Creator-hosted group trip

Come Travel New Zealand With Jesse

Come Travel New Zealand With Jesse

A 10-day South Island adventure through Mount Cook, Wanaka, Queenstown and Milford Sound — built around hiking, road trips, mountain views and a small group travel experience.

A 10-day South Island adventure through Mount Cook, Wanaka, Queenstown and Milford Sound — built around hiking, road trips, mountain views and a small group travel experience.

Dates

10–20 March 2027

Price

$2,199 USD

Travellers

8 minimum • 22 maximum

Hosted by

Jesse Darnell

Trip Style

Hiking • Adventure • Road Trip • Social Travel

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Meet Jesse

Meet Jesse

Join Jesse as he hosts this South Island adventure through some of New Zealand’s most iconic landscapes. Jesse has built an audience around travel, hiking and outdoor adventure, and this trip has been designed around the experiences he loves most—from scenic road trips and mountain hikes to meeting like-minded travellers and exploring places that many people only dream of visiting. This isn’t a typical tour. It’s a chance to experience New Zealand alongside Jesse and a small group of adventurous travellers.

Join Jesse as he hosts this South Island adventure through some of New Zealand’s most iconic landscapes. Jesse has built an audience around travel, hiking and outdoor adventure, and this trip has been designed around the experiences he loves most—from scenic road trips and mountain hikes to meeting like-minded travellers and exploring places that many people only dream of visiting. This isn’t a typical tour. It’s a chance to experience New Zealand alongside Jesse and a small group of adventurous travellers.

About The Trip

About The Trip

This is not a standard tour. This is a creator-led South Island road expedition hosted by Jesse, built for people who want to experience New Zealand through hiking, adventure, scenery and a small group travel vibe. The trip will take us from Christchurch through Lake Tekapo, Mount Cook, Wanaka, Queenstown and Milford Sound. Expect incredible hikes, unforgettable scenery, road trip days, group dinners, optional adventure activities and a travel experience built around actually exploring New Zealand properly.

This is not a standard tour. This is a creator-led South Island road expedition hosted by Jesse, built for people who want to experience New Zealand through hiking, adventure, scenery and a small group travel vibe. The trip will take us from Christchurch through Lake Tekapo, Mount Cook, Wanaka, Queenstown and Milford Sound. Expect incredible hikes, unforgettable scenery, road trip days, group dinners, optional adventure activities and a travel experience built around actually exploring New Zealand properly.

Trip Highlights

Trip Highlights

Lake Tekapo

Mount Cook National Park

Hooker Valley Track

Optional Mueller Hut Overnight Hike

Roys Peak

Wanaka

Queenstown

Queenstown Hill Time Walk

Ben Lomond Track

Milford Sound Coach & Cruise

Optional Shotover Jet

Bungy & Skydiving

Route

Christchurch

→

Twizel

→

Mount Cook

→

Wanaka

→

Queenstown

→

Milford Sound

→

Queenstown

Itinerary

Itinerary

Expandable day cards include Morning, Afternoon and Night sections. Final timing can be refined once the operating itinerary is confirmed.

Expandable day cards include Morning, Afternoon and Night sections. Final timing can be refined once the operating itinerary is confirmed.

Day 1 — Christchurch

Open

Morning

Arrive in Christchurch and meet the Aventara Travel team.

Afternoon

Group welcome, trip briefing and time to settle in.

Night

Welcome dinner with Jesse and the group.

Day 2 — Lake Tekapo & Twizel

Open

Morning

Road trip through the Canterbury high country toward Lake Tekapo.

Afternoon

Scenic stops, lake views and onward travel to the Twizel area.

Night

Relaxed group night and preparation for Mount Cook.

Day 3 — Mount Cook

Open

Morning

Explore Mount Cook National Park and the alpine landscape.

Afternoon

Hike the Hooker Valley Track with mountain views.

Night

Group dinner and overnight near Mount Cook or Twizel.

Day 4 — Optional Mueller Hut

Open

Morning

Optional Mueller Hut alpine hike for travellers wanting an extra challenge.

Afternoon

Alternative lower-intensity options available for travellers not hiking.

Night

Overnight hut option or social base-night depending on availability and weather.

Day 5 — Wanaka

Open

Morning

Road trip toward Wanaka with scenic stops along the way.

Afternoon

Free time around Wanaka and lakeside exploring.

Night

Group dinner or social night in Wanaka.

Day 6 — Roys Peak

Open

Morning

Early start for Roys Peak or a suitable alternative depending on conditions.

Afternoon

Recovery time, lake views and relaxed Wanaka exploring.

Night

Prepare for the Queenstown leg of the trip.

Day 7 — Queenstown

Open

Morning

Drive to Queenstown through dramatic South Island scenery.

Afternoon

Queenstown Hill Time Walk and time in town.

Night

Social night in Queenstown.

Day 8 — Adventure Day

Open

Morning

Optional adventure activities such as Shotover Jet, bungy or skydiving.

Afternoon

Free time for Queenstown experiences and group exploring.

Night

Group dinner and Queenstown nightlife option.

Day 9 — Milford Sound

Open

Morning

Coach journey from Queenstown toward Milford Sound.

Afternoon

Milford Sound cruise through the fjord landscape.

Night

Return to Queenstown for the final night.

Day 10 — Queenstown Departure

Open

Morning

Final breakfast, goodbyes and departure day.

Afternoon

Travellers continue onward or depart from Queenstown.

Night

Trip complete.

What’s Included

Included

Accommodation • Ground Transport • Milford Sound Coach & Cruise • Jesse as Host • Aventara Travel Staff • Full Trip Logistics

Not Included

Flights • Food & Drinks • Travel Insurance • Bungy • Skydiving • Optional Activities

Accommodation Image

Accommodation

Accommodation

Accommodation consists of a mix of Airbnbs, hostels and lodges selected to keep the trip social, comfortable and affordable. The goal is to keep the group close, make logistics easy, and create the kind of shared travel environment that makes small group trips memorable.

Accommodation consists of a mix of Airbnbs, hostels and lodges selected to keep the trip social, comfortable and affordable. The goal is to keep the group close, make logistics easy, and create the kind of shared travel environment that makes small group trips memorable.

Who This Trip Is For

Who This Trip Is For

Adventure Travellers

Hikers

Solo Travellers

Small Group Travel

Nature Lovers

Intermediate Fitness

Note: Mueller Hut is completely optional due to its difficulty. Travellers can choose a lower-intensity alternative if they prefer.

Optional Mueller Hut Experience

Optional Mueller Hut Experience

Mueller Hut is an optional overnight alpine hike for travellers looking for an extra challenge. It is an advanced hike, weather dependent, and subject to limited hut availability. If Mueller Hut is unavailable, suitable alternative hut options may be considered.

Mueller Hut is an optional overnight alpine hike for travellers looking for an extra challenge. It is an advanced hike, weather dependent, and subject to limited hut availability. If Mueller Hut is unavailable, suitable alternative hut options may be considered.

$2,199 USD per person

$2,199 USD per person

Deposit required after successful application.

Ready to Explore New Zealand?

Ready to Explore New Zealand?

Applications are now open for Jesse’s New Zealand South Island Expedition. Spots are limited to just 22 travellers.

Applications are now open for Jesse’s New Zealand South Island Expedition. Spots are limited to just 22 travellers.

Apply Now