The Long White Cloud (Small Groups)

19 days
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4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
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USTOA

Group Tour
See the wonders of New Zealand on this 19-day guided tour. Explore the Southern Alps and see Franz Josef Glacier up close with a local Expert. Travel to the lakeside town of Wanaka where you will discover fields of lavender and enjoy a lake cruise surrounded by majestic Mountains. On your way to Queenstown, stop in the wine region of Gibbston Valley for a win...
12%
$15,515
From$13,610
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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

What's this trip about?

    See the wonders of New Zealand on this 19-day guided tour. Explore the Southern Alps and see Franz Josef Glacier up close with a local Expert. Travel to the lakeside town of Wanaka where you will discover fields of lavender and enjoy a lake cruise surrounded by majestic Mountains. On your way to Queenstown, stop in the wine region of Gibbston Valley for a wine tasting of local pinot noirs, and visit the picturesque village of Arrowtown. In Queenstown choose to e-bike on a guided scenic tour or travel to Walter Peak Country station for an eco farm tour. Journey through Fiordland National Park to Doubtful Sound, a stunning fiord with ancient valleys, waterfalls and wildlife where you'll embark on an overnight nature cruise complete with an onboard naturalist, activities and lectures. In Rotorua, walk the Redwoods Treewalk - a maze of forested suspension bridges - and tour a working kiwi nursery and hatchery, where you can learn more about the flightless bird. Savour a flavourful Māori Hāngī feast and descend the Footwhistle Cave to see glow worms illuminate the caverns, then toast your trip during a celebration dinner in Auckland.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 24 people
Age range6 years and up
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityChristchurch (Nz)
End CityAuckland

Travel Themes

  • Cultural

Destinations

Activities

  • Culture
  • Luxury Travel

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 24

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Welcome to Christchurch

Your New Zealand luxury tour begins by private car to your boutique hotel located in the heart of Christchurch and just minutes from North Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens. Pay a visit to the blooms at the Botanic Gardens or ride the Christchurch Tram before meeting your Travel Concierge where you’ll raise a glass to a grand journey.

Hotel Montreal, Christchurch.

Day 2: Christchurch to Franz Josef

Embark on one of the world's great scenic railway journeys aboard the TranzAlpine train to the small village of Arthur's Pass. Along your journey, view the stunning scenery just outside your massive windows as you traverse the Canterbury Plains through the dramatic So...

Day 3: The Mighty Franz Josef Glacier

Immerse yourself in the grand natural surroundings traversing the brilliant blue ice and deep crevasses of Franz Josef Glacier on a valley walk with a Local Expert. Learn about this uniquely accessible glacier with only a seven-mile descent from the Southern Alps and ...

Day 4: Travel from Franz Josef to Wānaka

Cruise down the Haast River in a purpose-built, fully enclosed jet boat past snow-capped mountains contrasting with sub-tropical, untouched rainforest basking in the beauty of the Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area. Your guide is eager to share their expert knowledge ...

Day 5: Wānaka

Be awed at the natural beauty around you while relaxing on a lake cruise. Complete your bonding-with-nature experience on an afternoon nature walk.

Edgewater Wānaka Hotel

Breakfast

Day 6: Wanaka to Queenstown

Visit Highlands Motorsport Museum and come face to face with the state-of-the-art machines. Meet Mrs Jones Orchard, a traditional fruit stall owner, and indulge in real fruit ice-cream and stone fruit. Enjoy lunch and experience exclusive wine tasting in Gibbston Valley of the Vines at Kinross. Visit the historic gold mining town of Arrowtown.

The Rees Hotel

Breakfast, Lunch with Wine

Day 7: Queenstown

Take in the surrounding landscape on a Lake Wakatipu scenic cruise aboard TSS Earnslaw and visit Walter Peak High Country farm for an Eco Experience - an idyllic place to spend a few peaceful hours. Or, choose a guided e-bike scenic ride along the lake. Enjoy dinner tonight at local restaurant The Bathhouse, located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu.

The Rees Hotel

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8: Queenstown to Doubtful Sound (overnight cruise)

Travel by road to Manapouri, then by Catamaran and coach to Doubtful Sound to meet the Fiordland Navigator. Doubtful Sound is a stunning fiord with ancient valleys, waterfalls and wildlife. Your overnight nature cruise comes complete with an onboard naturalist, activities and lectures, not to mention delicious locally sourced cuisine.

