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New Zealand Ground-Breaking Journeys
TE ARA • 16 days North & South Island
New Zealand step by step and close to the ground
Te Ara sample itinerary can be requested in its current form or it could be customised to suit your style or taste.
New Zealand is a paradise for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, offering breathtaking landscapes and diverse ecosystems that are best explored on foot. With its stunning mountains, pristine lakes, lush rainforests, and picturesque coastlines, this country is a hiker's dream come true. "Te ara" in te reo Maori language means "the pathway". In this sample itinerary Newztravel, offers a variety of pathways to experience the beauty of New Zealand.
"Not all who wander are lost.” – JRR Tolkien
ITINERARY DETAILS
- Arrival in Christchurch
- Transfer to Otahuna Lodge
- Check-in and lunch or diner at Otahuna
- Estate and garden tour
- Relaxed evening in Otahuna Lodge
*As this is your arrival day the itinerary schedule depends on the time of the arrival. You will most likely appreciate some easy, relaxing time at the lodge. In case of a late arrival there will be an alternate plan in place for your first day of Te Ara itinerary.
- A day trip to Akaroa, New Zealand’s only original French settlement. Two-hour scenic cruise taking in views of the dramatic coastline and getting up close and personal with Hector’s Dolphins (the world’s smallest and rarest dolphins), Fur Seals and Little Blue Penguins
- Afternoon - a variety of activities at the lodge
- Lord of the Rings Tour and journey to the Edoras filming location. See how this peaceful mountain was transformed into Edoras, the capital city of the Rohan people in the Lord of the Rings trilogy
- Relaxed evening at the lodge
- Departure from Otahuna to Kaikoura, arrival at Hapuku Lodge
- Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway (1-2 Hours One Way)
- Variety of activities at the lodge
- Visit Kaikoura Museum
- Whale Watch Tour in the VIP Captain’s Cabin with exclusive access to the captain as well as a dedicated tour host for the duration of the tour which is 3:15 hours in total
- Afternoon: Lodge Activities
- A full-day adventure on the Mt Fyffe Track to the summit. A 3-hour walk to the Mt Fyffe Hut, another 1 hour to reach the summit with outstanding views – even all the way to the Banks Peninsula and the North Island on a clear day
- Relaxed evening at the lodge
- Departure to Split Apple Retreat via Blenheim Vineries per helicopter
- Vine Stop at Marlborough Vineyard of choice: wine testing and lunch
- Arrival at Split Apple Retreat: House Tour & Beach Tour, Dinner
- A boat trip into the Abel Tasman National Park from 10:00am until 4:15pm. Lunch on board
- Depending on the tides, a possibility to explore an estuary lined with 700-year-old native bush
- Afternoon activities at the Lodge
- Cape Farewell Horse Track day: Over and down mountains, past grazing sheep and down to Wharariki Beach. Amazing experience of riding through the surf
- Afternoon: Activities at the Lodge
- A helicopter trip into the Kahurangi National Park and isolated West Coast Beaches. Choice of different walking trails
- Evening: Activities at the lodge
- Transfer to Nelson Airport
- Flight to Huka Lodge at the Lake Taupo.
- Afternoon activities at the Lodge
- After breakfast a discovery walk to the Spa Thermal Park and a kayak trip downstream along the Waikato River to the powerful Huka Falls.
- Afternoon activities at the lodge
- This five-hour round trip includes a luxury cruise and hike. Two-hour guided hike to the remote end of secluded Kawakawa Bay.
- A cruise around Lake Taupō with a delicious lunch served onboard.
- Evening - relaxing at the lodge
- Transfer to the Treetops Lodge (under one hour per car)
- Lunch and Forest Spa experience
- Afternoon activities at the lodge
- Morning: Exploring 2500 acres of the Lodge estate with the lodge’s own guide. Flora, Fauna - allow 2 hours.
- Afternoon: Iconic wonders and engaging experiences offered in nearby Rotorua. Maori cultural performance, explore the active geothermal features.
- Helicopter scenic flight over The White Island. Landing at Solitaire Lodge for a lunch and lake Tarawera activities (fishing, relaxing)
- Afternoon: Relaxing at the lodge
Mā te wā! (See you next time!)
YOUR ACCOMMODATION
Otahuna
Day One to Three
Set in pastoral surroundings against the fluted cone of an ancient volcano, Otahuna Lodge is a beguiling Victorian mansion that offers its guests a unique sense of wonder and discovery. New Zealand's largest private historic residence has been revitalised with luxury accommodation, glorious gardens and sophisticated cuisine. In its patrician sense of calm, the grace and charm of its grounds and its refined yet personable service, Otahuna is New Zealand at its finest.
Hapuku Lodge
Day Four to Six
Hapuku Lodge + Tree Houses is a contemporary country hotel located on a deer breeding farm in the South Island of New Zealand, 12 kilometres North of the renowned eco-marine town of Kaikoura. It sits snugly at the base of the Kaikoura Seaward Mountain Range, with the Kaikoura coast and famed Mangamaunu Bay only a kilometre to the east. The Lodge provides luxurious accommodation on Kaikoura’s rugged coastline, a place for guests to relax in its intimate indoor/outdoor setting and a place from which they can explore the larger maritime landscape of Kaikoura.
Split Apple Retreat
Day Seven to Ten
Split Apple Retreat & Wellness Spa is surely one of the most serene and restful places to stay in the entire hemisphere. The retreat, located near Nelson, New Zealand, is renown for its gourmet Asian-Mediterranean fusion cuisine where every ingredient has been selected for its positive contribution to health and wellness. Indulge in the spectacular setting, original art & antiques, and unparalleled service.
Huka Lodge
Day Eleven to Thirteen
Huka Lodge is set among established gardens along the banks of the surging Waikato River near Lake Taupō on New Zealand’s North Island. It is one of the country’s oldest and celebrated luxury lodge with an impressive heritage, welcoming some of the world’s most influential guests to the region.
Treetops Lodge
Day Fourteen to Sixteen
Nestled in 2,500 acres of 800 year old native forest, this award-winning luxury lodge is a life-long dream realised by owner and passionate naturalist John Sax. This uniquely New Zealand experience is a sanctuary and retreat of breath-taking terrain, offering the ultimate in world-class accommodation and adventure.