Kia Ora New Zealand

17 days
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
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USTOA

Small Group Tour
It’s hard to pick a highlight of this New Zealand tour from north to south. Is it the fiords and glaciers of Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, explored on a tour? The gem-like Bay of Islands from Auckland? The bubbling geysers and thermal springs of Rotorua? Or perhaps the mountain vistas of Queenstown? In between you have cosmopolitan cities, wineries, train rides, ...
26%
$7,946
From$5,886
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

What's this trip about?

    It’s hard to pick a highlight of this New Zealand tour from north to south. Is it the fiords and glaciers of Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, explored on a tour? The gem-like Bay of Islands from Auckland? The bubbling geysers and thermal springs of Rotorua? Or perhaps the mountain vistas of Queenstown? In between you have cosmopolitan cities, wineries, train rides, beaches… how does one country pack so much punch?

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeGroup - max of 40 people
Age range6 years and up
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityAuckland
End CityChristchurch (Nz)

Travel Themes

  • Cultural

Destinations

  • New Zealand

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • • Specialist team of two both highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide • 1 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Fiordland National Park • Centrally located premium hotels • National Park entrance fees

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Welcome to Auckland

Explore waterfront precincts filled with yachts or just meet fellow travel companions for a Welcome Reception tonight.

Holiday Inn Express, Auckland

Day 2: Auckland - Bay of Islands

Say goodbye to the ‘City of Sails’ as you journey north to the Bay of Islands – 140 droplets of land ringed by turquoise sea. It’s undeniably beautiful, but it also holds a special historical secret; this is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840. Your guide,...

Day 3: Bay of Islands Free Time

Today, trip the light fantastic and head off in whatever direction you please. Perhaps travel up to Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua, the very top of New Zealand, via idyllic Ninety Mile Beach. Or glide around on an historic tall ship, enjoy a cruise to the iconic Hole i...

Day 4: Bay of Islands - Auckland

Whangarei is a place where waterfalls meet beaches, galleries meet museums. It’s like the country in a tantalising snapshot – a union of nature and forward-thinking culture. Explore at your leisure before sinking back into your seat for the mesmerising commute back to Auckland.

Holiday Inn Express, Auckland

Day 5: Auckland - Rotorua

After a morning of sightseeing, set your GPS for the Waitomo Caves. Cruising cavernous waterways, your route is cast in a magical light by thousands of glowworms. It’s a landscape almost as otherworldly as Rotorua, where mud pops and jettisons from bubbling geysers. T...

Day 6: Rotorua Free Time

Explore at your own pace today. Want a bit of down time? Bliss out at the Polynesian Spa. Animal lover? Go behind the scenes at a working kiwi hatchery. Hobbit fans will want to take advantage of today’s opportunity to visit the sights featured in The Lord of the Rings movies at Hobbiton.

Ibis Rotorua Hotel

Day 7: Rotorua - Wellington

At Huka Falls, 220,000 litres of water thunder over an 11-metre-high waterfall every second. The road ahead unfolds in a broad panorama of mint-blue Lake Taupo. Traverse the Kapiti Coast to New Zealand’s cool little capital, Wellington, where there are so many restaur...

Day 8: Wellington - Picton

Wellington is known for its uber-cool cafés, designed to fuel you through a session at Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand. Onwards to the Interislander for a cruise across Cook Strait, from the North Island to the South, through a maze of arms and inlets.

Picton Yacht Club

Day 9: Picton - Christchurch

There aren’t many beaches more dramatic than the black sands of Kaikoura. Bonus points if you spot a sea lion or sperm whale frolicking offshore. Your Travel Director has tips on where to dine tonight.

Wyndham Garden

Day 10: Christchurch - Omarama

On your city tour view the mind-bending Transitional Cathedral, made largely of cardboard, and Turanga, the gold-clad central library. From here, your outlook is the Canterbury Plains: the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo, snow-capped mountains and atmospheric towns. Y...

Day 11: Omarama - Dunedin

Oamaru, with its stately tree-lined streets and limestone buildings, stands proud before you journey further south toward the ‘Edinburgh of the South’. Dunedin’s Scottish ancestry is everywhere you look, from the manicured grounds of Otago University to Larnach Castle...

Day 12: Dunedin - Te Anau

Weave your way into Fiordland National Park and the South Island’s biggest lake and the town of Te Anau.

