Walking & Wildlife : New Zealand Holiday Architects

Walking & Wildlife

22 days

Indicative cost incl. flights:

A typical 4* holiday costs from

£6,885 per person

(Based on two people travelling. Low season can be a lot cheaper, and peak season or 5* hotels can be substantially more expensive.)

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Auckland

Bay of Islands & Northland

The Coromandel Peninsula

Christchurch & Akaroa

Dunedin & the Otago Peninsula

The Catlins

Fiordland

Stewart Island

Day 1

Today you will depart the UK for New Zealand.

Day 2

Today is in flight, if you prefer to break the journey we can organise a stopover destination for you.

Day 3

You will arrive in Auckland today and will have time to enjoy the rest of the day at leisure exploring the city.

Day 4

Start your time in New Zealand with a day trip to the island reserve of Tiritiri Matangi, a short ferry journey away. Here you will find a wonderful array of birdlife, much of which you will also see on your travels around the country.

Day 5

Collect a hire car this morning and drive north to the Kauri Coast. This evening join a fantastic twilight guided walk in to the Kauri forest to learn about the Maori culture and listen for wildlife.

Day 6

Make your way to the east coast and to Paihia today, the gateway to the beautiful Bay of Islands. Enjoy the afternoon by the waterfront with a glass of New Zealand wine.

Day 7

Today you join a dolphin spotting tour with the option to swim if the dolphins are willing! This afternoon you might like to take the passenger ferry across to the neighbouring town of Russell.

Day 8

Start your journey south today and overnight just outside Auckland. This will break the journey to your next stop, the Coromandel Peninsula.

Day 9

Continue your journey through Auckland today and make your way to the Coromandel Peninsula. The drive winds its way down to the beautiful coastline and you will pass lots of enchanting places to stop for lunch along the way.

Day 10

Spend today in the company of expert local guide Kiwi Dundee, learning about the eco-system of the area and looking for wildlife along the day. Make sure you visit Hot Water beach at low tide to dig your very own hot spa pool.

Day 11

Make your way to Tauranga this morning and fly to Christchurch on the east coast of the South Island. On arrival you will have time at leisure to explore the city. The botanical gardens are worth a visit and maybe some punting down the river.

Day 12

Enjoy a day trip to Kaikoura today which includes a whale-watching trip. You will go on the look out for sperm whales and if you are lucky you will see pods of dolphins on your journey.

Day 13

Collect another hire car this morning and make your way down the coast to Oamaru. This evening watch little blue penguins coming ashore to their colony after a long day of hunting.

Day 14

Continue your journey south to Dunedin, stopping to view the interesting Moeraki Boulders en route. On arrival you might like to visit the steepest street in the world or Larnach castle and its beautiful gardens.

Day 15

Join a full day tour of the Otago Peninsula today which includes entrance to penguin place, where you can view yellow-eye penguins, entrance to the Royal Albatross Centre and a scenic cruise back to Dunedin.

Day 16

Make your way along the Southern Scenic route to the beautiful Catlins area. Keep your eyes peeled this evening for the Little Blue penguins arriving ashore for the evening.

Day 17

Spend the day exploring the Catlins. There are some lovely walks along the coast and to hidden waterfalls in the forest. This is a rugged but stunning coastal area that is very different to the other coastal areas of New Zealand.

Day 18

Drive a short distance to Invercargill and take a flight over to Stewart Island. The flight is short but very scenic. Have your cameras at the ready! This evening join a Kiwi spotting tour to see Kiwi birds in their natural habitat.

Day 19

Take a half day tour to Ulva Island nature reserve and learn all about the wildlife here. As a predator free island and so many of the native New Zealand birds really flourish here.

Day 20

Take a flight back to Invercargill then drive on to Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park. Enjoy a stroll along the waterfront this evening or visit the nearby glow worm caves.

Day 21

Today you will join a full day tour along the Milford Road. You will join a scenic cruise of Milford Sound then enjoy several short walks with a nature guide and learn about the unique environment of Fiordland National Park.

Day 22

Drive back to Queenstown today and board a domestic flight to Auckland or Christchurch where you join your overnight flight back to the UK. The end of your New Zealand adventure.

Where you'll go
What you'll do
Where you'll stay

Similar Holidays

Everything we do is tailor-made; our itineraries are just suggestions to give you an idea of what is possible. Please contact us so we can tailor the perfect holiday exclusively for you.

New Zealand is well-known for its wildlife and is a fantastic place to see whales, dolphins, seals and sealions and large seabirds such as penguins and the Royal Albatross. Alongside this it is home to a colourful, and tuneful, array of other birds, many native to the country and some that are endemic – meaning you will not find them anywhere else in the world. This self-drive itinerary takes you around the top of the North Island and the bottom of the South Island which tend to be the best spots for wildlife and includes several tours that involve a bit of walking, along with free time to do more at your own pace.

2 nights Auckland – 1 night Waipoua – 2 nights Bay of Islands – 1 night North Auckland – 2 nights Coromandel – 2 nights Christchurch – 1 night Oamaru – 2 nights Dunedin – 2 nights Catlins – 2 nights Stewart Island – 2 nights Te Anau