Compare Highlights of New Zealand by G Adventures vs The Best of New Zealand by Titan Travel

Day 1 Auckland

Arrive at any time.

There are no activities until an evening welcome meeting, so head out and enjoy the city.

This tour departs Auckland early on Day 2. If you are interested in exploring the city and its nearby attractions, like a local winery, it is recommended you book additional pre-trip accommodation nights.

Day 2 Auckland/Rotorua

Drive to the lakeside town of Rotorua, situated over an active geothermal zone and known for its volcanic features and rich Maori heritage. Stop en route at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Take a boat ride through this spectacular underground realm to see thousands of flickering glowworms light up in the dark.

Day 3 Rotorua

Visit Rotorua and opt to check out the geothermal area or go whitewater rafting. In the evening visit a Maori village for traditional ceremonies, a Hangi meal and entertainment.

Rotorua sits over an active volcanic zone with bubbling mud pits and multi-coloured pools in different areas around the town. Opt to visit one of the sites, or go whitewater rafting nearby.

If you are interested in visiting the Hobbiton Movie Set while in New Zealand we suggest you pre-book before arriving in New Zealand. G Adventures currently does not offer this as a tour add-on. Hobbiton is accessible as a day trip from Auckland or Rotorua.

Day 4 Rotorua/Wellington

Take in the ever-changing scenery of the North Island and travel to the capital, Wellington.

Day 5 Wellington

Enjoy the atmosphere in this relaxed but lively city. After an orientation walk, enjoy a free day to explore. Opt to visit the Te Papa Museum or take the cable car up to the botanical gardens.

Day 6 Wellington/Kaikoura

Fly to the South Island and travel to the seaside town of Kaikoura, known for its diverse marine life. Stop en route for a wine tasting at a local winery.

Day 7 Kaikoura/Hanmer Springs

Opt to swim with dolphins or go whale watching during a free morning in Kaikoura before travelling to Hanmer Springs. Opt to take a soak in the hot springs.

Day 8 Hanmer Springs/Franz Josef

Take in the stunning scenery while travelling across the Southern Alps to the rugged and remote West Coast, before staying in the rainforest near the world's fastest moving glacier.

Day 9 Franz Josef

Enjoy a free day to explore the area around Franz Josef. Opt to explore the glacier with a heli hike.

There are dozens of optional activities in the area to suit just about any budget and preference. Try heli hiking, scenic helicopter flights, skydiving, lake kayaking or a hot pools visit.

Day 10 Franz Josef/Queenstown

Continue to Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world. With beautiful scenery and tons of activities, there's something for everyone. Enjoy the great night life.

Day 11 Queenstown

With free time here, opt to go bungee jumping (in its birthplace), jet boating (also born here!), skydiving or hiking. Or take it a little slower and travel by gondola to the top of a local peak.

Opt to pre-book the "Queenstown Jet Boating" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.

Day 12 Queenstown

Enjoy the stunning scenery of Fiordland National Park and Doubtful Sound on a day cruise. Take in the waterfalls and wildlife, then return to Queenstown for the night.

Day 13 Queenstown to Tekapo

Travel north through the centre of the South Island to Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, named after New Zealand's highest peak. Spend the afternoon hiking the region, taking in the alpine scenery. Learn more about mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary at the Visitor's Centre, before a short but scenic journey to Tekapo Village.

Day 14 Tekapo to Christchurch

Continue on to Christchurch and take in an orientation walk with your CEO. Enjoy one final night together with the group.

Travel to the Garden City of Christchurch, a little piece of England in New Zealand, still recovering from a devastating earthquake.

Day 15 Christchurch

Depart at any time.

Days 1-2 London - In flight
Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home, for your journey to London Heathrow Airport and a scheduled Air New Zealand flight to Auckland via Los Angeles.

Day 3 Auckland - Christchurch
‘Haere Mai’ (Welcome). Having travelled through several time zones we arrive in Auckland where we connect with our onward flight to Christchurch. On arrival our coach transfers us to the Chateau on the Park a DoubleTree by Hilton (3T+) hotel where we stay overnight. The remainder of the day is free. You can stroll through Hagley Park, which is located opposite our hotel, to the wonderful Botanical Gardens that are fringed by the gently-flowing Avon River.

