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Call us: (910) 742-5324
Join Sisterhood Travels in 2025 for an exclusive women-only expedition through the captivating beauty of both New Zealand’s North and South Islands. Prepare to delve into an unparalleled adventure exploring this enchanting country’s scenic wonders and rich culture.
This unique journey with Sisterhood Travels will take you from Auckland to Queenstown, unveiling the diverse landscapes and cultural treasures that New Zealand has to offer. Immerse yourself in historical sites, geothermal marvels, and untamed wilderness, creating an extraordinary tapestry of experiences.
Seize the opportunity to forge enduring connections and craft indelible memories with like-minded female travelers during this enthralling escapade in 2025 with Sisterhood Travels.
Welcome to Auckland, the “City of Sails”! Upon arrival, your driver will meet you in the arrivals hall and transfer you to our hotel. This evening, perhaps you’ll meet your fellow Sisters in the hotel lobby for an optional, informal get-together at your own expense. No meals are included today.
Hotel: Rydges Auckland
Today, continue resting and rejuvenating or explore independently with your new Sisters. This evening, we’ll gather together for our Welcome Dinner. (Breakfast and Dinner)
Hotel: Rydges Auckland
Come to know the best of Auckland during a panoramic city tour featuring the America’s Cup Village, the War Memorial, bustling Queen Street, and the Auckland Harbour Bridge. This afternoon, we’re going to enjoy an America Cup’s sailing experience! (Breakfast)
Hotel: Rydges Auckland
Depart Auckland and travel north to the Bay of Islands, your home for the next 2 nights. This sun-soaked region boasts more than 144 islands and warm waters with abundant marine life. Visit the Waitangi Treaty House, where Maori and British leaders signed the 1840 treaty establishing New Zealand as a nation. (Breakfast and Dinner)
Hotel: Copthorne Hotel & Resort Bay of Islands
Today, we’ll begin with a cruise that features the bay’s famous Hole in the Rock. Look out at the Cape Brett Lighthouse, standing nearly 500 feet above sea level at the edge of the Cape Brett Peninsula. The rest of the day is yours to explore Paihia – the quaint town known as “the jewel of the Bay of Islands.” (Breakfast)
Hotel: Copthorne Hotel & Resort Bay of Islands
This morning, we’ll leave the sparkling waters of the Bay of Islands behind and head to Matakohe in the heartland of the North Island. We’ll stop at the Kauri Museum and learn the stories surrounding the giant Kauri tree that can live for 2,000 years. Discover how the early settlers used this abundant tree to build a life for themselves. Later, we’ll continue on to the town of Rotorua, known for its geothermal activity and Maori culture. (Breakfast and Dinner)
Hotel: Millennium Hotel Roturua
Today, find yourself amid the dramatic geothermal landscape of Rotorua, known as the Maori capital of New Zealand. Visit Whakarewarewa, a Maori cultural and geothermal experience. Explore an authentic Maori village where people live using natural geothermal resources to cook, bathe, and heat their homes as they have done for centuries. We’ll experience ceremonial Maori rituals this evening at an authentic Hangi dinner and performance. (Breakfast and Dinner)
Hotel: Millennium Hotel Roturua
Today, we travel to Wellington, a coastal city nestled against the mountains. We’ll embark on a tour of New Zealand’s capital, the “Windy City.” You’ll see the Beehive – New Zealand’s Parliament; historic St. Paul’s Church; and the Old Government Building, the largest wooden building in the Southern Hemisphere. (Breakfast and Dinner)
Hotel: Novotel Wellington
This morning, we’ll explore the Te Papa Tongawera Museum, a fascinating center dedicated to art, history, and the Maori culture, before enjoying an afternoon and evening at leisure with our Sisters. With your free time, perhaps you’ll consider a ride on the Wellington Cable Car to the suburb of Kelburn for stunning panoramic views of the city. (Breakfast)
Hotel: Novotel Wellington
Board a ferry and sail across Cook Strait. Experience what is considered to be one of the most beautiful ferry rides in the world. Arrive in Picton on the South Island where you will have free time for lunch. Continue along the breathtaking east coast to the largest city on the South Island, Christchurch. (Breakfast)
