Find your Aotearoa adventure:
Learn more
Māori Culture
Cuisine
Natural Phenomena
Relaxation
Find your Aotearoa adventure:
Maori Culture
Māori Culture
Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) is underpinned by customs and beliefs such as kaitiakitanga, the respect given to the natural world, and tiaki, the connection to the land and duty of care.
Discover Māori experiences
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Discover Rotorua with Maori guides
On the outskirts of Rotorua, visit the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute at Te Puia. Receive a customary greeting at a powhiri welcoming ceremony and learn about traditional crafts such as carving and weaving. Afterwards, admire the mud pools and geysers of the Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley. Free up a day to hike through a wildlife-rich native forest of totara and rimu trees, learning about their cultural significance to the Maori en route to pretty Whirinaki Falls. In the evening, devour a hangi dinner at Mitai Maori Village. There, witness warriors arrive by canoe on the Wai-o-Whiro stream and enjoy a cultural show.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Follow Maori customs
Maori life is underpinned by customs and beliefs such as kaitiakitanga, the respect given to the natural world, and tiaki, the connection to the land and duty of care. Enter the marae (sacred meeting grounds), pressing noses and foreheads together to perform the hongi. Watch spellbinding performances such as the haka – a dance of welcome – and the artful spinning of weighted poi. Listen to moteatea; these emotive songs (waiata) recount the stories of the past through chants and lullabies. Family history is also told through tamako, the intricately detailed facial and body tattoos whose motifs record a person’s ancestry and achievements.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Sail the Sounds with a Maori family
Learn more about Maori myths and legends as you explore Marlborough Sounds, an area of exquisite drowned river valleys from which forested hills rise steeply. Audley guests can join skipper Pete and his wife Takutai, boarding their classic two-masted launch for a memorable cruise. The vessel, Tutanekai, is named after a high ranking yet illegitimate Maori. According to legend, he and his half-brothers had fallen for the same woman, Hinemoa. Entranced by her beauty, they attempted to win her heart, but it was Tutanekai’s enchanting flute playing that secured her affection. The scenery that you’ll experience promises to be equally mesmerising.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure:
Cuisine
Culinary
Fresh flavours can be found all over New Zealand. Sample seafood in the Sounds, explore Auckland’s food scene, taste wines in vineyards across the country, enjoy unique craft beers, or cozy up with some of the world’s best coffee.
Discover more experiences
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Sample craft beer
Follow the New Zealand Ale Trail to discover the beer produced by around 200 craft breweries. Auckland is widely considered the industry’s epicentre but craft beer can be sampled all across the country. Guided tours take a deep dive into the brewing process, while tasting flights provide an opportunity to select personal favourites.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Visit the vineyards
New Zealand’s unique terroir means that it produces some of the best wine in the world. On North Island, Audley customers are invited to tour the cellar doors of Hawkes Bay whose abundant sunshine and fertile, gravelly soils produce world-class merlot, pinot noir, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc. Alternatively, Waiheke Island is an easy day trip from Auckland. Merlot and Syrah are its most common varietals, but there’s been an increase in whites such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris in recent years. Most of its thirty or so boutique vineyards welcome visitors year-round and nowhere’s very far from the ferry.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Order a flat white
Creamy and smooth, the flat white is New Zealand’s signature drink, the mainstay of independent roasteries which work their magic on fair trade beans. In coffee-obsessed Wellington, sniff out the best cafés as you take Audley’s guided Wellington Food Tour, going behind the scenes to meet the people that know it best.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Eat local produce
Embark upon a culinary adventure as you sample New Zealand’s signature eats. For instance, on Audley’s Greenshell Mussel tour, cruise the inner Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds as you learn about how these tasty bivalve molluscs are farmed. The opportunity to sample lightly-steamed mussels accompanied by a glass of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is a highlight. Audley guests travelling to Auckland can also join the City Tastes walking tour. Britomart and Viaduct Harbour are popular with foodies; discover why as you graze your way round the local farmers’ market and call into some of the best farm-to-table cafés and restaurants in these neighbourhoods.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure:
Natural phenomena
Natural phenomena
Spot whales migrating, witness starry skies, soak up locations seen in blockbuster hits, or take in breathtaking views. New Zealand’s natural landscapes never fail to amaze.
