New Zealand Panorama

Queenstown deserves its destination crown. And after an orientation tour on arrival, you’ll have plenty of time to explore before time at your leisure. Hit us up for dining recommendations.

Arriving in New Zealand, the first thing you probably noticed is that there’s a lot of farmland. It’s fitting, then, that one of the first people you’ll meet is southern girl Laura, who, on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, will introduce you to the sheep farm she was born and raised on. Continue to Arrowtown, a former mining town so dreamy it looks like it has slipped straight from a movie set. Drop in on bijou boutiques, cafes and bars along the tree-lined promenade. Come dusk, cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw; the only thing more inspiring than the peaks of the Remarkables that surround is the festive atmosphere welcoming you to Walter Peak High Country Farm, where a gourmet barbecue Highlight Dinner at the Colonel’s Homestead awaits.

You clearly need more than one day to appreciate Queenstown and its surrounds. And when we say surrounds, we mean Milford Sound. Today, sign up to dive deep into this yawning gorge within World Heritage listed Fiordland National Park – it’s within easy reach of your base, and is best explored on an optional South Island tour that sees you jumping aboard boat to cruise the mirror-like waterway. Don’t be surprised if you see dolphins and seals playing in the wake of waterfalls. If you like things fast paced, opt for bungy jumping, jetboating or ziplining. You are in the adventure capital of New Zealand, after all.

Touching down in Auckland, you’ll immediately understand why it’s known as the ‘City of Sails’ – New Zealand’s largest city has two lovely yacht-filled harbours, which you can explore at our leisure this afternoon.

Today is set to sparkle – quite literally – as thousands of bright green and blue glowworms light up your next destination: the Waitomo Caves. Tonight, you'll experience Te Puia's world-famous hāngī buffet dinner. Enjoy spectacular geothermal views while dining on a range of delicious New Zealand flavours. The menu is smartly sophisticated, infusing Māori flavours, with an array of global cuisines and cooking styles. After dinner you will get to enjoy a cultural performance that will take place in their finely carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. Witness a pōwhiri (traditional welcome), waiata (song), mōteatea (traditional chant) poi and haka. The evening culminates at the powerful Pohutu Geyser. where, armed with hot chocolate and steamed pudding, you'll view one of New Zealand's geothermal wonderlands.

Cute and cuddly, NZ’s national bird, the kiwi, is also endangered. Go behind the scenes on a working kiwi nursery and hatchery to learn how breeding programs are helping the population thrive. The natural drama reaches boiling point at Whakarewarewa, a geothermal reserve and the country’s only living Māori village, home to famous Pohutu Geyser (the country’s largest) and the bubbling beauty of mud pools. Cap off your day at a Farewell Dinner with your Travel Director and companions.

Short, sweet, and packed with highlights – how else to describe this wonderful week?