14 Day Iconic New Zealand Guided Tour

Experience the best of New Zealand on this fantastic private guided tour. We offer the best flexible New Zealand escorted tours, with no date or itinerary restrictions.

Our New Zealand escorted tours are fully customisable and private. In other words, we will tailor the tour package to match your interests and schedule. We cater for couples, families and groups of up to 30+ travellers.

Read on for more details on the 14 Day Iconic New Zealand Guided Tour.

14 Day Iconic New Zealand Guided Tour Itinerary | New Zealand Escorted Tours

Day 1 Queenstown

Your fantastic guided holiday begins in Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand.

Your guide will collect you from Queenstown Airport and introduce you to Queenstown and everything this alpine paradise offers.

Queenstown sits on the shore of Lake Wakatipu among dramatic alpine ranges. Let Queenstown awaken your inner-explorer. Whether you’re interested in exploring trails, indulging in food and wine, teeing off stunning fairways or seeking adrenaline thrills – there are adventures to be found here of all tastes and tempos.

Stay 3 nights in Queenstown.

Day 2 Queenstown + TSS Earnslaw Cruise, Lunch & Farm Tour

At midday relive the elegance of turn-of-the-century travel with a cruise aboard the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw, the only coal fired passenger vessel still operating in the southern hemisphere. Step aboard – watch the stokers fueling the fireboxes and hear the hiss of the steam engines working as the TSS Earnslaw takes you on a nostalgic cruise over beautiful Lake Wakatipu. Disembark at Walter Peak High Country Farm, where you will enjoy a stunning four course meal. An entertaining after-lunch farm show provides a glimpse into high country farming life. On your return cruise, relax with a drink from the bar or join a fun sing-along with the ship’s pianist.

World-renowned for its adventure, Queenstown is home to a huge choice of adrenaline activities including jet boating, bungy jumping, white water rafting, skydiving and zip-lining! Option to add a thrill seeking activity to your tour.

If you’re looking for a slightly slower pace there’s plenty of recreational activities including scenic flights, hiking and biking trails, the Skyline Gondola, the Kiwi Birdlife Park, or spa and wellness options to help you truly feel worlds away.

Day 3 Milford Sound Scenic Flight & Cruise + Queenstown

Milford Sound is an area of extraordinary beauty. It offers a majestic fiord, dramatic and awe inspiring scenery and prolific flora and fauna.

Enjoy panoramic views as you fly from Queenstown to Milford Sound over mountains, glaciers, and the stunning World Heritage landscapes of Mt. Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks. Your expert pilot provides fascinating commentary throughout this unforgettable journey.

Descend into Milford Sound with breathtaking aerial views of Mitre Peak, Stirling Falls, and sheer alpine cliffs before landing at the remote airstrip.

Board a modern catamaran for a 1 hr 45 min cruise through the Fiord, discover the natural wonders of Milford Sound. Keep an eye out for fur seals, penguins, and dolphins while enjoying complimentary tea, coffee, and water.

After your cruise, rejoin your pilot for a spectacular return flight to Queenstown via a different scenic route – the perfect finale to an incredible day.

In the afternoon option to explore wineries, film locations, adventure activities or spoil yourself with a trip to a spa.

Day 4 Arrowtown + Wanaka + Things To Do In Wanaka

Travel time Queenstown to Wanaka via Arrowtown – 1.5 hours

Visit Arrowtown with your guide on your way to Wanaka. Arrowtown is charming and quirky – a delightful gold rush village nestled below the beautiful peaks that surround the sparkling Arrow River. The heart of its history is Buckingham Street, a procession of heritage buildings that stretches into a tree-lined avenue of tiny miner’s cottages. The buildings in this lovely precinct house shops, galleries, bars and restaurants.

Your scenic tour will continue as you enjoy the drive over the Crown Range to Wanaka. Option to stop at the historic Cardrona Hotel and the Cardrona Distillery.

Wanaka has a reputation for great food and wine, with a wide variety of lakefront bars, cafés and restaurants serving exceptional local cuisine.

Explore Wanaka with your guide – you may want to visit Puzzling World, Wanaka’s illusional attraction; the National Toy and Transport Museum or the Wanaka Lavender Farm located just a few minutes from Wanaka, where you can experience 20 acres of beautiful lavender fields, farm animals & display gardens.

Test out your fishing skills at “Hook”, Wanaka’s very unique interactive Lake to Plate dining experience. Catch a Chinook salmon from the scenic spring-fed fishing lakes and then relax as the team prepares it for you. No experience is necessary and fishing equipment can be hired on the day.

Stroll the streets and be inspired by galleries and stylish shops, visit ‘That Wanaka Tree’ for the perfect photo, or enjoy one of the many famous walking tracks such as Mt Iron.

Stay 1 night in Wanaka.

Day 5 Franz Josef + Franz Josef Glacier Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing

Travel time Wanaka to Franz Josef – 4.5 hours 

The Haast Pass Highway is one of the most scenic alpine routes in New Zealand. Explore the pass with your guide, stopping to view cascading waterfalls, broad alpine meadows, craggy snowcapped mountains, and the turquoise depths of the Blue Pools.

