11 Day North to South Highlights

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Helena Luxury Lodge
Helena Bay
Explore Helena Bay x 2
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ITINERARY
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11 Day North to South Highlights

The palette of New Zealand comes alive as you tour the Scenic highlights of New Zealand - from unblemished coastlines and crystal clear coves and bays to remnant volcanoes, thundering waterfalls to moody fjords. New Zealand is blessed with glacier-fed braided rivers, tussock land, and high country and lowland rainforests. The ambient temperature provides world-class food and wine - you have a lot to look forward to.

Duration: 11 days

Starts: Auckland

Finishes: Christchurch

+ Absolute Chauffer Inclusions:
  • Professional Driver/Guide
  • All airport transfers
  • Dedicated Travel designer
  • Full In-Country Support
Your Experiences:
  1. Exclusive Wine Tour Waiheke Island
  2. Private Tour of Hobbiton
  3. Scenic Helicopter Flight with Landing at Mount Tarawera
  4. Doubtful Sound 3.5 hr Scenic Flight
  5. Heli-Gin Tasting Tour
  6. TranzAlpine Train and a guided tour of Arthur’s Pass National Park
Your Locations:
  1. Auckland
  2. Bay of Islands, Northland
  3. Rotorua
  4. Queenstown
  5. Doubtful Sound
  6. Christchurch
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Day by day tour itinerary

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DAY 1
Arrive in Auckland / Heli Transfer to Waiheke Island

Waiheke Island is to Auckland as the Hamptons are to New York

Welcome to Auckland! On arrival, you will be transferred by helicopter to Waiheke Island.

Artists and free-spirits mingle with the rich and famous on this blissful island, a haven of beautiful beaches, gastronomical treasures and small wineries. Waiheke Island is to Auckland as the Hamptons are to New York – the former being on a much smaller scale.

Home to beautiful beaches and holiday homes, Waiheke Island produces outstanding, award-winning wines.

Waiheke Island
DAY 2
Casita Miro Lunch / Helicopter to Helena Bay Lodge

Metro award winning Spanish cuisine on Waiheke Island

Enjoy wonderful views over the vines as you enjoyed a superb selection of tapas to share and some great wines to accompany your lunch. Except a first class service with very tasty food.

Continue by helicopter to the northeast corner of New Zealand’s North Island to Helena Bay Lodge. This luxury lodge features three kilometres of pristine coastline, four private beaches and many intimate coves. Helena Bay Lodge is a delightfully intimate retreat where relaxation and adventure meet luxury. Situated on over 800 acres of farmland and native forest. Expect Opulent Experiences in a carefully curated destination.

Helena Accommodation
DAY 3
Relax at this private lodge

A wide choice of excursions mean it is up to you to decide how much – or how little – you would like to do today.

For a slower pace, relax and unwind with a massage or facial treatment at our in-house spa, followed by an afternoon at the pool. For those keen to explore the expanses of the Lodge take a tour of the farm and gardens with one of our staff, cruise the coast on a kayak or paddle-board.

 

Luxury Boat Charter

 

Helena Bay Lodge owns and operates a luxury cruising and fishing vessel for those wishing to explore the nearby coastline, Bay of Islands and Poor Knights Islands. The Tutukaka Coast has an authenticity that sparkles all year round, and twenty-three kilometres offshore lies an international icon – the Poor Knights Islands. A total Marine Reserve and Nature Reserve, the 11 million-year-old islands’ volcanic origins provide a myriad of spectacular drop-offs, walls, caves, arches and tunnels.

 

The added factor of a constant current streaming south from the tropics adds to this truly unique ecosystem. Spacious indoor and outdoor spaces onboard ensure no matter what the weather, enjoyment, comfort and shelter from the elements is available. Ruru is the perfect vessel for fishing the local waters and we have all the equipment required no matter which type of fishing you enjoy.

Helena Bay Lodge
DAY 4
Fly to Auckland

You driver will meet you at the Airport. Travel to Rotorua via Hobbiton for your private tour.

Two hours south of Auckland in the lush farmland of the Waikato region sits the picturesque town of Matamata. Famous for dairying and fine thoroughbred horses, it’s easy to see why these green pastures and rolling hills were chosen to portray Hobbiton and The Shire in the Shire in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Continue on to discover the Geothermal Wonderland of Rotorua Rotorua is surrounded by steaming lakes, bubbling hot pools and bursting geysers, host to some of the world’s most incredible natural forces.

