new
zealand

this morning, we are up bright and early, ready to head over to waitomo, a small village famous for its underground cave system and glowworm caves, home to hundreds of thousands of glowworms. honestly, gals, it's like something out of a disney film! the worms light up and make the cave shine. after this, we'll head towards hobbiton, the iconic lord of the rings movie set. whether you're a fan of the films or not, visiting hobbiton is a must-do stop on any new zealand group trip. later in the afternoon, we'll continue our girls trip through new zealand towards our next stop, rotorua, one of the best destinations for female travellers wanting to experience nz's geothermal wonders.

we're in for a treat with even more nature today! we can take things a little more chilled this morning and relax before heading out to today's first activity: the redwoods, also known as whakarewarewa forest, one of rotorua's most popular things to do. it's a beautiful forest dedicated to fallen soldiers and an amazing reflective place to wander around on foot or by bike. This evening, we're heading over to mitai maori village for an unforgettable maori cultural evening, one of the best cultural experiences in new zealand. we'll be immersed in maori culture and traditions, watch a live haka performance, and even share a traditional hangi feast cooked underground.

this morning we're off to the geothermal wonder that is kuirau park, rotorua's free geothermal park. we'll explore this steaming and bubbling volcanic crater lake, wander past bubbling mud pools, and maybe even have a foot bath too. our next stop is lake taupō, the largest freshwater lake in new zealand

girls, this morning we're starting with the famous huka falls, one of the most popular things to do in taupo. then we're heading over to the otumuheke stream to explore the spa thermal park, a natural hot pool nestled along the waikato river and one of the best free things to do in new zealand. dip your toes in, have a swim, relax and soak in the amazing views! we can also take the kayaks out here too!! what a dreamy, dreamy day! we'll arrive at our accommodation mid-afternoon, staying just one minute away from the lake, so grab your towels girls, because this is our chance for a quick dip in one of new zealand's most iconic lakes!

today is a travel day, and we're heading towards auckland, ready to fly over to christchurch in the morning! it's quite a long journey, so get your timtams ready and some netflix downloaded! this is also your chance to go through all the photos you've taken so far on your new zealand girls trip - the perfect road trip admin!

today we're flying over to christchurch! we'll arrive in the early afternoon. known as the "garden city," christchurch is one of new zealand's most underrated destinations, famous for its stunning botanical gardens, green spaces, culture, and cute cafes. it's the perfect next stop on any south island route. we'll have a wander around the christchurch botanical gardens before heading to a bar to catch the sunset over this amazing skyline!

this morning we're travelling to lake tekapo, one of new zealand's most iconic south island destinations, known for having one of the clearest night skies in the world and, you guessed it, its huge lake which stretches a massive 27km long. once we arrive in the early afternoon, we'll drop our bags off and start exploring. whether you want to explore the township (only a 10-minute walk away) or head straight into nature, the hostel has plenty of options. this evening, we'll take a short walk up to the church of the good shepherd, a small stone church sitting on the shores of lake tekapo and one of the most photographed spots in new zealand. it's the perfect place to watch the sun go down.

if you're anything like us and you love a walk with stunning views, then you'll love today! the hooker valley track is one of new zealand's most iconic hikes, an unmissable (and mostly flat) trail through some of the most beautiful scenery in the country, with epic views of aoraki/mt cook along the way. we'll be here for a few hours, so take your time and enjoy this peaceful walk. then, after stretching our legs, we'll travel a couple of hours towards our cosy accommodation in wanaka, one of the top spots for adventure and lake views on any new zealand group trip.

this morning we can have a chilled one. wake up slowly and enjoy a free morning here in wanaka, one of new zealand's most picture-perfect lake towns. we're only a 2-minute walk away from lake wanaka beach, so if a morning swim is calling your name, this is your chance, the backdrop to this beach is something out of a movie. then we'll hop on two wheels, ready to explore as much of this epic lake as we can on a scenic wanaka bike ride! get your cameras ready 'cause we'll also be stopping by the famous wanaka tree (that willow tree in the lake). this curvy tree grows out of the crystal waters of lake wānaka and is seen locally as a symbol of hope. it's one of the most iconic photo spots in new zealand and a beautiful sight to see!

today we'll meet mid-day to travel to queenstown, one of new zealand's most famous destinations and the ultimate stop on any south island group trip. sat on the shores of lake wakatipu, queenstown is known worldwide as new zealand's adventure capital. we'll arrive at our hostel in the early evening, and luckily for us, we're located right in the heart of queenstown on searle lane. drop off your bags, freshen up, and head out to try queenstown's famous food scene - we'd recommend fergburger!

we've saved the best until last! today we're up early to head towards milford sound, often called the "eighth wonder of the world" and one of the most breathtaking destinations in new zealand. the best way to experience this incredible fjord is on a milford sound day cruise, so we're jumping on board! we'll see epic cliffs, alpine peaks and misty waterfalls as we cruise through this world-famous natural wonder. tonight, we'll head back to queenstown and get ready for our final night as a group, the perfect celebration to end an unforgettable new zealand girls trip, filled with the amazing friendships made over the last 13 days.

girls, it’s checkout day! whether you are headed home or are off to explore more of oceania, your amazing tour leader will be able to help you with transport and inspiration for your next steps. it's not goodbye, it's see you later!