Journey to the Heart of Nouvelle-Zélande

Upon arrival at Auckland airport, your English-speaking guide welcomes you and arranges your transfer to the hotel between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. After settling into downtown, enjoy free time to rest or discover the city. The program can be adjusted according to each participant's arrival time.

In the evening, dine at the panoramic restaurant of the Sky Tower, standing at 320 meters high, with views over Auckland.

From Auckland, head towards the Coromandel Peninsula, between forests, coastlines and golden sand beaches. In Thames, a former gold prospecting village, follow the winding coast to the village of Coromandel. In December and January, the blooming pohutukawa, nicknamed "Christmas trees", line the route.

Continue to Whitianga, by the ocean. Embark on a 2-hour cruise along the coast, to Cathedral Cove and its rock near the shore.

Take a break at Katikati to discover its murals dedicated to colonization, then take the scenic route to Rotorua, a thermal town and Maori cultural center. Upon arrival, enjoy free time for shopping or, if you wish, fly over the volcanic region by seaplane or helicopter (additional cost).

In the late afternoon, walk along the Redwoods trail, in the Whakarewarewa forest, among century-old sequoias. In the evening, watch Maori songs and dances, including the haka, before a hangi dinner.

This morning, discover the sacred waters of Wai-o-Tapu, its boiling pools, colors and geyser, which erupts at 10:15 a.m. Then stop at the Huka Falls, on the Waikato River, the longest in the country. Its turquoise water flows at a rate of 200 m³ per second, enough to fill an Olympic swimming pool in ten seconds.

Continue to Lake Taupo, the largest in Nouvelle-Zélande, with an area comparable to that of Lake Léman. It occupies the crater of a volcano whose last eruption occurred less than 2,000 years ago. According to reports, this explosion, forty times more powerful than Mount Saint Helens in 1980, was reportedly observed as far as China.

In the afternoon, head to Napier, known for its Art Deco architecture. In the evening, taste local wines before dinner.

After breakfast, depart by bus from Napier to Cape Kidnappers. On top of its cliffs lies one of the world's most important colonies of Australasian gannets.

Then head back to the road towards Wellington, the southernmost capital in the world and the cultural centre of New Zealand. Climb Mount Victoria to admire the bay, then explore the city.

After breakfast, continue your discovery of Wellington, including the Te Papa national museum. Early in the afternoon, board the ferry to cross the Cook Strait to the South Island. It is named after the navigator James Cook, who mapped the Nouvelle-Zélande coastlines during his three voyages in the country.

Admire the Marlborough Sounds before disembarking at Picton. Then continue by road to Blenheim, in the Marlborough wine region.

Head toward the West Coast by crossing the Nelson Lakes National Park, then follow the river and the Buller Gorges to Westport.

In the afternoon, observe the seal colony at Cape Foulwind, at Tauranga Bay. The cape owes its name to a storm experienced by Captain Cook. After nearly disappearing in the 19th century due to hunting for their skins, the seals living at the foot of the cliffs are now seeing their numbers increase.

Continue to Punakaiki to discover the Pancake Rocks. Eroded by the Tasman Sea, these rock formations resemble stacked pancakes. When conditions are right, water rushes into their crevices and shoots up between the rocks.

In Greymouth, visit ShantyTown, a reconstructed gold diggers' village that evokes the life of pioneers in a western setting. Continue to Hokitika, known for its jade workshops, and enjoy free time for shopping.

Then head towards Fox Glacier and Franz Josef glacier, both close to the sea at this latitude. The retreat of the glaciers, linked to climate change and associated rockfalls, is increasingly visible, while the West Coast still offers landscapes to discover.

At the end of the day, you can fly over the glaciers by helicopter with landing (extra charge).

The road offers a succession of landscapes: high mountains, the Tasman Sea coast, then rainforest of the Mt Aspiring National Park. After the Haast Pass, the plains gradually give way to glacial lakes surrounded by mountains.

Take a break in Wanaka, on the shores of its lake, before continuing towards Queenstown. Along the way, discover Lake Wakatipu, shaped like an S, dominated by the Remarkables mountain range.

Upon your arrival at the end of the day, take the cable car up to the mountain restaurant for a buffet dinner with views over the lake and mountains.

Accommodation for two nights in Queenstown.

Skirt the Lake Wakatipu and cross the plains of Southland, where thousands of sheep graze, before arriving at Te Anau, on the shores of the lake of the same name.

Continue through Fiordland along the scenic road leading to Milford Sound. Once there, board a 1 hour 45 minute cruise, with picnic lunch included, to discover the waterfalls, cliffs and seals of the fjord.

Return to Te Anau at the end of the day.

Head to Dunedin, a city of Scottish influence situated by the sea. Renowned for its architecture and its university, the oldest in the country, it experienced a boom after the discovery of gold in 1861. Today, its approximately 20,000 students contribute to the city's vibrancy and economy.

The neighbouring peninsula is home to sea lions, seals, penguins and albatrosses. To discover this wildlife, board a one-hour cruise in Otago Bay aboard the Monarch, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.

Return to the city centre in late afternoon.

Head up the coast to Moeraki to discover its semi-spherical rocks laid out on the beach. Continue towards Oamaru, whose Victorian quarter still occasionally welcomes strollers in period costume. You'll also find a small opera house and the Steampunk Museum.

Then head inland via Omarama, known for its gliding flights. You'll arrive at Twizel, in Mackenzie Country, a sheep farming region where scenes from Lord of the Rings were filmed. A detour to Lake Pukaki will allow you to admire Mount Cook, the country's highest peak.

This morning, join the Lake Tekapo, known for its turquoise waters and small chapel, with the Southern Alps as a backdrop. Then attend a sheep shearing demonstration to learn more about this iconic animal of Nouvelle-Zélande.

Continue towards the east coast with a stop in Geraldine, then arrive in Christchurch. With British influence, the city is nicknamed the "Garden City" for its many green spaces. In late afternoon, choose between visiting the Canterbury Museum and a stroll through the botanical garden.