Saturday, Jan 30      Auckland      ( - / - / D)

Welcome to Aotearoa New Zealand! Auckland New Zealand’s largest city with a population of around 1.7 million people. After entry formalities, meet your guide and take a sightseeing tour of the “City of Sails” including its renowned bays and a chance to stretch your legs on Mount Eden where you’ll have panoramic views of the region.

We break for lunch at the waterfront area before checking into our city hotel with time to relax or further explore Auckland.

Tonight enjoy a Welcome to New Zealand dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Auckland or similar

Sunday, Jan 31      Auckland – Waiheke Island      ( B / L / - )

After breakfast, take a 45-minute ferry to Waiheke Island with its beautiful beaches, wineries and charming bays.
Visit one of the unique gardens OR olive groves then enjoy wine tasting and lunch at an Island vineyard.

This afternoon there is time for a stroll or a swim at the beach before returning to Auckland where you have the evening at leisure.

Overnight: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Auckland or similar

Monday, Feb 1      Auckland – Hamilton – Rotorua      ( B / L / - )

After breakfast depart south to the Waikato Province - the traditional home of the dairy industry in New Zealand. Here we visit an integrated red deer and dairy farm owned by a forward-thinking veterinarian who will provide you with an excellent introduction to New Zealand farming.

New Zealand is the largest producer and exporter of farmed venison and deer velvet in the world and dairying is its leading agricultural industry.

After lunch in a rural township, visit a large family-owned kiwifruit orchard and packhouse business to learn about another of New Zealand’s signature products, this season set to generate NZD4.5B in export returns.

Continue to lakeside Rotorua, an active geothermal region and check into your hotel and an open evening.

Overnight: Novotel Rotorua Lakeside, Rotorua or similar

Tuesday, Feb 2      Rotorua      ( B / - / D )

This morning visit a sheep and dairy bull beef finishing enterprise set in a spectacular position overlooking Lake Rotorua.

More than half of New Zealand’s beef is produced from livestock originating in this industry - it is an efficient and profitable farming option for many farmers and this farm is a good example. Enjoy morning tea with your farm hosts.

Enjoy some free time for lunch and activities – perhaps explore the giant Redwood forest by foot or mountain bike, take a relaxing soak at the lakeside hot pools or relax at the hotel.

Later this afternoon, visit Te Puia Whakarewarewa to meet members of the local Māori tribe, see steaming geysers and boiling mud pools, as well as the chance to spot New Zealand’s rare Kiwi bird. Receive a formal welcome to the village and gain an insight into customs, handicrafts and the Haka - the warrior challenge made famous by the All Blacks rugby team! For dinner, enjoy a delicious feast including traditionally cooked ‘hangi’ food.

Overnight: Novotel Rotorua Lakeside, Rotorua or similar

Wednesday, Feb 3      Rotorua – Taupo – Hawke’s Bay      ( B / - / D )

After breakfast we depart South to visit a beef and cattle stud and enjoy morning tea with our farm hosts. (Alternative: we can investigate a forestry option instead).

Next we stop at Huka Falls where the mighty Waikato River – normally 330 ft wide – is forced through a 65 ft wide gorge. The name Huka is the Maori word for “foam”, which is appropriate when you see the water and powerful rapids.

We take a break for lunch at the scenic resort town of Taupo on the shores of new Zealand’s largest lake. We then continue on to the productive region of Hawke’s Bay and the coast city of Napier, recognized for the it’s collection of Art Deco buildings from the 1930’s. The region is highly regarded for wine production and you’ll visit New Zealand’s oldest winery to sample local wines and enjoy dinner.

Overnight: Scenic Hotel Te Pania, Hawkes Bay or similar

Thursday, Feb 4      Hawke’s Bay – Christchurch      ( B / L / - )

This morning, we see some of the horticultural innovation that is a feature of this region – such as a large process vegetable grower whose main crops are sweetcorn, tomatoes, red beet and onions for local and export markets. Also view grapes for wine and very high value apples - see one of the latest high density 2-D apple orchards.

After lunch at a rural cafe and gallery, fly to Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island. Take an orientation tour of “the Garden City” then check into your city hotel and enjoy a free evening.

Overnight: Chateau on the Park Christchurch Double Tree by Hilton, Christchurch or similar

Friday, Feb 5      Christchurch      ( B / - / D )

Our first stop today is on the outskirts of Christchurch with Wyma Solutions, manufacturers of post-harvest vegetable and fruit handling equipment.

