New Zealand North and South Islands • 11-Day Connection Tour • 8-Day Grand Glacier Loop on the South Island + 4 Days on the North Island (Christchurch to Auckland)

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.

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.

Arthur’s Pass National Park is located 150 kilometres from Christchurch. The Alpine Scenic Train passes near the entrance to the pass, which lies along the historic route from eastern Canterbury to the West Coast. Covering 114,500 hectares, it is New Zealand’s third national park. The park features beautiful gorges and streams, as well as majestic mountains that inspire awe. Its defining landscapes include steep slopes, a network of rivers and rugged gorges. There are 30 backcountry huts and basic campsites in the park, with good access between them. The Arthur’s Pass Visitor Centre is the starting point for hiking trails, with several routes offering excellent scenery along the way.

One of New Zealand’s most popular scenic mountain railways is located at Arthur’s Pass. At an altitude of 737 metres, it is one of the world’s six great scenic rail journeys. Along the way, you can admire New Zealand’s distinctive farms, snow-capped peaks, narrow bridges, deep valleys, tunnels and towering ancient trees.

Shantytown is one of New Zealand’s important heritage attractions, faithfully recreating a pioneering town established in the early 20th century during the gold rush of the 1860s. Set amid regenerating rainforest, Shantytown brings to life the most influential period of post-Māori colonisation through immersive visitor experiences, giving you a real sense of life in New Zealand’s past and its significance to New Zealanders today. Shantytown is also one of the West Coast’s leading venues for events, conferences and weddings.

Fox Glacier is named after Sir William Fox, New Zealand’s Prime Minister from 1869 to 1872. The name refers both to the glacier and the nearby village. Like its sister destination, Franz Josef, the glacier flows down the western slopes of the Southern Alps, reaching temperate rainforest just 300 metres above sea level. To take in the glacier’s beauty, enjoy unparalleled views along Cook Flat Road on your way to Lake Matheson. Several glowworm caves are within walking distance of the town centre, where you’ll also find great cafés and restaurants. Beautiful Lake Matheson, near Fox Glacier, is one of New Zealand’s most photographed lakes. On a clear day, you can see Aoraki/Mount Cook reflected in the water.

As the saying goes, good things take time. For the Pancake Rocks, it took 30 million years! These heavily eroded limestone formations on the West Coast have unusual shapes. Seawater shoots through vertical blowholes in the rocks, creating an astonishing spectacle.

The Haast region is named after German geologist Julius von Haast and comprises three settlements: Haast Junction, Haast Beach and Haast itself. Here, you’ll feel as though you’re at the frontier—helicopters take deer hunters into rugged mountain country, and local pubs are known for decorating their premises with animal skulls. The surrounding World Heritage Area is the region’s main attraction. Wherever you look, West Coast rainforest stretches across the landscape. Activities in Haast include river adventures, visits to seal and penguin colonies, sea fishing, rainbow trout fishing, hunting, and driving to Jackson Bay, one of New Zealand’s most remote rural communities.

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.

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.

Surrounded by mountains and dotted with lakes, the area around Bob’s Peak offers beautiful scenery and a rich variety of vegetation. Take a sightseeing gondola to explore the surrounding landscape and gaze down at the pristine natural beauty.

Winding through dense beech and rimu forests, an easy short walk leads to these natural wonders, formed by alpine meltwater. Cross open flats and admire spectacular mountain views, enjoy the cool shade of the beech forest, and eventually reach a suspension bridge spanning the Makarora River. Continue along the boardwalk to a second suspension bridge, which overlooks the Blue Pools. From here, enjoy sweeping views of the river gorge. The suspension bridges have a limit on the number of people crossing at once—if the limit has been reached, please wait at the entrance.

Crown Range Road is New Zealand’s highest main road. This spectacular, winding 69-kilometer scenic route connects Queenstown and Wānaka and is renowned for its breathtaking alpine scenery and the historic Cardrona Valley. Driving this road is challenging but rewarding. It is particularly pleasant in summer, while winter often brings icy and snowy conditions, so snow chains are required and careful driving is essential.

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.

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.

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.

St Paul’s Cathedral is a Gothic-style building constructed in 1971. It is built from Oamaru limestone quarried in Oamaru, and its exterior walls are adorned with magnificent stained glass. Inside, an impressive organ with an astonishing 3,500 pipes takes centre stage. You can visit the “War Memorial Window”, created to honour soldiers from the Otago region who died in World War I. There are also works depicting the “Death, Resurrection and Ascension” of Christ, each adding to the cathedral’s artistic character.

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.

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.

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 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.