Remarkable New Zealand - 20 days

20 days
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Small Group Tour
Journey from Auckland to Christchurch on this 20-day New Zealand tour, taking in the best of the North and South islands. Discover Maori heritage in Rotorua and opt to explore Hobbiton or the Waimangu Volcano Valley. Ride a cable car over Wellington, cross the Cook Strait by ferry and hike amongst the lush scenery of Abel Tasman National Park. Explore beautif...
From$6,215
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Coromandel Peninsula - Ride the Driving Creek Railway for panoramic views and enjoy a free day to explore the scenic area
    • Rotorua – Visit the Te Puia geothermal site and a Kiwi conservation project, then opt to visit Waimangu Volcanic Valley or Hobbiton, plus experience a Te Pa Tu Maori cultural evening
    • Wellington - Ride the cable car over New Zealand's capital city and visit the country's national museum - Te Papa
    • Abel Tasman National Park - Cruise the waters of this national park and enjoy optional hiking across wild beaches and through lush scenery
    • Wanaka - Choose from an ecological tour to a serene island on Lake Wanaka or a 4X4 excursion into the surrounding countryside
    • Milford Sound - Pass through incredible Fiordland National Park and enjoy a cruise on Milford Sound - look out for dolphins!
    • Queenstown - Spend a free day here exploring as you please, with optional zip-lining, rafting, or a 4X4 safari
    • Christchurch - End your adventure in the city, with an included punting experience and a farewell group dinner

What's this trip about?

    Journey from Auckland to Christchurch on this 20-day New Zealand tour, taking in the best of the North and South islands. Discover Maori heritage in Rotorua and opt to explore Hobbiton or the Waimangu Volcano Valley. Ride a cable car over Wellington, cross the Cook Strait by ferry and hike amongst the lush scenery of Abel Tasman National Park. Explore beautiful Wanaka and the surrounding area, see pretty Te Anau lake and sail on Milford Sound. Admire towering Mount Cook, explore Queenstown independently and end your journey in Christchurch.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 16 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityAuckland
End CityGoodbye New Zealand

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

Attractions

  • Abel Tasman National Park
  • Auckland
  • Christchurch
  • Nelson
  • Queenstown
  • Rotorua
  • Wellington

Min Group Size

  • Min Group Size: 16

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 16

Trip includes

    • 19 breakfasts, 1 lunch & 3 dinners
    • 19 nights 4 star hotels
    • Airport arrival and departure transfers on day 1 and day 20
    • Escorted by an expert local guide/driver with specialist local guides at some sites
    • All relevant transfers and transportation in modern air-conditioned vehicle
    • Ferry across the Cook Strait
    • Touring of Napier, Wellington & Christchurch
    • Coromandel narrow-gauge railway
    • Visit to Waimangu Volcanic Valley or Hobbiton Movie Set
    • Te Pa Tu Maori experience
    • Mission Estate Winery dinner
    • Wine tasting at one of Marlborough’s premier wineries
    • Abel Tasman National Park cruise
    • Local eco-guided tour or an authentic 4WD adventure at Wanaka
    • Milford Sound cruise & lunch
    • Morning tea at a local home on the shores of Lake Tekapo
    • Punting experience in Christchurch
    • Note: This tour is operated in conjunction with our trusted partner and you will join travellers from different operators, not solely On The Go.

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day : 1 Auckland

Haere mai – Welcome! Upon arrival into Auckland you will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel. The rest of the day and your first evening offer free time for you to explore the local area and find somewhere for dinner.

Day : 2 Coromandel Peninsula

Auckland – Coromandel Peninsula – Whitianga. Today we leave Auckland behind and drive across the fertile Hauraki Plains to the Firth of Thames – a large shallow bay that is home to a variety of birdlife. We ride the Driving Creek Railway, climbing 120-metres through ...

Day : 3 Whitianga

Enjoy a free day on the Coromandel Peninsula, exploring all that it has to offer at your own pace. Pay a visit to Hot Water Beach, where warm springs bubble up through the sand. Opt for a walk along the sandy beach at Hahei or visit the beach named after James Cook wh...

Day : 4 Rotorua

Whitianga – Rotorua. Departing Whitianga, we follow the Pacific Coast Highway through the coastal towns of Whangamata and Tauranga before turning inland. We visit a bushwalk with views over majestic Okere Falls before reaching Rotorua, the epicentre of Maori heritage ...

Day : 5 Rotorua

Your choice of activity today must be made at the time of booking. Please let our Reservations team know which included activity you would like to partake in. Today we have a choice between two different activities. Option 1 is a visit to the Waimangu Volcanic Vall...

Day : 6 Napier

Rotorua – Napier. This morning we head south, stopping to visit Huka Falls and passing vast Lake Taupo. If clear skies permit, from here we should be able to see the peaks of Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro, where lays the volcanic terrain that acted as the backdrop ...

Day : 7 Wellington

Napier – Wellington. This morning we make our way to New Zealand’s capital city - Wellington. We ride the Wellington Cable Car for incredible views over the city and enjoy an included visit to the Te Papa Museum, the country's national museum. Here you will learn more about the history, culture and wildlife of New Zealand. The evening is at leisure.

