100% customisable travel idea
For two, from one island to another The grand tour of New Zealand
New Zealand - North Island - South Island - Cook Islands
100% customisable travel idea
New Zealand - North Island - South Island - Cook Islands
100% customisable for you
Night on board, arrival two days later.
Upon arrival, private transfer and stay for two nights in the hills overlooking the city. The views of Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables drop you right into the majestic New Zealand landscape from the outset. The hotel consists of modern, light buildings with a country house feel. The lounge features leather armchairs and a stone fireplace. The rooms are simple and practical. The New Zealand style breakfast is prepared using organic ingredients. Your hostess has worked in the Alps and it shows.
Set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and framed by mountains, Queenstown is New Zealand’s adventure capital. All year round, people come here for skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, rafting, hiking or fly fishing. For adrenaline junkies there’s paragliding, skydiving and bungee jumping too. And all this in a breathtaking setting.
Things to see and do - Let yourself be enveloped by tropical scents at the botanical garden; meet the region’s birds at the Kiwi Birdlife Park; cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw, a vintage steamship from 1912 and step back in time.
Optional extra - Rees Valley on horseback.
Pick up your rental car and drive to Te Anau. Stay for two nights just off New Zealand State Highway 94. The property has two wings framing a well-tended garden. The rooms are charming, with cosy bedding, a fully equipped kitchenette and a terrace. Outside, a large hot tub awaits you. All in all it’s a great place to stay, especially as there’s homemade muffins straight from the oven for breakfast.
In your itinerary - Milford Sound Cruise. Sailing through the fjord, whose steep and jagged cliffs rise more than 1,000 metres (3,280 feet) above the water, is a truly dramatic experience. There are two spectacular waterfalls: Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls. Bottlenose dolphins come to play alongside the hull. You might also spot seals, penguins, and sometimes humpback or right whales. In the background, Mitre Peak, a particularly photogenic colossus, towers over everything, rising 1,683 metres (5,522 feet) out of the fjord.
Drive to Twizel. The misty mountain landscapes give way to the more peaceful scenery of the Southern Alps. Stay for two nights outside the city in a lodge with views of the surrounding peaks that are quite breathtaking. The lake in front of the lodge only adds to the calm and peaceful atmosphere. Inside, the rooms are bright, practical and comfortable. With this unpretentious elegance it’s easy to drift into a dreamy idleness. As for the generous and fresh homemade breakfast, it lives up to the country’s excellent standards.
Not to be missed under any circumstances - Set out to explore Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park The tallest mountain in New Zealand, this giant with its snowy peaks rises to 3,724 metres (12,218 feet) above sea level. According to Maori legend, Aoraki and his brothers, children of Father Sky, were sailing around Mother Earth when their canoe ran aground and began to tilt. As they climbed onto a boat, a freezing southern wind turned them into stone. The ship became the South Island, the brothers became the Alps that cross it, and Aoraki, the eldest, became the highest peak. A sacred ancestor and a natural wonder, Aoraki is all of this and more.
Optional extra - Tasman Glacier boat cruise.
Drive to Akaroa, from the Southern Alps to the vast Canterbury Plain. Stay for two nights at French Bay in a charming Victorian house from 1874 set along a quiet lane. The clapboard siding, veranda and bay window blend beautifully with the tasteful, fresh interiors with an old England feel. Tasteful pieces such as an old trunk and a stained glass window are all surrounded by antique furniture. As for the rooms, you’ll find cosy beds and everything you need to feel at home. During the day, maybe after all your exploring, you can order afternoon tea or a gourmet picnic basket.
Already booked - Pohatu Marine Reserve by kayak. This sea kayaking trip is a chance to get up close to large colonies of white-flippered penguins (also known as "little blue penguins") and yellow-eyed penguins. Fur seals flock here too to feed in the reserve's waters. The reserve is also home to Hector’s dolphins, the smallest dolphins in the world, recognisable by their rounded dorsal fin and their grey, white and black colouring. The coastline in the background, with its impressive cliffs and deep caves shaped over time by the sea, only adds to the magic of the trip.
Drive to Kaikoura, nestled between the Pacific and the mountains. Stay for two nights in a charming B&B set on the hillside. The property has stunning views of the landscape, the inviting water in the bay, the town below, and the mountain peaks in the background. Playful dolphins often appear to perform their acrobatics, then disappear, leaving only a few ripples on the surface. Surrounding the house, a pristine garden releases the delicate scent of roses, while inside, you catch a waft of shortbread baking in the oven.
Things to see and do - Go for a stroll along the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway. The walkway is a diverse scenic trail, hugging the shoreline beside the ocean and climbing up onto the steep cliffs. Below you, the ashen shapes lounging on the shore turn out to be seals that live here all year round. If you look up, you might spot the seabirds flying overhead, as they also nest in the area. And if you're really lucky and you remember to bring binoculars you might spot dolphins and whales, in the right season.
Recommended experiences - Whale watching tour and local cookery class.
Drive to Picton, then take the ferry to Wellington. Stay for two nights on the waterfront. Here, you are in the heart of things, a stone's throw from the unmissable Te Papa Museum, just two streets away. Your new accommodation has the feel of a museum, with all the works of art hanging in the hall. Comfortable and spacious, the rooms are more understated, but art lovers will appreciate the paintings and photographs that adorn the walls. In terms of amenities, there are restaurants, a heated indoor pool, a fitness room and a spa. All in all, this stay promises to be most enjoyable.
