Bay of Islands

Day 1: Monday 23 April

Settle into your seat and let our private jet crew offer you a delectable lunch accompanied by fine wines, as our flight from Sydney heads over the Tasman Sea to Auckland. After a short stop for immigration formalities, we continue north to the subtropical charms of the Bay of Islands, where 144 islands and sparkling sandy beaches promise a most delightful start to the journey.

We base ourselves in historic Russell, New Zealand's first sea port and European settlement. In the early 19th century, it attracted convicts fleeing New South Wales, drunken sailors and whalers. Today, cafes, shops and bed & breakfasts characterise the town. Its streets retain their original layout, and its buildings have been beautifully preserved. Our home for two nights is the Duke of Marlborough Hotel, New Zealand's first hotel with a past as colourful as that of Russell's. It was founded by Johnny Johnston, an ex-convict who made good and became fluent in the Maori language, which led locals to trust him enough to sell him the land on which he built the hotel. This evening, we savour a delectable welcome dinner and reception at the Gables, set prettily on the waterfront.

Please enquire for details if you would prefer to join the group in Russell.

Bay of Islands

Day 2: Tuesday 24 April

This morning, we immerse ourselves in nature and  Ngāpuhi culture. They are New Zealand's largest Maori tribe. We meet our guide at Waitangi Bridge, where we board a 40-foot  traditional waka taua, or war canoe. We then explore the Waitangi River, learning waka manoeuvres, traditional chants and a haka. Upon arrival at the sacred Haruru Falls, our guide  regales us with its legends. After lunch in Russell, choose to  spend your afternoon on one of these Your World experiences.

• Take a scenic ferry ride to Paihia, and str oll the town,  stopping at its many cafes and boutiques.
• Go fishing for hapuka, trevally and yellowtail kingfish. You might even spot a dolphin, orca or whale.
• Soak in stunning ocean views while playing the Kauri Cliffs Golf Course, designed and built by world-renowned course architect David Harman.

Admire the Bay of Islands on a late afternoon cruise, then  pick where you'd like to have dinner. Enjoy local produce and seafood in our hotel's restaurant or at Sally's. If you're craving something different, Spice Route offers the region's finest Indian cuisine. 

Taupo

Day 3: Wednesday 25 April

After breakfast, we drive to Kerikeri airport and board our  private jet for the onward journey to breathtaking Lake Taupo. Our privately chartered boat lets us leisurely take in the sights. Crystalline waters, hidden bays and Tongariro National Park's snowy peaks mesmerise us. The trip reaches a high point as we sail up close to the astounding Maori Rock Carvings, a 10-metre high carving of Ngátoro-i-rangi on the rock face. According to legend, he was a skilled navigator who guided tribes to the region. 

Our residence is Huka Lodge, a sumptuous retreat that tops every other in the country and rivals the best in the world. Over its 25-year history, it has consistently been awarded by such illustrious authorities as Tatler, Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveller magazines. The lodge welcomes us for a two-night celebration of the gorgeous Waikato River and its surroundings. Marvel at the lush country, relax and prepare for a sumptuous five-course dinner prepared by Chef Paul Froggatt, who boasts a multiple Michelin-starred resume.

Taupo

Day 4: Thursday 26 April

With such an abundance of natural beauty surrounding us, it  might be difficult deciding how to spend your day. Relax on Huka Lodge's grounds or choose from these spectacular Your World experiences. 

• The pristine Tongariro River is a premier fly fishing haven, known worldwide for the size and number of its trout. Whether you're a novice or expert, this is a truly unique experience.
• At Ōpepe Scenic and Historic Reserve, see the stunning  native forest and its feathered occupants, then call in at the graves of cavalry officers who perished in a fight with Maori warrior Te Kooti.
• Play a round at The Kinloch Club Golf Course, the only  Jack Nicklaus-designed course in the country, or Wairakei Golf Course, set on 450 acres of rolling land. 
• See mánuka-covered hillsides, grassy meadows and gentle streams on horseback. Poronui horses, bred locally for their temperament, are suitable for riders of all levels. 
• Return to the Maori Rock Carvings, this time, by kayak, allowing you to get up close to the narrow inlets and sheer cliffs that make up the lake's edge. 
• New Zealand's location on the Pacific Ring of Fire translates into a multitude of geothermal wonders. At Orakei Korako, witness active geysers, pools and terraces, some with vividly alien colours.

Queenstown

Day 5: Friday 27 April

We trade the rustic countryside for gleaming Queenstown  today. After breakfast at Huka Lodge, we rejoin our jet for the flight to New Zealand's South Island. Set on lightningbolt shaped Lake Wakatipu, against the rugged Remarkables mountain range, Queenstown has magnificent scenery in spades. It is also a gourmet capital and the heart of the Central Otago wine region. We indulge ourselves during lunch  at Wild Earth Restaurant, savouring its one-of-a-kind cuisine - the freshest local ingredients steamed, baked, grilled or smoked in French oak pinot noir barrels, accompanied by their award-winning wines, of course. 

