New Zealand experiences often top the must-do travel lists — and with good reason. From adventures in nature to sipping nature’s bounty, there’s no shortage of things to do in New Zealand. These are our top five once-in-a-lifetime experiences to experience on your New Zealand tour. 

Adventure in nature

It may come as no surprise that exploring New Zealand’s rich landscapes makes the top of our list. Our 19-day tour will immerse you in all of these rich New Zealand adventures. Take to the water for a serene cruise of Milford Sound’s Lake Manapouri lined with plummeting waterfalls, coves and beaches dotted along its shore. This magnificent scenery of the Fiordland National Park’s forest-clad mountains and islands is a must-do on any trip to The Long White Cloud. You’ll also cruise along Queen Charlotte Sound and across Cook Straight watching the coves, bays and lush green forests rising from the tranquil waters. For adrenaline junkies, zip past untouched forests and snow-capped mountains in your fully enclosed cabin on a Haast River jet boat safari. 

Stay at the ultimate nature retreat at Milford Sound Lodge. 

There’s plenty to discover on land, too. Understand what the ice age must have felt like experiencing the mighty natural wonder and grand scale of the Franz Josef Glacier. You’ll also visit Waimangu Volcanic Valley, the world’s youngest geothermal system. Discover the world’s largest hot spring, volcanic crater lakes and the most incredible flora and fauna that have been untouched by man as you stroll along boardwalks.

Uncover Māori culture

When asking yourself “what to do in New Zealand?” experiencing the indigenous Māori culture is probably at the top of your list. You’ll have the opportunity to do just that on a visit to Tamaki Māori Village in Rotorua. Through this immersive experience, dine on a hearty and delicious meal warmed by the earth with a uniquely prepared Hāngī feast. Hāngī meals are made of meat, potatoes, and vegetables cooked traditionally in a pit oven using geothermal steam. As you dine, witness a captivating live cultural performance showcasing honored traditions, stories, songs and performing arts. See the fierce ‘Haka’ (war dance), action dances and stick games. This sensory evening will delight you with the magic of Māori storytelling and culture set deep within the forest. 

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Sip and Savor

Most seasoned travelers will agree day trips in New Zealand must include a little wine tasting. Embark on a boutique wine-tasting tour in the heart of the Central Otago wine region. Here you’ll sample the area’s finest Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and crisp Sauvignon Blanc.  

Our tours even treat you to a dinner and wine pairing at Hawke’s Bay Craggy Range Winery with an intimate dinner at the award-winning restaurant. Taking in the grandeur of Te Mata Peak and feast on local produce as you drink wines from one of the region’s world-famous vineyards. You’ll also learn how this family-owned winery began with a search to start a winery in France, the U.S., Australia and finally the exceptional climate of New Zealand.    

More of a beer connoisseur? Sample some of Dunedin’s best local brews on an exclusive tour and tasting session at Emerson’s Brewery. You’ll witness each stage of the process as you’re guided behind the scenes from malt room to bottling at this award-winning microbrewery. 

National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa Visit

Add going behind-the-scenes on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa to your collection of New Zealand experiences. Meet the kiwi at this working nursery and hatchery for New Zealand’s intriguing national bird. This experience helps to fund the Hatchery and directly contribute to kiwi conservation. This has become the largest and most successful kiwi hatching facility in the world, and the national leader in kiwi husbandry, egg incubation systems, hatching techniques and kiwi chick rearing. After your visit, you’ll understand how the nursery and hatchery is leading the conservation efforts of the national icon. You may even get to see a newly hatched kiwi chick. 

New Zealand, Wellington, North Island,

Waitomo Cave Visit with Private Boat Tour

Perhaps one of the most unexpected – and enchanting — New Zealand experiences is an exclusive, private guided tour of Waitomo Cave. You’ll tour the subterranean Waitomo Cave where you’ll be guided through the extensive network. The highlight is meeting the local glowworms that light up the cavern. Enter the cave through a natural chasm. Then view these fascinating glowing creatures as you glide quietly on a private tour by boat through the underground cave. You’ll even view the bones of one of New Zealand’s lost treasures, the ancient Moa. 