Discover nature experiences
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Witness the whale migration
From March to October, humpback whales migrate north from the Antarctic, bound for the warmth of tropical waters. Take an educational, conservation-focused and environmentally-sensitive whale watching tour from Kaikōura on South Island. It affords the chance to understand the whales’ seasonal journey, as well as the opportunity to spot resident cetaceans such as sperm whales, dusky dolphins and endangered Hector’s dolphins. Rarer encounters with southern right whales and pods of pilot whales are also possible in the colder waters associated with low season. Other wildlife sightings, such as fur seals and seabirds such as the royal albatross, are an added bonus.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Experience cinematic seasons
New Zealand’s striking terrain has long attracted the attention of film directors. Movies such as The Lord of the Rings and The Power of the Dog unfold against a backdrop of epic scenery. Year-round, immerse yourself in cinematic landscapes across the country and create your own story. The off-season teases endless possibilities. For instance, after wet weather, low clouds shroud Doubtful Sound and rainfall swells its waterfalls, giving it a moody and mysterious air. Alternatively, in the soft light of a winter’s day, it’s hard to top the sight of the Southern Alps mirrored in the still waters of Lake Pukaki.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Head out on a hike
As exemplified by the country’s eleven Great Walks and countless other shorter trails, New Zealand is a trekker’s paradise. Audley guests might consider incorporating the three-day Walk the Hollyford Track excursion into a longer itinerary. At a comfortable pace, this valley hike traverses sand dunes and riverside paths, against a jaw-dropping backdrop of pristine beaches, mirror-calm lakes, tumbling waterfalls and the snow-capped Darran Mountains. Exploring this World Heritage wilderness on foot allows hikers to thoroughly absorb their surroundings. Inject a dose of adrenaline-fuelled fun with a jet boat ride and up the thrill factor with an unforgettable sightseeing flight out to Milford Sound.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Look up at dark skies
From March to October, humpback whales migrate north from the Antarctic, bound for the warmth of tropical waters. Take an educational, conservation-focused and environmentally-sensitive whale watching tour from Kaikōura on South Island. It affords the chance to understand the whales’ seasonal journey, as well as the opportunity to spot resident cetaceans such as sperm whales, dusky dolphins and endangered Hector’s dolphins. Rarer encounters with southern right whales and pods of pilot whales are also possible in the colder waters associated with low season. Other wildlife sightings, such as fur seals and seabirds such as the royal albatross, are an added bonus.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure:
Relaxation
Relaxation
Laidback seaside towns, the fresh air of the mountains and natural hot springs await in New Zealand, ready to help soothe both body and spirit.
Discover relaxation experiences
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Enjoy the coast at Coromandel
The laidback seaside towns and unspoilt bays of the Coromandel are an enticing prospect after the faster pace of Auckland, a three-hour drive away. Surf or SUP at popular Hahei Beach. From there, follow a cliff top trail littered mature tree ferns and pohutukawa trees. Descend a wooden staircase to admire Cathedral Cove (Te Whanganui-A-Hei), whose magnificent ignimbrite arch perfectly frames Ta Hoho, an offshore stump. Close by, Hot Water Beach is a stretch of sand known for its naturally-occurring thermal springs. Time your visit for low tide, when you can rent a shovel and dig yourself your very own hot tub beside the ocean.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Get outdoors in Nelson Tasman
Sunshine lifts the spirits, so where better to find it than in the place that claims more of it than anywhere else in the country? Nelson Tasman’s diversity is reflected in the plethora of restorative outdoor pursuits it offers. Kayak in sheltered bays flanked by craggy limestone cliffs. Hike trails that open up stellar views of mountain lakes and hills carpeted with beech trees. Ride a bicycle in the dappled shade of leafy forests or follow the Tasman Great Taste Trail to orchards, wineries and craft breweries. Off-season events such as November’s New Zealand Cider Festival are another reason to come.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Rejuvenate in Mackenzie
The Mackenzie region is home to New Zealand’s highest mountain and largest glacier. Amid such extraordinary surroundings, getting outdoors is a must. The Church of the Good Shepherd perches on the shore of Lake Tekapo, a site for contemplation. Tekapo Hot Springs also makes the most of this remarkable backdrop, the perfect place to relax with a drink in hand. Tekapo forms part of a UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve. Serious stargazers should visit the Mount John Observatory in the hills above the lake for a chance to see the Aurora Australis, the Milky Way and a heaven full of glittering stars.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Soothe your muscles in Waitaki
Get outdoors and explore the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark, home to unique landforms such as the spherical Moeraki Boulders as well as striking scenery such as the karst landscape at Elephant Rocks and the pinnacles and narrow ravines of Clay Cliffs. After a day’s hiking, soothe your muscles in the warm water of Hot Tubs Omarama. Situated in the midst of unspoilt countryside, gaze out over snow-capped peaks or watch the stars brighten the dark sky. Alternatively, escape to a luxurious glamping dome retreat at Valley Views where you can watch the sunset and let the flames of an open fire work their mesmerising magic.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure:
Classic New Zealand extended self-drive tour
On Audley’s 30-day Classic New Zealand extended self-drive tour, explore the most iconic destinations in the North and South Island at an unhurried pace. Watch the spectacle of erupting geysers near Rotorua, visit the Hobbiton film set, admire the Art Deco architecture of Napier and marvel at Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers.
