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Ultimate New Zealand Explorer Tour

This 30 day tour starts in Auckland and finishes in Christchurch.

Discover the very best of New Zealand on the Ultimate New Zealand Explorer Tour, Experience iconic sights like Auckland’s Sky Tower, the geothermal wonders and rich Māori culture of Rotorua, and the stunning coastal beauty of the Bay of Islands. Traverse dramatic alpine scenery in Tongariro and Aoraki - Mount Cook National Park, indulge in world-class wine tasting in Marlborough, and witness marine life in Kaikōura. With premium accommodations, unforgettable wildlife encounters, scenic train rides, and thrilling outdoor adventures, this bespoke tour offers a seamless blend of culture, nature, and luxury tailored to your pace.

Accommodation type on this tour is: Hotel 4 star.

This tour also features:

Included activity: Electronic Travel Guide and In-Country Support App

Included activity: Private Transfer Auckland Airport to your Auckland Accommodation with Tourcorp

Included activity: The Visitor Promise - Cultural Learning Course

Included activity: Mountain Jade - Highlights Tour

Included activity: Hawkes Bay Half Day Wine Tour with Grape Escape

Included activity: Native Icons Guided Tour in National Aquarium of New Zealand

Included activity: Wellington Half Day Private Tour with Capital Personalized Tour

Included activity: Guided Tour of Te Papa The Museum of New Zealand

Included activity: Interislander Ferry Wellington to Picton with Premium Plus Lounge

Included activity: Seals, Beach Cruise and Walk with Wilsons - Includes Lunch

Included activity: Captains Cabin Experience with Whale Watch Kaikoura

Included activity: Christchurch Gondola

Included activity: Christchurch City Half Day Tour with Leisure Tours

Included activity: Waiheke Island Luxury Private Tour with Auckland & Beyond Tours - Lunch Included

Included activity: Dinner at the Sky Tower Orbit Restaurant

Included activity: Big Sky Stargazing

Included activity: Wildlife Peninsula Encounter Tour and Wildlife Cruise with Monarch

Included activity: Milford Sound Luxury Lunch Cruise with Fiordland Discovery

Included activity: TSS Earnslaw Cruise and Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Dinner

Included activity: Gondola Ride with Skyline Queenstown

Included activity: Wilderness Jet Experience with Dart River Safaris

Included activity: Franz Josef Glacier Helihike with Franz Josef Glacier Guides

Included activity: One Hour Private Tub with Waiho Hot Tubs

Included activity: TranzAlpine Scenic Train: Greymouth to Christchurch

Included activity: Shared Transfer from Christchurch Train Station to Christchurch CBD Accommodation with Christchurch Touring Company

Included activity: Private Transfer from Accommodation to Airport with Christchurch Touring Company

Included activity: Cape Reinga Scenic Flight and Guided Tour with Salt Air

Included activity: Waitangi Treaty Grounds Guided Tour and Cultural Performance

Included activity: Driving Creek Railway & Potteries - EyeFull Tower Tour

Included activity: Cathedral Cove Scenic Cruise

Included activity: Polynesian Spa Lake View Private Pool

Included activity: Te Pā Tū Evening Māori Cultural Experience - Dinner Included

Included activity: National Kiwi Hatchery Experience

Included activity: Te Ra Daytime Experience at Te Puia

27 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 5 dinners

Itinerary summary for: Ultimate New Zealand Explorer Tour

Day 1: Welcome to Auckland
Accommodation: M Social Hotel Auckland

Day 2: Explore Auckland the 'City of Sails'
Accommodation: M Social Hotel Auckland

Day 3: Cross the Auckland Harbour Bridge, then venture north to the balmy Bay of Islands
Accommodation: Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands

Day 4: Take a spectacular scenic flight to the top of New Zealand and enjoy Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Accommodation: Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands

Day 5: Cross Northland following the aqua blue waters of the Hokianga before travelling down the Kauri Coast
Accommodation: Tahi Lodge

Day 6: Pass through Auckland and the Hauraki Plains before the coastal climb to Coromandel
Accommodation: Sovereign Pier On The Waterways

Day 7: Explore the Coromandel Peninsula and the marine sanctuary at cathedral cove
Accommodation: Sovereign Pier On The Waterways

Day 8: Travel along the Bay of Plenty before turning inland towards the lakes of Rotorua
Accommodation: On the Point

Day 9: Experience the Maori culture and geothermal wonders in Rotorua
Accommodation: On the Point

Day 10: First head to Lake Taupo before travelling east to the Hawke's Bay
Accommodation: Swiss-Belboutique Napier

Day 11: Discover the wineries of the Hawkes Bay, home of New Zealand's oldest vineyards
Accommodation: Swiss-Belboutique Napier

Day 12: Journey from a wine region to a vibrant capital
Accommodation: Bolton Hotel Wellington

Day 13: Experience Wellington city as local during the guided tour
Accommodation: Bolton Hotel Wellington

Day 14: Today you'll cross the Cook Strait on the Interislander Ferry with stunning views of Marlborough Sounds
Accommodation: Abel Tasman Lodge

Day 15: Explore Abel Tasman National Park with a magical cruise on the aqua waters
Accommodation: Abel Tasman Lodge

Day 16: Enjoy the scenic beauty on your drive to the seaside town of Kaikoura
Accommodation: Sudima Hotel Kaikōura

Day 17: Explore beautiful Kaikoura, where the ocean meets the mountains
Accommodation: Sudima Hotel Kaikōura

Day 18: Today, drive south to the ever-changing city of Christchurch
Accommodation: The Observatory Hotel

Day 19: Explore Christchurch City and take a gondola ride for amazing views
Accommodation: The Observatory Hotel

Day 20: Today you'll enjoy a scenic drive through Canterbury to Mt Cook National Park
Accommodation: Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki Wing Premium

Day 21: Explore Mt Cook National Park with scenic helicopter flight and then continue your journey to Dunedin
Accommodation: Scenic Hotel Dunedin City

Day 22: Explore Dunedin and meet the wonderful wildlife of the Otago Peninsula
Accommodation: Scenic Hotel Dunedin City

Day 23: Travel through the rich farmland of South Otago and Catlins to reach Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland
Accommodation: Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas

Day 24: Journey along the magnificent Milford Road to Milford Sound for your scenic cruise
Accommodation: Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas

Day 25: Travel through rolling Southland countryside then follow Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown
Accommodation: Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel

Day 26: Discover exciting Queenstown and enjoy thrills of Dart River Safari
Accommodation: Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel

Day 27: Take the Crown Range Road to Wanaka before travelling the spectacular Haast Pass to the West Coast
Accommodation: Legacy Te Waonui Hotel Franz Josef

Day 28: Explore Franz Josef Glacier with a scenic flight and glacier walk
Accommodation: Legacy Te Waonui Hotel Franz Josef

Day 29: Drive north along the stunning West Coast Road and take the TranzAlpine train to Christchurch
Accommodation: The Observatory Hotel

Day 30: Farewell Christchurch