Custom Travel Itineraries to
New Zealand since 1990
Custom Travel Itineraries to
New Zealand since 1990
Soft Adventure, Wellness and Stories Worth Travelling For
New Zealand’s North Island packs a remarkable range into a small space. You can soak in geothermal pools in the morning, sail past volcanic islands in the afternoon, and stand beneath a thousand year old forest giant before dinner. Our team has spent time with the people behind many of these experiences, and three themes stand out: soft adventure, wellness, and storytelling. Each one suits travellers who want a journey with meaning as well as comfort.
“Soft adventure” describes experiences that get your heart racing without asking you to jump out of a plane. You might glide through a forest canopy on a zipline, paddle across a volcanic lake at dusk, or roll down a hillside inside a water filled sphere that leaves you laughing the whole way down.
The best versions pair the thrill with learning. On an island in the Hauraki Gulf, you zip between the trees and then hike back up while a guide tells you the stories of the forest. In Rotorua, a kayak outing can stretch into the evening, ending with dinner, geothermal hot pools, and glow worms overhead. Couples and multigenerational families can enjoy these together, with no special fitness or experience required.
The North Island offers wellness in a form you will not find anywhere else. Rotorua’s geothermal springs vary in mineral content, so some pools are known for softening skin and others for easing tired muscles and joints. An adults only retreat near the lake takes this further with a two hour, five stage ritual that includes warm mud on the skin.
Pair a soak or treatment with an active day, and you have a rhythm that works well over a long journey.
Northland rewards travellers who like variety. Fly out of the Bay of Islands to the famous Hole in the Rock, and you can even land on a two bedroom floating platform on the water. It feels like nothing else on the coast.
Closer to the water, a private stargazing evening can include a ferry crossing, dinner, and a clear Northland sky. A behind the scenes visit to the country’s most significant treaty grounds offers a deeper look at how modern New Zealand began. Private tours suit couples and small groups who prefer to explore at their own pace.
Further west, the Hokianga asks for a few extra days and gives a lot back. You can stand beneath Tāne Mahuta, the great kauri of the Waipoua Forest, visit a cultural centre that tells the story of the explorer Kupe, and join a twilight walk that follows ancestral footprints through the trees. Few places on the island carry this much meaning.
Many travellers land in Auckland tired and wait for a hotel room. Consider using that window. You can board a racing yacht from the America’s Cup era for a two hour afternoon sail, or choose a sunset dinner cruise for a small group. On the gulf’s islands, you can spot rare native birds on a sanctuary walk.
Food plays a big role here too. A guided tasting tour through Auckland’s neighbourhoods takes you where locals eat, and a vineyard cottage day trip on the last day of a journey can finish with a drop at the airport. It is a gentle way to say goodbye.
Rotorua remains the heart of Māori culture on the North Island. You will find the classics here, including zip lines, white water rafting, a treetop walkway, and glow worm caves, alongside cultural and wellness experiences that reward a slower pace. Plan at least two nights so you can enjoy the evenings as much as the days.
The capital has plenty to offer beyond the city limits. A film effects workshop gives you a tactile, creative session if you love the big screen, and fans of a certain fantasy trilogy can join guided tours of filming locations. The national museum draws history lovers to its Gallipoli exhibition, and private and behind the scenes tours open parts of the collection that most visitors never see.
Beyond the city, a coastal safari crosses a working farm to dramatic views over the strait. In the Wairarapa, family owned producers pour wine, craft cheese, and brew beer in the unhurried way of a region that crowds have not found.
Taranaki surprises visitors with its collection of boutique stays, small guided hikes, and quiet back roads. It is a rewarding option if you have been to New Zealand before and want something different.
The North Island rewards travellers who want to understand the places they visit. Our specialists know which experiences suit your pace, your interests, and the time you have. Contact us to start designing an itinerary built around the stories that matter most to you.
The Best of New Zealand
Our team has been designing New Zealand trips since 1990.
We know which operators deliver the real thing, and which experiences reward being in the right place at the right time.
New Zealand`s grande dame of luxury lodges just got a $25 million refresh. Huka Lodge has reopened with an expanded River Room, brand new wellness grounds, and doubled guest spaces, all while keeping the intimate character that made it iconic in the first place. See what changed and what stayed exactly the same.
Read the full story, link in bio.
📸 Huka Lodge
#hukalodge #newzealandluxury #luxurylodges #nztravel #bestofnztravel
https://thebestofnewzealand.com/news/huka-lodge-reopens-after-25m-renovation/
Air New Zealand’s New Business Premier Suite
Big news for your next trip to New Zealand. Air New Zealand is unveiling a brand new Business Premier suite for its Boeing 777 fleet, complete with lie-flat beds, sliding privacy doors, and a sleek 18-inch entertainment screen at every seat.
Read more through link in our bio.
