Welcome - or "Kia Ora" (KEE-ə OR-ə) as the locals say - to New Zealand! Today, we'll arrive in Auckland and transfer to the hotel.

Those who like to fly and flop are welcome to spend the rest of the day at leisure in our four-star hotel, the Grand Millennium, taking advantage of the hotel's luxurious facilities. But those who'd like to begin exploring could not be better placed. Albert Park is a great spot to stretch your legs and enjoy the sunshine after a long flight. Close by is the Sky Tower - its dizzying 328m height offers the best view of the city, the surrounding ancient volcanoes, sparkling sunlit harbours and beyond. You could also enjoy sea views with two feet on solid ground in Viaduct Harbour, especially enjoyable from one of the world-class restaurants that line the front.

We'll head north over the Auckland Harbour Bridge and along the Hibiscus Coast to Parry Kauri Park, home to two of the largest living kauri trees on the East Coast. These giant trees can live for more than 2,000 years, growing to more than 50 metres tall.

Continuing our journey over the gentle green landscapes of North Island, we'll reach the Bay of Islands by the afternoon. For those who love beaches and the water, the Bay of Islands is paradise. Encompassing 144 islands between Cape Brett and the Purerua Peninsula, the region is known for its beauty and history.

As we arrive in Piahai, we'll explore its history with a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty House, where in 1840, Maori chiefs and the original European settlers signed the Treaty of Waitangi, the basis of the future governance of New Zealand. The house has been restored to look as it did in 1834 when it was the first British Residency in New Zealand.

This morning we’ll see the Bay of Islands in the best way possible via a boat cruise meandering around the idyllic beaches that make this area so popular. If you’re lucky, there’s a chance you may see wild dolphins which are common in the Bay of Islands.

We’ll continue on to Cape Brett and the famous ‘Hole in the Rock’, through which the boat will sail slowly, conditions permitting.

The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure to enjoy many of the activities the Bay of Islands has to offer.

Travelling south, we’ll leave the Bay of Islands on the Twin Coast Discovery Highway, a coastal route along winding roads that pass secluded beaches. We'll travel through Whangarei and back across Harbour Bridge arriving in Auckland for a sightseeing tour of the ‘City of Sails’, so-called for the popularity of sailing in this area. We'll drive along the waterfront to view a local volcano and the scenic waterfront route around Auckland's eastern bays. We'll visit the trendy Parnell Village Auckland's first suburb and the vibrant Viaduct Harbour area.

We’ll also visit the Auckland Museum (self-guided entry) which gives an introduction to the legacy and cultures of the peoples of the Pacific including the monumental carvings, buildings, canoes and taonga (treasures) of the Maori. And we’ll learn about the diversity of cultures which now combine to form the rich tapestry of race, nationality and creed which is modern New Zealand.

Leaving Auckland, we'll head south through some of New Zealand’s lush farmlands within the Waikato Valley, journeying along the east bank of the country’s largest river – the Waikato. Arriving in the rural area of Waitomo, we’ll go underground to explore the famous Waitomo Caves – an ancient labyrinth of caves and grottos famous for their fascinating limestone stalagmites and stalactites formed over thousands of years. You can also enjoy a silent boat ride within the underground waters to the starry wonderland of the magnificent glowworm grotto.

Back up above ground, the journey will continue across the bush-clad Mamaku Ranges to Rotorua.

Rotorua has the most energetic thermal activity in the country with mud pools, geysers, hot springs and terrace formations created by the hot, mineral-rich waters. Rotorua is also renowned for its Maori cultural activities.

We’ll visit Te Puia – where our local Maori guide will explain traditional Maori arts and crafts - and we’ll view the famous Pohutu Geyser in the Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley.

After our guided tour, our evening begins with a delicious buffet dinner in the Pātaka Kai Restaurant, including food from the hangi - a traditional Maori method of cooking.

The evening concludes with a powerful cultural performance in the fully carved Te Aronui-a-Rua meeting house, featuring waiata (song), mōteatea (traditional chant) poiand haka.

This morning, we'll step into the pages of JRR Tolkien's famous novels - or as close as we can get - with a guided visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set, the bucolic setting for The Shire which featured in Peter Jackson's films, ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy and, more recently, ‘The Hobbit’.

It begins with a drive through the picturesque 1,250-acre sheep farm with spectacular views across to the Kaimai Ranges. We'll then follow our guide around the ten-acre site as they recite fascinating details of how the Hobbiton set was created. We’ll see structures made for both the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films - including The Hobbit holes, Green Dragon Inn, and the Mill - and learn more about how this beautiful piece of Waikato farmland was transformed into The Shire from Middle-earth.

After our walking tour, we'll return to the Green Dragon Inn for a complimentary drink and return to The Shires Rest, before heading back to Rotorua for an afternoon and evening at leisure.

Day 9 Napier

Leaving Rotorua this morning, we’ll travel to the charming lakeside town of Taupo stopping en-route at Huka Falls. Part of the Waikato river, New Zealand's longest river, the water enters a shallow ravine just before the falls making the water roar and rumble at great speeds along the ravine before bursting out over Huka Falls. More than 220,000 litres of water barrels over the edge of the 11m high waterfall - a magnificent display of natural hydropower.

