New Zealand Wildlife Quest

Natural Wonders and One-of-a-Kind Creatures

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Humpback whale in Kaikoura

Brown kiwi

Hooker Valley Track

Penguins on the Otago Peninsula

Stewart Island

Fjordland National Park

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Overview

Within the bounds of the South Island’s ruggedly beautiful Pacific coastline, you’ll find an astonishing variety of landscapes: snowcapped mountains, glaciers, stunning fjords and sounds, temperate rainforests, sandy beaches, glacial lakes, beech forests, hot springs, and lush grasslands. And, calling all of this natural beauty home are some truly unique, and sometimes very strange, creatures.

The kiwi is a nocturnal, flightless bird with hair-like feathers and nostrils at the tip of its bill. The tuatara is the only beak-headed reptile on the planet. Glowworms, solely endemic to New Zealand, are blue-green bioluminescent larvae that the Maori call titiwai, “light reflected in water.” What a wild and wonderful place!

Let us send you on an unforgettable custom wildlife journey to the mountains, forests, islands, and sounds of New Zealand’s South Island with local naturalist guides by your side. Set sail from Kaikoura to spot sperm whales and acrobatic dusky dolphins. Hike with a local guide through stunning Fiordland National Park, watching for yellow-crowned parakeets, blue ducks, and long-tailed bats. Visit the Otago Peninsula in search of penguins. As for your quest for kiwis, you’ll take a flight to remote Stewart Island, where kiwis outnumber human residents.

Come to be dazzled by this wild and unique country by day and relax into truly memorable accommodations with warm hospitality each night.

Price From*

$9,850 USD
Trip Type

Custom-Made Travel
Best Months for Travel

February, March, April, September, October, November
Duration

12 days / 11 nights
Trip begins/ends
Christchurch / Queenstown

*Price per person based on sample itinerary detailed. Pricing will vary depending upon number of travelers, rooming configuration, and other planning details specific to your trip.

Call Toll-Free 800-445-2995

How Can We Customize This Sample Itinerary For You?

If this sample itinerary looks intriguing, let us know and we can begin the process of tailoring it for you and yours! Call or email us today: [email protected].

Trip Details

Trip Highlights

What’s Included? Everything you need, plus everything you want.

Get Out There: Hike the primeval rainforest on Stewart Island and roam the remote podocarp forest of the coastal Catlins Forest Park for close encounters with rare birds.
Whales: Kaikoura is where “the mountains meet the sea” and is also where whales come to eat in the marine-life rich waters. Look for sperm, humpback, pilot, blue, and southern right whales.
Kiwis and Penguins: You don’t see either of these birds by chance, but by birdwatching with intention. This journey is a quest – and naturalist guides will be along for the journey.
Interesting Invertebrates: Drift through a dark underground grotto lit by a Milky Way of glowworms.

The Essentials

New Zealand Wildlife Quest

Trip Type: Custom-Made Travel

Territory:

Region: New Zealand

Trip Price: $9,850

Duration: 12 days/11 nights

Trip Begins/Ends: Christchurch / Queenstown

National Parklands:

Select Terms & Conditions

All custom travel is tailored to the desires and interests of our traveling clients (see How Custom Travel Works tab). Trip pricing detailed is an estimate of the per person pricing for the sample itinerary detailed and includes all of the lodging, activities, and guided experiences described. Actual pricing for the trip designed expressly for you and others traveling with you will depend on the features and elements developed during the trip planning process. Travel with Off the Beaten Path requires agreement to our standard Terms & Conditions.

Energy Index

No Sweat - 1-2 miles of walking or hiking per day, plus easy activities

Nice & Active – 3-6 miles of hiking or walking per day, plus physically active exploration

High Five! – 5-10 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun

New Zealand Wildlife Quest

The Energy Index detailed above relates to the level of exertion associated with the sample trip detailed. This would be modified to fit the style and ability of your group as a part of the custom trip planning process

Make It Private

How custom-made travel works at Off the Beaten Path

We’ve been tailoring custom journeys for clients since our very inception in the mid-1980s! The process is all about connecting the interests of the travelers with the best that a given destination has to offer. To achieve this, we rely upon good ol’ fashioned conversation! Our geographically focused travel designer love to meet new people and learn about their interests for travel. Understanding your goals informs the process immensely and serves as the foundation for the development of a bespoke travel experience for you and yours.

The trip detailed on this web page is a sample of something we’ve done for other clients over the years. In order to start the process of designing your own custom travel experience, just call us at (800) 445-2995 and ask to speak with one of our Travel Advisors. After a bit of time on the phone, you will then have the opportunity to connect with one of our travel designers.

The entire planning process is very personalized and works in an iterative fashion until a final, perfect trip has been created. We then secure all of the lodging, activities, and guided experiences associated with your trip and send along abundant trip materials capturing these details – and much more about your travels!

Trip Highlights
The Essentials
Energy Index
How Custom Travel Works

What’s Included? Everything you need, plus everything you want.

Get Out There: Hike the primeval rainforest on Stewart Island and roam the remote podocarp forest of the coastal Catlins Forest Park for close encounters with rare birds.
Whales: Kaikoura is where “the mountains meet the sea” and is also where whales come to eat in the marine-life rich waters. Look for sperm, humpback, pilot, blue, and southern right whales.
Kiwis and Penguins: You don’t see either of these birds by chance, but by birdwatching with intention. This journey is a quest – and naturalist guides will be along for the journey.
Interesting Invertebrates: Drift through a dark underground grotto lit by a Milky Way of glowworms.

