New Zealand, 12-Day Itineraries, New Zealand's Ultimate Tour - 12 Days

New Zealand's Ultimate Tour - 12 Days

Highlights
 Get to know New Zealand's largest city (Auckland) and capital (Wellington)
 Visit the boutiques and restaurants in Ponsonby, Parnell, and New Market
 Embark on a day-to-night kiwi-spotting tour
 Enjoy a wine tasting excursion to Waiheke Island
 Discover the volcanic Rangitoto Island and its lava tunnels
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 & 2: Arrival in Auckland and self-guided tour

Upon arrival at Auckland Airport There is much to do and see in Auckland, also known as the Big Little City. Check in to our hotel,
and then begin our tour of the town:

 Stroll Ponsonby, which is the city’s trendiest street; enjoy a good lunch and some high-end shopping
 Visit Parnell, New Zealand's oldest suburb famous for its galleries, cafés, restaurants, and boutique-style stores; there is
also a charming French market on weekends
  Go to Newmarket, which is ideal for classic, everyday shopping
 Make a trip to Wynyard Quarter, a newer area with a daily fish market—try the huge mussels, or the famous oysters—then,
check out one of the restored tramways, and go for a ride
 Visit the new area known as Britomart (which is also the name of the railway station) with bars, restaurants, designer shops,
and a little local market open on Saturdays
 Go to Mt. Eden, the highest point of the city at 645 feet, where you can see both the Pacific Ocean and
the Tasman Sea and all of the volcanic cones that make up Auckland
 Stroll Albert Park, which is right in the middle of the city and perfect for a lunch break—the Modern Art Museum is next to
it, likely with free exhibits to peruse
 Visit Mission Bay, which is a busy beach in the summertime, and also a residential area with great views

Additionally, make sure to visit the Auckland National Museum. The museum tells the story of New Zealand, its place in the
Pacific, and its people. The museum is a war memorial for the province of Auckland and holds one of New Zealand’s top three
heritage libraries. It has pre-eminent Maori and Pacific collections, significant natural history resources and major social and
military history collections, as well as decorative arts and pictorial collections.

The Sky Tower is a truly captivating experience, as well. At 1,076 feet high, it is the tallest man-made structure in New Zealand
and offers breathtaking views for up to 50 miles in every direction. Travel up in the glass-fronted lifts to one of the three, spectacular
viewing platforms. For more thrills and excitement, SkyWalk around the outside of the pergola, which is 630 feet up, or do
the SkyJump off the tower?

The historic seaside village of Devonport has a charming and relaxed atmosphere, too. Stroll around the village at your leisure and
visit some of its attractions, including the many art galleries, historic points of interest, and lookouts.

Day 3: Auckland - All-day kiwi spotting excursion

On our third day of journey we will enjoy an adventure in nature. We will go to kiwi spotting from Auckland on a guided tour with a
small group (a maximum of seven people). Discover local history, and learn what shaped the natural environment of New Zealand
to how it is today. This day-into-night tour spans an afternoon and evening, returning us to our hotel at approximately 10:30 pm—a
delicious picnic dinner with views of the beach and ocean over sunset is included.

This is our best opportunity to see a kiwi in the wild. After sunset, the bush environment changes. Tawharanui is home to the New
Zealand brown kiwi, (few locals have seen this bird in the wild), morepork (a native owl), and weta. Much of the insect life, marine
life, and some bird species are nocturnal. Since the tour continues after sundown, experience what goes on in nature in the dark. A
guide will lead us through the native forest, in search of nocturnal wildlife. Note that while kiwi is very elusive, this tour projects
sightings about 70 percent of the time.

Day 4: Auckland - Wine tour on Waiheke Island

On our fourth day of journey we will go on a wine tour on Waiheke Island via a ferry ride from Auckland. This deluxe vineyard tour combines
world-class wine with beautiful island surroundings.

Upon arrival at the island, our tour bus will transport us to the picturesque Mudbrick Vineyard to enjoy premium wine tastings. Next, travel
to The Goldie Room, Waiheke’s first—and most well-established—vineyard. Here, experience tastings and a mouthwatering plate of bites.
The final stop allows us to try five-star-quality wines at Te Whau vineyard, which is acclaimed for its restaurant, as well as stunning views and
outstanding architecture.

At the end of the tour, take advantage of the complimentary all-day bus pass, which allows us to discover the island further by scheduled public
bus. Then, take the ferry back to Auckland, and enjoy the evening at our leisure.

Day 5: Auckland - Rangitoto Island day trip

On our fifth day of journey, we will explore Rangitoto Island, which is only a 20-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland. Choose
between taking a guided tour and exploring the volcanic island at our leisure. Discover lava tunnels we can walk through, climb to
the summit for amazing views, and learn of the protected archaeological and historic sites, including the site of a prisoners' camp
from the early 1900s. At Christmas time, the Pōhutukawa trees with their red flowers are in full bloom; the contrast with the
hardened lava is an incredible visual.

For the day trip, we don’t forget our lunch and swimwear, so we can enjoy a dip in the water. Following our island exploration, take
the ferry back to Auckland. Enjoy the rest of the day on our own, and indulge in a special farewell dinner.

