New Zealand
Nelson, Kaikoura, Canterbury and Queenstown — South Island soul
About This Journey
New Zealand's South Island is one of the few places left on earth where the landscape feels genuinely unmediated — where mountains, ocean, glacier and vineyard exist in close enough proximity that a single day can contain all of them. This journey moves through four distinct South Island chapters in a sequence that earns its pace: Nelson first, where the light, wine and coastal national park set the tone; Kaikōura next, where whales and mountains share the same narrow strip of ocean; Canterbury for a Relais & Châteaux country estate and the volcanic drama of the Banks Peninsula backcountry; and Queenstown last, where the most dramatic scenery on the island becomes the backdrop for helicopter flights, fiordland excursions and three nights at a Michelin Key lodge directly on Lake Wakatipu.
What's Included
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Arrival in New Zealand — Nelson
Nelson
Arrive at Auckland International Airport and be met airside by a private TBB representative for fast-track immigration and luggage assistance. Transfer to the domestic terminal for the Air New Zealand connection to Nelson, approximately ninety minutes. On arrival in Nelson, your private guide and driver meet the group and transfer directly to Pihopa Retreat for check-in. The first afternoon is at leisure on the estate — 158 acres of parkland, a nearby coast and the particular quality of arriving somewhere genuinely beautiful without having had to navigate anything.
Abel Tasman National Park
Nelson
Your private driver transfers the group north to Stephens Bay for the full-day Abel Tasman National Park boat cruise — one of the itinerary's most complete and memorable experiences. The cruise moves through the park's golden-sand coastline and native bush foreshore, stopping at seal colonies, secluded coves and open bays where the water is clear enough to see the seabed. A gourmet lunch platter is served at a sheltered cove. Onboard kayaks and snorkeling gear are available throughout. Return to Pihopa Retreat in the late afternoon.
Nelson at Leisure
Nelson
A full day at leisure in the Nelson region with your guide available for whatever direction the day takes. The strongest curated options are a guided wine and art tour through Nelson's boutique producers including the Höglund Art Glass Studio, or a guided hike in Kahurangi National Park with a private picnic lunch. A heli-hiking experience on the Owen Plateau is available for those who want the aerial dimension early in the journey. The retreat itself offers kayaking, paddleboarding and swimming at the beach for a slower morning. The day is deliberately open so clients follow their energy rather than a fixed program.
Nelson to Kaikōura via Marlborough Wine Country
Kaikoura
Your private guide and driver collect the group after breakfast for the journey south to Kaikōura, approximately three and a half hours with well-chosen stops. The route passes through Blenheim, the heart of New Zealand's Marlborough wine country, where a private lunch stop at Cloudy Bay or a tasting at the Moa Tap Room adds a genuinely enjoyable interlude rather than a generic service-station pause. On arrival in Kaikōura, check in to Hapuku Lodge and spend the late afternoon at leisure — the Peninsula Walk, a visit to the Point Kean seal colony or simply the view between mountain and ocean from the lodge terrace.
Whale Watch Kaikōura and Hapuku Farm
Kaikoura
Your driver transfers the group to the Whale Watch Kaikōura wharf for the morning cruise — a three-hour excursion into the deep ocean canyon directly offshore, where sperm whales surface year-round alongside Hector dolphins, fur seals and a wide variety of pelagic birds including albatross. Return to the lodge for lunch, then spend the afternoon with the Hapuku Kitchen Experience and Farm Tour — a private guided session on the working deer stud and olive farm followed by dinner at the lodge dining room. One of the most complete and satisfying single days on the entire South Island route.
Kaikōura to Otahuna Lodge, Canterbury
Canterbury
Your private driver takes the scenic coastal road south from Kaikōura — one of the most dramatic stretches of road in New Zealand, where the mountains and ocean converge on a narrow coastal plain — and continues into Canterbury toward Tai Tapu. Arrive at Otahuna Lodge in the early afternoon, check in and allow the estate to reveal itself at its own pace. The lodge's Victorian gardens, the provender kitchen garden, the heritage interiors and the complete stillness of the rural Canterbury setting make the arrival experience genuinely distinct from anywhere else on the route. The evening meal at Otahuna is included and should be treated as a dining event rather than dinner service.
Banks Peninsula Coastal Walk
Canterbury
Your private guide collects the group from Otahuna Lodge for the Banks Peninsula coastal walk — a six-hour experience on the ancient volcanic crater rim above Lyttelton Harbour. The route crosses the Crater Rim, visits the restored WWII coastal defence battery at Scotts Hutt, and takes in views of the Pacific coastline stretching toward the snow-covered Southern Alps. A gourmet picnic lunch is served at a viewpoint along the route. Walking time is approximately three to four hours with a thirty-minute lunch stop. Return to Otahuna Lodge for the evening. This is one of the most underrated experiences in New Zealand and a powerful contrast to the gentler estate rhythm of the overnight.
Christchurch to Queenstown
Queenstown
Your private driver transfers from Otahuna Lodge to Christchurch Airport, approximately thirty minutes. Fly Air New Zealand to Queenstown in one hour, then transfer by private vehicle directly to Rosewood Matakauri on Lake Wakatipu — seven minutes from the town centre and a world away from it in atmosphere. Check in to one of eleven suites and allow the lake and the mountains to establish the mood for the final chapter. The evening is left completely open — the lodge's outdoor hot tub, the private balcony, the open fireplace and the lake at last light require no programming.
Milford Sound Helicopter with Glacier Landing
Queenstown
The itinerary's most visually dramatic day. Your private driver transfers the group to the Queenstown helipad for the Milford Sound helicopter excursion — a private flight over the Southern Alps past sheer peaks and cascading waterfalls into Milford Sound. The flight delivers close access to Mitre Peak and Bowen Falls before landing exclusively on the Ngapunatoru Plateau of Mt Tutoko, where the glacier can be walked and the silence of the Southern Alps felt properly. Return via isolated valleys to Queenstown and back to the lodge for the evening.
Queenstown at Leisure
Queenstown
A full leisure day structured around client preference, with your guide available for any curated option. The strongest choices include a personalized Southern Lakes wine excursion with a table at Amisfield Winery and Bistro; a guided hike on the Routeburn Track with a private picnic; a Dart River Jetboat and Funyak half-day; or a Ben Lomond Station guided 4WD farm expedition. Rosewood Matakauri's full spa is available for those who prefer a slower final full day. The manager's reception at the lodge in the early evening is a natural gathering point before the last dinner.
Departure from Queenstown
Queenstown
After a final breakfast at the lodge with the lake in front, your private driver transfers to Queenstown Airport for the Air New Zealand flight to Auckland. In Auckland, a private representative meets the group for VIP departure assistance through to the international terminal — check-in support, express immigration and a proper send-off. The journey ends in the air above the Pacific, with the South Island already becoming a sequence of very particular memories.
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