New Zealand North and South Islands • 9-Day Connection Tour • 4 Days on the North Island + 6-Day Food Tour on the South Island (Auckland to Christchurch)

Mount Eden is an extinct volcanic crater located about 5 km south of the city center. At 196 meters above sea level, its summit offers sweeping views of the city and nearby coastline. There is a lookout at the top with expansive views, making it a great place to take in the cityscape. In the past, a fortified Māori settlement known as a pā stood here. Looking down from the lookout, you can see the crater's inverted cone shape; today, cattle graze here.

The Auckland Harbour Bridge is one of Auckland's most iconic sights. It connects the northern and southern shores of Waitematā Harbour, Auckland's busiest port, and is 1,020 meters long. Together with the forest of masts at the Auckland Yacht Club, the Harbour Bridge makes for a spectacular and beautiful sight.

Queen Street is a major commercial thoroughfare in central Auckland, stretching about 3 kilometers from the Auckland waterfront in the north to Karangahape Road in the south. Built in 1840, it was named after Queen Victoria. The buildings lining Queen Street are a highlight: the Edwardian Baroque-style Auckland Ferry Building, the 19th-century Greek Revival-style Bank of New Zealand building, the British Gothic-style St Patrick’s Cathedral, and the British colonial-style Auckland Town Hall. Historic colonial buildings and modern high-rises stand side by side in a striking yet harmonious contrast.

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.

Rotorua is one of the best places to see geysers, geothermal hot springs, and bubbling mud pools. “Rotorua” means “two lakes” in Māori. The area is full of hot springs and mud pools, with steam rising everywhere, bubbling mud, and a strong smell of sulfur. A soak in a geothermal hot spring is a must: relaxing in the steaming water helps relieve fatigue and unwind, making for a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Another highlight is Lake Rotorua, the largest of Rotorua’s 16 lakes, formed by a volcanic eruption that created a depression. Its clear, emerald-green water is home to schools of trout. Here, you can also enjoy Māori cultural performances and sample traditional food cooked using geothermal heat.

Polynesian Spa is one of New Zealand’s most renowned geothermal hot-spring complexes. Enjoy a unique lakeside experience where relaxing geothermal mineral pools, luxurious spa treatments, and beautiful views of Lake Rotorua come together.

As one of New Zealand’s best-known natural attractions, you can take a boat tour through the glowworm caves and marvel at thousands of magical glowworms amid a cultural and natural landscape with a history spanning more than 130 years. Explore this ancient world, formed over 30 million years, and be amazed by nature’s spectacle of light and shadow. Before boarding the boat, you can explore the caves on foot, then glide quietly through the Glowworm Grotto, a star-lit wonderland. Surrounded by a galaxy of countless tiny points of light, enjoy the peaceful, serene atmosphere.

Visit the Hobbiton film set and step into Middle-earth from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film series. The guided tour begins with a journey through a picturesque 1,250-acre sheep farm, offering sweeping views of the Kaimai Ranges along the way. Pass the colorful round doors of Hobbit holes scattered across the hillsides, including the iconic Bag End, home of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. Then arrive at Bagshot Row to glimpse the interiors of humble Hobbit dwellings. Follow the path past the Mill and across the double-arched stone bridge to the world-famous Green Dragon™ Inn.

A visit to a local farm is a must in New Zealand, a country with a thriving livestock industry. Agrodome, located in Rotorua on the North Island, is New Zealand’s largest and most advanced tourist farm, covering 150 hectares. Here you can get up close to red deer, turkeys, ostriches, alpacas, dairy cows, lambs, and many other animals you may never have seen before—and feed them by hand. The farm puts on daily shows, including sheep shearing and cow milking. They are exciting and great fun.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Christchurch Arts Centre is one of New Zealand’s most iconic Gothic-style building complexes and was formerly the site of the University of Canterbury. The complex is characterized by Gothic features such as patterned stone walls and pointed archways. After the university relocated in 1974, it was transformed into an arts and cultural centre, with around 30 craft shops and artists’ studios. The centre regularly hosts weekend craft markets and art performances, creating a distinctive cultural scene. The 2011 Christchurch earthquake damaged the buildings, and restoration and maintenance work was still underway as of 2025.

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.

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.

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.

Lake Pukaki’s beautiful milky-blue color has earned it the nickname “Blue Milk Lake.” At times, a veil of mist settles over the water, making the surrounding mountains seem ethereal; at other times, the lake is crystal clear, bringing distant mountains seemingly within reach. Shifting light and shadow can also make you feel as though you’ve stepped into a fairy tale.

