The Balkans

The Galapagos Islands

The islands that changed the world

Uganda

Unforgettable encounters

Uzbekistan

Mosques, mausoleums and madrasahs

Vietnam

Head-spinning contradictions and character

Western USA

Landscapes and legends

New Zealand routes

Our recommended New Zealand itineraries

Complete New Zealand

Explore everything New Zealand has to offer

Duration	Approx. 20 days
Destinations	Queenstown, Lake Tekapo, Rotorua, Coromandel, Kaikoura, Wanaka, Auckland, Franz Josef Glacier, Lake Taupo, Christchurch, Wellington
Activity	Adventure, Nature & Wildlife, Culture & History, Hiking, National Parks

Begin your New Zealand trip in Auckland and make the short journey to Coromandel for pristine beaches, rainforests and the chance to go sea kayaking around the coast. Next, travel to the hot springs of Rotorua, making sure to explore the region’s Maori culture, before visiting Lake Taupo’s cave art. Finish your North Island experience in cultural Wellington, before hopping across the Cook Strait to Kaikoura for whale-watching and spectacular views of the Kaikoura Seaward Range. From Christchurch, you can travel to Lake Tekapo for stargazing, before getting your adrenaline pumping in adventure capital Queenstown and its smaller sister Wanaka. Finally, visit the vast Franz Josef Glacier before ending your trip in Christchurch.

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Northern Experience

Adventures on New Zealand’s North Island

Duration	Approx. 10 days
Destinations	Rotorua, Coromandel, Auckland, Lake Taupo, Wellington
Activity	Adventure, Nature & Wildlife, Culture & History, Hiking, National Parks

Start your trip in New Zealand’s biggest city Auckland with a trip to the Sky Tower for views over the city. From here, it’s a short journey to the Coromandel’s mix of pristine beaches and secluded coves, where you can sea kayak, swim or simply explore. Next, visit the hot springs and sulphuric mud pools of Rotorua, taking in Maori culture and food, before travelling to the vast Lake Taupo for the Huka Waterfalls and Maori rock carvings. This is also an excellent base for exploring Tongariro National Park. End your North Island trip in cultured Wellington, home to excellent craft beer and coffee.

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Southern Experience

Adventures on New Zealand’s South Island

Duration	Approx. 10 days
Destinations	Queenstown, Lake Tekapo, Wanaka, Franz Josef Glacier, Christchurch
Activity	Adventure, Nature & Wildlife, Culture & History, Hiking, National Parks

Begin your South Island trip in Christchurch, exploring its mix of historic buildings and cutting-edge architecture. From here, travel to Lake Tekapo for stargazing, hiking and mountain biking, before continuing your adventure in bungy jumping capital Queenstown and laidback Wanaka. End your trip with ice exploration on Franz Josef Glacier – only accessible by helicopter – where you can hike and ski. Travel back to Christchurch and your departure home.

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New Zealand self drive

Wine, wildlife and winding roads

Duration	Approx. 14 days
Destinations	Queenstown, Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, Lake Taupo, Christchurch, Arthur’s Pass National Park
Activity	Adventure, Nature & Wildlife, Beach, Wine, National Parks

Start in Auckland on the north island with a world-class cup of coffee and pick up your vehicle, before taking the short ferry journey across to Waiheke Island for sea views and excellent wine. Drive to the vast Lake Taupo, created more than 2,000 years ago from a volcanic eruption, to experience the fury of the Huka Falls and to see the eerie glowworms at the Waitomo Caves, before stopping for a few days in wine country, beginning at Hawke’s Bay. Hire a bike, pedal to a few vineyards and sample some wines. Fly from Napier to Christchurch on the south island and hire another vehicle, before heading inland to Arthur’s Pass National Park for a stunning drive taking in winding roads, river gorges and rainforests. Drive to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park for a once-in-a-lifetime helicopter ride to the Tasman Glacier, before heading back to city life in adventure capital Queenstown for bungy jumping, ziplining or just relaxing on the beach.

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New Zealand Lord of the Rings route

Head into Mordor, explore Isengard and chill out in Hobbiton

Duration	Approx. 19 days
Destinations	Queenstown, Milford Sound, Lake Tekapo, Rotorua, Kaikoura, Auckland, Lake Taupo, Nelson, Lake Heron, Wellington
Activity	Adventure, Nature & Wildlife, Culture & History, Hiking, National Parks

Start in Auckland and begin your Lord of the Rings adventure by travelling to Rotarua where you can explore Maori culture and sulphuric geysers, before touring the Hobbiton Movie Set. Head to Lake Taupo to see the amazing Huka Falls before travelling into Tongariro National Park, location for Mordor and Mount Doom. Transfer to Wellington for a taste of city life – and a visit to the Weta Workshop – before a whistlestop tour through New Zealand’s south island, including the scenery in Nelson, a helicopter tour from Kaikoura over locations for Rivendell and Mines of Moria, Lake Heron for a stay in a sheep station and Lake Tekapo for kayaking, hot springs and stargazing – and the location for Edoras. Travel to Queenstown where you can tour locations used for Minas Tirith, the Misty Mountains and Isengard. Cruise on Milford Sound to see dolphins and penguins, before ending back in Queenstown for adventure activities like bungy jumping and ziplining.

