Real New Zealand

Are you ready for an authentic adventure-packed ride through New Zealand? We begin our journey in Auckland (Tmaki Makaurau), its largest city. Its time to say hello to your brand new crew before we make our way to our first destination. See that cloud of steam bubbling from the ground? Thats how you know youre in the natural wonderland of Rotorua! Drop your bags off at our lakeside Marae Special Stay before we join a traditional Mori welcome ceremony. Then we'll get together to prep a traditional steamed meal - hangi. And while it's cooking, head out for an introductory tour of Ohinemutu Village & learn all about Tikanga and Kawa - Mori customs and protocols. Then, it's back to the guesthouse to reap the reward of our prep, and enjoy a delicious hangi dinner with the crew. Best first day ever? Quite possibly.

Morning, travellers! Fresh air, serene views and a hearty breakfast awaits. Youve got the entire day to spend exploring this charming landscape with a hike, zipline or tour of Hobbiton - you choose. Later this evening, we'll regroup at the marae to learn about traditional Mori performing arts, including the superbly epic Haka (specially composed for Contiki!). Oh, what a day its been! And to think that the adventure has just begun

Its time for some more exploration. Fill up on some breakfast before we say farewell to our Mori friends. Were in the Kiwi land, so you know were making a stop at the National Kiwi Hatchery - where youll learn all about Kiwi conservation and get some cuteness overload from the baby chicks! Hungry? Youre free to grab some lunch at a scenic spot in the beautiful town of Taup (Taupo-nui-a-Tia). And then its back on the coach to our next destination.Welcome to the oh-so-beautiful River Valley! You can either hire an e-bike and explore the wilderness on your own, or for a bit of adventure, try your hand at white water rafting. And in the evening, feast yourself to a wholesome & traditional farm-to-table dinner.

Morning Kiwis, today well wave goodbye to the undulating mountains and make our way down to the coast.Todays lunch pitstop? The cute and sunny town of Paraparaumu. Feast yourself on good food and good views before we hit the road one more time. (Oh, and keep your eyes peeled for a quick glimpse of the South Island!) As much as we've been loving the nature time, the change of scenery to New Zealand's well-cultured capital will prove an utter delight. After an orientation through the narrow streets of Wellington (Te Whanganui a Tara), and a chance to explore the great food scene, a night on the town will be on the cards.

Ready to explore Wellington in all its glory? Today, why not head to a local cafe and try the famed flat white coffee in its city of origin (sorry Australians). Sign up for a trip to Zealandia, a 225-hectare (basically massive) eco-sanctuary that protects over 40 rare native wildlife species. Because Zealandia is fully fenced, you'll be able to walk alongside incredibly rare birds like the hihi and the takah. Look out for the tuatara, a prehistoric reptile known as a 'living fossil', which can only be found in New Zealand!

So long North Island! Today we're making tracks for your southern brother, darting across the Cook Strait via the Interislander ferry.As zesty as its famous fruit - Motueka hops, well arrive in the gateway to NZs small but stunning Abel National Park.Aaand were officially here. Were in THE Abel Tasman National Park (one of NZ's most famous). Guess what? Tonight, we'll be staying in cosy little cabins right inside the national park(!). So, get ready for a non-stop show of incredible natural beauty - birds, islands, forests - you name it.

Youve got the ENTIRE day to explore this natural wonderland just the way you like. River canyoning, skydiving, sailing, hiking - the options are endless. With its golden sandy beaches & lush rainforests that line up across the ocean - you just know Mother Nature took her time with this one.

