Simple stays with essential amenities. Typically guesthouses, hostels or hotels rated below 3 stars — clean, no-frills, and great for value-conscious travelers.
Comfortable and reliable 3-star stays. Expect private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, and solid amenities — a great balance between comfort and cost.
Upscale 4-5 star hotels and lodges. Enjoy high-end service, refined comfort, and premium locations — ideal for travelers seeking extra indulgence.
This was our second Nat Geo tour experience and we loved them both. Great pick of scenic and cultural experiences, great guides and well located accommodations. This tour of New Zealand was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
A beautiful country and an amazing experience! The incredible Contiki road team made the trip seamless and ensured we ticked everything off our bucket list! 100% would recommend this trip, you will not regret it!
I have just completed the 9 day New Zealand North Island tour and I was gutted at the end that I hadnt booked on to the 18 day one, as the whole trip was just amazing. I met some incredible people and did things Ive never done before such as cold water swimming in Lake TaupA and white water rafting. I got to visit Hobbiton, which was a dream come true. Jay our guide was the best and the trip ran smoothly. The week is packed with activities but also enough down time to do your own thing. I will definitely be booking on to another tour next year! If youre unsure about booking, do it, you wont regret it! 10/10
Had such an amazing time on the South Island NZ Tour - we went to a great range of places with a good amount of chill vs adventure activities and the people were all lovely. Would definitely recommend! º
Brilliant tour of the North Island of NZ. Rhys our group leader was great. He had loads of local knowledge about places we visited and was able to provide great recommendations for activities during our free time, as well as organising group activities for us in the evenings, such as karaoke.
Would recommend this trip!
Dramatic peaks, glittering glaciers and geothermal wonders await on this 18-day Premium adventure through New Zealand. With a passionate local leader to guide the way, you’ll journey through a landscape shaped by the elements over thousands of years. Begin in the volcanic North Island, where you'll sip your way around wineries on Waiheke Island, explore the mythical world of Hobbiton and experience the generous hospitality of Tamaki Māori Village. Then, make your way to the South Island to walk through the ancient Rimu and Kamahi tree canopy, forage for fresh ingredients with a local chef in Wanaka and cruise the calm, quiet waters of Doubtful Sound.
What an awesome trip. So many cool activities included and lots of opportunities to do even more on your own! Alex, our guide, was very knowledgeable and fun! Id definitely recommend the NZ South Island trip if you like the outdoors, adventure, and adrenaline!
The tour operator was amazing. I fell in love with New Zealand. Simon was great guide and the small tour group made it even better as we all became close friends. I would highly recommend the tour operator to all my friends and Family. I loved every moment that I was in New Zealand. I would come back in a heart beat and travel with the operator again.
Step into a captivating world of volcanic mountains, icy blue lakes and misty rainforests on a 20-day adventure through New Zealand. Visit Mou Waho Island, travel through the geothermal wonders of Rotorua and learn about the cultural significance of pounamu at a local gallery in Franz Josef. Stop by Christchurch Cathedral, which once stood as a symbol of the city before collapsing in the earthquake, relax on the beaches of Coromandel and Raglan and explore the diverse landscapes of Tongariro National Park.
Sub-tropical, unspoilt and fascinating; the picturesque Bay of Islands features 144 islands, incredible natural beauty and a whole lot of history.
For those keen to explore a single region of New Zealand, this is the ideal itinerary. Spend time in Auckland, sampling all the experiences on offer from food and wine tasting to sightseeing on the harbour before heading to the Bay of Islands.
Wander through giant kauri forests and learn about the history of early pioneers in the Northland region. Choose
to cruise around the bay, or visit the first permanent European settlement in New Zealand, the romantic town
of Russell. Finish your journey at Cape Reinga, a sacred place where two oceans meet and where an 800-year-old tree stands waiting to help M-aori spirits begin their final journey home. By the time you return to Auckland you’ll be deeply moved by the splendour, spirituality and hospitality of this magnificent and mythic region.
New Zealand’s South Island has a reputation as one of the most naturally beautiful places on earth, yet it still manages to defy expectations. On this 10-day round trip from Christchurch, you’ll be met with astonishing sight after astonishing sight as a local leader shows you what they love about their country. Get your heart racing in Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world, discover the laidback delights of postcard-perfect Wanaka, stand in awe of the Franz Josef Glacier, and cross the Southern Alps on one of the world’s most spectacular train journeys. Between glacial lakes and snow-capped peaks, you’ll soon see what all the fuss is about.
You could spend eons exploring New Zealand’s two islands. If you only have time to do the North, this NZ holiday is for you. Discover cosmopolitan cities on an Auckland tour and Wellington tour. Revel in geothermal wonders on a steamy Rotorua tour. Drop in on Lord of the Rings movie sets. And be moved by Maori culture, whether in galleries or traditional villages. The Indigenous heartbeat is strong, wherever you venture on this epic NZ tour.
Fall in love with the highlights of this 10 day South Island itinerary that takes you on a circuit of spectacular mountains, lakes, rivers, glaciers, waterfalls and rainforests and gives you the opportunity to enjoy all the bucket list adventures you could wish for.
Created for travellers in their mid-thirties and upwards, on this New Zealand South Island itinerary you’ll visit Christchurch, Queenstown, Lake Wanaka, Lake Tekapo (and Lake Wakatipu, Lake Mapourika, Lake Hawea, plus more lakes!), the Mackenzie Country, and Franz Josef, plus you’ll get to take one of the world’s greatest train rides! Your comfortable 3–4 star accommodation on tour includes a boutique hotels and a rainforest retreat.
We’ll travel from the wide plains of Canterbury, through the mountains and lakes of Central Otago, to the glaciers and pristine rainforest of the West Coast via the spectacular Haast Pass. By the end of this New Zealand South Island itinerary, you will have lost count of the number of times you’ve uttered the words: “Wow!”, “So beautiful!” and “It’s breathtaking!”.
You’ll have the opportunity to swim, kayak, jet boat, skydive, hike, bike, see kiwis, relax in hot pools, eat and drink like a local, and more.
But only if you want to; this is your trip, and it’s designed to be flexible. Across this 10 day South Island itinerary we include some of the things that we reckon are absolute essentials, but rather than force you into activities you’re not so sure of, we leave the choice up to you. You can pre-book activities that you definitely want to do before the trip starts, and then add more while you’re on tour.
As our tours are made up of a combination of tours, the composition of your group may change throughout your tour (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch are the hubs where the group may change).
Geoff VenningTravel Expert in New Zealand
David TupperTravel Expert in Australia & New Zealand