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.

A visit to Queenstown isn’t complete without stopping by the Kawarau Bridge Bungy Centre, the birthplace of bungy jumping. Suspended between sheer cliffs, the bridge overlooks the rushing Kawarau River, and the view alone is breathtaking. There are plenty of activities to enjoy here… try bungy jumping or a bungy trampoline, watch a bungy movie, or simply relax over lunch at the café and admire the jumpers from the viewing platform.

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.

Known as the “Adventure Capital of the World,” Queenstown is the birthplace of tandem skydiving in New Zealand and the perfect place to fulfill your skydiving dream! Our drop zone is at the foot of the famous Remarkables mountain range, surrounded by picturesque sheep farms. It takes a special kind of person to leap from an aircraft at 4,500 metres—doing so takes real courage. As your mind, soul, and body overcome their natural instinct for self-preservation and you jump from the plane, you’ll experience what it feels like to be weightless. It’s a major challenge to yourself.

Horse riding is a wonderful way to explore Middle-earth! The horses here are tall, strong, and beautiful; some even appeared in The Lord of the Rings films. This hidden paradise is dotted with babbling streams and dense lupin fields. In midsummer, a spectacular sea of purple blooms makes for incredible photos. From the banks of the Rees River, you can see the magnificent backdrop featured in The Lord of the Rings. Ride through Middle-earth and enjoy a cinematic journey.

Since its founding twenty years ago, Fergburger has become an iconic Queenstown restaurant—and its success is no accident. From ¾-pound (340 g) patties to tofu burgers, the wide selection is made fresh every day, cooked just right, carefully stacked and beautifully presented. The rich, full-bodied flavors make the freshness of the ingredients shine in every bite. Many diners say that the perfect blend of flavors—from the toppings to the expertly cooked patties—makes for an unforgettable meal that keeps them coming back.

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 a fjord in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island, located within Fiordland National Park, the Piopiotahi Marine Reserve, and the Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area. It has been named the world’s best travel destination in an international survey and is regarded as New Zealand’s most famous tourist attraction.

The Te Anau Glowworm Caves are located within New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park, which covers 125 hectares. In 1887, an English surveyor, accompanied by a local Māori chief, explored the caves by raft with a torch and discovered the glowworms twinkling inside. Since then, explorers and visitors have flocked here, and the caves have become famous around the world. The glowworms here are not the flying fireflies found elsewhere; they are the larvae of a flying insect. They hang from the rock walls and produce up to 70 sticky, glowing, transparent threads. Photography is not permitted inside the caves, and phones must be switched off or set to silent, as the glowworms are easily startled. Traveling into the caves by boat and seeing the glowworms sparkle like a sky full of stars is a magical experience.

Lake Te Anau is the largest southern glacial lake, covering 344 square kilometres. The main body of the lake runs north to south. Three large fiords on its western side are known as the North, Middle, and South Fiords. To the east, rolling hills dominate the landscape; to the west lies a vast wilderness of forests and mountains, with the Kepler and Murchison ranges reaching approximately 1,700 metres. Much of Lake Te Anau lies within Fiordland National Park and the Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area. Two small towns stand on its shores, the largest of which is Te Anau. You can take a lake cruise or go boating, and visit the Te Anau Glowworm Caves, where geological activity is intense. At the local wildlife centre, you can see endangered birds from Fiordland, including weka, rails, kakapo, tūī, kea, kākāriki, and pigeons. They thrive under the attentive care of the Department of Conservation.

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.

Moeraki Beach, 40 km south of Oamaru, is scattered with many spherical boulders. Other large boulders are found around the sandstone cliffs; each weighs several tonnes and can reach two metres in height. According to Māori legend, centuries ago the canoe Arai-te-uru was wrecked as it was about to make landfall in New Zealand. Many of the gourds on board were washed ashore, forming the large boulders we see today. Scientists, however, explain that these boulders are calcite concretions formed 65 million years ago.

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.

The Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony is one of the best places to see the world’s smallest penguins. Blue penguins can be found along the coasts of New Zealand and southern Australia, but in Oamaru visitors can get close to these adorable animals. They nest in the harbour area, and the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony offers a unique opportunity to watch the world’s smallest penguins return from fishing. Every evening at dusk, groups of blue penguins gather offshore and wait for nightfall. They then swim to shore, climb the steep bank to the cliffs above, pause for a rest, and make their way past the viewing area to their nests, where their mates or hungry chicks are waiting eagerly.