Welcome to New Zealand, the country that EVERYONE wants to visit! Kia Ora! The journey here has probably been a long one, so drop your bags off at the hostel and relax before the adventure of a lifetime begins. We start in Auckland, a city famous for its skyline, its stunning islands that are just a stone's throw away and its volcanoes that lie nearby. In the afternoon you'll meet up with the rest of the group and start exploring the neighbourhood and maybe even visit some of the local bars overlooking the city at night!

It's our first full day on tour and it's fabulous! We get up early, as Kiwis do, and make our way to Waitomo. Waitomo is a small village just over two hours from Auckland and it's famous for its crazy underground cave system. These caves are not just any caves, they are GLOWWORM CAVES! It's like something out of a Disney film: the caves are home to thousands of glowworms that glow and glitter throughout the caves. We then make our way to our next stop: Hobbiton. After a picnic en route (there's *nature*), we arrive at this 14-acre, family-run farm, now known the world over for being part of the setting for one of the most famous film series of all time. After an afternoon of exploring, we make our way back to Rotorua. Our hostel here is super cool - if you like climbing, you'll feel right at home!

Meal: Lunch

Activity: Waitomo Caves, Hobbiton

Even more nature awaits us today! We can take it easy this morning and relax before we head off to the first activity of the day: the Redwoods. It's a beautiful forest dedicated to fallen soldiers and it's an amazing place of contemplation to walk through. After finding some inner peace and, of course, having lunch, we set off for the geothermal hike in Kuirau Park. We explore this steaming and bubbling park crater lake and maybe even take a footbath. Tonight, after some free time, we head to Mitai Maori Village for a cultural evening. We'll immerse ourselves in the culture, watch a haka and even partake in a traditional hangi feast - the perfect way to learn more about their way of life!

Meal: Dinner

Activity: Redwood Memorial Grove Track, visit to Kuirau Geothermal Park, Maori cultural evening

This morning we have some free time to take a closer look at Rotorua. Whether you want to explore more of Rotorua's geothermal sites or visit a local supermarket (the MOST UNDESERVED activity), you'll have some time to get to know New Zealand a little better. Our next stop is the fantastic Taupo with stunning views of Lake Taupō (the largest freshwater lake in New Zealand). We arrive at our accommodation in the afternoon and are just a minute away from the lake - get your swimming trunks out because we're going for a dip in the lake!

Activity: Bus from Rotorua to Taupo

Get ready, because this morning we're getting down to business ... and by that, of course, we mean chasing after the waterfall! At 100 metres wide, the Huka Falls are an absolutely breathtaking sight - get ready for some noise, it's epic. We then head off to steam off in the Otumuheke stream and explore the spa thermal park. Dip your toes in, swim, relax and enjoy the breathtaking views! After a day full of zen, we end the day with a sunset kayak trip on Lake Taupo - what a dreamy day!

Activity: Huka Falls, Spa Thermal Walk, swimming in Otumeheke Stream & kayaking on Lake Taupo

Today is travelling day from Taupo to Auckland! It's quite a long drive, so get your TimTams ready and download Netflix, unless you want to spend the journey sharing Would You Rathers and finding out each other's darkest secrets - you know! We'll arrive later in the afternoon and have some free time in the evening! We'll be going to bed early because we have to get up early for our flight to Christchurch tomorrow.

Activity: Bus from Taupo to Auckland

Are you ready for a change of island? We arrive in Christchurch in the early afternoon. This city is famous for its stunning surroundings, culture and nightlife! Our accommodation here is an old prison - don't let that put you off - it's super cool! Once we've checked into our cells *rooms*, we head off for a tour and walk around the botanical gardens. Then it's time to hit the best bars in town and explore the world-famous nightlife!

Place: Christchurch

Activity: Tour of Christchurch and visit to the Botanical Gardens

This morning we make our way to Tekapo. Tekapo is known for one of the clearest night skies in the world and for its huge 27 kilometre long lake! Once we arrive in the early afternoon, we will drop off our luggage and start exploring. Whether you want to explore the village (which is only a 10-minute walk away) or head straight out into nature, the hostel offers you a LOT of options. Tonight we take a short walk to the Church of the Good Shepherd. This small stone church sits on the shores of Lake Tekapo and is the perfect place to watch the sunset. Get ready to pinch yourselves - yes, this really is the real thing!

Activity: Church of the Good Shepherd

Ever heard of the Hooker Valley Track Walk? Then it's time for a surprise. If you love walking and want to enjoy breathtaking views, then you're in for a treat today! The Hooker Valley Track is an unmissable (and mostly flat) walk that passes some of New Zealand's most breathtaking viewpoints. We'll be here for a few hours, so take your time and enjoy this peaceful walk. After stretching our legs, we'll drive a few hours further to our cosy accommodation in Wanaka.

Activity: Hooker Valley Track

This morning wake up slowly and enjoy a morning off to do whatever you want. We are perfectly located here in Wanaka. We are only a 2 minute walk from the beach at Lake Wanaka. So if you like a morning swim, this is your chance. The backdrop of this beach is like something out of a film - seriously, you won't believe your eyes! Then we'll hop on two wheels and be ready to explore as much of this epic lake as possible! Get your cameras ready because we'll also be stopping by the famous Wanaka Tree. This twisted tree grows out of the crystal clear waters of Lake Wānaka and is considered a symbol of hope in the region. A beautiful sight!

Activity: Visit the famous Wanaka tree and cycle around Wanaka

After a busy, nature-filled day yesterday, we have some free time this morning to catch up on some sleep or for the Duracell bunny in the group to explore more of Wanaka. We meet at lunchtime to drive to Queenstown. Situated on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, this is one of New Zealand's most famous towns! We arrive at our hostel in the early evening, which luckily is right in the heart of Queenstown, on Searle Lane. Drop your bags, freshen up and head out for a great night!

Activity: Bus from Wanaka to Queenstown

Wake up! Our last full day - can you believe it? Time really does fly when you're having fun! Today we get up early to drive to Milford. Are you ready? We've saved the best for last. Milford Sound is an incredible fjord, often referred to as the „eighth wonder of the world“. The best way to enjoy this sight is on a day cruise, so let's jump on board with our cameras. We'll see epic cliffs, mountain peaks and misty waterfalls - the perfect end to our amazing time in New Zealand. We've seen many incredible views, but this one might be the best... Tonight we head back to Queenstown and head out into the nightlife to celebrate our adventures and the wonderful friendships we've made over the last 12 days. We're not crying, are you?

Meal: Lunch

Activity: Cruise to Milford Sound

It's departure day! It's been the most incredible 13 days, but our adventure must end here. Whether you're heading home or want to explore more of Oceania, your awesome Tru Leader will be able to help you plan your next steps. It's not „goodbye“, it's „see you later“ ... We've got memories and friendships for life and, most importantly, one hell of an Instagram post coming our way ... Now we just have to think of a caption ...

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