12 Days Adventure New Zealand – Coming soon!!

Small by international standards, but the largest city in the country, we’ll be kicking things off together in this seaside city of Auckland.  It’s large enough to have all the world-class restaurants, shops, and even gay nightlife on K-road, yet small enough to retain a community feeling in its many quaint suburbs (Ponsonby is our favorite!).  Our first night together will be spent getting to know each other while enjoying some great food high atop the tallest tower in the country with its stunning views and getting acquainted with our home for the next 11 days – New Zealand! 

On day 2, your full day in Auckland, you’ve got plenty of options and your Detours trip leader will be there to get you educated and coordinated.  If you like wine, maybe take the ferry over to Waiheke Island for some wine tasting.  If you love being out on the water you can jump on an America’s Cup sailing yacht for an exhilarating experience at sea.  Or if you’re more into museums you could check out the beautiful Auckland museum.  There are plenty of options to keep yourself entertained in the city and, if the group has split into different activities through the day, you’ll all gather back together in the evening for dinner together before continuing on the following day to Rotorua.

Included Activities: Sky Tower observation access with welcome dinner and drinks.

Optional Activities: Hike to Mt Eden, jump from the Skytower (or just enjoy the viewing deck), sail an America’s Cup yacht, visit the Auckland Museum, or take a ferry over to Waiheke Island and either jump on the hop on hop off shuttle, or our personal favourite – join a half-day wine tasting island tour!

It’s only a 3 hour drive to Rotorua but we’ll take a detour along the way to visit the famous glowworm caves on a short underground boat trip together before hopping back on the bus and continuing on to Rotorua.  Well known for its unique geothermal activity, geysers and hot mud pools that surround the town (and its distinct smell of course), this stop on our itinerary offers us many opportunities to soak up the warmth of natural hot springs, experience traditional Maori culture, and options to visit local kiwi birds or the underground glow-worm caves of Waitomo among many others.

Rotorua is home to a large percentage of Māori people and makes for a great place to experience the rich culture of the indigenous people of the region.  Combine this with a dip in the natural hot springs, a ride in a locally-invented Zorb (for those with a strong stomach), or a “black water rafting” adventure to make the most of your Rotorua experience!

Included Activities: Hobbiton movie-set tour (a detour as we drive from Auckland to Rotorua), Hells Gate entrance with round-trip transportation.

Optional Activities: Underground river tubing, experience local culture at a Māori village visit, check out the geothermal wonders at Wai-O-Tapu, roll down a hill inside a “Zorb”, white-water rafting on the Kaituna River…

oday, our 6th day, we board a quick 1 hour flight to Wellington, the nation’s capital city. Once in Wellington we’ll ensure there’s plenty of time to check out the world renowned Te Papa museum, head up the cable car to the hilltop suburb of Kelburn, or enjoy the local cafes – and there are plenty!

Optional Activities: Te Papa Museum, gay nightlife, underground market, cable car to Kelburn lookout, parliament buildings…

board the plane together for a 90 minute flight from the North Island all the way down to the heart of the mountainous region of the South Island.  Situated at the edge of Lake Wakitipu, in a crevice between hundreds of impressive mountain peaks, this town is commonly regarded the “Adventure Capital of the World” due to the sheer number of adventurous options that exist in the region!  Whether you want to conquer the first commercial bungee jump in the world (or one of the highest), jetboat down the Kawarau River, hike the Ben Lomond trail, or take it easier and check out the stunning Milford Sound or iconic LOTR filming locations in nearby Glenorchy, the Queenstown region has it all.

If you’ve saved some time between your other activities, join your trip leader on a hike up the scenic Tiki Trail, a relatively steep slope but with a stunning view as your reward at the top (with a cable car option for those hike-averse).  From the top, enjoy what will become one of the best lunch views you’ve ever had, right on the edge of the mountain overlooking the Remarkables mountain range and the lake and town below.

Queenstown is the last stop on our New Zealand itinerary (you’re welcome to depart any time on the 11th day) and makes for a fitting final send off from this uniquely diverse and adventurous country.

Included Activities: Guided hike from Lake Wakitipu to Skyline peak, overlooking the Remarkables mountain range.

Optional Activities: Jetboat the Kawarau River, Milford Sound cruise, bungee jump, paragliding, ziplining, white water rafting.