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Arrive
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Day 1 Coastal Exploration & Creative Encounters in Abel Tasman
Arrive early in Nelson and check-in to Split Apple Retreat, an intimate and luxurious sanctuary with panoramic views across the bay. Today is dedicated to exploring the Abel Tasman coastline, one of the country’s most pristine and picturesque regions. Set out on a private charter, cruising along sheltered waters fringed by golden sands and native bush. Along the way, combine time on the water with curated experiences that bring together local wine, art, and craftsmanship. Visit boutique vineyards, meet artisans, and enjoy relaxed, immersive encounters that reflect the creative spirit of this region. Return to your retreat in the late afternoon, where the evening is yours to enjoy at leisure.
Overnight: Split Apple Retreat
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Day 2 Wellness & Culinary Immersion in Abel Tasman
Your second day is designed for restoration and nourishment. Begin with a wellness experience, perhaps incorporating yoga, meditation, or spa treatments, all set against the calming backdrop of sea and forest. Later, take part in a hands-on cooking experience, working with fresh, seasonal ingredients to create dishes inspired by the region.
Overnight: Split Apple Retreat
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Day 3 Wine, Art & Local Life in Nelson
Today offers a deeper exploration of the Nelson region, known for its vibrant arts scene and boutique wineries. With a private guide, visit a selection of small producers and artist studios, gaining insight into the people and passions that define this area. Enjoy relaxed tastings, scenic drives and the chance to experience a slower, more authentic side of New Zealand life.
Overnight: Split Apple Retreat
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Day 4 Journey to Kaikōura
Travel south along one of New Zealand’s most scenic coastal routes to Kaikōura, where rugged mountains rise dramatically from the ocean. This unique meeting of land and sea creates an environment rich in marine life. Check in to the remote Hapuku Lodge, an architectural retreat set within a peaceful deer farm, with views to both mountains and coastline.
Overnight: Hapuku Lodge
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Day 5 Foraging, Cooking & Marine Encounters in Kaikōura
Today is a celebration of Kaikōura’s extraordinary natural larder. Join a “catch, forage and cook” experience, gathering ingredients from both land and sea before preparing a meal under expert guidance. It is a hands-on experience that connects you directly to the landscape. In the evening, take to the water on a private kayaking excursion at sunset, where seals, seabirds and the changing light create an unforgettable atmosphere.
Overnight: Hapuku Lodge
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Day 6 Coastal Pacific to Christchurch
Board the Coastal Pacific train for one of the world’s most scenic rail journeys, tracing the coastline south with the Pacific Ocean on one side and mountains on the other. Arrive in Christchurch and transfer to Otahuna Lodge, a grand historic estate set within beautiful gardens.
Overnight: Otahuna Lodge
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Day 7 Garden City & Cultural Dining in Christchurch
Enjoy a leisurely day at Otahuna Lodge, exploring the gardens or simply relaxing in this peaceful setting. In the evening, experience a unique cultural food journey, where storytelling, local ingredients and Māori traditions come together to create a truly memorable dining experience.
Overnight: Otahuna Lodge
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Day 8 TranzAlpine to Flockhill
Today’s journey aboard the TranzAlpine train is one of New Zealand’s most iconic experiences, crossing the Southern Alps through dramatic mountain scenery, river valleys, and alpine plains. On arrival, continue to Flockhill, a ranch set within a vast high-country station surrounded by rugged peaks and open skies.
Overnight: Flockhill
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Day 9 Alpine Stillness & Fine Dining at Flockhill
Today allows you to fully absorb the beauty of Flockhill. Choose from a range of activities including guided hikes, biking or simply relaxing against a backdrop of sweeping vistas. The landscape is both dramatic and calming, offering a rare sense of total isolation. In the evening, enjoy an exceptional chef’s table experience, where locally sourced ingredients are transformed into a refined and memorable dining journey.
Overnight: Flockhill
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Day 10 High Country Experiences at Flockhill
Today invites you deeper into the vast and cinematic landscapes of Flockhill, where scale and solitude define the experience. Set out on a guided high-country safari, traversing remote valleys, braided rivers and rugged alpine terrain rarely accessed by visitors. Along the way, your guide will bring the landscape to life, sharing stories of the station’s working heritage, conservation efforts and the unique ecosystems that thrive here. Wildlife sightings, ever-changing light and mountain vistas make this an immersive exploration. Alternatively, for a more cultural experience, spend time with a Māori carver, gaining a fascinating and exclusive insight into traditional craftsmanship, symbolism, and storytelling.
