North Island to South Island Gourmet Walking 13D12N, Fully Guided

Walking distance: approx. 2 hours easy walk

Pick up from Crowne Plaza, Auckland town center at 7:30 am, kick off of 6 days of walking and indulgence from the largest cosmopolitan city, to Waiheke Island. A spectacularly beautiful place where bohemians decided to escape the rat race in the 60s, now home to some of our most exclusive wineries and stunning coastline. Walk the coastal Park Point Peninsula before sampling the acclaimed local artisan red wines. After a short cruise back across the Hauraki Gulf, you'll head south through the rolling green countryside to Rotorua for our first night. Enjoy a selection of Puhoi cheeses & local island fare for dinner.

Indulge yourself in luxury lakeside Wai Ora Spa Resort in Rotorua with nearby Lake Rotoiti and Tamaki Maori Village.

Walking distance: short walks within 18 square km of Geothermal hotspot

Wake up in the cultural hub of New Zealand, Rotorua, and sample our fine espresso coffee. Once we're wide awake and well fed we'll drive a short distance down the road to the thermal wonderland of Wai-O-Tapu New Zealand's premier area of geothermal activity. Bubbling mud, steaming cracks in the earth, myriad sulphuric colours and smells abound in this fascinating area. Tonight we'll spend the evening appreciating local culture and history at a Maori cultural & dining experience at Te Puia.

Dine at Te Puia tonight, experiencing a 'Hangi' – a traditional Maori feast cooked in an earth oven.

Walking distance: approx. 8 km, 3.5 hours

No need to hurry this morning - you will take our time with breakfast, before heading south to our largest inland body of water - Lake Taupo. Draining from the lake is the Waikato River, which starts its journey through a tight cataract and spectacular chute - Huka Falls. You will walk the trail to the Falls and have lunch on the lakefront. For those who are keen, you will then walk some of the loop track around a crater lake, Lake Rotopounamu.

Afterwards we'll head to your accommodation, where your guide will cook up a delicious dinner.

You will check into lakefront Oreti Village Resort, is surrounded by tranquil bush, breath-taking water and mountain range views, Oreti is one of New Zealand's best kept secrets.

Walking distance: approx. 4.7 km, 2 hours & optional loop walk approx. 6 km 2 hours

Wide open arid volcanic landscapes, picture perfect volcanic peaks, waterfalls and clear flowing waters; it's no wonder this is a World Heritage site. Today you will take the Silica Rapids walk, which follows a cascading stream through mountain beech forest to the creamy white terraces carved out from thousands of years of volcanic activity. If you're up for another waterfall, we’ll take a 6 kilometre loop track to Taranaki Falls, where the water tumbles 20 metres over a 15,000 year old lava flow to crash into the pool below.

This afternoon you are heading to one of New Zealand's most iconic hotels, in the volcanic central plateau, the Chateau Tongariro, where you will have afternoon tea. This evening your wonderful guides will prepare another delicious meal.

Walking distance: free to roam at Sanctuary Mountain

Today you will take a beautifully scenic drive north, around the west side of Lake Taupo, to Maungatautari, where you will explore Sanctuary Mountain. This conservation project is a gigantic predator-proof area of 3400 hectares. The project aims to continue the re-introduction of threatened and endangered species via breeding programmes, and gives visitors the opportunity to see some of New Zealand's most incredible animals in a sound ecological environment.

Later today you will head for the town of Cambridge where you will spend the night. Known as 'the town of trees and champions' as well as New Zealand's equine capital, you will explore this quaint community on the banks of the powerful Waikato River, before your farewell dinner out at a Cambridge restaurant.

For your final dinner together your guides will take you to their favourite restaurant in town.

You will stay in elegant and contemporary accommodation in Cambridge, is located at the entrance of the beautiful tree-lined Cambridge.

Walking distance: An optional short walk approx. 1 hour in Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu lakefront

We'll head north to Auckland airport this morning and board a short flight to Queenstown, where another world awaits. The rugged peaks of the Remarkables Mountain range rise sharply out of the crystal clear waters of Lake Wakatipu on one side. Turn 180 degrees and the spectacular views carry on as far as the eye can see - simply stunning.

This afternoon you'll have some free time to explore the resort town, before gathering again at Steamer Wharf in town to take a cruise on the TSS Earnslaw, a steam ship built in 1912, for a cruise on Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak, where we’ll enjoy a delicious buffet dinner and a sheepdog demonstration on a working sheep station.

Sitting on the shores of the South Island's Lake Wakatipu and against the dramatic Southern Alps, Queenstown has a lot to offer.

