The Ultimate New Zealand Honeymoon

Day 1

Arrival Auckland – Waiheke Island

Upon arrival at the airport you’ll be greeted by a representative and escorted to your private helicopter for the 15-minute flight to Waiheke Island.

The remainder of your day will be spent at leisure.

Day 2

Private Waiheke Island Wine Tour

This morning you will be met at your accommodation by your private driver and vehicle for a full day guided sightseeing tour of the Island's vineyards. 

Waiheke is well known for the award-winning wines produced by boutique vineyards located in often idyllic settings around the island. All tours include sightseeing which includes some of the three main beaches, Oneroa, Palm Beach, and Onetangi. If time permits we will also drive to the far eastern end of the island to enjoy views over the Waiheke channel towards Ponui, Rotoroa, and Pakatoa islands. There are also many excellent walking tracks around parts of the coastline that you can enjoy if you wish. Your guide will also provide you with a commentary on the history and lifestyle on Waiheke Island. 

For those interested, there are several artists that have galleries on the island or we can visit one of the small public galleries, or stores. A light lunch is included at one of the top vineyard restaurants on the Island. During your tour, you will also have the opportunity to taste some of the other local produce such as oysters, olive oil, and honey.

Day 3

Day at Leisure on Waiheke Island

Today is at leisure to self-explore Waiheke Island with the use of one of The Boatshed’s convertible 4WD vehicles, including unlimited mileage, petrol, and insurance. 

We suggest you explore the far reaches of the island by visiting Orapiu, stopping at Poderi Crisci Vineyard, swimming, and kayaking at Man-O-War Bay before returning to your accommodation via the northern beaches of Onetangi, Palm Beach and Enclosure Bay. Alternatively take the opportunity to hike some of the island’s extensive network of trails, cycle the winding roads and local cycleways or swim and kayak at nearby sandy beaches.

Day 4

Transfer to Auckland and Drive to Lake Taupo via Waitomo Glowworm Caves

This morning you will be transferred to the ferry terminal for your 35-minute ferry ride back to Auckland. On arrival at the Auckland Ferry Terminal, you will be met by your private vehicle and driver and transferred south to Waitomo.

Enjoy a visit to the famed Waitomo glowworm Caves, where you will marvel over the ancient underground labyrinth of limestone caves and grottos. The glowworm, Arachnocampa Luminosa, is unique to New Zealand and thousands of these tiny creatures radiate their unmistakable luminescent light as your guided tour takes you through over 250 meters of stunning underground scenery. The tour concludes with a boat ride – glide silently through the starry wonderland of the glowworm grotto, meandering along the Waitomo River under this galaxy of tiny living lights.

Following your excursion, continue with your private driver and vehicle to your accommodation in Taupo.

Day 5

Hobbiton and Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Area

This morning you will be met at your accommodation by your private vehicle and guide for a full day of sightseeing. 

Enjoy a privately guided visit to Hobbiton, by discovering the real ‘Middle Earth’. Set on the most picturesque private farmland, you can visit the Hobbiton Movie Set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies in a fascinating two-hour guided tour. 

Continue to enjoy a visit to Wai-O-Tapu (Sacred Waters) New Zealand’s most colorful and diverse active volcanic area with dramatic geysers, mineral terraces, lakes, craters, and bubbling mud pools. As you follow the trails you are introduced to a uniquely different natural landscape, the key to what you see lies below the surface, of one of the most extensive geothermal systems in New Zealand extending over 18 square kilometers.

Day 6

Fly to Christchurch and Drive to the Banks Peninsula

This morning you will be met at your accommodation by your private driver and vehicle and transferred to Rotorua Airport prior to your onward flight to Christchurch. 

On arrival at Christchurch Airport, you will be met by your private vehicle and driver and transferred out towards the Banks Peninsula to your accommodation (approximately 1 hour 30 minutes journey). 

Day 7

Annandale Farm Tour

Today enjoy a guided tour of the Annandale Farm. You will travel over rugged tracks while enjoying views from some of the higher, more scenic locations on the farm. Your tour will incorporate the historic woolshed, seeing livestock up close and experiencing some of the practical sides of a working farm. 

Spend the rest of the day at leisure soaking up the incredibly isolated views from Seascape, a truly once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon experience.

Day 8

Fly to Queenstown and Drive to the Ahuriri Valley

This morning you will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Queenstown.

On arrival at Queenstown Airport, you will be met by your private driver and vehicle for your scenic transfer to Ahuriri Valley via the Mackenzie Country and the Lindis Pass (approximately a 2-hour 30-minute journey).

Day 9

Guided Lagoon Horse Trekking in the Ahuriri Valley

Today enjoy a guided lagoon horse trekking adventure on The Lindis property. This is the perfect track for beginners and takes in a range of scenery (approximately 2 hours duration). 

Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Whilst at leisure at The Lindis Lodge we recommend the following optional local experiences:

Take advantage of one of the top ten fly fishing locations in the world, just a short stroll from the lodge

Hike over 49,000 hectares the surrounding wetlands, forests, tussock, and alpine countryside. Guides are available

Get off-road and dirty, exploring the region by 4WD buggy

Partake in the nightly excursion outdoors to map the stars, constellations, and planets, all gloriously viewable by the naked eye in this International Dark Sky Reserve

Study the unique flora and fauna of the area with an ecological guide

Day 10

Drive to Queenstown with Private Wine Touring En Route

You will be met at your accommodation by your private driver and vehicle for your scenic transfer to Queenstown.

En-route enjoy private wine touring to the renowned Central Otago vineyards. Visit up to four vineyards in the Gibbston Valley region for tastings which are included. The Gibbston Valley is one of the most spectacular wine regions you are likely to encounter. Vineyards are patchworked precariously between dramatic schist ranges and the steep Kawarau River gorge. A relatively young wine-growing region, the first vines were planted in the early 1980s by legendary local character Alan Brady. The land was rugged and uncompromising, home only to high country sheep farmers, and most thought he was crazy! But the landscape reminded Brady of the Bordeaux region in France and a romantic notion turned out to be a fabulous reality. 

Continue on to your final hotel in Queenstown

Day 11

Milford Sound by Private Helicopter and Queenstown Sightseeing.

This morning you will be met at your accommodation by your private driver and vehicle who will transfer you to Queenstown Airport to meet your private helicopter for your flight to spectacular Milford Sound. 

Fly through the grandeur of the Alps over rainforests, frozen lakes, ice-capped mountains to the rugged West Coast with its ancient forest of trees and ferns. Here you will have the opportunity to view seals in their natural colonies before landing at a remote West Coast beach. The helicopter then ascends into the mountains to touchdown in an alpine setting. The views are overwhelming, with their many crevasses and blue and green ice falls. 

This afternoon you will be met by your private vehicle and guide for a half-day of the local sightseeing, tailored to suit your interests. View the Shotover River which rushes hundreds of feet below us and the fabulous alpine surrounds of Queenstown. Continue to Queenstown Hill Viewpoint and picturesque Lake Hayes which is a favorite for photographers and artists for its mirror reflections. Enjoy a visit to Arrowtown, which has become an attraction as an example of a living historic gold-mining town. Strict preservation orders protect the originality of the town's historic buildings, and the excellent Lakes District Museum has many displays pertaining to the pioneering past of the district. 

Day 12

Day at Leisure in Queenstown

Your final day in New Zealand will be at leisure. Head into Queenstown for some shopping or to try one of the area’s fun restaurants. Walk around Lake Wakatipu or take the gondola up to Bob’s Peak (making sure to save time to luge down!).

Day 13

Departure

This morning drive to the airport in time for your onward flight home.