazards and how travellers can help protect New Zealand’s native birds. From ruru (morepork) to korora (little blue penguin), this conversation-led visit connects conservation science with everyday action you can carry home.

Enjoy a sunset cruise on Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake and a vast volcanic caldera. Relax on deck as the sky warms to amber and your crew shares lakeside lore and landmarks.

Cast a line and try your hand at trout fishing while mingling with your Contiki crew, then savour casual bites on board as harbour lights appear—a relaxed golden-hour mood set to water, sky, and easy conversation.

Experience a Maori cultural performance and hangi dinner, welcomed as manuhiri (guests) into a meeting space. Hear rich harmonies, the precision of haka and poi, and learn greetings and protocol from your hosts.

Earth-oven cooking imparts smoky depth to meats and root vegetables, turning dinner into cultural storytelling. Tales of whakapapa (ancestry) and connection to land make this feast as meaningful as it is hearty.

Visit the Hundertwasser Art Centre at the Whangarei Town Basin to admire undulating lines, shimmering tiles, and a living roof from the waterfront. The playful facade contrasts beautifully with sleek yachts in the marina.

The centre honours the artist-architect’s belief in organic, human-centred design and environmental stewardship. It’s a photogenic cultural interlude that pairs harbour views with bold, nature-forward architecture.

Set out on a dolphin watching cruise along the Kaikoura Coast to find playful dusky dolphins leaping in cobalt waters as mountains rise from the sea. From the bow, watch sleek pods slice past in glittering light.

Confident swimmers can swim with dusky dolphins for a respectful, in-water encounter. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; all equipment and safety briefings are provided, with superb wildlife viewing for non-swimmers aboard.

Glide by sea kayaking around the Kaikoura Peninsula, threading past kelp forests and wave-carved limestone shelves at eye level with the ocean. Seals, seabirds, and distant whale blows may accompany your paddle.

Guides share coastal ecology and technique while ensuring a relaxed pace in stable sit-on-tops. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; all gear provided and suitable for beginners.

Take the leap on a tandem skydive above Lake Taupo for vast views of the volcanic plateau. After the door opens, freefall roars into your ears before the canopy blooms and calm returns.

Typical exit heights range from 12,000–15,000 feet, with photo and video packages available. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; your instructor handles the details while you savour the panorama.