Buh Bye beautiful Mrahau! Weve got a long day ahead of us.A sunrise paddle Waka? Yup. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience, youll learn all about the ancient Mori practice this morning (and quite possibly catch one of the best sunrise views of your lifetime!).Time for a quick lunch pitstop in this historic gold rush town, decorated by two wonderful rivers. Well then drive down the rugged northwest coast, passing by rainforests & beaches (on a clear day you can even see the stunning Aoraki/Mt Cook!).First things first, well head out to explore the famed Paparoa Track. Expect alpine tops, limestone landscapes, thriving rainforests and jaw-dropping views. Next on the agenda? An optional but highly recommended - paddleboarding and sandstone carving experience. And for dinner? Traditional Mori food. Well sit by a campfire and prepare a BBQ dinner of whitebait fritters (and more) and watch the starry sky gleaming above us as we settle into our beach camps. This is what dreams are made of, people.

Punakaiki - youve been mesmerising. But weve got more wonders waiting to be explored!Yes, theyre 300 million years old. Yes, they look incredible And yes, they look like stacks of pancakes. But no, you cant eat them. Admire (and you will) from a distance.We'll pull up for lunch in glorious Franz Josef (K Roimata o Hine Hukatere), probably one of the most beautiful places you'll ever have set your eyes on. A bold statement we know, but well deserved.Our first piece of NZ eye-candy comes in the form of Haast Pass (Tioripatea), beautified by ancient rainforests, small glaciers and waterfalls. Note how the scenery changes as we roll towards Queenstown through the Southern Alps and region of Otago.What. A. Beauty. Get ready to witness some of the best views of your lifetime. Weve satisfied our inner adventurer, now its time to satisfy our hungry tummies. Tonight, well grab some dinner at a rustic 150-year-old hotel (with the mountains as our backdrop!). And then its back to our hotel to rest our travel-tired limbs.

Its adventure time! Today is yours to spend just the way you like. Rock climbing, hiking, skydiving - Wanaka is an adrenaline junkies dream. When evening rolls around, why not check out one of the local restaurants, or grab some takeaway and head down to the lakes edge, and watch the sun dip behind Mount Aspiring National Park? It's the perfect way to wrap up your day.

Its time to say goodbye to Wnaka today. But theres no need to shed tears just yet. Because after breakfast, were driving to another stunning lake. Got your camera ready? Were hopping on a cruise to check out the impressive landscape around Lake Manapuri. But thats not all. Well also drive through the incredibly lush rainforests at Wilmot Pass. Now, this? This is natural beauty at its peak. Welcome onboard. You'll be spending tonight on a luxurious boat (with chefs on board!) So, hop on. Enjoy some afternoon tea and get ready for some more adventure! Youll kayak through the serene waters, plunge into the icy Fiord and tour Doubtful Sound (Patea) with a nature expert to tell us everything about this extraordinary landscape. And after all that adventure chasing, well be back on board to feast on a chef-made dinner with local produce. And then, its just games, music, cruising and good times with your new mates. Fabulous.

Another day to spend exploring the Fiordland? Wow. Today, youll hop on a coach and get another look at Wilmot Pass. Its time to set sail on Lake Manapuri again, and make our journey towards the final destination of this trip. Welcome to Queenstown (Thuna)! Make sure to get some rest tonight for the adventure that awaits us tomorrow.

Free time to explore is all youve got today - and oh gosh, theres no end to what you can do here. Bungy jumping, canyon swings, climbing waterfalls, vineyard tours, zip lining, skydiving - we bet youll wanna do it all! Afterwards, you can grab some dinner with your crew before resting your travel-tired limbs for round two of the adventure tomorrow.Please Note: The Free Time Add Ons which take place on Day 13 & Day 14 can be booked for either day and your Trip Manager will arrange this for you.

You already know what were doing today - ticking off your bucket list! Youre free to spend the day continuing your adventure. Today, you can even choose to have dinner at the Skyline restaurant which has panoramic views of Queenstown. Its the last full day of the trip, so dont forget to live it up.

After 15 days filled with adventure, culture, cities and sticks (and getting to know what New Zealand is really bout) - its time to say goodbye. What a ride it has been! If you've chosen to get a transfer to Christchurch, hop on! And the journey has finally come to an end. Dont forget to exchange contacts with your crew. Because after a magical journey like this one, we bet youll want to do it all over again.