Arrive Auckland and fly to Nelson on the South Island.

Here you stay in a lovely and very friendly guest house accommodation.

Easy distance to town and art galleries, enjoy Nelson’s art community and waterfront.

(Note: this excursion can operate in the reverse certain departure days)

You are collected from the hotel between 7.00am and 7.15am for a 3-day kayak and trek of the coast of the Abel Tasman National Park. (Those that would like to trek only with an option to sea kayak may do this option)

After a briefing and gathering of complimentary lunch and day pack – no heavy packs are required, as your overnight luggage will be taken to each lodge by boat – our adventure begins! The coastline cruise from Kaiteriteri aboard one of the launches is stunning, and the crew will provide a personal commentary on historical and geographical highlights. At Totaranui you walk north to Anapai Bay – or further if you are energetic – before returning to the Homestead Lodge at Awaroa.

Includes morning and afternoon tea, lunch & dinner.

About 6.5 miles walking throughout the day.

Walking: Tonga/Awaroa – 1 hour 30 minutes, 3.5 miles

Kayaking: Torrent Bay/Tonga – 4 hours paddling, 6.5 miles

Includes breakfast, morning and afternoon tea, lunch & dinner.

Leave Awaroa and walk over the Tonga Saddle. Here you stable sea kayak awaits. Your guide will give you a full training briefing before spending the rest of the day beach-hopping to Torrent Bay. Cruising past Tonga Quarry your guide will give you the history of this abandoned granite quarry, pointing at some of the relics still to be found there. If the tide is right, you can view the granite archways formed by the sea. In the right conditions, you can also visit the seal colony on Tonga Island. Stop for lunch at Bark Bay and take time out to relax, explore, swim or sunbathe on the golden sand. Then it’s on to explore the beautiful beaches, tidal estuaries and rivers of the best kayaking area of the park. Continue on to our other beach front lodge at Torrent Bay.

Kayaking: Torrent Bay to Marahau/Kaiteriteri - 4 hours, 6.5 miles

Coach: Marahau/Kaiteriteri to Moteuka/Nelson

Includes breakfast, morning and afternoon tea & lunch

On the final day of your Abel Tasman trip, you kayak south, the section of the coast boasts many little bays in which French Explorer Du’mont Durville spent time exploring in 1827, most of the names in the area relate to this expedition. Stop for lunch at any one of the bays, then paddle to Marahau. Here you will be met by coach and returned to Nelson (5.30pm).

You travel by comfortable Intercity Coach Service this afternoon to Picton. Picton is a harbourside town that caters to ferry traffic to the North Island and marine adventures in the Marlborough Sounds.

Settle into your friendly bed and breakfast accommodation in town centre.

(Note: your luggage will be transferred to this night’s hotel, but take a small back pack with camera, lunch, water bottle, etc., for the day’s use).

Make your way to the ferry wharf this morning for your 8.00am water taxi transfer to a remote and extraordinary place. Once a settlement of about 400 people, this is today an historic sight where famous Captain Cook stayed. Start out along this wonderful day hike at your own pace, viewing the Sounds from a high ridge. There are overgrown paths (look carefully for them) which will take you down to the water and you can contemplate this extraordinary area quietly.

Continue walking until you reach the lodge for your overnight. Luggage and a hot shower, cold drink awaits!

Breakfast at your leisure. Recommend you take lunch or a good snack along for your walk to Punga Cove (walking time approx 3 to 4 hours). Luggage is transferred for you. On arrival in Punga Cove, settle into you’re A-frame ‘chalet’ for the evening. You should have time for more walking in the area, or a swim in the pool with a cold drink!

You are collected from Punga Cove jetty this morning for your ferry transfer back to Picton. Here, collect your rental car. Commence the drive along the coast south to a small Maori fishing village set on the sea. On a rocky coastline, a bluff beneath the towering Kaikoura mountains forms the spectacular setting for this beautiful fishing (formerly whaling) town. The name Kaikoura means "a meal of crayfish", and these are still caught locally. Overnight Kaikoura.

