20-Day Nature Lovers
Tour of New Zealand
Discover New Zealand’s Wild and Beautiful Places
This 20-day Nature Lovers Tour is designed for travellers who want to experience New Zealand’s landscapes, wildlife and national parks at a comfortable pace. From glowworm caves and geothermal valleys to golden beaches, alpine lakes, whale-rich coastlines, glaciers and fiords, the journey brings together many of the country’s most memorable natural experiences.
Travelling with private transport and carefully chosen guided experiences, you will have time to explore New Zealand’s forests, coastlines and mountain regions while learning more about the wildlife and natural environments that make each destination unique.
Your Tour at a Glance
📅 20 Days
An in-depth New Zealand journey
🚐 Private or Self-Drive
Choose the travel style that suits you
🛏️ Tailored Accommodation
Quality hotels, boutique stays or luxury lodges
🗺️ North and South Islands
The route can operate in either direction
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
Route Map
Suggested route
Auckland → Waitomo → Rotorua → Taupō → Napier → Wellington → Nelson → Abel Tasman → Kaikōura → Lake Tekapo → Aoraki / Mount Cook → Dunedin → Queenstown → Milford Sound
This itinerary can operate in either direction and can be extended or adjusted to suit your travel dates and interests.
Tour Highlights
From geothermal landscapes and volcanic national parks to golden beaches, marine wildlife, alpine peaks, glaciers, and dramatic fiords, this journey showcases New Zealand’s remarkable natural diversity.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves | Rotorua | Taupō | Tongariro National Park
Hawke’s Bay | Wellington | Zealandia | Abel Tasman National Park
Kaikōura Wildlife | Lake Tekapo | Aoraki / Mount Cook | Otago Peninsula
Queenstown | Milford Sound | Native Wildlife | Scenic Coastal Journeys
A Real Client Experience
“Kathy and Wayne put together a great trip for us! All the drivers were knowledgeable and friendly. Could not have learned so much driving ourselves. Hotels were lovely. All locations were paced nicely as we had requested. New Zealand amazed us!”
Ann Holmes
Is This Tour Right for You?
Ideal for travellers wanting a deeper nature-focused journey through both islands.
✓ Private touring with personal service
✓ Native wildlife, forests, glaciers and fiords
✓ Geothermal landscapes and alpine scenery
✓ Scenic travel with time to explore and relax
✓ Carefully selected nature experiences
✓ Flexible to suit your interests and pace
Is This Tour Right for You?
This 20-day private New Zealand itinerary is ideal for travellers who want to experience the country’s remarkable landscapes, native wildlife and natural environments in greater depth. It combines private touring, carefully selected nature experiences, scenic travel, local guidance and time to enjoy each destination without feeling rushed.
It is a great fit if you want:
A comprehensive journey through both the North and South Islands, including Auckland, Rotorua, Taupō, Napier, Wellington, Nelson, Abel Tasman, Kaikōura, Aoraki / Mount Cook, Dunedin, Queenstown and Milford Sound.
Private touring instead of a large coach tour, with greater comfort, flexibility and personal service.
Memorable natural experiences, including geothermal valleys, glowworm caves, alpine lakes, native forests, glaciers, fiords, dark-sky country and wildlife-rich coastlines.
Opportunities to experience New Zealand’s native birds and marine life, with visits to destinations known for whales, dolphins, albatross and other wildlife.
A thoughtfully paced itinerary that balances scenic travel days, guided experiences, gentle walks and time to relax or explore independently.
Help choosing suitable accommodation, activities and transport without having to organise every detail yourself.
This itinerary can be adjusted to suit your interests, mobility, accommodation preferences, travel style and preferred pace.
ITINERARY
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Suggested activities for Auckland
Explore: Auckland
New Zealand's 'City of Sails' is the country's largest metro area. Between the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea, this urban paradise has something for everyone. Surrounded by native bush, rainforests, and an abundance of beaches, Auckland is a playground for both the city savvy and those with an eye for adventure. Central museums and galleries are easy to explore on foot.
Nature: Boat Cruise to Rangitoto island
Rangitoto Island is the largest and youngest of the many volcanoes that make up the Auckland volcanic field. It erupted around 600 years ago but is now extinct and safe to explore. During your cruise to and from the island enjoy fantastic views of Rangitoto Island and Auckland's skyline. On reaching the island you can walk to the summit (1 hour direct) for great views of the Hauraki Gulf and over Waitemata Harbour looking back towards Auckland.
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World Famous: Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Waitomo Glowworm Caves, take a 45-minute guided tour through impressive underground caverns and learn how stalactites, stalagmites and other limestone structures were formed over millions of years. Your tour includes a boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto - glide silently along an underground river as you gaze at the twinkling glowworms overhead. After visiting Waitomo and Hobbiton, continue to Rotorua, arriving in the early evening.
