“Kia Ora and Welcome to New Zealand”
On arrival Auckland your Chauffeured Driver will meet you outside the customs hall.   You will be assisted with luggage and transferred by private car to your hotel in the city.

You have been pre-registered for immediate occupancy.   After you have settled in your romantic boutique luxury hotel room and have had some time to freshen up, suggest you venture out for a stroll around the city or down to the  marina for lunch at one of the waterfront restaurants.

There is much to do to help you adjust to New Zealand time.   Get the wind in your hair with a Harbour Sailing Cruise, on a purpose-built sailboat or the ultimate sailing experience – sail a real America’s Cup Yacht.  You may also like to visit the Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium, home to very vibrant and playful colonies of King and Gentoo Penguins   * Free shuttle service operates daily from 172 Quay Street (opposite the downtown ferry terminal).

Or discover the tastes of Auckland with a personally guided tour.  Zest food tours will introduce you to favorite food places and people for a unique food-lover’s experience.   The best way to discover any place is through its food.

This morning your Chauffeured Driver will transfer you to the airport in time to connect with your domestic flight to Nelson.

On arrival Nelson airport make your way to the Rental Car counter to pick up your vehicle.  After you have collected your vehicle, self-drive to Kaiteriteri – the gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park– approximately 1 hour.

For your perfect New Zealand Honeymoon getaway we have chosen a romantic B & B embedded in hilly native bush land, with breathtaking 360° views across the Tasman Bay, Kaiteriteri Forest and the surrounding Kahurangi National Park ranges.

Nelson region is known for its year-round sunshine, golden beaches, three national parks, 300-plus working Artists and craftspeople, boutique wineries, fresh local produce and seafood, historical streetscapes, waterfront cafes and restaurants, and a thoroughly relaxed lifestyle. The region itself has numerous opportunities for walking, mountain biking and watersports.

After an early breakfast this morning, self-drive to the tour departure point at Kaiteriteri for your Full Day Abel Tasman Adventure – Beaches, Bays & Seals Guided Sea Kayaking Day Trip with lunch.

Discover the beautiful beaches, tidal estuaries and rivers of the most scenic kayaking are of the Abel Tasman National Park – Anchorage to Bark Bay.  Pause at a sheltered cove for lunch (included) and take time to relax and explore. On your return journey, if the winds are favorable the kayak sails will be hoisted and you will sail back to Torrent Bay.  Paddling approx. 2.5 hours. Boat transfers to/from Torrent Bay & Anchorage.

You have a full day at leisure in this stunning national park to enjoy the magnificent scenery and optional activities on offer.

New Zealand’s Abel Tasman National Park One of New Zealand’s 14 national parks, the Abel Tasman is the smallest at 22,530 hectares.   It is covered in native bush, interlaced with walking tracks and surrounded by clear blue/green seas and welcoming bays with golden sand.   Many people enjoy walking the picturesque Abel Tasman Coastal Track, breaking the walk with a well deserved swim in one of the Abel Tasman’s tantalizing bays.   

There’s also one of New Zealand’s marine reserves off the Abel Tasman National Park’s coast.   This reserve provides a safe haven for the marine wildlife in the area and is therefore a great place to scuba dive or snorkel; just see how big the crayfish grow.    Sea kayaking in the Abel Tasman National Park The area is home to the New Zealand fur seal, which can be seen swimming in the blue waters or resting on rocks along the coastline.  

The Abel Tasman National Park is within easy driving distance of Nelson, Motueka, Kaiteriteri, Upper Moutere, Tasman and Mapua, areas rich in arts and crafts, cafes, vineyard and wineries.   Not to mention all the activities available from sea kayaking to tramping.   Cruise and enjoy the Abel Tasman coastline Kahurangi and Nelson Lakes National Parks are also nearby, both offer extensive hiking tracks and stunning scenery.

Early this morning self-drive down the coast 3.45 hours to the famous Punakaiki Pancake Rocks.   Situated on the wild West Coast, 300 meters south of the famous Pancakes Rocks and Blowholes, lies your gorgeous resort surrounded by the Paparoa National Park and is only a stone’s throw from the beach.

After your visit at the Pancake Rocks, travel 30 minutes south to Greymouth where you can enjoy time wandering the town.

Greymouth is the largest town in the West Coast region in the South Island of New Zealand, it is a town with a history of jade hunting, gold mining and dramatic river floods. Sample the beer and listen to Wild West coast stories.

Drop your rental car at the Greymouth railway station in time to board the 1.45p.m Tranz Apline Train to Arthurs Pass. 

Arrive at 3.57p.m. where you will be met and transferred to your High country Sheep Station – which is uniquely New Zealand.   Tariff includes 4 course dinner, full breakfast and 2 short guided nature activities.

This is a luxury lodge in the wilderness.  Opened in 1997 on historic Cora Lynn Station and still owned by the extended Mc Sweeney family, offers quality accommodation, superb New Zealand cuisine and a delightful natural setting surrounded by the Arthur’s Pass National Park.

Through their network of easy walks, fun guided naturalist tours, canoe trips and farm walks you can experience the alpine plants, animals and spectacular landscapes of the Southern Alps.

On the 2,400 hectare (6,000 acre) nature reserve/sheep station with its 4,000 super fine merino sheep you can also discover New Zealand high country culture away from the tourist trails.

Arthurs Pass full day at leisure  –

This Lodge is a Mecca for guests interested in Nature Walks, Flora and Fauna, Kayaking, Guided fishing -just to name a few.  Half and full day guided tours are available from the Lodge and a program that changes daily for these activities.

After a hearty breakfast, you will be transferred back to the Arthurs Pass Station to board the Tranz Alpine Train 10.42a.m. to Greymouth

Arrive at 12.45p.m. where you will pick up your duplicate rental car and self-drive 3 hours south to Franz Josef Glaciers.

