Cruise towards the Hole in the Rock, the sea arch at Motukokako/Piercy Island near the outer Bay of Islands. Watch the coastline change from sheltered bays to more exposed water as the boat approaches this natural landmark.

Waves have shaped the opening in the island’s rock, creating one of the area’s best-known marine sights. Passage through the arch, if offered, depends on conditions. The cruise is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Tour Wellington’s highlights for an introduction to New Zealand’s harbour-side capital. See the setting of the compact city, where neighbourhoods climb the hills around the waterfront.

Wellington has served as the country’s capital since 1865 and is known for its civic and cultural life. The sightseeing tour provides a broad orientation to its character without promising entry to particular buildings or attractions not specified in the itinerary.

Tour the Hobbiton Movie Set near Matamata to see the countryside setting created for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films. Walk among the Hobbit holes and familiar Shire scenery with a guide.

The set was built into rolling Waikato farmland and has been maintained as a visitor attraction, blending film craft with a real rural landscape. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour for film fans and curious visitors alike.

Tour Christchurch’s city highlights, viewing the innovative Cardboard Cathedral and stopping at the Botanic Gardens beside the Avon River. See how contemporary design sits alongside the city’s older buildings and established green spaces.

Designed by Shigeru Ban as a transitional cathedral after the earthquakes, the cathedral has become a symbol of renewal. In the gardens, landscaped paths and collections of plants from around the world offer a quieter perspective on the Garden City.

Tour Templeton Flax Mill with curator Nathan Templeton, grandson of its founder. Hear his presentation on the machinery and processes used to turn New Zealand flax into a commercially valuable fibre.

This living museum of Southland’s industrial heritage connects a family story with an industry that once supported the regional economy. Proceeds from the visit go directly towards maintaining the mill, helping keep its equipment and history accessible.

Cruise Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) through the steep-sided fiord at the heart of Fiordland National Park. Watch for waterfalls spilling from high cliffs and wildlife along the water’s edge as the boat moves beneath immense rock faces.

Carved by glaciers and shaped by heavy rainfall, this UNESCO World Heritage landscape changes character with the weather. The journey into Fiordland also reveals beech forest, clear rivers and alpine terrain; kea may be spotted in the surrounding mountains.

Meet a local farmer at Real Country for a hands-on introduction to southern rural life. Watch demonstrations of horse communication and working sheepdog mustering, and learn how people and animals work together on the land.

Personal encounters and practical demonstrations bring the rhythms of farming into focus. For each guest, the tour operator contributes to the Fairlight Foundation, which works to advance women in agriculture, linking the visit with the future of the industry.

Ride the TranzAlpine train from Christchurch towards Arthur’s Pass, crossing the Canterbury Plains and climbing into the Southern Alps. Settle in for views of braided rivers, mountain slopes and high-country terrain from the carriage windows.

The railway makes the changing geography of the South Island part of the experience. For the 18 March 2027 departure, the train is unavailable because of track maintenance; that departure travels by road through the Southern Alps instead.

View Punakaiki’s Pancake Rocks and blowholes from a scenic lookout on the West Coast. Study the layered limestone formations and, when conditions allow, watch sea spray surge through openings in the rock.

Weathering and erosion have given the rocks their stacked appearance, while the Tasman Sea continues to shape the coastline. The encounter pairs unusual geology with the sound and force of surf, making this a distinctly coastal stop rather than a conventional viewpoint.

Cruise across Cook Strait between New Zealand’s South and North Islands. Enjoy views from the ferry as the route passes through the inlets of the Marlborough Sounds and crosses open water towards Wellington.

The sheltered waterways, wooded hills and changing coastal outlook turn this inter-island crossing into a scenic experience in its own right. It also offers a striking sense of New Zealand’s geography, connecting two islands with notably different landscapes and communities.

Walk Napier’s Art Deco Quarter with a local guide from the Art Deco Trust. On an easy stroll through the city centre, examine facades that reveal the architectural fashions of the 1930s.

A devastating earthquake struck Napier in 1931, and the rapid rebuilding produced an unusually concentrated collection of Art Deco, Stripped Classical and Spanish Mission buildings. The guide brings that history to life, while participation helps support the preservation of Napier’s architectural heritage.

See Huka Falls near Lake Taupo, where the Waikato River is forced through a narrow channel before plunging into a churning pool. Listen for the rush of water and watch its striking blue-green colour from the viewing area.

