Group tour of New Zealand, 6-25 November 2020
Updated: Apr 28, 2020
Don't miss out your chance to go around entire New Zealand, visit its best places, explore its hidden gems, and try the authentic experience of Aotearoa withing a guided tour in a small group of up to 11 people.
Route: Auckland - Coromandel peninsula - Hobbiton - Waitomo - Rotorua - Waimangu valley - Wai-O-Tapu - Huka Falls - Taupo - Tongariro NP - Wellington - Picton - Nelson - Abel Tasman NP - Blenheim - Kaikoura - Christchurch - lake Tekapo - Mount Cook and Pukaki lake - Clay Cliffs - Oamaru – Moeraki boulders - Dunedin - Te Anau - Milford Sound - Queenstown - Auckland.
Duration of the tour: 20 days/19 nights (6-25 November 2020)
Number of tourists: 6-11 people
Cost: 6,096 NZD per person in a twin share room. 6,885 NZD per person in a single room.
Included:
1. Accommodation at 3-4* hotels with breakfasts.
2. Activities according to the itinerary below.
3. Services of a licenced guide-driver.
4. 12-seater Toyota Hiace minibus incl petrol.
5. Ferry tickets from Wellington to Picton.
6. Domestic flight from Queenstown to Auckland.
7. GST
Day 1
6 November, Friday
Place: Auckland
Itinerary:
Arrival in Auckland. Airport meet and greet. Transfer to a hotel.
Day 2
7 November, Saturday
Place: Auckland
Itinerary:
10:00 – 14:00 Auckland city tour: Albert Park, Auckland university, Mt Eden, Domein, Mission Bay.
14:00 – 15:30 Lunch at a Belgium pub & restaurant De Fontain, which is famous for its mussels and beer. There are good steaks here as well. Pay direct.
15:30 – 16:10 Driving to the Bethells beach in Western Auckland.
16:10 – 18:00 Te Henga walkway: bush, black sand beach, spectacular views of the Tasman sea.
18:00 – 19:45 Driving to Sky Tower, lifting to Orbit restaurant.
19:45 – 21:15 Dinner at the revolving Orbit restaurant. Extra activity. Booking is essential!
Day 3
8 November, Sunday
Place: Auckland – Coromandel peninsula
Itinerary:
10:00 – 13:00 Driving to Coromandel peninsula.
After lunch we'll visit Hot Water Beach. This is the ultimate bucket list item! Not only is it a fabulous golden beach, you can also dig your own natural spa & sit soaking in hot water watching the sun rise. The name comes from the geothermal activity which pushes underground hot spring water up through the sand, allowing visitors to enjoy this unusual gift for two hours either side of low tide.
Day 4
9 November, Monday
Place: Coromandel peninsula
Itinerary:
09:40 – 10:00 Tour check-in.
10:00 – 11:00 Hahei Explorer Boat tour with Cathedral Cove.
Today we’ll visit the famous Cathedral Cove where movie “The Chronicles of Narnia. Prince Caspian” was filmed. Also we’ll visit other local coves and beaches.
Day in leisure.
Day 5
10 November, Tuesday
Place: Coromandel peninsula – Hobbiton – Waitomo - Rotorua
Itinerary:
08:00 – 11:00 Driving from Whitianga to Hobbiton.
11:00 – 11:30 Tour check-in.
11:30 – 13:30 Tour of the legendary Hobbiton.
13:30 – 14:30 Lunch at Shire's Rest Café (pay direct).
14:30 – 16:00 Driving to Waitomo.
16:00 – 17:00 Tour to Glowworm Cave (it is dry).
17:00 – 20:00 Driving to Rotorua.
Day 6
11 November, Wednesday
Place: Rotorua
09:40 – 10:00 Driving to Redwood.
10:00 – 11:30 Redwoods Treewalk Rotorua.
11:30 - 12:00 Driving to SkyLine, lifting by Gondola to the Ngongotaha mountain.
12:00 – 13:00 3 luge rides per person. It’s very funny and suitable for all ages! Pay direct.
13:00 – 14:30 Buffet lunch at Stratosphere restaurant.
14:30 – 15:30 Rainbow Springs tour where you’ll see a kiwi bird.
15:30 – 17:30 Walk along the shore of lake Rotorua, Government gardens, shopping.
17:30 – 18:00 Driving to Te Puia, tour check-in.
18:00 – 21:00 Indigenous Evening Experience at Te Puia. You will see the world famous haka dance, try hangi meal and enjoy Pohutu geyser eruption.
Day 7
12 November, Thursday
Place: Rotorua – Waimangu valley - Wai-O-Tapu – Huka Falls - Taupo
Itinerary:
08:00 – 08:30 Driving to Waimangu valley.
08:30 – 11:00 Hiking in Waimangu valley (boat cruise is not included). Waimangu Volcanic Valley geothermal park encompasses beautiful Lake Rotomahana and is set in pristine NZ forestry. Lake Rotomahana is the newest of NZ’s larger, naturally formed lakes – protected as a wildlife refuge, it's home to large numbers of birds all year round. Intact remnants of the fabled Pink & White Terraces, once the 8th Wonder of the World & buried in June 1886 when Mt Tarawera erupted, have been found on the bed of the lake.
