[Premium Mercedes-Benz Tour] New Zealand North and South Island Crossing, 13 Days / 12 Nights (Christchurch to Auckland)

Founded in July 1863, Christchurch Botanic Gardens began with the planting of an English oak tree to mark the marriage of Queen Victoria’s eldest son, Prince Albert Edward, to Princess Alexandra of Denmark. Over time, the natural wetlands and sand dunes have been transformed into a beautiful park filled with flowers. Covering 30 hectares, it features 10 distinctive gardens, most of them within the Avon River precinct. Enter the gardens from Rolleston Avenue, by Canterbury Museum, to enjoy the annual flower-bed displays, then cross the lush green Archery Lawn to reach the Rose Garden. Home to more than 250 fragrant rose varieties, the garden blooms in a dazzling array of colours and scents throughout the year.

Punting on the Avon River is one of Christchurch’s most iconic attractions. Whatever the season, you can glide along the peaceful, beautiful Avon River aboard an elegant boat, while a skilled punter guides you past Christchurch’s romantic city scenery. In spring and summer, you’ll see sunlight softly falling on the sparkling water as ducklings play happily in the river; in autumn and winter, you can enjoy the enchanting waterside scenery.

Known as the “Garden City,” Christchurch is New Zealand’s third-largest city. Founded 150 years ago, it is filled with beautifully laid-out gardens. Since most early settlers were English, the city’s historic buildings reflect the Victorian era in Britain. The English have even given Christchurch a new definition: “a city outside Britain that feels very much like Britain.”

The Bridge of Remembrance spans the Avon River in central Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. This stone arch bridge is of significant historical importance. It was named after the historic scene of soldiers departing for the front and saying farewell to their families here during World War I. A triumphal arch-style gateway at the bridge entrance serves as a memorial. The bridge was officially designated a heritage site by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust in April 1985. The existing bridge was restored after the 2010 Christchurch earthquake.

Located in the heart of Christchurch, overlooking the Avon River, Riverside Market brings new energy to city life. Open seven days a week, this indoor market is closely connected to a network of boutique shops, restaurants, a cookery school, cafés and bars.

The University of Otago is located in Dunedin, the capital of the Otago region of New Zealand. Founded in 1869, it was New Zealand’s first national university and is also the country’s oldest university. The university covers nearly 2,000 hectares and boasts beautiful surroundings and a rich academic culture, offering a comfortable and peaceful environment. Trees shade the campus, with landscaping covering 60 percent of its area, alongside both historic and modern buildings. A visit to the University of Otago gives you a full appreciation of its leafy grounds. You can admire its distinctive historic and modern architecture and experience the university’s vibrant cultural atmosphere. The campus is home to a wide variety of plants and trees, including rare and valuable species from New Zealand and around the world. Its gardens are filled with flowers and fragrance, making a stroll through them feel like entering a sea of blossoms.

First Church is a Presbyterian church built in 1873. Its 60-meter spire stands as a solemn symbol of religious authority. The interior retains the distinctive features of a typical 19th-century Presbyterian church, and its vivid stained glass is striking. The beautiful window above the communion table resembles real flower petals, earning it the name “Rose Window.”

Built in 1906, the railway station still stands today, restored to its former glory after extensive renovations. This grand building, designed in the Flemish Renaissance style, is constructed from black basalt and decorated on the exterior with white Oamaru limestone. Its impressive scale and splendor earned its architect, George Troup, the nickname “Gingerbread George.” Every October, the South Island’s major fashion show is held here, on what may be the world’s longest catwalk. Today, only one train still uses the station, making a ride on it a perfect sightseeing trip through the local scenery. Much of the ground floor has been converted into restaurants, while the second floor houses an art gallery and a sports hall of fame. Visitors can enjoy the outdoor views from the well-preserved ground floor or stroll through the station and admire its splendid interior.

