Luxury New Zealand 15 Day - North & South Islands From $12,599 per person
Designed to amaze you with a wide variety of contrasting scenery, luxurious accommodations and the option to delve into the unique culture and history of the country, Luxury New Zealand will pamper you with the very best New Zealand has to offer!
Experience world-renowned Huka Lodge, immersion into the culinary, natural and artistic history of cosmopolitan Wellington, the tranquility of an elegant countryside home, stunning Abel Tasman National Park, a luxury treehouse accommodation on the Kaikoura coast, the garden city of Christchurch, a bird's-eye-view of Milford Sound, and touring vineyards in the southernmost wine region of the world!
Day 1: Depart Los Angeles or San Francisco in 'Pacific Premium Economy Class' on Air New Zealand
Day 2: Cross the international dateline
Day 3: Arrival in Auckland. You will be met upon your early arrival in Auckland and transferred to your accommodation. Your room will be ready upon arrival.
Day 4: Auckland to Taupo / Huka Lodge This morning your rental car will be delivered to your hotel. Huka Lodge, located in Taupo and 300m upstream from the famous Huka Falls. The property started as a fishing lodge on the banks of the Waikato River, attracting anglers from around the world. The now luxurious lodge lures sophisticated travelers from around the globe seeking one of the world's top retreats. Set within 7 hectares of parklike grounds, Huka Lodge has 20 guest suites, each privately set in the native bush. Meals are table d'hote and feature the freshest NZ produce and ingredients available. This award-winning property is a Member of "Small Luxury Hotels of the World".
Day 5: Taupo / Rotorua A wide range of activities are available during your stay at Huka Lodge. Activities within the grounds include tennis, pentangue and croquet, swimming and spa pools, mountain bikes and spa treatments. Alternatively, Huka Lodge has a menu of fabulous experiences they can arrange which include: fly fishing, boat fishing, horse riding, golf, scenic heli flights, 4WD farm tours, jetboating, parasailing, bungy jumping, 4 Wheel Motorbikes, whitewater rafting, kayaking, sky-diving, guided walks, limousine and wine tours. Rotorua is a one hour drive from Taupo.
Day 6: Huka Lodge - Wellington / Bolton Hotel Your rental car will be delivered to Huka Lodge. Today you will drive to your stylish new home in Wellington, the Bolton Hotel, located in the hub of Wellington’s central business district, next to an historic park and within walking distance of many attractions. Guest rooms are furnished in contemporary style with serene views of the adjacent park or downtown Wellington.
Several recent award-winning restaurants make good options for dinner in Wellington, including Martin Bosley's in the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, Pravda Cafe - a Wellington institution along with Logan Brown, Shed 5, The Boulcott Street Bistro and Floriditas are also favorites.
Day 7: Wellington - Walking Gourmet and Hidden Treasures OR Wild Wellington Tour OR Capital Arts Tour
Walking Gourmet and Hidden Treasures Spend the morning discovering the culinary side of Wellington through coffee, food and wine. Wellington’s so compact, it’s ideal for this walking tour of the vibrant food scene that the city has to offer. Experience coffee roasting, explore top specialty food stores, sampling as you go, and culminate the experience by enjoying a light, three course tasting lunch with wines at a top Wellington restaurant.
An afternoon tour of Hidden Treasures will take you off the beaten track for an intimate insight into a renowned family of Māori artists who have built a thriving community around their art. They’ll open their art studio and home to you and share how they’re taking their creative legacy into the future. Then you'll uncover a fascinating slice of New Zealand’s European history – a boutique mill that uses looms from the 1890s to weave exclusive wool products for high-end fashion houses and blockbuster films like The Lord of the Rings. Top off the tour by visiting The New Dowse art museum, where ancient treasures sit alongside cutting-edge art.
Wild Wellington Tour Discover Wellington's extraordinary natural features and contrasts. You'll stroll along Wellington’s beautiful waterfront, hearing Māori legends of the sea monsters, or Taniwha, who once inhabited the harbour's mysterious depths, and of the legendary warrior who landed his canoe on the Wellington shore. Next, a four-wheel drive journey takes you to the Seal Coast, to visit a colony of fur seals living on the spectacular rocky coast where you'll enjoy a delicious outdoor picnic with spectacular views. This guided tour through the New Zealand bush will expose you to endangered birds including the kaka, kiwi, saddleback and bellbird.
