New Zealand is Lord of Rings country - home to some of the most beautiful scenery on earth. Throw in the friendliest, most welcoming people you could ever meet plus great activities and you have the classic lifetime trip. We are the only tour company to incorporate February 6 Waitangi Day celebrations into our schedule. Trip highlights include walking on a glacier that tumbles into a rain forest, sea-kayaking turquoise waters to golden sand beaches, sailing in the Bay of Islands and jet boating through the Southern Alps World Heritage area. However nothing is more memorable than our stay on the Maori tribal homeland. We are greeted with ceremony and warmth, treated with generosity and kindness and we leave as family. New Zealanders will open their homes and their hearts to you. Canyon Calling ensures you experience all of New Zealand including the beauty of the volcanoes, beaches, geysers and Alps. A trip to “Godzone” with Canyon Calling and your New Zealand Guide is the most special of experiences.
Bridget C, CA - Finding oneself inside a volcanic crater is almost unimaginable. You have presented New Zealand and all Kiwis in such a beautiful and sensitive way. Good on ya mate!
Linette H, AZ - Cheryl's knowledge and love for her native land is palpable. This is a trip I'll talk about for the rest of my life. New Zealand's beauty is only half the story. The other half is the people who live life as it should be - in the moment and full of laughter.
Becky B, Canada - Our sisterhood of the "traveling ice cream cones" was a generous, fun-loving group. What an adventure - through the most beautiful land I've ever experienced.
Celeste B, CA - Dolphins, Cathedral Cove, the glacier hike were extraordinary. Every night I went to bed with a total awareness that I was ALIVE!! NZ is kind of like Nth California on steroids! Our marae stay full of community invitation and acceptance rituals with Maori humbled us in the face of God.
Gayle D, Canada - How can I find words to describe your beautiful country? I know that having you guide us with your great stories and laughter made it extra special. Tongariro Crossing was the highlight for me!
Katie H, CA - I learned two things: 1) The best things in life are worth waiting for - the long flight from LA gave us New Zealand and a steep hike gave us spectacular views. 2) Trust those who have gone before - I could relax knowing our guides knew what they were talking about and wanted us to stay safe. I've just had the time of my life!
Tueday Feb 2
Fly from Los Angeles on Air Pacific flight FJ811 departing 9:30pm and lose Wednesday to the International Date Line.
Thursday
Arrive Fiji 5:15am. Fly Air Pacific FJ411 deparring Fiji 8:45am and arrive in Auckland 12:45pm where your Kiwi Guide will meet you in the arrivals hall. We'll drive 3 hours north to the seaside community of Paihia. Check into our apartments for a three-night stay. Before dinner we’ll visit the park where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between the Maori people and European settlers.
Friday
Journey to the top of New Zealand! Drive to Russell to meet our bus for the trip along 90-Mile Beach. We take a break to toboggan down sand dunes and stroll on the beach. At Cape Reinga we’ll see the broiling waters where the two oceans meet – a top photo spot. We’ll see giant Kauri trees and our evening meal will be at an ocean-side fresh fish restaurant. This is an especially scenic day.
Saturday
February 6 is New Zealand’s national day and we’ll rise early to see the Maori war canoes paddle across the harbor – quite a sight! Enjoy a wonderfully relaxing sail in the Bay of Islands on a 50’ yacht. You can take the helm or sit back and relax. We’ll lunch at an unspoiled anchorage and swim in crystal clear waters. Maybe we’ll see dolphins. Stop in at the tiny community of Russell, New Zealand’s first town. Gravestones and musket holes in historic buildings tell tales of less tranquil times in New Zealand history. Dinner in Paihia.
Sunday
Pakiri Beach is our morning destination for horse riding. We’ll ride across a river and through the dunes and pohutukawa glades to this gorgeous, deserted coast. Riding along the beach and into the shallows is an exhilarating experience. After lunch we’ll drive through the beautiful city of Auckland and see why it’s called the “City of Sails.” We’ll cross over to the bush-clad Coromandel Peninsula and stay in the seaside town of Tairua.
Monday
Morning takes us on a short drive up the coast and a hike down to Cathedral Cove for swimming and relaxing on the most beautiful beach in New Zealand. Hike back up then drive south through coastal towns to Rotorua, the heart of geo-thermal NZ. We’ll be just in time for the 2pm Maori Concert, an enjoyable show of singing, haka (war dance), poi and stick games. Later we’ll wander the grounds and see Pohutu, NZ’s tallest geyser. Drive south to Taupo stopping to see the best boiling mud pools in NZ and walk to thundering Huka Falls. This evening we’ll soak at thermal hot springs while a BBQ dinner is prepared for us poolside. Drive to our motel in Turangi for a two-night stay.