DAY 5
Mount Tarawera Volcano and Rotorua's geothermal reserves

Combine the thrill of landing on Mount Tarawera and exploring Wai-O-Tapu geothermal reserves

Combine the thrill of landing on Mount Tarawera with a flight that includes spectacular aerial views of our stunning crater lakes, the renowned Tarawera Falls, and the vibrant Waimangu and Wai-O-Tapu geothermal reserves. Leaving Wai-O-Tapu you descend to follow the Waikato River to the hidden valley of Orakei Korako. Once landed, you will ferry across the river and begin your land-based tour. Experience hot springs, geysers, and the natural beauty of this geothermal wonderland. Your return flight takes in views of farmland and the Paeroa mountain range before flying over Rotorua City and returning to the lakefront pier.

Mt Tarawera
DAY 6
Fly to Queenstown

located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by the magnificent Southern Alps, is New Zealand's most celebrated destination.

Adventure Capital Queenstown, there is huge diversity in the experiences to be enjoyed – from adrenaline activities such as bungee jumps and sky diving, adventurous excursions like jet-boating and hiking through to superb golf, gourmet food and wine tours or romantic hot air ballooning. Numerous day excursions are available, from the ‘eighth wonder of the world’, Milford Sound; Glenorchy’s stunning scenery at the head of Lake Wakatipu, or to the historic towns of Central Otago. Queenstown itself has an excellent range of shops, restaurants and nightlife to enjoy. One thing is certain: you won’t run out of things to do.

Queenstown Lakeside
DAY 7
Doubtful Sound 3.5 Hour Scenic Flight

Fly west from Queenstown over Lake Wakatipu, above the famous Walter Peak Station and onwards to the stunning waters of Lake Manapouri offering views up the Iris burn, home of the Kepler Track.

Experience the vastness of Doubtful Sound, three times longer and ten times larger than Milford Sound by flying out to the Tasman Sea on route to a gourmet lunch and wine in remote alpine wilderness before returning to Queenstown via even more outstanding scenery from Fiordland National Park.

DAY 8
The worlds first Heli Gin Tour

Visit 3 different and unique cellar door experiences

This gin experience has been designed to be a nice mix of education, sightseeing and fun.

After a safety briefing you will be whisked away on a 15-minute scenic flight to a secluded mountain location. Here your pilot will open the hatch, present and pour your first gin of the day, a very exclusive and special gin to start the day. This location on the mountain top provides privacy and panoramic views, a truly remarkable experience and a great way to kick off your afternoon. This tour is perfect for all types of people and there is some flexibility to try other spirits such as vodka, bourbon, whiskey and of course wines throughout.

DAY 9
Fly to Christchurch

Christchurch – ‘A City Rebuilding’. The gateway to the South Island, is recovering from devastating earthquakes. Witness as the city creates its future – combining restoration of damaged historic icons; today’s highly praised temporary ‘cardboard cathedral’ and ‘Re:Start’ shipping container shopping precinct; understand the vision of how the new vibrant city will be more of a joy to visit than ever before. Christchurch is an ideal base for day excursions to view Kaikoura’s whales, scenic French settlement Akaroa or the mountain scenery at Arthur’s Pass.

DAY 10
Arthurs Pass National Park with TranzAlpine Train Tour

Ride the scenic TranzAlpine, one of the great rail journeys of New Zealand

Enjoy a full day in the gorgeous landscapes outside of Christchurch. This tour features the scenic TranzAlpine train and a guided tour of Arthur’s Pass National Park. See the Canterbury Plains, Waimakariri Gorge, and the Southern Alps, then explore by vehicle from Arthur’s Pass, stopping for rain forest walks and a closer look at Cave Stream, Castle Hill, and the Waimak Gorge. This day out includes lunch and morning and afternoon tea.
DAY 11
Depart Christchurch Airport

Say farewell to New Zealand today

Say farewell to Christchurch today as you board your onward flight, taking with you the magical memories of a truly exceptional New Zealand vacation.

Farewell
Marcella Hunapo - Travel Designer
Marcella Hunapo, OUR ABSOLUTE TRAVEL DESIGNER SAYS: “There are so many experiences included in this trip, an exclusive Wine Tour of Waiheke Island, a helicopter flight over the volcanic plateaus Mount Tarawera, a cruise on remote Doubtful Sound, and the world-class TranzAlpine rail journey. We can tailor this trip to include any other experience that will make this trip perfect just for you.”

Ready to find out more? Talk to one of our friendly travel designers about his tour. We guarantee you it will be the experience of a lifetime!

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    11 Day North to South Highlights


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