New Zealand Uncovered

17 days
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
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premier

USTOA

Small Group Tour
From north to south, east to west, New Zealand is a country of contrasts. And that’s why we love it. One minute you’re drifting through World Heritage-listed gorges on a Milford Sound/Piopiotahi tour, then next you’re scaling ice on a Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere tour. Sometimes there’s a Maori hangi feast on the menu; at others there’s awar...
26%
$9,380
From$6,948
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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?

    From north to south, east to west, New Zealand is a country of contrasts. And that’s why we love it. One minute you’re drifting through World Heritage-listed gorges on a Milford Sound/Piopiotahi tour, then next you’re scaling ice on a Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere tour. Sometimes there’s a Maori hangi feast on the menu; at others there’s award-winning wine. Spanning 17 days, two islands and countless attractions – both city and country – this trip to New Zealand is one for the record books.   

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

    • Centrally located premium 4- & 4.5-star hotels
    • National Park entrance fees
    • Arrival and departure airport transfers

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Welcome to Auckland

Auckland is the kind of place you could lose yourself in for a couple of weeks. Arrive at your leisure and explore hip new waterfront precincts, take a cruise out to the forward-thinking wineries of Waiheke Island, or prepare to meet your fellow travel companions at a welcome function with a few local tipples and canapes, followed by dinner.  And so your NZ tour begins.

Cordis

Day 2: Auckland

A little bit of leisure, a little bit of culture – today is one of those days. Sleep in before a peek behind the scenes of racing history on the New Zealand Maritime Museum’s America’s Cup Tour, highlighting Auckland’s heritage of boat-building, and offering a glimpse...

Day 3: Auckland - Tauranga

Leave Auckland behind and journey into the countryside for an exclusive family style Be My Guest experience in the Red Barn. Hear the history of this working dairy farm from local Dan and get a feel for country life as you're invited to roll up your sleeves and make y...

Day 4: Tauranga - Rotorua

Is there any food more classically New Zealand than the kiwifruit? The town of Te Puke grows the majority of the country’s bounty, and you’ll enjoy a bite that will wake up your tastebuds. The next hot-spot – in every sense of the word – on your NZ holiday is Rotorua....

Day 5: Rotorua Free Time

Today, choose your own adventure. We have plenty of ideas for the paths you might follow. Optional Rotorua tour sightseeing experiences include a bedazzling show put on by the glowworms of Waitomo Caves, replete with underground waterways and dramatic limestone format...

Day 6: Rotorua - Wellington

Say haere ra (goodbye) to Rotorua and hello to an immense amount of water. First stop is the raging rapids of Huka Falls, where 220,000 litres of water barrel over an 11-metre-high waterfall every second. You’ll hear them (and perhaps feel the mist on your face) befor...

Day 7: Wellington - Blenheim

If you don’t fall in love with Wellington instantly, then you will surely find a spark after visiting Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand – the morning is yours to peruse the jaw-dropping exhibits at your leisure, but be sure to linger at the exhibit highlighting a tra...

Day 8: Blenheim - Christchurch

Sperm whales and fur seals are a common sight in Kaikoura – get lucky and you can see them from shore or sign up for a bird’s-eye view on an optional scenic flight over dramatic black beaches framed by turquoise ocean. You won’t be disappointed. The region is also kno...

Day 9: Christchurch - Twizel

From its eye-popping, cardboard-crafted Transitional Cathedral to its gold-clad central library, Christchurch has well and truly rebuilt itself since the 2010/11 earthquakes, setting the bar high for architecture and design across the country. On your Christchurch tou...

Day 10: Twizel - Dunedin

We’ve got the power – hydro, that is. The Benmore Dam holds back New Zealand’s largest artificial lake, and when the Benmore Power Station was opened in 1965 it was the biggest in the country. Just one of the fun facts you’ll learn on your NZ tour. That should fuel yo...

Day 11: Dunedin - Te Anau

From sheep farms to rugged mountains, today is one of diversity. Venture to the South Island's largest lake and the pretty lakeside town of Te Anau.  Enjoy the thrill of jet boating down the majestic trout filled Waiau River, to the serene Lake Manapouri, home to Poma...

Day 12: Te Anau - Queenstown

There aren’t many places in the world that remind you how precious the planet is. Fiordland National Park is one. Your journey toward Milford Sound/Piopiotahi traverses native rainforest, alluvial flats and meadows, with mirrored lakes, thundering waterfalls, dramatic...

Day 13: Queenstown

The roll-call of Queenstown activities you could sign-up for today is near endless. Adrenaline-junkies may wish to zip about in the Shotover Jet, which reaches dizzying speeds in the white-water rapids of the Shotover River. Or perhaps get some perspective on a gondol...

Day 14: Queenstown - Franz Josef

From Arrowtown’s tree-lined avenues to Central Otago’s gleaming lakes, nature rules today. Alpine scenery tiers into rainforest along the West Coast of New Zealand, where Thunder Creek Falls and the glacier-studded Mt. Hooker steal the scene. Welcome to your Franz Jos...

Day 15: Franz Josef Glacier - Punakaiki

Swap white at Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine for pounamu (native greenstone or jade) in Hokitika. In Maori tradition, it’s bad luck to buy this sacred stone for yourself; flutter your eyelids at your loved-one. Then steel yourself for the Pancake Rocks and blowholes of Punakaiki, a sliver of South Island geology that is as humbling as it is awe-inspiring

Day 16: Punakaiki - Christchurch

Beer for breakfast? We’ve got you sorted on a morning tour of legendary Monteith’s Brewery. You only live once, right? The best is yet to come – all aboard for the scenic TranzAlpine train back to Christchurch. Travel through tunnels and over viaducts, with panoramic ...

Day 17: Farewell from Christchurch

How many travel highs can you pack into a holiday? This itinerary has certainly pushed the boundaries. Now all you have to do is go home and sort through all those photos.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $6,948
Price per day$409
Last Updated: 4/24/2024
Start Date
Finish Date
Double
Single
Availability
03 Sep 2024
19 Sep 2024
$7,495
$9,505
closed
10 Sep 2024
26 Sep 2024
$7,495
$9,505
closed
17 Sep 2024
03 Oct 2024
$7,120
$9,030
available
01 Oct 2024
17 Oct 2024
$7,720
$9,795
closed
08 Oct 2024
24 Oct 2024
$7,720
$9,795
closed
15 Oct 2024
31 Oct 2024
$6,948
$8,816
available
22 Oct 2024
07 Nov 2024
$7,720
$9,795
available
29 Oct 2024
14 Nov 2024
$7,720
$9,795
closed
05 Nov 2024
21 Nov 2024
$6,948
$8,816
available
12 Nov 2024
28 Nov 2024
$7,720
$9,795
closed

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.

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AAT Kings Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
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Apr 2024

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Apr 2024

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If you have ever considered traveling to Australia this is the trip for you

Service from Nellie Sullivan was exceptional!

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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

Cordis Trinity Wharf Tauranga Millennium Hotel, Rotorua James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor Chateau Marlborough Distinction Christchurch Hotel MacKenzie Country Hotel Scenic Hotel Southern Cross Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas Millennium Hotel, Queenstown 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-ZAACF25

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