15-Day New Zealand
Luxury Lodge Tour
Exceptional Lodges, Remarkable Landscapes and Seamless Private Travel
Experience New Zealand through some of the country’s most exceptional luxury lodges, combining Waiheke Island, Taupō, the remote Ahuriri Valley and Queenstown in one carefully planned private journey.
From vineyard dining and riverside relaxation to high-country landscapes, scenic flights and private touring, every detail can be tailored around your interests, preferred pace and travel style.
This 15-day itinerary is a starting point rather than a fixed package. Lodge selections, room categories, transfers, touring and experiences can all be adjusted to create a luxury New Zealand journey designed especially for you.
North and South Island | Auckland to Queenstown | Reversible
Quick Snapshot
🏨 15 Days
Luxury Lodge Journey
🚐 Private Travel
Private Drivers and Transfers
🛏️ Luxury Accommodation
Lodges and Premium Retreats
🗺️ Both Islands
North and South Island
Experience New Zealand your way with a custom private itinerary designed around your interests, pace and travel style. From private driver-guides and premium accommodation to scenic touring, activities and local support, we create seamless journeys across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Queenstown-Based Luxury Travel Specialists | TIA Member | 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist | Local Support
Your Luxury Lodge Journey Through New Zealand
Travel from Waiheke Island and the central North Island to the remote landscapes of the Ahuriri Valley and the alpine surroundings of Queenstown.
The route can be travelled in either direction and adjusted to include additional destinations, alternative lodges or a different balance of touring and relaxation.
Four distinctive regions, four exceptional lodge experiences and a journey planned entirely around you.
Tour Highlights
From island vineyards and riverside retreats to remote high-country wilderness and lakeside luxury, this journey combines exceptional accommodation with some of New Zealand’s most memorable landscapes and experiences.
Auckland
Waiheke Island | Delamore Lodge
Taupō | Huka Lodge
Christchurch
The Lindis | Ahuriri Valley
Queenstown | Matakauri Lodge
Private Touring | Scenic Flights
Fine Dining | Wine | Wellness
A Real Client Experience
“WOW! Just got back from a two-week trip to New Zealand that Kathy at New Zealand Private Tours planned for us. We couldn’t have asked for anything more. Kathy took the time to listen to what we hoped to accomplish during our visit and then planned an itinerary that touched on everything we wanted to do and more.
Our accommodations were all lovely boutique hotels and ranged from upscale to take your breath away, hello Fiordland Lodge & Mt. Cook Lakeside Retreat. Throughout our stay the private drivers/guides showed us the beautiful countryside and educated us on the history and culture of New Zealand. The trip turned out to be an experience of a lifetime and would not have been possible with Kathy & Wayne at New Zealand Private Tours.”
Howard Jonas
Is This Tour Right for You?
This journey is ideal for travellers seeking luxury accommodation, private travel and a relaxed pace.
It will suit you if you value:
✓ Exceptional luxury lodges
✓ Privacy and personal service
✓ Private drivers and guides
✓ Fine dining, wine and wellness
✓ Scenic flights and private experiences
✓ Time to enjoy each destination
This is not a fixed package. We tailor the lodges, route, activities and pace around your interests, travel dates and preferred style of travel.
Is This Tour Right for You?
This itinerary is designed for travellers who want to experience New Zealand at a relaxed pace, with exceptional accommodation, private travel and personal service throughout the journey.
It is particularly well suited to guests who value:
✓ Luxury lodges with distinctive settings, character and attentive service
✓ Privacy, comfort and the flexibility of travelling with a private driver
✓ Fine dining, premium wines, wellness and memorable lodge experiences
✓ Scenic flights, fly fishing and privately guided activities
✓ A carefully paced itinerary with enough time to enjoy each destination
✓ Local specialists coordinating the journey from arrival to departure
This is not a fixed group departure or a standard package. The itinerary is simply a starting point.
We can adjust the route, lodges, number of nights, room categories, transport and activities to suit your preferred travel dates, interests, mobility requirements, budget and desired pace.
Whether you prefer a quieter lodge-focused journey or a more active itinerary with private touring and scenic experiences, we will shape the trip around the way you want to travel.
15-Day Luxury Lodge Itinerary
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Included: Private transfer to Waiheke Island
Arrive in Auckland, where your New Zealand journey begins with a private transfer to Waiheke Island.
Depending on your arrival time and preferred travel style, this may include a private transfer and ferry connection or a helicopter flight across the Hauraki Gulf.
