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This adventure packed tour is both suitable for those first-timers to New Zealand, and those who have come back for a second taste! Starting with a beautiful train journey through Arthur’s Pass, you will explore the Pure West Coast, Abel Tasman National Park, our capital city Wellington, River Valley adventure lodge and the surfing utopia Raglan.

Day 1 – Christchurch to Punakaiki
Kia Ora and welcome to New Zealand! As the internationally famed 'Garden City', Christchurch's well-established expansive parks and public gardens are guaranteed to impress. Wide tree-lined avenues, beautifully maintained gardens, ambling inner-city rivers and restored heritage buildings make this a picture-perfect city with a definite English feel. At the centre of the inner city, the neo-Gothic Cathedral is a well-depicted Canterbury icon.

Should you wish to have more time to explore and experience Christchurch, we offer extra nights’ accommodation before your tour from $28 NZD per night. This particular tour doesn’t include time in the ‘Garden City’ as we set off immediately on day 1 for the West Coast.

Rather than begin your tour with a long drive, we introduce you to the Southern Alps on the Tranz Alpine Train Crossing, which takes you through the spectacular Arthur’s Pass to Greymouth. It is here that your guide will pick you up from the station at lunch time.

A town forged in the rush for gold in the 19th Century, Greymouth is situated just 40 minutes from Punakaiki. We spend the afternoon exploring both Greymouth and the wild West Coast – a rugged, primeval landscape of luxuriant rainforest juxtaposed against breathtaking beach and ocean waves.

We like to boast that we are the only tour company to stay at the unique Te Nikau Retreat. A firm favourite on tour, the resort is set 3km north of Pancake Rocks; a set of spacious lodges and cabins in peaceful rainforest beside the coast. In the evening we watch the sunset over the ocean and make use of the resort's superb facilities.

Day 2 – Punakaiki
Surfing, horse trekking, kayaking, four wheel driving, walking or simply taking in the view are all great activities in this region! In particular, Punakaiki is world famous for its 'Pancake Rocks', which are huge columns of limestone resembling stacks of pancakes. With a heavy swell running at high tide, seawater is forced upwards through blowholes with an impressive roar.

Alternatively you can spend the day making your very own knife in Barrytown! In this experience you get to forge your own blade from red hot steel, and complete your knife with native timber handle, brass bolsters and pins. And don’t worry about taking it home – hundreds of people have travelled with their knives (allowed in the hold luggage on flights).

Day 3 – Punakaiki to Motueka
Upon leaving Punakaiki we continue north along the State Highway 6. There is a stunning beach beside the Fox River where we can explore some awesome caves. Just ten kilometres west of Westport is Cape Foulwind where there is a fur seal colony accessible by a walking track.

Westport is home to a company that specialises in various adventure activities, including quad biking, extreme jet boating and river rafting along the Buller River. The river is one of the longest in the country and we travel alongside it for much of the day.

Our accommodation tonight is just on the outskirts of Abel Tasman National Park near the town of Motueka. The golden beaches, tranquil lagoons, clear water, native bush, seals and bird life make this an amazing year round destination. When we arrive there should be time for walk to split apple rock – a rock that looks exactly as the name suggests!

Day 4 – Abel Tasman National Park
Today is all about exploring Abel Tamsan National Park – New Zealand’s smallest, but by no means least beautiful, national parks. One way to experience the park is with a half day kayak to the Split Apple. No previous experience is required as qualified guides will teach you all the basic skills to make sure this is a safe, yet awesome activity!

Alternatively, there are numerous half and full day walks, including transport via water taxi. These explore both the inland forest and many stunning secluded beaches, all of which we guarantee will take your breath away!

It is just an hour’s drive to Nelson, the sunshine capital of New Zealand (with over 2,000 hours of sun every year). It is also home to the geographical ‘Centre of Zealand’ on Botanical Hill where we will take a walk before nightfall to witness the superb panoramic views of coast and countryside.

Day 5 – Nelson to Wellington
To visit the Nelson region is to discover azure skies and wide open spaces, beaches and lakes, spectacular national parks and unique landforms, vineyards and gourmet cafés, artists and galleries and boutique shopping experiences. This region expertly combines the finest elements of the New Zealand experience and delivers them across stunning geography, sun-ripened at the perfect latitude under New Zealand’s highest sunshine hours. Even the locals like to holiday here!

On our journey back towards Picton, where we will cross to Wellington once again on the Inter-Islander ferry this evening, we break up the drive by stopping at Havelock, the centre of the New Zealand green-lipped mussel industry. The Mussel Pot Café is a popular stop for seafood fans!