Picture a luxury forest escape with environmental awareness surrounded by native forest. All care has been taken to make sure that everything used only steps lightly upon the earth. From the organic cotton bedspreads to the recycled local building materials.  Come take a deep breath, and simply unwind in this remarkable setting. Attention to detail, fantastic personal service and facilities to enable you to enjoy every aspect of your stay at at this Forest Retreat.

Romantic Dining among the trees in ‘The Canopy’ restaurant, and savoring quality local cuisine, including an indulgent five-course degustation dinner.

Franz Josef Glacier was named by von Haast when he discovered it in 1862, it falls 2439m in its course of 14km terminating in an abrupt cliff face 1km wide and 30m high. Due to the immense snow field at its source and the precipitous drop, the glacier moves between 1 and 5 meters per day. A unique feature is the fact that these glaciers terminate on the fringe of forest and fern, sub-tropical in luxuriance, something that is found nowhere else in the world.

At 13 kilometres in length, Fox Glacier is the largest West Coast glacier. However, its current length pales in comparison to past size where in the last ice age the glacier extended almost to the sea leaving its tell-tale moraine walls as evidence of past advances, the most recent being in the 1750’s.

After an early breakfast, self-drive to the Fox Glacier heli-hike departure point.

The fly-in, fly-out heli-hike combines the excitement of walking on the Fox Glacier with the thrill of helicopter flights.  By flying in you are able to access and explore a part of the glacier where its forces work hardest and often create spectacular ice caves and arches.  Equipped with sturdy leather boots and other equipment, you board the helicopter for your first flight over the pinnacles of the lower ice fall. Here, the ice is in constant motion. You then circle the upper ice fall and Victoria Falls before landing.

Your landing site on the ice is a remote and exceptionally beautiful part of the glacier. At this stage, your guide outfits you with crampons, specially designed for these ice conditions and you follow the ice steps cut by your guide as you explore the amazing formations and ice caves which are only seen here.

Each departure is a true voyage of exploration. There are so many changing features that the guides always find something new.    Weather permitting, ice time is about 2.5 hours.  Please note that this is a natural and ever changing environment. Ice features change constantly and no guarantee can be given  that specific features will be seen.
Tour includes: two helicopter flights, guide, ground transport, leather boots, socks, crampons.

Continue your self-drive journey to Queenstown – approximately 6.5 hours.

You will journey through beautiful country including magnificent rain-forests, Haast Pass, and Mt. Aspiring National Park with awesome alpine scenery. Descend past glacial Lakes Wanaka and Hawea to the small lakeside village of Wanaka Township.  Travel past Lake Dunstan, across Central Otago sheep country and through the Kawarau Gorge into the lakeside resort of Queenstown.

Your luxury lakefront accommodation is looking out over Lake Wakatipu to the Remarkables Mountains which afford you spectacular views from your Floor-to-ceiling windows and balcony.

Evening at leisure to dine in one of the many waterfront cafes or restaurants.

Queenstown nestled on the shores Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by high country peaks.  It’s a breathtakingly beautiful setting and the region is a playground for all seasons & interests.   Queenstown has a fantastic range of touring possibilities.  There is an endless list of activities available to you.  Options range from jetboating & rafting the Shotover River, to paragliding and the latest: “canyoning”- rapelling & sliding down waterfalls! You needn’t opt for such a rush of excitement – there are 4WD excursions, Heli flights over Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park.  Perhaps mountain bike or hike along alpine & lake trails as gentle or as challenging as you like. Find a café, restaurant or colorful nightspot if you feel the need to be reacquainted with civilization!  You can take a local bus to visit quaint and historic Arrowtown, a village nestled beside the Arrow River.  Visitors can enjoy gold panning, tours around historic buildings, the Chinese Miners Settlement, the district’s museum, a boutique cinema and numerous walking trails.  Arrowtown a short distance away & is central to the regions best wineries, artist galleries, golf courses, fishing and ski areas.

This morning embark on an exciting Half day Dart River Wilderness Safari. 

The Wilderness Safari takes you on a spectacular 1.5 hour Jet Boat journey through the Dart’s ever-changing braided river system, where you’ll be thrilled by our Jet Boat’s capabilities including jet spins.  Also includes an easy guided 30 – 40 minute walk through the ‘Heritage Trail’ at Paradise. You‘ll also journey by 4WD coach via a scenic back-road route and stopping to view scenery that has formed the epic backdrop for many international films, including The Lord of the Rings.

Afternoon free to explore the charming Queenstown Village.

Today enjoy a full day excursion to the iconic Milford Sound on a Nature Cruise with lunch.

You will be transferred to the flight departure point where you will travel by fixed wing plane with panoramic views of spectacular alpine scenery, lush rainforest, and finally Milford Sound. Once on the ground at Milford Airport, board a luxury vessel for a Nature Cruise the full-length of Milford Sound. The vessel provides excellent viewing and there is plenty of time available to enjoy the waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife. Return back to Queenstown by fixed wing plane.

Enjoy your last day in Queenstown at leisure to relax, or for self-exploration with your rental car to make a visit to the Historical quaint town Arrowtown. (approximately 20 minute drive)  and enroute visit the local favorite Amisfield Winery & Bistro in Arrowtown for lunch and wine tastings, and perhaps make a stop at Sam Neil’s Two Paddocks’ three vineyards winery located nearby in Gibbston.

For optional touring ideas click here Queenstown Adventure Activities

You may also wish take the Skyline Gondola to the top of Queenstown for magic views over the town and lake and take a gravity fueled fun ride on the Skyline Luge.

Bid farewell to Queenstown as you drop off your rental car at the Airport for your flight departure to the USA.