Settle into Delamore Lodge, a peaceful clifftop retreat overlooking Owhanake Bay. With beautiful coastal views, personalised service and exceptional dining, it provides a relaxed beginning after your international journey.
Stay: Delamore Lodge
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Enjoy two days discovering Waiheke Island or simply relaxing at the lodge.
Known for its vineyards, beaches, olive groves and coastal scenery, Waiheke offers an easy combination of food, wine, nature and relaxed island living.
Suggested Experiences
Private Wine Tour
Visit selected Waiheke vineyards with a private guide, enjoying premium wine tastings, local produce and beautiful coastal scenery.Private Sailing or Fishing Charter
Spend time on the Hauraki Gulf with an experienced local skipper, with the day tailored around your interests.Coastal and Art Tour
Explore beaches, local galleries, scenic viewpoints and some of the island’s quieter corners.Lodge and Spa Time
Slow the pace and enjoy the swimming pool, spa treatments, lodge dining and views across the gulf.Stay: Delamore Lodge
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Included: Private transfer and domestic flight connections
Leave Waiheke Island and travel to Taupō in the centre of New Zealand’s North Island.
Your journey can be arranged using private transfers and domestic flights or upgraded to include a helicopter transfer, subject to weather and availability.
Arrive at Huka Lodge, set within beautiful grounds beside the Waikato River. The lodge has welcomed guests for generations and remains one of New Zealand’s most recognised luxury retreats.
Stay: Huka Lodge
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Spend three days enjoying Huka Lodge and the surrounding Taupō and Rotorua regions.
This part of the itinerary can be as active or relaxed as you wish, with experiences selected around your interests.
Suggested Experiences
Private Fly-Fishing Experience
Fish the rivers and surrounding waters with an expert local guide, with options suitable for both experienced anglers and beginners.Private Geothermal and Māori Cultural Tour
Discover Rotorua’s geothermal landscapes, Māori culture, bubbling mud pools, steaming valleys and colourful thermal areas.Lake Taupō and Huka Falls
Explore the lakefront, visit the powerful Huka Falls and enjoy selected scenic stops with a private guide.Scenic Helicopter Flight
Fly over Lake Taupō and the volcanic landscapes of the central North Island, with routes tailored around conditions.Wellness and Lodge Time
Enjoy the gardens, fine dining, spa treatments and peaceful riverside setting of Huka Lodge.Stay: Huka Lodge
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Included: Private transfers and domestic flight
Transfer privately to Taupō Airport for your flight to Christchurch.
On arrival, your driver will meet you and transfer you to your luxury boutique accommodation in the city.
Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a relaxed walk through the Botanic Gardens, explore the central city or dine at one of Christchurch’s leading restaurants.
Suggested Stay: The George or a similar luxury boutique hotel
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Included: Private scenic transfer
Travel south from Christchurch through the Canterbury Plains and into the wide-open landscapes of the Mackenzie and Waitaki regions.
Your private journey can include scenic stops around Lake Tekapo, Lake Pūkaki or Omarama before continuing into the remote Ahuriri Valley.
Arrive at The Lindis, an architecturally distinctive luxury lodge surrounded by mountains, tussock-covered hills and expansive high-country scenery.
A helicopter transfer can also be arranged for guests who prefer to shorten the travel time.
Stay: The Lindis
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The Lindis offers a very different style of New Zealand luxury, shaped by space, stillness and the surrounding high-country landscape.
Enjoy two days exploring the region or allowing time to appreciate the lodge itself.
Suggested Experiences
Aoraki / Mount Cook Helicopter Experience
Fly through the Southern Alps with views of Aoraki / Mount Cook, glaciers, alpine valleys and remote mountain landscapes.High-Country Horse Riding
Explore the Ahuriri Valley on horseback with an experienced guide.Private Fly Fishing
Fish clear alpine waters surrounded by peaceful high-country scenery.Guided Walking or E-Biking
Discover the surrounding landscape on a privately guided walk or e-bike experience.Stargazing
Experience the clear night skies of the central South Island away from city lights.Lodge Time and Wellness
Enjoy the architecture, cuisine, spa treatments and quiet surroundings of the lodge.Stay: The Lindis
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Included: Private scenic transfer
Travel through Central Otago to Queenstown with your private driver.
Depending on your interests, the journey can include stops at the Lindis Pass, a Central Otago vineyard, historic Arrowtown or the Gibbston wine region.
Arrive in Queenstown and settle into your lakeside luxury accommodation overlooking Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains.
