Fjords, Ferns, and Volcanoes of New Zealand

Upon arrival at Auckland Airport, you will be picked up and transferred privately to your hotel. You will stay in the city center, where you can relax and unwind from your journey. The lively harbor area, shops, and many excellent restaurants are within easy reach.

Today, you can enjoy exploring the vibrant city. Stroll along the main street, where you’ll find excellent shopping opportunities. For lunch or dinner, head to Viaduct Harbour, a picturesque harbor area home to a selection of good restaurants, bars, and cafés.

Or book the special optional experience Auckland Maori Tour. You will then discover the most beautiful highlights of Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) and the rugged west coast, while your Kaiarahi Maori (Maori guide) shares more about Maori culture and background.

It is time to leave Auckland. You pick up your rental car at the station and hit the road. After leaving the city, the landscape becomes increasingly rural. Just before the Coromandel Peninsula, you drive through the Hauraki Plains, a very flat agricultural region full of pastures and dairy farms, which feels very familiar.

The Coromandel is a tranquil peninsula with a very relaxed atmosphere, white sandy beaches, and hidden coves. But it also features rainforests with sometimes ancient kauri trees, a rich history that takes you back to the gold rush era, and of course, the stunning Cathedral Cove. You stay in a charming lodge in an ideal location, close to several well-known attractions.

Two full days to explore the stunning Coromandel. Start the day relaxed with a good breakfast and fresh coffee. Direct from the lodge, you can take walks to the beach or a nature park. Moreover, many sights are just a short drive away.

You can take the ferry to the lively Whitianga, where you will find excellent restaurants. Or drive to Hot Water Beach, where you can dig a hole that naturally fills with hot water deep from the earth—your own natural hot spring. Or visit the romantic Cathedral Cove, where you can, among other things, enjoy a magnificent kayak trip along the coast.

You can also book the optional private tour Bays and Natural Beauty of the Coromandel for one of the days. In a full day, accompanied by your own local guide, you will visit all the picturesque highlights of the peninsula. Walk through the wilderness along forgotten paths of an old settlement to visit a historic cave where gold was once mined. This cave is now home to beautiful glowworms. Your guide will introduce you to the flora and fauna of the lush forest. Afterwards, you will visit incredible coastal landscapes with white sandy beaches, caves, towering cliffs, old Maori Pa (sites where Maori villages once stood), and islands. Of course, a visit to Hot Water Beach should not be missed.

The route takes you southward, passing the surf town of Whangamata and the historic Waihi, a gold prospecting town. Closer to Tauranga, you will discover fruit stalls along the road, where you can enjoy fresh seasonal fruit. Tauranga is a lovely place to stop, with cozy cafes, but also an ideal spot to charter a boat for dolphin spotting or snorkeling. The road then leads you through the Mamaku mountain range, offering spectacular views, before descending again to Lake Rotorua.

Rotorua is located in the cultural and volcanic heart of the country and offers a wide variety of stunning landscapes. Here, you will find around 18 shimmering lakes, vast forests, geysers, bubbling mud pools, and hot springs. There are also plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in Maori culture.

You will stay once again in a charming lodge at Lake Tarawera, just a half-hour drive from Rotorua, where you can truly feel at home after a day full of excursions. Many attractions are within an hour's drive, many of which showcase the geothermal activity that makes this region so remarkable.

An entire day to explore Rotorua and its surroundings. Stroll through the center of Rotorua and Kuirau Park, where steam clouds escape from the ground and bubbling mud pools can be found. Visit one of the open Maori villages, such as Te Whakarewarewa, where you will not only learn about Maori culture but also see two impressive geysers that erupt multiple times a day.

Other remarkable places to witness Earth's geothermal activity with awe include Hell’s Gate, Waimangu Volcanic Valley, and Wai O Tapu Thermal Wonderland. Or learn the fascinating story of the buried village of Te Wairoa, which is just a 10-minute drive from your lodge.

If you wish to book a truly special optional experience, consider the adventurous Thermal Explorer flight. Departing from Rotorua, you will fly over magnificent landscapes with spectacular views from the air of crater lakes, the stunning Tarawera waterfalls, and the unique Waimangu and Wai O Tapu geothermal reserves. You will land on Mount Tarawera to enjoy a breathtaking view. The flight then follows the Waikato River to the hidden Orakei Korako valley, where you will land again. Here, you will cruise down the river to visit hot springs, geysers, and other geothermal wonders. Finally, you will fly back over farmland and the Paeroa mountain range to Rotorua, landing next to the lake.

You bid farewell to the serene Lake Tarawera, but you are not leaving the volcanic region just yet. You travel a bit further, past Taupo and Lake Taupo. You have enough time to make a stop here and explore Taupo on foot. Or to take a boat trip across Lake Taupo. Then you arrive at your next beautiful lodge, where the personal service is especially outstanding.

Your lodge serves as the perfect base to explore the wondrous Tongariro National Park. If you enjoy hiking, seize the opportunity to undertake one of the country's most beautiful day hikes: the Tongariro Crossing. The lodge even offers the possibility to do this hike with a private guide.

Of course, you are not obliged to hike. There are also several roads within the national park that offer stunning panoramic views, including of the volcanoes in the park. In this way, you can also enjoy the rugged natural beauty of this region. The lodge can provide you with advice on this.

You leave the volcanic center and travel to the southernmost tip of the North Island, to the capital Wellington. It is a beautiful city, located by a stunning harbor and surrounded by lush green hills. There is so much to see and do here that you will definitely not get bored.

