Nine days across New Zealand's two islands takes you from the geothermal mud pools and Maori culture of Rotorua through the fjords and bungee jumps of Queenstown, along the breathtaking Milford Sound, and back through the Hobbiton movie set in the rolling green hills of the Waikato. New Zealand is the most dramatic country per square kilometre on earth.
Nine days across New Zealand's two islands takes you from the geothermal mud pools and Maori culture of Rotorua through the fjords and bungee jumps of Queenstown, along the breathtaking Milford Sound, and back through the Hobbiton movie set in the rolling green hills of the Waikato. New Zealand is the most dramatic country per square kilometre on earth.
Arrive at Auckland International Airport and transfer to the city. Afternoon at the Sky Tower, New Zealand's tallest structure at 328 metres, with optional SkyJump bungee from the top. Walk through the Viaduct Harbour marina and take a ferry across the Waitemata Harbour to Devonport for views of the Auckland skyline from the volcanic cone of Mount Victoria. Overnight Auckland.
Drive 2 hours south to Matamata for the Hobbiton Movie Set tour through the farm where Peter Jackson filmed the Shire for Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Walk through the 44 Hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn, and the Party Tree exactly as seen in the films. Drive to Rotorua, New Zealand's geothermal capital. Overnight Rotorua.
Morning at Te Puia, the geothermal park with the Pohutu Geyser erupting up to 30 metres every hour, boiling mud pools, and the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. Afternoon at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, a psychedelically coloured landscape of boiling lakes, craters, and champagne pools in electric blue, yellow, and green. Evening traditional Maori hangi feast and cultural performance. Overnight Rotorua.
Morning flight to Queenstown on the South Island, New Zealand's adventure capital on the shores of Lake Wakatipu surrounded by the Remarkables mountain range. Afternoon walk along the lakefront and browse the town for tomorrow's adventure activities. Optional AJ Hackett Bungy at the original Kawarau Gorge bridge where commercial bungee jumping was invented. Evening dinner with Remarkables mountain views. Overnight Queenstown.
Full adventure day in Queenstown choosing from skydiving over the Remarkables at 15,000 feet, Shotover Jet boat through a narrow canyon at 85 km/h, white water rafting on the Shotover River, or a combination. Afternoon Skyline Gondola ride above the town for panoramic lake and mountain views. Luge rides down the mountain. Evening at Queenstown's vibrant restaurant and bar district. Overnight Queenstown.
Full day drive through Fiordland National Park to Milford Sound, often called the eighth wonder of the world. The 3-hour drive passes mirror lakes, beech forests, and emerald valleys. 2-hour cruise through the fjord past Mitre Peak rising 1692 metres straight from the water, Stirling Falls, and fur seal colonies lounging on the rocks. Return to Queenstown by evening. Overnight Queenstown.
Drive northeast through the Mackenzie Basin to Lake Tekapo, a glacier-fed turquoise lake fringed by lupins with the Church of the Good Shepherd on the shore. Continue to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, dominated by New Zealand's highest peak at 3724 metres. Evening stargazing from the Mackenzie Basin, one of the world's great dark sky reserves. Overnight Lake Tekapo or Mount Cook.
Drive to the West Coast to Franz Josef Glacier, one of the world's most accessible glaciers descending from the Southern Alps to near sea level within rainforest. Helicopter flight over the glacier and landing on the ice for a guided walk across the blue ice and through crevasses. Walk the valley floor viewpoint track afterwards. Overnight Franz Josef or Hokitika.
Drive 4 hours to Christchurch, New Zealand's most English city, still recovering with remarkable architectural creativity from the 2011 earthquake. Punt along the Avon River through the Botanic Gardens. Visit the Cardboard Cathedral, designed by Shigeru Ban using cardboard tubes after the earthquake. Transfer to Christchurch Airport for your return flight. End of tour.
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