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Luxury in New Zealand
New Zealand

Luxury in New Zealand

Personal planning

Speak with a Destination Expert who knows the region.

A real conversation with someone who understands pace, routing, hotels, and the details that make a trip feel personal.

  • Nina CalderonNina C.Oceania
  • Diana SwainDiana S.Oceania

Overview

Be taken to the farthest reaches of this mysterious land as you wine and dine beside panoramic vistas. Luxury in New Zealand brings you deeper into Kiwi culture than you thought possible. Jet off on a helicopter ride over Milford Sound, relax and unwind in beautiful Wairarapa and marvel at the majesty of Canterbury. Luxury lodges, set next to picturesque backdrops, are in store for you as you traverse this one-of-a-kind country in style.
Luxury in New Zealand
Day by day

Your journey, day by day

  1. Day 1

    Arrive in Taupo

    You will be collected from Taupo Airport and transferred to Huka Lodge.
    • Dinner
  2. Day 2

    Huka Lodge At Leisure

    Set on the banks of the Waikato River, Huka Lodge is a stone's throw away from the spectacular cascading waters of Huka Falls. There is ample opportunity to explore the park-like gardens and flower borders or simply soak in the hot pools. Enjoy a game of tennis on our all-weather court. Relax playing a game of petanque. Huka Lodge's dining room is spacious in its proportions and elegant in design. It is a place where guests come together for good food and fine wine punctuated with easy laughter and conversation. Wherever you choose to dine - by the outdoor fireplace, on the terrace, or at a private table under the stars - you find unique food, an extensive wine selection and impeccable service. Your hosts are happy to go to any lengths to provide an appropriate and memorable setting. Evening clothing is casual/elegant - ties and suits are not required. Your stay includes pre-dinner drinks from 6:30PM to 7:30PM, a superb five-course dinner, full breakfast, use of all Lodge facilities, and Taupo airport transfers, if required.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
  3. Day 3

    Huka Lodge At Leisure

    Within the lodge grounds, you can take a leisurely stroll in the gardens, or soak in the pool, enjoy a game of tennis or try a relaxing game of petanque. Should you be drawn further afield, there is an extensive variety of recreational pursuits and adventure experiences available. If fishing is your choice, the Lodge can arrange a wide variety of fishing excursions. Heli-fishing offers a complete wilderness experience in some of the best trout fishing territory in the world. Lake Taupo offers wonderful trout fishing and swimming, and a boat can take you to the many isolated coves and bays fringing the edge of the great lake. Some may choose a quiet game of golf, enjoy horse trekking, sailing, river rafting, hunting or skiing.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
  4. Day 4

    Travel to Wharekauhau Lodge

    Takeoff to Wellington and continue on the next stage of your adventure. Travel by helicopter from Wellington Airport to Wharekauhau Lodge. The scenic 15 minute flight transfer takes you over Wellington and then along the coastline of Palliser Bay before landing at the front of Wharekauhau lodge - a spectacular entrance!
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
  5. Day 5

    Wharekauhau - Farm Tour

    No visit to Wharekauhau is complete without a tour of the surrounding farm. Bordered by the Rimatuka Ranges and Pacific Ocean, this classic New Zealand Romney sheep station features all the activities that have created New Zealand's legendary farming heritage. This working sheep station tour is an absolute must for Wharekauhau visitors. Explore the far reaches of the farm and surrounding forest in a comfortable 4WD vehicle.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
  6. Day 6

    Wharekauhau Lodge At Leisure

    Enjoy the grandeur and lifestyle of a bygone era, perfectly complete with carefully-chosen antique furniture and oversized classic fireplaces. As you explore Wharekauhau Lodge, you'll discover each room with a distinct atmosphere. From airy open lounges to smaller intimate settings, you can socialize freely or find a cozy space to relax in peace with your favorite novel.

    Walk through the French doors and step into another world; Wharekauhau’s magical private courtyard and gardens. The immaculate croquet lawn and Petanque field border the inviting, sun-soaked courtyard, an ideal spot to enjoy a local Chardonnay or gather with new-found friends.

    With 3,000 acres of private land including ancient forests, peaceful lakes, rivers, and a wild and rugged coast, you have plenty of choices when it comes to a route for walking, mountain biking, or ATV quad bike adventures.

