12 Day Wellness Itinerary

Step back and replenish your spirit with our 12 Day Wellness Retreat New Zealand. Our wellness itinerary offers the opportunity to rejuvenate, disconnect, and nourish your body with wholesome food and mindful movement.

Our suggested wellness retreat New Zealand itinerary is as follows:

• Day 1 – Arrive in Christchurch
• Day 2 – Hapuku Lodge, Kaikoura
• Day 3 – Hapuku Lodge, Kaikoura
• Day 4 – Bay of Many Coves, Marlborough Sounds
• Day 5 – Bay of Many Coves, Marlborough Sounds
• Day 6 – Bay of Many Coves, Marlborough Sounds
• Day 7 – Split Apple Retreat, Abel Tasman
• Day 8 – Split Apple Retreat, Abel Tasman
• Day 9 – Split Apple Retreat, Abel Tasman
• Day 10 – Maruia River Retreat, Springs Junction
• Day 11 – Maruia River Retreat, Springs Junction
• Day 12- Christchurch
• Day 13- Depart Christchurch
  

Re-balance your mental and physical wellbeing and leave feeling centered and rejuvenated.

12 Day Wellness Retreat New Zealand

Day 1 Arrive in Christchurch

Your exclusive New Zealand experience begins in Christchurch, the gateway to the South Island.

Upon arriving in Christchurch, explore the city or relax in your accommodation.

Stay 1 night in Christchurch.

Accommodation: The George Hotel

Day 2 Christchurch- Hapuku Lodge, Kaikoura

Driving time Christchurch to Hapuku Lodge – 2 1/2 hours

Waipara is known for its vineyards and olive groves – an excellent place to pause for lunch. From Cheviot you can detour to Gore Bay to see the fascinating cliff formations. The impressive scenery of the coastal ranges accompanies the rest of the way to Kaikōura.

Your journey north takes you past the surf beaches of Woodend, Waikuku, Leithfield and Amberley.

Your accommodation is at the unforgettable Hapuku Lodge + Tree Houses, located on a picturesque deer farm just north of Kaikoura. The lodge provides luxurious rooms and an intimate indoor/outdoor setting perfect for relaxation. Your package includes a full cooked breakfast and a 3-course dinner.

Stay 2 nights in Kaikoura

Accommodation: Hapuku Lodge

Day 3 Hapuku Lodge, Kaikoura

Explore Kaikōura today. There are a variety of boat tours you could add on; swim with dusky dolphins, and see seals and albatross in their natural habitat.

Whale watching by aeroplane offers a unique perspective and the opportunity to view whales and dolphins in their natural environment. From the air passengers can experience the true magnitude of the world’s largest mammal, the Whale.

Enjoy one of the many walks including the Kaikōura Peninsula Walkway. This 11.7-kilometre loop-walk crosses the peninsula’s clifftop, giving you uninterrupted views of the Seaward Kaikōura Range and the stunning coastline.

Enjoy one of the many walks including the Kaikōura Peninsula Walkway. This 11.7-kilometre loop-walk crosses the peninsula’s clifftop, giving you uninterrupted views of the Seaward Kaikōura Range and the stunning coastline.

Day 4 Kaikoura- Bay of Many Coves, Marlborough Sounds

Driving Time Hapuku Lodge to Picton 2 hours

Your journey continues through the Marlborough region to reach Bay of Many Coves Resort, located near Picton in the breathtaking Marlborough Sounds. Jump on board your own private boat and enjoy the scenic journey as your friendly local skipper transports you to your home away from home for the next few days.

There are few locations in the world where you can so easily discover the true romance of nature. Set in the heart of the Marlborough Sounds, Bay of Many Coves Resort is a luxury five star resort hotel nestled amid a rolling landscape of untouched native bush that kisses the shoreline of the tranquil bay below. Even arriving becomes part of the destination. Enjoy the all-too-brief journey from the ‘mainland’, by water or air, through some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet. Whether you are seeking world-class cuisine, breathtaking scenery, the spirit of adventure or simply a sense of renewal, you will find it there. Internationally-renowned walking tracks and adventure cruises await you on our doorstep. And, with our world-class chefs close at hand, Bay of Many Coves offers a unique experience that is unforgettably yours.

