Exploring New Zealand's Wonders featuring the North & South Islands
From geothermal springs and ice fields to stunning fjords and Maori culture, experience New Zealand at its best. Spend two nights discovering the sun-soaked Bay of Islands. Stand in awe of the giant kauri tree. Spend 2 nights in Christchurch and see how the city is reinventing itself. Admire the ice fields and glaciers surrounding Mt. Cook. Stay in Dunedin, a little slice of Scotland in the South Pacific. Cruise Milford Sound in dramatic Fiordland. Savor a captivating 3-night stay in Queenstown, the “Adventure Capital of the World.” The vibrant lifestyle of the Pacific Islands welcomes you.
From geothermal springs and ice fields to stunning fjords and Maori culture, experience New Zealand at its best. Spend two nights discovering the sun-soaked Bay of Islands. Stand in awe of the giant kauri tree. Spend 2 nights in Christchurch and see how the city is reinventing itself. Admire the ice fields and glaciers surrounding Mt. Cook. Stay in Dunedin, a little slice of Scotland in the South Pacific. Cruise Milford Sound in dramatic Fiordland. Savor a captivating 3-night stay in Queenstown, the “Adventure Capital of the World.” The vibrant lifestyle of the Pacific Islands welcomes you.
Highlights
- Auckland is a city in the North Island of New Zealand and is the largest and most populous area in the country. Roughly one third of New Zealand’s population resides here. Dating back to the year 1350 when the Maori people founded the land, known for being rich and fertile. It is now known for its parks, nature, and volcanic fields as well as rich culture, many festivals and a good quality of living.
- Just 150 miles north of Auckland is the beautiful Bay of Islands, located in New Zealand’s balmy subtropical north. Over 144 islands dot these warm waters. The bay is abundant with thrilling marine life, like marlin, whales, dolphins, seals, and penguins. Once the refuge of ship deserters, sailors, whalers, ex-convicts and other rogues, the Bay of Islands is now a tranquil holiday destination. Enjoy a cruise on its pristine turquoise waters - the only way to truly appreciate the spectacular seascapes. A highlight of the cruise will be the journey through the famous "Hole in the Rock." Resembling the eye of a needle, the "hole" has been etched over time by wind and waves, allowing boats to travel through it when the tide is just right. Following your cruise, enjoy free time to explore this idyllic region on your own.
- Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, on New Zealand’s North Island, and is in the heart of the North Island located 140 miles southeast of Auckland. The area is known for its geothermic activity and features geysers and hot mud pools as the town lies on the Rotorua caldera which is where the thermal activity is from. The tourism industry is by far the largest industry in Rotorua and is popular with both domestic and international tourists.
- Rotorua is known as the Maori capital in New Zealand, and while in this great city, you will visit Te Puia, New Zealand's premire Maori cultural center. Be treated as family, as hospitality and respect are two pillars of Maori society. See examples of traditional Maori architecture, symbols of Maori stories and heritage. And visit the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, which fosters all aspects of Maori culture. So welcome to Te Puia, and be prepared for an all-encompassing Maori cultural experience.
- Wellington is located on the southwestern tip of the North Island. It is the world's southernmost capital city as well as being the most populous and remote as it is the furthest away from any other capital. Being built on the foreshore of a harbor and ringed by mountains, this gives the city the nickname Windy Wellington.
- Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the county’s third most populous urban area. It is located on the South Island’s eastern coast. Christchurch officially became a city on July 31st, 1856, making it the oldest established city in New Zealand. Christchurch is known as the Garden City due the large number of public parks and residential gardens.
- The Mt. Cook Region of New Zealand contains the Southern Alps as well as the tallest mountain in New Zealand: Mt. Cook. In this region is popular to climb the mountains, go skiing or hiking or just enjoy the incredible scenery. The region is comprised of many national parks to visit and explore.
- Dunedin is the principal city of the Otago region and is the second largest city in the South Island of New Zealand. The urban area of Dunedin lies on the central-eastern coast of Otago, surrounded by the head of Otago harbor. Dunedin is known as the Edinburgh of the south because of its Scottish heritage. The city’s largest industry is tertiary education with Dunedin being home to New Zealand’s first university: The University of Otago.
