The man who first conquered Everest honed his skills in the mountains of his native New Zealand. Now in his 80s, Sir Edmund Hillary embodies the best of New Zealand, committed to preservation of its breathtaking environment and unique wildlife and still up for an adventure in the mountains, rivers and seacoast of these spectacular islands. Kiwis are united in their love of this land of glaciers, fjords, rain forests, geysers, great lakes and raging rivers. That spirit lies deep in the Maori culture New Zealand's first settlers saw all life, power and energy emanating from the land, sea and sky. Their legends, religion and intricate carvings and tattoos recall sea spirits, gods of the forest, and the great Mother Earth and Father Sky.

Led by Kiwi naturalist guides, you journey through a spectacular range of landscapes and ecosystems in five national parks and World Heritage Sites that provided much of the Middle Earth setting for the Tolkien trilogy movies, Lord of the Rings.