Continue to visit a family owned irrigated dairy farm. This property is a great example of the large-scale developments common on the Canterbury Plains in the last 20 or so years. Tour the farm and enjoy discussions with your hosts.

Break for lunch and visit a local farm supply store.

Return to central Christchurch and take a sightseeing tour including a walk through the beautiful Botanic Gardens and historic Art Centre precinct. Later enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Chateau on the Park Christchurch Double Tree by Hilton, Christchurch or similar

Saturday, Feb 6      Christchurch – Ashburton – Mackenzie Country      ( B / - / D )

After checking out of our hotel, we travel south across the Canterbury Plains showcasing a patchwork of farming enterprises including sheep, beef, dairy and cropping. Visit the former holders (twice) of the world record wheat yield. The owners rely on high-capacity equipment to run an intensive arable operation with minimal labor. They utilize a combination of great management, very good soils, irrigation, and outside agronomic advice to also achieve high yields in grass-seed, vegetable seeds (hybrid spinach and radish), chicory, and kale.

After lunch, we tour an award-winning owner-operated irrigated cropping farm specializing in cereals and seed potato production. Stock finishing in the wintertime prior to spring sown crops is also an important enterprise. Learn about the community-wide irrigation scheme which is key to high production in the region.

Continue south via the foothills before entering the Mackenzie Country - a high, dry inland region of austere beauty, punctuated by the large aqua- blue glacier-fed lakes that generate much of New Zealand’s hydroelectricity. The beautiful Southern Alps, including New Zealand’s highest peak, Aoraki Mount Cook 3,754m, provides a dramatic backdrop to this area. Later this afternoon, arrive at your Mackenzie hotel for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Distinction Mackenzie Country Hotel Twizel, Mackenzie Country or similar

Sunday, Feb 7      Mackenzie Country – Cromwell – Te Anau      ( B / - / D )

After breakfast and a brief look at the salmon farm in the hydro-canal, visit a merino wool and beef cattle producer. In this dry alpine region, production of very fine wool is possible, suitable for high quality fabric and activewear.

Continue over Lindis Pass into the spectacular Central Otago countryside, renowned historically for gold mining but, in more modern times, for its vineyards, fruit orchards and fine-wool Merino sheep.

Break for lunch in the fruit capital of Cromwell and make a visit to a local orchard – typically cherries and apricots – to see the variety of produce.

Next, we head west through productive Southland farmland to the settlement of beautiful Te Anau, nestled by a lake of the same name. After settling in, some may like to take an optional cruise to visit the fascinating glow worms across Lake Te Anau.

Overnight: Distinction Te Anau Hotels & Villas, Te Anau or similar

Monday, Feb 8      Te Anau – Milford Sound – Queenstown      ( B / L / - )

Today we take a day trip to the magnificent Milford Sound amidst the awesome mountain World Heritage grandeur of New Zealand’s Fiordland region.

After a scenic drive to Milford with a few stops, embark on a cruise where you can see steep mountains plunging into the Fiord, spectacular waterfalls and an abundance of native rainforest flora, fauna and marine life. A picnic style lunch is included on the cruise.

A trip to iconic Milford Sound is sure to be a highlight of your New Zealand tour! After the cruise, return via Te Anau and around Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown, one of New Zealand’s most beautiful destinations. Check into the hotel for a two night stay.

Overnight: Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown Lakefront, Queenstown or similar

Tuesday, Feb 9      Queenstown      ( B / - / D )

After breakfast we take a sightseeing tour of Queenstown including the historic village of Arrowtown and the site where bungy jumping was born - a chance for daredevils to take the plunge 43m towards the Kawarau River attached only by a giant rubber band!

The afternoon is free to explore Queenstown - perhaps a scenic flight, relaxing cruise of Lake Wakatipu on a historic steamer or an exhilarating ride through the Shotover Gorge in a jet-boat. There are plenty of shopping options as well as activities such as paragliding, golf, or hiking by the lake.

This evening, ride the gondola up Bob’s Peak for dinner, taking in the breath-taking lake and mountain views around you.

Overnight: Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown Lakefront, Queenstown or similar

Wednesday, Feb 10      Depart      ( B / - / - )

Breakfast and time to pack before departing for Queenstown Airport and onward travels.