Safari Tour

Welcome to New Zealand. After your arrival, your driver will be waiting for you at the airport and will take you to your first accommodation (English-speaking group transfer included. Private German-speaking transfer driver for an additional charge). You have time to relax after the long flight or to explore Auckland on your own. Around 6:00 p.m. you and your fellow travelers will meet your tour guide at the hotel and will discuss the upcoming and exciting next 3 weeks of your tour.

After breakfast, you will get to know the highlights of Auckland, the “City of Sails”, on a short city tour. We then leave Auckland for the Coromandel Peninsula. We cross the peninsula, which is characterized by bizarre volcanic formations and typical New Zealand forest full of tree ferns and tea trees. We visit rare, up to 2000 year-old mighty kauri trees, New Zealand's representative of the araucaria family. In Mercury Bay we explore the jewels of New Zealand beaches and hike popular visitor destinations: on the hike to the Cathedral Cove in Hahei, long white sandy beaches invite you to swim in the South Pacific. If you want, you can dig a pool in the sand at low tide on Hot Water Beach and warm yourself at underground hot springs.

Today's trip deepens our insight into the exciting geological history of the Coromandel Peninsula. Again and again we enjoy an open view of the coastal landscape with offshore islands, pass the gold mining town of Waihi, the Mount Maunganui volcano standing out by the sea, extensive kiwi plantations and beaches until we settle in Whakatane. We stay 2 nights in this Maori-influenced place in the Bay of Plenty, known for its mild climate and long sandy beaches. Here is the highly active volcanic island "White Island", according to "Lonely Planet" travel guide number 5 on the list of the most impressive volcanoes on earth.

You can experience White Island today in different ways: either a comfortable photogenic panoramic flight directly over the crater or up close by boat and geologically guided hiking tour (both optional). We spend the afternoon / evening in a small group with the Maoris. For an authentic dinner, we build our own earth oven under expert instruction, in which we then cook our dinner. While we wait for our "Hangi", the traditionally prepared food, we learn a lot about music, art, culture and history of the Maori on a guided hike. After dinner together, we no longer leave our hosts as strangers but as friends.

Through forests and along numerous lakes we reach the Rotorua region, known for highly active thermal springs and geysers. Volcanic events shaped this region, the natural wonders of which we admire in “Waiotapu”, the most colorful of the thermal areas. Here we find colored sinter terraces, the boiling "champagne pool", bubbling mud holes, craters and the stinking fumes of the sulfur fumaroles. We continue to the foaming Huka Falls and along Lake Taupo, with a view of the 3 active volcanoes of Tongariro National Park: Mount Tongariro (1968m) with its sister volcanoes Mount Ngauruhoe (2291m) and Mount Ruapehu (2797m). Due to the constantly changing, partly moon-like landscape and the spectacular views, the park has become one of the most popular national parks. We turn off the main road into the Whanganui River National Park. The trip mainly leads through Maori country along an old post road. Our accommodation today can only be reached by jet boat. Here we can see the Whanganui River in the middle of nature. In this seclusion, we forego the standards of city hotels. We end the eventful day with a typical New Zealand barbeque.

After a jet boat trip to the remote "Bridge to Nowhere" we take a guided hike to relics from ancient times. Then the jet boat brings us back to civilization. The onward journey follows the historically significant Whanganui River, on beautiful and little-used backcountry roads. The strong Maori character can be clearly seen and felt in this hinterland. After countless curves, we reach the city of Whanganui with its stylish "Art Deco" buildings. In the evening we reach Wellington along the Kapiti coast.

Today you have time to explore the capital of New Zealand on your own. From our centrally located hotel you can easily reach most of the sights on foot: the informative national museum "Te Papa", the cable car up to the botanical garden, the historic wooden church Old St Paul's, the impressive parliament buildings and art galleries. Enjoy a stroll through the city and the lively atmosphere at the harbour.

