This is our daily schedule at a glance. Our tour staff will make daily announcements with specifics and times during the trip. Note that our itinerary may shift due to the weather or to take advantage of unexpected opportunities.

The pace of this tour is considered to be moderately active. In order to make the most of what each locale has to offer, daily programs will be busy with some early-morning departures. A typical day is adventure-filled, balanced by relaxing periods between touring activities. We begin the day with breakfast. We generally set out around 9:00 a.m. for our day’s excursion, armed with rain gear, an extra layer (sweater or wrap), sunscreen, sunglasses, water, hat, camera and our comfortable walking shoes. There will be some coach travel, with up to three miles of walking and perhaps climbing stairs without handrails. We stop along the way to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we are off again in the afternoon for an excursion before returning to our hotel. On arrival at our hotel, we have time for a shower and some rest, then perhaps a lecture before dinner. Dinners are usually served around 7:00 or 7:30 p.m. in New Zealand.

Meals included in the program are indicated next to the hotel name with the following designations:

B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner R = Reception

Main Program

Monday, January 9

Arrive Auckland, New Zealand

Fly from your home city to Auckland.

Upon arrival on Monday, transfer to our hotel. Your room will be available starting at 6:00 a.m.

12:30 p.m. Lunch in the Boulevard Room. More details will be provided in a welcome letter upon arrival.

1:30 p.m. Depart from the hotel lobby for our walking tour around central Auckland. Visit a variety of historic and contemporary buildings that house art spaces and learn about how public art is shaping the city.

6:00 p.m. Welcome reception followed by dinner at the hotel. We will be joined by two Stanford Alumni who run the Stanford in New Zealand Alumni Club and a few folks from the U.S. Consulate in Auckland who will talk about U.S. / NZ relations.

Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour (L, R, D)

Tuesday, January 10

Auckland

Breakfast is served at the hotel.

Morning:

This morning take a privately guided tour of the Auckland War Memorial Museum, the guardian of the largest and most significant collection of Māori treasures in the world. At this quiet place of reflection, we see key symbols that link the spiritual past of the indigenous Māori to the present-day culture.

Afternoon:

After lunch at a local favorite, learn what it takes to make, shape and become a professional rugby player at the All Blacks Experience. Hear the players’ stories and feel the passion behind the famous All Blacks haka before testing your rugby skills in a hands-on interactive zone. Later we visit Weta Workshop, the award-winning creative design and practical effects company behind such films as The Lord of the Rings and Avatar. Take the Unleashed tour to experience the worlds of horror, sci-fi and fantasy in-the-making, walking through the middle of a movie scene as it’s being shot.

Dinner is at your leisure this evening.

Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour (B, L)

Wednesday, January 11

Auckland/ Rotorua / Wellington

Breakfast is served at the hotel.

Morning:

This morning we board our first private charter flight, from Auckland to Rotorua (flight time is approximately 40 minutes). Upon arrival in Rotorua, tour Te Puia, a place of rushing waters, steaming vents, boiling mud and spectacular geysers. Our local Māori hosts lead us on a privately guided tour of Ohinemutu, an ancient Māori village where descendants of the original inhabitants still live today.

Afternoon:

In the late afternoon, we board our aircraft and fly to Wellington (approximately 1 hour). Transfer to our hotel and enjoy dinner in-house at Two Grey restaurant.

Intercontinental Wellington (B, L,D - we have club level rooms, which gives our group access to afternoon tea and pre-dinner drinks and canapes.

Thursday, January 12

Wellington

Breakfast is served in the Two Grey at our hotel.

Morning:

Head to the “Beehive,” New Zealand’s Parliament Building, to hear about the New Zealand government and the innovative technology used to quake-proof the city’s historic buildings. Next, visit the Reserve Bank Museum for a look at New Zealand's economic and banking heritage.

Afternoon:

After lunch visit the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa for an introduction by a staff member, followed by time to explore on your own. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon and evening at leisure.

Intercontinental Wellington (B, L) - we also have club level rooms, which gives our group access to afternoon tea and pre-dinner drinks and canapes.

Friday, January 13

Wellington/ Blenheim

Breakfast is served in the Chameleon restaurant at our hotel.

Morning:

This morning, reboard our plane for a flight to Blenheim (flight time is approximately 30 minutes). On arrival, visit a stunning Marlborough property to enjoy lunch showcasing local produce at Harvest Restaurant.

