The Big Tiki (Auckland to Christchurch Winter - Until Sep 2018)

19 days
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
98%
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USTOA

Group Tour
Waterfalls, nightclubs, geothermic mud pools, mountains, skylines, if NZ doesn't impress you, best check your pulse. The Big Tiki from Auckland to Christchurch soaks it all up and offers an astounding list of over 70 optional activities to ramp up your trip. Skydiving anyone?

Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Check out Whangarei and Kawakawas famous Hundertwasser toilets
    • Get a dose of history with a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds Tour
    • Tuck into a true Kiwiana fish n chips dinner
    • See an active stratovolcano with Mt Ruapehu
    • See more of the sights made famous in the The Lord of the Rings

What's this trip about?

    Waterfalls, nightclubs, geothermic mud pools, mountains, skylines, if NZ doesn't impress you, best check your pulse. The Big Tiki from Auckland to Christchurch soaks it all up and offers an astounding list of over 70 optional activities to ramp up your trip. Skydiving anyone?

Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityAuckland
End CityChristchurch (Nz)

Travel Themes

  • Local Immersion & Homestays

Destinations

  • New Zealand

Attractions

  • Auckland
  • Christchurch
  • Dunedin
  • Queenstown
  • Wellington

Activities

  • Culture
  • Homestays & Cultural Immersion

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Day 1: Auckland to Paihia via Parry Kauri Park

Welcome to NZ globe trotters. Time to meet your wolf-pack and start salivating over the overflowing banquet of adventure we have up for grabs here in the land of the 'long white cloud'. We'll cross Aucklands Harbour Bridge admiring the 'City of Sails' habour before st...

Day 2: Paihia

Whether it's parasailing or a fast boat ride - today's (idyllic) list of optionals reads like a who's who of adventure. This area is filled with natural beauty and is sure to inspire your inner wild child. Make the most of the ME Time experiences on offer - tomorrow we head back to the big city vibes.

Day 3: Paihia to Auckland

Feeling salty and sun-kissed we wave goodbye to Paihia & sashay our way back down NZ in the direction of Auckland, eager to carry on seeing what else this fine country has in store. Ask your Trip Manager for a bit of intel on the local lingo around here, sure to b...

Day 4: Auckland to Rotorua

Laters Auckland! Today we drive through the lush farmlands of Waikato, an area that produces many of New Zealand's best Rugby players for the All Blacks, on route to Hobbiton Village. That's right, it wouldn't be a complete experience without a stop at the "Shire". W...

Day 5: Rotorua

The day is yours to roam free. Soak in a hotspring, go white water rafting, take a canopy tour of hike up a volcano – the options are limitless and the decisions are yours.

Day 6: Rotorua to Mount Ruapehu via Huka Falls and Lake Taupo

Our Rotorua adventures are (almost) at an end, but not before we stop by the Rainbow Springs Nature Park, where you’ll get the chance to learn about New Zealand's national bird, kiwis. Like nice surprises? Here’s one for you - your included entrance fee goes towards t...

Day 7: Mount Ruapehu

Known as the après-ski capital of the North island, Ohakune is a tranquil town with utterly unreal views. Spend the day bettering your skills on the slopes or generally treating yourself to all the snowy based activities on offer, then tonight snuggle down in our Special Stay ski lodge, located in prime position at the base of Mt. Ruapehu.

Day 8: Mount Ruapehu to Wellington

These landscapes are unique and the sights will leave you breathless. On route to the windy capital Wellington where we'll show you the sights of this city. As much as we've been loving the nature time, the change of scenery to New Zealand's well-cultured capital wil...

Day 9: Wellington

Galleries, cafes, shops, street performers, vintage markets -Wellington you're spoiling us. Stroll the eclectic Cuba Street, grab some sushi & pop by the Tattoo Museum where Maori moko face tattoos and modern ink collide, or hop on a quad bike to get down and dirty.

Day 10: Wellington to Christchurch via Picton and Kaikoura

So long north island! Today we're making tracks for your southern brother, darting across the Tasman via the Inter-Island ferry. Our first port of call on the South Island will be Picton, the gateway to wine country. Sauv blanc, anyone? Our next drive takes us throu...

Day 11: Christchurch to Franz Josef via Arthers Pass and Hokitika

Christchurch, it was short and sweet, but with with ice age action on the horizon we gots to move on. Take in the beautiful scenery as we wind our way across the highest and most spectacular mountain pass across the Southern Alps. In the gold rush town of Hokitika we'...

Day 12: Franz Josef Glacier

This morning will be another big ol' tick off the list as we take to the ice of Franz Josef Glacier. Want to double tick the list in gold sparkly pen? We've got a heli ride over the glacier up for grabs for an ultra special experience. Satisfaction levels on high, ton...

