New Zealand North and South Islands • 10-Day Connection Tour • 7-Day Small Mercedes-Benz Group on the South Island + 4 Days on the North Island (Christchurch to Auckland)

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.”

Oamaru’s white-stone townscape features a number of well-preserved historic New Zealand buildings. In the late 19th century, Oamaru prospered through gold mining, quarrying, and timber processing. Some of this wealth was used to build beautiful limestone buildings. Tyne Street, with its distinctive character, is also a shopper’s paradise. Oamaru Harbour is home to little blue penguins, and yellow-eyed penguins can be seen from a special viewing point. Oamaru’s public gardens are well worth a visit, with a Victorian rotunda and an Oriental-style garden.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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 University of Canterbury Mount John Observatory is one of New Zealand’s leading astronomical research facilities. Perched on a hill overlooking stunning Lake Tekapo, it also offers spectacular daytime views that captivate visitors. The observatory is located within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, one of only four reserves of its kind in the world. After surveying several locations, Mount John was selected in 1963 as the best site in New Zealand for an observatory. The observatory was built soon afterward. Upgrades over the years—including the installation of a 71-inch (180-centimeter) telescope in 2004—have kept the facility at the forefront of technology.

Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city, surrounded by the ocean and volcanoes. With its beautiful harbors and spectacular bridges, it is a quintessential sightseeing destination. Auckland enjoys a sunny, pleasant climate and is a paradise for outdoor activities. Its terrain and climate are ideal for sailing. The city’s many harbors are packed with yachts and sailboats; their endless rows of masts create a spectacular sight. Auckland sailors won the America’s Cup in 1996 and 2000, and the city has hosted the race twice. New Zealanders proudly call Auckland the “City of Sail.”

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.

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 Government Gardens are a geothermal attraction in the New Zealand city of Rotorua, a scenic destination with a population of just over 60,000 and one of the main Maori settlements. The land originally belonged to the Maori. Once a geothermal area covered in scrub, it was known to the Maori as Paepaekumana, a place that held many memories of war. In the late 19th century, the Maori gifted the land to the government, which carried out a major transformation: clearing the scrub, planting formal garden species, and turning the site into a beautiful, elegant hot-spring attraction on the shores of Lake Rotorua. The Rotorua Museum of Art and History and the Polynesian Spa are both located in the Government Gardens. Even if you don't visit the museum or soak in the hot springs, simply strolling through this meticulously maintained park and enjoying Rotorua's blue skies, green spaces, and fresh breeze is a wonderfully relaxing experience.

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.