Day 1 | Depart gateway city
AHI FlexAir passengers depart for Auckland, New Zealand. Please check your luggage from your gateway city to your arrival city. Your claim checks should have the following airport code: AKL.

Day 2 | In transit
Cross the international date line.

Day 3 | Auckland, New Zealand
Grand Millennium Auckland
L | R | D
Arrive at Auckland Airport. Proceed through immigration to the baggage claim area and retrieve your luggage. After completing customs, AHI FlexAir passengers traveling on flights that qualify for the group arrival transfer and Land Program passengers who have purchased seats on the group transfer should exit the baggage claim area and proceed to the designated meeting spot, where an AHI Travel representative will meet you. The meeting location will be provided with your final documents.

Transfer to the Grand Millennium Auckland. Please note that if you arrive before check-in time, your room may not be immediately available.

After some time to get settled, walk to a nearby restaurant for lunch with your fellow travelers.

Auckland. Welcome to the City of Sails! Spread across a narrow isthmus, cosmopolitan Auckland rests between two sparkling harbors, the Waitemata on the Pacific Ocean and the Manukau on the Tasman Sea, making it a paradise for sailing, boating and water sports enthusiasts. With a population of 1.7 million, it’s home to roughly one-third of all Kiwis, as New Zealanders are affectionately known. On a guided walk, take in the lively downtown scene and local landmarks. Hear about Auckland’s Māori heritage and interesting aspects of Kiwi culture as well as the European colonization of New Zealand. In 1840, the Māori chiefs and the British Crown signed a treaty that made New Zealand a British colony, resulting in an influx of settlers from England and Scotland.

Enrichment: The Legend of Tamaki Makaurau. New Zealand’s first inhabitants were the Māori, whose ancestors arrived by canoe from Polynesian islands between 1250 and 1300 A.D. According to legend, the first indication of land in the distance for these explorers was an aotearoa, or a long, white cloud, which became their name for the islands. Stories such as this were passed down to subsequent generations as part of the Māori oral tradition. A local expert shares the legend of Auckland’s origins and other folklore.

Tonight, gather for a Welcome Reception and Dinner at the hotel.

Day 4 | Auckland
Grand Millennium Auckland
B | L
Start each day with a hearty breakfast at your hotel.

Auckland Museum: Curator’s Tour. Gain illuminating details about New Zealand’s Māori culture, natural history and place within the Pacific as an expert leads you through the museum’s exceptional galleries. View one of the world’s premier collections of Māori taonga, or treasures. Marvel at intricately woven textiles, carved stone and wooden artifacts, a full-size traditional meeting house and much more.

Relax with your group later during lunch at a restaurant in charming Parnell.

Free Time: The rest of the day is yours to plan. Your Travel Director can assist with recommendations.

Day 5 | Auckland | Wellington
James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor
B | L
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer by motor coach to Auckland’s domestic airport for your flight to Wellington. Once you arrive in Wellington, relish a refreshing lunch by the waterfront.

Check in to the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor.

Free Time: Unwind this afternoon during leisure time and make your own dinner plans.

Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary. This evening, head to this serene urban conservation center covering 555 acres in Wellington. Follow your guide along the trails in search of protected rare and endangered native wildlife species. As darkness falls, you may spy the little spotted Kiwi, the national bird, or unique creatures like the Tuatara, a reptile found only in New Zealand.

Day 6 | Wellington
James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor
B | D
Wellington Highlights. Get acquainted with New Zealand’s capital city on a panoramic/walking tour that features expansive views over gorgeous Wellington Harbor from Mount Victoria. It was due to this well-situated harbor that this site was chosen in 1839 as the first planned settlement for British immigrants. In 1865, the city of Wellington became the country’s capital.

By 1907, after decades of gradual movement toward self-government, New Zealand achieved dominion status with sovereignty over domestic matters, although full independence from the government of Britain would not be officially established until 1947. Today, New Zealand and the United Kingdom maintain a close partnership founded on their shared history and strong cultural ties, including a parliamentary system of government modeled on the British Westminster system. As a constitutional monarchy, New Zealand’s formal Head of State is King Charles III.

On your tour, see the Parliament buildings, including the iconic Beehive, which houses the Executive Wing offices of the Prime Minister and senior Cabinet members. After checking out Oriental Bay’s splendid scenery and other highlights, step inside a beloved Wellington gem, Old St. Paul’s Church. Consecrated in 1866, this Gothic Revival wooden church is adorned with native hardwood timber and fine stained-glass windows.

AHI Connects | Hidden Māori Treasures Walking Tour. Join local Iwi for a fascinating look at the region’s Māori heritage at Te Raukura, or Te Wharewaka o Pōneke, a 21st-century cultural complex that has restored a Māori presence to Wellington’s harbor. At the start of European colonization, Te Aro Pā, the area’s largest traditional village, was located here near the waterfront. View the archaeological remains of a whareponga, or house, at the Pā site; learn about the people who lived there; and hear tales about the harbor’s taniwha, or mythical creatures.