- Milford Sound is a fjord in the south west of New Zealand’s South Island. The sound runs inland for over 490 feet from the Tasman Sea and is surrounded by sheer rock faces that rise 3,900 feet on either side. Among the peaks are The Elephant at 4,977 feet (1,517 meters), said to resemble an elephant's head, and The Lion, at 4,272 feet (1,302 meters), in the shape of a crouching lion. Milford Sound is acclaimed as New Zealand’s most famous tourist destination.
- Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. The city is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu and has spectacular views of nearby mountains and the Southern Alps. The town was founded in the 1860s and is now known for commerce-based tourism, especially adventure and ski tourism, boasting over 200 adventure tourism activities to take part in.
- Today, you may choose between two options. Kiwi Birdlife Park offers conservation programs for over 20 endangered native species, including breeding for release of some iconic native species such as the Kiwi, Whio, Pateke, Grand Skink and Orange Skink. The use of informative audio guides will let you take in the park at your leisure. Also included is New Zealand's first free flight conservation show and kiwi feeding show. Your other choice is to relax and take in stunning views of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, and the Remarkable Mountains from the top of Bob's Peak. You will be carried 450 meters above Queenstown by gondola where you will then experience spectacular 220-degree panoramic views with breaktaking vistas of the region. Kiwi Birdlife Park - NEO Day 16 Activity Level: 1 Skyline Gondola - NEO Day 16 Activity Level: 1
Hotels
- Rydges Auckland — Auckland
- Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands — Bay of Islands
- Sudima Lake Rotorua Hotel — Rotorua
- Novotel — Wellington
- Distinction — Christchurch
- The Hermitage Hotel — Mount Cook
- Scenic Hotel Southern Cross — Dunedin
- Novotel Queenstown Lakeside — Queenstown
Details
- Tour Operator
- Collette
- Start City
- Auckland
- End City
- Queenstown
- Duration (Days)
- 19
- Activity Level
- Level 2
What's Included
- 25 meals included
- Inter-tour flights included
- Auckland is a city in the North Island of New Zealand and is the largest and most populous area in the country. Roughly one third of New Zealand’s population resides here. Dating back to the year 1350 when the Maori people founded the land, known for being rich and fertile. It is now known for its parks, nature, and volcanic fields as well as rich culture, many festivals and a good quality of living.
- Just 150 miles north of Auckland is the beautiful Bay of Islands, located in New Zealand’s balmy subtropical north. Over 144 islands dot these warm waters. The bay is abundant with thrilling marine life, like marlin, whales, dolphins, seals, and penguins. Once the refuge of ship deserters, sailors, whalers, ex-convicts and other rogues, the Bay of Islands is now a tranquil holiday destination. Enjoy a cruise on its pristine turquoise waters - the only way to truly appreciate the spectacular seascapes. A highlight of the cruise will be the journey through the famous "Hole in the Rock." Resembling the eye of a needle, the "hole" has been etched over time by wind and waves, allowing boats to travel through it when the tide is just right. Following your cruise, enjoy free time to explore this idyllic region on your own.
- Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, on New Zealand’s North Island, and is in the heart of the North Island located 140 miles southeast of Auckland. The area is known for its geothermic activity and features geysers and hot mud pools as the town lies on the Rotorua caldera which is where the thermal activity is from. The tourism industry is by far the largest industry in Rotorua and is popular with both domestic and international tourists.
- Rotorua is known as the Maori capital in New Zealand, and while in this great city, you will visit Te Puia, New Zealand's premire Maori cultural center. Be treated as family, as hospitality and respect are two pillars of Maori society. See examples of traditional Maori architecture, symbols of Maori stories and heritage. And visit the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, which fosters all aspects of Maori culture. So welcome to Te Puia, and be prepared for an all-encompassing Maori cultural experience.
