Reuthers
Paradise / New Zealand
Guided Adventure Tour

Kia Ora and Welcome to Auckland, the City of Sails. Join us for a traditional welcome drink and dinner. Getting to know each other is a key focus today, and your tour guide will provide detailed information about your upcoming New Zealand Adventure Tour.

After the daily briefing, we head north into the Northland region of New Zealand, including a stop at a honey farm. Overnight stay in Whangarei.

From Whangarei we travel to Paihia, located in the historic and popular Bay of Islands. A boat tour takes us to the famous Hole in the Rock.

We begin the day with a visit to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the birthplace of New Zealand. Our destination today is Taipa, right on the beach and the perfect starting point for tomorrow’s adventure.

Today we travel to the northernmost point of New Zealand and visit Cape Reinga with its small post office, iconic signpost pointing to destinations around the world, and its lonely lighthouse. This is a deeply spiritual place. According to Maori belief, the souls of the dead depart here for the underworld and their ancestral homeland, Hawaiki. After this northern excursion, we travel south along the Twin Coast Discovery Highway and take a ferry from Kohukohu to Rawene. Our journey continues into the Waipoua Kauri Forest, where - depending on opening hours - we visit Tane Mahuta, the "God of the Forest", New Zealand's most impressive tree, with a diameter of 4.5 m, a height of 51 m, and an age of over 2,000 years. Overnight in Dargaville.

We once again follow the Twin Coast Discovery Highway and arrive back in Auckland during the afternoon. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Today’s highlight is a visit to Tiritiri Matangi Island, north of Auckland. This open nature reserve in the Hauraki Gulf is a paradise renowned for its birdlife, including kiwi and takahe. We also visit the oldest lighthouse in New Zealand still in operation.

Travel along the Pacific Coast Highway through the stunning Coromandel region. Overnight stay in the town of Coromandel.

During the day, we enjoy a train ride through kauri plantations and learn more about the Coromandel region. Our destination is Whitianga, where we stay overnight close to the beach where Captain Cook once raised the British flag.

After a hearty breakfast, we visit Hot Water Beach before continuing on to Rotorua. Even before reaching the city, the smell of sulfur from bubbling and roaring Geysers fills the air. In the evening, we experience authentic Maori culture at Te Puia, including traditional dances and songs, a Hangi dinner, a Haka performance, and the Pohutu Geyser.

Inspired by the natural wonders, we continue to Taupo, stopping at Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest inland lake, with views of Mount Ruapehu (2,797 m). Our destination is Napier, rebuilt in Art Deco style after the 1931 earthquake. Overnight stay in an original Art Deco hotel on the Marine Parade waterfront.

Today we travel at a relaxed pace to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. A stop at New Zealand's Stonehenge is planned along the way.

Explore Wellington at your own pace. This day is free, and we are happy to recommend optional activities.

Before leaving the North Island, we visit Te Papa, New Zealand's National Museum. In the early afternoon, we take the Interislander ferry to Picton. From there, we travel along Tasman Bay to Nelson, the first city in New Zealand. The Nelson region enjoys the highest number of sunshine hours in the country.

Today we take a day trip to Abel Tasman National Park. We are dropped off on a beach by water taxi and, after a walk through untouched wilderness, picked up again with ease.

Our adventure tour continues southwest along the famous Buller Gorge Road to Cape Foulwind and further south to the Pancake Rocks. We view the spectacular blowholes up close. Overnight stay in the coastal town of Greymouth, once an important Maori settlement.

After breakfast in Hokitika, we pass the former gold-mining town of Ross and enjoy the dramatic scenery of towering mountains, lush rainforest, and the Tasman Sea to our right. In Franz Josef, we settle in below the Franz Josef Glacier.
Optional: Depending on weather conditions, enjoy a helicopter flight with glacier landing or, weather-independent, an exciting quad bike tour through the rainforest.

Explore the Franz Josef Glacier or join an optional guided hike. This day is at leisure.

Passing Fox Glacier, we leave the Tasman Sea behind, cross Haast Pass, and reach Wanaka. A remote mountain road leads us to Queenstown, New Zealand's adventure capital. After a scenic cruise on Lake Wakatipu, we enjoy dinner at the Colonel’s Homestead Restaurant on Walter Peak High Country Sheep Farm, including a farm tour. The historic TSS Earnslaw steamship takes us back to Queenstown.

Adventure and sightseeing await: options include bungy jumping from the historic Kawarau Bridge, parasailing, or a jet boat ride. Alternatively, enjoy shopping or simply relax. This day is at leisure.

Enjoy a beautiful morning in Queenstown before continuing to Te Anau in the early afternoon.

Today features one of the world’s natural wonders and New Zealand's most famous landmark: Milford Sound, located in the wettest region of the country. We take a cruise along the 16 km long fjord to the Tasman Sea, with opportunities to see penguins, seals, dolphins, and occasionally whales, as well as New Zealand's most spectacular waterfalls.

Later in the morning, our journey continues to Invercargill, New Zealand's southernmost city and the heart of Southland.

On Stewart Island, we explore untouched nature, observe rare bird species, and take a boat tour through a spectacular underwater world.

Many will recognize the cult film The World’s Fastest Indian starring Anthony Hopkins. Today we view Burt Munro’s original motorcycle. Afterwards, we travel through the Catlins region to Dunedin, with numerous stops along the way, including the famous Nugget Point Lighthouse.

Today’s highlight is the Royal Albatross Colony on the Otago Peninsula, where we also see penguins and take a historic tour to Taiaroa Head.

Our destination today is Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest peak at over 3,800 m. We take part in a guided tour and, if possible, spend the night at the legendary Hermitage Hotel at the foot of the mountain.

The inland route to Christchurch takes us to the Church of the Good Shepherd on the shores of Lake Tekapo. The church features an altar window framing breathtaking views of the lake and mountains.

On a day trip, we explore the French influence in New Zealand in the harbor village of Akaroa, surrounded by rugged volcanic hills. Alternatively, explore Christchurch independently.

Depending on weather conditions, we can take part in a whale-watching tour. Our destination is Kaikoura, New Zealand's most famous location for whale observation.

Continuing north, we stay overnight in Blenheim, the center of New Zealand's wine industry, located in the Marlborough region. A wine tasting is, of course, included.

Welcome back to the North Island. We take the famous Interislander ferry through Queen Charlotte Sound and cross the Cook Strait. The remainder of the day in Wellington is at leisure.

Traveling north, we visit Tongariro National Park, New Zealand's oldest national park. Enjoy stunning views of Mount Tongariro and the historic Chateau Tongariro Hotel at its base. Overnight stay in Taupo near Lake Taupo.

On our final day, we visit the Waitomo Glowworm Caves and take a boat tour beneath thousands of glowing worms. After this spectacular highlight, we return to Auckland for our traditional farewell dinner, where we reflect on our unforgettable New Zealand Adventure Tour.