In New Zealand, you can have outdoor adventures that are simply not possible anywhere else in the world. During these two weeks, you will helicopter through fjords, climb in sacred Maori places, go canyoning and jet boating in private wilderness areas, and spend three days cruising through tropical Pacific waters. Handcrafted to offer exclusive outdoor experiences, this will be a luxurious vacation with private helicopter transfers, remote picnic spots, and the exquisite stuff that others do not...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Queenstown to Glenorchy – Peaceful Lakeside Welcome
You will begin your adventure by taking it slow. After flying to Queenstown, you will be transferred along the shores of Lake Wakatipu to Glenorchy, which is a hamlet that has been cut off from Queenstown’s bustle. Located on a lakeside farm, your lodge will be a peaceful place to escape from the everyday and get over any jet lag. You can wander the shore, watch the sunset fade through the surrounding mountains, and dine on exquisite farm-style cuisine. If you are feeling active, then you can take a boat trip onto the lake or paddle out in some canoes.
What's Included:
Day 2
Glenorchy – Wilderness Jet boat Picnic
Day 3
Glenorchy – Exploring Fjordland by Helicopter
Day 4
Glenorchy – Heli-Hiking or Heli-Skiing in the Remote South
Day 5
Nelson to Abel Tasman – Relaxed Private Charter Along the Coast
Day 6
Abel Tasman – Helicopter Trip Into the Kahurangi Ranges
Day 7
Abel Tasman – Canyoning in Ancient Rainforest
Day 8
Taupo – Scenic Volcano Flight and Geothermal Activity
Day 9
Taupo – Wilderness White Water Rafting
Day 10
Taupo – Private Rock Climbing in Remote Maori Land
Day 11 - 12
Hauraki Gulf – Charter Yacht Cruise With Spearfishing in Tropical New Zealand
Day 13
Hauraki Gulf – Helicopter to Cape Reinga for Above and Below the Water Adventure
Day 14
Hauraki Gulf to Auckland – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Discover Fiordland’s isolated and unknown highlights during a full day’s helicopter tour
- Indulge in a two-day cruise through the Hauraki Gulf on a private yacht charter with great opportunities for spearfishing and snorkeling
- Immerse yourself with Maori landowners, who will welcome you before a day of private rock climbing
- Try canyoning and white-water rafting in an ancient rainforest in Taupo
- Excite your senses with the choice to go on a Heli-Hike or go heli-skiing in New Zealand’s remote southwest
- Ease into the outdoors with a jet boat wilderness picnic
- Transfer with ease between destinations on scenic helicopter flights, which will bring stunning views over the country’s spectacular mountains and volcanoes
- Delight in a picnic in the remote Kahurangi Ranges, relax around the country’s lakes, and stay on some of the country’s finest properties
Detailed Description
In a country of wilderness, there is always somewhere new to explore. That will be your mantra for these two weeks in New Zealand. You will go rock climbing on sacred Maori land after the landowners have provided you with an official welcome. There will be a jet boat ride to a wilderness picnic on private land, a helicopter tour through remote Fiordland, hiking, rafting, cruising, canyoning, and adventures in the water. Led by some of the country’s best outdoor guides, this is an exclusive tour that focuses on handcrafted activities that simply are not possible anywhere else. It is not about the things that you can do, but the feeling of adventure in places that other people do not have the luxury of seeing.
Much of the tour involves helicopters. There are no roads to the places that you will be going, nor do you have time to visit them on foot. Every flight is a scenic one, offering stunning views into volcanoes, across fjords, over mountain chains, and along the coast. Jet boats are another means of travel and will lead you down rivers to private tracts of forests and valleys. Then, for your final three days, you will be cruising in a chartered yacht, which is the finest way to explore the tropical waters of the Hauraki Gulf. Helicopter transfers allow you to easily combine the four main destinations, which are Glenorchy and Abel Tasman on the South Island and Taupo and the Hauraki Gulf in the North.
After flying to Queenstown, you will spend your first four nights in Glenorchy, which is on the quieter side of Lake Wakatipu. You will ease into the outdoors with a jet boat picnic on day two before exploring remote Fiordland on day three with a helicopter tour. Focusing on the wild and inaccessible landscapes that are north of Milford Sound, your tour can include lakes, rainforest, glaciers, beaches, high-country wilderness and an exceptional seafood barbecue. On day four, you will have the choice of taking a Heli-Hike or going heli-skiing before flying into Abel Tasman on day five. Here, you can explore the coast on a private charter, go canyoning in an ancient rainforest, and fly to a remote experience in the Kahurangi Ranges.
Flying into Taupo will be a real highlight. The helicopter will soar above active volcanoes before touching down at your lakeside retreat. Here, there is wilderness, white-water rafting, and a day of rock climbing in private Maori land. As with many of the other days, it is only through connected local guides that you are afforded access to some of these places. This is not just New Zealand untouched; it is the chance to see parts of the country that although explored by some, have not been documented. You will culminate these two weeks with three days on a private yacht, where you can plot a route that is based on your interests and mood. There can be spearfishing, uninhabited beaches, snorkeling, diving, and a helicopter ride to Cape Reinga and the country’s northernmost point.
Read more here about the other exceptional experiences our travelers have appreciated in their travel reviews of New Zealand.
Starting Price
$5,700 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.85 stars based on 1603 reviews.
Reviewed By Gerry W.
Reviewed By Warren H.
Reviewed By Oke J.
Reviewed By Morty S.
Reviewed By Dan H.