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A true Kiwi lover? Learn about Six Stunning Filming Locations To See In New Zealand and a World-class jockey who turned into a hands-on sustainable farmer.  

If you’re seeking the height of rustic luxury, a stay at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is the perfect destination. A highlight accommodation on our Majesty of the Rockies tour, this grand 700-acre hotel combines Canada’s natural beauty with all the elegance of a top resort.  

The hotel  

The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is perched on the shores of emerald green Beauvert Lake or “Lac Beauvert” with a stunning backdrop of the Canadian Rockies. The resort’s grandeur extends from its epic scenery to its world-renowned golf course within the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. And yet, a cozy intimacy welcomes from its rooms and Signature Cabins reminiscent of luxury rustic homes.  

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The rooms 

Within the main hotel, the 442 comfortable, spacious guest rooms may also offer an outdoor patio or balcony. Some suites invite you to relax in front of wood-burning stoves and fireplaces with a separate sitting area offering views of Lac Beauvert. Beyond the main lodge, the village of cedar chalets and heritage log cabins are connected by winding paths. Inside, the cabins feel intimate and warm, boasting rustic luxury décor in a modern or alpine style. Lounge outside around a firepit in Adirondack chairs as the sun sets. Or, stay in and enjoy your rustic luxury kitchen, stone fireplace, leather furnishings and dramatic windows. Some Signature Cabins, such as the Outlook Cabin, have hosted notable guests. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth stayed here in 1939 followed by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 2005. 

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Dining  

Take in more of the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge’s splendor at one of its fine restaurants. The Great Hall presents views of Lac Beauvert and Whistlers Mountain alongside sumptuous dishes. Here you’ll dine on sockeye salmon with maple rainbow carrots and warm scarlet quinoa salad or jerk shrimp and grits. Or, try their Elk hunter’s pie of braised Alberta elk with winter root vegetables and cheddar mash potatoes. 

For a taste of la dolce vita, Orso Trattoria tempts with modern Italian fare highlighting the finest just-harvested regional ingredients and the best steaks. Should you like to indulge in a decadent high tea, you can take afternoon tea of delicate sandwiches, cakes and cookies – and bubbly, if you like – in front of the grand fireplace or picture windows showcasing the Rockies. 

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Drinks 

For pre- or post-dinner drinks, the Emerald Lounge Bar is the spot for classic cocktails and innovative seasonal creations. Sip on the house beauvardier or toasted apple pie made with Calvados, sherry and apple spice syrup. Or, try the delicious burnt flower cocktail of Hornitos Black Barrel, Somba Mezcal, honey, lemon juice, cinnamon and hibiscus. 

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The spa  

Continue your luxurious stay at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge with a treatment at the on-site spa. Inspired by the surrounding nature, the treatments are designed to enliven your skin, restore your muscles and soothe your spirit. Treat yourself to a mineral foot soak and scrub, exfoliation, lotion application and moor mud mask. The relaxing Ultimate Facial enhances brightness using a blend of skin-illuminating botanicals along with a unique cooling mask.   

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Activities 

When you’re eager to get a little active and soak up the surrounding splendor of the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, you have a range of activities to choose from right outside your room or cabin. As you may have guessed, you’re in an ideal spot for downhill skiing. Here within the snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies, you have the highest base elevation of any major Canadian ski area.   

In summer, the lodge boathouse rents canoes, kayaks, pedal boats and stand-up paddle boards to explore and adventure on glacier-fed Lac Beauvert.  

Where else will you adventure in Jasper National Park? 

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Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge golf course 

If you needed another reason to venture to this rustic resort, the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Club has been rated by SCOREGolf Magazine as the #1 Best Golf Resort in Canada. This premier golf course has been drawing enthusiasts since 1925 with elevated tee boxes, dramatic bunkering and holes aligned with distant mountain vistas. Stanley Thompson, Canada’s master golf course architect, designed the 18-hole course with wide fairways through thick forest while harmonizing with nature’s landscapes. If you’re a golfer, don’t miss your chance to try this award-winning course. And after a big day on the green or at the lake, take advantage of the resort’s Health Club that includes a heated outdoor pool and hot tub.    