The falls show the force of New Zealand’s longest river in a concentrated stretch of volcanic landscape. Their sound and movement offer a sharp contrast to the broad, calm surface of Lake Taupo nearby.

Join the interactive All Blacks Experience in Auckland to explore the history of New Zealand’s national rugby teams through displays and presentations. Encounter the energy of a haka performance at close range.

Rugby occupies a prominent place in New Zealand’s sporting culture, and the experience looks beyond match results to the identity and traditions associated with the black jersey. Interactive elements make it approachable whether you follow the game closely or are discovering it for the first time.

Tour the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands with a local specialist and enjoy a cultural performance. See the carved meeting house and ceremonial waka while learning why this place holds such importance in New Zealand.

Representatives of the British Crown and many Maori rangatira signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi here in 1840. The visit introduces its continuing significance and the perspectives that shape discussion of the country’s history today.

Share a farewell dinner and drinks in Auckland with your Travel Director and travel companions. Gather around the table to exchange stories from across New Zealand’s cities, coasts and mountain landscapes.

Unlike a routine hotel meal, this hosted occasion is a chance for the small group to reflect together on the places and people encountered throughout the tour. It provides a warm, sociable close to the shared journey.

Ride a jet boat on Queenstown’s Shotover River for a fast-paced encounter with the region’s river scenery. Feel the acceleration and sharp turns as the boat travels through the waterway.

Jet boating is closely associated with New Zealand, where the craft was developed to navigate shallow rivers. This choice is geared towards travellers seeking an active thrill rather than a leisurely cruise. It is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Cruise Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm, where a gourmet barbecue dinner is part of the outing. Take in the lake and mountain views from a vessel with a long association with Queenstown.

Launched in 1912, the steamship remains a distinctive sight on the water. The combination of heritage travel, a lakeside farm setting and dinner makes this an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Cruise and walk in Abel Tasman National Park, exploring a stretch of coastline known for golden beaches, clear water and sculpted granite headlands. Enjoy views from the water as well as time on foot in the coastal landscape.

New Zealand’s smallest national park is home to the Abel Tasman Coast Track, where forest meets sheltered bays. The paired activities offer two perspectives on its shoreline. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Unwind at Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa in Rotorua, choosing a restorative experience centred on the region’s geothermal waters. Enjoy a slower-paced contrast to the area’s sightseeing and outdoor activities.

Rotorua’s hot springs are part of a volcanic landscape that has long shaped the city’s character. Wai Ariki offers a contemporary wellness setting for experiencing that thermal connection. A visit is optional, at additional cost and bookable on tour; treatments and facilities depend on the option selected.

Take a scenic flight over the Rotorua region for a bird’s-eye view of its lakes and geothermal landscape. See how waterways, forest and areas of volcanic activity fit together from above.

Rotorua lies within the Taupo Volcanic Zone, a setting that gives the surrounding terrain its distinctive character. Flight routes and aircraft are not specified, so the exact views may vary. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Travel to Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua on an excursion from the Bay of Islands that also takes in Ninety Mile Beach. Experience the long, open coastline of the Far North and the headland near the northern end of the Aupouri Peninsula.

Te Rerenga Wairua holds deep significance in Maori tradition as a place associated with departing spirits. The combination of cultural meaning and exposed coastal scenery makes this an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers over welcome drinks in Christchurch. A tour briefing introduces the small group and offers a chance to ask questions about the journey ahead.

Christchurch provides a fitting starting point: its evolving city centre reflects both the resilience and creative energy that followed the 2010–11 earthquakes. The gathering is a relaxed way to begin getting to know the people who will share your travels.

Visit Barker’s Store in Geraldine to sample local produce in a Canterbury town known for its rural food traditions. Browse the store’s selection and taste flavours associated with the surrounding farming region.

Barker’s began as a family enterprise in nearby South Canterbury, making preserves from locally grown fruit. The visit offers a tangible introduction to the area’s orchards and producers, with the unhurried atmosphere of a small New Zealand country town.

Explore historic Clyde, a compact Central Otago town whose protected centre retains buildings from the nineteenth-century gold rush. Look along its characterful streets, where former commercial premises now house cafés and independent shops.

Gold discoveries drew prospectors to the region in the 1860s, leaving an architectural legacy that remains easy to see on foot. Clyde’s stone and brick facades offer a closer view of the people and enterprises that shaped inland Otago.

