Solar Eclipse in New Zealand: Auckland to Queenstown

• Arrive at the airport to meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers as they arrive.
• Transfer to your hotel to check into your accommodations.
• Head out on an afternoon walking tour to get your bearings and learn what the city has to offer, like Viaduct Harbour’s many yachts and sailboats, the iconic Sky Tower, bustling Queen Street with shops and cafés, and leafy Albert Park.
• Enjoy your Welcome Dinner! Hosted by your Tour Director, this kickoff dinner is all about getting to know the others in your group and easing into the rest of the trip ahead.

Ask your Tour Director:

• Why New Zealanders are referred to (and proudly called themselves) Kiwis. Hint: it involves a very cute bird.
• How to say other phrases in Māori, like “thank you” and “goodbye.”
• The story behind the indigenous name for New Zealand—Aotearoa, the Land of the Long White Cloud.

• Hop on the road south to Rotorua (known as Sulphur City thanks to its distinctive geothermic scent) in the morning.
• Stop in the town of Matamata, which also happens to be home to the real-life Hobbiton movie set in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. On a guided tour, you’ll see the famous round-doored Hobbit holes (including Frodo’s), the Green Dragon Inn where you can sip a themed drink, and the Party Tree where Bilbo made his birthday speech.
• Experience a living Māori village in Rotorua, where the local Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao people use the surrounding geothermal resources in their daily lives.
• Enjoy a free evening in Rotorua or opt for a Māori mud bath and geothermal experience.

Ask your Tour Director:

• What local cafes, restaurants, or hidden gems are off the beaten path.
• The history behind Rotorua’s famous hot springs and spa culture.

• Visit the steamy wonderland of Wai-O-Tapu in the morning and get an overview of the area’s geothermal activity and surrounding landscape.
• See a Māori dance performance that culminates in the eruption of a geyser (no, really) then enjoy some free time to explore the park on your own.
• Spend a free afternoon and evening in Rotorua or learn more about the local culture on a Māori village excursion.

• Fly to Christchurch, the biggest city on New Zealand’s South Island, in the morning. Christchurch sits on flat Canterbury Plains, but the Port Hills rise nearby, and the Southern Alps in the distance are impossible to miss.
• Follow your Tour Director on an evening stroll through Christchurch. See the tranquil Avon River, spot bold street art tucked between laneways, and see the city’s mix of charming English-style buildings (it’s giving Oxford) and sleek new design.

New Regent Street: Grab dinner and stroll one of Christchurch’s most photographed streets, with its colorful Spanish Mission-style buildings full of boutiques, cafés, and galleries.

Port Hills: Hike or ride the Christchurch Gondola up the Port Hills for sweeping sunset views of the city, harbor, and Southern Alps views.

Ask your Tour Director: * How the devastating 2011 earthquake reshaped the city. * About the colonial English history of the neo-Gothic and Victorian-era buildings sprinkled throughout the city. * Where to find the best Canterbury lamb, the most famous New Zealand dish. * About the flat white rivalry with Australia (and where the locals go for theirs).

• Depart from the charming French township of Akaroa aboard a large catamaran for a guided tour of the harbor, a natural inlet formed by an ancient volcano, with dramatic cliffs and calm, turquoise waters.
• Spot playful (and rare) Hector’s dolphins, fur seals, many seabirds, and learn about the unique wildlife and history of this charming French-influenced harbor town.
• Visit the Cathedral Caves, amazing natural formations carved into volcanic rock along Akaroa’s coastline. At low tide, you can explore tall, cathedral-like interiors where you might spot seals resting and seabirds nesting.
• See and learn about everything from relics of the area’s Māori and colonial past to a modern working salmon farm.

River punting: Hop on a guided punt tour along the Avon River, drifting past weeping willows and gardens while your guide shares stories and Christchurch history.

Botanic gardens: Featuring Victorian-era design, winding paths, and an iconic glasshouse filled with tropical plants and colorful blooms, this oasis is a perfect blend of history and nature.

Quake City Museum: Learn about Christchurch’s earthquakes through interactive exhibits, survivor stories, and dramatic displays that show the city’s resilience and recovery.

• Rest up on your bus ride west from Christchurch to the Mount Cook region, a playground for nature lovers and adventure seekers.
• Gaze out the window and enjoy the iconic New Zealand scenery—the flat Canterbury plains, the winding Rangitata River Valley, and views of Mount Cook and the foothills of the Southern Alps. Music suggestion: the atmospheric Fellowship of the Ring soundtrack.
• Head to Mt. Cook Town where you can explore and grab lunch at the Hermitage Hotel cafe for gorgeous mountain and lake views.
• Choose from two hikes within Mt. Cook National Park—Hooker Valley or Kea Point. The Hooker Valley hike takes about 3-4 hours, with highlights like the Mueller Glacier, Mount Cook vistas, and the world’s biggest buttercup (cute). Kea Point is much shorter and more mellow, about 1.5 miles with lake and mountain scenery.

• Board your Queenstown-bound bus in the morning, stopping at Arrowtown along the way. Founded in the 1860s after gold was discovered in the Arrow River, the town features perfectly preserved 19th century buildings and a restored settlement showing a glimpse into the lives of Chinese miners of the time. There are also cute cafes and bookshops, and it’s one of the most photographed places in NZ thanks to its stunning fall foliage.
• Continue south to Queenstown, a gem on Lake Wakatipu set against the dramatic Remarkables mountain range. Founded as a gold-mining town, now it’s a hotspot for boutique shops, art galleries, and world-class wine.

Fergburger: Looking for a life-changing lunch? It's said that the burgers from this famous restaurant on Shotover Street are the best in the world.

Shotover Street: And speaking of, check out this area’s vibrant nightlife scene where cozy bars, lively pubs, and cocktail spots line the street.

• Glide high above Queenstown on the Skyline Gondola up Bob’s Peak, where panoramic views of Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables are revealed with every meter you climb. At the summit, look out at the view from the different lookout decks viewpoints.
• Enjoy a free afternoon and evening in the city, or feel the thrill of the narrow, winding roads and dramatic lookouts of Skipper’s Canyon on an optional excursion.

Onsen Hot Pools: Hit the spa and soak in warm, natural waters while taking in the mountains the Shotover River.

Queenstown Gardens: Take in the winding paths, seasonal blooms, and mountain views (they never end!) at this peaceful public park.

• Wind along one of the world’s most scenic drives from Queenstown to Milford Sound, passing mirror lakes, mountains passes, and lush rainforests. The Māori name for Milford Sound is Piopiotahi, named for the extinct piopio bird of legend—fiords are important in Māori culture and often carry indigenous names.
• Cruise beneath towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls of Milford Sound’s fiords.
• Spot wildlife like seals, dolphins, and penguins in their natural habitat.

• Spend a free morning enjoying Queenstown before the afternoon’s eclipse.
• Experience the July 22 solar eclipse in Queenstown, with the eclipse unfolding from approximately 3:07–5:20 p.m. local time and totality lasting just a few minutes.
• Celebrate your final evening in New Zealand over an included Farewell Dinner with your group.

Queenstown Gardens: Take a relaxed morning stroll along the lakefront paths, with mountain views and plenty of places to pause.

Queenstown cafés: Settle in for a flat white and a leisurely breakfast before the afternoon’s main event.

Souvenirs: Pick up Manuka honey, paua shell jewelry, or Whittaker’s chocolate for one last taste of New Zealand.