Exploring New Zealand
Exploring New Zealand
$6,139.00
From $6,139* pp | 19 Days • 30 Meals *Rate is per person, land only, double occupancy.
Explore New Zealand’s many sides, including the geothermal landscape of Rotorua and the temperate glacial landscape of the Franz Josef Glacier.
- Traverse the heart of the Southern Alps aboard the famous TranzAlpine train.
- Get to know a local New Zealand family during a memorable authentic experience of dinner and the choice of an overnight farm stay.*
- Enjoy a tasting and lunch at one of New Zealand’s stunning wineries.
Lose Yourself in this Kiwi Adventure
From the steaming geothermal vents of Rotorua, to the ice sheets and temperate rainforest of Franz Josef Glacier, to the genuine warmth of a farm stay with a local family, experience all of New Zealand’s many facets on this 19-day journey. Cruise Milford sound in dramatic Fiordland. Sip wine at regional vineyards in Otago and Marlborough. Stay in Dunedin, a little slice of Scotland in the South Pacific. Overnight at the foot of massive Mt Cook. Dine in a restored Christchurch mansion. Immerse yourself in the Maori culture. Witness the famous Haka war challenge, followed by a Hangi feast.
Itinerary
Day 1. Auckland, New Zealand – Tour Begins
Your tour opens in Auckland, the “City of Sails,” consistently rated one of the best places in the world to live. Auckland’s Polynesian population instills into its chic atmosphere the vibrant feel of the Pacific Islands. This evening, join your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner.
Dinner 
High 22 Low 16 
Citylife Auckland
Come to know the best of Auckland during a panoramic city tour featuring the America’s Cup Village, the War Memorial, bustling Queen Street, the Auckland Harbour Bridge and spectacular views from the harbour side. Next, depart Auckland and travel north to the Bay of Islands, your home for the next two nights. This sun-soaked region boasts more than 144 islands and warm waters with abundant marine life. Visit the Waitangi Treaty House where Maori and British leaders signed the 1840 treaty establishing New Zealand as a nation.
Breakfast & Dinner 
High 22 Low 16 
Scenic Hotels Bay Of Islands
Day 3. Bay of Islands
We begin the day with a cruise through the bay’s famous Hole in the Rock and view the Cape Brett Lighthouse which stands nearly 500 feet above sea level at the edge of the Cape Brett Peninsula. The rest of the day is yours to independently explore Paihia – the quaint town known as “the jewel of the Bay of Islands.”
Breakfast High 22 Low 16 Scenic Hotels Bay Of Islands
Day 4. Bay of Islands – Matamata – Farm Stay*
Leaving the sparkling waters of the Bay of Islands behind, head to Matamata in the agricultural heartland of the North Island. This idyllic landscape inspired the producers of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films and is sure to inspire you when you visit Hobbiton, the only outdoor filming location still in existence, for a guided tour. Make yourself right at home this evening when a New Zealand farm family welcomes you into their household for the night!* This is sure to be an unforgettable experience as you make new friends, learn about the customs of the “Kiwis” and enjoy a home-cooked meal.
Breakfast & Dinner Rural Tourism Home Stay
Today, find yourself amid the dramatic geothermal landscape of Rotorua. With over one-third of its population boasting Maori roots, this city is known as the Maori capital of New Zealand. Visit Te Puia, New Zealand’s premier Maori cultural and geothermal experience. The National Carving School and National Weaving School are located here, passing on age-old customs by teaching the tribal youth these traditional skills. Enjoy the chance to view the Kiwi bird and learn what is being done in an effort to remove this marvellous creature from the endangered species list. Tonight, experience an authentic Hangi dinner celebration where you learn about the warm-hearted Maoris and their lives before European colonists arrived in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and since. Enjoy an immersive experience featuring authentic entertainment such as the poi dance and the famous “Haka” war challenge
Breakfast & Dinner High 21 Low 9 Princes Gate Hotel
Day 6. Rotorua – Napier
Journey into the Hawke’s Bay region. After arriving in the city of Napier, which boasts some of the greatest Art Deco architecture in the world, enjoy a guided tour and learn why Napier took on such an eclectic design style. A visit to the New Zealand Wine Centre, housed in its own historic Art Deco building, will showcase some of the region’s renowned wines. This afternoon, take advantage of time at leisure to stroll the ocean front promenade and simply soak up the atmosphere.
Breakfast High 21 Low 13 Scenic Hotel Te Pania
Day 7. Napier – Wellington
Travel through the rolling countryside of the North Island. The rural vistas and the rugged Rimutaka Range slowly give way to Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city.
Breakfast & Dinner High 18 Low 13 Amora Hotel Wellington
Day 8. Wellington
During your panoramic sightseeing tour of Wellington, view the Beehive, New Zealand’s Parliament; historic St. Paul’s Church; and the Old Government Building – the largest wooden building in the Southern Hemisphere. Following the tour, visit the Te Papa Tongawera Museum, a fascinating centre dedicated to art, history and the Maori culture.
Breakfast High 18 Low 13 Amora Hotel Wellington
Day 9. Wellington – Picton – Christchurch
Board a ferry and sail across Cook Strait to experience what has been called “the most beautiful ferry ride in the world.” Arrive in Picton on the South Island. Discover why the Marlborough area is one of the world’s best wine regions when you tour a local winery. Later, arrive in the historic city of Christchurch. Devastated by an earthquake in early 2011, see first-hand how the “Garden City” is recreating itself.