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New Zealand wildlife and waterways

New Zealand in two weeks

Duration	Approx. 14 days
Destinations	Queenstown, Milford Sound, Kaikoura, Auckland, Marlborough Sounds, Lake Taupo, Christchurch
Activity	Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, Hiking, Water Sports, National Parks

Fly into cosmopolitan Auckland to begin your New Zealand trip, before heading south past Hamilton to Lake Taupo, where you’ll stay for three days. From here, you can drive a couple of hours to Waitomo Caves, where you can take a candlelit tour through Footwhistle Cave seeing thousands of glowworms. Spend a day exploring the hiking trails around Lake Taupo or kayak to the Mine Bay Maori rock carvings, and another seeing the magnificent Huka Falls. Fly from Taupo to Blenheim, then transfer to Marlborough Sounds for a couple of days. Hike or bike part of the Queen Charlotte Track, a 71km trail through glistening bays, forests and coves, and spend a second day on the water in a kayak, where you can see seals, dolphins and even orcas. Transfer to the small town of Kaikoura for whale-watching, hikes up Mount Fyffe and New Zealand’s best seafood, before ending in adventure capital Queenstown, where you can take a day trip to Milford Sound for a cruise through its unspoilt valleys.

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South Island wildlife route

Whale-watching, birding and wildlife on New Zealand’s south island

Duration	Approx. 13 days
Destinations	Milford Sound, Kaikoura, Stewart Island, Christchurch, Dunedin, Nelson
Activity	Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, Hiking, National Parks

Fly into New Zealand’s south island at Christchurch before transferring to Queenstown and heading to the beautiful fjord of Milford Sound, where you can cruise around waterfalls and bays filled with seals and the occasional dolphin. See penguins at Martins Bay and visit the township of Te Anau, before travelling to Stewart Island, where you can dive, kayak or fish. Sail to nearby Ulva Island for a tour of its incredible birdlife and spend a day birdwatching at Port William, where you can see penguins, parakeets, cuckoo and many more. Transfer to Dunedin for a leisurely day exploring the city, before travelling into the Otago Peninsula to see yellow-eyed penguins, fur seals and albatross. Head up to Kaikoura for whale-watching and then Nelson for more birding at Farewell Spit Nature Reserve, before heading back to Christchurch for your departure.

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Bay of Islands and South Island escape

Off-the-beaten path New Zealand

Duration	Approx. 11 days
Destinations	Queenstown, Milford Sound, Northland, Auckland, Hokitika, Christchurch
Activity	Adventure, Culture & History, Beach, Hiking, National Parks

Start in Auckland’s bars, restaurants and cafes before travelling north to the sub-tropical Bay of Islands. Board a boat to cruise around the islands, snorkelling in the deep blue water, walking deserted beaches and exploring ancient Maori site, including Cape Reinga, where Maoris believe dead spirits come to rest. Fly to Christchurch on the south island and transfer to Hokitika on New Zealand’s wild west coast. Hike the West Coast Treetop Walk through ancient rainforest to the sound of birdsong, stargaze at night and visit Hokitika Gorge. Next, get adventurous in Queenstown by taking a helicopter tour over the city to Milford Sound for a cruise around waterfalls and rainforests. End your trip with the quintessential Queenstown experience – a bungy jump.

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Queenstown

The self-described ‘adventure capital of the world’, Queenstown is a playground for adrenaline junkies...Read more
Milford Sound

Even by New Zealand’s standards, Milford Sound is a truly spectacular sight...Read more
Lake Tekapo

A highland lake in the middle of New Zealand’s south island, Lake Tekapo is best known for its incredibly clear skies that are perfect for stargazing...Read more
Rotorua

An eggy scent hangs over sulphuric Rotorua on New Zealand’s North Island, which is home to spectacular geothermal springs, mud pools and geysers...Read more
Coromandel

Visible across the Hauraki Gulf from Auckland, the Coromandel offers pristine beaches, thick rainforest and plenty of adventure...Read more
Kaikoura

Kaikoura is the place to see wildlife in New Zealand...Read more
Wanaka

Laidback Wanaka has a claim to be Queenstown’s cooler sibling...Read more
Northland

The site of New Zealand’s earliest Maori settlement, Northland is the birthplace of New Zealand and home to its best beaches...Read more
Auckland

Forget the city’s high-rise centre; the beauty of Auckland is the scenery surrounding it...Read more
Hawke’s Bay

Hawke’s Bay is the first stop on the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail and is a great place to try cabernet sauvignon, merlot and chardonnay wines...Read more
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park includes the majority of New Zealand’s only International Dark Sky Reserve, so head into the hills – or just Mount Cook Village near Lake Pukaki – and marvel at the light show in the sky...Read more
Stewart Island

Sparsely populated Stewart Island is home to some of New Zealand’s most interesting wildlife, including penguins, dolphins and albatross...Read more
Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Josef’s icy mass once flowed all the way into the sea, but after decades of global warming, the glacier has retreated inland and is now only accessible by helicopter...Read more
Marlborough Sounds