Free Time: Afterward, take a break for lunch on your own and see more of the city center independently.

Dine with your group tonight at a restaurant inside the Beehive building.

Day 7 | Wellington | Ferry to South Island | Picton | Blenheim
Carnmore Chateau Marlborough
B | L
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer by motor coach to the Interisland Ferry. On this picturesque ferry ride to the South Island, cross the Cook Strait and pass through spectacular Queen Charlotte Sound. Disembark in Picton and continue by motor coach to Blenheim in the internationally renowned Marlborough wine region.

Marlborough Wine Region. New Zealand’s largest winegrowing region first grabbed the world’s attention in the 1980s with its aromatic, crisp Sauvignon Blanc. Blessed with a remarkably sunny, dry and cool climate, Marlborough’s wine producers have since expanded into a wide range of delicious styles. Savor lunch and a tasting at a winery in Blenheim.

Check in to the Carnmore Chateau Marlborough.

Free Time: Your evening is at leisure.

Day 8 | Blenheim
Carnmore Chateau Marlborough
B
Free Time: Create your own agenda today! Try some of Blenheim’s top-notch eateries, browse in its independent boutiques or perhaps take a cruise through the Marlborough Sounds. You can also choose to participate in one of the two optional activities offered today.

Elective Activity | Guided Wine Tour by Bike. Pedal through the idyllic Marlborough countryside on quiet roads and vineyard-lined trails from winery to winery on a pleasant, leisurely bike ride. This half-day excursion includes tastings at two wineries, along with bicycles and helmets. Available at an additional cost.

Elective Activity | Omaka Aviation Heritage Museum. At this world-class museum, marvel at impressive vintage World War I and II aircraft in dramatic, detailed dioramas. The “Knights of the Sky” experience presents rare planes, artifacts and memorabilia from World War I, including the personal collection of director Sir Peter Jackson. The immersive “Dangerous Skies” exhibition covers important battles and lesser-known stories from World War II. Available at an additional cost.

Day 9 | Kaikoura | Christchurch
Distinction Christchurch Hotel
B | D
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and travel south by motor coach along the coast toward Christchurch. In Kaikoura, stop for lunch on your own before your cruise.

Whale Watching Cruise. Kaikoura is famous for the abundance of marine mammals that live in the waters off the Kaikoura Peninsula. Giant sperm whales are year-round residents as well as fur seals and dusky dolphins. Orcas, the largest of the dolphin family, are seen here, along with migrating species of whales including the Humpback, Pilot and Blue. It’s also home to New Zealand’s largest concentration of seabirds, such as albatross and petrels. Keep your eye out for these amazing creatures on a whale watching cruise.

Afterward, continue to Christchurch. Check in to the Distinction Christchurch Hotel, where you and your fellow travelers will dine this evening.

Day 10 | Christchurch
Distinction Christchurch Hotel
B
Christchurch Tour & Botanic Gardens. On a scenic tour, get to know vibrant Christchurch, the South Island’s largest city, which continues its dynamic revitalization since the devastating earthquakes of 2010-2011. Make your way through the city center by the Avon River and see Cathedral Square and other top sites. Next, stroll through the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, a peaceful green space of colorful flowering beds, native plants and mature trees, which was founded in 1863. Later, journey further afield to admire the coastal suburbs of Sumner and Redcliffs on Pegasus Bay.

AHI Connects | Walking Māori Cultural Tour. The Māori name for Christchurch is Ōtautahi, derived from Tautahi, the Ngāi Tahu chief who built a settlement on the banks of the Otakaro (Avon) River. Delve into local Māori treasures, learn about important Māori traditions and hear ancestral creation stories.

Free Time: This afternoon, strike off and explore on your own around Christchurch. Art lovers can study contemporary works at the innovative Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū. For more insights on the 2010-2011 earthquakes, visit Quake City, a special exhibition from the Canterbury Museum.

Day 11 | TranzAlpine Train | Arthur’s Pass | Hokitika | Franz Josef
Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
B | D
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to the Christchurch Railway Station.

TranzAlpine Train Ride. Settle into your comfortable train carriage for this celebrated rail journey. After leaving Christchurch, the train traverses golden farm fields on the Canterbury Plains and then enters the snowcapped Southern Alps. Glide next to the ice-fed Waimakariri River and across viaducts through spectacular landscapes before alighting amid the mountains of Arthur’s Pass National Park.

Board a motor coach there and drive to Hokitika on the western coast. Enjoy lunch on your own and then rejoin the group to travel to Franz Josef Glacier. After checking in to the Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier, spend some time at leisure before dinner at the hotel tonight.

