Elite Traveler Spring 2024

ROAD TRIP NEW ZEALAND

Known for its sublime scenery, New Zealand’s rich geography of fjords, mountains, beaches and lakes means it is practically built for adventure (its magical scenery has served as the setting for a number of famed movie trilogies such as The Lord of the Rings and TheHobbit ). This 14-day, self-drive itinerary from Wayfairer Travel journeys from North Island to South Island. On North Island, you’ll visit Waiheke Island for a wine and gourmet tour (think: fresh oysters and local wines); drive to the enchanting glowworm grottos of Waitomo; learn about Maori culture in the Kaimanawa Range with Tom Loughlin, a renowned tangata whenua (person of the land); watch steam rise from the Wai-O-Tapu geothermal pools during a private tour; and sample the best wine in Hawke’s Bay. Fly down to South Island and board the TranzAlpine for a scenic train journey into the Southern Alps; embark on a fl y-in, fl y-out heli-hike — take in views of lake icebergs and the iconic Hochstetter Icefall from the sky before a leg-stretching hike around Tasman Glacier’s otherworldly ice formations; and visit Ben Lomond High Country Sheep Station, a 33,360-acre expanse of forests, lakes, rivers and grazing lands (as well as mining huts and tracks leftover from the gold mining era). Finish the adventure with a jetboat ride through the Shotover River Canyons. From $13,200 per person. Contact hello@wayfairertravel.com, +44 117 313 3300, wayfairertravel.com