New Zealand North Island Explorer Southbound
Overview
Highlights
- Be welcomed to Whakarewarewa by the Maori people who have lived there for over 700 years and wonder at the area’s steaming Te Puia geysers, bubbling mud pits and lakes.
- Feel the rush of Huka Falls, where a 100-metre-wide river is forced through a narrow volcanic chamber, causing a torrent of incredible speed.
- Explore the Abel Tasman National Park independently or on an optional tour, hiking through thick native forest and emerging on deserted sandy beaches.
- Choose to join the group for a full-day trek over the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, hiking past aqua coloured lakes, craters and volcanos.
- Cruise in between green islands Marlborough Sounds, where the hilly islands were once towering mountains and the channels were once dry valleys.
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Trip includes
- Bay of Islands - Evening Harbour cruise
- Rotorua - Te Puia Maori Art & Cultural Centre
- Mt Ruapehu: Scenic flights over volcanos (From price) Minimum 2 pax
- Wellington - Te Papa Museum
- Wellington: Scenic Cruise through Marlborough Sound across to the North Island
- Kaikoura Seal Colony
Itinerary
![Travel Map](https://static.travelstride.com/store/map_image/4834369/attachment/33e357bf98149d0c3b6b42abdd5658e2.gif)
Kia ora! Welcome to Auckland, surrounded by volcanoes and filled with friendly locals and Maoritanga (the Maori way of life). Your adventure kicks off with a welcome meeting at 6 pm at your accommodation. If you have extra time before your trip begins you can take a t...
Depart Auckland this morning, head north to the beautiful Bay of Islands. There's some beautiful scenery along the way, so sit back and enjoy the rolling green hills as your leader explains a bit about this part of New Zealand and what's coming on the journey ahead. T...
Today you have a free day to partake in any of the optional activities you organised yesterday, or alternatively to relax and enjoy the gorgeous bay. Fancy a cruise to the Hole in the Rock, a full-day sailing tour or the chance to get airborne in a parasail? All these activities and more are available to book while you’re here.
Embrace an early start and head back down south to Rotorua, passing back through Auckland. Rotorua is full of geysers and boiling mud pools caused by extensive geothermal activity. It’s also considered the Maori heartland and a place where many ancient traditions live...
After breakfast, another free day in gorgeous surrounds means you can be as active or restful as you’d like. Maybe head to Dansey Road Scenic Reserve for a tour with kiwi bird experts and a zip-lining adventure through 1000-year-old canopy. You could also do a tour t...
Eat breakfast then make tracks for the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute before heading out of town to the spectacular Huka Falls, where a 100-metre-wide river is forced to travel through a narrow volcanic channel, resulting in a powerful rush of water. Spen...
Today you can choose whether to tackle the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. This full-day (approximately 7-hour) hike is considered one of the best in New Zealand and offers rocky trails, magnificent aquamarine lakes and volcanic steam vents. This approximately 20-kilometre...
Leave Tongariro National Park behind and head to the New Zealand capital of Wellington. With more eateries per capita than New York City, Wellington is a fantastic place for foodies. It's also home to the world-class Te Papa Tongarewa (Container of Treasures) museum, ...
Eat breakfast in Wellington, then cross over to the South Island today via the Marlborough Sounds on a scenic ferry ride. Once upon a time, rising sea levels filled valleys with water, resulting in the stunning waterways and steep islands (formerly mountaintops) you s...
Take a day to explore Nelson with a huge amount of optional activities to choose from. Take a kayak or sailing tour through the waters of Abel Tasman National Park, or maybe a tour of the coves and bush trails. Of course, if you’d prefer to explore on your own, you ca...
Drive the beautiful coastline to Kaikoura, known for its rich marine life. On arrival you’re free to explore this mountainous coastal town. Two of the most popular activities on offer here are sperm whale watching and swimming with wild dolphins. Chat to your leader a...
Enjoy a relaxed morning in Kaikoura. After midday, drive to Christchurch where your trip ends on arrival.
Want a tailor-made trip instead?
Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Intrepid Travel.
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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Tour Operator
The Intrepid Travel Experience
If you’re looking for adventure, you’ve come to the right place. For the past 25 years, we’ve been taking small groups of travelers on unforgettable trips around the world. What makes them unforgettable? Take a look for yourself and discover the Intrepid experience.
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.
Why Intrepid?
- Small groups - average of 10 people per trip
- Sustainability - pioneers for the industry
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History
Intrepid Travel has come a long way since its beginnings in 1989. From two university friends, a typewriter and a kitchen desk, it is now a proud member of The Intrepid Group, taking over 100,000 travelers every year.
Intrepid Travel is part of The Intrepid Group of companies, alongside leading small group adventure companies Peregrine, Urban Adventures and PEAK DMC.
Despite growing into a global business with over 1,000 staff based all over the world and over 800 different trips across every continent, we’ve remained devoted to the same grassroots values and responsible travel philosophies that we had at the very beginning.
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On every trip we operate and in every interaction we have with a client, supplier or local, we live our core values everyday:
- Integrity – Doing the right thing
- Responsible – Think global, act local
- Growth – Stakeholders in our own success
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