Things to see and do - Te Papa Tongarewa. Right on the waterfront in central Wellington, the museum has vast collections dedicated to the history, geography, art, cultures and natural history of New Zealand. Created when the art gallery merged with the national museum, the site was given the Maori name of Te Papa Tongarewa (which means "the treasure box"), in tribute to the island’s ancestral people. There is an entire floor showcasing Aotearoa New Zealand’s Indigenous heritage. Highlights on the other floors include the world’s largest squid specimen, lifelike recreations of earthquakes and lava flows, and holograms. This immersive experience is equally informative.
Drive to Ohakune, the gateway to Tongariro National Park. Stay for one night set back from the town centre and the road. What is there to do? Make the most of this peaceful and delightful interlude to recharge your batteries before your next adventure. Sit and relax on the wooden terrace if the weather allows. Even if the weather is not so good, be sure to try out the outdoor hot tub. In the evening join the other guests gathering in the armchairs around the fireplace, and in the morning compliment the owners’ homemade bread at breakfast.
Not to be missed under any circumstances - Tongariro National Park. To preserve their sacred sites, the Maori gifted the Tongariro, Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe volcanoes to the British Crown to ensure their protection. This led to the park being created in 1887. Today, it’s the land of Middle-earth. That’s how it's known since Peter Jackson filmed his Lord of the Rings films here. The park is full of amazing birds. Some are common, while others, such as the blue duck and kiwi are rarer, however iconic they may be. Here, you walk through landscapes that are unchanged since the dawn of time. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing, with its emerald lakes, and the crater lake of Mount Ruapehu are both amazing treks.
Drive to Taupo and stay for the night on Te Moenga Bay. You’ve had a busy day. It’s no wonder you're torn between one last glass of New Zealand wine in the charming garden and the softness of the down duvets in the comfortable suites. Don't worry about missing out if you choose to go to bed. In the morning, breakfast will be served on the veranda overlooking the splendid lake shimmering at the end of the garden.
Already booked - Tickets for the Orakei Korako Geothermal Park. Explore geysers as punctual as Swiss clocks, bubbling pools of thermal water, and some of the largest and most beautiful silica terraces in the world. The paths through this vast park showcase the most spectacular displays of geothermal activity. Geothermal areas almost never have caves. So the fact that the park is home to Ruatapu Cave makes it all the more special. Your ticket is for a self-guided tour of the park along its trails, stairs and walkways.
Optional extra - Western Bay cruise.
Drive to Rotorua and stay for one night a short walk from the city centre, in a dreamlike colonial house, a Victorian villa dating from 1905. The intricate fretwork around the verandah posts and the Union Jack balustrades have all been lovingly restored. Sit on the porch and enjoy the garden, planted with vines and lemon trees, imagining it's your own residence. Reconnect with the natural, provincial joy of living, with a touch of gentle exoticism.
Already booked - Hot tub surrounded by nature. With views over the magnificent Whakarewarewa Forest and Puarenga Stream, surrounded by native ferns, the setting is an essential part of this wonderful experience. To top it all off, drinks are delivered straight to your tub at the touch of a button.
Also in your itinerary - Redwood Nightlights sky walk. The designer lanterns and multicoloured lights create a captivating atmosphere as you move along the walk that spans 20 or so suspension bridges and platforms. It’s the perfect opportunity to see the giant redwood trees and the famous New Zealand silver ferns from above.
Drive north to get to Whitianga, on the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula. Stay for one night in pretty cottages surrounded by a subtropical garden. Inside, the high ceilings and wooden features, from the polished ceiling to the exposed arches, create a particularly pleasant atmosphere. Soft light floods the rooms. After an impromptu barbecue, why don’t you head to the beach, just a few steps away.
Whitianga is close to the Coromandel National Park, making it an ideal base for enjoying one of the many activities on offer there. Inland you can try trekking, canyoning and rafting. Out at sea there's diving, fishing and boat cruises (the town is on Mercury Bay). There’s something here for everyone.
Things to see and do - Leave the coast behind and head into the forest via Route 309; hike to New Chums Beach; take in some culture at the Mercury Bay Museum; and, shovel in hand, dig your own hole on Hot Water Beach to reach the underground hot springs.
Optional extra - Kayaking in Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve.
Drive to Auckland. The largest city in New Zealand, often referred to as the City of Sails, lies between the Hauraki Gulf on one side and the Tasman Sea on the other. Stay for one night near Viaduct Harbour, in the city centre. Mid century furnishings, freestanding bathtubs and kiwiana artwork turn the modern building into a design hotel. In some of the rooms, Kiwi music can even be heard drifting from the record players. There's a swimming pool and a sauna, and bicycles are available. Grab this chance to get some exercise before embarking on your journey home.
Things to see and do - The New Zealand Maritime Museum, just a stone’s throw away shares stories of people and the sea, from Maori sailors to the glory days of the America’s Cup. Not far away is the old Pukekawa / Auckland Domain and the beautiful tropical greenhouses of the Domain Wintergardens, which date from the 1920s. Cool yet edgy Karangahape Road, and the more creative atmosphere of Ponsonby, are both captivating. Rugby fans will want to visit Eden Park, southwest of the business district.
Drive to the airport, return the rental car and fly back home. Night on board, arrival the next day.
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
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