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Day 01
Night 1 · Auckland
01
Day 1
Arrive in Auckland
Arrive in Auckland
- 1
Aucklandallow an afternoon
A harbour-side suite, a quiet dinner, and no plans at all.
Night 1 · Auckland
Rough cost · NZ$900–NZ$2,200
Organised by us · Both Islands · 10 days
10 Day Luxury New Zealand Itinerary
Fewer moves, longer stays, better tables
Which of our journeys?
Organised end to end by us
Selected journey
10 Day Luxury New Zealand Itinerary
Both Islands · 10 days · 690 km
Auckland & Waiheke → Hawke's Bay → Aoraki / Mackenzie → Wānaka → Queenstown
Rough self-drive cost — planning it yourself
$$$ · approx. NZ$1,100–NZ$2,600 per person, per day per day · approx. NZ$11,000–NZ$26,000 per person
A guide to what this route costs if you book it yourself. Entirely separate from an organised journey.
Availability · Available for enquiries
Read the full day-by-day itinerary →Auckland
Waiheke Island
Napier
Lake Tekapo
Aoraki / Mt Cook
Wānaka
Queenstown
Highlights
- Auckland
- Waiheke Island
- Napier
- Private cellar-door day
- Te Mata Peak
- Lake Tekapo
- Aoraki / Mt Cook
- Lake Hāwea
Where you stay
- Auckland1 night
- Waiheke Island1 night
- Napier2 nights
- Lake Tekapo1 night
- Aoraki / Mt Cook1 night
- Wānaka2 nights
- Queenstown1 night
Day by day — what we organise for you
The journey, day by day
10 days, one route.
Day 02
Night 2 · Waiheke Island
02
Day 2
20 km · approx. 0.5 hrs driving
Auckland → Waiheke Island
- 1
Waiheke Islandallow full day
Vineyards above the Hauraki Gulf. Private driver, three cellar doors, a long lunch.
Book lunch and the driver together.
Night 2 · Waiheke Island
Rough cost · NZ$1,000–NZ$2,400
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Day 03
Night 3 · Napier
03
Day 3
Waiheke → Hawke's Bay
MorningFly Auckland to Napier — one hour instead of five.
- 1
Napierallow afternoon
Art deco streets, and a vineyard lodge for the next two nights.
Night 3 · Napier
Rough cost · NZ$1,000–NZ$2,500
Day 04
Night 4 · Napier
04
Day 4
Hawke's Bay — wine, properly
Hawke's Bay
- 1
Private cellar-door dayallow full day
Syrah and chardonnay with winemakers rather than counter staff.
Arrange through the lodge.
- 2
Te Mata Peakallow 1 hour
Sunset from the peak with the plains below.
Night 4 · Napier
Rough cost · NZ$1,000–NZ$2,400
Day 05
Night 5 · Lake Tekapo
05
Day 5
225 km · approx. 3 hrs driving
Hawke's Bay → Christchurch → Lake Tekapo
MorningFly south, then drive up into the Mackenzie.
- 1
Lake Tekapoallow evening
A dark sky reserve and a private stargazing session after dinner.
Book a private guide, not a group tour.
Night 5 · Lake Tekapo
Rough cost · NZ$1,000–NZ$2,600
Day 06
Night 6 · Aoraki / Mt Cook
06
Day 6
105 km · approx. 1.5 hrs driving
Aoraki by helicopter
Tekapo → Aoraki / Mt Cook
- 1
Aoraki / Mt Cookallow full day
Alpine landing on the Tasman Glacier, then the Hooker Valley on foot in the afternoon.
Book the first flight of the day for the calmest air.
Don't miss
Standing on snow at 2,000 metres in walking shoes.
Night 6 · Aoraki / Mt Cook
Rough cost · NZ$1,600–NZ$3,800
Day 07
Night 7 · Wānaka
07
Day 7
210 km · approx. 3 hrs driving
Aoraki → Wānaka
- 1
Lake Hāweaallow 45 minutes
A quiet lake stop on the way over the Lindis.
- 2
Wānakaallow afternoon
A lakefront villa and an early dinner.
Night 7 · Wānaka
Rough cost · NZ$900–NZ$2,300
Day 08
Night 8 · Wānaka
08
Day 8
Wānaka — private guiding
Wānaka
- 1
Guided alpine walkallow half a day
A guide takes you where the crowds don't go, at the hour they don't go.
- 2
Rippon Vineyardallow 1 hour
Biodynamic riesling on the lake edge.
Night 8 · Wānaka
Rough cost · NZ$950–NZ$2,300
Day 09
Night 9 · Queenstown
09
Day 9
115 km · approx. 2 hrs driving
Wānaka → Queenstown
- 1
Gibbston Valleyallow 2 hours
Pinot noir with the winemaker, arranged privately.
- 2
Queenstownallow afternoon
A lakeside lodge above the town rather than in it.
Night 9 · Queenstown
Rough cost · NZ$1,100–NZ$2,600
Day 10
10
Day 10
Queenstown → Milford Sound by air → Queenstown
MorningFly to the fiord, cruise, and fly home over the Southern Alps.
- 1
Milford Soundallow 5 hours
Two hours in the air and two on the water — the finest day in New Zealand.
Book a fly-cruise-fly with a weather-flexible date.
Don't miss
The Sutherland Falls from the air.
Departs from · Queenstown
Rough cost · NZ$1,400–NZ$3,200