Day 13: Franz Josef Glacier to Queenstown

Armed with a new found appreciation for frozen water, we'll hop back on the coach & start making our way to Queenstown, making a few cheeky stops along the way. Our first piece of NZ eye-candy comes in the form of Haast Pass, beautified by ancient rainforests, sm...

Day 14: Queenstown

Today is yours to get acquainted with Queenstown and spend some time mulling over the activities up for grabs in the next two days. To get you warmed up, we'll be treating you to an exhilirating Shotover Jet experience, so throw those hands in the air as you fly through narrow Shotover canyons at speeds of up to 85 kph.

Day 15: Queenstown

It's times like this that you really start to work out what sort of traveller you are. And human for that matter. You might be the one trailing through wine country and doing a spot of horse back riding, or you may be that guy that crams in a bungy jump, a skydive and a heliraft & still craves more. It's your holiday - run wild as you see fit.

Day 16: Queenstown

With our last day in adrenalin city ahead of us, this is the time to push yourself to the limits and hurl over any mental barriers you've put up around yourself. Jump into #NOREGRETS spirit and conquer those niggling fears once and for all. For those who did their dash yesterday, a day staying mellow and enjoying this beautiful region will prove more than sufficient.

Day 17: Queenstown to Dunedin

Alright, it's time to return our adrenalin levels to a normal and make tracks to the student town of Dunedin. But before we do, bridge bungy jump, anyone? As the student hub, Dunedin always impresses travellers, and for those from the UK you'll notice a distinct Scottish throwback. Take a tour of the iconic Speight's Brewery, where tasting their brews is simply good manners.

Day 18: Dunedin to Lake Ohau

Before we farewell Dunedin we'll head to the base of Baldwin Street, the world's steepest street, for a look at the mind boggling angle. Seriously, living on this street would give you major vertigo. A trip to the south wouldn't be complete without a stop at Moeraki f...

Day 19: Lake Ohau to Christchurch via Lake Tekapo

It's our last day but don't get sad, we're sure plans for Contiki 2.0 are already well underway. Kick start the day and end the trip on a high with a spectacular optional glacier flight over Mt. Cook for all new views of the country's highest mountain. Later, we'll s...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,530
Price per day$186
Last Updated: 0/17/2022

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Contiki.

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.

Contiki Reviews & Ratings

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Reginald Ramirez

Mar 2024

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Travel to see culture like no other

Staff was great. From tour manager, Jelly, to the local guides. All knowledgable and great!

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Kate Foster

Mar 2024

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Anonymous

Contiki took care everything so well! We went from amazing experiences to amazing experience, and everything went incredibly smoothly. We did things we would never h...

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Tour Operator

Contiki

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We’re firm believers that life’s greatest experiences are made better by the people you share them with. That’s why Contiki invented group travel for young people in 1962 and we’ve spent the past 53 years perfecting it. You’ll explore amazing destinations with a group of 18-35 year olds from around the world who share your passion for adventure, good times and creating memories that define what it is to be young, wild and free.

No two travellers are the same and we know that, which is why we offer eight unique ways to explore the world. We have a number of options to choose from to create a vacation that’s perfect for you, from budget to accommodation style.

We're all about exploring the world with like-minded people, which is why we only run trips for 18-35 year olds, to celebrate being young, spirited and curious. You can expect to join a group of 18-53 awesome people from around the world on our Europe, Australia, North America and New Zealand trips, and in Asia and Latin America it's all about small group adventures with up to 25 travellers. Don't worry if you're not traveling as a couple or with a friend from home – though there are plenty of pairs, 50% of our travellers set off solo, meaning you'll have a ton of opportunities to make new friends.

With over 270 trips around the world and plenty of departure dates to work into your schedule, you'll never be short of options on where to go for your next great adventure.

About the company:
Contiki are the world leaders in social youth travel. We’ve been providing amazing travel experiences for young travellers, from 18-35 years old, since 1962. Imagine how good you would be at something if you had been doing it for more than 60 years?

Everything about Contiki is deeply rooted in our core values ‘Make Every Moment Count’ and ‘We’re about people’. We don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk and live by our brand philosophy of ‘Travel.Together.’ which means to travel with one another, the destinations we visit, the cultures we enjoy and the environment, too.

Why we love this operator
Their trips create life-long memories for young people setting off to discover the world.
What they’re known for
Social travel for 18-35 year olds around the world.

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Logistics

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
  • We'll get 24 of your meals, you get the rest. You can expect a healthy breakfast every morning, as well as authentic fish 'n' chips and a few BBQs along the way. We'll also give you plenty of opportunities to try the best gourmet eats in NZ.
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Trip ID
contiki-NGZADW1812

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