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Essential New Zealand

This 27 day tour starts in Auckland and finishes in Queenstown.

Indulge your senses in the raw beauty of the edge of the world. Breathe in the crisp alpine air of Aoraki, taste the complexity of a Hawke’s Bay vintage at the cellar door, and feel the spray of ancient waterfalls in Milford Sound. This experience is a symphony of New Zealand’s finest moments, designed for those who seek the thrill of discovery alongside the peace of the wild.

Accommodation type on this tour is: Boutique Lodges & Hotels.

This tour also features:

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

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

Included activity: The Visitor Promise - Cultural Learning Course

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

Included activity: Interislander Ferry including vehicle Wellington to Picton

Included activity: Captains Cabin Experience with Whale Watch Kaikoura

Included activity: Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools Entry

Included activity: Kai Bites Share with Amiki Cultural Food Tours - Includes Lunch

Included activity: Fullers Ferry Waiheke Island to Auckland

Included activity: Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour with Ananda

Included activity: Fullers Ferry Auckland to Waiheke Island (Return)

Included activity: The Alpine Restaurant Buffet Dinner

Included activity: Grand Circle Scenic Ski Plane Flight with Inflite

Included activity: Lake Cruise and Island Nature Walk with Eco Wanaka

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

Included activity: Milford Sound Business Class with Fixed Wing Flyback and with Real NZ and Altitude Tours - Includes Canapes

Included activity: Waitangi Treaty Grounds: Guided Tour, Cultural Performance & Return Shuttle

Included activity: Russell Mini Tour with Fullers Bay of Islands

Included activity: Island Hopper Day Cruise with Barefoot Sailing Adventures - Lunch Included

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

Included activity: Restorative Journey with Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa

Included activity: Redwoods Nightlights with Glowworms Fast Pass

Included activity: Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

26 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners

Itinerary summary for: Essential New Zealand

Day 1: Welcome to Auckland, the "City of Sails"
Accommodation: Fable Auckland

Day 2: A Day of Vines and Views on Waiheke Island
Accommodation: Fable Auckland

Day 3: Scenic Drive North to the Historic Heart of Russell
Accommodation: Arcadia Lodge, Russell

Day 4: Bay of Islands History & the Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Accommodation: Arcadia Lodge, Russell

Day 5: Sailing the Turquoise Waters of the Bay of Islands
Accommodation: Arcadia Lodge, Russell

Day 6: Coastal Relaxation at Snells Beach
Accommodation: Tahi Lodge

Day 7: Journey to Rotorua & an Evening Māori Cultural Experience
Accommodation: On the Point

Day 8: Volcanic Peaks and Restorative Wellness Waters
Accommodation: On the Point

Day 9: Geothermal Wonders and the Redwoods Nightlights
Accommodation: On the Point

Day 10: Into the Heart of Hawke’s Bay Wine Country
Accommodation: Craggy Range

Day 11: Exploring the Vines and Estates of Havelock North
Accommodation: Craggy Range

Day 12: Travel South to the Creative Capital
Accommodation: Naumi Hotel Wellington

Day 13: Stroll the Capitals Streets
Accommodation: Naumi Hotel Wellington

Day 14: Crossing the Cook Strait to the Marlborough Sounds
Accommodation: Sennen House, Picton

Day 15: Marine Magic & Coastal Drives to Kaikoura
Accommodation: Bendamere House B&B

Day 16: Giants of the Deep: Whale Watching in Kaikoura
Accommodation: Bendamere House B&B

Day 17: Alpine Soaks and Mountain Air in Hanmer Springs
Accommodation: Edit Hanmer Springs

Day 18: The Garden City
Accommodation: Merivale Manor House

Day 19: Canterbury Tastes
Accommodation: Merivale Manor House

Day 20: Christchurch to Mt Cook National Park via the turquoise waters of the alpine lakes
Accommodation: Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki Wing Premium

Day 21: Glacial Grandeur and Alpine Flightseeing
Accommodation: Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki Wing Premium

Day 22: Over the Lindis Pass to the Shores of Wanaka
Accommodation: Edgewater Wanaka

Day 23: Island Sanctuaries and Wanaka Wilderness
Accommodation: Edgewater Wanaka

Day 24: The Crown Range Road & Queenstown Lakeside Dining
Accommodation: The Dairy Hotel Queenstown, A Naumi Chapter

Day 25: Leisure and Luxury in the Adventure Capital
Accommodation: The Dairy Hotel Queenstown, A Naumi Chapter

Day 26: Milford Sound: The Business Class Experience
Accommodation: The Dairy Hotel Queenstown, A Naumi Chapter

Day 27: A Fond Farewell from Queenstown