Things to Do:
- Adventure activities
- Wineries: 200 vineyards within a 40 minute drive of the town centre. Central Otago is famous for Pinot Noir on the world stage.
- Golf: play at some of the most spectacular golf courses with rugged mountain peaks as a backdrop.
- Hiking & Biking

We can arrange the following guided day walk for you. Please contact us to book. Additional charges apply. E: travel@onlyluxe.com.au

- Routeburn Track Walk: 13 km, 4 to 5 hour easy return hike to Routeburn Flats, or 17.6 km, 6 to 8 hour moderate return hike to Routeburn Falls Hut.
- Ben Lomond Track Walk: 3 - 4 hours return hike to Ben Lomond Saddle, or 6 - 8 hours return hike to Ben Lomond Summit, 16 km walk.
- Rob Roy Glacier Track Hike: 10km return, moderate 3.5- to 4-hour return hike, Easy to moderate
- Lake Alta & Remarkables Hike: 2-3 hour hike, Moderate- Walking with Penguins & Seals Heli Hike: 4.5 hours from Queenstown, 1 hour walking, Easy

Walking distance: approx. 15 minutes loop track at the Chasm & short walks

You will be transferred to Fiordland National Park, 'glorious' is just one word that will pop into your head. As the granite peaks get steeper, higher and more imposing, the rainforest flanking them grows ever thicker and the rivers ever clearer.

To really explore the area you select a series of short walks to take on the way to our ultimate destination, Milford Sound. We'll explore the Eglinton Valley and eat lunch at a stunning picnic spot. As for Milford Sound - you can expect to see waterfalls like nowhere else in the world. This place receives around 7 metres of rain a year, so it might well be raining during your time here - and if it is, you'll see this place REALLY come alive.

You will stay in the mountain view chalets here bring comfort and class to an isolated and wild place. The sound of the local bird life will make your private chalet experience one to remember.

Walking distance: approx. 10 km, 3 hours

Wake up relaxed on the deck of your chalet and hear only the roar of waterfalls immediately in front of you and in every cove of Milford Sound. Spy the native Kea (the world's only alpine parrot) and prepare for a boat ride across to Sandfly Point. This is where your two hour walk begins, through exquisite native forest on the world famous Milford Track. This trail follows the Arthur River, which flows into Milford Sound.

Later today, you'll board another boat for a scenic cruise of Milford Sound, for a unique perspective of this glorious wilderness area. Today is a day to immerse yourself in an area unlike any other in the world. You'll then be transferred to Te Anau.

Walking distance: approx. 10 km, 3 hours

A boat journey across Lake Te Anau brings us to a glittering grotto of glow worms. These fascinating bugs light the way in a 200 metre system of caves, underground waterfalls, sculpted walls and swirling pools. From the darkness of the glow worm caves, we’ll head back into the light of Te Anau and on to the world famous Kepler Track, where we’ll walk a section that skirts the edge of the Waiau River under the canopy of pristine mountain beech forest.

Boat Excursion approx. 3 hours

Begin the day on the shores of one awe inspiring lake and mountain vista and end it on another, with the beauty of Southland and a jet boat ride up one of New Zealand’s most incredible river valleys. We’ll make the journey back to Queenstown through rolling hills that eventually turn into the jagged peaks of the Wakatipu area.

After a little time to enjoy lunch, we'll replace the hustle of Queenstown with the beauty of the Dart River valley via jet boat - a high speed journey on the glacial waters of this incredible wilderness area. Finish the day in the beautiful and isolated Glenorchy at the furthest and most stunning end of Lake Wakatipu.

Walking distance: approx. 3.6 km, 1.5 hours

Start the day with breakfast and incredible lakeside views before we delve back into the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area. We’ll return to the world famous Routeburn Track, close to a place that really is called Paradise. We'll walk along the banks of the Routeburn River, absorbing the deep greens of native beech forest, crystal clear waters cascading below, and narrow valleys opening out to wide open spaces make this a varied and unforgettable day of walking.

Of course if you’d like to take things slower today, there’s no better place than Glenorchy to relax and unwind with a good book as you soak up the surroundings.

Enjoy a delicious picnic on the Routeburn Track and dinner in an equally impressive setting, in Glenorchy.

Walking distance: approx. 3.6 km, 1.5 hours

You'll enjoy the quiet at the head of the lake this morning, before making your way back along the shoreline to Queenstown. You'll wave goodbye at Queenstown airport for departing flights, unless of course you can’t get enough of Queenstown and decide to stay, in which case you'll be dropped off at your choice of accommodation.