New Zealand Journey - Winter Itinerary
Tour Operator:
Tour Code:
2936-9356
Start City:
Auckland
End City:
Queenstown
Tour Style:
Tour Quality:
First Class
Tour Length:
12 days
Dates & Prices
| Start Date | End Date | Offers | Brochure Land Price | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, Jun 16, 2024 | Thursday, Jun 27, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Sunday, Aug 11, 2024 | Thursday, Aug 22, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Sunday, Sep 08, 2024 | Thursday, Sep 19, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote |
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Tour Itinerary
Sample wine with local experts on Waiheke Island, experience the geothermal mysteries of Rotorua, glide along the TranzAlpine railway, relax at a rainforest lodge, cruise through Fiordland National Park searching for wildlife and waterfalls
Countries Visited
Cities Visited
Auckland , Christchurch , Franz Josef , Queenstown , Rotorua
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Day 1
AucklandArrive at any time.
Activity: The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you're back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your CEO will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.
Accommodation: CityLife Auckland (or similar)
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Day 2
AucklandTake an orientation walk in Auckland, one of the most multicultural cities in the Southern Hemisphere. We'll then catch a ferry to beautiful Waiheke Island, a haven of world-class vineyards and idyllic beaches. Visit wineries to learn about New Zealand's burgeoning wine industry and the history of viticulture in the country while sampling some of the local blends.
Activity: Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.
Activity: Catch the ferry to picturesque Waiheke Island to learn about the evolution of the highly celebrated wine industry in New Zealand in its founding region. Tour picturesque vineyards, tasting well known wines from the region while enjoying the views. Return to Auckland this evening via a scenic ferry ride.
Accommodation: CityLife Auckland (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 3
Auckland/RotoruaDrive to the lakeside town of Rotorua, situated over an active geothermal zone and known for its volcanic features and rich Maori heritage. Stop en route at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, and take a boat ride through this spectacular underground realm to see thousands of flickering glowworms light up in the dark.
Transport: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Activity: Enjoy a peaceful boat ride through 30 million year old caverns covered with magical glowworms that are unique to New Zealand. Hundreds of thousands of these tiny creatures radiate luminescent light in underground caves carved by rivers and time. Take in more than 136 years of cultural and natural history on this unique excursion.
Accommodation: Millennium Rotorua (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 4
RotoruaOn a full-day excursion, head to the Maori-owned Kohutapu Lodge, our base for exploring New Zealand's indigenous culture. See ancient rock carvings and learn about their spiritual significance to the Maori people, both past and present. Watch as a hangi lunch is prepared the traditional way--buried in an underground pit—and enjoy the resulting feast with your Maori hosts. After lunch, take a walk through the 800-year-old podocarp trees in Whirinaki Rainforest, learning the history of the forest and spotting endemic birds and medicinal plants. Return to Rotorua for an optional evening meal or a well-deserved soak in the hot springs.
Activity: Travel to Kohutapu Lodge, a social enterprise owned by a local Maori family who are making a difference in their local community through community-driven initiatives. Led by your guide, set off on a short hike to the nearby sacred Maori rock carvings, carbon dated 400 years before the Great Migration. Witness the preparation of a ground cooked hangi and taste it for yourself. After a delicious lunch, set off for the Whirinaki rainforest- a Jurassic Podocarp forest- where you will be led by your Maori guide to discover more about the Maori culture and learn about the history of the forest. Spend a final few moments bathed in the forest's sights and smells while indulging in a cup of hot kawakawa tea.
Accommodation: Millennium Rotorua (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast Lunch -
Day 5
Rotorua/ChristchurchEnjoy time at leisure this morning before catching a flight to Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island. Take some time to explore this small city on your own.
Transport: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Activity: Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.
Accommodation: Distinction Christchurch Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 6
Christchurch/Franz JosefBoard the TranzAlpine train—one of the world's most scenic rail routes—for a breathtaking journey through verdant plains, beech forests, and majestic, misty mountains. After a whistle stop at Arthur's Pass—the highest pass in the Southern Alps— continue to the end of the line in Greymouth, gateway to the West Coast. Continue on a private vehicle to a rainforest lodge near the town of Franz Josef, our home for the next two nights.
Transport: Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Transport: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation: Rainforest Retreat (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 7
Franz JosefDiscover the natural wonders of the Franz Josef area on your own today. Opt to embark on a walk in the area; soak in natural hot pools surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery; and more.