Take an exclusive guided tour of Bill Richardson Transport World in Invercargill. Explore a collection of more than 300 vehicles, from historic trucks to rare and familiar classics, while hearing the stories behind their preservation.

Bill Richardson began collecting old trucks in 1967, and the collection grew into a celebration of engineering and everyday working life. Guided insights give context to the machines and to Invercargill’s long-standing enthusiasm for transport and speed.

Walk through historic Arrowtown, a former gold-mining settlement near Queenstown. Wander its tree-lined streets and see the preserved cottages and shopfronts that give the village its distinctive nineteenth-century character.

Arrowtown grew during Otago’s gold rush and retains visible traces of that era alongside today’s boutiques and cafés. Its small scale makes it easy to appreciate the contrast between the historic streetscape and the rugged Central Otago landscape around it.

View the Church of the Good Shepherd on the shore of Lake Tekapo. Pause to appreciate the small stone church against the lake’s turquoise water and the mountains of the Mackenzie Basin.

Built in 1935 as a memorial to the region’s pioneers, the church was designed to sit quietly within its setting. Its lakeside position makes the visit as much about the open alpine landscape as the building itself; interior access is not specified.

Visit a traditional pounamu workshop in Rotorua to watch skilled artisans carving New Zealand greenstone. Learn how the material is worked and why particular forms and pieces carry meaning in Maori tradition.

Pounamu is valued for both its beauty and its cultural significance, including its connections to ancestry, identity and gift-giving. Seeing the craft in progress gives the finished carvings a human story and offers insight into skills passed between generations.

Visit vineyards around Queenstown on an optional wine experience. Discover wines produced in the surrounding Central Otago region while taking in its distinctive high-country setting.

Central Otago’s continental climate and varied sites are particularly associated with Pinot Noir. A vineyard outing offers a flavour-led way to understand the landscape beyond Queenstown’s adventure activities. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; individual wineries are not specified.

Tour vineyards in Hawke’s Bay from Napier for a closer look at one of New Zealand’s established wine regions. Explore the area’s wine culture and sample local styles as part of the optional outing.

The region’s varied soils and sunny climate support a broad range of grapes, including Chardonnay and red varieties. A wine tour adds a rural perspective to Napier’s architectural attractions. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour; the itinerary does not name specific wineries.

Travel with Gannet Safaris Overland to the Cape Kidnappers nesting colony near Napier. Observe the seabirds in their coastal habitat and take in views across the Hawke’s Bay coastline.

Gannets are large, striking seabirds known for their long wings and dramatic diving. A guided overland safari provides access to a nesting area that gives wildlife enthusiasts a focused alternative to a city or vineyard visit. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Sail aboard a historic tall ship through the Bay of Islands. Enjoy the coastal scenery from the deck of a traditional-style vessel as it glides among the islands and sheltered waters.

The ship’s rigging and sailing character offer a different feel from a modern sightseeing boat, pairing maritime atmosphere with views of Northland’s bays. The itinerary does not specify the vessel or route. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Tour Russell/Kororareka to learn about the early settlement of the Bay of Islands. Explore the town’s historic setting and hear how its harbour position drew Maori communities, traders and European arrivals.

Russell played a prominent role in the region’s nineteenth-century history, and its streets offer a different perspective on the stories introduced at Waitangi. Specific stops are not detailed in the itinerary. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Explore Te Puia’s geothermal valley in Rotorua, learning about Maori history and culture amid steaming ground and geothermal activity. The Te Po Indigenous Experience features a cultural performance in the carved meeting house Te Aronui a Rua.

View Pohutu Geyser and share a buffet dinner featuring hangi-inspired cuisine. Together, the landscape, performance and food offer different ways to connect with the living traditions of Te Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley.

Explore Whangarei’s Town Basin, a riverside precinct with galleries and museums. Browse the waterfront area and take in a regional city where creative spaces sit beside the water.

The basin offers a different perspective on Northland from its beaches and islands: one shaped by local makers, cultural venues and everyday harbour life. The itinerary allows time to explore the area but does not specify admission to any individual gallery or museum.

AAT Kings

• 20 Breakfast (B)
• 7 Dinner (D)
• 1 Lunch (L)

• Comfortable walking shoes Warm layers Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat Water bottle Camera

• Day 1 – Flights to arrive prior to 4.00pm into Christchurch AirportDay 21 – Flights to depart anytime from Auckland Airport Airport to Hotel transfers are available to purchase on request. Flights to and from your tour are not included in the tour price.

• Medium level of fitness required.