Monday, May 3: Arrival and half-day Auckland tour

• Arrive in Auckland in the early morning (US flights usually arrive before 6 a.m.)
• Check into Hotel De Brett, breakfast included
• Free morning to explore Aukland’s vibrant waterfront 
• Guided tour of Auckland highlights, including walking to vistas from the top of extinct volcanos and exploring Devonport, a charming Victorian seaside village
• Group dinner at Amano 

Tuesday, May 4: Auckland and Papakura Stream

• Leave at 9 a.m. to visit the Papakura Stream Seacology project in Whitford
• Afternoon trip to Piha in West Auckland: visit dramatic black-sand beaches and cliffs, guided walk through native forest
• Group Dinner at Baduzzi or similar restaurant

Wednesday, May 5: Rotorua

• Depart at 7 a.m. for a three-hour scenic drive to Rotorua. Begin the day with a Rotorua Canopy Tour, a multi-award winning eco-adventure. Expert guides will lead you on an immersive zipline journey through a forest with ancient, 1,000 year old native trees and fern-filled gullies.
• Afternoon visit to Te Puia, a highly acclaimed Māori cultural village experience in a geothermally active landscape
• Group Dinner at Vivace at the Hotel De Brett

Thursday, May 6: Queenstown

• Fly to Queenstown, arriving mid-day; check into Queenstown Park boutique hotel
• Free afternoon to wander Queenstown waterfront, shops and Queenstown Botanical Gardens
• 5 p.m. departure on the TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak Sheep Station on Lake Wakatipu 
• Sunset farm visit and excellent BBQ dinner
• Return to Queenstown wharf by 9 p.m.

Friday, May 7: Mill Creek, Arrowtown and Gibbston Valley

• 9 a.m. departure for visit to Mill Creek Seacology project
• Guided half-day e-bike tour starting on an easy scenic bike path from historic Arrowtown to Gibbston Valley, one of New Zealand’s best pinot noir wine regions. Tour includes an artesian lunch platter and wine tasting at two wineries.
• Group dinner at Soda, Queenstown

Saturday, May 8: Glenorchy and Paradise Valley

• Leisurely breakfast before 10:30 departure for a scenic one-hour drive along the shore of Lake Wakatipu. 
• Five-hour backroad tour exploring the alpine landscapes, high-country sheep stations and iconic Lord of the Rings filming locations of Glenorchy and Paradise Valley 
• Packed lunch provided on tour
• Group dinner at Headwaters Eco Lodge in Glenorchy 

Sunday, May 9: Tasman Glacier Heli-Hike

• Depart at 7:30 a.m. for a breathtaking one-hour scenic flight traversing the Southern Alps from Queenstown to Aoraki – Mount Cook National Park
• Two-hour guided heli-hike on the spectacular Tasman Glacier*
• Group dinner at Rodd & Gunn, The Lodge or similar in Queenstown

*Note: This activity is subject to weather and requires a final weather check at 7 a.m. on the day. If cancelled, Seacology will arrange alternative activities for this day.

Monday, May 10: Lake Manapouri and Doubtful Sound

• Start at 8:30 a.m. Scenic driver-guided trip to Lake Manapouri, the gateway to Fiordland National Park
• Continue on a series of connected journeys to Doubtful Sound, starting with a fast-ferry ride across Lake Manapouri, then a 45 minute coach ride through the dense rainforest to Deep Cove in Doubtful Sound
• Board the Fiordland Navigator, a 52-person liveaboard and cruise along the towering native forests surrounding Doubtful Sound with the possibility of seeing bottlenose dolphins, New Zealand fur seals and even Fiordland crested penguins. If weather permits, explore sheltered inlets by kayak or by tender boat.
• Buffet dinner on board
• Overnight onboard in twin share cabins

Tuesday, May 11: Return to Queenstown

• Breakfast onboard the Fiordland Navigator
• Return journey to Lake Manapouri
• Free time to stretch your legs and walk along Te Anau lakefront before returning to Queenstown in late afternoon
• Group dinner at Finz Seafood and Grill or similar

Wednesday, May 12: Full-Day Skippers Canyon

• Starting at 8:30 a.m., explore a totally different side of Queenstown in a bespoke, small group backcountry adventure that navigates the narrow cliffside dirt roads to showcase the region’s alpine gorges and rich gold rush history.
• Return to Queenstown by midday 
• Free afternoon, optional Shotover Jet boat tour 
• Group farewell dinner at Michelin Star-awarded Rata, Queenstown 

Thursday, May 13: Departure

• Check out time from hotel is usually 10 a.m. Fly to Auckland or Christchurch for international flight. Direct international flights from Queenstown to Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne are also available.

Not far from Auckland, we’re working with local conservation advocates, landowners, and other stakeholders to rehabilitate the land around Papakura Stream, an important waterway that drains into Manukau Harbor. Runoff including fertilizer and animal waste has polluted this sensitive marine environment, jeopardizing the health of people and wildlife alike. Seacology’s support is now helping our partners protect the stream from livestock and replace invasive plants with native ones, which will control erosion and improve water quality throughout the watershed.

On the south island, a similar project at Mill Creek is supporting an ongoing effort by local Māori conservationists to rehabilitate Lake Hayes. This lake is surrounded by wetlands that are home to many endangered birds and lizards, and which serve as an important spawning ground for native fish. Unfortunately about 90% of this habitat has been lost to development and the encroachment of invasive species. Along Mill Creek, one of the main inflows to the lake, we are planting native vegetation to improve water quality. These types of interventions have already helped drastically reduce harmful algae blooms.