New Zealand Marvel

14 days
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
98%
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premier

USTOA

Small Group Tour
One country, two islands, two weeks, countless highs… this could well be the ultimate New Zealand guided tour. Standouts include gem-like Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere, cruise through World Heritage listed Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, Waitomo Caves tours to spot glowworms, and expeditions across turquoise lakes. We haven’t even mentioned the atm...
26%
$6,743
From$4,995
See departure dates

Overview

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

What's this trip about?

    One country, two islands, two weeks, countless highs… this could well be the ultimate New Zealand guided tour. Standouts include gem-like Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere, cruise through World Heritage listed Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, Waitomo Caves tours to spot glowworms, and expeditions across turquoise lakes. We haven’t even mentioned the atmospheric towns and cities yet – tours in Queenstown, Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin and Christchurch all beckon.  

Details

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

Travel Themes

  • Cultural

Destinations

  • New Zealand

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • Specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide
    • 1 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Fiordland National Park
    • Centrally located premium 3.5-star hotels

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Welcome to Christchurch

There are plenty of reasons to arrive in New Zealand’s ‘Garden City’ early, among them the astonishing transformation that has reinvigorated streets since the devastating 2010/11 earthquakes. Explore at your leisure. We recommend jumping aboard the Christchurch Tram –...

Day 2: Christchurch - Franz Josef/Waiau

When the journey matters just as much as the destination, jump aboard the TranzAlpine train. This scenic spectacular – the start of your tour of the South Island of New Zealand – takes you through tunnels and over viaducts, with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, i...

Day 3: Franz Josef/Waiau - Queenstown

If you thought the scenery yesterday was dramatic, wait until you hit the Haast Pass today: over the saddle, the alpine scenery of the Southern Lakes spreads before you in a patchwork of blues and greens. First up there’s lovely Lake Wanaka, with its Instagrammable sh...

Day 4: Queenstown Free Time

Today, choose your own adventure – there are plenty to be had. Feel the wind in your hair on the high-octane Shotover Jet, perhaps. Or discover some of New Zealand’s feathered friends at a wildlife centre. Wine aficionado? Sip your way through surrounding vineyards. W...

Day 5: Queenstown - Te Anau

There are some travel days that defy the imagination. Thankfully, you don’t have to dream about all the natural highs in today’s itinerary – they’re about to become a reality. Your route from the Mirror Lakes through the Cleddau Valley is the entrée to Milford Sound/P...

Day 6: Te Anau - Dunedin

On the banks of the South Island’s biggest lake, Te Anau turns on the sunrise charms. Enjoy a morning stroll before swapping the forested slopes of Fiordland for the rolling green hills of the Edinburgh of the South. Welcome to Dunedin, a beguiling union of both Māori...

Day 7: Dunedin - Omarama

If you didn’t get a taste for Dunedin’s Scottish heritage yesterday, you surely will today. Explore grand Larnach Castle at your leisure – this is, after all, the only one of its kind in the country – then wander the manicured grounds of Otago University or the city’s...

Day 8: Omarama - Christchurch

Your outlook this morning is the Canterbury Plains: the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo, hemmed by snow-capped mountains and atmospheric towns. If it seems familiar, that’s because it regularly stars on postcards. Take it in on an optional scenic flight for added pers...

Day 9: Christchurch - Picton

Forget powdery white sand – once you’ve seen the dramatic black Kaikoura cove, you’ll be spoilt for all future beach-bashing. Bonus points if you spot a sea lion or sperm whale frolicking offshore; a sighting is practically guaranteed if you opt for an aerial tour ove...

Day 10: Picton - Wellington

Cruising through Queen Charlotte Sound, up the Tory Channel and across Cook Strait is a journey as scenic as it is serene. Today’s chariot, the Interislander, transports you from the South Island to the North, navigating a maze of arms and inlets into New Zealand’s co...

Day 11: Wellington - Rotorua

Follow the lead of locals along the Kapiti Coast, the summer playground of Wellingtonians – for good reason. The road ahead unfolds in a broad panorama of Lake Taupo, the largest (and perhaps bluest) of its kind in the country. It’s a landscape almost as otherworldly ...

Day 12: Rotorua Free Time

Sometimes, the best adventures are those that you have when you least expect them. Like wandering into Rotorua’s Polynesian Spa and falling into a few hours of bliss while soaking in steamy thermal springs. Who knew nature was this relaxing? Or discovering endangered ...

Day 13: Rotorua - Auckland

Before you reach your final destination, get set to glow on a tour through the Waikato River’s Waitomo Caves. This place is radiant – quite literally. While cruising cavernous limestone waterways, your route is cast in a magical light by thousands of glowworms. Auckla...

Day 14: Farewell from Auckland

The ‘City of Sails’ flutters as if waving goodbye as you make your way home – with two weeks’ worth of extra baggage (all that wine!) and an innumerable number of memories.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,995
Price per day$357
Last Updated: 5/16/2024
Start Date
Finish Date
Double
Single
Availability
02 Sep 2024
15 Sep 2024
$5,550
$7,285
closed
30 Sep 2024
13 Oct 2024
$5,273
$6,921
available
14 Oct 2024
27 Oct 2024
$5,550
$7,285
closed
21 Oct 2024
03 Nov 2024
$5,550
$7,285
closed
28 Oct 2024
10 Nov 2024
$5,273
$6,921
available
04 Nov 2024
17 Nov 2024
$5,550
$7,285
closed
18 Nov 2024
01 Dec 2024
$5,550
$7,285
available
25 Nov 2024
08 Dec 2024
$5,550
$7,285
closed
02 Dec 2024
15 Dec 2024
$5,550
$7,285
closed
09 Dec 2024
22 Dec 2024
$4,995
$6,557
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
Excellent
737
Great
172
Average
43
Disappointing
12
Terrible
10
T

Trusted Customer

May 2024

Written on

New Zealand Marvel

Most were quite good but on one occasion, the hotel in Picton (The Yacht Club) needed places to put luggage, better lighting, more convenient outlets to charge (not ...

C

Christine Harvey

May 2024

Written on

New Zealand Marvel

The tour was great. Hotels were generally very good except for IBIS. A better choice would be Novotel. The driver Dillon was exceptional and very personable. Nat...

T

Trusted Customer

Apr 2024

Written on

New Zealand Marvel

Accommodation was very clean and comfortable and cen...

Write a Review

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The highlight for me was the drive through the outback

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Tour Operator

AAT Kings

premier
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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

Ibis Hotel Christchurch Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown Distinction Luxmore Hotel Scenic Hotel Dunedin City Heritage Gateway Hotel Picton Beachcomber Inn Travelodge Wellington Ibis Rotorua Hotel Holiday Inn Express, Auckland,
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-LCCA24

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