On the first day, you should fly into Auckland on any suitable flight (details in the “Meeting Place and Time” section). This day is fully dedicated to recovering your strength and adapting to the new time zone. Check-in at the hotel is available from 15:00. Once you’ve caught your breath, you can take a relaxed exploratory walk around the city streets at your own pace. We recommend visiting the famous Sky Tower, from where you can see almost the entire city and the surrounding volcanic hills and bays.

In the morning you will meet your Maori guide, who will perform two rituals: a welcome and a blessing for the travellers. Afterwards, you will go on a sightseeing tour of Auckland, visiting the city’s main attractions.

Then, along the Great South Road, you will head to one of New Zealand’s most famous places — the Waitomo Caves, also known as the “Glowworm Caves”. Here you will take a boat ride under the stone vaults where insects glow with a bright blue light in the darkness. It’s a truly magical sight!

Next, you will travel along the Ocean Road. On the way, you will visit the wild Tasman Sea coast with black volcanic sand and admire the whimsical “Three Sisters” rock formations. Eventually, you will reach Mount Taranaki, which is highly revered by the Maori people. The guide will tell you its history and local legends. You will spend the night in the small town of New Plymouth.

In the morning, you will have a city sightseeing tour during which you will immerse yourself in the history of these places. The guide will tell you about the first whalers and Polynesian navigators who found their way across the ocean using stars and volcanoes as beacons. You will see the unusual Rewa Rewa Bridge, shaped like a whale skeleton.

Then you will visit a coastal winery where the vineyards stretch almost to the water’s edge. Stunning views of the Tasman Sea open up from here. You can relax, take photos, and, if you wish, book a tasting (extra charge).

After that, you will head to the volcano for a trek in Egmont National Park. You will walk through a place called the “Goblin Forest”. The trail winds past hidden waterfalls, century-old trees covered in thick moss, and giant ferns. During the trek, your Maori guide will share mystical stories and legends that have surrounded this ancient forest for centuries.

At the end of the day, you will arrive in Whanganui — a city considered the most picturesque in New Zealand. Stroll through the historic centre with its colonial architecture, visit local galleries, or try modern New Zealand cuisine.

Today you will dive deeper into the culture of New Zealand’s indigenous people. First, together with your Maori guide, you will visit the Whanganui Museum, where he will show you a rare collection of tribal relics, tell the history of his lineage, and present a gallery of portraits by New Zealand’s leading 19th-century artist.

Then, on a high-speed boat, you will navigate through real ancient jungle. To the rhythm of traditional musical instruments, you will follow routes once travelled by aboriginal canoes and the boats of the first European settlers. In the heart of the national park, a Maori family will greet you and share their ancestral stories and customs.

Next, you will explore the volcanic landscapes of Tongariro National Park. You will go on a hike through alpine forest with mosses, giant ferns, and waterfalls where iconic scenes from The Lord of the Rings were filmed.

You will spend the night on the shores of Lake Taupō. The Maori call it a sea because of its impressive size. In reality, it is the caldera of an ancient volcano filled with water.

Today you will explore natural phenomena near Rotorua. First, you will visit the Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Park, famous for its unusual bodies of water of various shapes and colours: the bright green “Devil’s Bath” lake and the Champagne Pool, whose surface constantly “bubbles” due to escaping gases.

Then you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the authentic atmosphere of a Maori village: see ancient crafts and feel the energy of traditional dances and songs of the indigenous people. During the theatrical show, you will be shown ancient weapons and musical instruments and witness the famous war dance “haka”. Afterwards, you will be invited to a traditional hangi feast.

Next, you will travel to the famous Hobbiton — the very filming location where the Shire from Tolkien’s saga came to life. You can stroll among the emerald hills, see the famous hobbit holes with round doors, and enjoy a pint of signature ale at the Green Dragon tavern.

In the morning, you will go to the airport and fly to Dunedin — the second-largest city on New Zealand’s South Island. We have not planned any program for today. After checking into the hotel, you can explore the city on your own.

Dunedin is famous for its Victorian architecture. The city’s main symbols are the monumental St. Paul’s Cathedral, the elegant railway station, and the historic University of Otago. Be sure to walk down the legendary Baldwin Street — the steepest street in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records — and admire the exotic plants in the shady city gardens.

In the morning, you will continue your journey along the Southern Ocean coast. The first stop is at a historic lighthouse on a rocky cape where fur seals often rest, and you may be lucky enough to see New Zealand sea lions!

After lunch, you will arrive in the Catlins region, known as the “land of waterfalls”. You will find yourself in dense relic forests with cascades of picturesque waterfalls and cosy golden beaches. During the walk, the guide will tell you Maori myths about the forest giants Maeroero who live in these places.

