Check off the best bits of New Zealand over two memorable weeks.

Culture and top notch cuisine are what make the Te Pa Tu evening experience so memorable and magical. It’s been recognised as New Zealand’s Most Awarded Cultural Attraction, and it’s not difficult to see why. You’ll nestle under the towering heights of the Tawa trees, with blazing bonfires toasting your toes and traditional song warming your soul.

Wrap your tastebuds around mouthwatering seasonal kai, and feast your eyes on the lush forest-formed amphitheater. It’s a 4-hour celebration packed to the rafters with spectacular history and awe-inspiring ancient traditions. 

Good to know
These events change with each season of the maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar.

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The first geothermal wonderland was opened to visitors almost 200 years ago, and now, you can experience the legacy for yourself. Treat your tastebuds to a hearty buffet dinner in Pātaka Kai Restaurant and immerse yourself in history and culture in the hand-carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. You’ll enjoy a pōhiri (traditional welcome), followed by a waiata (song) and mōteatea (traditional chant) before stretching your legs on a blissful starlit saunter. 

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Suitably relaxed, get set to hunker down with a creamy hot chocolate and steamed pudding on the geyser terrace.

• Daily departures
• Operates year-round 
• Starts: 5.30pm
• Group experience

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This guided geothermal bathing experience takes a few hours and follows a clear sequence of thermal environments. You’ll move through each stage with guidance from hosts, but at a relaxed pace that gives you time to settle into the heat, water and steam. You’ll need swimwear, and it’s best to allow enough time on either side so you don’t feel rushed.

You’ll start at Te Iringa, a series of gentle waterfall-style showers. It’s a simple beginning, designed to slow things down and help you arrive properly before moving on. Next, you’ll enter Te Ahi Tupua, the Fire and Ice Caves. You move between warm and cool, wet and dry spaces, choosing how long to stay in each. From there, you head into Te Taiwhanga Mauri, a sequence of five geothermal pools. 

You then reach Te Pae Paru, the geothermal mud lounge. Warm, mineral-rich mud is applied to the skin, drawing on traditions that link wellbeing to Papatūānuku, the earth. The experience finishes at Kohu Wai Ariki, the steam room. You recline on heated stone beds in a mist-filled space, letting the warmth settle before slowly cooling down again. 

• Daily departures 
• Operates year round
• Group experience

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The landscapes surrounding Queenstown are legendary and you'll get to witness their beauty on this half-day scenic tour. The adventure begins as you head to a viewpoint for a panoramic vista of the town and its jaw-dropping backdrop and stop off for a quick peek at the Shotover River. There'll then be some time to explore Arrowtown, a historic settlement that built up around the gold mining industry, and watch the thrill-seekers at Kawarau, the site of the world's first commercial bungy jump; you can even have a go if you are feeling brave enough (at an extra cost).

The next stop is a local winery where a tasting and shared cheeseboard is included (a non-alcoholic alternative is available for non drinkers). Before the return back to town, you'll hop on board a boat for a half-hour trip on Lake Whakatipu.

• Duration: half day
• Start time: 8.30am
• Daily departures
• Operates October-May
• Group experience

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Depart from Queenstown and travel along through the picturesque Southland farming country to Te Anau. Continue to the Fiordland National Park and the renowned Milford Road. This corridor to the fjord unveils a different side of New Zealand, with its majestic mountains and winding rivers. Throughout the journey, there will be multiple stops for photo opportunities, short walks, and the chance to learn about the fascinating local facts and stories. Embark on a nature cruise that takes you beneath the towering peaks of the fjord.

Admire spectacular alpine scenery and look out for unique wildlife including dolphins and seals, before heading back to Queensland.

• Duration: full day
• Start time: 7.30am
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

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Depart Queenstown or Te Anau in a luxurious glass-roofed vehicle, specifically designed for long-distance touring and sightseeing. With high panoramic windows you’ll travel with a guide in a small group of no more than 15 guests. Along the way, there will be many scenic stops. Milford Sound (Piopiotahi) is frequently referred to as the 'Eighth Wonder of the World' because of its remarkable and dramatic landscapes.