11:00 – 11:30 Driving to Wai-O-Tapu.
11:30 – 13:00 Tour of Wai-O-Tapu geothermal park. New Zealand's Wai-O-Tapu, renowned for being NZ’s most colourful geothermal area has been named in the '20 Most Surreal Places you need to see to believe'. A short drive from Rotorua or Taupo, Waiotapu (Maori for 'sacred waters') is an active geothermal area, with the Lady Knox geyser & many hot springs distinguished by their uniquely colourful appearance.
13:00 – 13:40 Driving to Huka Prawn Park.
13:40 – 15:00 Lunch at Huka Prawn Park restaurant. Pay direct. You may take a thrilling Huka Falls Jet ride (extra activity, booking is essential)
15:00 – 15:30 Honey centre where you can buy famous hilarious Manuka honey and cosmetics made with honey.
15:30 – 16:30 Huka falls and Taupo lake lookout. Just north of Lake Taupo you'll find NZ's most visited attraction, the magnificent Huka Falls, where more than 220,000 litres of water thunder over the cliff face every second. Forced into a narrow ravine of hard volcanic rock, the wide Waikato River bursts through in an awesome display of natural hydro power. Hike there along the Huka Falls Trail, an easy one hour walk through exotic & native forests.
16:30 Hotel check-in.
In the evening we recommend relaxation in thermal pools of Wairakei Terraces (extra activity, pay direct).
Day 8
13 November, Friday
Place: Taupo – Tongariro NP (Ohakune)
Itinerary:
09:00 – 11:00 Driving to Tongariro National Park.
11:00 – 13:00 Taranaki Falls Loop track. An option: 30-minute Volcanic Explorer Flight (extra activity, booking is essential).
13:00 – 14:30 Lunch at Chateau Tongariro (pay direct)
An option is Tongariro Crossing hike (without a guide). Departure from Taupo is at 7 am, pick-up at the end of the track is at 4-5:30 pm.
Day 9
14 November, Saturday
Place: Tongariro NP (Ohakune) – Wellington
10:00 – 16:00 Driving to Wellington.
Free evening in the capital of New Zealand. You are welcome to visit a theater or an opera or a ballet.
Day 10
15 November, Sunday
Place: Wellington – Picton - Nelson
Itinerary:
09:00 – 13:00 Wellington City tour: Mt Victoria lookout, Te Papa Tongarewa museum, The Parliament (The Beehive), White House.
13:00 – 13:30 Driving to ferry terminal.
13:30 – 14:45 Ferry check-in.
14:45 – 17:55 Driving by ferry to South island.
18:00 – 18:30 Luggage claim.
18:30 – 20:30 Driving to Nelson. Hotel check-in.
Day 11
16 November, Monday
Place: Nelson – Abel Tasman NP - Nelson
Itinerary:
07:00 – 08:15 Driving to Abel Tasman NP.
08:15 – 08:30 Tour check-in.
08:30 – 16:30 Abel Tasman Kayaking: Kayak & Pitt Head Nature Loop
Kayak: Marahau to Observation Beach or the reverse approx 2 hours.
Unguided walk: walk to Anchorage via Pitt Head Loop approx 3 hours. Tourists may ignore Pitt Head Loop and stay on Anchorage beach and relax waiting for a water taxi.
We provide: a top quality double or single kayak, lifejacket, paddle, spray shirt, paddle jacket, dry bags to keep your camera safe, a detailed map and a full safety briefing with a qualified guide.
What to bring: water bottle, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, towel, swimsuit, wool or fleece jumper, wind jacket, change or clothes, camera and any medication to ensure you have the best time possible.
Lunch is included.
16:30 – 18:00 Returning to Nelson.
Day 12
17 November, Tuesday
Itinerary:
Wine tour in the famous Marlborough region: wine tasting in 3 wineries – Cloudy bay, Fromm (with lunch pay direct), Wairau River.
Free time in Blenheim.
Day 13
18 November, Wednesday
Place: Blenheim – Kaikoura - Christchurch
Itinerary:
09:00 – 11:30 Driving to Kaikoura. There is a fur seal colony on your way. Park a car and enjoy these cut creatures.
11:30 – 13:00 Lunch with crayfish at the Pier Hotel restaurant (pay direct).
13:00 – 13:15 Driving to Whale Watch Kaikoura.
13:15 – 16:45 Whale Watch Boat Tour.
17:00 – 20:00 Driving to Christchurch. Hotel check-in.
Day 14
19 November, Thursday
Place: Christchurch
Itinerary:
10:00 – 13:00 Christchurch city tour: Cathedral Square - Transitional Cathedral - 185 white chairs – Botanic gardens. Canterbury museum as an option.
13:00 – 14:30 Lunch at Curators House. Pay direct.
14:30 – 15:00 Driving to Antarctic centre.