Vivid New Zealand: Both Islands, All In – November

Our New Zealand trip takes you the full length of the country, north island to south, so you get all of it: Auckland’s harbor light, a Waiheke vineyard, glowworms clinging to a cave ceiling like a starlit sky, an intimate welcome from a Māori community, geothermal mud and hot springs, the wild, rainforested West Coast, a jet boat safari into a UNESCO World Heritage wilderness, and the alpine drama of Wānaka and Queenstown. Two islands, fourteen days, no rushing.

At NextTribe, we believe this stage of life — 45 and beyond — is exactly the moment to say yes to more of it: new places, new friendships, experiences you couldn’t easily arrange on your own. We’ve partnered with a New Zealand-based, woman-owned logistics team to build this itinerary, and that shows up everywhere in the trip — not as a footnote, but as the throughline.

This isn’t a hard-core adventure trip, but you’ll be outside and moving nearly every day — kayaking a wetland lagoon, hiking beneath 1,000-year-old trees, walking beside alpine lakes. Every hike on this trip is kept at a moderate level, and wherever we can, we’ll offer a gentler alternative alongside the fuller version, so you can choose your own pace. Nothing here is mandatory — you’re always free to sit one out — but we do encourage joining in, because in a country built on dramatic, hard-to-reach landscapes, the hikes are often the whole point.

NextTribe members get $100 off this (and every) trip

On every trip, bonding is quick and deep. You’ll see places and meet people you simply couldn’t on your own and feel comfortable from day one because the trip is hosted by a worldly, warm woman our age. Not a 26-year-old with a clipboard and attitude. One of us.

We keep groups small on purpose — which means this fills fast. Don’t be the one who waited too long.

~ Small groups—women 45+ ~ Solo travelers welcome

~ Led by a woman our age ~ Aging boldly since 2017

New Zealand is a big trip to take on alone — which is exactly why we built it the way we did.

You won’t be the only one. A good number of the women on this trip will be traveling solo. You’ll land in a group of women in the same boat, by design, not by accident.

Two islands, one steady pace. We’re covering serious ground — but we’ve built in the transitions, the free afternoons, and the slower days (hello, Wānaka wine country) so nothing feels like a scramble.

A host who’s one of us. Your NextTribe host isn’t a 26-year-old with a clipboard and attitude. She’s a woman your age, along for the entire journey, who knows exactly what it’s like to land somewhere solo and leave with a whole new group of friends.

Rooming made simple. Travel solo with your own room for a single supplement, or let us know if you’d like to be matched with a roommate from the group

“I’m amazed how on each of my NextTribe trips, a bond is created immediately among a dozen women who have joined for a new experience and an adventure. It never feels as if you’re on a tour, but instead traveling the world with new friends.”

–Sherry T.

“I was totally shocked by how much I enjoyed my trip with this wonderful group of ladies. We all came from various parts of the country and various backgrounds, yet we bonded like old friends. This was my first trip with the group and I will definitely be doing it again!! I’m pretty much a loner but I felt right at home. Truly a great time every minute.”

–Christine B.

It’s Hard to Keep it to Just 5

1. You get culture and intimate moments, not just the grand postcard version of New Zealand. Other tours go heavy on nature and adventure, but we know you want all the layers—places where we’ll see Maori traditions come to life, sophisticated cities that reflect the country’s rugged history and its melting pot present, and dinners where we eat like the locals (looking at you “Kiwi BBQ”). Plus, of course we’ll delve into the geothermally astounding North, and the wild, alpine South.

2. The women of New Zealand are woven into every leg. You’ll spend a morning with a Māori guide talking about growing up as a wahine whenua on tribal land, an afternoon in the care of local tribeswomen at a geothermal spa built on Ngāti Whakaue tradition, and time with a West Coast silversmith, a jet boat captain, and other women who’ve built remarkable lives in some of New Zealand’s wildest corners.

3. You don’t have to choose between comfort and wild. One day you’re soaking in a Māori-owned geothermal spa or eating at a sparkling harborfront restaurant; the next you’re kayaking a wetland the size of a small city, or riding a jet boat up a glacier-fed river. New Zealand does both extremes well, and this trip doesn’t make you pick.

4. The hiking is real, but it’s never a death march. Every hike is kept to a moderate grade, capped around three to four hours, and we’ll offer an easier version whenever the terrain allows. You’ll still stand under 1,000-year-old trees and beside glacier-carved lakes — you just won’t suffer for it.

5. Wine, twice, in two completely different landscapes. A Waiheke Island tasting overlooking the Hauraki Gulf to kick things off, and a Central Otago wine afternoon in the shadow of the Southern Alps to wind things down. Bonus round: an afternoon at Ayrburn, a beautifully restored 19th-century farm turned food-and-wine precinct outside Queenstown.

Do I need to come with someone?

Not at all. Plenty of NextTribe travelers come solo, and it tends to work out beautifully — this group bonds fast.

What fitness level do I need for the hikes?

Moderate. The longest hiking days run three to four hours, on well-established trails, with total elevation change in the range of a few hundred meters — nothing technical or exposed. We’ll always flag when a gentler option exists (a shorter loop instead of a steeper incline, for instance), and you’re never obligated to join a hike. That said, in a country this dramatic, the hikes are often how you actually earn the view — so we encourage giving them a try.

Is New Zealand safe and easy to navigate for women our age?

Yes — it’s consistently ranked among the world’s safest and most welcoming countries to visit, with excellent infrastructure even in remote areas. That said, this is still a trip with real distances and changeable weather, which is exactly why we travel as a group with a host and local guides throughout.

What’s the weather like in November?

Early summer, technically — but New Zealand weather is famously changeable, especially on the West Coast and in the mountains. Expect a range from mild and sunny to cool and rainy, sometimes in the same day. Layers are your friend.

Will I know anyone?

Probably not at the start. Almost certainly by day two. That’s just how this works.

What’s included?

All accommodations, all breakfasts, most of your lunches and dinners as listed in the day-by-day itinerary. Plus ground transportation, the internal flight from Auckland to Christchurch, guided excursions, and your NextTribe host throughout. International flights are not included.

What if I need to cancel?

Full refund up to 90 days out (except for your deposit, which can be applied to a future trip). We highly recommend travel protection insurance, and can point you toward options.

Still have questions? Click here to schedule a discovery phone call with Jeannie Edmunds, our NextTribe COO.

Jeannie Ralston is the founder and CEO of NextTribe. Working with the women-owned tour operator in New Zealand to put together this itinerary has gotten her crazy excited about this trip. “I mean, have you looked at the pictures?” she says.

She can’t wait to share this magical place with all of you.