Free Time: Opt for various hiking adventures in the area, the most popular being trekking to view Franz Josef glacier. If relaxing is more your style, there are shorter day hikes and bush walks or local hot pools to take a dip.
Accommodation: Rainforest Retreat (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 8
Franz Josef/QueenstownSet out towards Queenstown on a drive along the South Island's magnificent west coast. Stop at tranquil Lake Matheson, where, on a clear day, you can capture a postcard-perfect image of New Zealand's highest peaks reflected in the water. Continue to Queenstown, pausing for short walks through the rainforest and visits to picturesque waterfalls.
Transport: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation: Peppers Beacon Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 9
Fiordland National Park Day TripDiscover the glacially carved wilderness of Fiordland National Park on a cruise. Glide past shimmering waterfalls and towering cliffs, and look out for bottlenose dolphins, fur seals, and little blue penguins with our naturalist guides. Travel back to shore, head to Queenstown for the night.
Transport: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Activity: Cruise through stunning Fiordland National Park, one of the most untouched, remote places in the world. Depending on the departure, the cruise will be in either Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound - two of the most stunning regions within the park. Marvel at the steep cliff walls and cascading waterfalls, and keep an eye out for area wildlife: dolphins, penguins, seals, and a variety of birds.
Transport: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation: Peppers Beacon Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 10
QueenstownAfter breakfast spend the rest of the day at leisure in this fun-loving lakeside town, known as the adventure capital of the world. Opt to visit a vineyard for a tour, or simply wander around, cafe hopping and sightseeing.
Free Time: There's plenty to see and do in Queenstown, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like mountain biking and jet boating. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask.
Accommodation: Peppers Beacon Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 11
QueenstownThe day is yours to explore Queenstown. Choose to cruise lake Wakatipu on a historic steamer; experience a thrilling jet boat ride; or visit a local winery to sample the region's award-winning vintages. This evening, enjoy a cable car ride to the top of Bob's Peak for panoramic vistas of Lake Wakatipu and the Southern Alps and then have dinner together as a group.
Activity: Take a ride up to the top of the mountain by cable car gondola. Get a spectacular 220º view of Coronet Peak, the Remarkables mountain range, and Lake Wakatipu below.
Free Time: There's plenty to see and do in Queenstown, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like mountain biking and jet boating. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!
Accommodation: Peppers Beacon Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast Dinner -
Day 12
QueenstownDepart at any time.
Activity: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
Meals: Breakfast
OR Call Us For a Free Quote 1-800-935-2620
Meals:
11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Transportation:
Private vehicle, plane, train, boat, walking.
Private vehicle, plane, train, boat, walking.
Inclusions
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Waiheke Island Wineries, Waiheke Island Your Journeys Highlight Moment: A day at Kohutapu, Rotorua. Waitomo Caves tour. Scenic TranzAlpine train. Ride the Queenstown gondola. Wilderness day cruise (winter) or overnight cruise (summer) in Fiordland National Park. Internal flight. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Waiheke Island Wineries, Waiheke Island Your Journeys Highlight Moment: A day at Kohutapu, Rotorua. Waitomo Caves tour. Scenic TranzAlpine train. Ride the Queenstown gondola. Wilderness day cruise (winter) or overnight cruise (summer) in Fiordland National Park. Internal flight. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
OR Call Us For a Free Quote 1-800-935-2620
Question: How many suitcases can I take with me on my trip?
Each person is allowed one "check-in," and one "carry-on." Remember to take all valuables with you as "carry-on", because electronic equipment, cameras, laptops, jewelry, business documents and money are not covered by the airlines' liability, so always carry them aboard with you.
Question: Is Airfare Included in the Price?
Airfare from your point of origin to and from the trip is not included in the land price.
Overall Rating
4
Accommodations
3.6
Itinerary
4.1
Professional Staff
4.6
Repeat with Operator
4
Value for Money
3.7
Outstanding trip and tours with plenty of opportunities for planned and unplanned adventures. Knowledgeable, friendly, and capable guides who kept us moving while allowing adequate free time for exploring on one's own.
Affordable Tours was helpful, answered all questions, booked tour and all flights for us. Great experience! We will definitely book through AT again.
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Operator: Discovery By Gate1Starts
AucklandEnds
QueenstownDays
14From
$4799 -
Operator: Gate1Starts
SydneyEnds
AucklandDays
14From
$5069 -
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Operator: Gate1Starts
SydneyEnds
AucklandDays
14From
$5069
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The tour with was outstanding. The tour guide was exceptional. We did so much and it was all great.