Small group journey · 04
Following
the Wind.
Ocean. Mountains.
The road between.
From warm earth to mountain air
Feel New Zealand change along the way.
Tour language: Russian. Join a scheduled small-group departure with a Russian-speaking guide. English-language arrangements are available on request. See the day-by-day programme for independent time and excursions operated by local providers.
In New Zealand the wind is an old travelling companion. It moves across volcanic plateaus, salt-bright coasts, alpine passes and valleys where the earth still releases its heat.
Following the Wind is built around that feeling of movement – from Auckland to geothermal country, Wellington’s shores, the Southern Alps and the silence of the fiords.
Why this journey
What stays
with you.
-
01
A road worth falling for
The changing landscape makes the movement between places as memorable as the destinations.
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02
Freedom in each region
There is time for optional discoveries, a longer look or simply resting when you need it.
-
03
New Zealand without filters
Geothermal valleys, ocean coasts and alpine country are experienced at an easy, human pace.
-
04
Variety without hurry
Cultural encounters, short walks, boat journeys and beautiful roads keep every day distinct.
The route
From the volcanic heart to the far south.
The journey begins among the energy and stories of the North Island, then crosses Cook Strait and follows the changing weather and landscapes south.
Mountain passes, wild coastline, glacier country, Fiordland and Aoraki / Mount Cook form a route where the elements are always present and the road is never merely a transfer.
Explore the itineraryThe journey unfolds
Your journey, day by day.
Open a day to explore the details.
Day 01AucklandArrive and ease into the rhythm of New Zealand.
Your airport transfer brings you to the hotel. Today is independent, without a guide: rest, wander by the harbour or find a café overlooking the water. Tomorrow the road begins to unfold beyond the city.
Overnight: Auckland
Day 02Auckland → RotoruaGlowworms below the hills, Hobbiton among them.
Across Waikato’s green countryside, we reach Waitomo for a cave visit and boat journey beneath glowworms. Hobbiton offers a different kind of wonder with its round doors and gardens. The day ends in geothermal Rotorua.
Overnight: Rotorua
Day 03Rotorua → TūrangiMāori culture and the island’s volcanic heart.
Discover Rotorua’s lakeside character then visit a Māori village and traditional performance. A geothermal park reveals steaming water and mineral colours. Continue via Huka Falls and the shores of Lake Taupō to Tūrangi.
Overnight: Tūrangi
Day 04Tūrangi → WellingtonVolcanic horizons and an evening above the harbour.
Cross the volcanic plateau beneath Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu. The scenery gradually softens into valleys and green hills on the way to Wellington. Explore the capital and finish with views across the harbour from Mount Victoria.
Overnight: Wellington
Day 05Wellington → PictonA free morning, then the road becomes the sea.
Enjoy Wellington at your own pace before the afternoon ferry. Cross Cook Strait and watch the sheltered bays and wooded slopes of the Marlborough Sounds appear. Picton welcomes us to the South Island in the evening.
Overnight: Picton
Day 06Picton → Hanmer SpringsVineyards, ocean air and a mountain evening.
Taste Marlborough wines then follow the coast to Kaikōura and its fur seals. Turning inland we reach Hanmer Springs. You may choose an evening visit to the thermal pools, paid for separately on arrival.
Overnight: Hanmer Springs
Day 07Hanmer Springs → GreymouthAcross the Alps: from limestone hills to ocean spray.
Castle Hill’s limestone formations interrupt the wide Canterbury countryside. Cross Arthur’s Pass among mountain rivers and forest before reaching the West Coast. Punakaiki’s layered rocks provide a final coastal stop on the way to Greymouth.
Overnight: Greymouth
Day 08Greymouth → HaastMeet a kiwi before entering glacier country.
Visit Hokitika’s kiwi centre to discover some of New Zealand’s unusual wildlife. Further south a walk towards a Franz Josef Glacier viewpoint reveals the scale of the glacial valley. Rainforest and coastal scenery accompany the road to Haast.
