Mon, Feb 6, 2023

New York to Auckland

• Flight NZ 1 from New York NY, JFK - Auckland, AKL
  • 7:40pm - 7:30am +2 days, 18h 50m, Non-Stop

Wed, Feb 8, 2023

Auckland

• Arrive in Auckland
• Sightseeing
  • Explore the city
• Hotel: The Grand by SkyCity
  • Feb 8-11

Thu, Feb 9, 2023

Auckland

• Museum time
  • Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki
    • Explore four floors of exhibitions, seven centuries of art and one of the country’s most iconic buildings!
• Dinner with a view
  • Sky Tower - Orbit 360

Fri, Feb 10, 2023

Auckland

• Museums, walking in town and fighting the yet lag
  • War memorial Museum
    • One of New Zealand’s most important museums and war memorials. Its collections concentrate on New Zealand history, natural history, and military history.
• Fancy dinner - Om nom nom nom
  • The Grove

Sat, Feb 11, 2023

Replanning due to Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle

• Since there is a Tropical Cyclone on path to hit the north part of the North Island we have to change our plans a bit. Instead of heading north from Auckland, we have decided to adjust our plans and will start moving south instead. Once we have picked up the rental car we will be on our way.
• Potential stops along the way are:
  • Hunua Ranges Regional Park
  • Hamilton Gardens
• Hotel: Lake Karapiro Lodge
  • Feb 11-13

Sun, Feb 12, 2023

Hobbiton

• Today we will make a visit to Hobbiton , we might get to see some halflings!

Mon, Feb 13, 2023

Waitomo

• The plans are a bit unstable since there is no way of knowing what the impact of the cyclone will bring and if any activities will be possible. But, we will try to move up our visit to Waitomo Caves by a few days.
  • Cave Tour ; Glowworms, stalactites and limestone formations!
• Marokopa falls
  • If in the mood, we will also enjoy some waterfalls reachable by a 10min hike from the caves.
• Once done with the Glowworms, we head south to Taupo.
• Hotel: Cascades Lakefront Motel
  • Feb 13-16

Tue, Feb 14, 2023

Taupo

• We will spend the day around lake Taupo. There is alot of ourdoor activites available but it all depends on the weather.
• We might go flyfishing or a bike ride or ride our the storm at the hotel.
  • Fly Fishing
  • Biking

Wed, Feb 15, 2023

Change rental car

• We did our best to change our rental car reservations but there’s no cars available to merge our two existing reservations into one (two different companies) so we will have to spend the day driving back to Auckland Airport, pick up the new car and head back to the hotel.

Thu, Feb 16, 2023

Drive to Rotoura

• We might take a quick tour on the lake to view the Rock Carvings before heading east to Rotoura.
• In Rotoura, there is the possibility to enjoy a Lighted Tree walk
  • Unfortunately, the wait time can be quite extreme during peak season so we will see if it’s doable or not.
• Hotel: Prince’s Gate Hotel
  • Feb 16-17

Fri, Feb 17, 2023

Rotoura - Back on original schedule

• Time for something awesome!!! A Floatplane Tour
  • Departing from the lake, the float plane will fly over White Island (permanently active offshore volcano) and Mt Tarawera (also a volcano). On the way back we the decent take us over the Waimangu Volcanic Valley before landing on the lake.
• With our feet safely back on land it’s time to once again get in the car and drive to Napier.
  • Napier is an Art Deco town that has been rebuilt after being destroyed in a 1931 massive earthquake. Each year they host an Art Deco festival that just happens to take place while we are visiting the town!
• Hotel: Navigate Seaside Hotel
  • Feb 17-19

Sat, Feb 18, 2023

Napier

• A lazy day with scenic views and a lot of good wine is in order.
  • The Country to Coast self-guided bike tour from Napier city bike hire & tours will guide us to some great wineries in Hawk’s Bay.
• Will finish up the day with the Art Deco festival .

Sun, Feb 19, 2023

Napier to Dunedin

• Time to head over to the South Island!
  • Flight NZ 5775 from Napier, NPE - Christchurch, CHC
    • 9:00am - 10:35am
  • Flight NZ 5749 from Christchurch, CHC - Dunedin, DUD
    • 11:55am - 13:00pm
• After picking up a rental car for our South Island excursions, we head to New Zealand’s only castle, Larnach Castle
  • Here we will explore the castle, check out the exquisite gardens, enjoy High Tea, have dinner in one of the castle’s dining rooms and stay overnight on the castle grounds.
• Hotel: Larnach Castle, Camp Estate
  • Feb 19-20

Mon, Feb 20, 2023

Dunedin/Otago Peninsula to Bluff

• On the Otago Peninsula you find the Royal Albatross Centre where you can view and learn about the Northern Royal Albatross. The drive to the center offers great opportunities to spot fur seals, sea lions and penguins.
• Hotel: Lands' End Boutique Hotel
  • Feb 20-21

Tue, Feb 21, 2023

Bluff to Te Anau, Fiordlands

• We continue on our journey and set aim on Fiordlands National Park .
  • The Fiordland National Park is a World Heritage Site and includes Milford, Dusky and Doubtful Sounds. In Fiordlands you can find three of New Zealand’s Great Walks , since they each require 3-5 days we do not have sufficient time (or equipment) to try them out this trip.
• Hotel: Alpenhorn Motel
  • Feb 21-24