New Zealand Wildlife Quest

Trip Type: Custom-Made Travel

Territory:

Region: New Zealand

Trip Price: $9,850

Duration: 12 days/11 nights

Trip Begins/Ends: Christchurch / Queenstown

National Parklands:

Select Terms & Conditions

Energy Index

No Sweat - 1-2 miles of walking or hiking per day, plus easy activities

Nice & Active – 3-6 miles of hiking or walking per day, plus physically active exploration

High Five! – 5-10 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun

New Zealand Wildlife Quest

How custom-made travel works at Off the Beaten Path

Itinerary

Day 1: Christchurch

Arrive in Christchurch, acclimate, and explore. Check out the fabulous Botanic Gardens then stroll through the nearby Arts Centre.

Day 2: Kaikoura

Drive north along the scenic coastal route to Kaikoura. Then, head out on a late afternoon whale watching tour. Onboard the expert local guides will teach you about the abundant sea life and help spot sperm whales, dusky dolphins, fur seals, six species of shearwater seabirds, and more.

Days 3-4: Tekapo – Southern Alps

Wake up to sweeping views of the South Pacific, the sound of waves, and a delicious homemade breakfast. Today’s drive takes you to Tekapo, an alpine village on the shores of Lake Tekapo. In the morning, a local naturalist guide will join you for a hike in the stunning Hooker Valley in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, one of the most beautiful alpine regions in the world.

Day 5: Tekapo to Dunedin

This morning, travel by bike on a section of the scenic, Alps2Ocean cycling trail from Tekapo to Twizel. We’ll have your car waiting in Twizel, so you can continue your South Island road trip to Dunedin from there. Explore this charming coastal city’s harbor, breweries, and delicious restaurants.

Day 6: Otago Peninsula

The Otago Peninsula is considered New Zealand’s wildlife capital. Look for albatross, penguins, New Zealand fur seals, and many other species as you head out with a naturalist guide for some wildlife watching. Then, it’s time to visit the beautifully lush, and lesser-visited gem, Catlins Forest Park.

Day 7: Stewart Island

Fly to Stewart Island, New Zealand’s third largest, and largely undeveloped, island. Spend the afternoon into the evening – kiwis are largely nocturnal – with a naturalist guide exploring, hiking, and birdwatching in the island’s pristine wilderness.

Days 8-10 Te Anau – Fiordland National Park

Your next stop is Te Anau, the gateway town to Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound. There will be lots of adventures from your scenic lakeside base. Get your chance to see New Zealand’s most famous larva, on a glowworm cave tour. Spend a full day in breathtaking Milford Sound with a local guide. Enjoy a scenic boat ride in the sound watching for seals, penguins, and dolphins, plus get off the boat for a beautiful birdwatching hike to a waterfall. Wrap up your visit here with a guided kayaking trip in remote and stunning Doubtful Sound where you’ll explore waterfalls tumbling down mountainsides covered in rainforests, sheltered coves, and serene inlets while looking for resident dolphins, seals, and penguins.

Days 11-12: Queenstown and Departures Home

Spend your last night in Queenstown with a stroll along Lake Wakaipu and through the charming downtown. Toast to the memories of your Southern Hemisphere adventure, before your journey home in the morning.

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Lodging

Merivale Manor

Originally built in 1882, Merivale Manor is a beautifully restored estate just a short stroll from the Merivale Village's fabulous shops and restaurants. Each of the studio rooms, suites and townhouses reflect the beauty and heritage of the property while featuring he wonderful modern amenities.

Lemon Tree Boutique Hotel

Lemon Tree lodge is set on the limestone cliffs above the small coastal community of Kaikoura. The small boutique B&B property has six individually furnished guest rooms. Wake up in the morning to the sound of the waves, the smell of the ocean, and a freshly cooked breakfast!

Ranginui Bed and Breakfast

This locally owned luxury inn offers stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Your hosts are some of OBP’s favorite locals and welcome guests with some of the best hospitality around.

Bluestone on George

Overlooking the city of Dunedin, Bluestone on the George is perfectly situated to explore this beautiful, coastal city. The hosts welcome all guests with open arms and take personal interest in making their overall experience in Dunedin exactly what the they are looking for.

Mohua Park Catlins Eco Accommodation

Offering guests a unique opportunity to get away from it all among the rugged and scenic coastline in the Catlin's Forest Park, Mohua Park has it all. With only four cottages privately situated in the bush, they all offer uninterrupted views of the rolling pasture. From the front door of each cottage guests have access to the incredible wildlife, waterfalls and other sites that the Catlin's has to offer.

Sails Ashore

Sails Ashore Lodge was built with just two rooms, an intimate accommodation overlooking the village of Oban, Halfmoon Bay, and offshore islands and the big wide ocean! The lodge features native Rimu timber, much of it salvaged from old sunken logs from a West Coast lake, and original artwork. There is a spacious dining and sitting areas.

Fiordland Lodge

Set on the shores of Lake Te Anau, in a UNESCO World Heritage area, the Fiordland Lodge offers one-of-a-kind accommodations and comfort just outside of Milford Sounds. On the rural, pastoral plains that give way to the rugged fiords of the far southwest of New Zealand, and looking across the lake to three million acres of pure wilderness, you will find luxury, style and comfort on what would otherwise seems to be the end of the world. The restaurant onsite offers spectacular views of lake Te Anau and the surrounding Kepler and Murchison mountains and prepares each of their meals with only the highest of quality of seasonal and regional ingredients. There is no better lodge to return to after a day of exploring this unique and incredible area - relax by the open fire and enjoy a good book in the library or share your stories from the day with fellow travelers.

Brown's Boutique Hotel

Brown’s Boutique is our favorite Queenstown accommodation, located just a few minutes’ walk to downtown shopping and dining. Each room has a private balcony with town, lake and courtyard views. Your delightful hosts and managers, Angelo and Skye.