New Zealand Cultural Walking Tour

• Cross a jaw-dropping gorge on a walk across the Arapuni Suspension Bridge to Putaruru Springs 

• Visit the largest geyser in the southern hemisphere 

• Cruise the gentle waters of Lake Rotomahana, the setting of the fabled Pink and White Terraces 

• Savor an authentic Maori dinner, learning about their culture

• Fly to the South Island and experience Lake Tekapo, one of the country’s most iconic sites 

• Explore Aoraki Mount Hood National Park 

• Enjoy an easy alpine walk and go boating on a glacial lake weaving amid freshly calved icebergs 

• Take a once-in-a-lifetime walk on the Hooker Valley Track surrounded by the soaring, snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps.

• Pan for gold in Arrowtown, site of the 19th-century gold rush 

• Enjoy scenery so cinematic it was featured in “Lord of the Rings” 

• Join a winemaker at a boutique winery for a tasting 

• Meet sheep farmers at work on a countryside walk 

• Thrill to a jet boat ride on the Dart River 

• Walk in beech forests in Mt. Aspiring National Park.  

We believe in creating authentic connections by immersing you into the history and culture of a people and place. So we find the most well-connected local guides who share their relationships and knowledge with us. And with them, we handcraft walking tours in cinematic settings that allow you to see the world on foot and at eye level.

It’s why Travel + Leisure magazine has named Classic Journeys as the #1 World’s Best Tour Operator multiple times, and the editors of T+L say, "Classic Journeys provides unbeatable access to experiences around the globe." Here’s what that access means for you every time you travel with us.

• Experience the world on foot and at eye level. Each day, join your guide on the most cinematic footpaths in the region.
• Exceptional full-time local guides who become your well-connected friend. Our amazing guides are with you throughout each day of the tour, share their lifelong connections as well as engaging anecdotes about the history and culture of the region.
• Small groups that provide you unrivaled access. An average of fewer than 10 guests per departure means we can offer you special access to sites like Stonehenge so you experience the stone circle when it’s closed to the general public, a guided visit to Zion Narrows that other companies cannot arrange because of larger group sizes, and vineyard walks with a count and countess in Tuscany.
• Award-winning hotels are waiting for you at the end of every day. Luxuriate in the finest and most distinctive accommodations in the region you’re exploring, including rainforest lodges, 16th century villas, and award-winning properties that show up on World’s Best and Gold lists.
• Eat like (and with) the locals. Food is a foolproof way into the hearts, homes and history of the places you visit with us. From gourmet picnics to coveted local restaurants, our meals offer you opportunities to explore native food traditions and fine dining.
• Handcrafted itineraries with all activities included. With our long-term friendships, we know our walking tour regions more personally than anyone else. So you get thoughtfully curated itineraries that combine explorations of the villages, organic farms, archeological sites and the people who know them best.
• Sustainable travel that supports the places you’re visiting. We put our local currency into the pockets of the people who live where we travel. It’s your guarantee that you’ll have authentic, up-close experiences on your trip. Best of all, our person-to-person approach helps sustain their ways of life.