This is natural beauty on the biggest scale – huge volcanoes, vast lakes, rolling farmlands and deep caves. On this Premium trip, you’ll spend eight days exploring the best of New Zealand’s North Island with the guidance of a passionate local leader. On a journey from Auckland to Wellington, sip local wine on Waiheke Island, explore the mythical world of Hobbiton, marvel at the geothermal delights of Rotorua, relax on the shores of Lake Taupo, explore the volcanic landscapes of Tongariro and sail across Wellington Harbor.
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.
From heart-racing moments to awe-inspiring scenery, this road trip through New Zealand is one to remember for a lifetime. Join a local leader for an 11-day adventure taking in epic landscapes, wildlife and culture. Take it easy at Coromandel’s Hot Water Beach, check out simmering mud pools and geysers in Rotorua, learn the Haka and tuck into a traditional hangi at a Maori village and make the most of all Taupo has to offer. See Hobbiton of Lord of the Rings fame and feel like you’re stepping straight into a fantasy as you drive through landscapes used in the films. Then, travel to the South Island to continue your adventure, sailing on the ferry through the spectacular Marlborough Sounds. End it all in Christchurch, the perfect spot to extend your journey into the south!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Accommodation on this trip is in mixed-gender multi-share dormitory style hostels with shared facilities. We are aware of a system functionality limitation incorrectly indicating "twin-share" on sections of booking confirmations and invoices.
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!
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.
I absolutely loved the trip, the places we visited were all amazing, our tour guides were very kind, helpful and informative.
Would recommend this trip as a must do
Hi, i have had the most exciting experiences of my life, we have seen and done every thing, accommodation was amazing,ing, we did have one night in a hostel which we all frowned upon but actually it was very clean and was in the town centre of Wanaka and actually turned out really well as we went out to dinner and came back and had a drink in the chill room where everyone came and met and we all chatted all evening which was lovely, our guide Kreig took us to a really lovely place for breakfast the following morning. We had to take a bit of a detour due to a landside which couldn't be helped but our guide more than made up for it making sure we were entertained on the coach doing quizzes with us, he made the trip so exciting for us so I believe we saw more than we would of done had we taken the route we should of taken and explore treated us to dinner to make up for it to.
I really do think we had the best guide we could of had ,Kreig became our friend and on the last night we all got quite emotional. His knowledge was phenomenal and was extremely passionate about his country, explained everything in a way we could understand and answered every question we asked, such a lovely man, he made the trip exciting for us and was an excellent driver, anyone that gets Kreig as their guide would be very lucky.
Great overview of New Zealand. , our tour guide really made the trip seamless. Knowledge, kind and considerate. The trip was well planned out and I enjoyed the ability to participate in extra activities during our down time outside of the tour.
The bus drivers and were terrific.
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!
It’s almost like New Zealand was made for cycling. This is a land known for its natural beauty, welcoming people and delicious wine, and this cycling trip just happens to take in the best of it. Kick things off in the outdoor paradise of Queenstown, then cycle the famous Central Otago Rail Trail through small gold-mining towns like Alexandra, Omakau, Wedderburn and Hyde. Meander through the open plains with pristine rivers, enjoy some proper South Island hospitality at local taverns, and rediscover the joy of pedalling through one of the most gorgeous areas in the entire country.
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.
Take on the challenge of Australia’s most famous trek – the Cradle Mountain Overland track – and take in some of Tasmania’s most stunning scenery. With two expert mountain guides at your side, you’ll make your way through temperate rainforest and groves of eucalypts, across alpine moors and through valleys. Skirt the edges of bright blue lakes and take in views of waterfalls and towering peaks in the distance. Camp on the edges of historic huts under star-filled skies, wake up to dramatic landscapes and take the chance to tackle side trips like summitting the island’s highest peak Mt Ossa. This active adventure is one of the best ways to take in this iconic landscape.
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).