Early in the morning we board the Interislander ferry towards "Marlborough Sounds" through deeply carved sea roads, a labyrinth of "drowned" river valleys. The area is part of a botanical transition zone between the North and South Island. We are changing the means of transport for the next two days to undertake a nature excursion in remote areas. With a sailing ship and captain we sail through the Marlborough Sounds, one of the most beautiful sailing areas in New Zealand. Here, in addition to seagulls, we often also see Cape petrels and dark brown reverbs. Little penguins, dolphins and New Zealand fur seals are also common here. After an eventful day, we reach our remote lodge and enjoy an exclusive dinner in a cozy atmosphere.

After breakfast we board the sailing ship again. Today we drive past small bays, lonely beaches and mountains covered with thick bushes, go ashore on the island of Motuara and observe the rare long-legged flycatchers and saddle starlings in this bird protection reserve. Afterwards we visit Captain Cook's preferred anchorage "Ship Cove" (the sailing tour sometimes has to be adjusted due to the weather). From here it is possible to hike a piece on the Queen Charlotte Track. Again solid ground under our feet, we check into our hotel in Picton.

We follow the promising Queen Charlotte Drive along the Marlborough Sounds via Nelson to the Abel Tasman National Park with its golden yellow beaches. By boat we pass numerous bays and coastal forest and then get off for an easy hike through the national park. This is one of the most popular in the country. The boat takes us back after a swim stop. New Zealand fur seals can often be seen here. If you don't want to hike depending on the type of day, you can relax on the beach or take another boat excursion option (on request).

On the way to the West Coast we cross the spectacular Buller Gorge. We experience an impressive change of flora and reach subtropical lowland rainforest. A wildly romantic landscape awaits you between Westport and Greymouth. The folded mountain belt of the Paparoa National Park runs parallel to the coast. Our hotel is right on the beach in Punakaiki.

In the morning we visit the famous "pancake rocks", limestone rocks, the softer intermediate layers of which are rinsed out by the roaring Tasman Sea, so that the rock formations appear as a stack-like layering. After a stop in the jade town of Hokitika, we continue along the west coast. "... a large, highly raised landmass ..." wrote the Dutchman Abel Tasman in his logbook when he was the first European to see New Zealand in December 1642. His comment undoubtedly referred to the striking, elongated mountain range of the Southern Alps. South of Hokitika, their peaks abruptly rise to an altitude of 3500m. In Franz Josef Town we are within reach of the glaciers of the Southern Alps. We take a little trip in the glacier region (depending on the weather). The approximately 11 km long Fox Glacier moves down to a height of 300 m above sea level.

In the early morning, depending on the weather, we invite you to take a helicopter flight over the glacier world of the Southern Alps, which you will surely not forget quickly. After landing on the glacier, there are numerous photo opportunities. As a natural weather barrier, the high mountain ridge is responsible for one of the most extreme rainfall regimes. Large ice masses collect above the snowline, forming fast-flowing valley glaciers. We continue through the "most beautiful rainforest route in the world". We keep stopping for short walks through dense evergreen southern beech, Rimu and Kahikatea rainforest, to waterfalls and to the open coast of the roaring Tasman Sea. Over the Haast Pass, watershed of the Southern Alps, past the high mountains of the Aspiring National Park we reach Wanaka at the glacier lake of the same name. After a short stop at this picturesque location, we drive on a spectacular high alpine route in the hinterland, the "Crown Range", through an imposing primeval landscape with barren tussock vegetation (Bültengras). We spend two nights in Queenstown, not far from Lake Wakatipu. This beautiful lake with the surrounding “remarkable” mountains defines the landscape of Queenstown.

We spend the day in Queenstown, the "St. Moritz of the South Pacific", as the popular vacation spot is also often called. The day is at your leisure. You are spoiled for choice to try one of the countless offers. Perhaps you would like to take a trip on the old steamship “TSS Earnslaw” on Lake Wakatipu, or you climb a cable car and enjoy the wonderful view of the city and lake. You can also join, ride, hike, or go on a rafting tour (all activities optional) for a tour of the locations of the Lord of the Rings. Your tour guide is at your side with advice and action.