Please report this morning for your whale watching boat trip. Weather permitting, board a boat and head to sea. From the deck of the boat, you are likely to see Sperm Whales, the largest of all the toothed whales, reaching 20 metres (66ft) in length. These awesome mammals are seen year round at Kaikoura, but are most common in winter. You are very likely to see large groups of Dusky Dolphins in these waters, especially in summer. Their typically boisterous behaviour and spectacular leaps make Duskies a real treat to see.

On your return to Kaikoura, please meet your guide and boat for the departure on your swimming with the dolphins. Experience the magic of swimming with or viewing up to 600 Dusky Dolphins in their natural environment. The Duskies would be the most charming, acrobatic and photogenic of all dolphin species. An exhilarating experience, that will stay in your memory for many years.

Depart town at your leisure for the 2.5 hour drive to Christchurch and settle into a boutique bed and breakfast. Return your rental car. (You may add a day to your tour and stay in Christchurch one additional night.)

You are transferred to the rail station and board the Tranz Alpine train for one of the world’s most beautiful rail journeys. Travel across the Cantebury Plain and up into the Southern Alps and across to Arthurs Pass where you are met by your hosts.

Nestled into the natural landscape of the Southern Alps at Arthurs Pass, this stone and wood lodge offers mountain and river views stretching 35 miles! The lounge and library offer cozy, relaxing rooms with books and fine wines, and good food in the dining room. Make good friends around the fireplace.

Enjoy nature tours and farm activities on this high country station which works to preserve the special plants, forests and wildlife living here. A quality flock of Merino sheep are bred and raised here, an opportunity for you to experience the workings of a New Zealand farm.

There are historic walks, nature walks, canoeing in the high country, caving and getting into farm activities such as mustering and fencing!! Trout fishing a mountain walks are also available.

Depart the lodge after breakfast, continuing by rail to the west coastal town of Greymouth. Collect your rental car and continue your journey, now south, by road. Thick rainforest is bordered by the sea and small towns dot the coastline. Notice the small signs directing you along the way to short walks into scenic areas. You can simply park along the road and take a stroll.

Accommodation in Franz Josef motel. .

After being fitted out with glacier boots, a 10 minute bus ride takes you to within 2 kilometres (1½ miles) of the glacier. The trip proceeds on to the terminal face of the glacier for approximately 1½ hours (conditions permitting). The terrain can look daunting but be assured, the pre-formed access-ways make it achievable for most agile people. Hundreds of sprightly seniors and toddlers in backpacks have enjoyed the experience. The huge effort our guides put into creating extensive trails along with the Ice TalonzTM on your feet makes this different from others available

Continue your drive immediately to a beautiful wilderness Lodge tucked into the forest near to the sea for two nights.

This is a nature lover's paradise: spectacular beaches that are home to fur seals and crested penguins, untouched lowland rainforests spread between pristine lakes and rivers.

Rainforest discovery walks leave at dawn or mid-afternoon and explore the ferns, orchids, giant trees and birds of the rainforest. Handfeed tame eels! (Nature guides can be hired for walks throughout the area or you may go on your own). Fish for brown trout, canoe the lake (a 3-hour excursion to the Tasman coast), or join a daily walk to explore the white beaches, blue sea, waterfalls, seals and penguins of the Knights Point coastline.

In the evening, see the glowworms and Southern Cross, relax in front of the log fire and converse with other guests, enjoy a drink or wine from the excellent cellar. Fresh fish from the river, seafood from the coast and game from the forest are specialties.

The warm hospitality of the lodge awaits you in the evening in front of a fireplace with newfound friends.

Travel south to Wanaka, a popular summer resort. Continue on to the South Island’s premier resort, Queenstown and return your rental car. Settle into a historic bed & breakfast in the town centre.

You are picked up from your hotel for an exciting day in some of the most remote and scenic wilderness in New Zealand. Travel with your guide up a scenic road where you board your jetboat. Travel up this exquisite river to meet your canoes, don your canoe "gear", have some instruction and then set off downriver through magnificent scenery - about a 15-mile paddle. Lunch enroute, then you are transferred late afternoon to Queenstown (after a stop for refreshments at a local pub!).