- Wellington is located on the southwestern tip of the North Island. It is the world's southernmost capital city as well as being the most populous and remote as it is the furthest away from any other capital. Being built on the foreshore of a harbor and ringed by mountains, this gives the city the nickname Windy Wellington.
- Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the county’s third most populous urban area. It is located on the South Island’s eastern coast. Christchurch officially became a city on July 31st, 1856, making it the oldest established city in New Zealand. Christchurch is known as the Garden City due the large number of public parks and residential gardens.
- The Mt. Cook Region of New Zealand contains the Southern Alps as well as the tallest mountain in New Zealand: Mt. Cook. In this region is popular to climb the mountains, go skiing or hiking or just enjoy the incredible scenery. The region is comprised of many national parks to visit and explore.
- Dunedin is the principal city of the Otago region and is the second largest city in the South Island of New Zealand. The urban area of Dunedin lies on the central-eastern coast of Otago, surrounded by the head of Otago harbor. Dunedin is known as the Edinburgh of the south because of its Scottish heritage. The city’s largest industry is tertiary education with Dunedin being home to New Zealand’s first university: The University of Otago.
- Milford Sound is a fjord in the south west of New Zealand’s South Island. The sound runs inland for over 490 feet from the Tasman Sea and is surrounded by sheer rock faces that rise 3,900 feet on either side. Among the peaks are The Elephant at 4,977 feet (1,517 meters), said to resemble an elephant's head, and The Lion, at 4,272 feet (1,302 meters), in the shape of a crouching lion. Milford Sound is acclaimed as New Zealand’s most famous tourist destination.
- Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. The city is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu and has spectacular views of nearby mountains and the Southern Alps. The town was founded in the 1860s and is now known for commerce-based tourism, especially adventure and ski tourism, boasting over 200 adventure tourism activities to take part in.
- Today, you may choose between two options. Kiwi Birdlife Park offers conservation programs for over 20 endangered native species, including breeding for release of some iconic native species such as the Kiwi, Whio, Pateke, Grand Skink and Orange Skink. The use of informative audio guides will let you take in the park at your leisure. Also included is New Zealand's first free flight conservation show and kiwi feeding show. Your other choice is to relax and take in stunning views of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, and the Remarkable Mountains from the top of Bob's Peak. You will be carried 450 meters above Queenstown by gondola where you will then experience spectacular 220-degree panoramic views with breaktaking vistas of the region. Kiwi Birdlife Park - NEO Day 16 Activity Level: 1 Skyline Gondola - NEO Day 16 Activity Level: 1
Itinerary
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Day 1: Depart from Home
Cross the International Dateline and begin the adventure of a lifetime by skipping a day ahead.
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Day 3: Auckland, New Zealand
Your tour opens in Auckland, the “City of Sails,” consistently rated one of the world’s best places 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.
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Day 4: 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, and the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The full afternoon is yours to explore New Zealand’s largest city on your own.
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Day 5: Auckland - Bay of Islands
Depart Auckland and travel north to the Bay of Islands, your home for the next 2 nights. This sun-soaked region boasts more than 144 islands and warm waters with abundant marine life. Visit the Waitangi Treaty House, the site where Maori and British leaders signed the 1840 treaty establishing New Zealand as a nation, to enjoy a traditional Welcome Ceremony and tour.
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Day 6: Bay of Islands
Begin the day with a cruise that features the bay’s famous Hole in the Rock. Look out at the Cape Brett Lighthouse, standing 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.”
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Day 7: Bay of Islands - Matakohe - Rotorua
Leave the sparkling waters of the Bay of Islands behind and head to Matakohe in the heartland of the North Island. Make a stop at the Kauri Museum and come to know the stories surrounding the giant kauri tree that can live for 2,000 years. Discover how the early settlers used this abundant tree to build a life for themselves. Later, continue on to the town of Rotorua, known for geothermal activity and Maori culture.
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Day 8: Rotorua
Find yourself amid the dramatic geothermal landscape of Rotorua, known as the Maori capital of New Zealand. Visit Whakarewarewa, a Maori cultural and geothermal experience. Explore an authentic Maori village where people live using natural geothermal resources to cook, bathe and heat their homes as they have done for centuries. In the evening, experience ceremonial Maori rituals at an authentic Hangi dinner and performance.
