New Zealand Uncovered (Southbound)
Overview
Highlights
- Discover the diversity of Rotorua, from the geothermal activity to the rich Maori culture – visit a Maori village for a hangi dinner and watch a traditional haka performance.
- Admire the landscapes of Tongariro National Park – home to emerald green lakes and soaring volcanic peaks. If you’re up for the challenge, tackle the famous Tongariro Crossing.
- Get to know New Zealand’s creative and cosmopolitan capital, Wellington. Your local leader will show you the best of the city, including the Weta Workshop of Lord of the Rings fame.
- Live it up in the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown. Whether you fancy bungy jumping, jet boating, 4WD-ing through Lord of the Rings scenery or wine tasting, there’s something here for everyone.
- Take one of the world’s most scenic train journeys and cross the spectacular Southern Alps on the famous TranzAlpine from the West Coast to Christchurch.
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Max Group Size
Trip includes
- Coromandel Peninsula - Cathedral Cove
- Coromandel Peninsula - Hot Water Beach
- Raglan - Fish & Chips Dinner
- Raglan - Sunset Boat Cruise
- Waitomo - Ruakuri Bush Walk
- Rotorua - Redwood Forest Canopy Walk
- Rotorua - Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
- Rotorua - Pohutu Geyser
- Rotorua - Hangi Dinner & Haka Dance
- Taupo - Huka Falls
- Wellington - Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary
- Lake Tekapo - Mt John Lookout
- Wanaka - Mou Waho Island Cruise & Guided Nature Walk
- Franz Josef - Greenstone Pendant Carving
- Greymouth - Tranz Alpine Train Journey
- Hokitika - Mountain Jade Greenstone Factory
Itinerary
Welcome to Aotearoa (New Zealand) – the land of the long white cloud! Your adventure begins in Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest, busiest city on the North Island. Meet your local leader and new travel friends at your accommodation at 6 pm for a welcome meeting tonight....
This morning, leave the bright lights of Auckland City in the rear-view mirror as you jump in your vehicle and drive to the Coromandel Peninsula, following the coastline. A land of white sand beaches and rainforests, the Coromandel Peninsula feels a world away from wh...
Hit the road and make a scenic drive to Raglan, passing hills and valleys. The journey will be broken up with photo stops, including a visit to the 55-m cascade of the Bridal Veil Falls. Widely considered to be New Zealand’s premier surf spot, Raglan is the ideal plac...
This morning’s adventure takes you underground during an optional visit to the Waitomo Caves – a subterranean system of caverns and passageways illuminated by thousands of glow worms. You may like to join a walking tour to hear the story of the caves’ history, geology...
Spend the day discovering the natural and cultural wonders of Rotorua – home to simmering mud pools, dramatic geysers and fluorescent lakes. If you’ve got a head for heights, ziplining through Rotorua’s ancient forests is an unbeatable way to take it all in. This even...
Rotorua’s Polynesian Spa is the perfect place to unwind with your free morning. Or, you can head to Kuirau Park to walk through a landscape of hissing natural hot pools. This afternoon, say goodbye to Rotorua and get on the road for Taupo. Stop at the thundering Huka ...
A volcanic eruption 70,000 years ago created the magnificent Lake Taupo, which now hosts visitors from around New Zealand and the world, keen to both relax and get their blood pumping with the adventure sports and hikes on offer. With a free day here, you’ll have plen...
Wellington is calling – leave Taupo behind and drive on to New Zealand’s trendy capital city. Strung between green hills and the harbour, Wellington holds onto a small-town charm despite its capital status. The city is known for its creative and artistic endeavours, a...
Kick the day off with an orientation tour of the city with your leader, checking out the bays, central Wellington, the Botanic Gardens and the Parliament Buildings. Next up it's a visit to Zealandia – a groundbreaking conservation project that has successfully reintro...
Today is a free day in Wellington to explore at your own pace. After breakfast, you'll say goodbye to the members leaving your group and get ready for the next stage of the adventure.
Embrace a free morning to enjoy all Wellington has to offer. You’ll then fly down to Christchurch – the South Island’s biggest city. Sparsely populated and spectacularly beautiful, the South Island is a paradise for lovers of nature, wildlife and the great outdoors. Y...
Christchurch is not just a pretty city – it’s also remarkably resilient. After a devastating earthquake destroyed much of the downtown area in 2011, the city has begun to rebuild in innovative and creative ways. Head out with your leader this morning to see this for y...
Hit the road this morning for a journey to remember – watch out the window as you pass the sprawling grasslands of the Mackenzie Basin and showstopping peaks of the Southern Alps. Your drive will be broken up with plenty of scenic stops, including a visit to Kawarau G...
The day is all yours to discover the varied delights of Queenstown. There are loads of options to get your heartrate up, whether you fancy shooting down the river on a jet boat, river kayaking, flying above the town in a gondola or a 4WD adventure through landscapes o...
Take the chance this morning to cross off any Queenstown activities you didn’t have time for yesterday – be sure to speak to your leader for tips on the best way to spend a morning here. In the afternoon, get back on the road for the scenic drive to Wanaka, through th...
Visit Mou Waho Island today. Accessible only by boat and famous for being home to an (unnamed) island, in a lake (Arethusa Pool), on an island (Mou Waho), in a lake (Lake Wanaka), on an island (the South Island) in the ocean (the Pacific). Sounds complicated, but once...
Enjoy a free morning in Wanaka, then get back on the road and make tracks for Franz Josef. This is another incredible drive, so have your camera ready! Depending on the weather, stop off at either Lake Hawea or Lake Wanaka lookout points. Along the way, your leader wi...
Rise and shine – you’re in one of the most beautiful places in the world, and there's so much to discover here. Known for the dazzling Franz Josef Glacier and awe-inspiring views of Mt Cook, this is natural beauty on the biggest scale. The region also has a cultural h...
Begin the journey up the west coast – this is the rainiest part of New Zealand, resulting in greenery and lush rainforests like nowhere else in the country. Stop off in the town of Hokitika to visit a pounamu factory and maybe pick up any last minute souvenirs of gift...
Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to spend some more time in Christchurch, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.
Want a tailor-made trip instead?
Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:
- You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
- Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Dates & Availability
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.
Intrepid Travel Reviews & Ratings
Other Intrepid Travel Reviews
EBC trek with Intrepid.
I did the EBC trek with Intrepid in September and October. Our group missed the first 3 days of the planned 12 day trek due to bad weather. There was a real fear we...
Terrific organisation, unforgettable experiences.
I did my first Intrepid trip on the Camino de Santiago and it was simply excellent every step of the way. Pre-travel organisation was comprehensive and well organis...
We travelled 8 days in Morrocco with…
We travelled 8 days in Morrocco with Mahdi as our guide. We loved the trip and found Mahdi and the other local guides very informative and friendly. The accommodatio...
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
- Local leaders - authentic perspectives
- Local transport - get close and personal
- Local accommodation - experience real living
- Intrepid travelers - like-minded companions
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.
Values
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
- Innovation – Thriving on new ideas and embracing change
- Fun – It’s engrained into who we are and what we do
- Passion – We are inspired by the work we do and the trips we offer
Associations
About Travelstride
Find your perfect trip
Save time
Save money
Travel confidently
Logistics
Accommodation
Transportation & Flights
Transportation & flights
Finish point
- Bealey Quarter Studios
- 263 Bealey Avenue
- Christchurch
- NEW ZEALAND
Become a member
- Save up to $700 per person
- Access members-only specials
- Personalize trip recommendations