Baldwin Street is about 3.5 km north of Dunedin city centre and is listed in the Guinness World Records as the steepest street, with a gradient of 35% (not 35 degrees). The street is 350 m long, with a horizontal distance of about 161.2 m and a vertical rise of 69.2 m from bottom to top. The steepest section has a gradient ratio of 1:2.86. Every year, the street hosts a “race up the hill” and a “jellybean race” (participants’ numbers are written on ping-pong balls, which are placed in a barrel and released from the top; the winner is the ball that reaches the finish first). Some young people have even ridden downhill in rubbish bins and been injured.

Queenstown is located in the southwest of the Otago region on New Zealand’s South Island. Nearby Arrowtown, a former gold-mining town, preserves the remains of Chinese miners’ settlement in New Zealand—the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement. The city is built around the entrance to Lake Wakatipu, whose long, slender “S” shape is surrounded by spectacular mountains. The scenery is ever-changing, with the lake and mountains creating an almost otherworldly landscape. The town was named in 1850 in honor of Queen Victoria. Today, Queenstown is a world-famous holiday destination, both in New Zealand and beyond.

The castle’s wooden furnishings are among New Zealand’s finest collections of antiques. Its distinctive architectural style combines Gothic Revival architecture with British colonial-era design. Two hundred craftsmen built the exterior, while three British sculptors spent 12 years decorating the interior. Its lavish interiors feature Italian plaster ceilings, Venetian glass walls, a marble bathtub weighing one ton, and the only Georgian-era spiral staircase in the Southern Hemisphere.

Dunedin boasts rare natural scenery and abundant wildlife. In its nature reserves, you can observe rare yellow-eyed penguins, Hooker’s sea lions, and New Zealand fur seals from very close range. Visit Taiaroa Head, where you may also encounter the great albatross. The Otago Peninsula and the area around the lagoon are also rich in wildlife to explore.

Located at Queenstown's highest point, the Skyline Gondola complex combines dining and entertainment and is a must-see attraction during your visit. The gondola ride, with views overlooking Queenstown from above, is one of the first attractions to draw visitors to the town. Ride the gondola to Bob's Peak and take in breathtaking scenery. Relax and admire Queenstown's dazzling views. Cafés, restaurants, a luge track, stargazing, Māori haka performances, and mountain biking offer a variety of activities to enrich your trip.

Lake Wakatipu is New Zealand’s third-largest lake and is shaped like a lightning bolt. Its unusual shape creates a distinctive “tide” effect (more accurately, a large seiche, or “standing wave”), causing the water level to rise and fall by about 10 centimeters every 25 minutes. According to Māori legend, a water monster named Matau sleeps at the bottom of the lake, and its heartbeat causes the water to “ebb and flow.” Visitors can fish in Lake Wakatipu all year round. The river mouths at the Greenstone and Lochy Rivers are especially popular, with abundant salmon sure to make your trip worthwhile.

Cruising Lake Wakatipu aboard Queenstown’s vintage TSS Earnslaw steamship is undoubtedly one of the best ways to experience Queenstown’s stunning scenery, and is loved by many famous guests and visitors, including Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, and President Clinton. This relaxing 90-minute cruise reveals Queenstown’s magnificent scenery in all its variety. You can also explore the 100-year-old steamship and discover Queenstown’s rich history. Visit the engine room to watch the huge steam engines at work, browse a collection of historic photos in the mini museum, see the wheelhouse, or sing along to the pianist. You can also enjoy wine and delicious snacks at the ship’s Promenade Café and Bar.

The 4WD off-road adventure is a four-wheel-drive activity in Queenstown that takes you deep into remote areas of New Zealand. Explore the long history of gold-mining sites, the spectacular scenery of The Lord of the Rings filming locations, and the pastoral life of alpine farms. The entire off-road tour uses fully equipped Land Rover Defenders, ready to tackle any terrain. The journey crosses Skippers Canyon, Arrowtown and Paradise, sharing New Zealand’s pioneering history and showcasing the beautiful scenery of numerous film locations.

Mystery, heritage, fantasy and reality come together here. Dart River Valley is a must-visit destination for exploration! On this thrilling adventure, your jet boat will venture deep into the heart of the world-famous Mount Aspiring National Park. Take in breathtaking scenery and speed through winding glacial lakes by jet boat. Your knowledgeable and entertaining guide will share the region’s history and culture. Walk through ancient beech forests and see woodlands dating back 80 million years, as well as filming locations used to portray Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings.