Afternoon:

This afternoon we visit Mahi Wines for wine tasting and a behind-the-scenes look at their approach to the winemaking process during a tour of their barrel hall and cave cellar.

Enjoy dinner at leisure this evening.

Chateau Marlborough (B, L)

Saturday, January 14

Blenheim / Marlborough Sounds

Breakfast is at our hotel this morning.

Morning:

This morning tour the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, which contains an impressive collection of aircraft and rare memorabilia in a mix of static displays and flyable planes.

Afternoon:

Have lunch at a local winery before driving to Picton to embark on a cruise of Marlborough Sounds. Learn about aquaculture in the sounds as we cruise near a salmon farm and appreciate the verdant scenery while sampling some fabulous seafood and a superb Marlborough sauvignon blanc.

This evening we will dine at Quench restaurant in-house. We will be joined by Aaron Furrer, '16, who started and ran an agricultural technology company in New Zealand for 4.5 years and now worked in sheep genetics building a value chain connecting sheep farmers producing, premium lamb, to top chefs around the world all through a profit share model back to the farmers. He will talk a little bit about his life in New Zealand after Stanford.

Chateau Marlborough (B, L, D)

Sunday, January 15

Blenheim / Christchurch

Breakfast is at our hotel this morning.

Morning:

Board our coach for a scenic drive to Christchurch, learning along the way about the major engineering that has been done to reopen the harbor, rails and roads after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake on the coast of Kaikoura in November 2016.

Lunch:

Stop in Kaikoura to enjoy lunch and take a walk in the coastal town, viewing the aftermath of the earthquake, before returning to the coach. Our next stop is at a working farm to see sheep dogs in action and learn about New Zealand's farming systems and current conservation efforts. Continue on to Christchurch.

Hotel Montreal (B, L, D)

Monday, January 16

Christchurch

Breakfast is at our hotel this morning.

Morning:

After breakfast embark on a guided walking tour of the city. See firsthand some of the areas affected by the devastating earthquakes and learn how Christchurch is rebuilding and preserving some of its iconic buildings. End with a punt along the tranquil Avon River.

Afternoon:

After lunch at Curators House restaurant, then take a guided walking tour of the Botanic Gardens.

Hotel Montreal (B, L, D)

Tuesday, January 17

Christchurch / Queenstown

Breakfast is at our hotel this morning.

Morning:

Board our private plane this morning for our flight to Queenstown (approximately 1 hour). Travel outside the city to Arrowtown, a historic gold mining town, established in 1862 during the height of the Otago Gold Rush.

Afternoon:

After lunch at The Dishery restaurant, head to the Shotover River for a thrilling ride on the Shotover Jet through the deep canyon. Dinner this evening will be at The Bathhouse restaurant.

Hotel St Moritz (B, L, D)

Wednesday, January 18

Queenstown / Milford Sound

Breakfast is served in the Lombardi restaurant at our hotel.

Morning:

Depart for Milford Sound on a caravan of helicopters, experiencing the stunning fjord from the air (weather depending). Upon arrival board a private-charter boat for a cruise the sheer cliffs, massive waterfalls, glaciers and rainforest while you keep a look out for wildlife like seals and dolphins. Enjoy lunch onboard the ship.

Afternoon:

The group will arrive back at the hotel around 2:30 p.m. and can enjoy an afternoon and evening at leisure.

Hotel St Moritz (B, L)

Thursday, January 19

Queenstown

Breakfast is served in the Lombardi restaurant at our hotel.

Morning:

This morning visit the Kiwi Birdlife Park, devoted to helping conserve New Zealand’s native fauna through advocacy, captive breeding and rehabilitation. Observe the park’s unique endangered wildlife on a guided tour led by an experienced park zoologist, during which we’ll enjoy a private kiwi feeding and a live conservation show.

Afternoon:

The afternoon is free for personal exploration. Gather this evening for a farewell reception and dinner in-house in The Library.

Hotel St Moritz (B, R, D)

Friday, January 20

Queenstown / Home

Breakfast is served in the Lombardi restaurant at our hotel.

Check out is at 11.00 a.m. You may leave your luggage with the front desk if you want to tour Queenstown before your flight.

Transfer to the airport for flights home, crossing the international date line en route and arriving back in the U.S. on the same day.

(B)