Discover Botswana & find out more about our Botswana Luxury Safaris. Let our team of safari experts hand-craft your trip...
Ethiopia: Luxury & Private Safaris Ethiopia is country of unexpected diversity. A country that often flies...
Discover Kenya & find out more about our Kenya Luxury Safaris. Let our team of safari experts hand-craft your trip of a...
Discover Madagascar & find out more about our Madagascar Luxury Safaris. Let our team of safari experts hand-craft your...
Mauritius: Luxury & Private Safaris Mauritius is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, sitting over a 1,000 miles...
Discover Mozambique & find out more about our Mozambique Luxury Safaris. Let our team of safari experts hand-craft your...
Discover Namibia & find out more about our Namibia Luxury Safaris. Let our team of safari experts hand-craft your trip...
Discover Republic of the Congo & find out more about our Republic of the Congo Luxury Safaris. Let our team of safari...
Discover Rwanda & find out more about our Rwanda Luxury Safaris. Let our team of safari experts hand-craft your trip of...
Discover Seychelles & find out more about our Seychelles Luxury Safaris. Let our team of safari experts hand-craft your...
Discover South Africa & find out more about our South Africa Luxury Safaris. Let our team of safari experts hand-craft...
Tanzania: Luxury & Private Safaris Tanzania is a beautiful, untamed country of diverse landscapes ranging from...
Discover Uganda & find out more about our Uganda Luxury Safaris. Let our team of safari experts hand-craft your trip of...
Discover Zambia & find out more about our Zambia Luxury Safaris. Let our team of safari experts hand-craft your trip of...
Discover Zimbabwe & find out more about our Zimbabwe Luxury Safaris. Let our team of safari experts hand-craft your trip...
Antarctica: Luxury & Private Safaris The white continent of Antarctica is one the last remaining untouched and...
Discover India & find out more about our India Luxury Safaris. Let our team of travel experts hand-craft your trip of a...
Nepal: Luxury & Private Safaris As the birthplace of Lord Buddha and home to 8 of the world’s tallest peaks, Nepal...
Discover Egypt & find out more about our Egypt Luxury Safaris. Let our team of safari experts hand-craft your trip of a...
Israel: Luxury & Private Safaris Located geographically and culturally at the intersection of Africa, Europe and of...
Jordan: Luxury & Private Safaris Jordan is a top destination for nature and history enthusiasts. As many people are...
Discover Morocco & find out more about our Morocco Luxury Safaris. Let our team of safari experts hand-craft your trip...
Australia: Luxury & Private Safaris Australia is so much more than just Sydney, Uluru, and the Great Barrier Reef. A...
Discover New Zealand & find out more about our New Zealand Luxury Trips. Let our team of travel experts hand-craft your...
Argentina: Luxury & Private Safaris Argentina draws many obvious comparisons with Europe’s old world charm and...
Discover Chile & find out more about our Chile Luxury Trips. Let our team of travel experts hand-craft your trip of a...
Discover Cuba & find out more about our Cuba Luxury Trips. Let our team of travel experts hand-craft your trip of a...
Discover Ecuador & find out more about our Ecuador Luxury Trips. Let our team of travel experts hand-craft your trip of...
Discover Mexico & find out more about our Mexico Luxury Trips. Let our team of travel experts hand-craft your trip of a...
Discover Peru & find out more about our Peru Luxury Trips. Let our team of travel experts hand-craft your trip of a...
The United States: Luxury & Private Journeys The United States is a patchwork of National Parks, national forests,...
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Boutique Travel Accommodation The adventurers have spoken – boutique travel properties, intimate atmosphere, and...
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy - Laikipia, Kenya
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Providing travelers with an authentic experience is one of our most important jobs. We want clients to come back...
We want the best trip for your clients, a trip unique to them and their travel style. This requires dedication;...
We’re serious about conservation We pride ourselves on our relationships with sustainable, ethical,...
Originally hailing from Portland, Oregon, Amelia has steadily made her way east over the years. A graduate of the...
While living and working in New York, Catherine’s sales and manufacturing position took her frequently to Indonesia,...
Born in Kenya and raised in Paris, Elizabeth explored the world from a young age. After graduating from Stanford, she...
Emily’s thirst for adventure began at a young age while trekking the Himalayas on a family trip to Nepal....
Born and raised in Kenya, Esther is based in Nairobi and designs our itineraries. She holds a diploma in Tourism...
Gena has possessed a love of Africa for many years. She has had the opportunity to visit this amazing continent four...
Jamie’s wanderlust was fostered on weekend getaways during a summer at Oxford while attending the University of...
Born and raised in Chicago, Jenna’s passion for travel first took root when she studied overseas in Budapest, Hungary....
A veteran of the travel industry, Jenny has more than 10 years of experience exploring the far corners of the world. She...
Having set foot on all seven continents, Kim knows that while languages, cuisine, landscapes, and wildlife are diverse...
Lara is a Boston-based member of the Extraordinary Journeys sales team and African safaris are her passion. Since her...
Lisa was born in South Africa and raised in one of the most adventurous families. From the age of 8 to 13, Lisa sailed...
Marcia has over 40 years of experience in African travel. After Peace Corps in Uganda, she spent 12 years in Kenya...
Pearl is a Boston native. She attended Union College, where she studied Anthropology and completed field work in...
Rachel is a Massachusetts native with a passion for adventure and spontaneity. She moved to New York to finish her...