Continuing along the West Coast, your guide will take you to Lake Matheson, where you can take a 20 minute walk (one-way) to the jetty, to admire the reflected views of the Southern Alps on the surface of the lake.

In the afternoon, take an unforgettable helicopter flight over Franz Josef Glacier, where you will land in the snow to enjoy incredible views of the majestic Southern Alps.

Stay 1 night in Franz Josef.

Day 6 Hokitika + TranzAlpine Scenic Plus – New Zealand Train + Christchurch

Travel time Franz Josef to Greymouth – 2.5 hours 

Train travel time Greymouth to Christchurch – 4.5 hours 

Enjoy more West Coast beauty today. You will find an amazing attraction in the West Coast Treetop Walk. The walkway is 450 metres in total and reaches heights of 20 metres giving you fantastic panoramic views. Hokitika is a great location worth exploring, famous for its rugged beach and arts and crafts scene. Carry on to Greymouth, which is located 30 minutes north of Hokitika.

Leave the rugged West Coast behind today as you board the TranzAlpine Train for a fantastic journey through Arthurs Pass. Travel past the soaring peaks and braided rivers of the Southern Alps, through the gorges of the Waimakariri River, and past the rolling Canterbury Plains. Scenic Plus transforms your TranzAlpine journey into a full sensory experience. As you take in the landscapes, enjoy a menu inspired by the very regions you travel through. Fresh, seasonal ingredients are prepared in the onboard kitchen and served at your seat, course by course, with matching New Zealand wines and beverages.

Your guide will be waiting for you at Christchurch Railway Station ready to take you to your Christchurch City accommodation.

Choose from your guide’s range of restaurant recommendations and enjoy your evening in the Garden City.

Stay 1 night in Christchurch.

Day 7 Kaikoura + Kaikoura Whale Watch Cruise

Travel time Christchurch to Kaikoura – 2.5 hours 

Discover the East Coast today on the scenic drive to Kaikoura, stopping along the way to view seals and rugged coastal panoramas.

In the afternoon take a scenic cruise to view the majestic Sperm Whales off the Kaikoura Coast. Whale Watch Kaikoura is New Zealand’s only marine-based whale watching company, offering visitors enchanting up-close encounters with Sperm Whales at all times of the year. Depending on the season, you may also see migrating Humpback Whales, Pilot Whales, Blue Whales and Southern Right Whales.

A typical Whale Watch tour may encounter New Zealand Fur Seals, pods of Dusky Dolphins and the endangered Wandering Albatross.

Spend the evening in Kaikoura, a stunning coastal town with a backdrop of majestic mountains. Be sure to sample the superb local seafood at dinner!

Stay 1 night in Kaikoura.

Day 8 Cook Strait Picton to Wellington Ferry (private cabin) + Wellington City

Travel time Kaikoura to Picton – 2.5 hours 

Begin your day with a tour through the stunning Marlborough wine region, with the option to stop at a winery or two along the way to sample the award-winning vintages.

Sailing time Picton to Wellington – 3.5 hours 

When you reach Picton, embark on a cruise through picturesque Marlborough Sounds to Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city. Unwind in your private cabin and arrive refreshed, ready for the next leg of your journey.

Set on the edge of a stunning harbour, surrounded by rolling hills, Wellington is a city rich in culture waiting to be explored. From shopping and picturesque walks to concerts, live theatre, exhibitions, festivals, Te Papa Tongarewa: the Museum of New Zealand, and more – Wellington has something for everyone.

Stay 2 nights in Wellington.

Day 9 Wellington City + Must-Do Wellington Attractions

Enjoy Wellington City for the day.

Any visitor to Wellington should have the Museum of New Zealand Te Papā Tongarewa at the top of their to-do list and general entry is free.

Enjoy a ride on Wellington’s bright red cable car. From the summit you will be able to visit other attractions such as the Botanic Gardens and Fragrifert – a traditional Victorian perfumery.

Add a Wētā Workshop Tour. The Workshop is best known for its Academy Award®-winning work on the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.

You may like to discover Zealandia. Hidden in a suburban valley, this eco-sanctuary is home to over 40 rare species of native wildlife including over 150 kiwi roaming free. Explore the outdoors at your own pace or be led by a guide.

Wellington is known as the craft beer capital of New Zealand. With many breweries spread across central Wellington, finding a vibrant spot to enjoy a beer and chat with the locals is easy.

Day 10 Tongariro National Park + Taupo + Huka Falls

Travel time Wellington to Taupo – 5.5 hours

Your guided tour will continue as you enjoy the drive to Taupo, a small town set beside New Zealand’s largest lake. Along the way, you will come across Tongariro National Park, which boasts an impressive collection of volcanoes. Your route will pass through the national park on a section of State Highway 1 called The Desert Road, a desolate and beautiful landscape dominated by sub-alpine plants and plains. You can stop in Tongariro National Park for a short hike if you wish. If you are a Lord of the Rings fan your guide can take you to view Gollum’s Pool and show you Mordor!