There is more time to explore the small town of Picton, and your guide may take you for a cultural walk to learn more about the area. By the time we reach Wellington it will be around 10pm and so the rest of the evening is up to you!

Day 6 - Free Day Wellington
Perched on the edge of a spectacular harbour, encircled by green, towering hills, Wellington is a stunning and compact city. Vibrant, exciting and cultured, the nation’s capital combines the stimulation and sophistication of a big city with the quirkiness of a charming village. Extending just two kilometres in diameter, Wellington is a truly 'walking city’.

As always your tour guide will introduce you to the city with an orientation tour – including a drive around the bays, a visit to Weta Studios, up to the lookout point at Mount Victoria and then through central Wellington, up the cable car, through the Botanic Gardens and to the Parliament Buildings.

The afternoon is for your own leisure time.

The city is known as the 'windy city' due to the high winds flowing across Cook Strait. Needless to say, the wakeboarding and windsurfing thrives here. Ask your tour advisor about our one day starter packs which can provide you with all the equipment, coaching and necessary skills to have a good grasp of any one of the sports after the end of day one. Furthermore, scores of walking and mountain-biking tracks around the city give a 360-degree perspective on this sparkling waterway and a view of the original colonial villas that fringe the city’s edge. For those wanting a more rugged perspective, there are four-wheel drive or horseback tours at the head of the Harbour, overlooking Cook Strait.

Wellington has a feast of cultural attractions and its crowning glory is Te Papa, the national museum of New Zealand. Situated on Wellington’s magnificent waterfront, this internationally acclaimed museum combines leading edge technology with traditional exhibits to tell the stories of New Zealand’s land and people. The museum is free for all.

With some of the best nightlife in the country, it makes sense to take advantage of Wellington’s great bars and restaurants, mainly centred around Courtney Place and Cuba Street – both within short walking distances of the hostel.

Day 7 – Wellington to River Valley
We leave Wellington early and retrace some of our previous steps up State Highway 1 in the middle of the North Island. Just a short way east from Taihape is one of our favourite locations on tour: the River Valley lodge.

There really is nowhere else like River Valley – this place epitomises tranquillity… with a streak of adrenalin running through its belly! The lodge which offers a complete range of New Zealand adventure activities. This includes world class grade 5 white-water rafting, inflatable kayaking, scenic eco-rafting, horse trekking, guided natural and cultural interpretive bush walks and fly fishing.

Everything here is first-class, set amongst a backdrop of mother nature’s best work. If the scenery of River Valley does not blow your mind, then we will be truly surprised! Most of the activities take place in the morning, so you can relax in the spa pool or play a round of pitch and putt on the nine hole course.

Day 8 – River Valley to Raglan
Raglan is known as the surfing capital of New Zealand, with world famous breaks found at 3 points: Manu Bay, Whale Bay and The Indicators. This is the hottest surfing mecca in NZ, if not just in this part of the planet. Manu Bay (Waireke) is 8 km from Raglan. This famous surf break, also known as The Point, as it is said to have the longest left hand ride in the world. Our adventure lodge accommodation also offers a number of surfing packages for all levels of experience.

If surfing is not high on your agenda, not a problem. Raglan has some stunning geography, and after a short trek down to the bottom of Bridal Veil Falls you will witness a spectacular view of a natural waterfall. Furthermore, artwork is abundant in the cafes of Raglan and a must see is the Aqua Velvet. The only artist's work displayed this year has been of Maori carver Aaron Kereopa. He carves surfboard blanks into traditional Maori designs. These carvings stand out not only for their size, but also for their intricate Polynesian designs and three-dimensional shapes.

Raglan is definitely New Zealand's piece of bohemia and we are sure that it will leave you just like it leaves us: spellbound and reluctant to return to the big city environment of Auckland!

Day 9 - Raglan to Auckland
Before you know it, it’s your final day. After potential surfing and exploring the town of Raglan in the morning, we reach Auckland by 5pm to say our final goodbyes. Should you wish to explore Auckland you are welcome to stay for longer (see below).

After your 9 day Supercharged NZ tour
So what now? We offer additional nights’ accommodation in Auckland from $28 NZD per night. Alternatively, you can complete your New Zealand travels by jumping on one of our 6 day Northland tours (10% off when you have already booked a 9 day Supercharged NZ tour). These have been designed and are run by our Head Tour Manager Steve, who knows the “Winterless North” like the back of his hand.

Whether you choose to stay on, return home or continue travelling overseas, we promise to have given you a New Zealand experience not just to remember, but to value as one of the best trips of your life!