Sumendri has 12 years of experience working in Southern Africa travel. Based in Durban, South Africa, with her husband...
Our Goal: Raise $20,000 by July 31st We will fund conservation efforts NOW to protect the world’s most threatened...
Support African Communities & Wildlife Register today for one of our virtual education events with some of the...
Awe-inspiring wilderness, centuries of Māori traditions, fine wine and coastal cities – there’s no shortage of epic adventure in New Zealand, despite its pint-size packaging. Located in the South Pacific Ocean off the coast of Australia, New Zealand spans a mere 103,000 square miles (roughly the size of Colorado), yet feels like a whole world unto itself. Its largest islands, named simply North and South Island, are absolute showstoppers whether you’re looking to soak in geothermal hot springs, kayak crystal waters, or simply kick back and admire the views over a glass of wine.
New Zealand’s diverse landscapes range from jagged coastlines, to lush green valleys and forests, to towering glaciers. Explore the country’s laidback, yet refined cities – Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Napier, to name but a few – where you can venture out for excursions to the famed wine regions, trek mountains, surf, or learn about the rich Polynesian culture. With over 1,000 years of history on the islands, Māori culture has deeply shaped the Kiwi identity. Experience first-hand the zeal of a Māori haka (war dance), learn about intricate tribal tattoo designs and traditions, and participate in a pōwhiri (welcome ceremony) where songs are performed.
If you are ready to escape city life altogether, explore the awe-inspiring Fiordland of South Island and kayak through Milford Sound, renowned for the towering Mitre Peak, plummeting waterfalls, lush forests, and unique black coral. If you prefer to keep your feet planted, overnight on one of the ‘Great Walks of New Zealand’ in established campgrounds with numerous tented options. These walks range from lake and forest landscapes to mountains, open coastline, and volcanic deserts. While most are considered moderate to challenging, easier treks or day hikes are also available. Bonus: If you’re trekking the Milford Track, make your way to Sutherland Falls, ranked among the world’s highest with a total drop of 1,904 feet! Alternatively, take to the skies and admire the landscape by helicopter.
Whatever you do, there’s no shortage of activities in New Zealand, and just when you think you have seen the most beautiful place on earth, there’s more. With so many options, we suggest focusing on either the North or South Island, or spending a full 3 weeks (or as much time as you can muster) exploring both. Although the temptation is to combine a trip to New Zealand with Australia, you will find that you’ve barely scratched the surface of either country if you try to cram them into one trip. Trust us, you will be back for a second trip!
If you love the great outdoors, you are bound to like New Zealand. There are abundant opportunities to trek, day hike, cycle, surf, and much more. But you don’t have to be an athlete to enjoy a trip to New Zealand. Foodies and wine lovers will delight in the country’s robust culinary scene as well as the Polynesian culture, which adds unique layers of depth and history. If you aren’t active but love a good view, New Zealand provides an outstanding backdrop for the ultimate road trip.
Good news: New Zealand is a relatively temperate destination year-round. Winter (May through to August) is cooler and can be snowy (and sunny) in the mountains, with highs ranging from 40-60˚F. Summer (November/December through February) is busier because the weather is ideal for treks, hikes, and beaches with temperatures ranging from 70-80˚F. To minimize crowds while maximizing warmer weather, shoulder seasons are ideal with temperatures in the mid 60s.
New Zealand is not a cheap destination. With high quality accommodation and abundant activities on offer (Kiwis love helicopter excursions), a two-week trip could run you around $10,000 per person using a mixture of small boutique hotels and top-end luxury lodges. Group excursions, larger hotels, and self-driving will cut costs dramatically.
It is hard to choose one area of New Zealand when the country is chock-full of beautiful sights. South Island’s Fiordland offers exciting outdoor options and iconic photographic opportunities. Spend a little longer than you might think is necessary in Queenstown itself, or venture directly to the heart of Fiordland to truly lose yourself in South Island’s most spectacular landscapes. For a more laid-back, luxury culinary vacation, North Island’s Hawke’s Bay is a must (and one of EJ’s Sales Director Jamie’s favorite areas). The golden sand and turquoise water in Abel Tasman National Park is another highlight. Spend a day on a private boat to find your own beach or hop onto a zodiac to get close to playful sea lions.
Split Apple Rock, Abel Tasman National Park
Whale watching in Kaikoura
Zip over Queenstown, New Zealand! (Photo from Ziptrek Ecotour)
Feel the need for speed? Jetboat through the waters in Queenstown
Explore the river in Wanaka
Take an overnight scenic cruise in Rotorua
We suggest self-driving on one (or both) of the islands if you have the time to see as much of the country as possible. Note: you should be comfortable driving on the opposite side of the road if opting to self-drive. There is no wrong way to experience New Zealand as long as you’re getting out and about: Forest walks, mountain treks, cycling through vineyards, lounging in hot springs, helicopter trips, fly-fishing, whitewater rafting, jet-boating, or glacier trekking… the list goes on.
You won’t find alot of wildlife in most of the country’s top spots, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t alot to see. There are countless opportunities to see marine life including the endangered yellow-eyed penguin, blue penguins (the smallest of the species, fur seals, seal lions, Dusky and Hector’s dolphins, and whales of all kinds along the coasts (and many opportunities to swim alongside these creatures).
The unique birdlife in New Zealand is especially notable. From the flightless kiwi to tuatara (a reptilian living fossil), saddleback, hihi, takahē, wētā, tūī, New Zealand is brimming with endemic species.
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