WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Accommodation – Queenstown (3 Nights), Christchurch (2), Rotorua (1), Auckland (2)
- New Zealand Domestic Flights included – Auckland to Queenstown, Christchurch to Rotorua
- Airline taxes & fees included for the NZ domestic flights
- Day Tours – Queenstown: Scenic Milford Sound Experience, Deluxe Coach Tour to Christchurch (via Mt Cook); Christchurch: Alpine Train; Rotorua: Tamaki Maori Cultural Experience, Rotorua to Auckland (via Waitomo)
- Shuttle Transfers – Queenstown Airport to Accommodation, Christchurch Accommodation to Airport, Rotorua Airport to Accommodation, Auckland Accommodation to Airport
- All Other Day Tours are Optional and not included
- Visa only required for some South Pacific countries; $15 visa fee per person where applicable.
- F.I.T. (Free & Independent Travel, i.e. this is not an Organized Group Tour)
- All Taxes and Fuel Levies (Except where noted)
- Itinerary is flexible and can be tailored to suit your needs.
New Zealand Natural Wonders Tour
You also may also like:
Custom Tailor-Made Australia & New Zealand Tours & Packages
22 Day Australia & New Zealand from $4,999
Melbourne, Cairns & Sydney from $1,899
Sydney, Outback & Great Barrier Reef from $2,699
Great Ocean Road & Kangaroo Island Escape from $2,675
VIEW ITINERARY
Itinerary Details
(Day 1 ) – International Flight, Los Angeles to Auckland (Check quote for inclusion)
Shortly after departing Los Angeles you will be served dinner and you will be given breakfast before landing in Auckland.
Relax, watch some movies, and try to get some sleep!
Please confirm with the airlines at Check-in that they have all your Frequent Flyer information on record.
(Day 2) – New Zealand Domestic Flight, Auckland to Queenstown
Travel by New Zealand domestic air from Auckland to Queenstown (South Island).
(Day 2) – Shuttle Transfer, Queenstown Airport to Accommodation
Travel by shuttle from the Airport to your vacation accommodation in Queenstown, New Zealand.
Please note: For airport transfers – 2 suitcases per person, extra pieces may be charged at $5.00 per piece. Surfboards, Bicycles etc – $5.00 each.
(Days 2 to 5) – 3 Nights Accommodation in Queenstown
Travel to your accommodation in Queenstown, New Zealand, where you will be staying whilst on vacation for 3 nights.
It’s all about location! Your 4 star accommodations sits in a tranquil lakefront setting only a minute’s walk from the heart of Queenstown with shopping, restaurants, nightlife and activities all within easy reach. This fresh, modern hotel features rooms and facilities furnished with the finest comforts and conveniences. A place where you can relax with superb uninterrupted views of the lake, mountains and adjoining gardens. Comfortable and serene you will surely enjoy your stay here!
Upgrades Available: Garden View Room, Lakeview Room
(Day 3) – Free Day to Explore Queenstown
Spend a day to relax or explore dynamic Queenstown.
This region is renowned for its incedible adventure activities and spectacular outdoor terrain. You could try skiing, snowboarding, bungy jumping, paragliding, jetboating, sky diving and more! Or, if you want something a little more relaxed, you can choose from numerous family activities, nature experiences, tours and beauty spas. One hundred and forty years after our establishment as a gold mining camp, central Queenstown has transformed into a sophisticated cosmopolitan town, tucked into a picturesque bay on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, beneath majestic mountains. There’s a permanent buzz in downtown Queenstown, where you’ll find a fantastic choice of restaurants, a lively bar scene and excellent shopping.
Photo Credit: Tourism New Zealand
Optional Day Tour (Not Included) – Gondola with Buffet
Photo Credit: Tourism New Zealand
Gaze in awe at panoramic views of Queenstown before you sit down and enjoy a truly unique New Zealand buffet.
Marvel at the stunning views as you ride the Skyline Queenstown Gondola – the steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere! Sit back and relax as the best views in the region unfold before your eyes and the Gondola carries you 450 metres above Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu to the top of Bob’s Peak.
En route you will enjoy a spectacular 220 degree panorama, with breath taking views of Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Walter Peak, Cecil Peak and over Queenstown.
On arrival, there are purpose built viewing platforms and outdoor terraces that provide great photo opportunities.