On arrival, you will be welcomed with a glass of sparkling wine as you board the RealNZ Sinbad vessel for a guided cruise through this spectacular fiord. Indulge in locally sourced gourmet delights as you learn stories about Piopiotahi and Māori culture whilst keeping a look out for local wildlife. Add a final touch of luxury to this day with a stunning scenic 45-minute flight (extra cost).

• Duration: full day
• Start time: 7am
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

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The breathtaking wine region of Gibbston is the focus of this tour from Queenstown. This cool climate region has a plethora of cellar doors, three of which you will visit on this trip. You'll taste over 18 varieties and visit the Gibbston Valley underground wine cave, the largest of its kind in the country. An optional lunch is available and can be ordered and paid for on the day.

• Duration: full day
• Start time: 10am
• Daily departures\ • Operates year-round\ • Group experience

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Discover locations from The Lord of the Rings films on this 4x4 off-road adventure which departs from Queenstown. See The Remarkables (The Misty Mountains), Deer Park Heights (The Battle of the Wargs) and the Kawarau Gorge (Argonath/Pillars of the King) plus many more. Continue to Arrowtown and experience some off roading as you follow a gold mining road up the river where you can try gold panning before enjoying views of the Wakatipu Basin from Skippers Canyon.

• Duration: full day
• Start time: 8am
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

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This full-day trip from Queenstown takes you from one alpine landscape into another, ending at one of New Zealand’s most recognisable natural landmarks. It’s a long journey, but the changing scenery makes the drive part of the appeal.

By late morning or early afternoon, you reach Piopiotahi Milford Sound, where the road ends and the fiord begins. Sheer rock walls rise straight from dark water, and the scale of the place is immediately apparent. From here, you board a purpose-built cruise vessel for up to two hours on the fiord. On the water, everything slows down. The boat moves steadily along Milford Sound, edging close to waterfalls and cliff faces, often drifting through mist kicked up by falling water. 

Rain only heightens the experience, with countless temporary waterfalls forming after heavier weather. Wildlife appears when it wants to. Seals are often seen hauled out on rocks, dolphins sometimes ride the bow wave, and penguins make seasonal appearances. The cruise passes St Anne’s Point Lighthouse and, if conditions allow, heads out toward the Tasman Sea where the fiord meets open ocean.

• Start time: 6.45am 
• Duration: full day
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Group experience

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The Franz Josef encounter lets you experience one of New Zealand’s most iconic landscapes from a whole new perspective. A scenic helicopter flight over lush rainforest and the rugged West Coast kicks things off in style, before venturing to the icy heart of Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere.

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You’ll fly past historic Almer Hut, the Franz Josef Nevé and Centennial Hut, before touching down on the glacier’s dramatic icefall. Take a deep breath in and embrace every spectacular second as you step out onto the ice. The views here are next level, so keep your camera handy if you want to snap some photos, and listen closely as your expert guide shares fascinating stories that bring the glacier’s rich history to life.

• Duration: 1 hour from check-in to the end of the trip
• Daily departures during the summer
• Group experience

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This adventure begins at the Franz Josef Village base, before flying up to the Franz Josef Glacier in the Westland National Park. When you land, the glistening glacier awaits. Pull on your glacier boots and crampons and gear up for an icy adventure you’ll never forget. From eye-widening ice formations and pinnacles to the extraordinary colours of the ice-flow, the expedition itself might be two hours long, but the memories will last a lifetime.

• Duration: 3 hours
• Daily departures 
• Operates year round

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Journey aboard the renowned TranzAlpine train between Christchurch and Greymouth via Arthur’s Pass. Enjoy the magnificent alpine scenery as the train crosses the Canterbury Plains and heads through the Southern Alps where it wind its way through the Waimakariri Gorge. The excursion also operates in reverse or as a return. You can upgrade to the Scenic Plus Dining experience which includes local delicacies which are created on board using the finest farm-to-rail produce.

• Duration: full day
• Times: 8.15am to 7pm
• Departs daily from October to April
• Departs Friday to Monday between May and September
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

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