Day 12 | Franz Josef Glacier
Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
B | D
Franz Josef Glacier. Delight in the area’s magnificent, unspoiled natural beauty on an informative guided walk to the Franz Josef Glacier lookout point. Learn about the low-lying glacier’s geological features, the West Coast’s temperature rain forest, and the native plants and wildlife, all while surrounded by the cheery sounds of birds and waterfalls. Afterward, travel to Matheson Café for a coffee, and if you’re interested, walk to nearby Lake Matheson. The jetty viewpoint is a wonderful spot to appreciate Mount Cook and Mount Tasman, New Zealand’s highest peaks, rising majestically across the lake’s mirrorlike waters.

Meet your group this evening for dinner at a restaurant in Franz Josef.

Day 13 | Queenstown
Millennium Hotel Queenstown
B | D
Check out of the hotel this morning.

Scenic Transfer to Queenstown. As you travel south to Queenstown, relish the ever-changing scenery of steep mountains, lush forests, streams and secluded lakes. Along your route, stop in Mount Aspiring National Park and walk down a trail through kamahi and silver beech trees to see pretty Thunder Creek Falls. After going through Haast Pass, pause to admire the crystal-clear Blue Pools, where the Blue and Makarora Rivers converge. Follow the Makarora River past more stunning vistas and arrive in the town of Makarora, where you’ll have time at leisure for lunch. Set off again, passing the sparkling glacial lakes of Wanaka and Hawea, and then cross the breathtaking expanse of Central Otago’s sheep and cattle country. Proceed across the Kawarau Gorge and arrive in Queenstown.

Check in to the Millennium Hotel Queenstown and gather later for dinner in the hotel.

Day 14 | Queenstown | Arrowtown | Queenstown
Millennium Hotel Queenstown
B
Queenstown & Arrowtown. Embark on a scenic guided tour of Queenstown’s highlights and then head to Arrowtown along the Arrow River. Historic charm abounds in this former goldmining town filled with preserved buildings that reflect its gold-rush glory days during the 1860s. Enjoy free time for lunch, strolling and shopping.

Enrichment: Extreme Sports in New Zealand. Queenstown is known as the “Adventure Capital of the World,” and thrill-seekers gravitate to its exhilarating range of outdoor activities, including bungee jumping, white-water rafting, jet boating and sky diving. Learn more about the history of extreme sports in the region at a bungee site near Queenstown.

In Queenstown later this afternoon, climb aboard the Skyline Gondola for a gentle cable car ride up Bob’s Peak, where you’ll be rewarded with sweeping vistas of Queenstown and its environs. From this lofty vantage point, gaze in all directions for marvelous views of the Remarkables mountain range, Lake Wakatipu, and Walter Peak and Cecil Peak.

Free Time: Spend the evening pursuing your own interests.

Day 15 | Doubtful Sound | Queenstown
Millennium Hotel Queenstown
B | L
Doubtful Sound Tour. A truly memorable day awaits amid the awe-inspiring grandeur of Fiordland National Park, the country’s largest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site, covering 4,868 square miles. Dominating it all are forest and water: verdant woods of red mountain and silver beech, carpeted in moss and ferns, and gorgeous waterfalls, placid lakes, rivers, rippling streams and glacier-carved fiords. Begin with a stop for a coffee or tea in Te Anau along the shores of Lake Anau. Then, board a ferry and cruise across shimmering Lake Manapouri, regarded as New Zealand’s most beautiful lake, dotted with 33 little islands and framed by the towering Cathedral Mountain range. Next, travel over the Wilmot Pass and see the Fiordland’s rain forest, followed by views of the Doubtful Sound fiord below. The famed explorer Captain James Cook coined the name “Doubtful,” when he questioned whether the harbor could be safely navigated by a sailing vessel. He and his crew were the first Europeans to visit the Fiordland area, establishing a camp there for six weeks in 1773. Arrive at the dock and board a catamaran for a three-hour cruise through the pristine stillness of Doubtful Sound, the deepest of New Zealand’s fiords. Nature guides on board will help you spot wildlife.

Day 16 | Queenstown
Millennium Hotel Queenstown
B | R | D
Free Time: Craft your own plans today. If you’re feeling adventurous, your Travel Director can arrange several optional activities for you on site, including a Shotover Jet Boat ride or a river safari down the Dart River. For something more leisurely, consider taking a cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard a Queenstown icon, the TSS Earnslaw. This coal-fired steamship made its first voyage in 1912 and connected isolated farming communities with the outside world for many decades.

Tonight, raise a toast to your wonderful Kiwi adventure during a Farewell Reception and Dinner at a restaurant by the lakeshore in the historic district.

Day 17 | Depart for gateway city
B
After breakfast, AHI FlexAir passengers traveling on flights that qualify for a group transfer and Land Program passengers who have purchased seats on the group transfer depart for Queenstown Airport for your return flights home. Your Travel Director will provide the details.