A full day to explore the capital city. You can take the cable car up to the gezellige wijk Kelburn. From here, you can easily walk to the Botanical Gardens, where you can also enjoy a stunning view of the city. In the center of Wellington, you will find Te Papa, New Zealand's national museum. Here, you will discover a wealth of information about the country's past, present, and future, along with interesting additional exhibitions. Just outside the city lies Zealandia, a piece of wilderness where unique native animals still live, found nowhere else in the world.

This morning, you will make the stunning crossing by ferry to the South Island. Your car is welcome on the boat as well. You can enjoy the Premium Lounge onboard, which includes a comfortable seat, drinks, and snacks. However, spending time outside on the deck, admiring the ever-changing and increasingly beautiful views as you approach the South Island, is a wonderful way to pass the time.

Upon arrival in Picton, you will continue your journey along the picturesque Queen Charlotte Drive. You will pass the Pelorus River and the Pelorus Bridge. Traveling through Nelson and Richmond, you will head northwest to your lodge near Abel Tasman National Park.

The Abel Tasman National Park is a stunning coastal landscape, where lush rainforest meets golden beaches and azure waters. It is a paradise for hikers, complemented by a boat trip to admire the scenery from the water.

There are various tours available to make the most of your visit to the national park. Book a combination of a boat trip and a hike, or an unforgettable kayak adventure with hopefully encounters with seals or the little penguin. Private boat trips or sailing excursions are also possible.

Today's route features several interesting places to stop. Such as the town of Murchison, which was struck by a severe earthquake in 1929. The small museum tells the story of this historic event. Next, you can visit the Buller Gorge Swingbridge Adventure and Heritage Park, where you can enjoy walks, a jet boat ride, and ziplining. Here you will find the Buller Gorge Suspension Bridge, which at 110 meters is the longest in New Zealand.

Afterwards, choose a detour to drive via Punakaiki. Here, you will find the remarkable Pancake Rocks, limestone formations that resemble stacks of pancakes. The Blowholes are also impressive, especially during rough seas. Here, seawater is forcefully ejected through a narrow passage.

You will see the landscape around you gradually change from farmland to a more rugged coastline and mountain scenery. After approximately 2 hours, you will arrive in Franz Josef, in the heart of 'Glacier Country' and part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area. Here, mountains border lush rainforests, and within the mountains, a mighty glacier is hidden. It is a stunning, untouched, rugged area that you truly must experience.

Be sure to book an optional excursion in advance, such as the Heli Hike. You will take a wonderful helicopter flight to the glacier, where you will go on an unforgettable walk on the ice with a guide. A unique experience, allowing you to enjoy stunning ice formations and turquoise ice caves.

You are today following one of the most beautiful routes in New Zealand. You leave the glacier landscape behind and travel through the picturesque Haast Pass, along the access to Mount Aspiring National Park, to the town of Wanaka. Wanaka is stunningly situated on Lake Wanaka and is a charming town with friendly residents.

A whole day to take it easy. Enjoy the facilities of the lodge, beautifully situated with views of the mountains and Lake Wanaka. If you wish to do something active, you can explore stunning hiking trails in the nearby area, rent an electric mountain bike for a ride through the hilly landscape, or book a wine tasting.

Alternatively, book an optional excursion that includes a boat trip across Lake Wanaka, followed by a guided walk on Mou Waho Island. This pristine island is home to many bird species, including the Buff Weka, which has been extinct on the mainland since 1920. A bush walk will lead you to a secret spot on the island—a hidden lake within a lake on this island.

Once again, a stunning route today from Wanaka to Te Anau. You can drive via the Crown Range, offering beautiful views. Enjoy the surrounding mountain scenery and the vistas over Lake Wakatipu. Then, you will arrive in Te Anau, beautifully situated on Lake Te Anau and the gateway to the magnificent Milford Sound.

Today, you have the option to book an excursion to Milford Sound. If you enjoy hiking, then the optional Milford Sound by Water and Foot tour is perfect for you. You will be picked up from your lodge and driven along the spectacular Milford Road, which is a highlight in itself, to the access point for Milford Sound. By boat, you will navigate through this magical fjord landscape, complete with towering mountains, waterfalls, rainforest, and a variety of wildlife. What makes this tour unique is that you will also go on hikes in Milford Sound, allowing you to experience this stunning area even more intimately with all your senses.

Through rugged landscapes and plains carved by rivers, offering yet again magnificent views of Lake Wakatipu, you reach the adventurous city of Queenstown. This alpine town is nestled in the heart of the Southern Alps, right on Lake Wakatipu. Its nickname, the 'adventure capital of the world,' is due to the many thrilling activities available here, from 4WD jeep tours to white-water rafting, bungy jumping, and much more. If this isn't what you are looking for, there is also a wide range of other activities with a more relaxing character to enjoy.

A full day to explore this beautiful region. Book an optional excursion to enjoy stunning hikes with a private guide, a jet boat tour through spectacular narrow gorges, or an off-road 4WD jeep tour. There are also a variety of helicopter tours and sightseeing flights available. Alternatively, you can book a gastronomic tour, where you will taste several wines at different wineries and sample local fresh produce.

Unfortunately, your unforgettable journey through New Zealand comes to an end today. You return your rental car at the airport and fly to your next destination or back to the Netherlands.

Unfortunately, today marks the end of your unforgettable journey through New Zealand. You will return your car at the airport and fly to your next destination or back to the Netherlands.