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Explore: Rotorua
Peppered with natural hot springs, boiling mud pools, and steaming geysers, Rotorua sits within one of the world’s most active volcanic regions. Geothermal landmarks aside, this city of sulphur has a rich indigenous history. Home to several prominent Māori tribes, a visit to one of the Māori Villages should be high on your agenda, as should an excursion to the Polynesian Spa for an invigorating soak in its natural mineral hot springs. Alternatively, head up the Rotorua Gondola for soaring lake views, and ride the luge at night for an extra thrill.
Nature: Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Grounds
Wai-O-Tapu has pools of vibrantly coloured water caused by the natural minerals, an impressive geyser that plays daily. Some of the highlights include craters formed by acidic steam, the Devils Bath with its vibrant green yellow colour, Lady Knox Geyser, which erupts daily at 10.15am, and the Champagne pool which bubbles like Champagne.
Culture and Food: Te Pā Tū Cultural Tour and Hangi Dinner
Journey back in time to a Pre-European lifestyle experience of customs and traditions. Enjoy the night's festivities with the people of Tamaki Maori Village as you are treated to a banquet of succulent foods cooked the traditional Māori way. Discover the Māori village as it comes alive to the sound and activities of tribal songs, dances, myths, and legends and browse throughout the largest after-hours tribal marketplace in Rotorua. Includes a hangi buffet feast that has cooked slowly underground.
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Suggested Activity
Adventure: Huka Falls Jet Boat Ride
The Huka Jet is 30 minutes of pure fun and exhilaration, skimming close to cliffs, sliding past trees, feeling the adrenalin of full 360-degree spins. The excitement continues right up to the base of the foaming Huka Falls, where you get a spectacular water-level view of New Zealand's most visited natural attraction.
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Suggested activities for Taupo
Explore: Taupō
The town of Taupō sits on New Zealand's largest lake, Lake Taupo, and this beautiful and serene body of water is reason enough to visit. The lake is actually a volcanic caldera formed following a massive eruption in the year 186 AD, which is considered to be one of the largest and most violent eruptions known.
A host of activities can be undertaken here: bungy jumping, sky diving, fishing for trout in the lake and rivers, kayaking, sailing, horse riding, and walking and hiking to name but a few.
Nature: Private Guided Scenic Highlights Tour of Tongariro National Park with Adventure Outdoors
Experience the best of Tongariro National Park with this Scenic Highlight short walks and drive tour. It has a relaxed pace with stunning views.
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Suggested Activities
History: Māori Rock Carvings Cruise
Journey to the Māori Rock Carvings in comfort and style with a stunning tour of Taupo’s bays. This unique 90-minute tour should be on your list of ‘top things to do in Taupō.
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Suggested Activities for Napier
Explore: Napier and the Hawke's Bay
With its Mediterranean climate and Art Deco style, Hawke's Bay is an attractive holiday prospect. As the nation's first winemaking region, a visit to one of its 30 wineries is a must. For the truly enthused, head out on a tour of the vines. Those into Gatsby can enjoy the chance to view prominent Art Deco landmarks on a 1930s Vintage Car Tour.
Nature: Get up close to gannets at Cape Kidnappers
Sweeping views, dramatic cliffs, and Australasia's largest mainland gannet colony – this visit to the impressive sandstone headland and home to over 20,000 gannets is invigorating. The tour takes you along the cliff tops on Cape Kidnappers Station land, where you can enjoy views of the Cape Kidnappers walking track below as you head out to the gannets. The walking track is accessible along the beach and only during low tide.
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Suggested activity
Explore: Cape Palliser and the South Coast
Just around 45 minutes south of the town of Martinborough will bring you to one of the most spectacular coastlines in the country. View rocky shores and tiny picturesque settlements as you head towards the magnificent views from the Cape Palliser lighthouse. New Zealand fur seals make these rocky shores and outcrops their home and offer some great photo opportunities.
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Suggested Activities for Wellington
Explore: Wellington
Wellington City, New Zealand's capital, sits on a wonderful deep natural harbour and is surrounded by bush-clad hills. The city centre itself is quite compact (only around one square kilometre), so exploring on foot is relatively easy. From your city centre accommodation you can easily stroll to cafes and restaurants around Courtenay Place, and New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa, is also close by.
Nature: Zealandia By Night Wildlife Sanctuary Tour
Taking a night tour of Zealandia wildlife eco-sanctuary is an unforgettable experience and one we highly recommend. It's a conservation success and safe haven for some of New Zealand's rarest native animals like the iconic Kiwi bird and Tuatara lizard.
Top of the South & Marine Wildlife: Days 10-13
Cook Strait, Nelson, Abel Tasman, Kaikōura
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Interislander Ferry Wellington to Picton
The 92 km journey between Wellington and Picton takes around three hours and has been described as 'one of the most beautiful ferry rides in the world'.
