New Zealand Signature

Get a Lay of the Land

Meet your private guide at your city hotel to begin an exclusive walking tour into the heart of Auckland. Nicknamed the ”City of Sails” for its abundance of yacht marinas and its rich maritime history, Auckland is New Zealand’s largest and most bustling city, often confused for its capital. Along with your guide, you’ll not only discover the city’s history, sights, and sounds, but you’ll also experience a glimpse into daily Aucklander life. Discover Princes Wharf, once a commercial wharf on the city’s waterfront now re-developed into a dazzling hub of bars and eateries, looking out to Waitemata Harbour. Visit the NZ Maritime Museum and learn of the early arrivals to the country, from early Polynesians to the Europeans. Meander through the entertainment district of Viaduct Harbour, home to buzzing nightlife and gourmet experiences. Your guide will also lead you through Wynward Quarter, currently being prepared for the 36th America’s Cup taking place in 2021. Stroll by Auckland’s Fish Market and the luxury superyachts of Silo Park, immersing yourself in authentic Auckland. Your walking tour concludes with a return to your Auckland hotel.

After arriving in New Zealand from North America, guests often find that jet lag begins to set in by the afternoon. Today, recharge for days to come with a half-day at leisure. Should you be feeling energetic, Auckland is a vibrant city that is easily explored on foot.

Vintage Adventure

Travel with Fullers Ferry to Waiheke Island. It’s 92 square kilometers of sandy beaches, vineyards, native bush settings pristine coastline, olive groves, and laid-back seaside villages’ only 40 minutes cruise from downtown Auckland.

Nestled in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand, beautiful Waiheke Island offers a wealth of stunning beachfront and vineyards for you to discover. Embark on an exclusive journey through the island’s pristine white sands with your own private local guide, dedicated to showing you the best the island has to offer. Enjoy a private tour of Waiheke Island’s vineyards, sampling flavorful wines amid backdrops of lush vegetation and crystal blue waters. See for yourself how the sub-tropical Waiheke climate has allowed for a booming industry to be established on the island. Also known for its olive oil production, the island is home to an award-winning olive oil estate, the perfect place to sample delicious creations of this cooking essential. Break for lunch at a vineyard where the menu features a divine selection of food and wine, served with picturesque sea views to match. Enjoy a scenic drive around the island’s coastline, taking time to stop at breathtaking viewpoints for excellent photo opportunities. Visit the studio of a resident Waiheke Maori artist and enjoy a short native bush walk, where your guide will explain the traditional and medicinal Maori uses of native plants.

Take the ferry to travel from Waiheke Island to Auckland Downtown.

Hidden Gems

This morning you will meet your private driver-guide in the lobby of your hotel and begin your scenic journey from the city of Auckland to Rotorua. En-route the transfer will visit the Waitomo Caves that are famous for their glowworms. Lunch and entrance fees are not included. The transfer takes nine hours, depending on the type of touring in Waitomo.

Admire the shimmering spectacle of Footwhistle Cave, home to a stunning glowworm display within the largest cave found in Waitomo. Led by your knowledgeable private guide, you’ll enter this fascinating cave and learn of its rich history while viewing a magnificent display of the bio-luminescent insects, some mere inches away from you. Meander around the cave’s corner to discover the remains of one of New Zealand’s lost treasures – the ancient Moa, once the country’s largest bird that fell extinct almost 600 years ago. Experience the soothing sounds of the cave’s stream flowing below you in the darkness, as low lights cast a warm glow over stunning limestone formations of stalactites and stalagmites. After enjoying a relaxed stroll through the cave, you’ll take a seat in Footwhistle’s cathedral for a short but breathtaking show as the cave is illuminated by a dazzling magnesium torch. Just outwith of the cave’s entrance, a traditional Ponga hut offers a special tea tasting featuring kawakawa, a special herb to the Maori often used as a health tonic. A memorable experience for all, this glowworm cave adventure offers a relaxed atmosphere in which you can see how nature truly shines.

Cultural Immersion

Discover Rotorua’s most popular geothermal parks on this half-day private tour, accompanied by a local naturalist guide. Begin with a scenic drive through volcanic landscapes dotted with farmlands as well as native and exotic forests where you’ll discover an area rich in geothermal activity, featuring not just volcanoes, but also geysers, New Zealand’s largest boiling mud pool, and hot springs. On this adventure, you’ll visit two heritage parks that showcase a variety of geothermal activities; at Wai-o-Tapu, set your sights on amazingly colorful hot springs and a moon-like landscape, as well as the world-famous Lady Knox geyser. At Waimangu Volcanic Valley, follow your guide as the history of Mount Tarawera is detailed – focusing on the enormous 1886 eruption which formed or significantly altered several nearby lakes – while also learning about the region’s native flora and fauna. After spending the morning exploring these striking parks, you’ll be returned to your hotel in the early afternoon.

Enjoy a guided tour of the valley with one of Te Puia’s world-renowned guides. As part of the tour, you will visit New Zealand’s national carving and weaving schools and witness these disciplines in practice under the guidance of full-time master carvers and weavers. You will visit award-winning interactive galleries, see a kiwi bird up close, and most importantly, hear stories told by descendants of the valley. To conclude the first half of the tour you will visit the geyser and mud pools and then be invited to have a short rest prior to the beginning of the evening experience. Traditionally, Te Po is an intimate time for sharing knowledge while enjoying food, culture, and friendship. Taking place at Te-Heketanga-a-Rangi (The Heavenly Origins), which is an area comprising of twelve monumental carvings reaching skywards – each one representing a Maori deity – you’ll hear the stories of the past and see how these traditions live on today. Feeding guests is regarded by Maori as an honor and a sign of a tribe’s Mana (standing), and as a result, you can expect a lavish banquet meal during the evening. This meal combines contemporary cooking techniques with traditional Hangi (earth-cooked oven meal), where Kai (food) is steam-cooked by hot rocks in the earth, giving it a delicious smoky flavor. Following dessert, you will be transferred to the Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley to take in the spectacular lighting. Here, you can wander around the illuminated natural attractions, including the Pohutu geyser. A shared outing, this tour can accommodate up to 160 guests.

