Stopover in Aotearoa

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Programma del soggiorno

• giorno 1

  Auckland, the country’s largest city and the starting point of your stay

  

  Take the time to recover from jet lag. A shuttle will take you directly from the airport to your hotel. Auckland is the largest city in the country in terms of area and population (a third of the country lives there) and enjoys a temperate climate that makes exploring it pleasant. You can easily explore the city center on foot. Between the Sky Tower and Auckland’s many museums, your day will be full. The trendy neighborhoods of Ponsonby and Parnell are well-known shopping spots, have renowned restaurants, and are less than 30 minutes’ walk from the center. If the city isn’t your cup of tea, take a ferry for a quick trip to Rangitoto to hike on the city’s iconic volcano, or discover the vineyards and beaches of Waiheke.

• dal giorno 2 al giorno 3

  Rotorua, heart of Māori culture and geothermal activity

  

  Rotorua, world-renowned for its geothermal activity, is one of the places where Māori culture is most present. Your first day will be devoted to visiting the city and discovering Māori culture in the evening, with a dinner at Te Pā Tū. You will discover the history, traditions and cultural aspirations of the Māori during celebrations and feasts. You will experience Māori songs and traditions within the forest of the Pā (village), surrounded by majestic trees, campfires and an amphitheater formed by the forest. The second day will focus on the impressive geothermal parks, including the very popular and colorful Wai-O-Tapu.

• giorno 4

  Discovery of the volcanic region: Tongariro National Park

  

  Today, you are entering the 4th park in the world to have been designated a national park (1897). It was also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990 for its exceptional cultural and natural value. This park is the Mecca of hiking in a volcanic environment. It has three volcanoes, two of which are still active, and there is something for everyone. Walks range from 30 minutes to hikes like the famous Tongariro Crossing, which will take you all day.

• giorno 5

  Wellington, capital of the land of kiwis

  

  Wellington is the capital of New Zealand. A lively city, focused on art and gastronomy, this small city can be explored on foot. From the harbour to the Parliament district, via streets lined with Victorian houses, not forgetting the botanical garden and Mount Victoria, the national museum Te Papa remains the city’s must-see. In the evening, you will set off to discover Zealandia, a sanctuary for wildlife. Just a few hundred metres as the crow flies from the city centre, it is home to the majority of New Zealand’s living species, including the famous kiwi. The harbour, the Parliament district and the streets lined with Victorian houses are among the sites to discover.

• giorno 6

  World capital of adventure: Queenstown

  

  Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world. You can stroll along the magnificent Lake Wakatipu to the botanical garden, while admiring the lake and the surrounding mountains, or go hiking on the splendid Queenstown Hill Track.

• dal giorno 7 al giorno 8

  Te Anau, the gateway to the fjords and a cruise on Milford Sound

  

  Te Anau is located in the heart of the Fiordland region, which is part of Te Wahipounamu Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the afternoon, set off to discover a mysterious underground world where silence and light reign, generated by thousands of glowworms. For your second day, you will take the legendary Milford Road to reach Milford Sound. From there, you will visit by boat the most famous fjord in New Zealand, considered one of the country's must-sees. Rudyard Kipling even called it the 8th wonder of the world.

• dal giorno 9 al giorno 10

  Visit to Wanaka and Mou Waho Island

  

  Wanaka is the world’s first reserve dedicated to protecting quality of life. There you will discover a true kiwi atmosphere. Enjoy the extraordinary nature surrounding Wanaka thanks to Mt Aspiring National Park, where you can go on a magnificent hike through breathtaking landscapes! For the second day, visit Mou Waho Island, accessible from Wanaka by a 35-minute boat cruise. With your guide, you will follow a well-maintained trail that steadily climbs to the summit of Tyrwhitt Peak. Enjoy the 360-degree view over Lake Wanaka, its mountains and the surrounding valleys, as well as, below, the Arethusa Basin.

• dal giorno 11 al giorno 12

  Aoraki/Mt Cook - Tekapo: Discovery of the highest peaks

  

  Tekapo is now one of the few dark sky reserves in the world. You will also observe the sky during a magnificent activity on the first evening. Between the turquoise color of its lake, the snow-capped mountains that surround it and its green hills, this village is an unmissable stop. Tekapo is now one of the few dark sky reserves in the world. Between the turquoise color of its lake, the snow-capped mountains that surround it and its green hills, this village is an unmissable stop on any trip to New Zealand. For your second day, head to Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park via Lake Pukaki, one of the most beautiful roads in the country. Many hikes, for all levels, will punctuate your discovery of the national park.

• giorno 13

  Christchurch, the “garden city”

  

  Take the road to Christchurch, the “garden city”. This city was heavily damaged during the earthquake of February 2011. Reconstruction work is still ongoing, but you will discover a human-scale, pedestrian-only, dynamic city center with many green spaces. The city is full of restaurants, cafés and bars that are really worth a visit. In the evening, you will have dinner in the city’s restaurant tram, the only one of its kind operating in New Zealand. You will have the opportunity to discover Christchurch in an original way.

• giorno 14

  

  Head to Christchurch Airport to return your vehicle and catch your flight, thus marking the end of your stay.