Then it's on to Napier. Located on Hawke's Bay, it's known as the Art Deco capital of the world.  Street after street of beautifully restored Art Deco architecture, as well as Stripped Classical and Spanish Mission buildings. On arrival, we’ll meet our local guide and take a fascinating walking tour of the city's most beautiful buildings.

The rest of the day is spent at leisure in Napier. Look out for the Sea Walls collection of magnificent murals painted on more than 50 walls around the city. It’s also home to many fine wineries, fabulous restaurants, bars and cafes so finding dinner tonight will be no problem!

Today we’ll continue south through Hastings and the Hawkes Bay sheep and cattle farming country to Woodville, before driving onto Wellington.

On arrival we will enjoy an afternoon of sightseeing passing Parliament Buildings, Ols St Paul’s Cathedral, the lovely Botanical Gardens, Victoria University and a visit to Te Papa – the National Museum of New Zealand.

The Cook Strait was named after James Cook, the first European commander to sail through it. Its Māori name is Raukawa or Raukawa Moana, meaning sea salt. As we cruise across the strait, we'll enjoy breathtaking views of the Marlborough Sounds, including the picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound, and into Picton (and maybe even a dolphin or two).

Continuing on we’ll reach Blenheim and the famous wine-producing region of Marlborough. Marlborough produces 75% of New Zealand's wine and is the undisputed home of Sauvignon Blanc - known for its intense and pure flavours. Along the way, we'll sample some of Marlborough's stunning wines right next to the vines the grapes were grown on during a tasting. And learn more about the distinctive flavours and art of viticulture that go into every glass.

Our final destination is Nelson, where we'll stay for two nights. This is New Zealand's sunshine town. A magnet for creative people, it's known for its many art and craft galleries so, before you sit in the setting sun and dine on the famous Nelson Bay scallops, you could explore their studios or head to the craft markets.

We'll join a catamaran cruise along the shoreline of Abel Tasman, passing beaches, coves and islands. We’ll discover the sights of Split Apple Rock, Medlands Beach, Torrent Bay and other spots. En route, our expert guide will tell us more about the history of Abel Tasman National Park, named after the first European to discover Tasmania and confirm Australia as an island continent. For the more adventurous, there is the option of landing ashore at Kaiteriteri and walk from Apple Tree Bay to Anchorage (approx. two hours) where our boat will be waiting for us.

The rest of the afternoon is free to spend at leisure exploring Nelson. You could spend time exploring the thriving art scene or find even more nature - beaches, rivers, lakes and mountains are just a stone's throw away. With a diverse selection of restaurants, wine bars, and craft breweries, dinner will be easy to find this evening.

A packed lunch is included today.

Travelling towards Christchurch, we'll pass through Maruia Forest and over the Lewis Pass. The landscape here can seem a million miles away from the modern cities - its rugged and windswept with abundant nature. We'll stop in Hanmer Springs, a charming town with a main street filled with boutique shops, cafes and eateries - there'll be plenty of choices for lunch!

We'll then join the upper reaches of the Canterbury Plains to the ‘garden city’ of Christchurch. Since the earthquake of 2011, the Transitional 'Cardboard' Cathedral has become an icon of the city. The walls are waves of cardboard drawing the eyes upwards and the roof is a thin translucent skin. It is one of very few buildings in the world made substantially of cardboard (definitely the only Cathedral). The Botanical Gardens, founded in 1863, started with an English oak tree and grew into an elegant 21-hectare park with more than 10 gardens framed by mature trees and expansive lawns. We'll have the opportunity to visit both today.

Today, we’ll traverse the Southern Alps aboard the world-famous TranzAlpine train to Arthur's Pass. From the panoramic windows of your carriage, you’ll see the expansive farmland of the Canterbury Plains give way to the gorges and valleys of the ice-fed Waimakariri River as it flows along its unique braided riverbed, crossing bridges and viaducts as we begin to climb.

At Arthur's Pass, we’ll be met by our coach for the journey to the West Coast, stopping in Hokitika to visit a Greenstone workshop where the local jade-like stone, highly prized by pre-European Maori, is crafted into exquisite jewellery.

We’ll continue south through forests and farmland, with views of the Alps to the east and the Tasman Sea to the west, to the village of Franz Josef.

This afternoon prepare yourself for what will be one of your trip’s highlights (and we don’t say that lightly)!

On arrival in Franz Josef village, you will experience this magnificent glacial alpine environment with a 20-minute scenic helicopter flight. This is your chance to view the phenomenal glacier as it winds slowly down the ice-carved valleys from its origin in the mountains high above you. A helicopter ride isn’t just the best way to see this glacier, it’s the only way to see it as footpaths have been closed since 2012. This really is a unique experience. During your flight, you may enjoy an alpine landing (subject to poor weather conditions, alternative flights are in Queenstown or Mount Cook).

Continuing south, we’ll travel past deserted beaches, through vibrant rainforests and settlements.

This wilderness forms part of the Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Area, so designated because South Westland and Fiordland have some of the most dramatic forest, mountain scenery and natural resources in the world.