    Enjoy a treatment at Hauora Spa, each stemming from the Maori philosophy of total health and well-being.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
  7. Day 7

    Travel to Queenstown

    Takeoff to Queenstown and continue on the next stage of your adventure.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
  8. Day 8

    Milford Ultimate - Helicopter Excursion

    Perfected over the years, the Milford Ultimate is Over the Top's trip of a lifetime. Relaxed and unhurried, you can make the most of each incredible environment your pilot takes you to. Leaving Queenstown, fly west over the high-country peaks of Queenstown toward the 'Main Divide' of the Southern Alps and into the World-Heritage-listed Fiordland National Park. The scenery unfolds dramatically with vast U-shaped glacier carved valleys rich with primeval beech forests. The Milford Ultimate includes four landings, each at diverse and pristine locations where you can sip the pure waters of an alpine lake; take in the majestic Milford Sound; stroll along uninhabited wild, yet beautiful, west coast beaches, see the blue ice on glaciers high in the Alps and the fiords' coastal rain forests. At each landing site, the helicopter will shut down for you to enjoy the quiet sound of the mountains. Perhaps a curious Kea, New Zealand's native parrot, will drop in to say hello. No two Ultimate trips are the same. Today's excursion includes a gourmet picnic hamper of delightful cheeses, cold meats, breads, salads and fruit (please advise of any dietary requirements ahead of time). Sip champagne and a selection of non-alcoholic beverages at a location far from where others may travel.
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
  9. Day 9

    Blanket Bay At Leisure

    Blanket Bay is a haven of comfort - a sanctuary from the outside world. The experience can provide you with endless ways to help restore your physical and spiritual well-being in this enchanted corner of New Zealand.  

    Fishing and Heli-fishing - Legendary American travel writer Zane Grey once described New Zealand as 'an angler's El Dorado'. The Lodge's resident, professional guide can take you to wild and untouched rivers offering the best fly-fishing in the world.  

    Hiking- The Milford Track, which leads to the heart of spectacular Milford Sound, has been described as 'The finest walk in the world'. As with the nearby Routeburn and Greenstone Tracks, it passes by pristine waterfalls and beneath sky-cutting peaks.

    Heli-skiing - Ski enthusiasts can enjoy some of the finest skiing in the world during winter (July to September) on the pure powder snow of the surrounding mountain slopes, only minutes away from the Lodge. Among the other vigorous activities on offer are water-skiing, wind surfing and canoeing on Lake Wakatipu.

    The Dart River Jet boat oeprates from nearby Glenorcy. Horseback riding and mountain biking can be arranged on the neighboring Wyuna Station property, which stretches for five miles along the shores of the lake.

    After a great day exploring the area, go down to the hot tub with a beverage, open the glass doors and relax as the sun sets over the Remarkables. A spectacular way to get ready for cocktails and dinner.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
  10. Day 10

    Travel to Queenstown City

    Enjoy a leisurely transfer from Blanket Bay to Queenstown City.
    • Breakfast
  11. Day 11

    Queenstown at Leisure

    Enjoy time at leisure to explore the adventure capital of New Zealand. Set between the towering Remarkable Ranges and the bottomless Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown has it all. Originally settled by the gold miners and station owners, it is now home to adrenaline-filled adventures such as bungee jumping, the Canyon Swing, jetboating, rafting and amazing scenic helicopter flights. Take a more sedate gondola ride to Bob's Peak for great views or the 110-year-old steamer, The Earnslaw, as she cruises around Lake Wakitpu. You may wish to visit Milford or Doubtful Sound or the old gold mining town of Arrowtown. There are some interesting wineries, including Amisfield (great for lunch or early dinners), which is just outside the town. You will find all the souvenirs you need here for your New Zealand visit, including a 'Lord of the Rings' gift store. Queenstown is home to some superb restaurants that cater to all the desires of your appetite.
    • Breakfast
  12. Day 12

    Travel to Christchurch

    Takeoff to Christchurch and continue on the next stage of your adventure.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
  13. Day 13

    Arthur's Pass National Park and Tranz Alpine Tour

    You will be transferred from your city hotel to Christchurch station to board the famous TranzAlpine Train. Sit back and relax during a train journey that will take you across the Canterbury Plains, wind its way through the stunning Waimakariri Gorge and pass over massive viaducts and through tussock-covered high country before heading into the Southern Alps.