After the Gondola ride, you will step foot in one of the best restauarants with a spectacular lake and mountain view. The famous Taste of New Zealand buffet offers delectable fresh seafood, salads, roast meats and delicious desserts, while the panoramic view from our windows will captivate you day or night. It’s the ideal place for that special night out and the best place in Queenstown to watch the sun go down!
With live music creating a relaxing atmosphere and never ending scenery to admire, you will be entertained as you dine on the award winning cuisine.
Optional Day Tour (Not Included) – Lord of the Rings Tour
Take in the breathtaking sights of the land around Queenstown with time spent at ‘Lord of the Rings’ filming locations.
On this half day tour you will take in gorgeous mountain and forest views along the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Your Lord of the Rings set locations include Isengard, Ithilien Camp, beech forests used for Lothlorien and the Seat of Seeing/Battle of Amon Hen.
*This tour is available both morning or afternoon
*Wakatipu Tour may be added to create a full day tour
Optional Day Tour (Not Included)- Shotover Jet
Welcome to Shotover Jet Country, Queenstown New Zealand.
Get ready for the World’s most exciting Jet Boat ride! Acknowledged as the World’s most famous Jet Boat operation, many imitate Shotover Jet but for sheer excitement, no one comes close.
It’s a thrilling ride – skimming past rocky outcrops at close range in your Shotover Jet ‘Big Red’, as you twist and turn through the narrow canyons at breath taking speeds. And a major highlight – hold tight for the world famous Shotover Jet full 360º spins!
No visit to Queenstown is complete without “Catching the Canyons” with award winning Shotover Jet, “the World’s most exciting Jet Boat ride” and the only company permitted to operate in the spectacular Shotover River Canyons.
Shotover Jet operates every day of the year (weather and river conditions permitting) except Christmas day.
(Day 4) Day Tour, Scenic Milford Sound Experience – Full Day
Take an unforgettable journey into the heart of Milford Sound, New Zealand’s most famous tourist destination. You’ll experience the world-famous fiord in all its natural glory – surrounded by dense rainforest, glacier-carved valleys and beautiful waterfalls. Lunch included.
Today you will visit Milford Sound and experience a world of cascading waterfalls, sheer rock faces and dense rainforest. Your sightseeing tour to Milford Sound is made even more enjoyable by our glass-roofed coaches, which provide spectacular panoramic views as you travel along the Milford Road – one of the world’s most scenic roads – and through the Homer Tunnel, before arriving for your Milford Sound cruise. Enjoy striking views of iconic Mitre Peak from the head of the Sound – it rises 1,692 metres from the south shore and is named for its resemblance to a bishop’s mitre (headdress).
Upon leaving Queenstown, you will travel in comfort through rugged mountain terrain past Te Anau, a quiet town on the shores of the largest lake in the South Island. Your glass-roof coach will provide amazing views of the skyline. Your journey continues through the Southern Alps and along the picturesque Eglinton Valley, a place of ancient alpine forest and gushing waterfalls and one of only a few road-accessible glacier valleys in New Zealand.
Take advantage of the photo opportunities on offer along the Milford Road, like the stunning Mirror Lakes, where on a calm day the surrounding mountain ranges are perfectly reflected in the still waters, and Knobs Flat, where glaciers have carved their mark on the terrain. Travel through the Homer Tunnel, a 1.2km passageway drilled into solid rock, then experience The Chasm, a short but impressive walk over footbridges spanning a series of powerful, swirling waterfalls and rapids.
At Milford Sound, board your 2 hour 15 minute Nature Cruise and set off to explore the region that Rudyard Kipling called the Eighth Wonder of the World. Travel the length of the fiord and out to the Tasman Sea, gliding past glacier-scarred rock walls and waterfalls that tumble through valleys and crash into the sea far below. Lush native forest clings to steep cliffs, while seals, penguins and dolphins are regular visitors to the icy waters. At the pinnacle of the sound, Mitre Peak rises dramatically from the depths to a height of 1,692 metres above sea level. Along the way your captain will provide lively and informative commentary.
After your cruise, you will return to Queenstown by coach. Alternatively, book a scenic flight option (optional extra) and wing your way back high over the mountains, lakes and rivers of the South Island.
Buffett Lunch Included.