Here you can also see a petrified Jurassic forest over 180 million years old! At low tide in one of the bays, an ancient fossilised forest is exposed — we hope you will be able to see it. In the coastal waters of the bay, you can often see rare small Hector’s dolphins playing.

Then you will visit the southernmost point of the South Island to enjoy stunning ocean views. In the evening — arrival in Invercargill and rest at the hotel.

Today is a free day. We offer a visit to Stewart Island, which the Maori call the “Land of Glowing Skies”, and a cruise to the sanctuary shores of Ulva Island. During a forest walk, you will be able to observe rare endemic birds and enjoy their beautiful singing. For lunch, you will try the freshest seafood at the “Southern Seas Hotel” pub.

In the evening, take the ferry to Bluff — New Zealand’s southernmost and oldest city. Here you can enjoy wild oysters. The guide will tell you about oyster gathering traditions and other traditional Maori delicacies.

In the morning, you will head to the legendary land of fjords or “Land of Shadows”. On the way, you will visit an alpaca farm: meet the hospitable owners, feed the adorable animals, and take great photos.

Then the road will pass through protected lands surrounded by high mountains and evergreen forest. You will see glacial lakes, noisy waterfalls, and mountain passes.

Next — a journey through the famous Milford Sound fjords — the very landscapes that adorn the best postcards of the country. The scale of nature here is breathtaking: cliffs soar up to two kilometres, and the depth of the sound reaches four hundred metres. No wonder Kipling called this place the “eighth wonder of the world”, and according to Maori legends, these landscapes were created by gods, not glaciers. You will spend tonight in ship cabins under a magical starry sky.

Today is fully dedicated to your personal discoveries in the country’s main tourist centre. Queenstown offers activities for every taste: from a peaceful promenade along the shore of Lake Wakatipu to a cable car ride to breathtaking viewpoints. For thrill-seekers, there is a full range of extreme activities: bungee jumping, jet boating, paragliding, kayaking, horse riding, or thrilling downhill scooter rides.

In the evening, you can visit Walter Peak Farm. There you will enjoy a traditional dinner (buffet) and get acquainted with rural life: watch the virtuosic work of sheepdogs and a master class on fast sheep shearing.

Please note: all activities and excursions on this day are paid for separately.

Today you will visit a small town from the gold rush era. Right by the river where the gold fever once raged, the authentic huts of the first settlers are still preserved, and in cosy small cafés you can listen to stories about gold miners over a cup of coffee.

Next, you will visit one of the local wineries. Central Otago is world-renowned for its exquisite wines, especially Pinot Noir. You will look into the wine cellar, taste local wines, and have lunch at the restaurant.

The next stop is Wanaka, a small town on the shore of a picturesque glacial lake. You will see the famous solitary tree growing straight out of the water, and the guide will tell you about the giant moa birds that once lived here.

After that, we will head to the West Coast, where you will learn why the Maori poetically called the Southern Alps the “mirage in the ocean”. Here you will enjoy a short but impressive trek through a forest of giant kahikatea trees while listening to the guide’s stories about Maori medicinal plants and trees. At the end of the path, you will reach the seashore where various rare New Zealand plants meet.

In the evening — well-deserved rest.

Today you will visit the workshop of a local jade carver — the main stone of the Maori. First, he will tell you about the symbolism of Maori ornaments, and then, under the master’s supervision, you will create your own jade amulet — a souvenir you will take home as a memory of the trip.

Next, you will head to the land of eternal ice. Optionally, instead of a regular trek at the foot of the mountain, you can choose a helicopter excursion: a flight over the glaciers around Mount Cook (the highest peak in the country) with a landing on a snowy plateau.

Then you will reach the Punakaiki rocks — one of New Zealand’s natural wonders. These layered limestone plates formed millions of years ago on the ocean floor, and tectonics and erosion turned them into giant stacks of stone pancakes. At high tide, you can watch powerful sea geysers — when the surf shoots up like a fountain through the rock shafts.

In the morning — a drive through the Southern Alps along a scenic high-mountain highway to Arthur’s Pass National Park. Here there is a high chance of meeting kea — clever and very curious New Zealand mountain parrots.

On the way, you will visit Castle Hill, which has a history of more than 30 million years. The Dalai Lama called these places one of the main spiritual centres of the planet, and scenes from The Chronicles of Narnia were filmed here. The guide will explain why the Maori revered the hill as the “cradle of the gods” and used the natural rock formations as an ancient observatory.

The final point of the route is Christchurch, often called the most English city outside the UK. During the sightseeing tour, you will see the blooming Botanical Gardens, stroll along the Avon River, and visit the famous Cardboard Cathedral.

After the excursion, there will be a group transfer to Christchurch Airport or hotel. As a farewell, the guide will perform a traditional Maori blessing, wishing you a safe journey home.