North To South

This morning you will be met at your hotel for the commencement of your excellent privately guided tour of Wellington. This tour is designed to give you a local’s perspective of this wonderful city with the opportunity to see the major sights while interacting with your local and experienced guide.

Our guides are handpicked for their passion and knowledge of Wellington and the surrounding area. Tours are designed to be interactive, so feel free to ask as many questions as you like! In this comprehensive full day city tour, you will be provided with a chance to gain an insight into the places and attractions that have made Wellington a delight for the discerning international visitor.

You will visit the Weta Cave to get up close with the award-winning creativity of Weta Workshop and to see what enables Wellington to be a unique part of the movie universe.

You will also get to tour behind the scenes. With a Weta Workshop crew member guiding the way you will witness the evolution of Weta’s artistry and get a fascinating glimpse of the props, costumes, models and weaponry crafted for The Lord of the Rings, District 9, Avatar, the Chronicles of Narnia and more.

Your tour includes a stop at the beautiful inner harbour beach, Oriental Bay, followed by the opportunity to surround yourself with the iconic views over Wellington City from the top of Mount Victoria.

You will adventure around the rugged coastline and picturesque bays of Miramar Peninsula stopping off at a great café for morning refreshments. You will then travel into the Bohemian Quarter of “The Coolest Little Capital in the world”, taking a stroll down the vibrant Cuba Street with its colourful array of Galleries, cafes, and street art.

You will stop for lunch at a lovely restaurant before riding the Historic Cable Car to the summit above Kelburn Park. The option is then yours to visit the Cable Car Museum, see the Space Place Planetarium, or meander down through the glorious Botanical Gardens and into the Lady Norwood Rose Gardens.

Your journey will next take you to the Parliament District of Wellington City, stopping to walk through the Parliament gardens to view the Parliament Buildings, then on to wander through the neo-gothic timber structure that is Old Saint Paul’s Cathedral; or peruse the National Library, home to many of New Zealand’s significant historical documents.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning you will be met for your private transfer to the Wellington Airport where you will board your flight to the top of the South Island’s stunning Nelson Tasman Region and the town of Nelson.

On arrival in Nelson, you will be met for your private transfer to your lovely Bed & Breakfast accommodation located in the city's 'dress circle' of splendid historic homes.

Included meals: Breakfast

One of the most unique, immersive day trips offered, Eat! Nelson Tasman Tour is about exclusivity, scenery and slowly peeling the lid off of this beautiful region to reveal the most delectable, quintessentially Nelson Tasman gastronomic pleasures.

Following collection from your accommodation, you will take a one and a half hour walk with your guide into one of Nelson City's celebrated native bush settings where your guide will help you identify the northern South Island's beautiful flora and fauna. Following success with 'summiting' The Grampians wilderness reserve, you will have earned the delights that await your discovery today.

Including a special late lunch during which you'll have the opportunity to sit, relax and enjoy the delights by many of the artisan producers you will meet today while relaxing in your spectacular dining location.

Your guide will delight in introducing you to their friends who stand at the helm of this spectacular region's culinary scene. Visits with an otherwise inaccessible olive grove where you'll meet the artisan's behind some of the most delectable olive oil in New Zealand, the fishing port, a local artisan smallgoods (salami & sausage) producer, your guide's favourite cheese specialists and some of the most awe-inspiring environments make this an unforgettable encounter with Nelson Tasman.

If you love getting under the skin of a destination, meeting the people who make the place tick and tasting the foods unique to the region; you'll love Eat! Nelson Tasman. A truly special, totally exclusive experience that allows you to celebrate your time together in our beautiful region in style.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, you will be collected from your accommodation for your small group scenic cruise in the northern South Island's celebrated Abel Tasman National Park. From the boat, you will have option of kayaking, swimming and bush walking some of Abel Tasman's beautiful Coastal Track along with a visit to the Tonga Island Marine Reserve. Gourmet lunch, snacks and refreshments are all included.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, you will depart from Queenstown by coach and journey to the edge of the Fiordland National Park and the small town of Manapouri (approx. 2 and ½ hours’ travelling time). Upon arrival, your getaway starts with a short (approx. 1 hour) cruise across Lake Manapouri. Then coach across Wilmot Pass on a sub-alpine road through dense rainforest to Deep Cove (approx. 45 minutes’ travelling time) where your crew and the Southern Secret await.