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Day 9: Rotorua - Wellington
Today we travel to Wellington – New Zealand’s capital city, known as the “Windy City,” a coastal city nestled against the mountains.
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Day 10: Wellington
Embark on a city tour of Wellington. See the Beehive – New Zealand’s Parliament; historic St. Paul’s Church; and the Old Government Building, the largest wooden building in the Southern Hemisphere. Explore the Te Papa Tongawera Museum, a fascinating center dedicated to art, history, and the Maori culture before enjoying an afternoon and evening at leisure. With your free time, perhaps you'll consider a ride on the Wellington Cable Car to the suburb of Kelburn for stunning panoramic views of the city.
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Day 11: Wellington - Picton - Christchurch
Board a ferry and sail across Cook Strait. Experience what is considered to be one of the most beautiful ferry rides in the world. Arrive in Picton on the South Island and continue along the breathtaking east coast to the largest city on the South Island, Christchurch.
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Day 12: Christchurch
Christchurch, the “Garden City,” is recreating itself after a devastating earthquake in 2011. See firsthand how this city is evolving on a sightseeing tour that highlights the city’s magnificent gardens and elegant park district. Pay a visit to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, a leader in the conservation of New Zealand species. Here, you’ll have the chance to view New Zealand’s “Big 5” – kiwi, kaka, tuatara, kea, and takahe – up close and personal. Learn about the local indigenous culture of the Maori, with a paddle on the Avon River in a traditional canoe or ‘waka’.
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Day 13: Christchurch - Mt. Cook Region
Journey through New Zealand’s unspoiled wilderness and arrive in the Mt. Cook region, where permanent ice fields and glaciers blanket the ragged peaks. The Maori word for Mt. Cook is Aoraki, which means “cloud piercer.” This is where famed New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary honed his skills before conquering Everest. You can take a nature walk, enjoy an optional glacier flightseeing tour (weather permitting), or simply meditate on the beauty of the Southern Alps.
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Day 14: Mt. Cook Region - Dunedin
Travel to Dunedin, situated 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 Baldwin Street – the world’s steepest public road as awarded by the Guinness Book of Records.
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Day 15: Dunedin
Start your morning with a panoramic tour, visiting Larnach Castle the Royal Albatross Centre, the only mainland breeding location in the world for these otherworldly birds. Albatrosses are the focus in many seafaring myths, and their epic wingspan can reach nearly 10 feet. Enjoy a free afternoon before dinner at a local Ale House.
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Day 16: Dunedin - Queenstown
Drive past vineyards, amazing landscapes and the charming towns of Central Otago as you head to Queenstown. Dubbed the “adventure capital of the world,” it’s a mountainside town set against the shores of Lake Wakatipu. In the afternoon, it’s your choice! Go bird watching at the Kiwi Birdlife Park -OR- take a gondola to Bob’s Peak for stunning views of the area.
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Day 17: Queenstown - Milford Sound - Queenstown
During a cruise of the beautiful Milford Sound, you will see why this fjord is one of the most visited sites on the South Island. With rock faces that rise nearly 4,000 feet on either side, the scenery will take your breath away. On your return to Queenstown, perhaps you will consider an optional scenic flight, allowing you to see the landscape from an entirely new perspective.
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Day 18: Queenstown
Enjoy a relaxed start to your day or head out to explore. Try an optional tour taking you through the stunning Queenstown countryside showcasing many of the locations where blockbuster movies have been filmed and learn about the gold rush that first brought travelers to the region. This evening, cruise Lake Wakatipu surrounded by Queenstown’s stunning landscape aboard an iconic coal-fired steamship. Then, enjoy a BBQ dinner lakeside followed by a sheepdog demonstration before cruising back.
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Day 19: Queenstown - Tour Ends
Your adventure comes to a close today, leaving you with many pleasant memories of a wonderful trip.