Solo-ish New Zealand

Kia Ora and welcome to New Zealand! After taking your included arrival transfer to the hotel, join your fellow solo-ish travellers for a welcome meeting. Then get hands on with a cooking class! Alongside your new mates, cook up a fresh and delicious Kiwi meal while getting to know the people you're travelling with.

Additional Information: Make sure to arrive no later than 2:00 pm as to not miss your local cooking class.

ACTIVITY: Food is a universal language, and there's no better way to get to know a new friend, or a new community, than by breaking bread together and digging in to a delicious meal. New Zealand is famous for having extremely fresh and local ingredients in their dishes. Use these beautiful ingredients to make an amazing meal of Ika Mata, coconut milk ceviche, and Horopito roasted Lamb Rump, then sit down with your fellow solo-ish travellers and enjoy the feast!

ACTIVITY: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards.

After grabbing your first Kiwi breakfast, join your CEO for a guided walk up to the Mt Eden Summit. This area is incredibly significant to Maori people. The views of Auckland at the top are incredible-so don't forget to take some photos. Later, make your way south to Rotorua where a lunch stop at Eat Street, a local block of popular food stalls and restaurants. In the later afternoon, join your fellow Solo-ish travel mates and board a boat to cross Lake Rotoiti. Together we'll relax lakeside in hot springs, nestled within the bush. A pretty awesome day to enjoy Rotorua and to get to know your group.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Take a water taxi across Lake Rotoiti to the geothermal pools. Jump between the cold lake water and the hot springs, walk through the bush that engulfs the spring pools and grab a beer or coffee from the cafe onsite.

ACTIVITY: Join your CEO for a trek up Mt Eden, or Maungawhau, which means ‘mountain of the whau tree’. This area was one of the largest and most elaborate Māori settlements in the region. At the top, enjoy spectacular 360 views over Auckland.

Together we head to the Maori-owned Kohutapu Lodge, to explore New Zealand's indigenous culture on this full day excursion. Learn how a hangi lunch is prepared in an underground pit, the traditional way, and enjoy the feast with your Maori hosts. Learn about traditional eel traps and be welcomed into a traditiona marae. Walk through the 800-year-old podocarp trees in the Whirinaki Rainforest to learn about the history of the forest and spot endemic birds and medicinal plants. Today's adventure is one of New Zealand's most authentic and community-based Indigenous programs, and will surely stand out as a highlight of your Solo-ish Adventure.

ACTIVITY: Travel to Kohutapu Lodge, a social enterprise owned by a local Maori family who are making a difference in their local community through community-driven initiatives. Led by your Maori guide, start the dat at Lake Aniwhenua Domain and be welcomed onto tribal lands by your guide. Watch as the guide sets the traditional eel traps, a method still being used today. Next, witness the laying of a ground cooked hangi that you will have the opportunity to taste later in the day. Continue with your Maori guide and enjoy a number of additional activities, all based around the community and what may be happening the day of your visit. Finally indulge in a delicious hangi lunch-the very same you watched be put underground to cook. After a special surprise moment with your hosts, conclude the day in Whirinaki rainforest- a Jurassic Podocarp forest- where you will be led by your Maori guide to discover more about the Maori culture and learn about the history of the forest. Spend a final few moments bathed in the forest’s sights and smells while indulging in a cup of hot kawakawa tea.

A full day free gives you the opportunity to explore this unique town how you want. With seemingly endless options, choose to visit some hot springs, go white water rafting or explore from the treetops on a Rotorua Canopy Tour.

FREE TIME: FULL DAY Enjoy a free day to explore this lakeside adventure town.