Overnight: Flockhill
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Day 11 To Wānaka
This morning, journey south through some of the South Island’s most striking and varied landscapes, where vast plains give way to glacial valleys, turquoise lakes and distant snow-capped peaks. The drive itself is spectacular, but for those seeking an unforgettable perspective, a scenic helicopter flight offers an extraordinary aerial journey across the Mackenzie Country and West Coast. Fly above braided rivers, ancient glaciers and dramatic mountain ranges, landing in remote locations inaccessible by road. Continue to the Wānaka region and arrive at Silverpine Lodge, an elegant alpine retreat overlooking the waters of Lake Hāwea.
Overnight: Silverpine Lodge
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Day 12 Jet Boat Adventure & Wilderness Dining in Wānaka
Today combines exhilaration with complete seclusion as you travel deep into one of New Zealand’s most untouched wilderness areas. Set out on a thrilling jet boat safari, speeding along crystal-clear rivers that wind through dramatic valleys and dense native forest. The journey takes you far beyond the reach of roads, into landscapes that feel undiscovered. Along the way, stop to take in the silence and scale of your surroundings before arriving at a remote riverside location. Here, a private barbecue awaits, allowing you to dine in the heart of the wilderness, surrounded by nothing but nature.
Overnight: Silverpine Lodge
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Day 13 Into the Untamed Wilderness of Fiordland
Leaving the Southern Lakes behind, travel into Fiordland, a region of profound natural drama. The journey unfolds through dense rainforest, mirror-like lakes and towering peaks, each turn revealing landscapes shaped by ancient glaciers and time. On arrival, check in to Cabot Lodge, an intimate retreat set high above Lake Manapouri, with panoramic views across Fiordland National Park. The sense of remoteness here is immediate. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure.
Overnight: Cabot Lodge
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Day 14 Private Exploration of Milford Sound
Today is one of the defining highlights of your journey as you venture deep into Fiordland to experience the extraordinary beauty of Milford Sound. The journey itself is as memorable as the destination, travelling through ancient rainforest, past glimmering lakes and beneath towering peaks carved by glaciers over millennia. On arrival, step aboard your private vessel and cruise through this dramatic fjord, where sheer cliffs rise vertically from the water and waterfalls cascade from seemingly impossible heights. Keep watch for dolphins, seals and birdlife as you glide through this untouched wilderness. With an expert guide alongside you, gain a deeper understanding of the geology, ecology and stories that make this one of the most remarkable natural environments in the world.
Overnight: Cabot Lodge
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Day 15 Exploring Fiordland
After the drama of Milford Sound, today offers time to pause and absorb the profound tranquillity of Fiordland. Perhaps take a gentle guided stroll through ancient forest, explore hidden trails or simply remain at the lodge, enjoying its peaceful setting. For those wishing to venture further, optional experiences can take you deeper into Fiordland’s vast wilderness. As evening falls, you may choose to visit nearby Te Anau, where a charming local cinema experience offers a relaxed and unexpected insight into the region’s character.
Overnight: Cabot Lodge
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Day 16 Fiordland to Queenstown
Leaving Fiordland behind, travel through ever-changing landscapes towards Queenstown, where the mood shifts from remote wilderness to vibrant alpine energy. The journey reveals glacial valleys, clear rivers and expansive views before Lake Wakatipu comes into sight, framed by the dramatic Remarkables mountain range. On arrival, check in to ROKI, a sleek and contemporary retreat offering a refined contrast to the landscapes you have explored. The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure, strolling along the lakeside or exploring Queenstown’s boutiques and galleries. In the evening, dine in Queenstown or nearby Arrowtown, where historic gold-mining heritage meets an increasingly sophisticated food scene.
Overnight: ROKI
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Day 17 Wine, Landscapes & Hidden Gems of Central Otago
Today is dedicated to discovering Central Otago, one of the world’s most exciting and visually striking wine regions. With your private guide, journey through a landscape of rugged mountains, wide valleys and meticulously tended vineyards. Visit a selection of boutique wineries, many family-owned, where you will enjoy intimate tastings and gain insight into the region’s unique terroir. Central Otago is particularly celebrated for its Pinot Noir, and each tasting reveals subtle variations shaped by climate and soil. Along the way, stop for a relaxed lunch in a vineyard setting, surrounded by some of New Zealand’s most dramatic scenery.
Overnight: ROKI
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Day 18 Queenstown
Begin with a deeply relaxing wellness experience at ROKI, where spa treatments and calming spaces offer a moment to reset. The afternoon is yours, whether that means a scenic walk, enjoying a final leisurely lunch overlooking the lake or enjoying the alpine surroundings. In the evening, step away from the lights of town for a stargazing experience beneath some of the clearest skies in the Southern Hemisphere. With minimal light pollution, the stars reveal themselves in extraordinary clarity, offering a fitting finale to your time in New Zealand.
Overnight: ROKI
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Day 19 Depart
Bid farewell to New Zealand this morning and transfer to the airport for your onward journey.
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Depart