Stay 3 nights in Marlborough

Accommodation: Bay of Many Coves

Day 5 Bay of Many Coves, Marlborough Sounds

Today is yours to unwind and indulge in the facilities and activities on offer at Bay of Many Coves, or explore the Marlborough Sounds further. One of the highlights of a visit to the Marlborough Sounds is an up-front encounter with marine wildlife. The clear cool waters, sheltered coves and native bush backdrops provide a spectacular setting for watching these magnificent creatures. It is also possible, providing conditions allow, to go swimming with the dolphins. Interacting with them in their underwater habitat is the adventure experience of a lifetime. Bay of Many Coves have a range of sea kayaks and stand-up paddle boards (S.U.P.s) you may like to use during your stay. Excursions can be tailored to suit fitness and the experience levels, and a picnic lunch can be prepared for you to take with you on your day away in the bay.

Enjoy a refreshing dip in the sea, a lounge around the pool, or a steaming hot tub: There’s nothing as refreshing after a day’s exploring, than a soak in the hot tub, under the stars, before bed. After dinner, when the stars are out and just a short walk from the Lodge, you can discover native ‘glow worms’. These special creatures earned their Maōri name, ‘titiwai’, meaning ‘projected over water’, which describes their general habitat along streams. Just follow the sign and you will find them in the bush, under tree trunks or within the foliage. You will be amazed by this truly unique New Zealand ecosystem.

Day 6 Bay of Many Coves, Marlborough Sounds

Lush native forests and regenerating bush are perfect for recharging the spirit. Take one of several tracks leading out from the Resort that lead you through 52 hectares of private bush, alive with native birds. Venture from the Bay of Many Coves Resort to the Queen Charlotte Track, or arrange a boat pick up from any of the entry and exit points along this magnificent walkway.

You may like to treat yourself at the Miritu Day Spa at the Bay of Many Coves. Offering treatments for men and women, inspired by indigenous and European cultures, using locally sourced products and native botanical extracts. Their talented in-house therapist offers a range of relaxing massage and facial treatments. ​

Day 7 Marlborough Sounds – Split Apple Retreat, Abel Tasman

Driving time Marlborough Sounds to Nelson 134 km / 84 miles, 2 hours
Driving time Nelson to Split Apple Retreat 1 1/4 hours

Split Apple Retreat, an exclusive, intimate luxury lodge, retreat, and wellness spa will re-ground you over the next three days. The retreat is renowned for its gourmet Asian-Mediterranean fusion cuisine, where every ingredient has been selected for its positive contribution to health and wellness. Indulge in the spectacular setting and unparalleled service.

This afternoon is yours to unwind and indulge in the facilities and activities on offer at Split Apple Retreat.

Every aspect of the retreat revolves around relaxation. Facilities at the retreat include a salt-water infinity pool, a Japanese spa, a sauna, a steam room, a yoga pavilion, and a meditation theatre – make the most of your stay with a massage treatment, a private yoga session, a cooking lesson with Chef Pen, or a guided meditation.

Massage – indulge in a wide variety of massage treatments, including deep tissue, aromatherapy, reiki, acupuncture, craniosacral and reflexology.

Yoga – private yoga sessions are available with highly skilled instructors in the private yoga pavilion, choose between Hatha, Iyengar, Astanga and Vinyasa yoga.

Meditation – learn how to meditate quickly and effectively, the latest hi-tech brain-entrainment methods are used. A screening room with 8 luxurious reclining seats was constructed for this purpose.

Cooking lessons – if of interest, chef Pen will guide you through a number of dishes to make sure the health benefits of your stay are long-lasting.

Stay 3 nights in Abel Tasman.