Taupo is rich in natural beauty with attractions such as the Huka Falls. The Huka Falls is New Zealand’s most visited natural attraction, where more than 220,000 litres of water thunder over the cliff face every second. Visit with your guide.

Keeping with the water theme, Taupo is a great lake for trout fishing and scenic boat cruises. The Maori rock carvings at Mine Bay, which can only be seen from the water, make for a great boat trip.

The forests surrounding the lake offer hiking and mountain biking to suit all levels of experience. Pedal along the forested shores of Lake Taupo and admire the volcanic peaks of Tongariro National Park on the Great Lake Trail.

Stay 1 night in Taupo.

Day 11 Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland + Redwoods Treewalk + Rotorua

Travel time Taupo to Rotorua – 1 hour 

Enjoy the scenic drive through rolling farmland to Rotorua, the geothermal capital of New Zealand. Along the way, stop to visit Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is a spectacular showcase of New Zealand’s most colourful and unique geothermal elements sculpted by thousands of years of volcanic activity. Watch the Lady Knox Geyser Show, allow at least three hours to see everything and truly savour New Zealand’s most colourful geothermal park.

After reaching Rotorua, this evening explore Redwoods Treewalk. This award winning attraction is great for all ages. At 700-metres long, this one of a kind New Zealand treewalk consists of a series of 28 suspension bridges, which traverse between 27 majestic 117-year-old Redwood Trees. The treewalk sits at 20-metres above the forest at its peak and the walkway has been specifically designed and constructed to preserve the trees, plants, and the surrounding natural environment by using a uniquely constructed New Zealand-first technologically designed sling, which is suspended from the Redwood trees.

Enjoy at your own pace with no safety harnesses or training required, and appreciate the peacefulness and spirit of this special forest. Along the walk are informative story boards that will educate you on local stories and forestry.

Stay 2 nights in Rotorua.

Day 12 Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa + Te Pā Tū – Evening Cultural Experience & Hangi Dinner

In the morning, step into Wai Ariki, a place where Ngāti Whakaue culture, healing traditions, and warm hospitality converge. Nestled by the captivating Lake Rotorua, its name, ‘Chiefly Waters,’ reflects the majesty it holds. Owned and curated by the local iwi, you’ll discover the Wai Whakaora, a path to restoration, and the exclusive sanctuary, Āhuru Mōwai, both deeply rooted in Māori values. Experience a world of uniqueness that transcends borders and touches hearts. Wai Ariki awaits to embrace you with its magic.

This evening, immerse yourself in Māori culture with the Te Pā Tū Evening Cultural Experience & Hāngi Dinner. Enjoy traditional storytelling, song, and dance before sharing a delicious seasonal hāngi feast cooked in an earth oven. This unforgettable evening celebrates Māori heritage, connection, and hospitality in a truly authentic setting.

Day 13 Footwhistle Glowworm Cave + Auckland

Travel time Rotorua to Waitomo – 2 hours

Venture off the beaten track as your guide takes you on a scenic drive to Waitomo. The land is wilder around here, with limestone outcroppings emerging from farmland and densely forested hills rising all around, but the wildest landscape of all lies underground.

Witness the marvels of these ancient caverns as you embark on a private guided Footwhistle Tour with Cave World, where you will be captivated by the enchanting glow of thousands of glowworms illuminating the darkness above.

Travel time Waitomo to Auckland – 3 hours

After your Footwhistle Caves adventure, your tour will continue north via Hamilton to Auckland City. In the evening, explore Auckland with your guide, visiting top attractions such as the Sky Tower, Viaduct Harbour and Federal Street.

Stay 2 nights in Auckland.

Day 14 Auckland + Dinner Cruise on Auckland Harbour

Explore Auckland with your guide.

Spend some time relaxing at one of the numerous local beaches, visit Waiheke Island or unwind with some shopping and local cuisine.

Mission Bay and St. Heliers urban beaches offer breathtaking views of the harbour and Rangitoto Island.

Take a day trip to Waiheke Island, where you’ll find beautiful galleries and craft boutiques in this homeland of artists. There are plenty of places to enjoy a good coffee or taste New Zealand’s fresh Pacific Rim cuisine. The island also boasts more than a dozen high-quality vineyards, many with relaxed restaurants onsite. Enjoy local wine while looking out over vine-covered valleys to the blue sea beyond.

Shop till you drop on Queen Street, the iconic central city street features luxury brands such as Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton, Smith & Caughey’s (a much-loved Kiwi chain store) along with a host of souvenir shops. You will also love adjoining High Street and Chancery Street, popular for their high fashion boutiques and vintage stores.

In the evening, enjoy a harbour dinner cruise on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour, what a way to finish your New Zealand tour!

Day 15 Depart Auckland

Your guide will deliver you to Auckland Airport for your departing flight.

New Zealand Escorted Tours

As you plan your New Zealand tour, our team is here every step of the way. From answering questions to recommending top options based on your interests, we promise to make your tour planning process easy and stress-free.

Our New Zealand escorted tours are fully customisable based on your interests. We will work with you to ensure your holiday matches exactly what you are looking for.

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