8 Days North & South Island Highlgihts

Kia ora! Discover Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown & Christchurch. We can't wait to welcome you to Aotearoa New Zealand.

Learn, be inspired, and find everything you need to create the best New Zealand experience. Your New Zealand Journey Awaits!

Location: SkyCity Hotel Auckland - 72 Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

Itinerary

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DAY-01: WELCOME TO AUCKLAND.
Arrive at Auckland International Airport. Welcome to Auckland, New Zealand! Your airport transfer will take you to your first glimpse of Auckland by having the Auckland Brief City Tour.

Discover first-hand why Auckland is regarded as one of the best places in the world to live, with a tour of its scenic highlights. Travel through the city centre, including Auckland's famous Queen Street, Karangahape Road with its chequered past and eclectic vibe and fashionable Ponsonby. Cross over the Auckland Harbour Bridge, enjoy views of the Hauraki Gulf and city skyline, and visit the Viaduct Harbour and the revitalised Silo Park waterfront precinct. See historic buildings around the University of Auckland before continuing over Grafton Bridge to the Auckland Domain.

The Domain is the city's oldest park and, at 75 hectares, one of its largest. Developed around an extinct volcano, it features tropical gardens, duck ponds and public art, and is also home to the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Check in to your hotel.

Tonight, by walk only from your hotel make way to Fortuna Restaurant situated at Sky City Hotel for your buffet dinner. After your dinner, walk back to your hotel.

The rest of today is free at your own leisure. (D)

DAY-02: AUCKLAND – ROTORUA.

After breakfast from your hotel, journey to the Rotorua. Walking distance from your hotel, make your way to Intercity Coachlines Terminal for your travel to Rotorua.

Note: This coach service does not include commentaries.

Meet & greet upon your arrival in Rotorua and you will be transferred to your hotel. Free time on own leisure until time to enjoy the Hangi Te Po Dinner and Maori Cultural Performance at Te Puia.

At Te Puia’s marae (meeting house) you will receive a traditional welcome and be invited to experience a Māori cultural performance with Hangi Dinner, in which ancient and modern stories are told through song, dance, poi and stick games. You’ll gain an understanding of this unique culture and its history and be thoroughly entertained by the talented and charismatic performers.

After the Cultural Show, you will be transfer back to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel. (B)(D)

DAY-03: ROTORUA – MATAMATA – AUCKLAND.

After breakfast from your hotel, journey to

Matamata for your Hobbiton Movie Set Tour and Waitomo Cave Tour.

A very special New Zealand destination – the Hobbiton Movie Set, constructed on a beautiful 1,250-acre farm near Matamata. Take a guided tour of Hobbiton and learn how this working farm was transformed into The Shire from Middle-earth for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies.

Your guide will show you locations like Hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn, and the Mill – and maybe even let you in on some secrets from filming!

Lunch is own arrangement. After your lunch, leave Matamata and continue your journey to Waitomo.

Experience magical glowworms and world-famous limestone formations at Waitomo Caves. Leaving Matamata, we travel through the lush farmland of the Waikato and King Country regions. Your experienced local driver guide will provide entertaining commentary and point out historical sites of interest.

On arrival in the small town of Waitomo, enjoy a 45-minute guided tour through the world-famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves with their amazing stalactites, stalagmites, towering caverns, and other rock formations. Formed from limestone over 30 million years ago, the caves were first discovered in 1887 and are now one of New Zealand’s most popular tourist destinations. Your tour finishes with a short but magical boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto – an underground cavern illuminated by the twinkling lights of thousands of tiny glowworms.

We travel back to Auckland. Upon arrival check in to your hotel. Dinner is own arrangement. Overnight at the hotel. (B)

DAY-04: AUCKLAND - QUEENSTOWN.
Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel restaurant. Prepare to check out and then, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Queenstown.

Flight: A local flight is included on Air New Zealand in this part of the itinerary.

Welcome to Queenstown! The adventure and winter destinations of New Zealand. You will be met & greet at the airport and will be transferred to your hotel in Queenstown.

Check-in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of today at your own leisure.

Lunch and dinner are own arrangement. Overnight at the hotel. (B

DAY-05: MILFORD SOUND EXPERIENCE.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Take an unforgettable journey into the heart of Milford Sound, New Zealand's most famous tourist destination. You'll experience the world-famous fiord in all its natural glory – surrounded by dense rainforest, glacier-carved valleys, and beautiful waterfalls. Leaving Queenstown, travel in comfort along the shores of Lake Wakatipu and into southern farmland to Lake Te Anau, the largest lake in the South Island. Travel along the lake and into Fiordland National Park. Enter the picturesque Eglinton Valley, a place of ancient alpine forest and gushing waterfalls and one of only a few road-accessible glacier valleys in New Zealand, and take advantage of the photo opportunities on offer along the Milford Road, like the stunning Mirror Lakes, where on calm day the surrounding mountain ranges are perfectly reflected in the still waters, and Knobs Flat, where glaciers have carved their mark on the terrain.

At Milford Sound, board your 1-hour 45-minute cruise and set off to explore the region that Rudyard Kipling called the 'eighth wonder of the world'. Travel the length of the fiord and out to the Tasman Sea, gliding past glacier-scarred rock walls and waterfalls that tumble into the sea. Lush native forest clings to steep cliffs, while wildlife including seals, penguins, and dolphins are regular visitors to the icy waters. Mountain ranges surround the fiord, including Mitre Peak which rises dramatically from the depths to a height of 1,692 meters above sea level.