We’ll travel over the scenic Haast Pass to the popular Lake Wanaka, and then on to the beautiful year-round resort of Queenstown where our hotel for the next two nights is the four-star Copthorne Lakefront Resort, with breakfast.

Spend the rest of the day at leisure in the city - the centre of bustling Queenstown is just a short walk away.

Leaving Queenstown, we’ll skirt the shores of Lake Wakatipu and travel via Te Anau through the Homer Tunnel into the spectacular Cleddau Valley. Then it’s on to the famous Milford Sound, arguably the most spectacular fjord in the country within the Fiordland National Park part of the UNESCO South West New Zealand World Heritage Area.

A boat trip on the deep fjord waters between sheer granite cliffs rising thousands of feet, affords wonderful views of mile-high Mitre Peak and the 500-foot Stirling Falls.

There is a good chance of seeing dolphins, fur seals or penguins during our trip before we return to the charming small lakeside resort of Te Anau.

Travelling back north, we'll visit Arrowtown, a charming township nestled beside Arrow River beneath mighty mountain peaks. The town has a colourful history, in its heyday it was a rough and ready frontier and gold-mining boomtown. Nowadays, its popular main street is lined with locally owned and operated boutiques, art galleries and cafes. You can buy jewellery made of gold taken from the Arrow River or try hand-made confectionery, local cheese and Central Otago wines grown and produced less than two hours away.

We’ll continue through the rugged Kawarau Gorge, passing pretty Lake Dunstan, and across the distinctive Central Otago countryside. (Many of the scenes of Lord of the Rings were filmed here so keep your eyes peeled for familiar sights.) Then it's over the dramatic Lindis Pass to the expansive Mackenzie Basin ending our journey in the small town of Ōmarama.

Today is chock full of epic landscapes and breathtaking natural sights. We'll head north along the glacier-fed Lake Pukaki with its startling turquoise waters to Mount Cook, or Aoraki. At 12,316ft, it is New Zealand’s highest mountain and surrounded by jagged snow-covered peaks.

According to Ngāi Tahu legend, Aoraki and his three brothers were the sons of Rakinui, the Sky Father. While on a sea voyage, their canoe overturned on a reef. When the brothers climbed on top of their canoe, the freezing south wind turned them to stone. The canoe became the South Island (Te Waka o Aoraki); Aoraki and his brothers became the peaks of the Southern Alps.

There’s time for a short walk in the spectacular Hooker Valley (depending on the weather) and a visit to the Edmund Hilary Alpine Centre (entrance fee), or for an optional helicopter flight over the spectacular West Coast glaciers.

Lake Tekapo

We’ll continue towards the magnificent blue waters of Lake Tekapo and visit the exterior of the Church of the Good Shepherd, before crossing Burkes Pass and the Canterbury Plains back into Christchurch for our last night in New Zealand.

Say Haere rā (goodbye) to The Land of the Long White Cloud and G'day to Australia as we take a flight to the Land Down Under.

On arrival, we'll take an introductory tour of the sophisticated, stylish and free-spirited city of Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city. With world-class art and architecture and vibrant music and food scenes, there's plenty to see. The rectangular city centre is full of high-rises, stately buildings and boutique-filled alleyways. But you don't have to venture too far from the centre of the city to find wide open parks and gardens and classic architecture, like the Old Treasury Building and the Exhibition buildings, built for the Great Exhibition in 1880.

Sports fans are always excited to see the MCG - the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground - and Rod Laver Arena, where the Australian Open Tennis competition is played each year. We’ll also see parklands, the War Memorial, and the city’s meeting point - Federation Square.

This morning, we’ll travel through Melbourne’s eastern suburbs to The Dandenong Ranges. Arguably one of the best ways to explore these rolling hills is on Puffing Billy – a traditional steam train that chugs its way through lush mountainside from Belgrave. We’ll disembark at Lakeside Visitor Centre and Museum, where our coach will be waiting for us.

From the Lakeside Visitors Centre and Museum, we’ll make our way to Phillip Island, where we’ll visit the Phillip Island Koala Centre, where you can wander tree-top boardwalks to watch koalas up close in their natural habitat. Next is the Nobbies Centre. Overlooking the waters of Bass Strait, the Nobbies Centre showcases marine life of the southern oceans, including Australian fur seals.

After this, we’ll have the privilege to witness the Penguin Parade! This unique experience takes part in the Phillip Island Nature Park, the area is a reserve designed to protect and promote awareness of the Little Penguin species.

Once we’re settled at environmentally friendly observation boardwalks and viewing stands, it’s time for the magic to begin. As the sun sets, you’ll be waiting in silent anticipation to see one penguin emerge from the water, followed by another, until dozens of Little Penguins have emerged from the ocean to take their daily journey back to their sand-dune burrows. To see them come out of the surf in small groups and waddle up the beach is a fascinating experience that is cute enough to warm even the hardest heart.

This is our last experience of the day, and afterwards we’ll make our way back to the hotel. It will be quite late by the time we return to Melbourne, but the day will have been worth it.

Today we'll leave Melbourne and fly to the Emerald City of Sydney and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.