Legendary New Zealand
Overview
Highlights
- From the geothermal delight of Rotorua to the pristine beaches of the Coromandel Peninsula and endless waters of Lake Taupo, experience the beauty of the North Island.
- Head to a Maori village where profits from your visit are fed back into the community, learn the haka and Maori weaving before tucking into a traditional hangi dinner.
- Calling all adventure seekers! Queenstown is overflowing with adrenaline-pumping activities, so dive straight in or sit back with a glass of world-class local wine.
- Stand in awe of the epic Franz Josef glacier and visit a local gallery to learn about the significance of pounamu (greenstone) to Maori culture while carving your own pendant.
- Explore the coastal delights of Abel Tasman National Park, where secluded coves and golden beaches make walking, kayaking and swimming a real joy.
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Trip includes
- Coromandel Peninsula - Hot Water Beach
- Rotorua - Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
- Coromandel Peninsula - Cathedral Cove
- Murupara - Hangi Dinner
- Rotorua - Pohutu Geyser
- Rotorua - Visit Te Puia Maori Village
- Murupara - Learn to Weave Flax
- Murupara - Learn the Haka
- Murupara - Village Tour with Maori Elder
- Tongariro National Park - Scenic Drive
- Wellington - Mount Victoria Lookout
- Marlborough - Cook Strait Ferry Crossing
- Wellington - Mount Victoria Lookout
- Kaikoura - Visit to a Seal Colony
- Lake Tekapo - Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd
- Christchurch - City Tour
- Queenstown - Kawarau Gorge
- Arrowtown - Village visit
- West Coast - Haast Pass
- West Coast - Lake Hawea Lookout
- Franz Josef - Carve your own Pounamu Necklace
- Hokitika - Mountain Jade Greenstone Factory
- Punakaiki - Overnight in a Rainforest Retreat
- Punakaiki - Pancake Rocks Visit
- Marlborough - Cook Strait Ferry Crossing
- Marlborough - Visit Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve
- Abel Tasman National Park - Paddle a Waka (war canoe)
Itinerary
![Travel Map](https://static.travelstride.com/store/map_image/5210750/attachment/87d08a302f60765ccccc7d9c62832b72.gif)
Welcome to the North Island! Your adventure begins in Auckland where you’ll meet up with your local leader and new travel buddies for an 8am welcome meeting and included breakfast. You won’t hang around in the city for long – after your meeting, get on the road and tr...
Take a deeper dive into the inspiring landscapes of the Coromandel Peninsula with a walk along the clifftops and down to Cathedral Cove, one of the region’s most beautiful and photogenic spots – the rock arches, columns and pristine beaches are a truly impressive sigh...
There’s so much to see and do in Rotorua, so today is free to discover it all. Have a chat to your local leader for tips on how to get the most out of your day here. You may like to take an unforgettable stroll through Kuirau Park, surrounded by bubbling and boiling m...
Start the day with a visit to the Te Puia Maori Village, where you’ll get firsthand insight into Maori culture. You’ll also have the chance to see Pohutu, New Zealand’s largest geyser, in action – this is a sight that will blow you away! A visit to the kiwi conservati...
Hit the road this morning and head to Taupo, but not before making some interesting stops along the way. Check out simmering mud pools, the rushing waters of the Huka Falls and the impressive Aratiatia Dam and rapids. Arrive in Taupo, nestled into the shores of Lake T...
The day is yours to enjoy all Taupo has to offer. Chill out lakeside to soak in the inspiring views, or get active and take on one of the awesome hiking trails in the area. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, the Tongariro Crossing in the nearby Tongariro National Pa...
Get ready for a long drive from Taupo to Wellington with views so incredible you’ll wish the drive was longer! Weave through the barren landscapes of the Rangipo Desert and pass through Tongariro National Park. Look out for the volcanic peaks of Mount Ruapehu, Mount T...
Fall under the spell of the world’s windiest city as you explore Wellington with your local leader today. Stop by local hotspots and hangouts, and if there wasn’t time to visit Mt Victoria yesterday, head up there today for amazing views over the city. Say goodbye to ...
Experiencing Kaikoura’s wildlife while you’re in this corner of the country is a must, so take the chance this morning to get to know the town’s most famous creatures. You may like to set out on a trip to encounter dolphins in their natural habitat – dusky dolphins, h...
A meeting will take place at 8am this morning to welcome any new travellers joining you for the next leg of your journey before heading out to get to know Christchurch. After being rocked by an earthquake in 2011, much of Christchurch’s downtown was destroyed, but the...
Rise and shine! If you’d like to really embrace the morning, a hike to the summit of Mt John rewards with showstopping views of the Southern Alps. If you skip out on the walk, don’t worry, there’s still plenty of incredible views to be seen today. Drive past the tusso...
The day is yours to experience all Queenstown has to offer. If you want to get your heart racing, look no further! Paragliding, jet boating, mountain biking, canyon swinging and bungy jumping could all be on the cards for you today – just speak to your leader about ar...
Take the morning to tick off anything you didn’t get to see or do yesterday, then leave Queenstown in the rear-view mirror and begin the super scenic drive across the Crown Range to Wanaka. Along the way, stop off in the lovely little gold-rush town of Arrowtown, wher...
Enjoy a morning at leisure for your own explorations of Wanaka. There’s no shortage of amazing things to see and do here, so be sure to chat to your leader for their top tips. You may like to take a pleasant bike ride along the shores of Lake Wanaka or get on the wate...
Franz Josef is the stuff of dreams, where glittering glaciers and soaring peaks provide a spectacular background to daily life. This part of the country is known as Te Wahi Pounamu, meaning ‘the place of greenstone’, due to the region’s abundance of this culturally an...
Travel up the wild and wet West Coast, where the country’s highest annual rainfall means the landscapes are unbelievably green and lush, standing in striking contrast to the blue ocean. Stop off in the town of Hokitika and pop into a pounamu factory where you’ll have ...
Wake up to the sounds of the rainforest and embrace the day ahead. Punakaiki’s most famous geological feature is the Pancake Rocks – every bit as enticing as they sound! A short walk will lead you to these impressive stacks of limestone, and when the wind and waves hi...
As you travel on from Punakaiki, watch out the window as more remarkable scenery unfolds before your eyes. Rivers, rugged coastline and dramatic gorges all stream past the window as you make your way towards Nelson, where you’ll stop in to gather supplies before headi...
The day is yours to discover all the inspiring sights of Abel Tasman National Park – be sure to chat to your leader for tips on the best things to do here. If you’re feeling active, the Abel Tasman Coast Track has your name on it – it’s one of New Zealand’s nine Great...
Kick off the day with an unforgettable experience – learning how to paddle a traditional Maori waka (war canoe). You’ll receive a karakia (blessing) before you set off, and learn tikanga (waka etiquette) as you row over calm waters. Then, follow the northern edge of t...
Your adventure comes to an end this morning, but if you'd like to spend more time exploring Wellington, just get in touch ahead of time and we'd be happy to arrange additional accommodation (subject to availability).
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Dates & Availability
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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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Our travelers have three styles of tour to choose from: Basix, Original and Comfort. Each has a different level of inclusions and accommodation, but all have unforgettable real life experiences as part of the package. Travellers can also choose themed trips, such as Family, Sailing or Food, to suit their interests.
Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.
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- YHA Wellington Backpacker Hostel
- 292 Wakefield Street, Te Aro
- Wellington
- NEW ZEALAND
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