Accommodation: Split Apple Retreat

Day 8 Split Apple Retreat, Abel Tasman

Take a boat cruise into Abel Tasman National Park today, where you can relax on the hot golden sand, enjoy a day walk, or simply remain aboard for the return cruise. Soak in the natural beauty and enjoy! This trip allows you to explore sections of the Abel Tasman Coast Track; the boat will stop at scenic points along the way where you can get off and walk a section of the track. The boat will then collect you later in the day. You could also just pack a picnic lunch and beach towels and laze on the beach for the day.

Day 9 Split Apple Retreat, Abel Tasman

Indulge in another day at the lodge or other bespoke activities that you may wish to sample in Abel Tasman National Park or Kahurangi National Park including boat trips, sea kayaking, fly fishing, cycling, private helicopter tours, and horseback riding.

Day 10 Abel Tasman- Maruia Springs River Retreat, Springs Junction

Driving time Abel Tasman to Maruia River Retreat 2 1/2 hours

Situated along the magnificent Maruia River and protected by mountains from the east and west, the Maruia River Retreat is a stunning boutique lodge and private nature resort focusing on relaxation and luxury wellness. The complete Maruia experience invites visitors to dine on gourmet meals, admire the outstanding views and rest in the privacy and comfort of self-contained villas.

Whether it’s a spa day, a yoga class, or just relaxing in one of their saunas or hot tub, it is all about you and your wellbeing at Maruia River Retreat. Enjoy many exclusive nature walks, guided garden tours or even take a white water rafting trip.

Stay 2 nights in Springs Junction.

Accommodation: Maruia Springs River Retreat

Day 11 Maruia Springs River Retreat, Springs Junction

Maruia River Retreat is the ultimate venue to foster healing, relaxation and personal growth.

Today, stay in and pamper yourself. Experience a yoga class in the Yoga Chalet with timber floors, tall ceilings and abundant natural light with big picture window views that make you feel like you are enveloped by the amazing trees of the forest.

Relax and rejuvenate with private access to an outdoor Stoked Hot Tub surrounded by a canopy of beech forest and amazing views of the Maruia River. Enjoy 2 saunas – the outdoor Infrared Chroma-therapy Sauna and the Dry Finnish Sauna.

Spoil yourself with a treatment of your choice in the Wellness Center. Options include, massage and spa treatments; facial and body scrub treatments, body work massages and aromatherapy sessions specialising in a holistic approach to achieving a lifetime of wellness.

Soak in the heated Magnesium Pool with endless pool jets! The benefits of a magnesium pool include; restoring muscle function, replenishing electrolytes, reducing bodily stress and fatigue, promoting good mood and reducing inflammation.

Maruia River Retreat also offering breathing, mediation, sound healing, forest bathing, hot/cold and light therapy sessions which give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that can benefit both your emotional well-being and your overall health.

Alternatively, explore the hidden gems of the area. You can go on guided forest and bird walks, Great walks, river rafting cruises and kayak activities plus visits to local attractions such as the Nelson Lakes National Park, Maruia Falls and the West Coast. Choose your own views with a range of scenic helicopter flights on offer, organise a local guide to pick you up for either a half day or full day of guided trout fishing in the local rivers or rent a mountain bike and explore the mountain bike tracks nearby.

Day 12 Christchurch City

Driving time Maruia Springs Retreat to Christchurch 2 1/2 hours

Discover the vibrant and picturesque garden city, renowned for its natural beauty, lively entertainment scene, and strong cultural heritage. With its stunning botanical gardens and tree-lined avenues, Christchurch is both a sophisticated city and beautiful place to relax.

Recommended activities include the Christchurch Gondola, Tramway, Punting on the Avon River and the Botanical Gardens.

This evening, you might like to enjoy a unique city experience aboard the Tram Restaurant. Relax and unwind with a three-course gourmet meal and welcome drink while you journey around the city on a historically restored tram.

Stay 1 night in Christchurch.

Accommodation: The George Hotel

Day 11 Depart Christschurch

As your unforgettable wellness holiday draws to a close, soak in the views one last time before departing Christchurch at your leisure.

Plan a Wellness Retreat New Zealand

We aim to make your wellness retreat as straightforward and stress-free as possible.

Contact New Zealand Luxury Escapes today to plan your rejuvenating wellness retreat.