Fiordland Navigator

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Doubtful Sound to Dunedin

Upon disembarking the cruise, continue by road to Dunedin, stopping for lunch at Te Anau. In Dunedin, your heritage hotel welcomes you with a cosy atmosphere in the city centre. Dine on favourites such as surf and turf, braised lamb, catch of the day, or other modern twists on traditional local dishes at Parcels Restaurant.

Distinction Dunedin Hotel.

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10: Distillery Tour and Dunedin at Leisure

Enjoy a relaxed start this morning before taking a guided tour at Dunedin Craft Distillers, the first distillery in Aotearoa New Zealand and one of only a handful worldwide, to produce botanical spirits from surplus bread and bakery products that would otherwise go to...

Day 11: Dunedin to Christchurch

Travel up the coast through the towns of Oamaru and Timaru to Christchurch to uncover the city’s highlights on a fascinating sightseeing tour. On arrival in Christchurch embark on a sightseeing tour of the city to learn about its rebirth after the devastating 2011 ear...

Day 12: Christchurch to Wellington

Travel the dramatic rugged coastline to the whale watching hub of Kaikoura and onto the seaside town of Picton. Cruise on Queen Charlotte Sound and across Cook Strait to Wellington where you’ll get acquainted with the city on an illuminating tour. Discover the highlig...

Day 13: Wellington Sightseeing

Today personalise your day. Choose from the the urban eco-sanctuary of Zealandia/Te Māra a Tāne or discover the stunning waterfront and hidden lanes of Wellington with a local expert.

Naumi Hotel Wellington

Breakfast

Day 14: Wellington to Hawke's Bay

Wind your way through the pastoral dairy farming land of Manawatū to Napier in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand’s Art Deco capital and world-renowned winecountry. This evening savour a tasting and dinner at family-owned Craggy Range Winery in the shadow of Te Mata Peak. Sampl...

Day 15: Exploring Napier

Partake in a Gannet safari. Your participation on Gannet Overland Safaris contributes to our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® initiative: TTC makes a donation on behalf of each guest to the Cape Sanctuary. Their amazing team is made up of over 300 volunteers that are giving their ...

Day 16: Geothermal Rotorua

Continue your journey to Rotorua, where this afternoon, armed with a packed lunch, you'll join a local guide for a cultural walking eco-tour to discover the Jurassic Whirinaki Forest, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience.

Pullman Rotorua.

Breakfast, Lunch

Day 17: The Sights of Rotorua

Unveil the sights of Rotorua viewing the 120-yearold Californian Coastal Redwoods of Whakarewarewa Forest at Redwoods Treewalk. Crossing 28 suspension bridges from 65 feet above ground, feeling like one of the native birds sweeping through the forest. Learn more about...

Day 18: Waitomo and Auckland

Your final full day finds you embarking on an exclusive, private guided tour of Waitomo Cave on a five-star Eco Glow Worm experience at Caveworld. Your guide sets the scene for an underground cave experience where you will see glow worms, cave formations and appreciat...

Day 19: Farewell Auckland

After one final breakfast, say farewell to your Christchurch-to-Auckland luxury tour as you are chauffeured to Auckland Airport.

Breakfast

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Dates & Availability

Price From $13,610
Price per day$716
Last Updated: 11/8/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Double Standard
Availability
02 Dec 2024
13 Dec 2024
$7,428
03 Jan 2025
11 Jan 2025
$10,615
07 Jan 2025
15 Jan 2025
$4,331
20 Jan 2025
31 Jan 2025
$9,285
20 Jan 2025
01 Feb 2025
$6,518
24 Jan 2025
01 Feb 2025
$4,331
03 Feb 2025
15 Feb 2025
$6,518
07 Feb 2025
15 Feb 2025
$4,331
07 Feb 2025
20 Feb 2025
$6,751
07 Feb 2025
22 Feb 2025
$7,903

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

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.

Luxury Gold Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
Excellent
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Average
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15
Terrible
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Other Luxury Gold Reviews

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Martin Petersen

Nov 2024

Written on

Ultimate Italy

Great service from landing to departure home. Our guide was wonerful and the excursions and local experts were exceptional. We saw a great deal of Italy but never ...

T

Trusted Customer

Nov 2024

Written on

Ultimate Italy

Excellent guides, they spoke good English and were informative. Lots of time spent in the coach, but it was very spacious, clean and comfortable. We were lucky to h...

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Tour Operator

Luxury Gold

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Wherever you go, we'll delight and surprise you with amazing experiences, tastes, sights, sounds and people.

With specialist knowledge of exclusive VIP experiences, fine dining and luxury hotels, we are dedicated to bringing you journeys shaped by our family heritage of close to 100 years of high-end travel industry expertise and a total commitment to service.

