Experience the best of the North and South Islands on this epic 14 day road trip. Uncover magic on the Hobbiton film set, hike through a glacier at Franz Josef and see glowworms in their full glory at Waitomo. Flash-pack around New Zealand with a small group of awesome travellers, and local experienced guide seeing the best sights in the country!
New Zealand Highlights: Adventure Through The North & South Islands
Come with me on a two week epic tour through the beautiful islands of New Zealand in spring. See the lupins at Tekapo, laze on the beaches of the Coromandel, and hike the famous Tongoriro crossing if you feel brave enough (or chill out in a natural hot spring if not!). This guided tour sets out an epic itinerary that allows you to customize your own experience adding chilled our or high adrenaline activities as you travel. From wine tastings to sky dives, you can curate your trip to your tastes!
Highlights Include:
- Full-day trip to Milford Sound
- Spend a few days in the adventure capital Queenstown
- Explore Franz Josef Glacier
- Visit the Hobbiton Movie Set
- Stargaze at Lake Tekapo’s Dark Sky Reserve
- See the lupins at Lake Tekapo
- See the thundering Huka Falls
- Kayak or boat to Cathedral Cove
- Explore the Glowworm caves at Waitomo
- Road trip through Wanaka & Lake Hāwea
- Explore Rotorua’s geothermal wonders & adventure sports
- Dig your own hot pool at Hot Water Beach
- Chill or surf in Raglan
- Hike the epic Tongariro Crossing (optional)
- Scenic drive via Arthur’s Pass
This tour gives you the chance to experience some of the most iconic adventures in New Zealand. You’ll cruise through the spectacular Milford Sound, hike across volcanic landscapes on the Tongariro Crossing, and get up close to glaciers in Franz Josef. Add in stargazing at Lake Tekapo, epic road trips, and plenty of adrenaline in Queenstown, and you’ll have lived a true bucket-list journey you’ll still be talking about for years to come.
Price
💲 EUR 2,499 per person (normally €3,399)
Price Includes
- Professional and fun tour guides to help plan and organise everything so you can enjoy your trip
- Luxury transport. Dedicated Mercedes Benz Sprinter Luxury Bus for the entire trip, with USB charging points and free wifi.
- Connecting flights between the North and South island
- 13 nights’ accommodation in 4-6 bed shared exclusive dorms
- Breakfast every day, 2 lunches and 9 dinners
- Entry ticket to Hobbiton
- Milford Sound Nature Cruise
- Visit The World’s Largest Dark Sky Reserve At Tekapo
- Epic drives through the famous movie backdrops of Narnia and Lord of the Rings
- Plenty of time to explore Queenstown – New Zealand’s adrenaline capital
Not Included
✘ International flights to New Zealand
✘ Travel insurance
✘ Tips for guides/driver
✘ Alcoholic & soft drinks
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Auckland & The Coromandel
Today we’ll kick off the first day of the tour by driving east to Hot Water Beach in Coromandel. Your check-in location will be at at Lylo Auckland at 9.00 am. We will meet our guide in the hostel entrance and have a little welcome brief before we set off for the day! We will be travelling in one sprinter van together, with a trailer to carry our backpacks – so we have more room in the van to stay comfortable.
We will hit the road to our first stop: Hot Water Beach where there are some activities we can get straight into. You can hop in a a kayak to Cathedral Cove, take a boat tour through the caves, or a scenic walk to Te Pare Point. Hot Water Beach is one of New Zealand’s most unique and famous destinations, located on the Coromandel Peninsula. It’s a stunning stretch of golden sand with a fascinating geothermal twist: hot water bubbling up through the sand! We’ll head to the beach and dig small hole in the sand to create our own natural jacuzzi, then dip in the cold sea after if you’re brave enough. It’s such a gorgeous way to spend the first evening.
After spending the afternoon exploring the area and doing activities, we will end the day with a traditional ‘fush & chips’ dinner at our accommodation. (There is the option to have wood-fired pizza instead).
Accommodation: Hot Water Beach Top 10
Included meals: Welcome Group Dinner
Day 2: Rotorua & Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
Say goodbye to the Coromandel as we head to the geothermal center of New Zealand; Rotorua. Located in the Bay of Plenty region, this area is famous for its geothermal activity, Māori culture, and adventure experiences.
We’ll stop at Wai-o-Tapu, the geothermal wonderland. Tickets are included in the tour, and this is a really fascinating area to walk around & take photographs. After, we will check into our accommodation and explore the town. Try your hand at Luging, zorbing, white water rafting, cultural performances, or just marvelling at the unique geothermal landscape. Rotorua is where ZORB was invented, and the first ZORB field is here. If you want to try it, this is where to do it!
This evening we’ll have a group dinner together in the town & share stories about the day.
