NOV 28-30: AUCKLAND
Arrive in Auckland from Melbourne. Stay at the Hyatt.

NOV 30-DEC 2: WHANGAREI
Visit the northern penninsula, staying at the Pahia Beach Resort in the Bay of Islands. Take a boat trip out with Dolphin Discoveries to view and swim with bottlenose dolphins.

DEC 2-4: COROMANDEL PENNINSULA
Drive to the Coromandel Penninsula, and stay at the Puka Park Resort.

DEC 4-7: ROTORUA
Drive to Rotorua and stay at the Royal Lakeside Novotel. Canoe on the lakes, soak in the tubs at Polynesian Spa, ride down the luge at Skyline Skyrides, learn about sheep at Agrodome, try out 4x4 bikes on a forested trail with Taupo Quad Adventures, see geothermal wonders at Wairakei Natural Thermal Valley, and attend a traditional hangi at Tamaki Maori Village (yum!).

DEC 7-9: WELLINGTON
Drive to the city of Wellington and stay at the Intercontinental Wellington.

DEC 9-13: ABEL TASMAN
Cross over to the South Island via the Interisland Ferry and drive to Abel Tasman National Park. Stay in a self-contained cain at the Ocean View Chalets in Marahau, just outside the park entrance.

DEC 13-15: WESTPORT
Drive over to the west coast of the South Island and stay at the Chelsea Gateway Inn. Visit the remote northern town of Karamea and the Oparara Arch and hike a short way along the Heaphy Track. Explore the Metro Cave with Norwest Adventures and see fantastic cave formations and glow worms.

DEC 15-16: ARTHUR'S PASS
Drive up to scenic Arthur's Pass and stay at the all-inclusive Wilderness Lodge.

DEC 16-17: FOX GLACIER
Head further south on the west coast and stay at the Lake Matheson Motel in the glaciers area.

DEC 17-18: WANAKA
Drive through the Haast Pass to Wanaka, and stay at The Moorings, overlooking Lake Wanaka. Go river kayaking with Alpine River Guides on the Hawea River.

DEC 18-21: QUEENSTOWN
Drive down to Queenstown and stay at The Point apartments on the lakefront.

Dec 22-26: THE MILFORD TRACK
We will be hiking the amazing Milford Track as part of the Milford Track Guided Walk. This is a 5 day/4 night guided adventure, starting and ending in Queensland. While the hiking will be fairly strenuous, the tour provides lodging and hot meals each night.

Traversing the heart of New Zealand's wild fiord country, the Milford Track has long been described as "the finest walk in the world". Since Quintin Mackinnon pioneered the route in 1888, everyone from hardened trekkers to novices sporting their first pair of boots, have taken up the challenge of the Milford Track.

The Fiordland National Park is the cornerstone of the Te Wai Pounamu Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Park. Walkers on the track to Milford Sound encounter Fiordland at its most spectacular. Deep lakes, silent fiords, luxuriant forest and sheer canyons carved out of imposing granite define this landscape. On a sunny day there is a postcard shot around every corner, but only when it rains, and torrents of water cascade down the mountainsides, have you truly experienced the magic of the Milford Track.

DEC 26-28: TE ANAU

Return to Te Anau after the track and stay at the Holiday Inn Te Anau. Take a cruise to explore Doubtful Sound.

DEC 28-29: DUNEDIN

Drive back to the east coast of the South Island to the Otago Penninsula, just outside Dunedin. Visit yellow-eyed penguins in their native habitat. Spend the night at The Homestead, a spacious and immaculate self-contained unit overlooking the harbor.

DEC 29-31: CHRISTCHURCH

Drive up to ChristChurch and possibly go to look for sperm whales and/or dolphins near Kaikura. Stay at the Parkroyal ChristChurch.

DEC 31: Fly back to USA across dateline

Arrive in time to celebrate the New Year in the states.