7-Nights The Southern Drift from $5,355

Luxury Gold

OFFER ID 1504612

The Endless Shores
Fall in love with New Zealand on this 7-day guided tour. See Wellington your way, choosing between an insider’s tour of the city with a Local Expert or a guided hike through Zealandia, the first urban completely fenced ecosanctuary in New Zealand. Travel past the dairy country of Manawatu to Hawke’s Bay, where you will enjoy an exclusive wine tasting at one of the country’s world-famous wineries. In Rotorua, walk the Redwoods Treewalk - a maze of forested suspension bridges - and tour a working kiwi nursery and hatchery, where you can learn more about the flightless bird. Savour a flavourful Maori Hangi feast, made from food cooked in the ground with geothermal steam. Descend the Waitomo Cave to see glow worms illuminate the caverns, then toast your trip during a celebration dinner in Auckland.


Dining Summary

  • 7 Breakfast (B)
  • 4 Dinner (D)
  • 1 Lunch (L)
Choice Highlights
  • Choose between two carefully selected activities
  • Wellington: Discover the stunning waterfront and the hidden laneways in the bohemian area of the heritage Cuba Street precinct. Once dimly lit back alleys, these newly rejuvenated laneways are now home to some of the country’s funkiest bars, boutiques, and breweries. Admire panoramic views of the city from the Wellington cable car.
  • Wellington: Zealandia is the world’s first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary, with an extraordinary vision to restore a Wellington valley’s forest and freshwater ecosystems as closely as possible to their pre-human state. The 500+ acre ecosanctuary is a groundbreaking conservation project that has reintroduced 18 species of native wildlife back into the area. Take a 2-hour walking tour with a passionate expert guide.
Additional Included Highlights
  • Enjoy seamless personal assistance throughout your journey. From securing exclusive reservations, to organising transportation, your Travel Concierge ensures every aspect of your travel is tailored to your tastes and preferences.
  • In select destinations, our network of Local Expert Guides will illuminate your journey on a deeper level.
  • Included at all hotels.
  • Hotel taxes, porterage and tips, as well as tips for included dining experiences, are included.
  • Enjoy breakfast every morning, and an array of incredible dining options throughout your journey, infused with discovery and adventure.
  • On days where a Relaxed Start (RS) is indicated, you can select to indulge in breakfast in bed.
  • Enjoy complimentary hotel Wi-Fi. And, on select coaches, onboard Wi-Fi may also be available.
  • Transfers are included on your journey start and end dates, and where additional accommodation has been booked in advance through Luxury Gold. Transfers to train stations or alternate hotels, in the same start or end city as the itinerary, may be requested.
Exceptional Dining
  • Hawke's Bay: Indulge in wine tasting and an intimate dinner at the award-winning restaurant of Craggy Range Winery. Feast on local produce as you sit in the shade of Te Mata Peak and drink wines from one of the region’s world-famous vineyards.
  • Wellington: Feel the warm hospitality of New Zealand's capital city, as you join your travel companions for a delicious Welcome Dinner hosted at Lola Rouge.
  • Rotorua: Tonight, visit Te Pa Tu Maori Experience. Tu Te Ra is a celebration of the abundant harvest of this season, and explores concepts, rituals, and stories of ancient Maori warfare and peace in a feast of culture and cuisine. Enjoy a forest kai horotai (seasonal canapés), complimentary chef choice aperitif, and a seasonal three-course dinner.
  • Auckland: Raise a glass to your unforgettable journey as you enjoy your Celebration Dinner with a former member of the All Blacks rugby team. Hear stories of the world’s leading rugby team, his personal victories and how passionate Kiwis are about their national sport.
Magnificent Stays
  • Hawke's Bay: Porters Boutique Hotel is a privately owned, boutique hotel that delivers a luxurious experience. Elegantly appointed guest rooms are fitted with plush, classic furnishings and local artwork, all moments away from the charming village of Havelock North.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER
  • Napier: Brace yourself for a journey that takes you from coast to cape, to the world’s largest and most accessible Gannet colony in the beautiful Hawke’s Bay. Discover the mesmerising birds in an almost face to face experience and take in the stunning vista of the area.Your participation on Gannet Overland Safaris contributes to our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® initiative: TTC makes a donation on behalf of each guest to the Cape Sanctuary.
  • Rotorua: Join Whirinaki Forest Footsteps, a guided eco-tour into the heart of the ancient Whirinaki Rainforest.
  • Rotorua: Meet the kiwi at National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa as you are invited to step behind-the-scenes at a working nursery and hatchery for New Zealand’s intriguing national bird. Seek out skinks, geckos, and incredible trout amidst the thick foliage of the park. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience helps to fund the Hatchery and directly contribute to kiwi conservation. The hatchery has grown to become the largest and most successful kiwi hatching facility in the world, successfully incubating and hatching brown kiwi eggs, helping the North Island population considerably.
Passport Moments
  • Napier: Climb into a luxury vintage car with a discerning local guide for your personal tour of Napier. Uncover the highlights of this world-famous town’s 140 art deco buildings and sculptures from the comfort of your luxurious vehicle.
  • Rotorua: Stand eye to eye with giant redwoods on the Redwoods Treewalk. Immerse yourself in the serene majesty of these 118-year-old trees from your 20-metre high perspective. Cross swi