Accommodation: Haka House, Rotorua
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3: Rotorua Lake Drives & Adrenaline Activities
Today is a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ Day! We will spend the full day in Rotorua, enjoying various activities. We will split into smaller groups and meet up again in the evening to tell each other everything we got up to.
Optional, paid activities in Rotorua include: Ziplining / Canopy Tours, White water rafting, An epic hike at Mount Tarawera, and Kayaking tours
If you prefer something low-key, a lake drive to the famous blue and green lakes is included in the tour. We’ll stop for coffee, swim in the lakes, and have a chilled out wholesome day seeing the scenery. You get to choose how you want to spend the day.
For dinner, you can join an incredible Maori Hangi meal where you can experience Maori culture and traditions in an immersive experience. You can watch cultural performances like Wero, Pōwhiri (Traditional Māori Welcome), Waiata (Song), Mōteatea (traditional chant), Poi, and the Haka. Learn about ancestral weapons, visit the sacred spring and have a buffet dinner.
Accommodation: haka House Rotorua
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Taupo and HOBBITON!!
For the next part of our journey, we head to Taupo, the adventure capital of the North Island. Our first stop of the day will be at Hobbiton, to experience the world-famous Lord Of The Rings movie set. We’ll head on a guided tour of the set, which is truly a real highlight of the trip! We’ll get to see inside the houses, look at the famous scenery and have a beer or cider at the end in the sunshine.
When we get to Taupo, we can head out on a walk to see the thundering Huka Falls and its trout-filled rivers before we head for a sunset beer by the stunning Lake Taupo.
In the evening, you can enjoy a evening sailing cruise (optional), and a group dinner at a local restaurant is included.
Accommodation: Finlay Jacks, Taupo
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Taupo Hot Springs & Epic Hikes
Today is a Choose Your Own Adventure day in Taupo! If you’re a keen hiker than you have the opportunity to hike the famous Tongoriro Crossing – people come from around the world just to hike this epic trail. The Tongariro Crossing track ventures between Mt Tongariro and Mt Ngauruhoe in the Tongariro National Park, and is considered one of New Zealand’s greatest hikes. There’s a slightly easier hike to Mount Tauhara nearby if you want to try something lighter.
For adrenaline activities, there is a bungee swing & Huka falls jet boat experience you can take part in. Or skydiving is popular here!
If you want to chill out and enjoy the town, enjoy a luxurious soak in the natural geothermal area of Wairakei Terraces. These thermal springs, surrounded by mud and silica waters have been used for hundreds of years by Maori for healing and wellness. You can soak and enjoy spa treatments here.
The day is yours to design! We will make bookings, provide transport, and do all of the arrangements for you. In the evening, we will meet for a delicious Thai dinner together to share stories about the day.
Accommodation: Finlay Jacks, Taupo
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6: Raglan, Rafting & Glowworms
After breakfast, we will drive to Waitomo for a choice of cave experiences:
- Glowworm boat cruise (gentle cave tour with glowworms overhead)
- Black-water rafting (float down underground rivers, jump waterfalls, see glowworms up close)
- Ruakuri Bushwalk (optional free short hike)
After this, we will continue to the surf town of Raglan for a relaxed evening. Raglan was one of my favourite stops on the March tour, and a gorgeous little surf town. There are some great walks you can do, stunning beaches to visit and lovely vibe at night. We’ll go for a group dinner at George’s beach club together (included) and have a few drinks tonight. This is a chilled out day to catch up on laundry, read a little and chill out before we head to the south island.
Accommodation: Raglan Backpackers
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: Goodbye Raglan, Let’s go South!
Today is a travel day. We have the morning to explore Raglan, before driving to Auckland to fly to Christchurch!
You can have a lazy lie-in and hit a coffee shop before wandering around the town. Or you can get up early for a surf lesson on this infamous surf beach followed by a local lunch. At around 1 pm, we’ll set off for our final journey back to where it all started. We’ll make plenty of photo stops and may even stop off at New Zealand’s favourite ice cream place!
We’ll get to Auckland airport at approximately 4 pm and hop on our flight down to Christchurch. Your flight will be booked for 6 pm or 7 pm and you will receive your boarding pass the day before. Once you arrive in Christchurch, you’ll be transferred to your accommodation for the night, Lylo Christchurch.
Accommodation: Lylo Christchurch
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Star Gazing at Lake Tekapo
It’s time to explore the south island! We’ll start with a beautiful drive to the absolutely gorgeous Lake Tekapo where you will start to see the differences in the landscape between the two islands. We’ll stop in a cute little town en route, and make some scenic stops for photos.
Lake Tekapo is probably most beautiful spot we’ll visit on the south island, and it will be lupin season when we are here. This means the lake will be surrounded by beautiful pink and purple flowers. We will stop at the famous church on the lake for photos, and head to our accommodation.
