Signature moments that make a New Zealand journey uniquely yours
Leyoo Experiences are curated moments that can be woven into a complete New Zealand journey — from helicopter-accessed landscapes and private guides to food, wine, wildlife, wellness, golf, hiking, water adventures and local crafts.
Signature Moments
Hole-in-One by Helicopter
This helicopter-accessed alpine golf experience lifts you above Queenstown to a private par-3 hole set high in the Southern Alps. With Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown and the surrounding mountains below, you can attempt a once-in-a-lifetime hole-in-one from one of the elevated tee boxes. It is part golf, part scenic flight and part unforgettable photo moment.
Catch & Cook: A Kai Moana Experience in Kaikōura
Experience Kaikōura through one of its greatest coastal traditions: kai moana, the food of the sea. This hands-on day begins with a private fishing charter along the beautiful Kaikōura coast, where you head out with a local skipper to catch the fresh seafood for the day. In the afternoon, join the chef for a relaxed cooking experience using your own fresh catch alongside seasonal ingredients harvested from the kitchen's organic garden. Learn how to scale and fillet fish, prepare crayfish and cook seafood using techniques such as smoking and grilling. The day ends around the table with the feast you helped create, accompanied by local wine or craft beer.
Tasman Glacier Heli-Hike & Alpine Picnic
Fly into the heart of Aoraki / Mount Cook country for a guided glacier experience on the Tasman Glacier. After a scenic flight, your guide equips you with glacier gear and leads you across ancient ice, revealing crevasses, ice formations and the dramatic scale of New Zealand's alpine world. The experience can be enhanced with a private alpine picnic, where local wine and a curated platter are served against the backdrop of Aoraki / Mount Cook and the Southern Alps.
Private Central Otago Wine Journey
Discover one of New Zealand's most beautiful wine regions with a private guide. Central Otago's vineyards sit among mountains, lakes and river valleys, where a cool climate and glacial soils produce elegant Pinot Noir, expressive white wines and refined rosé. The day can be shaped around each guest's taste, blending scenic drives with handpicked cellar doors, local stories and relaxed tastings.
Tiritiri Matangi Wildlife & Birding Day with a Scientist
Catch the ferry from Auckland to Tiritiri Matangi, one of New Zealand's most treasured open wildlife sanctuaries. Led by a wildlife scientist or zoologist, this day offers a deeper dive into the island's native and endangered birdlife, forest restoration and conservation story. As you walk through regenerating native bush, your guide will help you spot iconic species such as takahē, kōkako, tīeke / saddleback and hihi / stitchbird, while sharing scientific insight into their behaviour, habitat and recovery. More than a birdwatching walk, this is a scientist-led encounter with New Zealand's living natural heritage.
Earnslaw Burn Heli Picnic
Lift off from Queenstown or Glenorchy by helicopter and fly into one of the South Island's most cinematic alpine valleys. At Earnslaw Burn, hanging glaciers, waterfalls, tussock meadows and mountain walls create a natural amphitheatre for a private picnic. With minimal walking required, this experience offers a powerful sense of remoteness and grandeur without demanding a high level of fitness.
Beekeeper for a Day: Mānuka Honey & Local Craft
Step into the world of New Zealand honey with a private guided visit to a family-run bee farm. Start with a guided honey tasting to learn how mānuka honey is made, then try hands-on craft activities such as candle making, honey soap making, or creating your own honey product. For the more adventurous, you can dress in beekeeper gear and step inside the hive for a close-up look at the colony at work. This is a warm, hands-on and deeply insightful experience to see how a local family lives in harmony with their bees and the land.
Dart River Middle-earth Wilderness Adventure
A full-day wilderness experience blending immersive scenic sightseeing, jet boating and Funyak-style inflatable canoeing on the Dart River near Glenorchy. The journey takes you deep into a World Heritage landscape of braided rivers, ancient beech forest, hidden side streams, rock pools and dramatic canyons. After a thrilling jet boat ride, slow down on the water with a guided paddle and enjoy a picnic lunch before continuing toward Paradise, an area known for its cinematic Middle-earth scenery.
Wānaka Tree-Side Kiwi Picnic
Enjoy Lake Wānaka in one of the most Kiwi ways: slowing down by the water with good food, open air and mountain views. Leyoo creates a private tree-side picnic setting by the lake, with seasonal local produce, drinks, picnic styling, blankets and thoughtful details arranged in advance. You can simply arrive, sit back, talk, take photos and enjoy the landscape without rushing to the next stop. This is a Leyoo-exclusive gentle moment, designed not as a formal activity, but as a beautiful pause within the journey.
Ultimate Fiordland Helicopter Journey
Experience Fiordland from the air on a private helicopter journey from Queenstown into one of New Zealand's most dramatic wilderness regions. Fly over alpine lakes, glacial valleys, Milford Sound / Piopiotahi and Doubtful Sound / Pātea, with multiple remote landings that may include alpine, snow and shoreline settings. Depending on the route and weather, the experience can include a short walk at Milford Sound and a picnic in a place that feels far beyond the reach of ordinary travellers.
Golf, Spa & Fine Dining
Begin the day with a round at Jack's Point Golf Course, one of Queenstown's most scenic golf courses, set beneath the Remarkables and beside Lake Wakatipu. After time on the fairways, slow the pace with a professional massage designed to release tired muscles. The day ends with a carefully arranged fine dining experience. It creates a refined balance of sport, recovery and indulgence.
A Taste of Waiheke Island
A relaxed island day designed around Waiheke's local flavour. With a private guide, you explore the cafes, bakeries, vineyards and coastal viewpoints that locals love. Visit two or three handpicked wineries, enjoy island food and wine, and hear stories about Waiheke's history, geography, culture and daily life along the way. It is a relaxed, sensory experience that works beautifully at the beginning or end of a North Island journey.
Rotorua Ancient Forest Guided Walk
Walk beneath towering podocarp giants in a forest that has stood for centuries — just a short drive from Rotorua. Guided by local nature guides, this experience combines gentle hiking, native birdlife, forest bathing and cultural storytelling. Along the way, the guide shares knowledge of native plants, rongoā Māori healing traditions, local ecology and the relationship between people and the living forest.
Wānaka Island Nature & Conservation Explore
Begin with a scenic boat journey across Lake Wānaka before landing on Mou Waho Island, a protected nature reserve and predator-free eco-sanctuary. With an eco guide, walk the island's nature trail to reach Arethusa Pool, a hidden glacial lake at the summit where mountain and lake views unfold in every direction. Along the way, learn about native plants, birds and conservation work, and cap off your visit by planting a native tree as a small contribution to the island's future.
Guided Kayaking in Aotearoa
Explore New Zealand from the water with a private or small-group guided kayaking experience. Depending on the journey, you can paddle across calm lakes, along coastlines, through river valleys or into sheltered fiord landscapes. The pace can be gentle and relaxing, or more active for confident paddlers. With a professional guide leading the way, kayaking becomes a quiet, immersive way to reach places that feel close to the land and water.
Stewart Island / Rakiura Wildlife & Dark Sky Escape
Travel to Stewart Island / Rakiura for a slower, wilder side of New Zealand, where native forest, quiet bays and coastal tracks create a deep sense of remoteness. With local guides, explore the island's wildlife habitats by land and sea. Depending on the season and conditions, the experience may include a boat journey in search of albatross and seabirds, forest walks, Ulva Island, coastal wildlife encounters and an evening search for wild kiwi in their natural habitat.
Make These Moments
Part of Your Journey
Tell us how you like to travel, and our local team will weave these signature experiences into a journey shaped around your pace and the places that move you.