MoaTrek Kaka 17 Day Tour

Explore roads less travelled on this special small group New Zealand tour and discover country hospitality and nature in the wild. In the North Island, you will discover authentic Maori culture around Rotorua and visit Tongariro National Park. In the South Island, you will tour the Mount Cook region and visit famous Milford Sound by land, sea and air. Meet the locals over private lunches at Lake Tarawera, a mid-Canterbury farmhouse and Lake Wanaka.

Your Karangahake Gorge walk combines dramatic river scenery, native bush and relics of early goldmines. At a Kiwifruit orchard, you'll hear all about this famous fruit. This afternoon enjoys a private cruise aboard a 53ft catamaran on Lake Rotoiti, a special highlight, calling into secluded bays and hot pools reached only by water.

There’s time to enjoy one of Rotorua’s unique optional activities or simply wander beside Lake Rotorua near your hotel. Drive out to beautiful Lake Tarawera for lunch with the Walmsley family who have many stories to tell of their Maori and Pakeha (European) history in this region once famous for the Pink and White Terraces.

The surreal, geothermal reserve Wai-O-Tapu is alive with bubbling mud pools, silica terraces and deep pools of unforgettable colours. Stop at thundering Huka Falls and Lake Taupo and stay the night in the World Heritage Tongariro National Park. Relax at the Chateau Tongariro Hotel or walk the gentle trail to Taranaki Falls to enjoy the alpine views.

Drive-up Mt Ruapehu to the Top o’ the Bruce for panoramic views of Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Tongariro before continuing down the centre of the island to Wellington. Tour the city and check out the sights from Mt Victoria, stay two nights at The Bolton Hotel in “the coolest little capital in the world”.

The day is yours to enjoy. The waterfront is just a short walk away and Te Papa National Museum. There's a selection of activities to choose from plus great cafes and boutique breweries. Wellington is also the spiritual home of The Lord of the Rings and you can visit Weta Workshop too.

You cruise across Cook Strait on the Interislander ferry and up to the stunning Queen Charlotte Sound to Picton to step ashore on the South Island. At Forrest Estate Wines you call in for a tasting and lunch in this premier wine region before continuing to Nelson and Trailways Hotel.

At Kaiteriteri Beach meet a local guide and cruise by catamaran and walk, as much or as little as you choose, along the stunning Abel Tasman coastline of islands, sheltered bays, estuaries and golden, sandy beaches. There’s time to relax on the beach with a picnic lunch and take a swim before returning to Nelson.

The road hugs the spectacular coastline between the Pacific Ocean and the Kaikoura Ranges. Your afternoon is free to see Kaikoura’s bountiful marine life, the result of the ocean canyon close offshore. Optional excursions include whale watching cruises, flights and kayaking at sunset. You'll stay not far from the seal colony at The White Morph.

From Kaikoura, the Hunderlee Hills lead to the Canterbury Plains where you join hosts Di and Ian Mackenzie for a memorable lunch at their Akaunui farm homestead set amid beautiful gardens. The turquoise-coloured lakes, Tekapo and Pukaki, are unforgettable photo stops on your way to stay at The Hermitage Hotel in the alps.

Explore the magnificent landscape crowned by Aoraki/Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain, on an easy walking track from the village or treat yourself to a scenic flight or cruise on a glacial lake. Later drive over the golden tussock lands of the Lindis Pass and onto Queenstown.

From Queenstown, follow the shores of the great lakes Wakatipu and Te Anau into the mountains and waterfalls of Fiordland National Park. Cruise on Milford Sound dominated by iconic Mitre Peak and home to seal colonies and dolphins. After this enjoy a magnificent scenic flight back over the Southern Alps to Queenstown concluding the most fantastic day.

Today is yours to make the most of the infinite number of activities Queenstown has to offer. Your Kiwi Guide is right there to help you choose from a jet boat ride on the Dart River in The Lord of the Rings scenery, wine tasting at the vineyards or a day walk on the famous Routeburn Track and many more.

In the leafy village of Arrowtown, gold mining history comes alive beside the Arrow River. Drive over the Crown Range and stop for the last views of the Wakatipu basin then call in for refreshments at picture-perfect Cardrona Hotel. From Edgewater, tonight's lakeside hotel, you can bike the waterfront trail or kayak on the lake.

The pristine Haast Pass in Mt Aspiring National Park has well-maintained short tracks leading to cascading waterfalls and clear blue pools. Discover the beauty of Westland Tai Poutini World Heritage Park’s wild West Coast beaches and lush, primaeval rainforest and stop at Fox Glacier and Lake Matheson before you reach Franz Josef.

The morning is free to walk to Franz Josef Glacier lookout or take an optional helihike or flight or cruise out on Okarito lagoon in search of the rare Kotuku, White Heron. In Hokitika, the home of Pounamu (greenstone), meet the carvers of this treasured stone. Your home for two nights is beside the beach at Punakaiki Resort.

Close to our hotel is the leading local attraction, the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes, limestone stacks weathered by the sea. Paparoa Park has towering limestone cliffs and karst rock formations with river valleys draped in a subtropical forest. Walk to an isolated beach or the seal colony at Cape Foulwind. A favourite option is the glow worm cave at Charleston.

Leaving the West Coast head eastwards to Christchurch through the alpine beech forests of Arthur's Pass National Park. Stop to enjoy the mischievous antics of the Keas (alpine parrots) and take short walks in the forest and to the rock formations at Castle Hill. The dramatic landscapes make a fitting finale to your adventure with MoaTrek.