From the Cook Strait, spectacular views of the South Island's Kaikoura Ranges can be enjoyed, and dolphins and many sea birds are often seen. The latter part of the cruise takes you through the Marlborough Sounds and this region of bush-covered mountains, small islands, crystal clear waters, and secluded bays, offers remarkable photographic opportunities.
Continue to Nelson, the largest city in the northern South Island.
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Suggested Activities
Nature: Explore Ablel Tasman National Park
Abel Tasman National Park is situated near the top of the South Island and is accessible by walking, cruising or kayak. The sheltered bays of the Park are perfect for sailing and sea kayaking, also offering opportunities to see the seals and dolphins who regularly play in these coastal waters. If you prefer to explore by land, the Abel Tasman Great Walk follows the coastline through native bush alongside limestone cliffs and along golden beaches.
Adventure: Waka Abel Tasman
Connect. Experience. Explore.
To travel across water is to connect across time and space. We feel the motion and te mauri o te wai, just as our tūpuna did. To do it in a group, connects you in a way nothing else does.
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Journey through Marlborough, New Zealand's largest wine growing region, Crossing the ‘dry hills’ of the Marlborough ranges you head towards one of the most incredible coastlines of the South Island, the Kaikoura Coast. The road hugs the shore for around 50 kilometers and offers many chances to view the native wildlife such as seabirds and New Zealand fur seals.
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Suggested activities
Nature: Whale Watching
Kaikōura is one of the few places in the world where Giant Sperm Whales can be seen year-round and close to shore. They congregate here because the 2km deep Kaikōura Canyon runs right up against the coast creating a rare system of sea currents that sustain an incredibly rich marine food chain.
Nature: Guided Seal Kayaking
This adventure around the beautiful coastal waters 100% guarantees seal viewing and takes in the breathtaking views of sheer cliff faces, craggy rocks and mountain ranges while searching for chance encounters with dusky dolphins and blue penguins.
Alpine Landscapes, Wildlife & Fiords: Days 14-20
Tekapo, Mount Cook, Dunedin, Queenstown, Milford Sound
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Travel travel through the heart of the South Island, crossing the vast Canterbury plains. Catch your breath in Geraldine before continuing through Fairlie. Ascending Burkes Pass, you'll come to the picturesque lakeside town of Tekapo.
Nature: Dark Sky Project
Our expert astronomy guides bring the night sky to life, sharing the science and the stories of our Southern skies. Stargaze using the naked eye guided by lasers and then proceed to explore deeper through up to 16" optical telescopes, including in our private observatory dome. Take in the incredible Milky Way, far off planets, star clusters, solar systems, and even distant galaxies; every night sky beholds something different.
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Suggested Activity for Mount Cook
Adventure: Mt Cook Helicopter Experience
Landing amidst the crevasses of the Tasman Glacier, you will put on snowshoes or crampons to explore the glacier’s seracs, icefalls, and astonishing caves of ancient blue ice.
Glacier Explorers Mt. Cook
Experience 500-year-old icebergs up-close on the Mt Cook terminal lake. The Glacier Explorers tour is the only one of its kind in New Zealand - and one of only three in the world! Very few glaciers terminate into lakes and even fewer of them are accessible. See towering ice cliffs and floating icebergs from the safety of a specially designed boat. These boats provide a safe way to view unseen and inaccessible areas of New Zealand's largest glacier - The Tasman.
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Heading south, you follow the hydropower generating system towards the east coast. The town of Oamaru is most famous for its white stone buildings. Further south the Moeraki Boulders are a unique geological feature and worth the short detour to the beach to view. Arriving in Dunedin, you can appreciate the city's Edwardian and Scottish heritage through its fine buildings, particularly around the Octagon.
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Suggested activities for Dunedin
Nature: Penguin Place Conservation Reserve Tour
Learn about the endangered Yellow-Eyed Penguin when you visit Penguin Place - a private conservation reserve dedicated to ensuring the survival of this unique species. You'll take a short bus trip over to the reserve and be led on foot by your guide through a system of covered trenches to viewing hides which allow access to the living and breeding habitat of this very shy bird, without disturbing them.
Nature: Royal Albatross Centre: Unique Taiaroa Tour
The Royal Albatross colony at Taiaroa Head on the Otago Peninsula is the only mainland breeding colony of Royal Albatross in the world. From the centre, it's a short walk to the observatory for the privilege of seeing the greatest of all seabirds. The Fort Taiaroa guided tour takes you back into New Zealand's colonial past. It covers the Māori and European occupation of the headland with a visit to 'Fort Taiaroa,' underground fortifications beneath the Albatross Colony.
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Suggested Activity
Explore: Queenstown and its surrounds
Celebrated as New Zealand's adventure capital, Queenstown offers far more than a fast-paced action-packed holiday. Settled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu beneath a soaring panorama of the Remarkables Mountain Range, this alpine town is surrounded by a plethora of historic, gastronomic, and scenic wonders.
