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New Zealand Splendor
New Zealand

New Zealand Splendor

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Personal planning

Speak with a Destination Expert who knows the region.

A real conversation with someone who understands pace, routing, hotels, and the details that make a trip feel personal.

  • Grant (Buster) St. ClairGrant (Buster) S.Oceania
  • Garry PlantGarry P.Oceania

Overview

(land only)

Explore New Zealand's splendor on this fully escorted tour. Auckland City, the cultural center of Rotorua and the capital city of Wellington are your North Island destinations before crossing over to the South Island and the Marlboough wine region. Continue South to Kaikoura, Christchurch, Mt Cook and Dunedin before crossing Southland to Fiordland National Park and the alpine regions. The West Coast Glacier regions and the Tranz Alpine train journey are your final leg back to Christchurch.
Day by day

Your journey, day by day

  1. Day 1

    Arrive in Auckland

    You are transferred from the airport to your hotel. Check in and the rest of the day is yours to enjoy Auckland. Meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers for a welcome drink and dinner.
    • Dinner

  2. Day 2

    Auckland to Rotorua

    Travel along the Waikato River to the Waitomo Caves for a guided tour of the amazing Glow Worm Grotto. Then on to Rotorua. Soak up views of Lake Rotorua on your orientation tour. Tonight experience F The Realm of T–ane, and a traditional Maori Hangi feast and concert.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner

  3. Day 3

    Rotorua

    Start the day with a ride on the Skyline Gondola and breakfast at Terraces Café with its stunning views over Rotorua. Then it’s the Agrodome Sheep Show followed by a guided tour of F Te Puia and the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve. In the afternoon relax
    or explore, it’s ‘Free Time’.
    • Breakfast

  4. Day 4

    Rotorua to Wellington

    From the mountains to the sea. View the Huka Falls. Visit Taupo and drive along the shores of its lake. Travel through the alpine scenery of Mt. Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park, Manawatu and the Kapiti Coast. On Your Wellington City Sights Tour see the city from Mt. Victoria.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner

  5. Day 5

    Wellington to Blenheim

    Explore Wellington for yourself this morning before you visit F Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand. Later you’ll cruise the Cook Strait into tranquil Queen Charlotte Sound. The seaside village of Picton is next, then Blenheim and a city orientation tour. Enjoy a tour, dinner and tasting at Georges Michel Wine Estate, a family owned and run winery in the heart of the Marlborough region.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner

  6. Day 6

    Blenheim to Christchurch

    On the way to Kaikoura you pass the Grassmere Salt Works with a chance to see New Zealand fur seals at Ohau Point. Explore Kaikoura your way – maybe take a Scenic Whale Watching flight. Head to Christchurch through the patchwork countryside of the Canterbury Plains.
    • Breakfast

  7. Day 7

    Christchurch - Twizel

    You are invited to enjoy a taste of country life with a barbecue lunch on a working farm. See Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki, visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and soak up the spectacular alpine scenery of Mt. Cook National Park. Perhaps take a scenic flight over Mount Cook (weather permitting).
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner

  8. Day 8

    Dunedin

    See the Waitaki Hydro Power Scheme, Benmore Dam and the white limestone buildings of Oamaru. A Dunedin city tour, then your afternoon is at leisure – maybe take a Wildlife Cruise, a Cadbury Factory visit or ride the Taieri Gorge Railway.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner

  9. Day 9

    Dunedin to Te Anau

    First up take a guided tour of New Zealand’s only castle – Larnach Castle and its gardens. Time out in town then you head off across rich fertile, sheepfilled farming land on the way to Te Anau, on the shores of Lake Te Anau, the South Island’s largest. Tonight you can choose to see the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner

  10. Day 10

    Milford Sound

    Be awe-struck by the magnificence of the World Heritage Fiordland National Park. Amazing photo opportunities await as you see rainforest, ancient glaciers, mountain ranges and the hand-made Homer Tunnel. The Mirror Lake, Pop’s Lookout, Cleddau Valley and the Chasm, Mitre Peak and Bowen Falls. Cruise on Milford Sound. Travel over the Devil’s Staircase along the shores of Lake Wakatipu back to Te Anau. On arrival in Queenstown you’ll do an orientation tour. Your dinner option is the Skyline Restaurant on Bob’s Peak, via the Southern Hemisphere’s steepest Gondola!
    • Breakfast

  11. Day 11

    At leisure, Queenstown

    Explore action adventure Queenstown your way. Take it easy with wine or garden tours. Or go wild with jet boat rides or white water rafting. Just be back in time for dinner and a sheep shearing demonstration at Walter Peak Sheep Station. Travel there and back across Lake Wakatipu via the TSS Earnslaw, New Zealand’s oldest steamship.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner

  12. Day 12

    Queenstown to Franz Josef

    Today experience Arrowtown, the sensational stone fruit of Cromwell, Lake Wanaka, Lake Hawea, Lake Dunstan, Haast Pass, Thunder Creek Falls and a small rainforest walk. Then the ‘pièce de résistance’ – Franz Josef Glacier – the world’s most accessible, and still advancing, glacier.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner

  13. Day 13

    Franz Josef to Punakaiki

    Explore Franz Josef Glacier – take an optional flight (weather permitting) or a glacier hike! Then depart for Hokitika, home of the native greenstone (jade) for a factory visit and jewellery demonstration. It’s on to your waterfront hotel at Punakaiki, where you’ll view the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner

  14. Day 14

    TranzAlpine to Christchurch

    Enjoy time at leisure before travelling via Greymouth to Arthur’s Pass where you’ll board the TranzAlpine, one of the top 6 train journeys in the world, to travel to Darfield, in the foothills of the Southern Alps.
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner

  15. Day 15

    Depart Christchurch

    You will be met and transferred by private vehicle to the airport for your departure flight.
    • Breakfast

Pricing

Package level

Superior

Pricing for this package is on request. Please call a Swain Destinations Specialist to customize this journey.


Good to know

Terms and conditions

This escorted tour is operated by AAT Kings. *Prices are per person, twin/double share in USD. Travel may be restricted to certain days of the week and be available from one or multiple US departure points. Add on fares are available from most US cities and surcharges may be applicable for travel on particular days of the week. Seats are limited and may not be available on every flight. Hotels and tours remain subject to availability. US and Foreign Govt. taxes and fees vary depending on the itinerary selected and may range from $90 to $395 per person and are included in the fare. Passenger Facility Charges of up to $18 per person and the September 11th Security Fee of up to $10 per person, are included. After ticketing changes may not be permissible in some circumstances, or a change fee may be applied. Cancellation penalties and other booking or alteration restrictions may exist. Please note that some air segments may be served by an associated carrier under a Code Share Agreement and will be advised at time of booking. Please note blackout dates may apply to Christmas, New Year and local special event periods. Prices indicated remain subject to change without notice. Some airlines charge additional for checked baggage. CST #2012413-20
Make it yours

Start with this itinerary, then make it yours.

Every Swain Destinations trip is fully customizable. Speak with a Destination Expert about pace, hotels, dining, and experiences.

  • Kathryn McCueKathryn M.Africa, Oceania