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As you experience the beauty of Jasper and Jasper National Park, take time to enjoy Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. 

Looking for more beautiful national parks in Western Canada or more nature retreats? 

With the holiday season quickly approaching, we found ourselves in need of a festive gift guide for the travelers in our lives. We’ve searched the globe and scoured the web for our favorite types of gifts so you can tailor the selection to your traveler, and add a few of our personal favorites. If you’re stumped on what to give to a travel lover, you’ve come to the right place.   

Luggage presents for a traveler 

You can’t go wrong with a classic. Every world traveler needs luggage. And this season’s options are more stylish than ever. We love a hardback suitcase that makes traveling that much smoother. For weekend getaways and overnight trips, a leather duffel bag helps your traveler enjoy a short trip with only the essentials. For days trips, make sure the traveler in your life is ready for anything with a stylish leather backpack or day bag. When you’re gifting the ultimate jetsetter, a quality passport holder is key for protecting this important document. If you’re looking for a fun stocking stuffer, pick up a set of leather luggage tags. It’s a must-have and your traveler will think of you on their next great adventure. Still searching? Take a look at more of our recommended luggage. 

Luxe travel accessories 

In search of Christmas gifts for a traveler who loves to fly? We’ve found a handful of luxurious accessories we’d personally like to have on our next red-eye flight. A set of noise-cancelling headphones is a must for any frequent flier. They’re ideal for listening to favorite tunes or simply blocking out the din of the cabin. Help your friends and family still feel luxurious while traveling with silk accessories. Or, help them get extra cozy with a cashmere traveler set – a gift that will take them from in-flight to in their hotel room in ultimate comfort. We’ve craving this set that includes a sleep mask and pillow. A compact grooming kit is ideal for keeping up your look as you go. And if you’re looking for a gift that specifically fights jetlag, we’ve curated a collection of high-tech products.  

Gifts to make their life easier 

Any avid traveler knows there are aspects to travel that can get tough. From delays and tech troubles to language barriers and culture miscommunications, we could all use a few more tools in our toolbox to improve our world travels. Our festive gift guide includes a portable water purifier that may not be the first gift that comes to mind for the luxury traveler, but will come in handy. So many bucket list locations and sought-after destinations require filtered water, and this on-the-go purifier is just the thing when you’re on the go. On the techier side, why not help your traveler stay charged and connected with a portable charger? We are also fans of this sleek translator. No more flipping through dictionaries or searching online. Lastly, we’re fans of Tile Mate, a small device you attach to your luggage, bag or even keys to track its location. Then simply use their app to locate your item and say goodbye to lost luggage. 

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You can take it with you 

Some of our favorite luxury gifts for travelers are not things you think they need, but decadent gifts they’ll appreciate. This collection of pampering presents will make their hotel room feel like home—maybe even a little more luxurious. If you know their favorite scent, pick up a small fancy candle they can enjoy during their trip. The familiar aroma will remind them of home, and it won’t take up space in their luggage on their return trip. You can also delight their senses with a perfume and body lotion set in their favorite fragrance. For lounging in between adventures, a silk robe and elegant pair of velvet slippers will feel like the ultimate luxury.  

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Travel the world in gifts 

One of our go-tos is a gift from a destination your traveler has just been to or is traveling to next. But no terrible snow globes, magnets and spoons here. For example, your friend who just got back from Italy will be reminded of la dolce vita with a leather coin purse or silk scarf. And nothing says luxe like a Swiss watch. Delight their taste buds with a bottle of wine from one of their favorite spots or destinations. Your Francophile friend will enjoy a bottle of Champagne. Scotch whiskey is a classic choice, and Japanese sake with have them armchair traveling with every sip. 

From the practical to the pampering, our festive gift guide encourages you to have fun being creative with your gifts for the traveler in your life. Do you have more luxe gift ideas? Leave a comment.