World Famous: TSS Earnslaw cruise to Walter Peak including gourmet BBQ dinner and a farm tour
Enjoy a quintessential Kiwi experience – a delicious gourmet BBQ buffet meal and a farm demonstration in a stunning lakeside setting.
Take in the stunning views of Lake Wakatipu and its surroundings as you cruise across the lake to the historic Walter Peak high country farm aboard the TSS Earnslaw Steamship.
After dinner, watch the farm dogs in action with a sheep-herding demonstration and say hello to the other farm animals.
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Suggested Activity
Nature: Milford Mariner Overnight Cruise
Onboard the Milford Mariner you will cruise the full length of this spectacular fiord to the Tasman Sea, leisurely exploring on the way many points of interest.
After reaching the open sea, subject to weather and favourable conditions the sails are hoisted for a period. The vessel returns to the calm and shelter of Harrison Cove for your overnight stay.
Accompanied by a nature guide, you can go exploring in the tender craft and kayaks or simply relax on deck. After the day's activities, you enjoy a delicious evening buffet in the spacious saloon before retiring to your private cabin. There is plenty of time to view the waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife and the experienced nature guide on board will be able to answer any questions you may have.
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Enjoy the wonderful drive along the Milford Road as you head back towards Te Anau. Crossing the rolling tussock lands, pass through Mossburn, the deer capital of New Zealand. Following Lake Wakatipu north, the Remarkables mountain range rises above you as you approach Queenstown. Once you arrive in Queenstown transfer to Auckland by a domestic flight.
Want to shape this journey around your interests?
This itinerary is a starting point. We can add more wildlife experiences, slow the pace, include luxury lodges, adjust the walking level, or focus more on birds, coastlines, glaciers, food and wine, or soft adventure.
FAQs About this Tour
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This tour is completely flexible. While we have a well-planned itinerary as a starting point, everything can be tailored to suit your interests, pace, and preferences. Whether you’d like to spend more time at certain stops, add an experience, or adjust the day to better suit your travel style, we’re happy to customise it so the tour feels just right for you.
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Depending on the season and route, this itinerary may include glowworms, native birds, whales, dolphins, seals, penguins, albatross and other New Zealand wildlife.
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The 20-Day Nature Lovers Private Tour operates year-round, and each season offers a slightly different way to experience New Zealand. Spring and summer bring longer days and vibrant landscapes, autumn is a favourite for its settled weather and golden colours, and winter adds a special touch with snow-capped mountains and quieter travel periods in some regions.
Because this is a private, fully customisable tour, we’ll also tailor the itinerary to suit the time of year you’re travelling. That might mean adjusting activities, pacing, or accommodation to ensure you get the best possible experience, whatever the season.
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Accommodation on the 20-Day Nature Lovers Private Tour is flexible and tailored to suit your preferences. As a guide, the tour is typically based on high-quality boutique hotels and premium lodges, chosen for their comfort, location, and character.
That said, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. If you’re looking for luxury lodges, comfortable 4–5 star hotels, or a mix of styles along the way, we’ll adjust the accommodation to suit your tastes, budget, and travel style. Because this is a private tour, we can also suggest unique stays that add something special to the journey.
We’ll discuss accommodation options with you during the planning process and confirm everything before booking, so you know exactly what to expect and feel comfortable every step of the way.
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Because the 20-Day Nature Lovers Private Tour is fully private and customised, the cost can vary depending on a few key factors — including travel dates, accommodation style, number of travellers, and any special experiences you’d like to include.
As a general guide, most guests can expect pricing to start from around NZD $20,000 per person, based on two people travelling and staying in quality 4 star accommodation. Luxury lodges, upgraded experiences, or additional inclusions will naturally increase the overall cost.
Once we understand your travel preferences and wish list, we’ll put together a clear, personalised quote with no hidden surprises. Our goal is to design a trip that offers excellent value, feels well-paced and thoughtful, and delivers a genuinely memorable New Zealand experience.
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Booking the 20-Day Nature Lovers Private Tour is simple and personalised. Just get in touch with us via our enquiry form or by email, and we’ll start with a relaxed conversation about your travel dates, interests, and how you’d like the tour to look.
From there, we’ll tailor the itinerary to suit you, confirm accommodation and inclusions, and provide a clear quote. Once you’re happy, we’ll secure the tour with a 20% deposit, along with payment for any internal flights we arrange. The remaining balance is due 70 days prior to travel.
Because this is a private, custom tour, we recommend getting in touch early, especially if you’re travelling in peak season, so we can lock in the best accommodation and experiences for you.
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Yes. Many experiences are scenic, wildlife-based or short-walk focused. We can include more gentle options or add longer walks depending on your interests.