LEARN MORE
Find your Aotearoa adventure:
Highlights of New Zealand self-drive
Travel from Auckland to Queenstown on Audley’s Highlights of New Zealand self-drive tour. Over 18 wonderful days, experience the dark skies of Aoraki Mount Cook, go whale watching from Kaikōura, be awed by the UNESCO-listed Milford Sound and appreciate the country’s Māori heritage as you attend a hangi feast.
LEARN MORE
Find your Aotearoa adventure:
Scenic New Zealand for non-drivers
Capitalise on the country’s excellent transport links on Audley’s 16-day Scenic New Zealand for non-drivers tour, journeying from Auckland to Queenstown by train, bus and plane. En route, experience windy Wellington, the coffee-loving capital, and sample the finest wines of Marlborough. Finish up immersed in the breathtaking mountain scenery of the Southern Alps.
LEARN MORE
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Transcript
Find your Aotearoa adventure:
Learn more
Māori Culture
Cuisine
Natural Phenomena
Relaxation
Find your Aotearoa adventure:
Maori Culture
Māori Culture
Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) is underpinned by customs and beliefs such as kaitiakitanga, the respect given to the natural world, and tiaki, the connection to the land and duty of care.
Discover Māori experiences
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Discover Rotorua with Maori guides
On the outskirts of Rotorua, visit the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute at Te Puia. Receive a customary greeting at a powhiri welcoming ceremony and learn about traditional crafts such as carving and weaving. Afterwards, admire the mud pools and geysers of the Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley. Free up a day to hike through a wildlife-rich native forest of totara and rimu trees, learning about their cultural significance to the Maori en route to pretty Whirinaki Falls. In the evening, devour a hangi dinner at Mitai Maori Village. There, witness warriors arrive by canoe on the Wai-o-Whiro stream and enjoy a cultural show.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Follow Maori customs
Maori life is underpinned by customs and beliefs such as kaitiakitanga, the respect given to the natural world, and tiaki, the connection to the land and duty of care. Enter the marae (sacred meeting grounds), pressing noses and foreheads together to perform the hongi. Watch spellbinding performances such as the haka – a dance of welcome – and the artful spinning of weighted poi. Listen to moteatea; these emotive songs (waiata) recount the stories of the past through chants and lullabies. Family history is also told through tamako, the intricately detailed facial and body tattoos whose motifs record a person’s ancestry and achievements.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Sail the Sounds with a Maori family
Learn more about Maori myths and legends as you explore Marlborough Sounds, an area of exquisite drowned river valleys from which forested hills rise steeply. Audley guests can join skipper Pete and his wife Takutai, boarding their classic two-masted launch for a memorable cruise. The vessel, Tutanekai, is named after a high ranking yet illegitimate Maori. According to legend, he and his half-brothers had fallen for the same woman, Hinemoa. Entranced by her beauty, they attempted to win her heart, but it was Tutanekai’s enchanting flute playing that secured her affection. The scenery that you’ll experience promises to be equally mesmerising.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure:
Cuisine
Culinary
Fresh flavours can be found all over New Zealand. Sample seafood in the Sounds, explore Auckland’s food scene, taste wines in vineyards across the country, enjoy unique craft beers, or cozy up with some of the world’s best coffee.
