We arrive in New Zealand’s largest city early this morning and transfer to our hotel, where our rooms are ready for early check-in.  After time to relax and freshen up, we take a casual walking tour of the area around our hotel.  This evening we attend a briefing on the journey ahead, followed by a welcome dinner.

This morning we tour cosmopolitan Auckland.  One of only a few world cities straddling two harbors on separate bodies of water, Auckland offers an abundance of natural beauty.  A highlight of our tour is a visit to the Auckland War Memorial Museum, presenting the nation's story from its geological beginnings to current day. After lunch at a local restaurant, we embark on a cruise across glittering Auckland Harbour.  We return to our hotel in the mid-afternoon; the remainder of the day is free for independent exploration.  Dinner tonight is on our own.

En route to Rotorua today, we stop in Hobbiton, the fictional home of Frodo, Sam and the rest of the hobbits from Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings films. After touring the set, which remains just as it was during filming, we continue on to Rotorua.

With its geysers, bubbling mud pools, and hot thermal springs, Rotorua ranks as a geothermal wonder, as well as a center of Maori culture (Maoris comprise 45% of Rotorua’s population). We begin our touring at the National Kiwi Hatchery, where we see the preservation efforts underway to safeguard New Zealand’s beloved national bird. Then we take a walk through Waiotapu, a geothermal wonderland full of brightly colored hot springs and boiling mud pools. Late this afternoon, we visit Te Puia Thermal Reserve and Maori Cultural Center for a guided tour, dinner, and performance.

Today we set out for one of New Zealand’s celebrated wine regions: Hawke’s Bay and the seaside city of Napier.  We sample the local terroir at a wine tasting and lunch at Mission Estate Winery, the country’s oldest winery.  Reaching Napier after lunch, we embark on a guided walking tour of the city’s 1930s Art Deco architecture.  After an earthquake leveled the city in 1931, it was rebuilt in “Deco” style; today, Napier ranks as one of the most authentically Art Deco cities in the world.  We dine tonight at a local restaurant.

We travel today to New Zealand’s capital of Wellington, stopping along the way at a private farm where we learn about the country’s vital sheep farming industry.  We see the sheepdogs at work and watch a sheep-shearing demonstration, then reach Wellington early this evening. We dine together tonight at a local restaurant.

We encounter this genial waterfront city on the southern end of the North Island on this morning’s tour, featuring a ride on the historic Wellington Cable Car for panoramic views of the city and harbor.  We also visit acclaimed Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum with interactive exhibits spanning art, history, Indigenous cultures, and the natural environment.  Then the remainder of the afternoon is free to explore as we wish, perhaps to stroll along bohemian Cuba Street, visit Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne (Wellington's wildlife sanctuary) or wander the lively waterfront area.  Dinner tonight is on our own in this city known for its vibrant restaurant scene.

Today we fly south to Christchurch, New Zealand’s “Garden City.” Upon arrival, we get a bird’s-eye view of the city from the top of the 1,000-meter Christchurch Gondola. We dine tonight at our hotel.

We spend today exploring the city that has spent the better part of two decades rebuilding from a devastating 2011 earthquake. On our morning walking tour, we focus on the city’s vibrant street art and urban murals. In the wake of the disaster, local artists turned crumbling walls into beacons of hope and beauty, and these pieces have become integral parts of the newly rebuilt city. After lunch at a local restaurant, we are at leisure for the remainder of the day.

Today’s travel day sees us make our way from the center of New Zealand’s South Island to its southeast corner, where we find the Gold Rush town of Dunedin. En route, we enjoy a walking tour and history lesson in Oamaru, which Captain Cook spied in 1770 and Europeans first settled in the 1850s. We arrive in Dunedin late this afternoon and enjoy dinner together this evening.

We spend today on the Otago Peninsula, the long, narrow spit of land formed by the erosion of the long-extinct Dunedin Volcano. At the tip of the peninsula, we visit an eco reserve to meet yellow-eyed penguins, a striking species native only to this part of New Zealand. Then we tour the nearby Royal Albatross Center, home to the world’s only albatross colony that breeds on the mainland. Traveling back towards Dunedin, we stop to explore Larnach Castle, built in the late 1800s and constructed of materials from Versailles, Marseilles, and Venice, among other global sources.

We travel from seaside to lakeside today, making our way to beloved Queenstown, perched along a bend of S-shaped Lake Wakatipu. The first part of our journey brings stunning scenery, as we ride a train through tunnels, over viaducts, and through the breathtaking Taieri Gorge. After time for lunch on our own in a local town, we arrive in Queenstown this afternoon.

It’s another day of scenic overload on our full-day excursion to Fiordland National Park and Doubtful Sound, one of New Zealand’s top attractions.  We travel by motorcoach to Lake Manapouri for a boat ride across the lake, and then drive to Wilmot Pass to reach the “Sound of Silence,” as Doubtful is called for the remarkable serenity that prevails here.  Among the wildlife we may see on our three-hour catamaran cruise: dolphins, fur seals, and Fiordland crested penguins. Surrounding us: rugged mountain peaks, rainforest, and waterfalls. After this exhilarating excursion, we return to Queenstown early this evening; dinner is on our own.

Today is at leisure to enjoy this outdoor mecca with a spectacular setting on Lake Wakatipu as we wish.  Options abound, from jet boating to art gallery hopping to riding the Skyline gondola for outstanding views of this unusually scenic city.  Tonight we celebrate our New Zealand adventure over a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

We transfer to the airport today for our return flights to the U.S.