Detailed Port Descriptions

Day 1 Wed January 14 Auckland

Your tour opens in Auckland, the “City of Sails”, consistently rated one of the world’s best places to live. Auckland’s Polynesian population instills into its chic atmosphere the vibrant feel of the pacific Islands. This evening, join your fellow travellers for a Collette Welcome Briefing at approximately 5:00pm followed by a CME Away welcome dinner (D)  Accommodation: Rydges, Auckland (or similar)

Day 2 Thurs January 15 Auckland

A full day of CME learning sessions is scheduled for today. Enjoy your evening at leisure in Auckland. (B)

Day 3 Fri January 16 Auckland

This morning will host a CME learning session, followed by a full afternoon at leisure to explore New Zealand’s largest city on your own. (B)

Day 4 Sat January 17 Auckland

Come to know the best of Auckland during a panoramic city tour featuring the America’s Cup Village, the War Memorial, bustling Queen Street, and the Auckland Harbour Bridge. This afternoon, you’ll have a CME learning session. (B)

Day 5 Sun January 18 Auckland—Bay of Islands

Depart Auckland and travel north to the Bay of Islands, your home for the next 2 nights. This sun-soaked region boasts more than 144 islands and warm waters with abundant marine life. Visit the Waitangi Treaty House, the site where Maori and British leaders signed the 1840 treaty establishing New Zealand as a nation, to enjoy a traditional Welcome Ceremony and tour. (B, D)   Accommodation: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands (or similar)

Day 6 Mon January 19 Bay of Islands

Begin the day with a cruise that features the bay’s famous Hole in the Rock. Look out at the Cape Brett Lighthouse, standing nearly 500 feet above sea level at the edge of the Cape Brett Peninsula. The In the afternoon, you’ll have another CME learning session. If you have free time, you may independently explore Paihia - the quaint town known as “the jewel of the Bay of Islands.” (B)

Day 7 Tues January 20 Bay of Islands—Matakohe—Rotorua

Leave the sparkling waters of the Bay of Islands behind and head to Matakohe in the heartland of the North Island. Make a stop at the Kauri Museum and come to know the stories surrounding the giant kauri tree that can live for 2,000 years. Discover how the early settlers used this abundant tree to build a life for themselves. Later, continue on to the town of Rotorua, known for geothermal activity and Maori culture. (B, D)  Accommodation: Sudima Lake Rotorua Hotel, Rotorua (or similar)

Day 8 Wed January 21 Rotorua

Find yourself amid the dramatic geothermal landscape of Rotorua, known as the Maori capital of New Zealand. Visit Whakarewarewa, a Maori cultural and geothermal experience. Explore an authentic Maori village where people live using natural geothermal resources to cook, bathe and heat their homes as they have done for centuries. In the evening, experience ceremonial Maori rituals at an authentic Hangi dinner and performance. (B, D)

Day 9 Thurs January 22 Rotorua –Wellington

Today we travel to Wellington – New Zealand’s capital city, known as the “Windy City”, a coastal city nestled against the mountains. (B, D)  Accommodation: Novotel Wellington (or similar)

Day 10 Fri January 23 Wellington

Embark on a city tour of Wellington. See the Beehive – New Zealand’s Parliament; historic St. Paul’s Church; and the Old Government Building, the largest wooden building in the Southern Hemisphere. Explore the Te Papa Tongawera Museum, a fascinating centre dedicated to art, history, and the Maori culture before an afternoon CME learning session. If you have free time, perhaps you'll consider a ride on the Wellington Cable Car to the suburb of Kelburn for stunning panoramic views of the city. (B)

Day 11 Sat January 24 Wellington—Picton—Christchurch

Board a ferry and sail across Cook Strait. Experience what is considered to be one of the most beautiful ferry rides in the world. Arrive in Picton on the South Island and continue along the breathtaking east coast to the largest city on the South Island, Christchurch. (B) Accommodation: Distinction Christchurch Hotel (or similar)

Day 12 Sun January 25 Christchurch

Christchurch, the “Garden City,” is recreating itself after a devastating earthquake in 2011. See firsthand how this city is evolving on a sightseeing tour that highlights the city’s magnificent gardens and elegant park district. Pay a visit to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, a leader in the conservation of New Zealand species. Here, you’ll have the chance to view New Zealand’s “Big 5” – kiwi, kaka, tuatara, kea, and takahe – up close and personal. Learn about the local indigenous culture of the Maori, with a paddle on the Avon River in a traditional canoe or ‘waka’. (B)

Day 13 Mon January 26 Christchurch—Mt. Cook Region

Journey through New Zealand’s unspoiled wilderness and arrive in the Mt. Cook region, where permanent ice fields and glaciers blanket the ragged peaks. The Maori word for Mt. Cook is Aoraki, which means “cloud piercer.” This is where famed New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary honed his skills before conquering Everest. You can take a nature walk, enjoy an optional glacier flightseeing tour (weather permitting), or simply meditate on the beauty of the Southern Alps. (B, D)  Accommodation: The Hermitage, Mount Cook National Park (or similar)

Day 14 Tues January 27 Mt. Cook Region—Dunedin

Travel to Dunedin, situated on the southeast coast of New Zealand. One of the earliest European settlements on the islands, Dunedin holds proudly to its Scottish heritage and traditions. Visit Baldwin Street – the world’s steepest public road as awarded by the Guinness Book of Records. (B)  Accommodation: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross, Dunedin (or similar)

Day 15 Wed January 28 Dunedin

Start your morning with a panoramic tour, visiting Larnach Castle the Royal Albatross Centre, the only mainland breeding location in the world for these otherworldly birds. Albatrosses are the focus in many seafaring myths, and their epic wingspan can reach nearly 10 feet. Enjoy a free afternoon before dinner at a local Ale House. (B, D)

Day 16 Thurs January 29 Dunedin—Queenstown

Drive past vineyards, amazing landscapes and the charming towns of Central Otago as you head to Queenstown. Dubbed the “adventure capital of the world,” it’s a mountainside town set against the shores of Lake Wakatipu. In the afternoon, it’s your choice! Go bird watching at the Kiwi Birdlife Park -OR- take a gondola to Bob’s Peak for stunning views of the area. (B) Accommodation: Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, Queenstown (or similar)

Day 17 Fri January 30 Queenstown—Milford Sound—Queenstown

During a cruise of the beautiful Milford Sound, you will see why this fjord is one of the most visited sites on the South Island. With rock faces that rise nearly 4,000 feet on either side, the scenery will take your breath away. On your return to Queenstown, perhaps you will consider an optional scenic flight, allowing you to see the landscape from an entirely new perspective. (B, L)

Day 18 Sat January 31 Queenstown

Enjoy a relaxed start to your day or head out to explore. Try an optional tour taking you through the stunning Queenstown countryside showcasing many of the locations where blockbuster movies have been filmed and learn about the gold rush that first brought travellers to the region. This evening, cruise Lake Wakatipu surrounded by Queenstown’s stunning landscape aboard an iconic coal-fired steamship. Then, enjoy a BBQ dinner lakeside followed by a sheepdog demonstration before cruising back. (B, D)

Day 19 Sun February 1 Queenstown

Today your adventure comes to a close. You will be left with many pleasant memories of a wonderful trip. (B)