12 Days • 11 Nights
Luxury New Zealand: Lodges & Landscapes
Tour Includes
About the Trip
You'll stay in award-winning lodges overlooking bays, lakes and alps, take a private glacier heli-flight with a snow landing, cruise Milford Sound in style, enjoy private wine and dining experiences, and be looked after impeccably throughout. Every transfer is private, often by helicopter or scenic flight; every lodge is exceptional.
For travellers who want New Zealand's grandeur with the utmost comfort and privacy, there is nothing like it.
Trip Highlights
- The country's finest world-renowned luxury lodges
- Private guides and scenic-flight transfers
- A private glacier helicopter flight and snow landing
- A cruise on the majestic Milford Sound
- Private wine and fine-dining experiences
- Rotorua geothermal and Maori culture, privately
- Helicopter journeys over the Southern Alps
- New Zealand's icons in total luxury
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 12-day journey.
Met privately in Auckland and transferred (or flown) to a luxury lodge in the Bay of Islands. A gourmet welcome dinner begins a journey of pure indulgence.
A private cruise and coastal experiences in the Bay of Islands, with lodge dining and the sea at your door.
Fly to geothermal Rotorua and a luxury lodge, with a private geothermal and Maori cultural experience.
A private day of geysers, forest and Maori culture, with a spa treatment and lodge dining.
Fly to the South Island and a luxury lakeside lodge near Queenstown, settling into alpine grandeur.
A private helicopter flight over the Southern Alps and glaciers with a snow landing, returning for a private wine experience.
A scenic flight and cruise on the majestic Milford Sound, flying over Fiordland's peaks, overnighting near the fiords.
Return to your Queenstown lodge for private dining and the lakeside setting.
A private day — a wine tour, a jet boat, Glenorchy or simply the lodge and its views, with a fine-dining dinner.
A scenic journey to a luxury lodge in the Mackenzie Country beneath Aoraki/Mount Cook, with the famous dark skies.
A private Mount Cook experience — a scenic flight or glacier walk, and a private star-gazing session under the Mackenzie skies.
A final gourmet breakfast before your private transfer or flight to Christchurch and your onward journey.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- Private and scenic-flight transfers throughout
- 11 nights in New Zealand's finest luxury lodges
- Daily gourmet breakfast, a welcome dinner, most lodge dinners and a fine-dining experience
- A private Bay of Islands experience and Rotorua geothermal and Maori culture privately
- A private glacier helicopter flight with a snow landing
- A Milford Sound cruise and private Queenstown wine touring
- A dedicated concierge and personalised experiences
- Aoraki/Mount Cook and the Mackenzie dark skies
Exclusions
- International airfare to and from New Zealand
- NZeTA and International Visitor levy fees
- Travel insurance (essential for a journey of this value)
- Meals and premium beverages beyond those stated
- Personal purchases and additional experiences
- Gratuities for guides, pilots and lodge staff
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa: Visitors from visa-waiver countries must obtain an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) online before travelling, which includes the International Visitor levy. Others need a visitor visa; we can advise
- Currency: The currency is the New Zealand Dollar. New Zealand is largely cashless, with cards and contactless payment accepted almost everywhere
- Driving: New Zealanders drive on the left. Roads are scenic but often winding, and distances take longer than they look, so we build in realistic drive times (or you can self-drive)
- Seasons reversed: New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere, so summer is December to February and winter (with skiing in the south) is June to August. Spring and autumn are quieter and beautiful
- Four seasons in a day: The weather changes quickly, especially in the mountains, so pack warm and waterproof layers even in summer, along with strong sun protection for the intense UV
- Biosecurity: New Zealand has strict biosecurity, so declare all food, plant and animal items on arrival and clean any hiking boots or camping gear to protect the country's unique nature
- Sandflies: The West Coast and Fiordland (including Milford Sound) have persistent sandflies, so bring insect repellent for those areas
- Best time: New Zealand is a year-round destination; summer is best for hiking and the outdoors, winter for skiing in the south, and autumn for golden landscapes and wine country
- Tipping: Tipping is not customary or expected in New Zealand, which keeps things simple
- Connectivity & power: A local SIM or eSIM gives good coverage in towns and along main routes. Power is 230V with the Australian-style type I plug, so bring an adapter
Frequently Asked Questions
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included throughout, along with a welcome dinner and the specific meals named in the itinerary, such as a Maori hangi feast or a wine-country lunch. Other meals are left free so you can enjoy New Zealand's superb food and wine.
Are transfers and touring arranged?
Yes — your airport transfers, scenic touring and activities are arranged for you, with the option of private guides, coach touring or a self-drive itinerary to suit your style.
Do I need a visa for New Zealand?
Visitors from visa-waiver countries need an NZeTA, applied for online before travel. We guide you through the requirements for your nationality.
When is the best time to visit?
Summer (December-February) is ideal for hiking and the outdoors, winter (June-August) for skiing in the south, and autumn for golden colours and wine. New Zealand is beautiful year-round.
Should we do a self-drive or guided tour?
Both work wonderfully — self-drive gives freedom and flexibility on New Zealand's scenic roads, while a guided or private tour takes care of everything. We can tailor either to you.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. Durations, islands, activities and hotels can all be tailored, and we can add Milford Sound, a glacier, wine country, adventure sports or luxury lodges. Just tell us what you have in mind.
How do we travel between the islands?
By a short scenic flight or the Interislander ferry across Cook Strait between the North and South Islands — both included and arranged as your route requires.
What kind of lodges do we stay in?
New Zealand's world-renowned luxury lodges — award-winning properties in spectacular settings, with exceptional service, cuisine and often all-inclusive dining. We confirm the exact lodges with you and tailor to your preferences.
What makes this different from the classic tours?
The finest luxury lodges, private guides, helicopter and scenic-flight transfers, exclusive glacier and Milford experiences, and fine dining throughout — New Zealand's grandeur with total comfort and privacy.
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