Capital Arts Tour Experience Wellington’s vibrant, eclectic art and architecture by spending a day immersed in the creative worlds of art and architecture. On the full-day Capital Arts tour, take a stroll through public gardens and along the waterfront, while enjoying lunch and Wellington’s café culture. The route is packed with poetry, sculpture, artwork and people, all set against one of the world’s most spectacular harbours. Also take a guided tour through Stansborough Fibres, see how the fabric sought after by movie producers for the Chronicles of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings is created on 19th century looms.
Day 8: Ferry Wellington - Picton / Edenhouse Ferry across from Wellington to Picton, where you'll transfer to Edenhouse, a gracious home tucked away on 48 acres of picturesque countryside. This intimate property accepts just six guests at a time, and focuses on understated luxury. Spacious rooms offer beautiful views of the surrounding valley and mountains. The owners are Peter and Bobbie Martin, an Australian and a Kiwi respectively. Bobbie designed Edenhouse and its extensive gardens when the couple returned to New Zealand after 18 years in London. In addition to relaxing, guests can enjoy walking or kayaking in nearby Abel Tasman National Park, award-winning vineyards, art galleries, and lovely beaches - all within 30 minutes.
Day 9: Private Sailing Charter or Walk/Kayak Abel Tasman Private Sailing Charter One of the most peaceful, relaxing ways to see the Abel Tasman is aboard a catamaran under sail. Today, your skipper will meet you for a leisurely three hour sail to explore the secluded bays, coves and beaches of the Abel Tasman. Get involved in the sailing or sit back and relax. Enjoy beach stops, short walks and optional swimming.
Walk / Kayak Abel Tasman For those looking for a more active day, your private guide will tailor the day to include your desired level of walking and/or kayaking to ensure you experience the best of the Abel Tasman National Park and coastal track. Along the way, your guide will provide informative commentary along with a picnic lunch and options for swimming and relaxing at sandy beaches and bays.
Day: 10 Motueka - Kaikoura / Hapuku Lodge Drive from Motueka to Kaikoura. You may like to stop for lunch along the way at one of the many Marlborough Vineyards in Blenheim. Hapuku Lodge is surrounded by an expansive deer farm and an olive tree grove near Kaikoura in one of the most spectacular settings that the South Island has to offer. Five luxury Tree Houses offer an elegant, yet unique accommodation that you won’t soon forget. The Tree Houses are nestled 30 feet above the ground in the canopy of a native Manuka grove, with a spectacular view of Kaikoura’s dramatic mountains and the surf-washed Pacific coastline. The on-site restaurant focuses on locally and organically grown ingredients in a contemporary dining room.
Day 11: Whale Watch or Māori Tour
Whale Watch Come face to face with these magnificent creatures in their own environment aboard either airplane or boat designed specifically for this purpose. Giant Sperm Whales grow to 20 meters long and are present in these waters year round. Other species include migratory Humpback whales, Orca (killer whales), tiny Hector dolphins, the high-spirited Dusky Dolphins and fur seals. Whale Watching is subject to weather conditions.
Māori Tour Enrich your soul as we take you on a journey through Māori history to discover cultural similarities. You'll visit ancient sites of pre-European days and explore one of Kaikoura's bush walkways to learn some indigenous uses of trees and plants as food and medicine. Bask in the warmth of Kaikoura Māori hospitality, with its own distinctive flavor, and stories that will leave you smiling, amazed and inspired. You'll leave with memories to treasure for a lifetime and to share with your own family and friends.
