Kia ora! Welcome to North Island!  After landing in Auckland, you’ll be picked up from the airport and brought to your hotel where you have the day to explore the city.  Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner to meet your co-adventurers.

Today begins with a drive to Rotorua, a modern Māori village and the geothermal capital of New Zealand.  Visit Ngati Manawa's tribal lands with the local lwi (tribe), touring ancient Māori rock carvings. Later share a traditional Hāngi dinner and experience a Haka demonstration followed by a lesson in Māori weaponry.

Bid your new whanau (family) farewell and head into the Waimangu Volcanic Valley to take in spectacular volcanic craters, enormous hot water springs, and rare and unusual plant life.  Sit back on a boat cruise across Lake Rotomahana off Mount Tarawera (dormant since a major 1886 eruption that altered the lake forever).  Next head to Taupo, the biggest lake in New Zealand and home of the thunderous Huka Falls.  Finish the day at a secluded lodge in Taihape (gumboot capital of the world) and settle in for a farm-to-table dinner using produce from the regenerative lodge gardens.

Start your day with an e-bike cycle through the Laughing Moa trail which cuts through quiet rural backroads with stunning views.  Enjoy a picnic lunch out on the trail, and take the rest of the afternoon to relax beside the river. Opt for a river rafting experience, or explore one of the many walking trails connected to the lodge.

Continue the journey South to Kapiti Island, home to over 1,200 Little Spotted Kiwi.  Enjoy a home-cooked meal washed down with some local wine before heading out on an after-dark Kiwi spotting walk.  Tonight as you bunk down in a cozy cabin, you’ll fall asleep to the various bird calls of Kiwi, Weka, Kaka, and Ruru.

Head back to the mainland and into the capital city, Wellington where you’ll board a flight to Christchurch pictured for its beautiful parks, efficient cycling paths, and flat-bottomed punts coasting along the Avon River.  Explore the city with your guide before settling down for a group dinner.

Catch one of the most scenic train rides in the world through the heart of New Zealand to Greymouth.  Drive south along the wild West Coast to Lake Moeraki, known for its mysteriously spherical beach boulders and top-notch seafood.  Tonight you’ll dine at your lodge before settling in for the night.

Take the day to explore and adventure from your wilderness lodge, surrounded by lakes, rivers rainforests, and a seacoast in the heart of Te Waipounamu (South Island).  This is a nature lover’s paradise and you’ll have a variety of sea-based activities to choose from based on how active you’re feeling.

Depart from the West Coast and head inland.  On the way, you’ll meet with the Aspiring Biodiversity Trust, dedicated to protecting and enhancing indigenous biodiversity in their region while raising awareness of the importance of the natural world and connecting people with nature.  You’ll get a chance to connect yourself with a guided walk of the Blue Pools, learn about the native bush and wildlife, and enjoy a picnic lunch with a view.  Afterward, we’ll head to stunning Lake Wanaka where you’ll have a free afternoon to explore the lakeside town we’ll be staying in.  If you like, you can even add on a scenic helicopter flight* for a full view of Wanaka.

This morning head out to a local Sheep station to get a first-hand view into the life of a New Zealand farmer, including a delicious, locally sourced lunch.  Afterward, head to Te Anau at the edge of Lake Te Anau famous for the glowing worm caves.  Take a boat ride across to take in the mountain views and explore the caves that are home to thousands of bioluminescent bugs.

Get out early today to discover the pristine wilderness of the Doubtful Sound, nestled deep in the heart of Fiordland National Park.  We’ll journey over sea and land across Lake Manapouri, through the scenic Wilmot Pass, and finish with some wildlife spotting from the deck of your cruise. Head back to Queenstown where we’ll enjoy our final farewell dinner.

Your New Zealand adventure ends today.  Catch your transfer back to the airport, or, if you plan to continue your travels to this incredible country, check out the Atlas Obscura Guide to New Zealand.