(Day 5) – Deluxe Coach Tour to Christchurch (via Mt Cook)
Photo Credit: Tourism New Zealand
Visit Mount Cook National Park and experience the beauty of this Alpine area dominated by Australasia’s highest peak before continuing on to Christchurch.
Your coach tour begins in Queenstown and ends in Christchurch
Depart Queenstown which sits on the shores of beautiful lake Wakatipu.
On your arrival to Mount Cook you’ll have lunch at a village cafe (own arrangements), or explore the walks in and around the village (1 hour approximate).
At Lake Tekapo your have a spectacular sight on clear days of the Southern Alps at the far end of the lake.
Full Day Tour
Fare includes: Selected Hotel/Motel pickups, coach and tax.
Photo Credit: Tourism New Zealand
(Days 5 to 7) – 2 Nights Accommodation in Christchurch
Travel to your accommodation in Christchurch, New Zealand, where you will be staying whilst on vacation for 2 nights.
Your 4 Star vacation accommodation in Christchurch, located on New Zealand’s South Island, offers a stylish boutique hotel, just metres from Cathedral Square, major business houses, convention facilities and prime attractions. The city, also known as the “Garden City” offers many opportunities to either rest from your travel or explore the city. Consider traveling to Arthur’s Pass National Park, which has an incredible diversity of flora and landscape. Experience a breathtaking journey aboard the TranzAlpine Train winding its way through New Zealand’s magnificent Waimakariri Gorge.
(Day 6) – Day Tour, Tranz Alpine Train, Arthur’s Pass and Return – Full Day
Take the Tranz Alpine from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass – a mecca for trampers, snow boarders, mountain climbers and nature lovers. Enjoy your day and catch the TranzAlpine on the return to Christchurch.
Arthur’s Pass is known for its immense natural beauty, and rare flora and fauna. The Park provides both a sanctuary for plant and bird life, and a place for both mental and physical recreation.
There are various walks through alpine valleys and basins or along walking tracks ranging from 10 minutes to 4 hours for every level of fitness and all ages.
Depart Christchurch at 8:15am and Arrive at Arthur’s Pass at 10:45am. Then Depart Arthur’s Pass at 3:45pm and Arrive Christchurch at 6:05pm.
Photo Credit: KiwiRail Limited
(Day 7) – Shuttle Transfer, Christchurch Accommodation to Airport
Travel by shuttle from your vacation accommodation in Christchurch, New Zealand, to the Airport.
Please note: For airport transfers – 2 suitcases per person, extra pieces may be charged at $5.00 per piece. Surfboards, Bicycles etc – $5.00 each.
Day 7) – New Zealand Domestic Flight, Christchurch to Rotorua
Travel within New Zealand from Christchurch to Rotorua (North Island).
(Days 7 to 8) – 1 Night Accommodation in Rotorua
Travel to your accommodation in Rotorua, New Zealand, where you will be staying whilst on vacation for 1 night.
Located on the shores of Lake Rotorua your accommodation is only a short walk to the city centre, convention centre, cafes and restaurants. Here in the heartland of New Zealand’s Maori culture you’ll experience an enveloping warmth, proud spirit, deep sense of history and a quick humour. Picturesque cobbled and lantern lined streetways and striking Tudor architecture celebrates New Zealand’s significant colonial history. Travel the region by mountain bike or participate in local bush walks.
Upgrade Available (extra cost):
Lake View Room
(Day 7) – Shuttle Transfer, Rotorua Airport to Accommodation
Travel by shuttle from the Airport to your vacation accommodation in Rotorua, New Zealand.
Please note: For airport transfers – 2 suitcases per person, extra pieces may be charged at $5.00 per piece. Surfboards, Bicycles etc – $5.00 each.
(Day 7) – Evening Tour, Tamaki Maori Cultural Experience
Experience an evening of ceremonial ritual, powerful cultural performance, storytelling & hangi feasting.
Share in the Powhiri, our ancient ceremony of welcome before entering our pre-European Maori Village nestled within a native Tawa Forest. The village comes alive with sights, sounds & activity of days gone by including haka, poi, tattooing, weaving, carving and arts of warrior training. You will have the opportunity to participate in these activities. Witness the earth being scraped away from the hangi pit to reveal baskets of food cooked beneath the ground on hot stones. Enter the ancestral meeting house and enjoy a powerful cultural performance before dining the traditional hangi buffet feast!
