Days 1 & 2: Depart for Auckland, NEW ZEALAND
Depart on an overnight flight to Auckland. Cross the International Dateline and “lose” a day.

Day 3: Auckland, NEW ZEALAND
Upon arrival in Auckland, you are transferred to your hotel. After settling in, set out on an afternoon tour of the city, including a drive along its scenic waterfront, the quaint Victorian village of Parnell and panoramic views from extinct volcano Mount Eden. Visit the Auckland museum to view an impressive collection of Polynesian artefacts, including a war canoe built in 1836.
►Suggested hotel:
The Langham Auckland

Day 4: Auckland, NEW ZEALAND
Venture on a full-day tour of Auckland. Visit the Waitakere Ranges on the west coast, with over 125 miles of walking trails through native forests leading to spectacular beaches. From the Arataki Centre, view breathtaking views of the Tasman and Pacific oceans and see incredible Maori carvings. Meet a local artist in the eclectic town of Titirangi before returning to the city for lunch. Afterward, stop at the Maritime Museum; then experience Auckland’s seafaring traditions firsthand when you sail the Waitemata Harbour on an America’s Cup yacht, even participating as a crewmember.
►Suggested hotel:
The Langham Auckland

Day 5: Auckland / Rotorua, NEW ZEALAND
This morning, drive through stunning natural landscapes and lush pasturelands of the Waikato to Rotorua. Rotorua is the Maori cultural heartland, where the earth’s crust is so thin that molten lava bubbles and steams to the surface.
►Some suggested Rotorua hotels (in alphabetical order):
Peppers on the Point Rotorua
Solitaire Lodge
Treetops Lodge & Estate   (V)
►Together, we will find the best choice for you!

Day 6: Rotorua, NEW ZEALAND
Set out on a full day of sightseeing in Rotorua. Start at Kiwi Encounter, an Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy-support project, for a behind-the-scenes tour of this hatchery and nursery. Then stop at the beautiful Government Gardens and the Rotorua Museum. After lunch, stroll through the towering Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest and continue on to Te Puia Thermal Reserve for a close look at geysers, boiling mud and silica terraces.

Kiwi Encounter is a nursery and hatchery dedicated to the preservation of the elusive kiwi. Interact with this unique bird species during an insider-access tour.
►For Rotorua hotel suggestions, see above.

Day 7: Rotorua / Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND
Fly to Christchurch this morning. On arrival, enjoy a sightseeing tour that includes a scenic drive along the River Avon and by Cathedral Square, Christ College, the Arts Centre and the Botanical Gardens. Explore the International Antarctic Centre, with its fascinating displays on the White Continent. Take a punting tour along the Avon River, and drive to the top of Port Hills for panoramic vistas of Christchurch and the surrounding countryside.
►Some suggested Christchurch hotels (in alphabetical order):
George Hotel, Christchurch
Otahuna Lodge   (V)
►Together, we will find the best choice for you!

Day 8: Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND
Depart for Akaroa this morning, driving through rolling pastures and over rugged mountain peaks. Akaroa, a tranquil seaside village, once prospered as a thriving French whaling station and still boasts a culture rich in French, Maori and English influences. Board a boat for a scenic cruise of the peninsula. Afterward, explore the town’s charming gardens, streets, galleries and churches.
►For Christchurch hotel suggestions, see above.

Day 9: Christchurch/Queenstown, NEW ZEALAND
This morning, fly to Queenstown, the “Adventure Capital of the World.” This afternoon’s sightseeing of the Wakatipu Basin includes a wine café tour and lunch at Gibbston Valley Winery, located in the world’s southernmost wine-producing region. Visit the Kawarau Bridge, famous for being the jumping-off point of more than one million bungee jumpers. Stop by the historic gold-mining settlement of Arrowtown and the Lakes and District Museum before returning to your hotel.
►Some suggested Queenstown hotels (in alphabetical order):
Eichardt’s Private Hotel   (V)
Hotel St. Moritz
Matakauri Lodge   (V)
Millbrook Resort, Queenstown
Sofitel Queenstown
►Together, we will find the best choice for you!

Day 10: Queenstown / Milford Sound / Queenstown, NEW ZEALAND
This morning, transfer to Milford Sound by fixed-wing plane, flying over spectacular alpine scenery and lush rainforests. Board a luxury vessel and cruise the full length of this stunning fjord, with shorelines dotted with waterfalls, mountains and rainforest. Pause in this natural wonderland for a picnic before returning to Queenstown.
►For Queenstown hotel suggestions, see above.

Day 11: Queenstown, NEW ZEALAND
Drive to the head of Lake Wakatipu, viewing the untouched wilderness of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, a scene normally seen only by hikers or from the air. Arrive in Glenorchy and board a jet boat for a ride on the Dart River. At Beansburn, embark on a nature walk and savor a picnic lunch before boarding an inflatable canoe (funyak) and paddling past glaciers, rocky peaks and dense forests. Drive back to Queenstown.
►For Queenstown hotel suggestions, see above.

Day 12: Queenstown, NEW ZEALAND / USA or Canada
Depart for your onward flight.