The afternoon continues with a drive through dramatic Kawarau Gorge to Gibbston Valley Winery, home of New Zealand's largest underground wine cave. Taste decadent varietals while hearing about their winemaking process. Just down the road, Gibbston Valley Cheese crafts artisanal sheep, cow and goat cheeses in the European style. Our epicurean tour ends here, then it's on to the heart of Queenstown, where we check in to the Hotel St Moritz for two nights. This evening, you can dine at Lombardi, in our hotel. Optionally, head to Rata, for an inventive and perfectly executed menu of modern Kiwi, or to Madam Woo for Malaysian with a twist. Both restaurants are owned by two Michelin-starred chef Josh Emett.

Queenstown

Day 6: Saturday 28 April

Today, we embark on an active exploration of Queenstown's wonders. Choose how to spend your day on these Your World experiences. 

• This full-day adventure reveals glacier-carved country. Drive through lush pastures, stop at gorgeous Lake Te Anau, then continue to Milford Sound, a fjord that rivals any in Scandinavia. On board a boat, we get up close to steep cliffs, fur seals and if we're lucky, penguins and dolphins. 
• On this half-day experience, the Skyline Gondola takes you high over Queenstown. Up here, the sweeping 220-degree panorama takes in Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. 
• Get your adrenaline flowing on the half-day Shotover Jet boat experience. Your boat whips along the Shotover River between towering gorge walls at up to 85 kilometres per hour for an experience unlike any other. 

Those who select half-day experiences may also take a stunning helicopter ride to an alpine plateau, where we have the distinct privilege of a private picnic in the splendid surroundings. Later, visit Artbay Gallery, home to New Zealand's leading contemporary artists. The exhibiting artist will be on hand to meet us. At dinner, select from the wood-fired meats of Botswana Butchery or the Polynesian-Asian delights of Blue Kanu.

Marlborough

Day 7: Sunday 29 April

New Zealand's most famous wine region beckons to us this  morning. After breakfast, our private jet flies us to the norther n tip of the South Island. On arrival, a short scenic drive places us in Picton, where our boat awaits us. This part of the coastline was formed when deep river valleys were flooded after the last ice age, creating countless twisting side passages and islands. We embark on a cruise of Queen Charlotte Sound, calling in at secret coves and bays, and the artisanal seafood farms that rely on its crisp, pristine water. 

Meet the farmers who are raising salmon and greenshell mussels for the finest dining tables in New Zealand and abroad, and take part in the harvest of wild Cloudy Bay surf clams. We have the distinct privilege of grazing on these fabulous delicacies paired with the region's famed sauvignon blancs. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled as we cruise from farm to farm. We might chance upon seals, dolphins, orcas and other whales. Back on dry land, we check in to the Chateau Marlborough in Blenheim for two nights. This evening, we dine on the seasonal offerings of our hotel's Quench restaurant, aptly named for the exhaustive list of wines from the Marlborough valley and beyond.

Marlborough

Day 8: Monday 30 April

Blenheim is a picturesque township filled with independent boutiques and galleries. Spend the day strolling its streets at your own pace or choose from these Your World experiences.

• Take a tour that combines your love of aircraft, classic cars and wine. The Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre contains the largest private collection of World War I planes and memorabilia in the world. Next, view classic cars from 1950-1980, then relax over lunch at a local winery. 
• See the best of the Marlborough region - its beaches, art galleries, gardens bursting with colour and, of course, a vineyard where we stop for lunch and tastings. 

This evening, you are free to choose where to dine. Some of  our favourites include Gramado's, where traditional Brazilian techniques are lightened with a Kiwi sensibility and MIA Dining and Wine Cellar, for a taste of modern New Zealand.

Norfolk Island

Day 9: Tuesday 1 May

This morning, we leave New Zealand for tiny Norfolk Island,  a two-hour flight north. Lying 1,673 kilometres from Sydney, this island is most famously known as the place bequeathed by Queen Victoria to descendants of HMS Bounty mutineers when they outgrew Pitcairn Islands. Today, a third of residents claim mutineers as ancestors. Dramatic and forbidding cliffs make up most of the coastline, adding to the island's sense of isolation. The lush clifftop at Forrester Court, overlooking Cascade Bay, hosts us for a leisurely picnic lunch. After soaking in the scenery, we leave for a tour of its turquoise lagoons, just as pretty as any in Polynesia, but without a soul in sight. There is the sense that we are in on a secret no one else knows yet. We visit the lookout at Mt Pitt for sweeping views of the entire island and the Cyclorama, a 360-degree panoramic painting that recounts the world's most legendary mutiny and how it created Pitcairn and Norfolk Islands' communities. 

South Pacific Resort Hotel welcomes us for the night. This evening, dress for our gala farewell dinner at Two Chimneys vineyard, Norfolk Island’s first and only winery.

Sydney

Day 10: Wednesday 2 May

After breakfast this morning, we visit Kingston, the centre of the British Empire's most brutal penal settlement. Between 1788 and 1855, criminals who had committed fresh crimes in Australia were sent here. It also holds evidence of Polynesian settlement that predates Captain Cook's visit by several hundred years. We enjoy our final lunch in Hilli Restaurant, a word from the Creole Norfolk language that describes the drowsy, lazy feeling that you get after you've eaten. After lunch, we board our private jet for the journey home. As you relax in your seat, contemplate the dramatic landscapes, natural wonders and delicious diversions you've encountered. We hope to see you on your next Captain's Choice journey.