Overnight: Haast
Day 09HaastA day measured in forest paths and ocean views.
Explore the forests, river mouths and wild beaches around Haast. Short walks bring us close to the region’s water, birdlife and quiet coastal landscapes. Tonight we stay in Haast again with no need to pack up and move on.
Overnight: Haast
Day 10Haast → QueenstownOver the pass, into the country of lakes.
The Blue Pools and Haast Pass mark the transition from rainforest to open alpine country. Pause beside Lakes Hāwea and Wānaka, with time in Wānaka itself, before travelling through Cardrona and over the Crown Range to Queenstown.
Overnight: Queenstown
Day 11Queenstown → Te AnauYour own Queenstown morning then towards Fiordland.
Spend the morning as you wish in Queenstown. Jetboating or a steamship trip with a farm lunch are optional, extra-cost choices. In the afternoon, leave the bustle behind for the broad valleys and lakeside calm of Te Anau.
Overnight: Te Anau
Day 12Te Anau → Milford Sound → Te AnauA mountain road that leads to something extraordinary.
Travel through Fiordland’s valleys, lakes and mountains to Milford Sound. A cruise brings the sheer cliffs and waterfalls close, with possible wildlife sightings along the way. Return to Te Anau after a day of remarkable scenery.
Overnight: Te Anau
Day 13Te Anau → Aoraki / Mount Cook regionLocal flavours and a glacier at the journey’s high point.
Taste New Zealand honey, travel through the Kawarau Gorge and pause in Cromwell. Beyond Lindis Pass the Mackenzie Basin opens towards Aoraki / Mount Cook. A walk to the Tasman Glacier viewpoint brings the day into the mountains.
Overnight: Aoraki / Mount Cook region
Day 14Aoraki / Mount Cook region → ChristchurchLake Tekapo and the last stretch across the plains.
Pause beside Lake Tekapo and the Church of the Good Shepherd before leaving the mountains behind. The road crosses the Canterbury Plains towards Christchurch where our journey ends in the afternoon.
Tour ends in Christchurch.
What comes with your journey
From accommodation and transport to cultural visits, nature walks and a fiord cruise – these are some of the highlights included in your tour. This is an overview, rather than an exhaustive list; we’ll send all the details with the full programme.
- Places to stay
- 13 nights in 3-4★ hotels and motels
- Accommodation arrangements and bookings
- Travel between places
- Comfortable minibus travel, fuel, parking and road costs
- Auckland arrival and Christchurch departure airport transfers
- The inter-island ferry across Cook Strait
- Guiding & organisation
- A professional guide and driver on days 2-14
- Required route fees and DOC permits
- Tour organisation and GST
- Nature & memorable experiences
- Milford Sound cruise and Waitomo glowworm caves
- Rotorua’s geothermal valley and Hokitika’s kiwi centre
- A full day exploring Haast and a walk to the Tasman Glacier viewpoint
- Walks and stops at lakes, waterfalls, glaciers and mountain viewpoints
- Stories & culture
- Hobbiton
- Māori village and traditional cultural performance
- Wellington and historic Cardrona
- Local tastes & craftsmanship
- Marlborough wine tasting
- New Zealand honey tasting
Separate from the tour price
Flights, travel insurance, meals (including breakfasts), personal expenses and optional extra excursions. A supplement applies for single-room accommodation.
Physical activity & fitnessEasy · Average fitness
Suitable for average fitness. The journey includes regular nature walks, a full day exploring Haast and a walk to the Tasman Glacier viewpoint, alongside scenic drives and sightseeing. Ask us about walking times and trail conditions so we can help you decide whether the journey suits you.
Along the way
A journey in three moments.
From the road
“I brought back hundreds of photos. There was time both for the perfect photograph and for simply watching and soaking in all that beauty.”
Could this be your journey?
Ask us for the full itinerary, availability and everything you need to decide.