Auckland > Coromandel Peninsula > Rotorua > Napier > Wellington > Nelson > Punakaiki > Fox Glacier > Wanaka > Te Anau > Queenstown
Our Rimu Small Group Journey focuses on the natural beauty of both North and South Islands, from the sea and sand of the Coromandel coast to the Ice Age awe of Milford Sound. Active sightseeing by boat and on foot, as well as on board our agile vehicle, enables us to discover warm springs, boiling mud, temperate rainforest and snowy peaks!
An energetic day, discovering this natural paradise on foot and by boat; the bubbling sands of Hot Water Beach and the rock formations of Cathedral Cove are highlights. We take a water taxi to Hahei to re-join our vehicle and head to Cooks Beach. From here, there’s a choice: catch a ferry ride to Whitianga and walk to our hotel, or travel back with our driver.
A change of scene indeed! Rotorua is the epicentre of New Zealand’s geothermal activity and its Maori heritage. Our walk around Te Puia with a private guide reveals bubbling mud, steaming pools, indigenous crafts and even timid kiwis!
Waimangu Volcanic Valley – A walk through an evolving landscape of boiling craters and jewel-coloured steaming lakes, then a cruise across Lake Rotomahana.
Hobbiton™ Movie Set – Step into Middle Earth on a memorable guided tour of the ‘set’ where The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit were filmed: a must for Tolkien fans!
This evening we all visit a Marae (Maori Village) to discover the culture of New Zealand’s indigenous people, and feast at a Hangi, with food cooked in the heat of the earth.
Heading across the volcanic Tongariro Plateau we arrive on the sunny east coast, where the Art Deco town of Napier rivals Miami for its architecture: we learn why, during a walking tour with a local expert. This is also wine country, and tonight’s excellent dinner is hosted at New Zealand’s oldest winery, Mission Estate.
Today we head to breezy Wellington, taking in the panorama from the Kelburn Lookout before descending to sea level by cable car. No stay in the capital is complete without a visit to ‘our place of treasures’ as Te Papa translates from the Maori: this museum is world-class!
When is a ferry journey a scenic cruise? When the Interislander crosses the Cook Strait and sails up Queen Charlotte Sound. We disembark at Picton then drive to Blenheim and taste some famous Marlborough wines, before our driver delivers us to Nelson. This cheerful arty town enjoys a sunny microclimate and is a great base for discovering ‘the top of the South’.
The idyllic Abel Tasman National Park is best explored by boat and on foot. Sailing from Kaiteriteri, today offers a choice:
Scenic Cruise: 3-4 hours (no walking) – A morning cruise reveals golden sands and turquoise waters, returning to Nelson for a free afternoon.
Astrolabe Beaches & Bays (plus 2.5 hour walk) – After the Scenic Cruise, disembark at Apple Tree Bay for a self-guided walk (7 kms) to Anchorage Beach. Later transfer to Nelson.
Forest & Swing-Bridge (plus 4 hour walk) – After the Scenic Cruise, disembark at Medlands Beach for a self-guided hike (10.5 kms) that includes South Head lookout and Cleopatra’s Pool. Late transfer to Nelson.
We travel through the little-known Nelson Lakes National Park to Lake Rotoiti and take the challenging Buller River Gorge, carved out of the forest by pioneers, to reach the rugged west coast. Punakaiki is renowned for its rock stacks and blow-holes shaped by the pounding Tasman Sea.
The frontier town of Hokitika is an attractive halt on the Great Coast Road before we reach glacier country, where Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier reach almost to sea level. Little Fox Village is our base and, weather permitting, there is the chance to fly over the ‘rivers of ice’ and even land in the snow (at own cost).
After a photo-opp at mirror-like Lake Matheson we take the Haast Pass river road, deep into Mt Aspiring National Park. The atmosphere lightens as we reach lovely Lake Wanaka, reflecting peaks that in summer offer fine hiking; in winter superb skiing.
Nature lovers may take a lake cruise to a conservation island with an eco-guide to discover native birds like the flightless Buff Weka or you can choose to enjoy a scenic 4WD adventure to a high country farm above the lake.
Fiordland awaits, and the scenic route takes us over the Crown Range via Arrowtown and down to Lake Wakatipu to Lake Te Anau, the largest (by volume) freshwater lake in the South Island.
The climax of the tour is an epic journey through pristine Ice Age wilderness to majestic Milford Sound. On arrival, we board a comfortable small ship to cruise past towering Mitre Peak to the Tasman Sea. Seals and dolphins may follow the boat as we eat our picnic lunch on board. Our drive back is through Cleddeau Gorge, Homer Tunnel and the Eglinton Valley then across the Southland farmlands and around spectacular Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown.
After breakfast we transfer you to the airport for your flight: Haere ra – farewell! Alternatively, extend your time in Queenstown or ask us to tailor-make onward travel.
Very much enjoyed the superb Gallipoli exhibition at Te Papa Museum, Wellington. Loved the jet boat trip on our day out to Arthur’s Pass and the caves at Charleston.
A wonderful holiday!Chris and Joyce Brill
The Million Dollar cruise on Lake Wakatipu was absolutely brilliant – the guide was very knowledgeable and we would highly recommend this trip.
Our meal on the Mission Estate was one of the best meals of the holiday and the gardens at Hamilton were a real surprise.
But the main highlight has to have been the Milford Mariner overnight cruise – not the best of weather, we couldn’t get out on the kayaks – but a wonderful experience.Colin and Maureen Smith
Choosing a small group tour means you don’t have to worry about organising travel at all. With every one of our small group tours, we’ll arrange all of your transportation. We can even organise your initial flights to New Zealand! If you’d like to find out more about any of our tour packages, please do get in touch.