#airnewzealand #newzealandtravel #luxurytravel #travelnz #bestofnztravel
Hawke’s Bay sits on the eastern coast of New Zealand’s North Island, and most visitors pass through without stopping long enough to see what the region offers. That is a mistake worth correcting. From ancient geological formations to one of the world’s most accessible wildlife colonies, Hawke’s Bay rewards travelers who take the time to go beyond the obvious.
These 5 experiences are worth building your itinerary around!
Read more through link in bio.
#hawkesbay #newzealandguide #napiernz #luxurytravel #bestofnztravel
At 399 meters, Te Mata Peak gives you views across farmland, coastline, and the ranges beyond. Drive, walk, or cycle to the top. Either way, the view is worth it. This is the one stop in Hawke’s Bay that puts the whole region in perspective.
#tematapeaknz #newzealandwalks
At 399 meters, Te Mata Peak gives you views across farmland, coastline, and the ranges beyond. Drive, walk, or cycle to the top. Either way, the view is worth it. This is the one stop in Hawke’s Bay that puts the whole region in perspective.
#tematapeaknz #newzealandwalks
Napier is one of the most complete Art Deco cities in the world. Once a year, the whole city commits to it. Music, vintage cars, exhibitions, and architecture that stops you mid-stride. If you time your visit right, this is an experience unlike anything else in New Zealand.
#napierartdeco #visitnapiernz #napiernz #nztouring
Napier is one of the most complete Art Deco cities in the world. Once a year, the whole city commits to it. Music, vintage cars, exhibitions, and architecture that stops you mid-stride. If you time your visit right, this is an experience unlike anything else in New Zealand.
#napierartdeco #visitnapiernz #napiernz #nztouring
Nearly two meters of wingspan, up close, with no fence between you and them. The gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers is the largest accessible mainland colony in the world. Tours run September through April, so the timing of your trip matters. Worth planning around.
#gannetcolonynz #birdtour
Green hills, open coastline, and enough space to feel like you have the beach to yourself. Waimarama is about 40 minutes south of Napier and one of the most scenic stretche
Top 10 Honeymoon Experiences in New Zealand
New Zealand is one of the world`s great honeymoon destinations, and not because anyone designed it that way. It just is. The scale of it gets you first. Those sudden views at the top of a ridge, a fiord opening up around a bend, a sky so full of stars it feels impossible.
From glowworm caves to glacier overnights, here are the top 10 experiences worth travelling for. Link in bio to read more!
#honeymoonexperiences #newzealandtravel #luxurytravelnz #newzealanditinerary #thebestofnz
https://thebestofnewzealand.com/activities/wine-cuisine/new-zealand-honeymoon-10-most-romantic-experiences/
Air New Zealand to Launch Sleep Pods in Economy Cabins
If you have ever dreamed of lying flat on a long-haul flight without paying for a business class ticket, Air New Zealand is about to make that dream a reality. The airline is set to launch the world`s first economy sleep pods, called the Economy Skynest, on select ultra long-haul flights from November 2026.
Read more through our link in bio.
📸 Air New Zealand
#airnewzealand #travelnewzealand #visitnewzealand #explorenewzealand #bestofnztravel
https://thebestofnewzealand.com/activities/wine-cuisine/air-new-zealand-to-launch-sleep-pods-in-economy-cabins/
Craggy Range Signature Gourmet Escape: Hawke`s Bay Luxury
If you`ve been dreaming of a New Zealand escape that goes far beyond a standard hotel stay, Craggy Range in Hawke`s Bay has crafted something truly special. Their Signature Gourmet Escape is a fully all-inclusive, multi-day experience that wraps world-class dining, wine, and luxury lodge living into one seamless package.
Read more through link in bio.
📸 Craggy Range
https://thebestofnewzealand.com/activities/wine-cuisine/craggy-range-signature-gourmet-escape-hawkes-bay-luxury/
Lake Tekapo, New Zealand: What to Do, See, & Experience
Lake Tekapo is one of those rare destinations that genuinely exceeds expectations. Tucked into the heart of New Zealand’s South Island, the lake stuns visitors with its impossibly turquoise waters while the jagged peaks of the Southern Alps rise dramatically behind them. But beyond its picture-perfect looks, Tekapo rewards you at every hour of the day.
Read more through our link in bio.
📸 GoTekapo
#laketekapo #luxurytravelnz #newzealandvacations #nzactivites #bestofnztravel
https://thebestofnewzealand.com/travel-tips/lake-tekapo-new-zealand-what-to-do-see-experience/
Tucked at the foot of Mount Aspiring National Park on New Zealand’s South Island, Wānaka packs paragliding, canyoning, jet boating, skydiving, mountain biking, and so much more into one jaw-droppingly beautiful corner of the world. Whether you’re a first-timer looking to push your limits or a seasoned adrenaline junkie, Wānaka delivers the goods every single time.
Link in bio to read more.
📸 Wanaka Paragliding
#luxurytravelnz #newzealandadventures #wanakaadventures #visitwanaka #bestofnztravel