    You are met at Arthur's Pass by your guide who will take you through the National Park, where short walks may be taken to experience forests, rivers and mountain vistas. Following the old stage-coach route, travel down the spectacular Otira Gorge, testament to the road builders of the 1860s. As the tour travels through the high country, a stop can be made to view Cave Stream, where it burrows underground in an area of limestone cliffs and gorges, craggy outcrops and a setting of surrounding mountains. The incredible Castle Hill rocks, unique weather-worn and rain-smoothed outcrops of limestone are seen from the highway. The more adventurous may wish to walk to the top of the rocks for magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. The return journey to Christchurch will include a visit to the Waimak Gorge where the Waimakariri River enters the vast Canterbury Plains. Lunch is included during today's excursion.
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
  14. Day 14

    Travel to Bay of Islands

    Flight to Kerikeri and transfer by private car to Rosewood Kauri Cliffs.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
  15. Day 15

    Rosewood Kauri Cliffs At Leisure

    The nearby pristine beaches of the Bay of Islands beckon travelers for sun-soaked relaxation and experiences. The historic towns of Kerikeri, Paihia and Russell, all within easy reach, invite visitors to step back in time with their well-preserved heritage sites and captivating stories. Nearby Waitangi, the birthplace of the nation, holds profound cultural significance as the site of the Treaty of Waitangi, while the nearby Whangaroa Harbour and Matauri Bay offer ample opportunities for the exploration of mesmerizing marine environments.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
  16. Day 16

    Rosewood Kauri Cliffs At Leisure

    The resort offers a swimming pool and hot tub, two tennis courts and a basketball hoop. The par 72 championship Golf Course offers five sets of tees to challenge every skill level. Fifteen holes view the Pacific Ocean and six of these are played alongside cliffs which plunge to the sea. The Rosewood Kauri Cliffs Spa is nestled in a Totara forest overlooking a fern-fringed stream and offers an exclusive range of unique experiences by way of the finest holistic therapies and natural, indigenous products. Choose from a sensational range of treatments for the whole body as detailed in the spa treatment menu. Advance bookings for golf and spa are recommended to avoid disappointment, and are to be paid direct at time of stay.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
  17. Day 17

    Depart Bay of Islands

    Transfer to the airport by private vehicle before boarding your departure flight.
    • Breakfast

Included activities

Milford Sound Heli Tours

Milford Sound Heli Tours

QueenstownHalf-day


Pricing

Package level

Luxury

Prices are approximations and may vary with exchange-rate adjustments. Each itinerary can be customized around your interests, pace, and preferred hotels.
Twin Share
5/1/2026 - 6/30/2026$25,775 p/p
7/1/2026 - 9/30/2026$22,270 p/p
10/1/2026 - 10/31/2026$31,355 p/p
11/1/2026 - 11/30/2026$33,195 p/p
12/1/2026 - 12/31/2026$32,470 p/p
1/1/2027 - 2/28/2027$40,825 p/p
3/1/2027 - 3/31/2027$39,330 p/p
Single Traveler
5/1/2026 - 6/30/2026$48,775 p/p
7/1/2026 - 9/30/2026$50,890 p/p
10/1/2026 - 10/31/2026$59,940 p/p
11/1/2026 - 11/30/2026$63,615 p/p
12/1/2026 - 12/31/2026$62,170 p/p
1/1/2027 - 2/28/2027$78,880 p/p
3/1/2027 - 3/31/2027$75,885 p/p

Add internal air to this package from $1,335 p/p*


Good to know

Terms and conditions

Please note that Huka Lodge will be closed between May 2024 and November 2024. During this time an alternate accommodation will need to be arranged. Please reach out to one of our travel consultants for alternative options.
Make it yours

Start with this itinerary, then make it yours.

Every Swain Destinations trip is fully customizable. Speak with a Destination Expert about pace, hotels, dining, and experiences.

  • Ian SwainIan S.Co-President