You will travel through the Fjordland National Park, New Zealand's largest and most undeveloped national park. Hardly any landscape embodies the term wilderness better than Fiordland. In the west, 14 fjords penetrate deep into the primeval forests of a rugged alpine world like long tongues of sea. Not far from there, snow-capped mountain peaks rise over alpine grass mats up to 2700 m. First you drive to Te Anau, the gateway to Milford Sound. In the afternoon you have the option of a special tour (optional): On the western shore of Lake Te Anau there is a large underground cave system hidden under the mountains, which is illuminated by thousands of fireflies. Don't miss out on this experience. Alternatively, you can optionally take a jet boat tour on the river between Manapouri and Te Anau lakes.

Today is another highlight. On New Zealand's most beautiful mountain road to Milford, you will pass the Mirror Lakes and the gloomy Homer Tunnel and will probably even meet Kea parrots at a stop. Around noon you will reach New Zealand's landmark and the most beautiful end of the world, Milford Sound. The fjord was created by the 1200m deep cut of a glacier which, after it melted, left a huge furrow which was then filled in by the sea. Lush vegetation is looming in front of the reflecting fjord and in the background a huge mountain ("Miter Peak", the "bishop's cap") rises 1700m from the sea. If you are lucky, you might encounter seals, penguins and dolphins on a boat trip past huge, foaming waterfalls. We stay again in Te Anau am See, surrounded by mountains and rainforest.

After breakfast we leave Fiordland National Park. The road climbs over the Lindis Pass (971m) through the MacKenzie Country. Sparse rainfall makes this highland appear like a barren steppe landscape. Wide “tussock” corridors, which span the hills like a carpet, transform the landscape into a strange-looking inner-alpine pool landscape. Continue to Mount Cook Village, where we spend the night in a cozy complex surrounded by gigantic mountains. The Maori call New Zealand's highest mountain at 3724m "Aoraki", the "cloud piercer". We end the day with dinner together

Depending on the weather, we take an easy hike in the impressive mountains. At the Pukaki and Tekapo lakes we have another opportunity to admire the magnificent glacier world of Mount Cook. We continue to the Canterbury Plain and leave the three thousand meter peaks of the Southern Alps behind. Again we experience a spectacular change in vegetation. The plain is one of New Zealand's most fertile farming areas. In the early evening we visit a stylish farm, where we get an insight into the life and work of the New Zealand rural population on a farm tour. We spend the night in various rural guest houses with warm hosts. The day ends with a cozy dinner with a cozy atmosphere.

In the “Peel Forest” we are again following a nature trail to study endemic plants and birds. Then we continue towards the Rakaia River and through the Canterbury Plain to the "Banks Peninsula", a peninsula created by volcanic activity. Depending on the time available to us, we take an easy hike to relive the New Zealand nature up close. Sometimes wave-surfing Hector dolphins can be seen on the coast, rare and the smallest marine dolphins in the world that are only at home in New Zealand waters. In Akaroa, the only former French settlement, we spend the night in a hotel on the waterfront and end the day with dinner together.

The way to Christchurch leads us over the mountains of the crater rim of the peninsula. We take a short city tour through the 'garden city' of New Zealand, as Christchurch is often called. You can take the historic tram (optional), the newly built cathedral, the “Re: Start” shopping street, the Arts and Crafts Center (partially closed) and the museum next to the award-winning botanical garden. Or take a stroll and explore this rebuilding city on your own. Today is the last evening of your trip and we invite you to a dinner, where you and your fellow travelers can review the exciting past weeks.

Your New Zealand trip ends today. You will be brought to the airport by transfer (English-language group transfer included. Private German-language transfer for an extra charge). We wish you a good flight home or onward.