Day 12: Kaikoura - Christchurch / Huntley House Travel from Kaikoura to Christchurch, where you'll settle into your next home for two nights. Huntley House is a Victorian-era colonial home circa 1876 which has been lovingly restored to keep intact its historical past and now a small luxury hotel with rural old-world charm. Fifteen spacious guest rooms are appointed with fine linens, overstuffed couches and home theatre systems, combining the comforts of a private home with the amenities of a boutique hotel. The estate also offers a gracious dining room overlooking the gardens, trees and a lovely, heated in-ground pool. Arrive in time to settle and then enjoy complimentary evening aperitifs.
Day 13: Classic Car Rental Excursion / Christchurch Sightseeing Treat
yourself to the luxury of driving an authentic classic car such as
Bentley, Rolls Royce or Aston Martin. With the South Island of New
Zealand offering some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world,
you can hire a classic car for the day and enjoy an amazing experience
you'll never forget. Choose to drive one of these luxury cars for the
day, or hire a driver so you can enjoy the ultimate in relaxation and
pampering. A day trip to Akaroa, an historic French and British
seaside settlement nestled in the heart of an ancient volcano is
recommended. Suggested sightseeing experiences in Christchurch
Day 14: Christchurch - Arrowtown / Millbrook Travel
from Christchurch to Arrowtown. Surrounded by spectacular mountain
peaks, Millbrook revels in 200 hectares of glorious space in a sunny
valley near the outskirts of Queenstown near the picturesque
gold-mining settlement of Arrowtown. Millbrook is close enough to the
Queenstown buzz, yet far enough away to enjoy the tranquility and
splendor of alpine scenery. Fall foliage is absolutely stunning on the
grounds of Millbrook in April. No matter the time of year, you’ll have
an opportunity to relax, unwind, and be as active as you wish with an
18-hole golf course, world class spa, excellent restaurants and a
swimming pool all located on the property. Beautifully appointed rooms
are equipped with super-king beds, deep bathtubs and a balcony or patio.
Day 15: Milford Sound & Glaciers Heli Flight / Boutique Wine Tour
Milford Sound & Glaciers Heli Flight Experience
the most dramatic scenery New Zealand has to offer. Sit back and let
us take you on a journey through the grandeur of the Southern Alps,
over Glaciers, Milford Sound, rainforests and frozen lakes to the heart
of Fiordland. We make a glacier landing enroute to enable you to take
that special photograph.
Boutique Wine Tour Enjoy
an afternoon among the boutique vineyards and splendid scenery of
Central Otago. Taste wines at four of the best vineyards in the
Gibbston, Bannockburn and Cromwell regions. Vineyards are selected from
the following: Peregrine, Chard Farm, Carrick, Mt Difficulty, Felton
Road, Akarua and Olssens vineyards. A delightful gourmet platter lunch
at the award winning Carrick Winery Restaurant will culminate an
enjoyable tour.
Day 16 Relaxation - Spa and Golf Enjoy
the last day of your trip playing golf on Millbrook's 18-hole
championship course, or relaxing at their world-class spa. Choose from
a wide variety of natural treatments and therapies in this tranquil
spa, beautifully designed and bathed in natural light.
Day 17 Queenstown - Auckland - Los Angeles or San Francisco Today
you will bid your friendly New Zealand accommodation hosts farewell and
drop your rental car at the airport before connecting to Auckland for
your international flight back to the USA.
Package includes:
International round trip airfare in Pacific Premium Economy Class from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Auckland on Air New Zealand;
Domestic economy class airfares within New Zealand on Air New Zealand;
14 nights deluxe and luxury accommodation (based on double occupancy);
15 days full size rental car, auto, unlimited kms, daily insurance;
All breakfasts, two lunches, three dinners
Early arrival check-in;
Walking Gourmet Tour & Hidden Treasures or Wild Wellington or Captial Arts Tour;
Interislander Ferry Wellington to Picton;
Abel Tasman Private Sailing Charter (3hrs) or Privately Guided Walk and/or Kayak (Full Day);
Whale Watching or Māori Tour;
Milford Sound and Glaciers Heli Flight;
Boutique Wine Tour This itinerary can be customized to suit.
Not Included:
Optional sightseeing experiences;
Meals (unless specified);
Travel Insurance;
Fuel Surcharges and Airline Taxes of up to $310 per person (subject to change without notice)