Day 4 Christchurch - Dunedin
Leaving Christchurch we travel south to Dunedin, elegant in its splendid hill and harbour setting. Known as the ‘Edinburgh of the South’, because of the strong Scottish influence in the area, Dunedin is home to New Zealand’s only kilt shop and produces the country’s whisky. This evening there is a grand Scottish-style dinner at our hotel, the Scenic Hotel Southern Cross (4T), one of the city’s top hotels, where we stay for two nights.

Day 5 Dunedin
Today you are at leisure.

Day 6 Dunedin - Te Anau
Leaving this charming city, with its seven hills reminiscent of Rome and century-old bluestone university buildings, we travel across rich Southland plains through Gore, the country music capital of New Zealand, before arriving at the gateway to Fiordland National Park. The Fiordland National Park is one of the largest in the world, known for its spectacular waterfalls, dense native forest and rare birds. Its importance is acknowledged by its status as a World Heritage Park. Our stay tonight is at the Distinction Te Anau Hotel (3T+) or Distinction Luxmore Hotel (4T), in the delightful lakeside township of Te Anau.

Day 7 Te Anau - Milford Sound - Queenstown
We drive along the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys, the thick bush and alpine aspect providing one of the most rewarding journeys in the country, to Milford Sound, commanded by the spectacular Mitre Peak. This majestic area was described by Rudyard Kipling as the ‘eighth wonder of the world’. A launch cruise with buffet lunch takes us along the fiord, out to the open sea and back again, where we may catch a glimpse of seals frolicking in their natural habitat. An impressive drive, skirting Lake Wakatipu, which means ‘the lake that breathes’, the only land-locked lake in the world with its own tide, brings us to Queenstown and the Crowne Plaza (4T), Heritage Queenstown (4T) or Rees Hotel Queenstown (4T+).

Day 8 Queenstown
Queenstown, dominated by the majestic Remarkables, is the most sophisticated resort in New Zealand. This stunning landscape is a favourite with all who love the great outdoors. This evening we take a cruise aboard the beautiful vintage TSS Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu to the highcountry sheep station of Walter Peak where you will dine in the elegant Colonel’s Homestead.

Day 9 Queenstown - Mount Cook
This morning we visit Gibbston Valley Winery before we journey into the heart of the Southern Alps where we have our first glimpse of Mount Cook, known as ‘Cloud Piercer’ by the Maori, towering 3,754 metres above sea level. The Tasman Glacier, nudging one side of Mount Cook, is one of the longest glaciers outside the Himalayas. This evening we stay in this classic alpine region at the Hermitage Hotel (4T), where dinner is included.

Day 10 Mount Cook - Christchurch
Leaving the majestic Mount Cook, following breakfast, we skirt the glacial blue waters of Lake Pukaki. We pass Lake Tekapo and Geraldine. Our hotel this evening is the Chateau on the Park a DoubleTree by Hilton (3T+).

Day 11 Christchurch - Wellington
Head north across the plains to the coastal town of Kaikoura, famous for its crayfish. At Picton we leave the South Island and steam across the spectacular Cook Strait on the comfortable inter-island ferry. Wellington Harbour offers our first view of the capital city. On disembarking we are transferred to the centrally located James Cook Grand Chancellor Hotel (4T), Novotel Wellington (4T) or Rydges Wellington (4T), our base for the next two nights.

Day 12 Wellington
We take a short orientation tour of the city, which is often compared with San Francisco. Visitors generally agree that the harbour is the most beautiful in the country. The remainder of the day is at leisure and there are several attractions that are worthy of exploration, none more so than New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa. Free to enter and located on the waterfront in a purpose built, architecturally beautiful building, the museum showcases the history of New Zealand in many visually-stunning and thought-provoking ways.