7 nights from $5,355 per person

Itinerary

Luxury Gold: The Endless Shores

Day 1 - Welcome to Wellington
On arrival at Wellington International Airport you'll be driven by complimentary transfer to your hotel. Spend some time at leisure to relax or explore on your own. This evening, meet your Travel Concierge and get to know your fellow travellers over dinner.
Accommodations: Naumi Hotel Wellington
Meals: Dinner

Day 2 - Wellington Sightseeing
Today personalise your day. Choose from the the urban eco-sanctuary of Zealandia/Te Mara a Tane or discover the stunning waterfront and hidden lanes of Wellington with a local expert.
Accommodations: Naumi Hotel Wellington
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 - Wellington to Hawke's Bay
Wind your way through the pastoral dairy farming land of Manawatu to Napier in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand’s Art Deco capital and world-renowned winecountry. This evening savour a tasting and dinner at family-owned Craggy Range Winery in the shadow of Te Mata Peak. Sample the region’s premium wines Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir while dining on Head Chef Casey McDonald’s signature seasonal Hawke’s Bay produce from their award-winning restaurant. After a sumptuous evening, relax in your plush room decorated with original local artwork in your boutique hotel in charming Havelock North Village.
Accommodations: Porters Boutique Hotel, Hawke's Bay.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4 - Exploring Napier
Partake in a Gannet safari. Your participation on Gannet Overland Safaris contributes to our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® initiative: TTC makes a donation on behalf of each guest to the Cape Sanctuary. Their amazing team is made up of over 300 volunteers that are giving their time to restore our beautiful land and replant grasses and natives to support the return of our wildlife. Take in Napier’s art deco architecture with a Local Expert in a vintage car.
Accommodations: Porters Boutique Hotel, Hawke's Bay.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 - Geothermal Rotorua
Continue your journey to Rotorua, where this afternoon, armed with a packed lunch, you'll join a local guide for a cultural walking eco-tour to discover the Jurassic Whirinaki Forest, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience.
Accommodations: Pullman Rotorua.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6 - The Sights of Rotorua
Unveil the sights of Rotorua viewing the 120-yearold Californian Coastal Redwoods of Whakarewarewa Forest at Redwoods Treewalk. Crossing 28 suspension bridges from 65 feet above ground, feeling like one of the native birds sweeping through the forest. Learn more about the “local residents” going behind the scenes on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa. Understand how this working kiwi nursery and hatchery is leading the conservation efforts of the national icon and perhaps see a newly hatched kiwi chick. Tonight, visit Te Pa Tu for insights into the local rituals and traditions of fascinating Maori culture with a celebration of the abundant harvest of the season, and explore concepts, rituals and stories of ancient warfare and peace in an amalgamation of culture and cuisine. Enjoy a special three-course feast with aperitif.
Accommodations: Pullman Rotorua.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7 - Waitomo and Auckland
Your final full day finds you embarking on an exclusive, private guided tour of Waitomo Cave on a five-star Eco Glow Worm experience at Caveworld. Your guide sets the scene for an underground cave experience where you will see glow worms, cave formations and appreciate the beauty of Footwhistle Cave. Then you’re off to Auckland for a tour showcasing bustling Queen Street and the striking Auckland Harbour Bridge before you're treated to dinner with one of New Zealand’s famous former All Black rugby players. Feast on local fare as you are regaled with stories and learn about life on one of the most successful teams in the world.
Accommodations: QT Auckland.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8 - Farewell Auckland
After one final breakfast, say farewell to your Wellington-to-Auckland luxury tour as you are chauffeured to Auckland Airport.
Meals: Breakfast

Featured Destinations
Dunedin
Milford Sound
Queenstown
Franz Josef Glacier
Christchurch

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges
12/14/2025 - 12/21/2025
from $5,355 per person
02/01/2026 - 02/08/2026
from $5,355 per person *
03/01/2026 - 03/08/2026
from $5,355 per person *
03/22/2026 - 03/29/2026
from $5,355 per person *


* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Prices Start At
from $5,355 per person
Length
7 Nights
Air City
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Vacation Rating
Luxury
The finest hotels in the world, luxury lodging is characterized by luxury accommodations, impeccable service and the highest standards of comfort and pampering. Luxury hotels and resorts are often found in the most desirable locations. Building from the amenities and guest services offered at a deluxe hotel or resort, the luxury establishment usually puts on the finishing touches - fresh flowers around the hotel and original works of art throughout. Hotel restaurants often employ world renowned chefs to create delectable dishes and a unique dining experience. Attention to detail and personalized service are the hallmarks of luxury hotels and resorts.
Remarks
Trip prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and reflect applicable discounts. Trip prices and discounts are subject to change. Airfare is additional. Tour prices, dates and itineraries are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. Other restrictions may apply.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID
1504612

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