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The per person cost of your trip includes the following:
Please note that the following are not included, and are your responsibility to arrange:
This is the base itinerary included in the per person cost for this trip. Customisations and additions are available for additional cost, to be discussed with your Centre for GOOD Travel trip coordinator.
Day 1
Welcome to New Zealand. On arrival in Auckland you will pick up your rental vehicle at the airport and make your way to Kohutapu Lodge. If you prefer to stay in Auckland for a night to recover from your journey, we can arrange a sustainable accommodation for you in a central location.
You’ll travel through the central Waikato today to the edge of Ngati Manawa tribal lands and the stunning Whirinaki Forest, where you’ll meet your hosts for the next two days, Nadine and Karl of Kohutapu Lodge.
Staying at Kohutapu Lodge you’ll be immediately immersed into a rich and intimate Māori cultural experience that is truly unique in New Zealand. We’ll be welcomed by Nadine and Karl’s warm Māori manaakitanga (hospitality) and have a welcome dinner together.
Nadine and Karl will prepare enough food not only for your welcome feast, but also to package up and deliver to the Murupara community and school - just one way Kohutapu shows their deep commitment and support for their community.
Day 2
Today you will have the privilege of walking with your hosts in Te Pua a Tāne, The Whirinaki Rainforest, one of New Zealand’s oldest and most diverse forests. You’ll take a gentle 12km (7.5mile) hike through this ancient, awe-inspiring forest, visiting the Aniwhenua Waterfall, touching 1000 year old trees, learning how plants are used as medicine, and being rejuvenated through forest bathing in this old growth forest.
Tonight you’ll enjoy another dinner at Kohutapu Lodge tonight before relaxing around the campfire.
Day 3
Travelling further south today, you’ll make your way to your next hosts, Brian and Nicola Megaw of River Valley Lodge.
River Valley sits right next to the beautiful Rangitikei River and you’ll spend the next two nights enjoying the tranquillity of rural New Zealand, experiencing life on a regenerative farm. You’ll have dinner from River Valley’s very own permaculture garden. Nothing like fresh food direct from the garden.
Day 4
Choose your day! River Valley offers stunning white water rafting trips for those who want to add a white water rafting experience on the river. Or you can choose to rent an ebike and explore the country roads in this beautiful area. Or just relax by the river, read, snooze, or just breathe in the surrounding beauty.
For those interested in joining our expert and passionate local River Valley guides on the Rangitikei River, choose either an adventurous grade 5 white water rafting experience, or a gentle grade 2 ride. The white water trip on the thunderous Rangitikei river will get your adrenaline pumping, or cruise downstream from the lodge for a more serene connection with nature. Both experiences are magical.
Day 5
Today you’ll drive down the Kāpiti coast and take a ferry from Paraparaumu Beach to breathtaking Kāpiti Island, a nature reserve that is home to some of New Zealand’s most treasured and endangered species. You’ll be hosted by Kāpiti Island Nature Tours who have been welcoming visitors to the Island for generations and will share the unique ecological and human history of this place with you.
After a dinner at the Lodge, you’ll have the opportunity to walk with the knowledgeable guides after dark to try spotting New Zealand’s treasured kiwi and other nocturnal species in the wild. After the walk you’ll bunk down in modest cabin accommodation on the island.
Day 6
Waking up to the serenity of Kāpiti Island is something special - a whole chorus of New Zealand’s native birds will greet you in the morning! Today you’ll have the option to explore more of the island with our hosts, either wandering and bird watching at the base of Kāpiti’s maunga (mountain), or by climbing the trig track to a spectacular view at the top.
You’ll depart the island by ferry in the late afternoon and travel to Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington for your last night on the North Island. Spend the evening relaxing or explore Wellington’s vibrant cultural and gastronomic scene.
Day 7
Today you’ll leave the North Island of Aotearoa and head south via the Interislander Ferry - driving on board with your rental car - cruising through the picturesque Marlborough Sounds. You’ll arrive in Picton and can stop for lunch overlooking the water before driving to Kimi Ora Eco Resort in Kaiteriteri. Climate Positive Kimi Ora offers lovely accommodation, stunning views of Kaiteriteri Bay and sumptuous locally sourced and seasonal vegetarian dishes.
Day 8
Today you’ll explore the stunning Abel Tasman coastline in a paddling waka (Māori canoe). Paddling a waka is a journey of discovery, combining idyllic scenery, exercise, history and tradition. This unique experience leaves you feeling connected and empowered.
Our treasured local partners, Lee-Anne and Todd Jago of Waka Abel Tasman, are passionate about waka, the outdoors, tikanga Māori (correct Māori etiquette) and sharing these things with others. Their community is at the heart of everything they do as well as uplifting rangitahi (young people). By spending time with Waka Abel Tasman, you’ll be supporting their community’s growth and empowerment.
Day 9
Leaving the gorgeous Nelson Tasman region behind, you’ll travel south and inland, through dense nature forests, to arrive at Maruia Hotsprings. You’ll have a chance to relax, unwind, and breathe in the remote beauty of this wellness centre and natural hot spring. At Maruia, you can indulge in geothermal bathing, massage or spa treatments - an opportunity to nourish yourself surrounded by stunning native bush.
Day 10
Today you’ll drive south towards Christchurch, your final stop for the journey. Spend the afternoon exploring the urban regeneration of this resilient city, and sampling local cuisine. You’ll spend your last night in New Zealand at Hotel Give, a hotel dedicated to giving back to their community.
Day 11
Haere ra New Zealand! You’ll drop your rental vehicle off at Christchurch Airport and continue with your onward travel plans from there. If you’d like to extend your stay in New Zealand and visit more of our local sustainable partners, we are happy to arrange extensions to your itinerary. Please let us know of your onward travel plans when you inquire.
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