Day 13 Wellington - Rotorua
We head north this morning, stopping at Huka Falls, where the wide Waikato River squeezes through a narrow gorge and down a 20m drop into a beautiful aquamarine pool. We then visit the Whakarewarewa Thermal Village, where the Tuhourangi/Ngati Wahiao tribe have opened their doors to share their way of life for over 200 years. We continue to one of the jewels of the country, Rotorua, endowed with its awe-inspiring geothermal activity, crystal clear waters of Lake Rotorua and lush forests. On arrival we check in to the Holiday Inn Rotorua (4T), located close to the Whakarewarewa Reserve.

Day 14 Rotorua
This morning we visit visit Wai-O-Tapu, the most colourful and diverse of thermal reserves with its Primrose Terraces and Champagne Pool, after which we continue to see the Lady Knox geyser erupting. We then head to Rainbow Springs, one of the world’s most magnificent trout and wildlife habitats, where you have a chance to see the rare, flightless kiwi. This afternoon we continue to the Agrodome for an interesting farm show, where the skills of mustering, shearing, milking and the use of sheep dogs are demonstrated. Return to our hotel for a short time before we depart for a Maori cultural experience, an authentic Maori concert and a traditional ‘hangi’ feast.

Day 15 Rotorua - Waitomo Caves - Auckland
We travel to the Waitomo Caves and take a boat along the underground river to see the glow-worms, spectacular in the darkness of the grotto. The glow-worm light shines as a blue/green colour and the hungrier the glow worm, the more brightly it glows. We travel on via the dairy centre of Hamilton to Auckland, which lies between the Waitemata and Manukau Harbours. The well-situated Crowne Plaza Hotel (4T) or Heritage Auckland (4T) is our base for the next two nights.

Day 16 Auckland
Today we will introduce you to ‘The City of Sails’, the largest and brightest metropolis in New Zealand. Our city tour will highlight the heart of the city, founded by Captain Hobson, who decided upon the location of the city due to its strategic setting. Also included is Old Customhouse, the shoppers’ delight of Lower Queen Street, otherwise known as the ‘Golden Mile’, and Parliament Street. Remainder of the day is at leisure to further explore this fascinating city.

Day 17 Auckland - Bay of Islands
Crossing the harbour bridge spanning the delightful Waitemata Harbour this morning, we can look back at Auckland’s famous landmark Rangitoto Island before heading to Northland, the birthplace of the nation. We drive along the west coast, passing sleepy harbourside hamlets and native forests, home to huge ancient kauri trees. We visit the Kauri Museum, where the history of the kauri and a magnificent collection of produce can be seen. The Waipoua Forest is home to the mature kauri trees, the largest of which ‘Tane Mahuta’ (Lord of the Forest) stands 30 metres tall. We then visit Waitangi Treaty House, where the historic signing between Maori and British formed the nation of New Zealand in 1840. Our visit includes a guided tour of Waitangi. Late afternoon we arrive at the Copthorne Resort (3T+), Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands (3T+) or Kingsgate Hotel Autolodge (3T) our base for the next three nights. Dinner is in our hotel this evening.

Day 18 Bay of Islands
Following breakfast this morning we embark on a delightful cruise around the bay to see Cape Brett lighthouse and view an area for game fishing where there may be a close encounter with a seal, dolphin or whale. We also cruise into the grand Cathedral Cave and through the ‘Hole in the Rock’. Later we transfer back to the hotel where the remainder of the day is at leisure.

Day 19 Bay of Islands
The charm of this region is the solitude and outstanding scenic beauty; and today, after breakfast, you are free to visit historic Russell, the country’s first capital, or perhaps join a launch cruise to see where Captain Cook first anchored on his voyage of discovery. The sand dunes and hillocks of shells along Ninety Mile Beach have also captivated the hearts of visitors; and today you are free to make your own discoveries.

Day 20 Bay of Islands - Auckland - In flight
Breakfast is included this morning before leaving the Bay of Islands behind as we head south along the Hibiscus Coast and return to Auckland Airport for our scheduled Qantas or Air New Zealand flight to London via Sydney or Melbourne, and Dubai or Los Angeles.

Day 21 London
Breakfast is included this morning before leaving the Bay of Islands behind as we head south along the Hibiscus Coast and return to Auckland and the Crowne Plaza Hotel (4T).