Tuesday
Early start for a short hop to the trailhead of the Tongariro Crossing. Known as “the finest one-day hike in NZ” this 8–10 hour hike takes us around the conical volcano Ngauruhoe and across craters of extinct Mt. Tongariro. Look upon amazing views of emerald lakes and gaping vents from previous eruptions. The hike is challenging but the views are so spectacular you’ll find the challenge worth the effort – promise! Soak in our hot pool while dinner is prepared.
Wednesday
We drive this morning to Murapara to meet our guides for a wonderful white water rafting trip on mostly grade 3 rapids of the Rangitaiki River with a float section through idyllic native forest. After lunch we’ll drive across to Hawkes Bay and you’ll have an hour free to wander the Art Deco city of Napier. At 6pm we are welcomed onto a local Maori marae (homeland) in a moving, traditional ceremony. The tribe prepares dinner and children may dance and sing for us. We sleep comfortably and communally in the whare. Our stay on the marae is a highlight of the tour.
Thursday
Drive south to the capital city of Wellington which may remind you of San Francisco with a scenic harbor and houses clinging to steep hills. Lunch in a New Zealand home with time to comb the adjacent beach. We’ll have a short tour of Wellington and explore Te Papa, the National Museum of New Zealand. Catch the Inter-Island Ferry to the South Island, a scenic trip through the Marlborough Sounds. Dinner on your own on the ferry. Overnight in the sea-side town of Picton.
Friday
An early start today for a scenic drive across to Nelson then onto Marehau. This is our day for sea-kayaking the emerald seas and golden beaches of Abel Tasman National Park. Kayak on crystal clear water around the shoreline and across to islands. Relax on the beach and swim while lunch is prepared. If there’s an afternoon sea breeze, we’ll hoist our sails and take the easy way back! There’s time for showers before driving to Murchison for dinner then through the Buller Gorge to Westport.
Saturday
Our road south is squeezed between the Southern Alps and a stunning coastline, often compared with California’s Big Sur. At Punakiki we’ll walk out to the limestone pancake formations and if we’re in luck, the sea will send blowholes into the air. Further down the coast is Hokitika, re-known for the best greenstone in NZ. Nowhere in the world at this latitude have glaciers advanced so close to the sea. At 3pm we’ll climb the fast-moving and ever-changing Franz Josef Glacier. See incredible ice formations and walk beside walls of blue ice. Dinner is “Blue Ice” pizza! A short drive brings us to the town of Fox near sunset for lodging with views of Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain.
Sunday
Lake Matheson at 6am has a stunning reflection of Mount Cook and anyone up for an early start will be treated to great photos. Breakfast near the lake. Then we’ll travel over the Alps through Haast Pass and lunch beside Lake Wanaka. Then it’s a short hop over the spectacular Crown Range to Queenstown, New Zealand’s most beautiful city. After checking into our Motor Lodge for a three-night stay there’ll be time to make bookings for activities you have planned for your day off tomorrow. Late afternoon we’ll sail on the historic steam ship Earnslaw across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Farm where we’ll see a sheep-dog round-up a flock of sheep and also a shearing demonstration. After a wonderful dinner at the historic homestead, join in a piano sing-a-long on our way back to Queenstown.
Monday
Day off!! Queenstown is the launching point for trips to world re-known Milford Sound by bus or plane. Queenstown has a host of activities for travelers – tandem paragliding, horse riding, wine tours, historic Arrowtown, Lake Te Anau to see glowworm caves, gondola ride, luging and you can even jump off Kawerau bridge, the original bungy site! Dinner on your own this evening.
Tuesday
Our all-day expedition begins with a scenic ride to Glenorchy where we’re outfitted for our journey. We board a jet boat and experience a thrilling and very scenic ride up the Dart River. The views of the Alps and glaciers in this World Heritage site will long be remembered. We inflate our kayaks then paddle in twos down the river until we get to Rock Burn Chasm, just off the main river. Paddling through this wonderland is a tour highlight. Dine tonight at a fun pub in Queenstown.
Wednesday
An early start for our drive through Mackenzie Country to Christchurch. The highlight will hopefully be views of Mt Cook (Aoraki) across the glacial waters of Lake Pukaki. We’ll lunch at Lake Tekapo, visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and see the beloved memorial to the high county sheep dog. Drive into Christchurch - the most English city outside of England! Tonight we have a comfy historic home all to ourselves. It’s a perfect place to relax and reflect on our journey through Aotearoa. Our hosts prepare a beautiful meal for our final dinner.
Thursday
After a hearty breakfast visit the Cathedral and the Suffragette Memorial (women’s right to vote was the first in the world!) There’ll be time for some last-minute shopping at the Arts Center in town before transfring to the airport for your flight to Auckland. Bus to the International Terminal for return flights to LAX – Air Pacific FJ412 departing 7:05pm and arriving Fiji 9:10pm. Connect with FJ810, departing Fiji 10:50pm.
Thursday
STILL! Arrive LAX 1:05pm. This is the day you lost on the flight over! Allow two hours to clear through immigration, baggage and customs when booking connecting flights to your hometown.
