What We Do / example itinerary

Below is a typical itinerary on the viaFriends retreat. Your actual itinerary may differ slightly dependent on time of the year, weather and personal preferences of the clients.

Day 0

You are greeted at the door of your aircraft for a VIP clearance through customs and immigration, before being chauffeur-driven to the exclusive via Estate – a comfortable one hour drive north from Auckland International Airport (helicopter transfers are also available at an additional cost).

After arriving at the exclusive via Estate in Auckland, New Zealand we unpack and settle in for the night.

Day 1-3

The next morning we take the helicopters one hour north - for our spectacular opening ceremony – a truly unique cultural experience.

This is followed by two days of recovery (from your journey) and relaxation at one of our exclusive lodges overlooking the beautiful Bay of Islands. During this time we also deliver our foundation/orientation programme.

You may choose to spend your relaxation time doing something a little more active: sail, kite-surf or kayak the beautiful Bay of Islands or take the fast boat to the Hole in the Rock. You can fish the pristine waters, quad bike the majestic Ahipara dunes or horse ride or land yacht New Zealand’s 90 mile beach. In turn you might choose to dive in the world famous Poor Knights waters where the reefs are stunning, the instructors highly experienced and the equipment advanced (no diving certificate required). We provide something for everyone!

Day 4-8

We return to the via Estate energized and inspired – where we begin our journey of personal growth.

Me, Myself and I: We facilitate and coach each person through a comprehensive set of personal profiles and peer assessments to create a thorough understanding of who you are and how you best operate and communicate in different situations.

This programme also includes workshops and practical experiences that challenge and reinforce the findings whilst demonstrating the awesome power of diversity in family, social, work and team environments.

Throughout the five days there are opportunities to partake in optional leisure and tourism activities such as sightseeing, golf, diving, fishing, mountain biking, museum tours, spa visits, flying, helicopter lessons and much, much more …

Day 9

At the conclusion of this initial seminar we spend a day exploring Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf – a jewel of an island, littered with boutique vineyards, stunning cafes and restaurants and diverse art and crafts.

Day 10-12

Health and Wellbeing: Our unique health and wellbeing team, all experts in their fields, provide a comprehensive and holistic approach to achieving a healthy, balanced lifestyle. They educate and coach you in both western and eastern methods of physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Fitness and postural analysis is also undertaken at New Zealand’s state of the art Millennium Institute of Sport. Daily exercise and relaxation options are explored, all under the guidance of our health and wellbeing coach, personal trainers and masseuse.

Day 13

Today we spend a day out in the Waitakere Ranges on the West Coast of Auckland

The West Coast has spectacular mountains, wild, open seas, rainforests, and few people. We are guided through our day by local experts with a brief bush walk and an optional swim in fresh river water. We learn about Tane Mahuta - God of the Forest and the traditional uses of plants used for Rongoa - Maori medicine.

We also visit the summit of one of the mountain peaks to get a birds-eye view of the rainforest, the West Coast and spectacular views back to Auckland city.

For lunch we enjoy a gourmet Maori-influenced picnic on a deserted beach in the realm of Tangaroa - God of the Sea.

In the afternoon we visit a Maori pounamu (greenstone) carver in his studio and learn about the sacred stone, watch him work - or you can create a carving of your own.

Alternatively you may choose to take a more adventurous route through the rain forests with a days’ canyoning expedition or mountain bike trek.

We finish the day off with an evening at a spectacular estate overlooking a wild black sand beach, to hear stories from locals, listen to waves breaking on the black sand below and to enjoy sumptuous local culinary delights.

Day 14-17

Great Impressions: Work with personal coaches, image experts, presentation and public speaking gurus, speech therapists and body language experts to develop a positive self image – inside and out! This is fun and truly revolutionary in what it does for our clients and their confidence! Most of this week is spent in the city.

Day 18-20

Fly South to Queenstown.

Our first day sees us discovering a labyrinth of valleys and mountains as we fly west in helicopters over the Main Divide of the Southern Alps.

Here you will see Lake Te Anau and follow the Milford Track past the Sutherland Falls on this extensive tour to Milford Sound which includes a walk through native rainforest.

We then fly along the fiord to a seal colony or remote beach on the isolated coast of Fiordland.

A glacier landing on the return flight will enable you to fill the ice bucket for our champagne luncheon at a gold-miner's cottage hidden in the mountains.

During our three days in Queenstown we bring all the things that you have learnt about yourself to a conclusion through our Creating Good Life Habits programme:

Facilitated by our Programme Director and personal coaches to help you to transfer your new knowledge into meaningful new life habits, behaviours and routines that will ensure you will realise your untapped potential and lead an active, healthy and fulfilled life.

We say good-bye on our final night with an intimate closing ceremony.

There is time set aside for you to explore the local scenery and activities on offer.

Queenstown is touted as being one of the world's top adventure playgrounds: Try rafting, bungy jumping, jet-boating, base jumping, mountain biking and more. And of course there is excellent winter skiing, snowboarding, heli-skiing and snow-mobiling.

Or you can take a more leisurely approach by visiting the South Island vineyards, trying a spot of fly fishing or horse-back riding or you can go for a guided and informative bushwalk through the spectacular territory where the much acclaimed Lord of the Rings movie was shot.

Day 21

Return to the via Estate: Clients can either depart at this time or they can choose to take a few more days to relax before embarking on their journey home.