You can unplug, relax, enjoy, open up to the charm of different cultures and let us take care of every little detail.

Journey Beyond the Ordinary

We invite you to embark on a travel experience unlike any other. Join us as we explore exotic lands and distinctive destinations, in exquisite style and comfort. At Luxury Gold, it’s our pleasure to make your next journey extraordinary. Allow us to share our unparalleled wealth of expertise and insights, accumulated over nearly 100 years as leaders in luxury travel. We put our heart and soul into everything we do, taking care of every detail to ensure your Luxury Gold journey is perfectly planned, personalised, and truly unforgettable.

Enriching Travel Experiences

As one of The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) family of brands, Luxury Gold is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation and shares a collective desire to protect and conserve the stunningly beautiful environments, fascinating cultures and awe-inspiring communities of our natural world.

TreadRight is a not-for-profit organization that works tirelessly to ensure the environment and communities we visit remain for generations to come. Since 2008, TreadRight has supported more than 40 sustainable tourism projects worldwide, working with expert project partners who directly oversee these projects on the ground.

When travelling with Luxury Gold on select itineraries, you’ll see some of these incredible projects in action. In Perugia, experience one of the last remaining hand-weaving textiles in Italy, reminiscent of great medieval and renaissance textile traditions in Italy. In choosing Luxury Gold you are helping TreadRight continue its life-changing work.

 

About the company:

As the world leader in Luxury Small Group Journeys, Luxury Gold is redefining the New Golden Age of Travel. With the finest end to end travel experience, guests are spoilt with high end experiences in magnificent environments. Exceptional dining at sort after Michelin Star restaurants to unique street food experiences. Curated experiences with afterhours access, VIP experiences and the exclusive Founders Collections meet and greets with nobility, icons and royalty. Magnificent stays at world leading properties such as the Belmond and Red Carnation Hotels or unique Chalets or Private Game Reserve lodgings. Beyond these high-end experiences, guests every need is catered to by their 24/7 Travel Concierge who combine local knowledge with the ultimate black book of contacts to customize guest’s journey

Luxury Gold is part of the family-owned and run The Travel Corporation (TTC), driven by service for over one hundred years.

Why we love this operator
They understand that true luxury lies not only in lavish hotels and gourmet dining but also in the immersive experiences that leave a lasting memory.
What they’re known for
Specially curated small-group luxury worldwide tours with unique VIP experiences.

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Logistics

Accommodation

  • Hotel Montreal, Christchurch.
  • Te Waonui Forest Retreat, Franz Josef.
  • Edgewater Wānaka Hotel
  • The Rees Hotel
  • Fiordland Navigator
  • Distinction Dunedin Hotel.
  • Naumi Hotel Wellington
  • Porters Boutique Hotel, Hawke's Bay.
  • Pullman Rotorua.
  • QT Auckland.
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 .
Meals Included
  • 18 Breakfast (B)
  • 10 Dinner (D)
  • 1 Lunch with Wine (L)
  • 2 Lunch (L)
  • Queenstown: Enjoy dinner at the majestic waterfront Bathhouse, try locally grown, foraged and farmed produce, local and international wines, against the spectacular lakefront backdrop of Lake Wakatipu.
  • Dunedin: Step into Parcels Restaurant at the Distinction Dunedin and taste their exquisite modern twist on traditional local dishes. Sip delicious wines as you look across to the First Church of Otago from the old post office building which houses the hotel.
  • Christchurch: Say farewell to Christchurch with a final dinner. Let your tastebuds be delighted with a delicious meal and raise a glass to the health of your companions and your unforgettable journey.
  • Hawke's Bay: Indulge in wine tasting and an intimate dinner at the award-winning restaurant of Craggy Range Winery. Feast on local produce as you sit in the shade of Te Mata Peak and drink wines from one of the region’s world-famous vineyards.
  • Rotorua: Tonight, visit Te Pā Tū Māori Experience. Tū Te Rā is a celebration of the abundant harvest of this season, and explores concepts, rituals, and stories of ancient Māori warfare and peace in a feast of culture and cuisine. Enjoy a forest kai horotai (seasonal canapés), complimentary chef choice aperitif, and a seasonal three-course dinner.
  • Auckland: Raise a glass to your unforgettable journey as you enjoy your Celebration Dinner with a former member of the All Blacks rugby team. Hear stories of the world’s leading rugby team, his personal victories and how passionate Kiwis are about their national sport.
Age Requirements
6 years and up
Additional Information
Trip ID
luxury-NZLGFM25

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