We are staying right at the lakes edge, so we can hire a bike, walk or swim in the lake in the afternoon. That evening we will star gaze; this is a dark sky reserve which means the night sky is incredible here.
We will have a group dinner together & games night at the accommodation.
Accommodation: Lakes Edge Holiday Park, Lake Tekapo
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9: Lake Swims, Epic Drives and Queenstown!
Today, we’ll head to the adrenaline capital of New Zealand – Queenstown! Before we head off, you’ll have time to do a few activities or fit in any walks at Lake Tekapo you didn’t do yesterday. You can start the morning with a sunrise dip in the lake, which is just across from our accommodation!
En route, we’ll drive through Lindis Pass, which links the Mackenzie Basin with Central Otago and is a gorgeous stretch of road. Next, we’ll pass Lake Pukaki and have views over Mount Cook.
Once we arrive, we’ll head to your accommodation for the next three days and get you settled, and then it’s off to explore! Queenstown is a hive of adventure activities, and you will create your own experience during our time here. We will group up and do some shared activities, coming together for evening dinners and drinks. If you’re keen to do as much as possible, there are a lot of adrenaline-fuelled activities you can do. And you will probably want to get started on them as soon as we arrive. However, if you want to opt for free or cheaper activities, there are many things you can do that don’t cost anything (and don’t involve jumping from anything!)
A group dinner together that night is included, so you can experience the famous Queenstown nightlife!
Accommodation: Haka House, Queenstown Lakefront
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10: Milford Sound Epic Cruise
An early start today, you’ll need to be ready for 7:00 am as we head to the 8th wonder of the world, Milford Sound. This is one of the most beautiful drives in New Zealand and we’ll be making plenty of photo stops as we drive into Fiordland.
We’re going to cruise the entire length of the fjord on modern, spacious catamarans with indoor seating, and huge windows so we can have panoramic views. There’s free tea and coffee and a bar if you’d like a drink. Enjoy a large and wide open outdoor, upper-level deck for excellent wildlife viewing, including seals, dolphins, and penguins when in season. This cruise is guided, and the caption will give a commentary throughout the 2-hour journey.
After the cruise, we’ll return to Queenstown to chill out after an exciting day.
Accommodation: Haka House, Queenstown Lakefront
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 11: Queenstown Choose Your Own Adventure
Today is the day to explore Queenstown and do all of the crazy things you would like to tick off the bucket list!
We will leave breakfast in the kitchen, so help yourself, as everyone will be off at different times. You can go bungy jumping, skydiving, paragliding, jet boating, canyoning, white-water rafting, zip lining, luging, mountain biking, horse riding, kayaking and quad-biking.
You should be able to fit 2-3 activities in today, which we can arrange and book for you. Our experienced guide will be on hand to answer any questions you have about the activities. Once the day’s done, we’ll all meet and share our crazy experiences over a meal and drinks.
For those that want a more low key day, we’ll go wine tasting (included), ride the gondola for epic views, and go on a walk around the lake. Lunch at the infamous burger restaurant ‘Fergburger’ is included. This is one of the most famous spots to eat in Queenstown, so today we’ll see if their burgers are really that good!!
Accommodation: Haka House, Queenstown.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 12: Lakes & Glaciers At Franz Josef
Wave goodbye to Queenstown and hello to stunning glacier country. After leaving Queenstown, we will take the scenic route to Wanaka via the Crown Range Road. This route is gorgeous, and we will stop the vans at the summit to take in the views. On a clear day, this is one of the most gorgeous drives around Queenstown. We’ll also stop at Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea.
The total driving distance today is about 5 hours, so we will spend most of the day driving between lakes and mountains, stopping to enjoy the scenery, take photos, and stretch our legs. There are plenty of snack, coffee & bathroom stops en route to break up the trip.
Once we arrive at Franz Josef, we’ll check into our accommodation for the next two nights. Haka House has kitchen and dining facilities, a cosy room with a fire, and an area with a pool table, so we can cook and eat together if we want a low-key night. There are also restaurants within walking distance for anyone who would prefer to go out to eat.
Accommodation: Rainforest Retreat, Franz Josef
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 13: Choose Your Own Adventure at Franz Josef
Today is a day packed full of fun and beauty. Activities on offer include kayaking on a lake surrounded by rainforest, Heli-hiking on a glacier and various walks. In the evening, meetup with your group for your final group dinner and drinks for the week
The goal today is to get as close as you can to the epic Franz Josef or Fox Glaciers. There are a range of free and paid ways to do this, which we will talk you through and let you make your choice on how to spend your day.