Obento Lunch will be served on board (included in your tour). Along the way, your captain will provide lively and informative commentary.

After your cruise, return to Queenstown. You will be dropped off at your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure. (B)(L)

DAY-06: WALTER PEAK FARM TOUR & QUEENSTOWN HIGHLIGHTS.
After breakfast from your hotel, commence your Full-day Queenstown Highlights Sightseeing Tour.

Cruise aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw across to Walter Peak High Country Farm. Once at the lakeside Colonel’s Homestead Restaurant savour the delicious aromas as our chef has the best of local produce sizzling away on the grill.

Overlooking Lake Whakatipu and Queenstown's alpine scenery, the Colonel’s Homestead at Walter Peak High Country Farm is the perfect place to spend a few hours. Its colonial architecture and sweeping grounds evoke the elegance of a bygone era.

Our lunch menu has been refreshed with the introduction of our new executive chef. They’ve enhanced the seasonal menu with new salads, vegetables and a variety of succulent meats cooked on the wood-fired BBQ. We do not offer seafood for lunch, but vegetarian options are available and there are delectable desserts to make room for too.

An entertaining farm demonstration is also included or you can explore the beautiful lakeside gardens.

Return by ferry to Queenstown and commence your Queenstown Tour. See the contrast of smooth glacier rounded hills, and jagged mountain summits that reach high above the ancient ice floor. Local story has it, that the gold prospectors of the 19th century pronounced the town as "fit for any Queen", and so she was called Queenstown.

A brief sightseeing tour of Queenstown visiting Arrowtown and Kawarau Bungy Bridge (viewing deck only).

Visit the award-winning Gibbston Valley Winery, founded by a pioneer of the Central Otago wine industry, and sample a selection of wines produced on site. You can also browse the winery’s well-stocked gift shop and the region’s only cheesery.

Have your camera at the ready as you are transported into Middle-earth at the Kawarau Gorge, film location for the ‘Pillars of the Kings’ in The Lord of the Rings. Then discover beautiful Arrowtown’s captivating history and colonial architecture. Highlights are the Lakes District Museum and the Chinese miners’ settlement, as well as plus boutique shopping, great cafés and restaurants.

Dinner is own arrangement. Overnight at the hotel. (B)(L)

DAY-07: QUEENSTOWN - MT. COOK – CHRISTCHURCH.
Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel restaurant.

Your day trip from Queenstown to Christchurch passes by Aoraki / Mount Cook, home to New Zealand’s highest mountain. Travel north, with a photo stop over at Lake Pukaki lookout en route.

Lunch is own arrangement.

Continue a scenic trip from Mount Cook to Christchurch through the lush farmland of the Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo, where you can see the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd as it stands in solitude next to the vibrant blue waters. Leaving Tekapo, we continue into the Southern Alps towards Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, home to New Zealand’s tallest mountain. Along the way, your driver-guide will keep you entertained and informed with commentary on the area’s history and sites of interest.

Upon arrival in Christchurch, check-in and overnight at the hotel. (B)

DAY-08: DEPARTURE CHRISTCHURCH.
Your journey comes to an end after your breakfast this morning.

You will be transferred to Christchurch International Airport for your International flight bound home taking with you the unforgettable and lasting memories of a wonderful New Zealand. (B)

End of our service, hope to welcome you again!

In Auckland – SkyCity Auckland or similar - https://skycityauckland.co.nz/

In Rotorua – Millennium Hotel Rotorua or similar - https://www.millenniumhotels.com/en/rotorua/millennium-hotel-rotorua/

In Queenstown – Millennium Hotel Queenstown or similar - https://www.millenniumhotels.com/en/queenstown/millennium-hotel-queenstown/

In Christchurch – Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square or similar - https://all.accor.com/hotel/6592/index.en.shtml

SURCHARGE:

Surcharge may apply for accommodation and attractions traveling Guam during the Shoulder and Peak Season including holidays and special events period. We will advise you on this if there is any.
The quoted price is subject to sudden price increases or surcharges imposed by our suppliers that are beyond our control.

Inclusions

New Zealand Goods and Services Tax
Air New Zealand air ticket with 1 checked bag (23kg)
Combination of seat-in-coach and private touring with English speaking driver cum guide
Accommodation with daily breakfast inside the hotel
Attractions as specified in the itinerary
Meals as specified in the itinerary
Free travel insurance (for up to 59yo only)
Travel Kit

Exclusions

Any extra meals
Drinks (soft drinks/juices/wine/beers ordered during meals)
Optional tours and activities are not mentioned in the itinerary
Air New Zealand excess checked bag
New Zealand Airport Departure Tax if any. (At the moment there is none)
Items of a personal nature such as phone calls, pay movies, room services, mini bars laundries, or other expenditures during the tour
Daily tipping

Check-In

DEPOSIT / TERMS OF PAYMENT:

Upon confirmation of reservations, we will require US$ 500 per person tour deposit payment.
Full payment is payable four (4) weeks prior to commencement of service.
For bookings less than four (4) weeks prior to commencement of service and during peak seasons and block out periods shall be considered “book & buy”. Full payment has to be made immediately upon confirmation of all services.