The trip
Most first New Zealand trips make the same mistake: they try to hold both islands evenly and end up rushing both. This itinerary doesn't. It gives the North Island five days for the things only the North Island has — the Waitomo glowworm caves, Rotorua's geothermal fields and living Māori culture, the volcanic plateau, the capital — and then gives the South Island the extra time it rewards: Marlborough, the Kaikōura coast, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Queenstown and a full day in Milford Sound.
You travel by coach with a Cooee specialist from Brisbane who has run this route before, plus local guides where their knowledge matters — on the Rotorua marae, in the Waitomo caves, on the Milford cruise. Nine of the thirteen nights are two-night stays, so you unpack more than you pack.
The Cook Strait crossing is done by ferry rather than by air on purpose: three hours through the Marlborough Sounds is one of the best sea passages in the Pacific, and it sets up the South Island properly. If the sailing is cancelled for weather, we fly you instead at no cost.
Day by day
Every day below is the standard itinerary. Optional activities are noted where they sit; your specialist can add or swap them when you book.
Day 1 Auckland — Arrive Tāmaki Makaurau2 nights Auckland
Airport transfer to your city hotel. Late-afternoon orientation walk along the waterfront and welcome dinner with the group and your Cooee specialist.
Day 2 Auckland — Harbour and the Gulf
Morning at the Auckland War Memorial Museum for the Māori and Pacific galleries, then a ferry to Waiheke Island for lunch at a vineyard and an afternoon on the island's beaches. Free evening.
Day 3 Waitomo → Rotorua — Glowworms and geothermal country2 nights Rotorua
South through the Waikato to Waitomo for a guided boat drift beneath the glowworm cave ceiling. Continue to Rotorua, arriving in time for an evening cultural performance and hāngī at Te Pā Tū.
Day 4 Rotorua — Te Whakarewarewa and the lakes
Te Puia for the Pōhutu geyser, the mud pools and the national carving and weaving schools. Afternoon at leisure — the Polynesian Spa, the Redwoods treewalk or a lake cruise are all close.
Day 5 Taupō → Wellington — Across the volcanic plateau2 nights Wellington
Along Lake Taupō with a stop at Huka Falls, then past the Tongariro volcanoes on the Desert Road to Wellington. Evening free in the capital's Cuba Street.
Day 6 Wellington — The capital
Te Papa Tongarewa in the morning with a guide, the cable car to the Botanic Garden, and Zealandia ecosanctuary in the afternoon. Optional dinner on the waterfront.
Day 7 Cook Strait → Blenheim — Ferry to Te Waipounamu1 night Blenheim
Morning Interislander sailing through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton. Lunch and tastings at two Marlborough cellar doors before checking in at Blenheim.
Day 8 Kaikōura → Christchurch — The whale coast2 nights Christchurch
Down the Kaikōura coast with time for a whale-watching cruise or a walk on the peninsula seal colony track, then on to Christchurch.
Day 9 Christchurch — Ōtautahi rebuilt
City tour of the post-earthquake centre — the Cardboard Cathedral, the Riverside Market, Tūranga library — and a punt on the Avon. Afternoon free; the Botanic Gardens and the Arts Centre are a short walk.
Day 10 Aoraki / Mount Cook — Into the Mackenzie1 night Aoraki/Mount Cook
Across the Canterbury Plains and up the Mackenzie Basin, past Lake Tekapo's Church of the Good Shepherd, to the Hermitage at the foot of Aoraki/Mount Cook. Late-afternoon walk to the Hooker Valley lookout.
Day 11 Queenstown — Down the Lindis to Wakatipu3 nights Queenstown
Lake Pukaki at dawn, then over the Lindis Pass through Central Otago to Queenstown. Ride the gondola to Bob's Peak for the view of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables.
Day 12 Milford Sound — Piopiotahi
A full day: the Milford Road through the Eglinton Valley and the Homer Tunnel, a nature cruise to the Tasman Sea mouth of the fiord, and the return to Queenstown by coach — or upgrade to fly one way over Fiordland.
Day 13 Queenstown — Arrowtown and Gibbston
Morning in historic Arrowtown, then lunch and tastings in the Gibbston Valley wine district. Afternoon at leisure. Farewell dinner overlooking the lake.
Day 14 Queenstown — Depart
Transfer to Queenstown Airport for your flight home, or stay on — many guests add Wānaka or the Catlins.
What's included
Included
- 13 nights in well-located 4-star hotels and lodges
- Breakfast daily, 6 dinners including welcome and farewell, 3 lunches
- Modern coach with a Cooee specialist throughout
- Interislander Cook Strait ferry
- Waitomo glowworm cave tour, Te Pā Tū cultural evening and hāngī, Te Puia entry
- Te Papa guided tour, Zealandia entry, Skyline Queenstown gondola
- Milford Sound cruise
- Two Marlborough and two Gibbston cellar-door tastings
- Airport transfers on days 1 and 14
- All tipping, national park fees and road tolls
Not included
- Flights to Auckland and from Queenstown
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed, drinks with meals
- Optional activities — Kaikōura whale watch, Milford fly-back, Polynesian Spa
- Single-room supplement
Dates and prices
| Departure | Per person, twin share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lead-in departures, October to April | from $5,890 AUD | Exact dates and any seasonal difference confirmed at enquiry |
| Single room | Supplement quoted at enquiry | Varies by departure and hotel |
| Private departure | Quoted per party | Same itinerary, your dates, your group only |
Questions answered
Why not fly across Cook Strait?
Because the ferry through the Marlborough Sounds is one of the best three hours of the trip, and arriving at Picton puts Marlborough's cellar doors on the way to Christchurch. If the sailing is cancelled, we fly the group at no cost to you.
Is the price per person?
Yes — the 'from' price is per person, twin share, in Australian dollars, for the lead-in departure. Single travellers are welcome; a single-room supplement is quoted at enquiry and depends on the departure. Flights to and from New Zealand are not included so you can use points or a preferred carrier — your specialist can book them alongside the tour.
How big is the group?
This is a regional small-group departure capped at 24 guests. Some departures run smaller. A Cooee specialist travels with the group from the first hotel to the last.
Can I add days before or after?
Yes. Most guests add two or three nights — Waiheke Island before, or Queenstown after. Tell your specialist when you enquire and it will be built into one quote.
What fitness level do I need?
Moderate. Expect a few hours on your feet on sightseeing days and some short walks on uneven ground. Nothing on the standard itinerary is strenuous, and every walk has an easier alternative or a rest option.
What happens if a ferry or train is cancelled?
Cook Strait sailings and rail services are occasionally cancelled for weather or maintenance. Your specialist re-routes the group — usually by flight or coach — and the cost of the substitute is covered by Cooee, not by you.
Do I need a visa for New Zealand?
Australian citizens don't need a visa or an NZeTA to enter New Zealand. Other passport holders may need an NZeTA and to pay the International Visitor Levy — check immigration.govt.nz or ask your specialist well before departure.
Is travel insurance included?
No. We require every guest to hold comprehensive travel insurance covering medical, cancellation and baggage from the day you pay your deposit. Your specialist can point you to suitable policies.
How do I book?
Send an enquiry or call 0409 661 342. A Brisbane specialist confirms availability on your preferred departure, answers questions and sends a written quote. A deposit secures your place; the balance is due under our Booking Conditions.
Keep planning
Ready to see both islands?
Tell us your preferred month, who's travelling and whether you'd like to add days at either end. A Brisbane specialist comes back within one business day with dates and a quote.