A huge maze of beaches, bays and hills formed after the last ice age, the Marlborough Sounds are the perfect place to hike, bike or boat...Read more
Lake Taupo

Vast Lake Taupo is as big as Singapore and was created 2,000 years ago from a volcanic eruption so huge it would have been seen from China...Read more
Hokitika

New Zealand’s wild west coast is linked by a single track through Greymouth, Kumara, Cowboy Paradise, Hokitika and Ross...Read more
Christchurch

Most travellers use Christchurch as a base for exploring the south island, but there is plenty to see in this upwardly-mobile city...Read more
Arthur’s Pass National Park

Head into Arthur’s Pass National Park by road and you’ll encounter some of New Zealand’s most spectacular engineering, including viaducts, precipitous bridges and redirected waterfalls...Read more
Dunedin

Little Dunedin is full of pretty gardens and boutique cafes, making a lovely stop on routes on the south island...Read more
Nelson

Nelson Tasman is known as one of New Zealand’s most artistic places, with painters, sculptor and jewellery makers are living here...Read more
Lake Heron

Lake Heron Station is an authentic working sheep farm, making it the perfect place to experience high-country New Zealand life...Read more
Wellington

Creative Wellington has a claim to be New Zealand’s most cultural city...Read more

Complete New Zealand

Explore everything New Zealand has to offer

Approx. 20 days
Auckland (1 days) → Coromandel (2) → Rotorua (2) → Lake Taupo (2) → Wellington (2) → Kaikoura (1) → Christchurch (1) → Lake Tekapo (1) → Queenstown (2) → Wanaka (2) → Franz Josef Glacier (2) → Christchurch (2)

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Northern Experience

Adventures on New Zealand’s North Island

Approx. 10 days
Auckland (1 days) → Coromandel (2) → Rotorua (2) → Lake Taupo (2) → Wellington (3)

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Southern Experience

Adventures on New Zealand’s South Island

Approx. 10 days
Christchurch (1 days) → Lake Tekapo (1) → Queenstown (2) → Wanaka (2) → Franz Josef Glacier (2) → Christchurch (2)

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New Zealand self drive

Wine, wildlife and winding roads

Approx. 14 days
Auckland (2 days) → Lake Taupo (3) → Hawke’s Bay (2) → Christchurch (1) → Arthur’s Pass National Park (1) → Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (1) → Queenstown (4)

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New Zealand Lord of the Rings route

Head into Mordor, explore Isengard and chill out in Hobbiton

Approx. 19 days
Auckland (1 days) → Rotorua (2) → Lake Taupo (3) → Wellington (3) → Nelson (1) → Kaikoura (1) → Lake Heron (1) → Lake Tekapo (1) → Queenstown (2) → Milford Sound (1) → Queenstown (1) → Auckland (2)

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New Zealand wildlife and waterways

New Zealand in two weeks

Approx. 14 days
Auckland (1 days) → Lake Taupo (2) → Marlborough Sounds (3) → Kaikoura (3) → Queenstown (1) → Milford Sound (1) → Queenstown (3)

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South Island wildlife route

Whale-watching, birding and wildlife on New Zealand’s south island

Approx. 13 days
Christchurch (1 days) → Milford Sound (2) → Stewart Island (3) → Dunedin (2) → Kaikoura (2) → Nelson (3)

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Bay of Islands and South Island escape

Off-the-beaten path New Zealand

Approx. 11 days
Auckland (1 days) → Northland (2) → Christchurch (1) → Hokitika (3) → Queenstown (1) → Milford Sound (1) → Queenstown (2)

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Why Horizon Guides?

Expert travel guides

Our guides are written by the leading experts in their destinations. We never take payment for positive coverage so you can count on us for reliable and impartial travel advice.

Authentic experiences

We curate exceptional trips in underrated places, organised by the very best tour operators who live and breathe their destinations and are passionate about authentic, responsible tourism.

Give back to mother nature

We'll plant 50 trees for every trip booked via the Horizon Guides site in partnership with the International Tree Foundation, who carry out sustainable community forestry projects in Africa.

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South Africa

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Tanzania

Thailand

The Balkans

The Galapagos Islands

Uganda

Uzbekistan

Vietnam

Western USA

New Zealand routes

Our recommended New Zealand itineraries

Complete New Zealand

Explore everything New Zealand has to offer

Northern Experience

Adventures on New Zealand’s North Island

Southern Experience

Adventures on New Zealand’s South Island

New Zealand self drive

Wine, wildlife and winding roads

New Zealand Lord of the Rings route

Head into Mordor, explore Isengard and chill out in Hobbiton

New Zealand wildlife and waterways

New Zealand in two weeks

South Island wildlife route

Whale-watching, birding and wildlife on New Zealand’s south island

Bay of Islands and South Island escape

Off-the-beaten path New Zealand

Queenstown

Milford Sound

Lake Tekapo

Rotorua

Coromandel

Kaikoura

Wanaka

Northland

Auckland

Hawke’s Bay

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park

Stewart Island

Franz Josef Glacier

Marlborough Sounds

Lake Taupo

Hokitika

Christchurch

Arthur’s Pass National Park