This morning we drive from Rotorua to Waitomo to see the magical glow worms illuminate the caves. Ride a boat through the water filled caves, and as the sunlight fades, see how the bright blue glow brightens from the silk worms hanging from the ceiling. After, drive to Auckland for the night, our last evening on the North Island.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Enjoy a peaceful boat ride through 30 million year old caverns covered with magical glowworms that are unique to New Zealand. Hundreds of thousands of these tiny creatures radiate luminescent light in underground caves carved by rivers and time. Take in more than 136 years of cultural and natural history on this unique excursion.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Together we fly to New Zealand's South Island this morning. After arriving, sit down for a group lunch in Christchurch before driving to Kaikoura. In the evening, visit the giant and adorable fur seals that live on the peninsula.

TRANSPORT: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Stop to experience a close encounter with the many southern fur seals lying about on rocks just off the highway.

Kaikoura is one if the best places in all of New Zealand to see wildlife. Spend today however you wish, but of course we recommend trying to see some of these amazing animals in the wild. Opt to go on a Giant Sperm Whale watching tour or out for a tour in hopes to swim with the Dusky Dolphins.

FREE TIME: FULL DAY Spend today at leisure in the seaside town of Kaikoura.

Drive to Hokitika, a town nudged between the Tasman Sea to the west and the Hokitika River to the south. Full of beautiful nature, wildlife and a history of ship wrecks, gold and green stone miners, Hokitika is not to be missed. The drive takes about 5 hours in total, but we'll make some pitstops along the way in notable towns like Reefton and Greymouth. After arrival, enjoy free time to explore the town.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

FREE TIME: Enjoy a free afternoon in Hokitika.

Hike the remarkable Hokitika Gorge, crossing the suspension bridge and admiring the incredibly blue water. Then drive to Franz Josef, and hike through the rain forest of Franz Josef with views of the beautiful glacier.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Hike the short and easy trek through the Franz Josef rainforest with views of the glacier and snow covered mountains.

ACTIVITY: Visit the crystal blue water of Hokitika Gorge. Hike through the bush and look for the rare blue mushroom, walk across the suspension bridge over the beautiful water and admire the incredible beauty of the South Island.

A free day today in Franz Josef calls for adventure. Opt to take a scenic helicopter flight up to the impressive glacier, or kayak on Lake Mapourika. Or choose to join the Guided Heli Hike, taking a helicopter to the glacier and hiking through the snow capped mountains and over the bright blue glacier.

FREE TIME: FULL DAY Spend today however you'd like in Franz Josef.

Drive with your fellow solo-ish travellers to the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown. After arrival, settle in and enjoy an evening stroll in this picturesque lakeside town.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Today is your Me Day, which means today is all about me... well you! With so much to do in Queenstown, opt to spend today exploring the adventure capital however you so wish. Or choose to join your CEO and other solo-ish travellers to ride the famous Queenstown gondola. Ride to the top of the mountain and take in the beautiful view of the lake and mountain peaks. Then tonight, choose to join your CEO for a final group dinner. This may be an early dinner because we have an early morning tomorrow, but come together for a bite and a drink before our final day together.

ACTIVITY: Traveling solo alongside your new Solo-ish travel mates means there's always something fun to do and new friends to explore with. But the joy of travel can also be about taking time to yourself to recharge, refresh and reflect on the journey. Today, choose to join your CEO for an incredible activity, or take the time to yourself to enjoy your own company in one of the most incredible places on our planet.

Wake early for a visit to one of New Zealand's most spectacular destinations on a day trip to Fiordland National Park. Drive from Queenstown, board a boat and cruise between the breathtaking mountain slopes, cascades and sea. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins and rainbows made by the waterfalls. After the boat ride, drive back to Queenstown and enjoy one last free evening in Queenstown.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Cruise through stunning Fiordland National Park, one of the most untouched, remote places in the world. Depending on the departure, the cruise will be in either Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound – two of the most stunning regions within the park. Marvel at the steep cliff walls and cascading waterfalls, and keep an eye out for area wildlife: dolphins, penguins, seals, and a variety of birds.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

You arrived a solo traveller and are leaving with many new friends. Say goodbye to your fellow Solo-ish travellers and depart at any time.

ACTIVITY: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.

ACTIVITY: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.