(Day 8) – Deluxe Coach, Rotorua to Auckland (via Waitomo)
On your vacation, travel by luxury coach from Rotorua to Auckland, New Zealand. Visit the fascinating Waitomo Glowworm Caves along the way.
Leaving the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua in the morning, we travel through lush farmland into the King Country region. Along the way, enjoy your driver guide’s commentary on the area’s history and highlights, and enjoy spectacular sights like Fitzgerald Glade, where the trees arch overhead to form a tunnel of natural greenery.
After arriving in the small town of Waitomo, you’ll be taken on a 45-minute guided tour through the world famous Glowworm Caves, which were discovered in 1887 and are now one of New Zealand’s most popular tourist destinations. Wander through subterranean caverns and learn how the stalagmites, stalactites and other spectacular limestone rock formations were formed over millions of years. To end your tour, travel through the Glowworm Grotto on a magical boat ride, surrounded by the twinkling lights of thousands of glowworms.
After your Glowworm Caves tour you’ll have leisure time at the Waitomo visitor complex. Enjoy a delicious buffet lunch while you take in the stunning views. Make sure to stop by the discovery centre to learn even more about the region. We journey on through the beautiful Waikato region, the dairy farming capital of New Zealand, and northward to Auckland, where your tour concludes on arrival in the afternoon.
(Day 9) – Free Day to Explore Auckland
Photo Credit: Tourism New Zealand – Julian Apse
Visit one of Auckland’s many attractions.
Fly a kite or throw a Frisbee in the beautifully landscaped Auckland Domain, the city’s oldest park. Critique a giant selection of both traditional and contemporary art at Auckland Art Gallery. Take a walking, swim or hike through any of Auckland’s 25 Regional Parks. Have a laugh at The Classic Comedy and Bar in Queen Street, New Zealand’s home of live comedy. Take the bus over to Eden Park, New Zealand’s largest stadium. In the evening you can join the dancing on K’Road and party on till the wee hours at one of the many nightclubs. Or maybe you would rather visit the trendy suburb of Ponsonby and enjoy delicious cuisine, superb lattes or cocktails if more to your taste. And if it is cafes, bars and restaurants you’re after, the Viaduct Harbour has a great selection.
(Days 8 to 10) – 2 Nights Accommodation in Auckland
Travel to your accommodation in Auckland, New Zealand, where you will be staying whilst on vacation for 2 nights.
Auckland is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city, regularly voted one of the best lifestyle cities in the world– renowned as that ‘City Of Sails.’ Dramatic landscapes and seascapes provide a diverse playground in which a compelling range of attractions are available. Visitors come to enjoy an array of exciting entertainment, leisure, culture and dining possibilities in New Zealand’s largest city.
Optional Day Tour (Not Included) – Auckland City Revealed
Experience the best sights of Auckland City in the morning.
Auckland is set on 52 dormant volcanic cones and between two harbours, the sparkling Waitemata and the brooding Manukau. Known as the City of Sails, it is New Zealand’s largest and busiest city. The morning tour is a journey of discovery designed to explore the history and sights as well as see how Aucklanders live and play.
Travel up Queen Street, through Auckland’s central business district, past the Auckland University and through the inner city park, known as the Domain. Continue on through the picturesque suburb of Ponsonby, with its historic buildings before heading over the Harbour Bridge to Auckland’s North Shore. Stroll on Narrow Neck Beach in historic Devonport. There is time here for a coffee before continuing up to the summit of Mt Victoria with its stunning panoramic views of Auckland City.
Travel back over the Harbour Bridge to Westhaven Marina, one of the largest marinas in the Southern Hemisphere. Then visit the Auckland Fish Market, before continuing on to the Viaduct Harbour.
Optional Day Tour (Not Included)- Auckland Harbour Cruise
Visit a true thing of beauty and cruise the sparkling waters of Waitemata Harbour!
Head out on this one and a half hour tour to see the Devonport Naval Base, travel past the township and North Head, then cruise towards the iconic Rangitoto Island as you pass the historic Bean Rock lighthouse. You’ll pass under the Harbour Bridge twice and then off to Westhaven Marina to catch a glance at the viaduct harbour bustling with super yachts!