Distinction Luxmore Hotel

Day 13: Te Anau - Queenstown

Your route through Fiordland National Park is an intoxicating union of beech forests, alluvial flats, meadows and mirror-like lakes. All roads lead to Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, where a string of waterfalls create a misty curtain across sheer escarpments. Venture out into the Fiord on a sightseeing cruise, where dolphins and seals are a common sight.

Copthorne Hotel and Resort

Day 14: Queenstown Free Time

Take Queenstown at your own pace today. Feel the wind in your hair on a high octane jet boat ride, perhaps. Wherever you wander, make sure you’re back in time to glide across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue dinner.

Copthorne Hotel and Resort

Day 15: Queenstown - Franz Josef/Waiau

Leaving Lake Wakatipu behind, Arrowtown and Lake Dunstan appear on the horizon. Then there’s Lake Hawea followed by Lake Wanaka, with its Instagrammable shoreline of poplars and willows. Over the Haast Pass, the pretty town of Franz Josef/Waiau awaits.

Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier

Day 16: Franz Josef/Waiau - Christchurch

Swap snow for pounamu (native greenstone or jade) in Hokitika: the pounamu found here is the stuff jewellery dreams are made of. Just when you thought your adventure couldn’t get any better, you’ll aboard the TranzAlpine train bound for Christchurch, through tunnels and over viaducts with panoramic views.

Wyndham Garden

Day 17: Farewell from Christchurch

Two islands, glaciers, lakes, thermal springs and a parade of wildlife... We hope you find the words to describe this epic adventure.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $5,886
Price per day$346
Last Updated: 5/16/2024
Start Date
Finish Date
Double
Single
Availability
31 Aug 2024
16 Sep 2024
$6,540
$8,430
closed
07 Sep 2024
23 Sep 2024
$6,540
$8,430
closed
21 Sep 2024
07 Oct 2024
$6,540
$8,430
available
28 Sep 2024
14 Oct 2024
$6,540
$8,430
closed
05 Oct 2024
21 Oct 2024
$6,540
$8,430
closed
12 Oct 2024
28 Oct 2024
$6,540
$8,430
onRequest
19 Oct 2024
04 Nov 2024
$6,540
$8,430
closed
26 Oct 2024
11 Nov 2024
$5,886
$7,587
available
02 Nov 2024
18 Nov 2024
$6,540
$8,430
closed
09 Nov 2024
25 Nov 2024
$5,886
$7,587
available

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with AAT Kings.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

AAT Kings Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
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Other AAT Kings Reviews

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May 2024

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Outback Safari

We did the Outback safari from Uluru to Darwin. It was a wonderful experience with a very knowledgeable and friendly guide, Manuela, and great driver, Ashleigh, help...

T

Trusted Customer

May 2024

Written on

The highlight for me was the drive through the outback

They were very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful with any issues.

T

Trusted Customer

May 2024

Written on

Loved the Aboriginal Art, the scenery, the river trips, the crocodiles.

He had good knowledge but was not friendly or personable, he could be quite stand offish.

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Tour Operator

AAT Kings

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A century ago, the Australian outback was but a twinkle in most travelers’ eyes. But thanks to visionaries like the Pyke family and Bill King, the way we explore the Land Down Under was about to change in unimaginable ways. Over the coming decades, maps were unfolded, desert cruisers and coaches were customized, and guides were trained. From humble beginnings, the company now known as AAT Kings was going places few had gone before, pioneering new paths across Australia and New Zealand and taking intrepid travelers on a wild and wonderful ride. We’ve come a long way and clocked a few kilometers in the process. But some things will never change. Like our spirit for adventure. Our oh-so-knowledgeable Travel Directors. The local characters we meet (and will never forget) along the way. The epic, goosebump-inducing stories we’re told by First Nations guides. The life-changing experiences on offer – the kind that only 100 years of exploring affords. We’ve never been more passionate about our next discovery. Join us and fall in love with Australia and New Zealand all over again. #aatkings


Why we love this operator
AAT Kings is renowned for its quality service, knowledgeable guides, and extensive network of destinations.
What they’re known for
AAT Kings is known for being one of Australia and New Zealand's leading tour operators, specializing in guided tours.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Holiday Inn Express, Auckland Copthorne Hotel and Resort Ibis Rotorua Hotel Travelodge Wellington Picton Yacht Club Wyndham Garden Heritage Gateway Hotel Scenic Hotel Dunedin City Distinction Luxmore Hotel Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier,
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
6 years and up
Additional Information
Trip ID
aatkin-LABC24

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