.
Day 6: Tiritiri Matangi Island

This island is a wildlife sanctuary just 4km off the coast of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula in the Hauraki Gulf. The Maori people were
the first to settle here and the Europeans arrived in the early 19th century. The island was farmed for 120 years until 1971, stripping
it of its native bush but then in 1984 a 10 year project began where 250,000-300,000 trees were planted on the island. During the
same project mammalian predators were eradicated and several endangered and threatened birds and reptiles were introduced to
the island. Among the creatures brought to the island was the flightless takahe, one of the rarest creatures in the world. Today the
island is 60% forested 40% grassland and is inhabited by rare species of birds and animals. In addition to the landscape, birds and
animals the island has a lighthouse (1864), Visitor Center, hiking paths and a pleasant beach (Hobbs Beach). You can see blue
penguins in nesting boxes on the walkway by the beach.
The island is an ideal day trip from Auckland and is reached by ferry. To protect the island the number of visitors each day is limited and in
summer you need to book your ferry ticket in advance. When you arrive on the island you will be given an introductory talk by an island Ranger
after which you are free to take a guided walk, explore the island independently or spend the day at the beach. The guided walks end at the
Visitor Center where there are toilets and complementary tea and coffee. The last ferry leaves the island at 3:30pm. Private boats are allowed
to visit the island but camping is not allowed. Conservation rules apply on the island like no smoking (except on concrete pads on the wharf), no
fires and no littering. The island has a bunkhouse where you can book an overnight stay with the Department of Conservation but space in the
bunkhouse gets booked up months in advance.

Day 7: Fly to Wellington

It's time to make our way to Wellington! At the designated time, we'll transfer to the Auckland airport for our short flight to New
Zealand's capital. Called "the coolest little capital" in the world by Lonely Planet, Wellington is set on the edge of a stunning harbor
and surrounded by rolling hills. In addition to the options listed below, Wellington also boasts a staggering array of cafés, bars, and
restaurants, so we'll likely find that two days isn't enough time to experience all that this livable city has to offer.

Suggested activities include:

 Ride the Cable Car: One of Wellington's most popular tourist attractions, the cable cars run from Lambton Quay in the
commercial heart of the city all the way up to the suburb of Kelburn for beautiful walking trails and architecture. While here,
ywe can visit the Botanic Gardens and have a picnic lunch.

 City to Sea Walkway: This is a rich and varied walking path from one end of Wellington into the surrounding suburbs and
hills, which continues to the rocky shores of Wellington's south coast. It sports wonderful views of Cook Strait and Kaikōura
Ranges and takes approximately four hours. Walkway brochures can be picked up from the Wellington I-SITE Visitor Centre.

 Te Papa National Museum: New Zealand's bold and innovative national museum offers interactive and visitor-focused
museum experiences. Entry is free, though charges apply to some short-term exhibitions and activities. We can learn about
New Zealand's geology and natural environment. Also, gain insight into the native First Nations people, the Māori, who are
celebrated in Te Papa's permanent exhibitions and communal center.

Day 8: Wellington: Full-Day The Lord of the Rings Tour

There are endless options of things to do near Wellington. On our eighth day of journey we will consider joining the The Lord of the
Rings Tour for a great way to see the area. The tour brings us to several filming locations, provides a local lunch, allows we will see
some great views, and ends with enough time for spend the night out exploring the city. For those who aren't interested in "The
Lord of the Rings," there are plenty of other fun tours and activities to do around Wellington, including taking the day to relax on our
own.
Day 9: Wellington: Museum Tour & Wildlife Sanctuary

On our ninth day of journey, we will join the Te Papa Museum Tour and be taken on a journey through New Zealand's rich history
and culture. Hear stories of the area's adaptive wildlife, the resilience of the Māori people, and artistic interpretations of life in the
South Pacific.

Tonight, a great optional activity is taking a night tour of the Zealandia wildlife eco-sanctuary—an unforgettable experience and one
that comes highly recommended. Our guide will lead us on a torchlight walk through the native New Zealand bush. Possible sights
include kiwi foraging on the forest floor, tuatara hunting for food, glowworms shining, tiny Maud Island frogs in their enclosure,
pateke (brown teal) ducks feeding at night, and kaka (parrots) coming in to roost.
Day 10: Explore Wellington with a Local

After breakfast this morning, we'll take a guided sightseeing tour to see some of the city's best attractions, including
the Beehive and Parliament buildings. We'll also get a panoramic view of the city from the top of Mount Victoria, where we can
watch the Interislander (the ferry between the north and south islands) sail in and out of the harbor. From here, we'll explore the
beauty of the Botanical Gardens and then drive around the city's rugged coastline while stopping for photos.

In the afternoon, return to our hotel, where we will enjoy the afternoon at our own leisure.
Day 11: Wine tasting in Martinborough, Cape Palliser and Putangirua Pinnacles

Our 11th day of morning we will drive inland to the friendly village of Martinborough for a taste of country life. Just over an hour from
the capital, Martinborough is surrounded by 35 vineyards, among them are Palliser Estate, Tirohana, and Ata Rangi. Enjoy an
early lunch with a glass of wine or join one of the many wine tours available. Next, drive an hour to Cape Palliser to see the
southernmost lighthouse—as well as the very popular fur seals—on the North Island. Stretch your legs and climb up the 250 steps
to the top of the lighthouse for a panoramic view of Palliser Bay, the Pacific Ocean, and the craggy rocks below.
On our way back to Wellington, Lord of the Rings fans may appreciate a visit to the Putangirua Pinnacles. A geological formation
featured as a Middle Earth backdrop in The Return of the King, we will choose one of three walks to the site (2-3 hours).

Day 12: Depart Wellington

It's sadly our last morning in New Zealand. Say our final goodbyes and get ready to drop our rental car at the airport.

Thanks & Regards

Harmanpreet Singh (Passport No. N9572191)
Gurwinder Kaur (Passport No. N9572198)
Khushkarman Singh Virk, (Passport No. U9025087)
Angadpartap Singh Virk, (Passport No. U9026509)