CLICK HERE to learn more about New Zealand in our exclusive webinar featuring faculty leader, Matthew Suttor. Isolated from other land masses by the swells of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean, New Zealand is a world unto itself. This island nation boasts unparalleled natural beauty - a land of glacial fjords, majestic peaks, geothermal marvels, endemic birds, pristine beaches and wild forests. Walking and hiking throughout New Zealand is one of the best ways to see these spectacular landscapes and explore its vast wilderness areas. For this itinerary, we have combined a cornucopia of the country’s stunning beauty and rich culture with the chance to walk on its very best trails and three of the country’s top tracks: Milford, Routeburn and Hooker Valley tracks.
Begin with two nights in Auckland, exploring this “City of Sails,” and Tiritiri Matangi Island, a wildlife sanctuary, before heading to Rotorua for two nights to discover the heartland of Māori culture and New Zealand’s geothermal wonderland. Then fly to the South Island and travel across the stunning Canterbury Plains for the turquoise waters and starry skies of Lake Tekapo. Take in views of Tasman Glacier in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, where Sir Edmund Hillary trained, before traveling via the wine region of Gibbston Valley to Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand. Based out of picturesque Lake Te Anau, two days exploring the vast glacier-carved wilderness of Fiordland National Park, including a cruise on Milford Sound, before returning to Queenstown for a final night.



HIGHLIGHTS

• Sample the very best trails and tracks during easy to moderate hikes including the world-renowned Milford and Routeburn tracks in Fiordland National Park and the Hooker Valley Track in Aori/Mt Cook National Park.
  
• Cruise Milford Sound surrounded by towering cliffs and cascading waterfall.
  
• Spend the day on Tiritiri Matangi Island, a wildlife sanctuary rich in Māori history and brimming with wildlife rarely seen on the mainland
  
• Sample award-winning wines at Kinross Winery, nestled in the heart of Gibbston Valley, New Zealand’s premier wine region.
  
• Immerse yourself in the Māori culture during a special day with members of the Ngati Manawa Tribe and walk Waimangu Volcanic Valley, a geothermal wonderland of color
  
• Experience Kiwi hospitality over dinner and a pavlova lesson (New Zealand’s national dessert) in the private home of the Taylors, former sheep farm owners, turned chefs.
  
• Stargaze the southern night sky in New Zealand’s only UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve while soaking in natural hot springs.
  
• Marvel at the sight of the Tasman Glacier, New Zealand’s largest glacier, surrounded by a pristine alpine paradise that was also the climbing home of Sir Edmund Hillary.
  
• Visit a private family run dairy farm with the Fiordland mountains as a beautiful backdrop.
  
• Embark a Fiordland jet boat experience to the wild shores of Lake Manapouri, named New Zealand’s most beautiful lake, a hidden world framed by pristine mountain forests.
  
• Stay in the heart of Queenstown with views over Lake Wakatipu and enjoy the lively atmosphere and breathtaking scenery of this must-see resort town.

MOBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Please note, this is a moderately strenuous program that is at times both physically demanding and busy and requires participants to be in good health and able to keep up with the group without assistance from tour staff. Participants must be physically fit, active and in good health and must be able to navigate walking routes that are often rugged and uneven and without assistance. Sturdy, well-fitting, waterproof, broken-in hiking boots with ankle support are essential.

Daily excursions involve up to five miles of walking, often in the full sun, and walking tours can last as long as three hours, including periodic stops. Much of the walking will take place over uneven and unpaved terrain, on muddy or sandy trails, and on moderate inclines/declines. Some historic buildings do not have elevators, and you’ll sometimes encounter steps without handrails.

In addition to the excursions, this program includes several hikes on New Zealand’s Great Tracks ranging from about four to six miles. As a general guide we recommend you are capable of walking for 3-4 hours to enjoy the guided hikes.

This program is not recommended for travelers who require mobility aids or are unsteady on their feet.