Small group journey · 03
New Zealand
Odyssey.
Two islands.
One amazing way to start
the New Year!
The grand journey
See it all. And a little more.
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.
Imagine beginning the year among places that feel almost cinematic: glowworms in the dark, the green hills of Hobbiton, rising geysers, mountain passes, vineyards and the deep silence of a fiord.
New Zealand Odyssey moves from the cultural and volcanic heart of the North Island into the alpine drama of the South. Every day is a new chapter, but the rhythm still leaves time to notice where you are.
Why this journey
What stays
with you.
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01
Both islands in fourteen days
The route connects the country’s defining landscapes without reducing them to a checklist.
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02
A memorable New Year
The dates turn an already remarkable journey into a celebration shared on the road.
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03
Every day changes the scene
Caves, volcanoes, coast, rainforest, glaciers and fiords keep the journey constantly surprising.
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04
Energy with balance
Active experiences alternate with easier days, beautiful drives and room to breathe.
The route
New Zealand, one unforgettable day at a time.
The North Island brings Māori stories, geothermal energy and rolling green country. The South Island opens into the West Coast, glacier country, mountain lakes and Fiordland.
It is a carefully connected route for travellers who want to understand how varied New Zealand can feel and welcome the New Year somewhere unforgettable.
Explore the itineraryFourteen days of discovery
Your journey, day by day.
Open a day to explore the details.
Day 01AucklandArrive, settle in and find your own rhythm.
After your flight, leave time to rest and ease into New Zealand. If you feel like exploring, the waterfront is a lovely place to begin: sailing boats, sea air and cafés overlooking the harbour. Today is independent, without a guide; the guided journey begins tomorrow.
Overnight: Auckland
Day 02Auckland → Bay of PlentyGardens, Hobbiton and a New Year by the ocean.
Meet your guide and head into the green countryside. Themed gardens take us through different cultures and eras before we step among the round doors and flower-filled gardens of Hobbiton. By evening, the hills give way to the Pacific coast, where we welcome the New Year together.
Overnight: Bay of Plenty
Day 03Bay of PlentyA slow beginning to the year, with sand underfoot.
Take the morning at your own pace. In the afternoon, a gentle walk introduces Māori stories woven into the coastal landscape. There is time for the beach, a café and simply watching the waves: a day to enjoy being here before the road leads us inland.
Overnight: Bay of Plenty
Day 04Bay of Plenty → TūrangiFrom quiet forest springs to the volcanic heart.
Cool shade beneath redwoods and clear spring water give way to a very different landscape around Rotorua. A Māori cultural performance and a geothermal valley bring us closer to the stories and forces that shape this island. We continue via Huka Falls and Lake Taupō to Tūrangi.
Overnight: Tūrangi
Day 05Tūrangi → WellingtonVolcanic horizons, changing countryside and the capital.
The road crosses the volcanic plateau beneath Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu before descending through valleys and farmland towards the coast. In Wellington, we explore the capital’s waterfront and Parliament area, then take in the city and harbour from the Mount Victoria lookout.
Overnight: Wellington
Day 06Wellington → PictonA morning your way, then across the water.
Enjoy a free morning in Wellington: perhaps the gardens, a museum or a favourite café. In the afternoon, we board the ferry across Cook Strait. Open water narrows into the sheltered waterways of the Marlborough Sounds as we approach Picton, our first stop on the South Island.
Overnight: Picton
Day 07Picton → Hanmer SpringsVineyards, a coastal pause and a mountain evening.
A wine tasting introduces us to Marlborough before we follow the coast to Kaikōura. A whale-spotting helicopter flight is an optional, extra-cost experience here. Later, the road turns inland towards Hanmer Springs, where you can enjoy a quiet evening or choose a visit to the thermal pools.
Overnight: Hanmer Springs
Day 08Hanmer Springs → WestportAcross the mountains, into the stories of the West Coast.
We cross Lewis Pass, pause for a short walk by a mountain lake and visit Reefton, a town shaped by the gold rush. Following the Buller River towards the coast, we explore the history of coal mining on a high plateau before reaching Westport for the evening.
Overnight: Westport
Day 09Westport → Fox GlacierWild coastline, sculpted rock and the craft of pounamu.
Our coastal day takes in a fur seal colony and the layered Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki. Continuing through Greymouth to Hokitika, we visit a pounamu workshop to see the skill behind New Zealand jade carving. Rainforest and glimpses of the Southern Alps accompany the final stretch to Fox Glacier.
Overnight: Fox Glacier
Day 10Fox Glacier → HaastGlacier country, reflections and the quieter coast.
Explore the Fox Glacier area on a walk towards a valley viewpoint. Weather permitting, we visit Lake Matheson, where still water can reflect the Southern Alps. The journey south leads through rainforest and beside broad beaches to Haast, with short walks among coastal forests, lagoons and river estuaries.
Overnight: Haast
Day 11Haast → QueenstownOver the pass, where rainforest gives way to lake country.
Waterfalls, mountain rivers and the Blue Pools mark our way towards Haast Pass. On the other side, the landscape opens around Lakes Wānaka and Hāwea. After time in Wānaka, we continue through historic Cardrona and over the Crown Range to Queenstown.
Overnight: Queenstown
Day 12Queenstown → Te AnauTime for your own adventure, then towards Fiordland.
The first part of the day is free to enjoy Queenstown. Optional, extra-cost choices include the kiwi park, a jetboat ride or a trip on the TSS Earnslaw with a farm lunch. In the afternoon, we leave the bustle behind and travel to lakeside Te Anau.
Overnight: Te Anau
Day 13Te Anau → Milford Sound → Te AnauA road to remember, and a fiord seen from the water.
The Milford Road carries us through Fiordland’s mountain scenery to the water’s edge. A cruise brings us beneath steep cliffs and past waterfalls; seals and dolphins are sometimes seen along the way. We return to Te Anau with time to absorb a day of extraordinary landscapes.
Overnight: Te Anau
Day 14Te Anau → QueenstownOne last taste of New Zealand before the journey home.
On our return to Queenstown, a honey tasting offers a final flavour of New Zealand. We then continue to the airport for your departure. The tour finishes today in Queenstown; no overnight accommodation is scheduled.
Tour ends in Queenstown.
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
- 3–4★ hotels and motels along the route
- Accommodation arrangements and bookings
- Travel between places
- Comfortable minibus travel, fuel, parking and road costs
- Auckland arrival and Queenstown 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 Rotorua’s geothermal valley
- Redwood forest, natural springs and a fur seal colony
- Walks and stops at lakes, waterfalls, glaciers and mountain viewpoints
- Stories & culture
- Hobbiton and themed gardens
- Māori village and traditional cultural performance
- A historic coal-mining ghost town, Reefton and Cardrona
- Local tastes & craftsmanship
- Marlborough wine tasting
- New Zealand honey tasting
- A visit to a pounamu workshop to discover New Zealand jade carving
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. Sightseeing and scenic drives are combined with short nature walks and visits to viewpoints, with quieter periods along the way. 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
“When we drove out of the tunnel and began the descent to Milford, everyone in the bus went quiet. We just stared out of the windows holding our breath. It was one of the most beautiful roads of my life.”
Could this be your journey?
Ask us for the full itinerary, availability and everything you need to decide.