Milford Sound is located in Fiordland National Park in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. Carved by glaciers during the Ice Age, the fiord reaches a depth of 265 meters at Mitre Peak and is a world-renowned natural wonder. Take a cruise to admire the spectacular scenery and spot marine wildlife such as dolphins, Fiordland penguins, and seals. Known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” and a “journey through a World Heritage site,” it is also celebrated as one of the world’s most beautiful alpine roads. Its winding natural scenery makes every turn feel like a painting.

Lake Tekapo, in the Canterbury region, is renowned for its picturesque scenery and has become one of New Zealand’s most popular tourist attractions. The lake is 27 km long, 6 km wide, averages 69 m deep, and reaches a maximum depth of 120 m. Unique turquoise rocks on the lakebed give the water a dreamy jade-green glow that is simply breathtaking. Visitors often describe Lake Tekapo as a “paradise on earth,” a pristine haven far removed from the bustle of everyday life, quietly surrounded by blue waters and mountains. Encircled by tranquil mountains, its calm, crystal-clear waters reflect the snow-capped Southern Alps, drawing photographers year-round. Lake Tekapo is ideal for fishing, boating, and water skiing. If you’re lucky, you might catch brown or rainbow trout; fishing beside this peaceful lake is a wonderful experience.

Lake Wanaka stretches 45 kilometers and covers 193 square kilometers. Its clear waters are a paradise for speedboating and kayaking enthusiasts and sailors. After filming the New Zealand season of Where Are We Going, Dad?, celebrity families Huang Lei and Duoduo, Yang Wei and Yang Yangyang, and Lu Yi and Bei’er came straight to Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island for a holiday. This was one of the places they visited. Among the lakes of the South Island, Wanaka is like a shy young woman, hiding her beauty between Lake Wanaka, Lake Hāwea, and the Southern Alps, waiting to be discovered by curious visitors. Winter is Wanaka’s busiest season, when ski enthusiasts from around the world flock here to enjoy exceptional downhill skiing at Cardrona and Treble Cone, cross-country skiing at Snow Farm, and, of course, the thrilling heli-skiing at Harris Mountains.

Not far from Queenstown lies a historic gold-mining village. Arrowtown has a diverse range of small shops, including cafés, restaurants, art galleries, bars, and souvenir stores. It is also one of the filming locations for The Lord of the Rings. Take a stroll along the Arrow River, with historic buildings lining the streets, and learn about the lives of thousands of Chinese miners and the stories of Chinese gold seekers during the gold rush.

The Church of the Good Shepherd stands on high ground beside Lake Tekapo. Built in 1935, it was named after a sculpture of a sheepdog. Constructed entirely from blocks of stone, it is a classic feature of Lake Tekapo postcards. At night, the church looks especially beautiful beneath the starry sky and is also an excellent spot for photographing star trails. Its exterior is rustic and simple, yet full of character. Though small, it has a distinctive charm. The exterior walls combine the stones’ natural shades of dark gray, light gray, blue-green and brown, while the roof is made of black stone slabs. This rugged, natural appearance blends harmoniously with the open lakeside landscape.

You may be surprised to learn that the Wanaka Tree has not stood on this land since ancient times. More than 80 years ago, it was merely an unremarkable fence post—a willow branch driven into the lakebed to keep livestock from entering the lakeside area. Today, the Wanaka Tree has become much more than an ordinary tree: it is both a symbol of resilience and a quiet reflection of the surrounding landscape. This solitary tree stands in the lake with the Southern Alps as its backdrop, taking on a different appearance with each passing season. In autumn, golden leaves reflect on the water, casting a warm glow; in winter, its bare branches stand out against the snowy peaks like a frozen sculpture. Photographers and visitors from around the world are drawn to this tranquil scene, capturing the tree at sunrise and sunset, and beneath star-filled night skies. Its transformation from an unremarkable fence post into one of the world’s most sought-after natural landmarks is proof of the unexpected ways in which nature can surprise and inspire us.