You will enjoy the peace and tranquillity of Doubtful Sound on a magical overnight cruise. For one night you are invited to journey into the wilderness and experience untouched New Zealand at its very finest. Marvel at steep mountain cliffs surrounding the deep waters of the Sound.

You will view incredible scenery, wildlife, mammals and waterfalls from the comfort of the Southern Secret.

Cruise the fiords of Doubtful Sound, sightseeing and exploring the history and splendour, pause at features for photographs and to observe wildlife such as dolphins, penguins and seals, cast a line for fishing, check the crayfish traps and savour the spectacular scenery and wildlife.

Activities onboard can include fishing, mammal watching and stargazing on clear evenings.

Experience the raw beauty of Doubtful Sound - nature in its most pristine form. See piercing mountain peaks, deep valleys, rivers that turn into waterfalls, and ancient glacier carved fiords.

In the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner, mingle with fellow travellers, and if the skies are clear, spend some time on the upper deck gazing at the stars.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, following breakfast, you will spend the rest of the morning exploring other parts of the fiord. You will then return to Deep Cove for the trip back to Manapouri. On arrival in Manapouri you will commence your return journey to Queenstown and your lovely accommodation.

En route, between Doubtful Sound and Queenstown, you will have time in the beautiful lakeside setting of Te Anau for your 2-hour, 15-minute visit to the Te Anau Glowworm Caves.

Your Te Anau Glowworm Cave adventure begins with a cruise across beautiful Lake Te Anau on board the catamaran Luminosa to the western side of the lake. On arrival there is time to view the interesting displays at Cavern House before your guide accompanies you underground. Learn how the caves are still being carved out by the incredible and relentless power of nature, before gliding through silent darkness to the glowworm grotto. The delicate incandescence of thousands of tiny glowworms is a magical sight. You can also experience a 15-minute guided walk into the forest behind the Cavern House to view native flora and fauna.

Included meals: Breakfast

Today your full day adventure combines total wilderness walking through ancient beech forest in the Mount Aspiring National Park, with the "Dart River Jet Safari" traveling to the start of your small group guided walk through one of the most scenic high mountain big river valleys to be found in New Zealand.

The Jet Boat drivers know their river intimately and their superb skills behind the wheel compliment frequent stops on this unique journey to explain the geology and lore of the ancient and unspoiled lands you traverse.

Two fascinating hours and 35km later your guide will meet you at a secret spot on the banks of the Dart River then lead you on a very gentle ascent under a canopy of native beech forest where birdsong supplies an unrivalled, natural soundtrack.

This is in an area where our touring partner is the only company allowed to walk through.

Following your amazing day in some of New Zealand’s most spectacular backcountry environs, you will be returned to your accommodation.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, you will be collected from your accommodation for the short transfer over to the Intercity Bus Depot for commencement of your wonderfully scenic journey from Queenstown, down through north and central Otago to the charming city of Dunedin. The route to the southeastern corner of the South Island affords exposure to some of southern New Zealand's quintessential heartland with landscapes ranging from idyllic farmland to ancient and dramatic alpine settings that clearly demonstrate exactly why this is celebrated as one of the most spectacular country's on earth.

Included meals: Breakfast

This morning you will be collected from your accommodation by your chauffeur/guide who will provide you with an fascinating commentary as you depart Dunedin City and drive over Highcliff Road (wonderful views of the Otago Harbour and Pacific Ocean). Delight in a fully guided personal tour of Larnach Castle which was built in 1872 for a local merchant banker, William Larnach.

Continue through Portobello township often viewing Black Swans, Herons & Oyster Catchers in the bays of the lower Harbour to the Otago Peninsula Headland called Taiaroa, home of the Royal Albatross Colony, your one hour fully guided tour will commence after lunch at the Albatross Visitor Centre Cafe (lunch at own cost). These huge sea birds have a wing span of over 3 metres and can have a life span of over 60 years.

A tour of the Yellow Eyed Penguin Colony at Penguin Place is also included, this is an amazing opportunity to photograph the world's rarest penguin.

Included meals: Breakfast

Today you will be met at your accommodation and privately transferred to the Dunedin Airport. From Dunedin, you will farewell this spectacular country and board your flight home via Auckland.

Included meals: Breakfast