Breakfast High 19 Low 11 Chateau On The Park
Day 10. Christchurch – Franz Josef Glacier Region
All aboard! Take in the marvellous snowcapped peaks and beautiful river gorges during your travels across the Southern Alps, winding your way past waterfalls and rugged mountains on the famous TranzAlpine train for a truly inspiring trip through this glorious scenery. Next, meet the skilled carvers who work with West Coast pounamu, New Zealand greenstone, at a local jade factory. You’ll end your day at the Franz Josef Glacier Region which offers travellers a rare opportunity to experience a living glacial landscape in a temperate environment.
Breakfast & Dinner High 18 Low 10 Scenic Franz Josef Glacier Hotel
Day 11. Franz Josef – Queenstown
Before departing Franz Josef, if the dynamic New Zealand weather cooperates, you may opt to see this beautiful glacier region from a bird’s-eye view during a flightseeing tour. En route to Queenstown, watch as the amazing landscape unfolds before your eyes as you pass through the rainforest, bordered by the Southern Alps and the twisting coastline. After crossing the Haast Pass, arrive in Queenstown, one of New Zealand’s prettiest towns.
Breakfast & Dinner High 19 Low 8 Heritage Queenstown Hotel
Day 12. Queenstown
Enjoy a leisurely day of touring as we set off for the beautiful 19th-century gold rush settlement of Arrowtown. Take time to explore its quaint, historic streets. The Central Otago region is where some of New Zealand’s best wines are grown and produced. During a stop at a local winery, visit the underground storage cave – the largest in New Zealand – for a tasting of their award-winning wine. Follow this unforgettable experience with lunch at the winery’s fabulous restaurant. Later, return to Queenstown and enjoy some leisure time.
Breakfast & Dinner High 19 Low 8 Heritage Queenstown Hotel
Day 13. Queenstown
A full day at leisure in Queenstown offers several options to enhance your dream trip. You may shop or people-watch in the village. Or, join the optional “Journey through Middle Earth” tour which takes you through the majestic Remarkable Mountains and the breathtaking Queenstown countryside showcasing many of the spots where the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed.
Breakfast High 19 Low 6 Heritage Queenstown Hotel
Day 14. Queenstown – Milford Sound – Te Anau
En route to Milford Sound, enjoy the rugged grandeur of the Hollyford Valley. You’ll travel through ancient beech forest via the Homer Tunnel. During a cruise of the breathtakingly beautiful Milford Sound you will see why this fjord is one of the most visited sights on the South Island. With rock faces that rise nearly 4,000 feet on either side, the scenery will take your breath away. Following your cruise, enjoy an overnight stay on the southern shores of Lake Te Anau, the largest lake on the South Island. Indulge in a special “Taste of Fiordland” dinner showcasing the bountiful local produce.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner High 15 Low 6 Distinction Te Anau Hotel Villas
Day 15. Te Anau – Dunedin
Travel to Dunedin, on the southeast coast of New Zealand. One of the earliest European settlements on the islands, Dunedin holds proudly to its Scottish heritage and traditions. Visit the Royal Albatross Centre, the only mainland breeding location in the world for these magnificent birds. Their epic wingspan can reach nearly 10 feet!
Breakfast High 15 Low 7 Southern Cross Dunedin
Day 16. Dunedin
This morning’s panoramic drive reveals Larnach Castle and Baldwin Street, the world’s steepest public road. Later, you may choose to embark on an optional trip on the spectacular Taieri Gorge Railway. This line was begun in 1879 to serve the inland region of Otago and includes 10 tunnels and 35 bridges.
Breakfast High 15 Low 7 Southern Cross Dunedin
Day 17. Dunedin – Mt. Cook Region
The Maori word for Mt. Cook is Aoraki, which means “cloud piercer.” Journey through New Zealand’s unspoiled wilderness and arrive at Mt. Cook National Park, where permanent ice fields and glaciers blanket the ragged peaks. This is where famed New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary honed his skills before conquering Everest. You may choose to take a nature walk, enjoy an optional glacier flight seeing tour (weather permitting) or simply meditate on the beauty of the Southern Alps.
Breakfast & Dinner High 16 Low 8 The Hermitage
Day 18. Mt. Cook – Christchurch
As you return to Christchurch this morning, pause to pay a visit to a working farm. Watch a skilled New Zealand “strong eye” sheep herding dog at work, followed by a sheep shearing demonstration. Get to know these New Zealand farmers over a home-cooked morning tea. Later, enjoy some free time to explore Christchurch on your own. Stroll the city’s magnificent gardens or learn its more recent history at the Quake City exhibition at the Re:Start Mall. Tonight, visit the region’s earliest home, Riccarton House, and enjoy a farewell dinner.
Breakfast & Dinner High 17 Low 8 Chateau On The Park
Day 19. Christchurch – Tour Ends
After breakfast your tour comes to a close, leaving you with many pleasant memories of a wonderful holiday.
Breakfast
INCLUSIONS
Accommodation
Meals as per itinerary
Tour guide
Activities as stated
Please note: Accommodation is subject to change.
EXCLUSIONS
Flights
Meals not indicated on the itinerary
Drinks
Optional activities
Visas
Comprehensive travel insurance
Items of a personal nature – laundry, telephone, room service
Tips and gratuities
- All cities on this tour are 2 hours ahead of Australian Eastern Standard Time.
- The highest elevation on tour is 2,500 feet above sea level.
- The currency in New Zealand is the New Zealand Dollar.
- New Zealand uses 230 Volts, Type I plug.
- Why not consider a pre and post tour extension. Start and end your holiday rested.
This tour requires average physical activity. You should be in good health, able to climb stairs and walk reasonable distances, possibly over uneven ground and cobblestoned streets.
March 2017.
Mar 13 – Mar 24. $3,469
Mar 27 – Apr 7. $3,599
April 2017.
Apr 3 – Apr 14. $3,729
Apr 24 – May 5. $3,729