Daily at 10:45am & 1:45pm. Tours do not operate on Christmas day.
Optional Day Tour (Not Included)- Bay of Islands Tour – Full Day
Photo Credit: Destination Northland
Marvel at spectacular coastal scenery including the Hole in the Rock, Cathedral Cave and the inner islands while aboard a luxury catamaran. Also see the historic Waitangi Treaty House and a ‘waka’ (Maori war canoe).
Travel north over the Auckland Harbour Bridge and enjoy spectacular rural & coastal scenery enroute to the Bay of Islands via Hibiscus Coast and Whangarei. Bay of Islands is one of the most picturesque and popular vacation sites in New Zealand and was the site of the earliest contact between the indigenous population and European settlers. Take a trip into the past and visit such historical places as the Waitangi Treaty House, see a traditional Maori Meeting House and a huge ‘waka’ (war canoe), Captain Cook Memorial Museum, Flagstaff Hill and the oldest building in the country (Kemp House) along with the oldest Church. In the early afternoon at Cape Brett, board a luxury catamaran for your cruising adventure through game fishing waters as you cruise past the Cape Brett lighthouse to the famous ‘Hole in the Rock’. The excitement grows as you make a passage through the Hole and then continue on to the majestic Grand Cathedral Cave. On your return journey relax and enjoy subtropical paradise views with your favourite drink as you meander through the inner islands back to Cape Brett which are world renowned deep sea fishing grounds where porpoise (dolphins) and schools of fish are frequently seen. With the Bay of Islands’ combination of great fishing, diving, sailing and other water sports with some of New Zealand’s most significant historic sites you will be sure to have fun!
Includes: Pickups from accommodations, admission to Waitangi Treaty House, a Cape Brett cruise and boxed lunch.
Optional Day Tour (Not Included) – Waiheke Island Explorer – Half Day
Photo Credit: Tourism New Zealand
This stunning island just off the Auckland coast boasts 92 square kms of beautiful beaches, vineyards, olive groves, native bush and laid back seaside villages. It’s a great day out from Auckland as well as a superb holiday destination or a weekend getaway.
Be introduced to Waiheke on the Waiheke Explorer Tour, a picturesque 40-minute boat trip followed by a 1.5 hour scenic highlights tour of Waiheke’s stunning locations. Cruise to Waiheke through the glorious Hauraki Gulf and on arrival you’ll be met by an experienced guide who will give you a taste of the views, culture and history that make up the diverse island of Waiheke.
On conclusion of the tour, take advantage of the complimentary All Day Bus Pass allowing you to either return to a destination visited on the tour, or discover the island further on scheduled public bus services.
(Day 10) – Shuttle Transfer, Auckland Accommodation to Airport
Travel by shuttle from your vacation accommodation in Auckland, New Zealand, to the Airport.
Please note: For airport transfers – 2 suitcases per person, extra pieces may be charged at $5.00 per piece. Surfboards, Bicycles etc – $5.00 each.
(Day 10) – International Flight, Auckland to Los Angeles (Check quote for inclusion)
Today depart Auckland and fly to the USA. Enjoy an in-flight dinner and movie with arrival in the USA. Note: you will be traveling back across the International Date Line. Gain that day back you lost on the way over, you actually arrive in the USA on the same day you leave Auckland.
Note: Flight may include a stop over in Australia.
Pricing & Departures (Daily Departures)
Land Only
Choose your departure dates from $2,522
Planning in advance? Call a travel team agent 800-788-0829 for departure dates!
This package can be modified to add additional cities and travel dates. Call a Travel Team Agent for details 1-800-788-0829
Or, call 1.800.788.0829 to speak with one of our travel experts.
Notes:
- Land only package, ask a travel team agent to add international airfare
- New Zealand Domestic Flights included – Auckland to Queenstown, Christchurch to Rotorua
- Airline taxes & fees included for the NZ domestic flights
- Prices in US dollars unless otherwise noted
- We have limited space on this package and it is subject to availability and prior sale
- All package prices are per person based on double occupancy unless otherwise noted
- Prices reflect cash discount
- Due to constantly changing policies to baggage restrictions, please check with your airline directly for latest updates and restrictions
- Information, including prices are subject to change without notice
- Restrictions and change and/or cancel penalties apply
- UBI-600-307-872-WA