Kiwi Adventure Explore New Zealand – from $4,949

Latest Deals! > Kiwi Adventure Explore New Zealand – from $4,949

 

 

Days 1-2: Depart from Home

Cross the International Dateline and begin the adventure of a lifetime by skipping a day ahead.

 

Day 3: 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 travelers for a welcome dinner.

Dinner included.

Stay: Rendezvous Grand Hotel Auckland.

 

Day 4: Auckland – Bay of Islands

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 harbourside. 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 included.

Stay: Scenic Hotels Bay Of Islands.

 

Day 5: 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 included.

Stay: Scenic Hotels Bay Of Islands.

 

Day 6: 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 included.

Rural Tourism Home Stay.

 

Day 7: Rotorua

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 marvelous 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 included.

Stay: Princes Gate Hotel.

 

Day 8: 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 oceanfront promenade and simply soak up the atmosphere.

Breakfast included.

Stay: Scenic Hotel Te Pania.

 

Day 9: 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 included.

Stay: Amora Hotel Wellington.

 

Day 10: 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 center dedicated to art, history and the Maori culture.

Breakfast included.

Stay: Amora Hotel Wellington.

 

Day 11: 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 firsthand how the “Garden City” is recreating itself.

Breakfast included.

Stay: Chateau On The Park.

 

Day 12: Christchurch – Franz Josef Glacier Region

All aboard! Take in the marvelous snowcapped peaks and beautiful river gorges during your travels across the Southern Alps, winding your way past waterfalls and rugged mountains on the famous Tranz-Alpine 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 travelers a rare opportunity to experience a living glacial landscape in a temperate environment.

Breakfast & Dinner included.

Stay: Scenic Franz Josef Glacier Hotel.

 

Day 13: 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 flight-seeing 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 included.

Stay: Heritage Queenstown Hotel.

 

Day 14: 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 & Lunch included.

Stay: Rydges Lakeland Queenstown.

 

Day 15: 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 Included.

Stay: Rydges Lakeland Queenstown.

 

Day 16: 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 included.

Stay: Distinction Te Anau Hotel Villas.

 

Day 17: 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 included.

Stay: Southern Cross Dunedin.

 

Day 18: 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 included.

Stay: Southern Cross Dunedin.

 

Day 19: 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 included.

Stay: The Hermitage.

 

Day 20: 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 included.

Stay:Chateau On The Park.

 

Day 21: Christchurch – Tour Ends

Your tour comes to a close, leaving you with many pleasant memories of a wonderful vacation.

Breakfast included.