Discover more experiences
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Sample craft beer
Follow the New Zealand Ale Trail to discover the beer produced by around 200 craft breweries. Auckland is widely considered the industry’s epicentre but craft beer can be sampled all across the country. Guided tours take a deep dive into the brewing process, while tasting flights provide an opportunity to select personal favourites.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Visit the vineyards
New Zealand’s unique terroir means that it produces some of the best wine in the world. On North Island, Audley customers are invited to tour the cellar doors of Hawkes Bay whose abundant sunshine and fertile, gravelly soils produce world-class merlot, pinot noir, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc. Alternatively, Waiheke Island is an easy day trip from Auckland. Merlot and Syrah are its most common varietals, but there’s been an increase in whites such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris in recent years. Most of its thirty or so boutique vineyards welcome visitors year-round and nowhere’s very far from the ferry.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Order a flat white
Creamy and smooth, the flat white is New Zealand’s signature drink, the mainstay of independent roasteries which work their magic on fair trade beans. In coffee-obsessed Wellington, sniff out the best cafés as you take Audley’s guided Wellington Food Tour, going behind the scenes to meet the people that know it best.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Eat local produce
Embark upon a culinary adventure as you sample New Zealand’s signature eats. For instance, on Audley’s Greenshell Mussel tour, cruise the inner Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds as you learn about how these tasty bivalve molluscs are farmed. The opportunity to sample lightly-steamed mussels accompanied by a glass of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is a highlight. Audley guests travelling to Auckland can also join the City Tastes walking tour. Britomart and Viaduct Harbour are popular with foodies; discover why as you graze your way round the local farmers’ market and call into some of the best farm-to-table cafés and restaurants in these neighbourhoods.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure:
Natural phenomena
Natural phenomena
Spot whales migrating, witness starry skies, soak up locations seen in blockbuster hits, or take in breathtaking views. New Zealand’s natural landscapes never fail to amaze.
Discover nature experiences
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Witness the whale migration
From March to October, humpback whales migrate north from the Antarctic, bound for the warmth of tropical waters. Take an educational, conservation-focused and environmentally-sensitive whale watching tour from Kaikōura on South Island. It affords the chance to understand the whales’ seasonal journey, as well as the opportunity to spot resident cetaceans such as sperm whales, dusky dolphins and endangered Hector’s dolphins. Rarer encounters with southern right whales and pods of pilot whales are also possible in the colder waters associated with low season. Other wildlife sightings, such as fur seals and seabirds such as the royal albatross, are an added bonus.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Experience cinematic seasons
New Zealand’s striking terrain has long attracted the attention of film directors. Movies such as The Lord of the Rings and The Power of the Dog unfold against a backdrop of epic scenery. Year-round, immerse yourself in cinematic landscapes across the country and create your own story. The off-season teases endless possibilities. For instance, after wet weather, low clouds shroud Doubtful Sound and rainfall swells its waterfalls, giving it a moody and mysterious air. Alternatively, in the soft light of a winter’s day, it’s hard to top the sight of the Southern Alps mirrored in the still waters of Lake Pukaki.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Head out on a hike
As exemplified by the country’s eleven Great Walks and countless other shorter trails, New Zealand is a trekker’s paradise. Audley guests might consider incorporating the three-day Walk the Hollyford Track excursion into a longer itinerary. At a comfortable pace, this valley hike traverses sand dunes and riverside paths, against a jaw-dropping backdrop of pristine beaches, mirror-calm lakes, tumbling waterfalls and the snow-capped Darran Mountains. Exploring this World Heritage wilderness on foot allows hikers to thoroughly absorb their surroundings. Inject a dose of adrenaline-fuelled fun with a jet boat ride and up the thrill factor with an unforgettable sightseeing flight out to Milford Sound.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Look up at dark skies
From March to October, humpback whales migrate north from the Antarctic, bound for the warmth of tropical waters. Take an educational, conservation-focused and environmentally-sensitive whale watching tour from Kaikōura on South Island. It affords the chance to understand the whales’ seasonal journey, as well as the opportunity to spot resident cetaceans such as sperm whales, dusky dolphins and endangered Hector’s dolphins. Rarer encounters with southern right whales and pods of pilot whales are also possible in the colder waters associated with low season. Other wildlife sightings, such as fur seals and seabirds such as the royal albatross, are an added bonus.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure:
Relaxation
Relaxation
Laidback seaside towns, the fresh air of the mountains and natural hot springs await in New Zealand, ready to help soothe both body and spirit.