Day : 8 Nelson

Wellington – Nelson. Today we embark on one of the world's most scenic ferry rides, as we say goodbye to the North Island and cross the Cook Strait. The boats are often accompanied by dolphins riding the bow wave, a joyful experience. Arriving in Picton on the South I...

Day : 9 Abel Tasman National Park

Your choice of activity today must be made at the time of booking. Please let our Reservations team know which included activity you would like to partake in. We spend today soaking up the beauty of Abel Tasman National Park, with its golden coves, turquoise lagoon...

Day : 10 Punakaiki

Nelson – Punakaiki. Travelling inland from Nelson we follow the Buller River Gorge on a scenic drive through forest, deep river gorges and across single-track bridges. We visit the quaint village of St Arnaud on the edge of Lake Rotoiti, before continuing to the rugge...

Day : 11 Fox Glacier

Punakaiki – Franz Josef – Fox. Leaving Punakaiki behind, we journey along the Great Coast Road, recently voted one of the world's top 10 coastal roads by Lonely Planet. We pass through historic Hokitika and stop at the dramatic Hokitika Gorge to admire the view. Conti...

Day : 12 Wanaka

Fox - Wanaka. This morning we visit nearby Lake Matheson for a morning stroll. With Mount Cook as your backdrop and the early morning birds chirping, it's a peaceful and relaxing experience. It's then time to depart, as we make our way over the Haast Pass and into Mou...

Day : 13 Wanaka

Your choice of activity today must be made at the time of booking. Please let our Reservations team know which included activity you would like to partake in. Today we have a choice of two included excursions. Option 1 sees you join an eco tour. Depart Wanaka by bo...

Day : 14 Te Anau

Wanaka - Te Anau. It's time to say farewell to Wanaka as we head towards the most southern part of our trip. We stop for a photograph of the famous Cardrona Pub and visit the gold rush settlement of Arrowtown. Continuing through the Remarkables mountains and past Lak...

Day : 15 Milford Sound & Queenstown

Te Anau - Milford Sound - Queenstown. Our journey to Milford Sound involves passing through Fiordland National Park, one of the most scenic drives of our trip. One of the greatest wildernesses in the Southern Hemisphere, the scenery is punctuated with lofty mountains ...

Day : 16 Queenstown

Today is a free day for you to relax or explore Queenstown and the surrounding area. The list of possible activities is endless; you could go zip-lining or ride the gondola to at Bob's Peak, enjoy white water rafting or cruise picturesque Lake Wakatipu. Other options ...

Day : 17 Twizel

Queenstown - Mount Cook - Twizel. Our journey continues north, and the scenery continues to impress. Heading through the rugged Kawarau Gorge, past idyllic Lake Dunstan and into the Mackenzie Basin, we enjoy views of the Southern Alps. We reach Mount Cook village, offering jaw-dropping views of New Zealand's tallest peak, known in Maori as Aoraki. The night is spent in the rural town of Twizel.

Day : 18 Christchurch

Twizel - Christchurch. Today we visit a local home on the shore of Lake Tekapo. We learn how to make a traditional Kiwi pavlova and can taste our creation whilst overlooking the lake. We also visit the Church of the Good Shephard, which is one of the most photographe...

Day : 19 Christchurch

Today we explore Christchurch, a most English of New Zealand cities! The day starts with some punting along the River Avon, and yes, our boatmen will be wearing straw hats and traditional dress! We pass through the Christchurch Botanic Gardens and ride a beautifully r...

Day : 20 Goodbye New Zealand

Today your adventure in New Zealand comes to an end. A transfer takes you to Christchurch Airport for your flight home.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $6,215
Price per day$311
Last Updated: 1/5/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
22 Mar 2025
10 Apr 2025
$9,235
19 Apr 2025
08 May 2025
$8,565
10 May 2025
29 May 2025
$7,895
11 Oct 2025
30 Oct 2025
$9,235
25 Oct 2025
13 Nov 2025
$9,235
08 Nov 2025
27 Nov 2025
$10,035
29 Nov 2025
18 Dec 2025
$10,035
17 Jan 2026
05 Feb 2026
$10,035
31 Jan 2026
19 Feb 2026
$10,035
14 Feb 2026
05 Mar 2026
$10,035

Departure dates are guaranteed with 2 travellers. 'Twin Share' prices are per person when there are 2 people sharing a room. 'Single Room' prices are applicable to all solo travellers, or if your booking party cannot reach the minimum of 2 persons in a room. Single Rooms can also be booked by any other person wanting the comfort and privacy of their own room.

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with On The Go Tours.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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On The Go Tours Reviews & Ratings

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International flights and visas
    • Items of a personal nature (telephone calls, laundry, travel insurance etc)
    • Optional activities
    • Tip for your tour guide driver. We recommend you allow $4 - 7 USD per day per traveller. Tipping your tour guide is an entirely personal gesture.

Accommodation

4-star hotels
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
18+The average age of passengers on these tours is between 55-75yrs. Pure Discoveries do not permit children.
Additional Information
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Trip ID
onthegotours-RNZ

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