The Journey Continues…

A privately driven vehicle will provide a transfer between the airport and hotel today.

Board a flight in Rotorua with service to Christchurch. The approximate direct flight duration is one hour and 55 minutes.

This flight is not included in the price and must be purchased separately.

A private vehicle with a driver will provide a transfer between the airport and hotel.

See the Signature Sights in Style

Meet your private driver-guide at your hotel to embark on an exploration of the city’s bustling hub, followed by an epicurean treat in the wine region of Waipara. You’ll first stop at the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, also known as the Cardboard Cathedral due to its re-build out of cardboard post-earthquake. The cathedral, renovated by world-renowned architect Shigeru Ban, now serves as a symbol of the city’s resilience. Observe the city’s Arts Centre, home to one of the best examples of Neo-Gothic architecture, showcasing many craft shops and galleries. See Canterbury Museum, showcasing the early colonial history and antique artifacts, dedicated to preserving the country’s rich cultural heritage. A short drive north takes you into the Waipara wine region, known for its silky Pinot Noirs and crisp Sauvignon Blancs. Here you’ll visit up to a selection of three wonderful boutique wineries, a true treat for the palate. Indulge in a delicious lunch before transferring back to your hotel.

Like a Speeding Bullet

Journey across the rich agricultural belt of the Canterbury Plains to Springfield to take photos of the mountains rising above you while aboard the famed TranzAlpine train. The voyage through the gorge is spectacular and leads to the massifs of the Southern Alps and Arthur’s Pass. Having arrived at Arthur’s Pass village, join your guide on an adventure that best suits your interests. The first option is the set off to view the Waimakariri River and its unique braided river system. To do so, you’ll follow the old stagecoach route, viewing the spectacular Otira Gorge – a testament to the road builders of the 1860s and the route taken by the Maori in their quest for greenstone – along the way before arriving at the Cave Stream where a thread of water has carved a circular tunnel through an area of limestone cliffs, gorges, and craggy outcrops. The area was featured in the film adaptation of CS Lewis’s The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe, making it a site of particular interest for nature enthusiasts who also enjoy a good movie. Alternatively, set off with your guide to visit the incredible Castle Hill rocks, unique weather-worn rain outcrops of limestone widely regarded as sacred by the Maori. These incredible formations are simply mesmerizing, made all the more impressive by the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Following your privately guided adventure in Arthur’s Pass, you’ll return to Christchurch via Porter’s Pass and the Canterbury Plains. Please note: The weather is extreme and unpredictable. In order to ensure an enjoyable experience, please wear a wind- and water-proof jacket, sweater, breathable hiking gear, comfortable hiking shoes, and hat, as well as a day pack with room for water, snacks, camera, sunglasses, sunscreen, and lip balm.

En Route

A private vehicle with a driver will provide a transfer between the airport and hotel.

Board a flight in Christchurch with service to Queenstown. The approximate direct flight duration is one hour and 15 minutes.

This flight is not included in the price and must be purchased separately.

Meet your driver for a private transfer between Queenstown and the Domestic Airport.

This evening, consider dining at one of Queenstown’s many excellent establishments. For a fine dining experience, we recommend Botswana Butchery, Rata, or Eichardt’s Bar. For something quick and casual, Fergburger is a local favorite.

Chasing Waterfalls

Today you will explore Milford Sounds stunning fiord from the air and on the water. Upon landing in Milford, join an unforgettable cruise, past sheer cliffs, gushing waterfalls, and perhaps even spot dolphins, seals, and penguins. Enjoy an exhilarating flight past spectacular rivers, valleys, and mountains with blue-green icefall, and land upon Mount Tutoko glacier in the heart of Fiordland National Park. The trip takes approximately four hours and has a maximum group size of six guests. Please note: The Department Of Conservation recently reduced the number of concession landings on Ngapunatoru ice plateau (Mt Tutoko). Therefore, a glacier landing on Milford Sound flights can no longer be guaranteed. Alpine landings are offered in lieu.

Cross an item off the Bucket List

Meet your private driver-guide at your accommodation and set off for a memorable 3-hour sightseeing tour of stunning Queenstown. The panoramic views of Queenstown Hill are the first of several photo stops, allowing you to witness how the vista extends to Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables Mountain Range. The tour then follows a route along the Frankton Arm and into the Wakatipu Basin, passing beautiful Lake Hayes, and into the mouth of the Kawarau Gorge, one of many filming locations for ”The Lord of the Rings”. You’ll next experience a 20-minute behind-the-scenes look into how bungee jumping started, as Queenstown is famous for being the birthplace of the adrenaline-pumping sport. Discover which technology is used and how it allows access to restricted viewing areas to watch live bungee jumping action. You’ll next journey a short drive up the road to the Gibbston Valley Winery, where you’ll enjoy the opportunity to savor a selection of 4 wines. Continue on to the historic gold mining settlement of Arrowtown where you can wander around the shops and cafes in the main street. Your tour concludes with a private transfer back to your Queenstown accommodation, passing the world-famous Shotover Canyon.

This afternoon, enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace or relax at your hotel.

Bon Voyage

A private vehicle will provide a transfer between the airport and your hotel.