Hotel: Distinction Christchurch Hotel
Christchurch, the “Garden City,” is recreating itself after a devastating earthquake in 2011. See firsthand how this city is evolving on a sightseeing tour that highlights the city’s magnificent gardens and elegant park district. We’ll visit Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, a leader in conserving New Zealand species. Here, you can view New Zealand’s “Big 5” – kiwi, kaka, tuatara, kea, and takahe – up close and personal. Learn about the local indigenous culture of the Maori, with a paddle on the Avon River in a traditional canoe or ‘waka’. (Breakfast)
Hotel: Distinction Christchurch Hotel
Today, we’ll journey through New Zealand’s unspoiled wilderness and arrive in the Mt. Cook region, where permanent ice fields and glaciers blanket the ragged peaks. The Maori word for Mt. Cook is Aoraki, which means “cloud piercer.” This is where famed New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary honed his skills before conquering Everest. You can take a nature walk, enjoy an optional glacier flightseeing tour (weather permitting), or simply meditate on the beauty of the Southern Alps. (Breakfast and Dinner)
Hotel: The Hermitage, Mount Cook National Park
This morning, we’ll travel to Dunedin, situated on the southeast coast of New Zealand. One of the earliest European settlements on the islands, Dunedin holds proudly to its Scottish heritage and traditions. Enjoy time to explore this cultural city on your own with your Sisters. (Breakfast)
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross
Start your morning with a panoramic tour, visiting Larnach Castle and Baldwin Street – the world’s steepest public road. Later, spend time at the Royal Albatross Centre, the only mainland breeding location in the world for these otherworldly birds. Albatrosses are the focus of many seafaring myths, and their epic wingspan can reach nearly 10 feet. (Breakfast and Dinner)
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross
Enjoy the rugged grandeur of the Hollyford Valley and the Homer Tunnel as we head to Queenstown, a mountainside town set against the shores of Lake Wakatipu. The rest of your day is yours with your Sisters to explore the city dubbed the “adventure capital of the world.” (Breakfast)
Hotel: Novotel Queenstown Lakeside
During a cruise of the beautiful Milford Sound, you will see why this fjord is one of the most visited sites on the South Island. With rock faces that rise nearly 4,000 feet on either side, the scenery will take your breath away. On your return to Queenstown, you may consider an optional scenic flight, allowing you to see the landscape from an entirely new perspective. (Breakfast and Lunch)
Hotel: Novotel Queenstown Lakeside
Today, we’ll cruise Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by Queenstown’s stunning landscape, aboard an iconic coal-fired steamship. Then, we’ll enjoy a BBQ lunch lakeside, followed by a sheepdog demonstration before sailing back. This afternoon, it’s your choice! Go bird watching at the Kiwi Birdlife Park -OR- take a gondola to Bob’s Peak for stunning views of the area. We’ll gather for a Farewell Dinner this evening and enjoy a locally sourced meal. (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)
Hotel: Novotel Queenstown Lakeside
And just like that, our epic journey winds down. The memories we’ve made and the incredible friends we’ve met will forever be etched in our hearts. Cheers to adventures past and those yet to come! (Breakfast)
PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION CAREFULLY
This is a moderately paced itinerary that involves some longer days and more activities. Expect some early hotel departures, and limited time for day time rest and rejuvenation as the itineraries are designed to ensure that you see as much as possible in these wonderful destinations. This may include longer coach journeys and guests should be able to join a walking tour lasting 1-2 hours with stops possibly over uneven terrain. Guests should have reasonable health and mobility and be comfortable with standing for longer periods of time with no difficulty.