Wed, Feb 22, 2023

Fiordland

• We embark on today’s adventures by heading out on The Road to Milford Sound
  • The Road to Milford Sound is one of the most scenic experiences on four wheels, it passes through mountain ranges, glacier-carved valleys, clear blue lakes and native rainforest.
• Once we reach Milford Sound it’s time for some exercise (and of course some awesome scenery). The Milford track Paddle n Walk . We will kayak to Sandfly point where we connect with the famous Milford Track (part of the Greatest Walks) for a short hike before kayaking back to Milford Sound.
• Our hotel is still down in Te Anau so we will drive The Road to Milford Sound in reverse before dinner and some well-earned rest.

Thu, Feb 23, 2023

Fiordland - Doubtful Sound

• The goal of the day is Doubtful Sound . The Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise will take us across lake Manpouri, through rainforest and Wilmont Pass by coach before embarking on a 3-hour cruise through Doubtful Sound.
• Doubtful Sound is the largest of the 14 fjords in Fiordland. The name originates from Captain James Cook, who when he encountered the fjord on his journeys named it Doubtful Harbour due to that it would be doubtful to enter the barely visible fjord. The Early Māori named the fiord, Patea-meaning ‘place of silence’, earning it it’s nickname the Sound of Silence.

Fri, Feb 24, 2023

Fiordland to Queenstown

• Time to leave this magical place and continue on our journey. Today we will travel to Queenstown, known for its adventure and ski tourism. Being in the middle of summer we miss the skiing season. Instead, we will enjoy the views and relax by the lake. If the weather is great, we might take a ride up with the Gondola and a Luge ride down the mountain.
• Hotel: Kamana Lakehouse
  • Feb 24-25

Sat, Feb 25, 2023

Queenstown to Fox Glacier

• Time to get on the road.
• The road will take us over Crown Range Road, the highest paved road in New Zealand (1076 meters above sea level). It’s also considered to be one of the most challenging drives in New Zealand, a winding road going up and down with hairpin turns.
• After this thrilling drive we will pass by the town of Wanaka and Lake Wanakawhich, depending on time, might be a great spot for early lunch!
• Continuing our drive, we will pass through Mt. Aspiring National park and traversing the Southern Alps via Haast Pass (lowest pass).
• Once we reach the coast, we will drive across the longest single lane bridge in New Zealand.
• Continuing north we will pass by the beaches in Bruce Bay before reaching our destination, Fox Glacier Township tired and ready for bed.
• Hotel: Mt Cook View Motel
  • Feb 25-27

Sun, Feb 26, 2023

Fox Glacier

• Time to take to the skies again! It’s time for the Flying Fox Heli Hike !
  • Flying helicopter in and out to Fox Glacier you get so see the Glacier from the air. After landing on the Glacier ice, you get an amazing hike on a remote part of the Glacier!

Mon, Feb 27, 2023

Fox Glacier to Amberly

• Another day another drive. However, all roads in New Zealand are supposed to be scenic drives, yay!
• Today it’s time to travel back over to the East Coast of the South Island, we will travel over Arthur’s Pass , the highest pass across the Southern Alps and promised great scenic views!
• There’s also some breathtaking civil engineering along the way. The Otira Viaduct opened on 6 February 1999 is one of mankind’s major engineering feats, spanning a long stretch of unstable terrain replacing an unsafe and winding stretch of the road.
• From the road you can also sport Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall . If time allows, a 2km return hike (60min) mostly made up of steps will take us to the viewing platform for a close-up view.
• Hotel: The Amberley Hotel
  • Feb 27-28

Tue, Feb 28, 2023

Kaikoura

• After a good night’s rest we continue to Kaikoura, for our last stop on the South island.
• It’s time for some Whale Watching !
  • Day cruise on a modern catamaran with the main focus of locating a Giant Sperm whale for us all to photograph.
• Hotel: Kaikoura Boutique Hotel
  • Feb 28 - Mar 1

Wed, Mar 1, 2023

Kaikoura to Wellington

• To reach the North Island, we travel north to Picton where we will catch a ferry to Wellington .
• The ferry that traverses the mighty Cook Strait and the spectacular Marlborough Sounds is one of the most scenic ferry journeys in the world. Exciting!
• Wellington is said to be New Zealand’s culinary capital, so we look forward to some great food before hitting the sack.
• Hotel: The Intrepid Hotel
  • Mar 1-3

Fri, Mar 3, 2023

Wellington to Auckland

• Our trip is almost over, and we must travel back north to Auckland for the last few days.
• Flight NZ432 Wellington, WLG - Auckland, AKL
  • 13:45-14:50
• Hotel: Hilton Auckland
  • Mar 3-6

Mon, Mar 6, 2023

Auckland to New York

• It’s time, we have come to the end of our trip. Hopefully we had an amazing journey with unbelievable scenic views and experiences for a lifetime! See you next time!
• Flight NZ 2 from Auckland, AKL - New York NY, JFK
  • 7:45pm - 5:40pm, 14h 55m, Non-Stop (Time travel is possible, I knew it!)
• Taxi home!

Original Travel Plan