I’ll be taking a group in a stunning hike to the viewpoint in the photo above. This looks out over the glacier, where we’ll eat our packed lunch with these views. This is a free, included activity.
There is the option to a heli hike on the glacier, taking a helicopter which lands on the glacier before doing a short hike across it. It’s an incredible way to see the glacier! There are some great skydives here, for anyone who didn’t get a chance to try one yet.
That evening, we’ll meet for our final group meal which is included. There is sometimes a pub quiz on in our accommodation, so if there is we may join that after to finish up the night!
Accommodation: Rainforest Retreat, Franz Josef
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 14: One Last Road Trip, Then Goodbye!
Today we will be driving from Franz Josef to Christchurch to get our flights home. This drive takes approx 5 hours without stops, but we will be stopping for lunch and scenic stops so we will take the full day. There are a few short walks for those Lord Of The Rings fans!
We’ll stop along the way for lunch before heading back to Lylo Christchurch at approximately 4:00 pm where we’ll say goodbye!
Included meals: Breakfast
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of accommodation will we stay in?
We are staying in 4-6 bed dorms in flashpacker style hostels. We will have exclusive use of our dorms, meaning we won’t share with anyone who is not on the tour. Hostels have laundry facilities, kitchen and dining areas, and some have bars and games rooms. The hostels are nice, and more upmarket than the very budget backpacker hostels. There is the option to upgrade to a private room for some nights, but this is subject to availability.
Who is this tour for?
This tour is designed for solo travellers in their mid-20s to mid-30s who want a balance of adventure, culture, and group fun. Couples and friends travelling together are welcome too.
I’m travelling alone – will I fit in?
Absolutely! Most of our guests join solo, and you’ll quickly feel part of the group.
Where should I book my flights to / from
You’ll need to book your arrival flight into Auckland (AKL), where the tour begins on November 22nd at 9:00am. At the end of the trip, the tour finishes in Christchurch (CHC) on December 5th, so you should book your departure flight from Christchurch. You can fly back to Auckland if you have booked a return flight from here.
If you want to extend your stay, you can fly into Auckland a day early or spend extra time in Christchurch after the tour.
Are meals included?
Breakfast is included every day, along with 2 lunches and 9 dinners. For meals that are not included, suggestions on great nearby restaurants will be provided.
How many people will be in the group?
The group size for this tour is 18 people; Steph and 17 guests.
Do I need a visa for New Zealand?
All visa and entry requirements will be sent to you after booking. Most travellers from visa-waiver countries (Ireland, UK, EU, USA, Canada, Australia, etc.) just need an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority). This is quick to apply for online.
How Active Is The Trip?
There’s a mix of activities — some big hikes (like the Tongariro Crossing, optional), adventure sports in Queenstown, and glacier walks at Franz Josef. You don’t need to do every high-adrenaline option, and there are always lighter alternatives.
What is the transport like?
We travel in comfortable Mercedes Sprinter vans which have wifi and charging ports. We make regular stops for snacks, coffees and bathroom breaks. We also follow a rotating seat system, where we regularly move around so you can always spend time in the nice viewing seats up the front or nap in the back when you prefer.
What should I pack?
A packing list will be sent to you before the trip with everything to pack.
What is the weather like?
November and December are late spring/early summer in New Zealand. On the North Island (Auckland, Rotorua, Taupō), daytime highs are usually around 18–22°C, with mild evenings. On the South Island (Tekapo, Queenstown, Franz Josef), it’s a little cooler, with highs of 15–20°C and evenings dropping to 5–10°C in alpine areas. You can expect a mix of sunshine and some rain, especially in mountain and coastal regions. Pack layers, a waterproof jacket, and comfortable walking shoes — you’ll use them! The UV is strong in NZ, so sunscreen and a hat are essential, even on cloudy days.
Can dietary requirements be catered for?
Yes, whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free, the lodges and restaurants we work with can accommodate dietary needs. Please let us know in advance so we can make arrangements.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes, travel insurance is mandatory for this tour. Your policy must include medical cover and cover for trekking activities.
What is the cancellation policy for the tour
We know plans can change, so we’ve kept our cancellation policy clear and fair:
- To secure your spot, a non-refundable deposit of 25% is required at the time of booking.
- Your final balance is due 5 weeks before departure.
If you need to cancel:
- 12+ weeks before your trip: You’ll only lose your deposit.
- 8–11 weeks before your trip: 50% of your trip cost is non-refundable.
- 4–7 weeks before your trip: 75% of your trip cost is non-refundable.
- Less than 4 weeks before your trip: Unfortunately, no refund can be given.
If we ever have to cancel (for example, if minimum numbers aren’t met), you’ll get a full refund or the option to transfer to another date.
Travel insurance is required to protect you in case of illness, flight cancellations, or other unexpected events.