Stay: Matakauri Lodge or a similar Queenstown luxury lodge
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Spend two days enjoying Queenstown and the wider Southern Lakes region.
Private touring can be arranged around your interests, whether you prefer scenic landscapes, wine and food, helicopter experiences, gentle sightseeing or time relaxing at the lodge.
Suggested Experiences
Private Queenstown and Arrowtown Tour
Explore Lake Hayes, historic Arrowtown, local scenic viewpoints and selected hidden places with your own guide.Milford Sound Scenic Flight or Helicopter Tour
Cross the Southern Alps and Fiordland’s remote mountains before landing at Milford Sound. Options may include a cruise, wilderness landing or private charter.Earnslaw Burn Helicopter Experience
Fly into a glacier-carved alpine valley surrounded by waterfalls, mountain peaks and dramatic wilderness.Private Central Otago Wine Tour
Visit carefully selected vineyards and cellar doors, with time for tastings and a relaxed lunch.Glenorchy and Paradise Private Tour
Follow the shores of Lake Wakatipu into the landscapes surrounding Glenorchy and Paradise.Spa and Lodge Time
Enjoy the views, dining and peaceful surroundings of your Queenstown lodge.Stay: Matakauri Lodge or a similar Queenstown luxury lodge
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Included: Private airport transfer
Enjoy a private transfer from your accommodation to Queenstown Airport for your onward flight.
Additional nights can be added in Queenstown, Fiordland, Wānaka, Aoraki / Mount Cook, the West Coast or Australia.
Want to Adjust the Pace?
This itinerary is only a starting point.
We can add extra nights, change the lodges, include more private touring, arrange scenic flights, slow the journey down, or build in more time to simply enjoy each property.
Some guests prefer a very relaxed lodge-based holiday with fewer activities. Others like to include helicopter experiences, private guides, wine touring, fishing, spa treatments and scenic adventures. We will help shape the itinerary so it feels right for you.
FAQs
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This tour is completely flexible. While we have designed a beautiful 15-day luxury lodge itinerary as a starting point, every part of the journey can be tailored to suit your interests, travel dates, preferred accommodation and pace.
We can change the lodge selection, add extra nights, include more private touring, arrange helicopter transfers, or adjust the itinerary to make the journey more relaxed.
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This tour is based around New Zealand’s luxury lodges and premium boutique accommodation. Lodge options may include Delamore Lodge on Waiheke Island, Huka Lodge in Taupō, The Lindis in the Ahuriri Valley and Matakauri Lodge in Queenstown, subject to availability and your preferences.
Accommodation can be adjusted depending on your travel style, budget and the type of luxury experience you prefer.
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Yes. This tour can be arranged with private drivers and private guided touring days. Some sections may also include domestic flights, ferry transfers or helicopter transfers, depending on the final itinerary.
We will recommend the best combination of transport so the journey feels smooth, comfortable and well timed.
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Yes, a self-drive version may be possible for confident drivers who enjoy exploring independently. However, many guests choose private transfers or private guided touring for a more relaxed and seamless experience.
We can talk through both options and suggest what will work best for your travel style.
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Because this is a fully private and customised luxury lodge itinerary, the cost will vary depending on travel dates, lodge availability, room category, number of travellers, transport style and special experiences included.
As a general guide, this tour is a premium New Zealand itinerary and will usually sit at the higher end of private touring due to the luxury lodge accommodation and tailored arrangements.
Once we understand your travel dates, preferred lodges and wish list, we will prepare a personalised quote with clear inclusions.
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Yes, this tour can be very well suited to mature travellers who want comfort, privacy and a thoughtfully paced New Zealand holiday.
We can adjust daily touring times, activity levels, accommodation, transfers and the overall pace to suit your comfort level. The tour can be designed with plenty of time to relax at the lodges, enjoy scenic travel days and avoid feeling rushed.
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This tour can be arranged year-round, although lodge availability can be limited during peak travel periods.
Spring and summer offer longer days and warmer weather, autumn is beautiful for golden colours and settled conditions, and winter can be a special time for snow-capped mountain scenery, cosy lodge stays and quieter travel in some regions.
We will help shape the itinerary around the season you are travelling.
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Get in touch with us through the enquiry form or by email, and we will start with a conversation about your travel dates, preferred style of accommodation, budget, interests and pace.
From there, we will create a personalised itinerary and quote for your review. Once you are happy with the plan, we will arrange the bookings and help bring all the details together.