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park lies in the west-central part of New Zealand’s South Island, extending 40–90 kilometres inland from the 450-kilometre-long West Coast. The park is long and narrow, stretching 64 kilometres and measuring just 20 kilometres across at its narrowest point. It covers 70,696 hectares, 40 percent of which is glaciated. The park is home to New Zealand’s highest peaks and largest glaciers. Of the 27 mountains in New Zealand that rise above 3,050 metres, 22 are located here, including the highest, Aoraki / Mount Cook, at 3,755 metres. In Māori, Mount Cook is also called Aoraki, meaning “Cloud Piercer.” The park extends south to Arthur’s Pass and west to the Main Range, in the most spectacular and scenic central section of the Southern Alps. Mount Cook is magnificent, and a short hike is a great way to take in the scenery and spot wildlife such as tahr and red deer.

The gallery's special focus on contemporary art from the Pacific Rim has earned it widespread national and international acclaim. Its striking, innovative corrugated stainless-steel mirrored facade is sure to catch the eye of people around the world, while its dreamlike exhibition layout has captivated countless art lovers and people unfamiliar with art alike. This avant-garde modern building was named the top destination in the Taranaki region's “Best Tourism Destination of 2017.”

This arched beam bridge is not very long. A single long, column-shaped beam stretches diagonally from one end to the other, supported in the middle by several ribs. Its semicircular curves are beautiful from both the side and the front. Designed to resemble a whale skeleton, this steel bridge showcases the artistic ingenuity of New Zealanders. It marks the end of the seven-kilometre coastal walkway and is also a new landmark in New Plymouth.

Mount Taranaki—known in Māori as “Taranaki Maunga”—is New Zealand’s newest natural landmark to be granted legal personhood. New Zealand has previously recognised a river and a sacred landscape as legal persons. This pristine, dormant volcano, capped with snow year-round, stands 2,518 metres (8,261 feet) high. It is the North Island’s second-highest peak and a popular destination for sightseeing, hiking and skiing.

This arched beam bridge is not very long. A single long, column-shaped beam stretches diagonally from one end to the other, supported in the middle by several ribs. Its semicircular curves are beautiful from both the side and the front. Designed to resemble a whale skeleton, this steel bridge showcases the artistic ingenuity of New Zealanders. It marks the end of the seven-kilometre coastal walkway and is also a new landmark in New Plymouth.

Mount Taranaki—known in Māori as “Taranaki Maunga”—is New Zealand’s newest natural landmark to be granted legal personhood. New Zealand has previously recognised a river and a sacred landscape as legal persons. This pristine, dormant volcano, capped with snow year-round, stands 2,518 metres (8,261 feet) high. It is the North Island’s second-highest peak and a popular destination for sightseeing, hiking and skiing.

Whakarewarewa Māori Village is located southeast of Rotorua, next to the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve. The village’s ancient Māori houses have been restored and gathered here. At its center is an exhibition hall displaying distinctive Māori carvings, making it an ideal place for visitors to learn about Māori culture. Early Māori dwellings were made from reeds and palm branches; they were simple and low, so people could not stand upright inside. Storage sheds were elevated on stilts. The tool shed resembled the bamboo houses of the Dai people in Yunnan, China, but was smaller. The chief’s food store stood high above the ground and looked like a chair balanced on bamboo poles by an acrobat. At the center of the gardens, a geyser shoots a column of water more than 30 meters straight into the air, glimmering like a silver chain and blossoming like a white lotus.

Auckland Airport is Auckland’s only airport, located 20 km south of the city center, about a 30-minute drive from downtown. Chinese-language signs have now been added in both the international and domestic terminals, and each has an i-SITE visitor information center.

Hamilton is New Zealand’s largest inland city. The mighty Waikato River divides the city in two and nourishes the fertile land, making Hamilton a distribution hub for agricultural and livestock products from the Waikato River basin. It is known as the “Dairy Capital of the World.” The best way to take in the city’s scenery is from the deck of a boat on the Waikato River. As trees and riverbanks drift past, the views offer insight into the city’s history and distinctive character.