Discover relaxation experiences
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Enjoy the coast at Coromandel
The laidback seaside towns and unspoilt bays of the Coromandel are an enticing prospect after the faster pace of Auckland, a three-hour drive away. Surf or SUP at popular Hahei Beach. From there, follow a cliff top trail littered mature tree ferns and pohutukawa trees. Descend a wooden staircase to admire Cathedral Cove (Te Whanganui-A-Hei), whose magnificent ignimbrite arch perfectly frames Ta Hoho, an offshore stump. Close by, Hot Water Beach is a stretch of sand known for its naturally-occurring thermal springs. Time your visit for low tide, when you can rent a shovel and dig yourself your very own hot tub beside the ocean.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Get outdoors in Nelson Tasman
Sunshine lifts the spirits, so where better to find it than in the place that claims more of it than anywhere else in the country? Nelson Tasman’s diversity is reflected in the plethora of restorative outdoor pursuits it offers. Kayak in sheltered bays flanked by craggy limestone cliffs. Hike trails that open up stellar views of mountain lakes and hills carpeted with beech trees. Ride a bicycle in the dappled shade of leafy forests or follow the Tasman Great Taste Trail to orchards, wineries and craft breweries. Off-season events such as November’s New Zealand Cider Festival are another reason to come.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Rejuvenate in Mackenzie
The Mackenzie region is home to New Zealand’s highest mountain and largest glacier. Amid such extraordinary surroundings, getting outdoors is a must. The Church of the Good Shepherd perches on the shore of Lake Tekapo, a site for contemplation. Tekapo Hot Springs also makes the most of this remarkable backdrop, the perfect place to relax with a drink in hand. Tekapo forms part of a UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve. Serious stargazers should visit the Mount John Observatory in the hills above the lake for a chance to see the Aurora Australis, the Milky Way and a heaven full of glittering stars.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure
Soothe your muscles in Waitaki
Get outdoors and explore the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark, home to unique landforms such as the spherical Moeraki Boulders as well as striking scenery such as the karst landscape at Elephant Rocks and the pinnacles and narrow ravines of Clay Cliffs. After a day’s hiking, soothe your muscles in the warm water of Hot Tubs Omarama. Situated in the midst of unspoilt countryside, gaze out over snow-capped peaks or watch the stars brighten the dark sky. Alternatively, escape to a luxurious glamping dome retreat at Valley Views where you can watch the sunset and let the flames of an open fire work their mesmerising magic.
Next
Find your Aotearoa adventure:
Classic New Zealand extended self-drive tour
On Audley’s 30-day Classic New Zealand extended self-drive tour, explore the most iconic destinations in the North and South Island at an unhurried pace. Watch the spectacle of erupting geysers near Rotorua, visit the Hobbiton film set, admire the Art Deco architecture of Napier and marvel at Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers.
LEARN MORE
Find your Aotearoa adventure:
Highlights of New Zealand self-drive
Travel from Auckland to Queenstown on Audley’s Highlights of New Zealand self-drive tour. Over 18 wonderful days, experience the dark skies of Aoraki Mount Cook, go whale watching from Kaikōura, be awed by the UNESCO-listed Milford Sound and appreciate the country’s Māori heritage as you attend a hangi feast.
LEARN MORE
Find your Aotearoa adventure:
Scenic New Zealand for non-drivers
Capitalise on the country’s excellent transport links on Audley’s 16-day Scenic New Zealand for non-drivers tour, journeying from Auckland to Queenstown by train, bus and plane. En route, experience windy Wellington, the coffee-loving capital, and sample the finest wines of Marlborough. Finish up immersed in the breathtaking mountain scenery of the Southern Alps.
LEARN MORE