Auckland & Waiheke Island

Our journey began in Auckland, a vibrant waterfront city with such an easy-going atmosphere. It felt like the perfect introduction to New Zealand and immediately gave me that feeling of adventure and excitement for what was ahead. One of the highlights during our stay in Auckland was visiting Waiheke Island. After a beautiful ferry crossing, we headed to EcoZip Adventures where we zip lined high above the forest canopy before walking through stunning native bushland. The afternoon was then filled with wine tastings, incredible food at Casita Miro and olive oil tasting experiences. It was one of those days that perfectly showcased how New Zealand blends adventure, luxury and incredible food and wine so effortlessly.

Hobbiton & Rotorua

Leaving Auckland behind, we travelled through rolling green countryside towards Hobbiton and honestly, even as someone who isn’t a huge Lord of the Rings fan, I absolutely loved it. The attention to detail throughout the set was incredible and it genuinely felt magical walking through the little Hobbit holes and gardens. From there we continued onto Rotorua which instantly felt completely different thanks to the geothermal activity and strong Māori culture throughout the region. Visiting Te Puia was such a special experience. Seeing the geysers and bubbling mud pools up close was fascinating, but what made the evening unforgettable was the incredible cultural performance and learning more about Māori traditions and history. Rotorua also brought one of the most relaxing experiences of the entire trip at Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa. The geothermal pools and mud experiences were amazing and left my skin feeling incredible afterwards. Another huge highlight was visiting the Kiwi Hatchery where we were lucky enough to see kiwi chicks up close. It felt incredibly special witnessing such an important conservation project first-hand.

Christchurch, Franz Josef & The Importance of Expert Support

After flying south to Christchurch, we enjoyed a fantastic food walking tour around the city and experienced some incredible restaurants which really highlighted Christchurch’s growing food scene. The following morning we boarded the famous TranzAlpine train. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, however severe weather unfortunately meant our journey had to be cut short at Arthur’s Pass. But this really reinforced something I always tell my clients, travel doesn’t always go perfectly to plan and that is exactly why having the right people behind the scenes matters so much. Thanks to our incredible ground team, everything was adapted seamlessly and our onward journey to Franz Josef was rearranged without any stress or uncertainty for us. Having trusted suppliers and experienced people supporting you behind the scenes can completely transform situations like this and it was such a valuable reminder of the importance of booking through a travel professional. We stayed at the beautiful Te Waonui Forest Retreat surrounded by rainforest, where I enjoyed the most wonderful relaxation facial before a hosted tasting dinner that evening.

Queenstown, Arrowtown & Milford Sound

Queenstown completely lived up to the hype and quickly became one of my favourite places on the trip. On the journey there we stopped in Wānaka and honestly the scenery looked like something from a postcard. We also spent time exploring the charming gold rush town of Arrowtown before heading to the famous Shotover Jet experience. Now, I am definitely not a thrill seeker at all, but this ended up being one of the most fun experiences of the entire trip! Fast, exciting and absolutely filled with laughter. We also enjoyed wine tasting and lunch at Kinross which was such a lovely way to experience the Central Otago wine region. But without a doubt, Milford Sound was one of the biggest highlights of the entire journey. The drive there alone was breathtaking with endless photo stops and scenery that almost didn’t feel real. We travelled in comfort with an executive coach experience complete with blankets, pillows, coffee stops and pastries along the way,  proof that it really is the little touches that elevate a journey. Once we arrived, we boarded our cruise and were welcomed with a glass of champagne before enjoying an incredible five-course tasting menu with wine pairings whilst sailing through one of the most spectacular places I have ever seen. And then, as if the day couldn’t get any better, dolphins began swimming alongside the boat before the weather cleared enough for us to take a scenic flight back to Queenstown. Seeing Milford Sound from above was simply unforgettable.

Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo & The Most Incredible Final Days

Leaving Queenstown behind, we travelled towards Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo and once again I found myself completely blown away by the scenery. No matter how many times you stop to admire the views in New Zealand, they somehow continue to take your breath away every single time. We stopped at The Hermitage Hotel for lunch and a short site visit and the views of Mount Cook were simply incredible. One of the most exciting moments of the trip then finally happened… after missing out on our glacier helicopter flight in Franz Josef due to bad weather, we were able to experience it here instead, and the weather could not have been more perfect. The helicopter flight over the glaciers, including a glacier landing, was honestly one of those real pinch me moments. We then continued onto beautiful Lake Tekapo and checked into Peppers Bluewater Resort where we enjoyed a hosted dinner before another surprise experience later that evening. Lake Tekapo is one of the best places in the world for stargazing and seeing the night sky lit up so clearly with stars was just magical. To make the evening even more special, we ended the night relaxing in the hot spring pools underneath the stars until we were practically shrivelled up like prunes! Honestly, it felt like the most perfect way to end the day. On our final morning, after probably the best sleep I’d had since arriving thanks to those hot springs, we headed out on a 4WD back country tour through untouched rural hills and mountains. It felt like seeing an entirely different side of New Zealand and the scenery once again was just incredible. And then came one of the most unexpected highlights of the trip… pies from the famous Fairlie Bakehouse. As someone who is coeliac, finding genuinely good gluten free food whilst travelling can sometimes be difficult, but this place absolutely did not disappoint. The pies honestly did not taste gluten free at all and even now my mouth waters thinking about them! They also had so many other gluten free options including cakes, savouries, biscuits and cheesecake. I enjoyed it so much that I didn’t even stop to take photos… which probably says everything really! And then, just like that, it was time to head to the airport for our flights home.

Final Thoughts

New Zealand is honestly one of the most incredible destinations I’ve ever experienced. What stood out most to me was the sheer diversity of the country. One day you’re exploring geothermal landscapes and Māori culture, the next you’re cruising through fjords or travelling through mountains and glaciers. It’s a destination that offers adventure, luxury, relaxation, incredible food and unforgettable scenery all wrapped into one trip. Most importantly, this experience reinforced exactly why personalised travel planning matters so much. Having trusted suppliers, local knowledge and support when plans unexpectedly change can completely transform a journey and remove so much stress from travelling. We were incredibly fortunate to experience the very best of New Zealand alongside wonderful hosts and suppliers throughout the journey and I honestly cannot thank them enough for creating such a memorable experience. New Zealand has completely stolen a piece of my heart and after experiencing it first-hand, I would absolutely love to help others discover just how special this country really is NZ.