EARLY BIRD OFFER! 17 day Auckland to Christchurch Guided Holiday
Enjoy a local connection in picturesque Hinuera Valley, journey through farmland to the turquoise torrent known as Huka Falls and immerse yourself in New Zealand’s Maori culture at Tamaki Maori Village. Each destination offers something unique and charming.
Choose This Trip If You'd Love To:
- Experience New Zealand's amazing sights and delights
- Connect with locals for lunch on their Waikato Dairy Farm
- Witness Milford Sound's waterfalls and Mitre Peak
- Explore Tamaki Maori Village & Walter Peak Sheep Station
Your tour includes:
- Quality accommodation
- Travel by luxury coach
- Experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide
- Airport transfers (see flight information below)
Dining:
- 16 Full buffet breakfasts
- 1 Be My Guest Lunch
- 1 Lunch
- 1 Be My Guest afternoon tea
- 3 Highlight dinners
- 7 Dinners with wine
- 1 Farewell dinner
Tour Highlights:
- Local Connection - discover New Zealand's horse-racing traditions, visiting a former famous jockey's farm in the picturesque Hinuera Valley
- Insider Knowledge - Explore Milford Sound on a nature cruise with a specialist guide and discover the area's spectacular wildlife and natural landscapes
- Cultural Immersion - delve into New Zealand's national identity, exploring an expansive collection related to this country's culture and history at Te Papa
- Sustainable Footprints - contribute to the planting of indigenous trees in the wildfire-affected Port Hills
Day 1 - Welcome to Auckland
On arrival in Auckland you'll have time at leisure to explore or relax. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Reception and dinner with your Travel Director.
Hotel: Stamford Plaza Auckland, 2 nights
Included Meals: Dinner with wine
Day 2 - Auckland
After a city sights tour enjoy time at leisure.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 - Auckland - Tauranga
You’re invited to a Be My Guest lunch at the Red Barn on the Waikato farm of Lance and Bridgette O’Sullivan, New Zealand horse racing royalty. Later, travel to Tauranga, in the Bay of Plenty.
Hotel: Trinity Wharf Tauranga
Included Meals: Breakfast, Be My Guest Lunch, Dinner with wine
Day 4 - Tauranga - Rotorua
Travel through Te Puke to visit Kiwifruit Country, then on to Rotorua for an orientation tour. This afternoon explore Te Puia Thermal Reserve. Then an evening of culture, history and a Hangi feast Highlight Dinner awaits you at the Tamaki Māori Village.
Hotel: Millennium Hotel, Rotorua, 2 nights
Included Meals: Breakfast, Highlight dinner
Day 5 - Rotorua - Included Choice
Embark on one of your Included Choice sightseeing experiences. Glide through the Waitomo Glowworm Grotto, take an ancient forest zipline adventure with Canopy Tours, visit the Hobbiton Movie Set, or explore Rotorua and its lakes in an amphibious WWll-era Duck.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 - Rotorua - Wellington
Journey through forests and farmland to the turquoise torrent known as Huka Falls. The road unfolds in a broad panorama of stunning Lake Taupo. Continue south and along the Kapiti Coast to the capital city, Wellington.
Hotel: James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 - Wellington - Blenheim
Explore Te Papa Museum of New Zealand. This afternoon cruise the Cook Strait into tranquil Queen Charlotte Sound. The village of Picton is next, then it’s on to Blenheim for a city sightseeing tour. Tonight, enjoy a 3-course Highlight Dinner celebrating local produce and the wines of the Marlborough region.
Hotel: Chateau Marlborough
Included Meals: Breakfast, Highlight dinner
Day 8 -Blenheim - Christchurch
Travel to Kaikoura, where sperm whales can often be seen not far from shore. Travel along the Pacific coast and across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.
Hotel: Distinction Christchurch Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 - Christchurch - Twizel
This morning, join our Sustainable Tourism Commitment by planting a native tree in the Port Hills of Christchurch, an area recovering from wildfire. Next, visit the home of Angie and Stan Taylor at Lake Tekapo, for a Be My Guest afternoon tea and to learn about a lifetime spent farming. Later, view the little stone-hewn Church of the Good Shepherd on your way to Twizel.
Hotel: MacKenzie Country Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast, Be my Guest afternoon tea, Dinner with wine
Day 10 - Twizel - Dunedin - Included Choice
Journey along the Waitaki River, with a photo stop at the Waitaki Hydro Power Scheme and Benmore Dam. Travel through to Oamaru and on to Dunedin. Choose an Included Choice sightseeing experience. Take a wildlife cruise out to Otago Peninsula, visit the famous Speight's Brewery or ride the historic Taieri Gorge Railway.
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with wine
Day 11 - Dunedin - Te Anau
After free time, travel through lush sheepfarming land. Then the rolling, grassy hills turn back into forested, rugged mountains, as you meander your way up into Fiordland National Park to Te Anau.
Hotel: Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with wine
Day 12 - Te Anau - Queenstown
You will take the scenic journey through the rainforests, beech forests and meadows of Fiordland National Park and out to Milford Sound to cruise on this natural wonder. Afterwards, travel to Queenstown for an orientation tour.
Hotel: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown, 2 nights
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 13 - Queenstown - Included Choice
Choose an Included Choice sightseeing experience. Ride the Shotover Jet, take a gondola to Bob’s Peak and visit Kiwi Birdlife Park or a minibus tour through Skippers Canyon. This evening, cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue Highlight Dinner.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Highlight dinner
Day 14 - Queenstown - Franz Josef
Visit the gold mining settlement of Arrowtown. From here you will travel to Cromwell to taste delicious stone fruit at a local orchard. It is a day of gorgeous lakes, as you travel further into Central Otago. Cross over the Haast Pass as the landscape changes from alpine scenery to the rainforest marvels of the wild West Coast. Your destination is the extraordinary Franz Josef Glacier.
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier (Douglas Wing)
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with wine
Day 15 - Franz Josef - Punakaiki
Visit Hokitika, home of the native greenstone for a factory visit and jewellery demonstration. Later, travel to Punakaiki to view the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. You’ll spend the night in an eco-friendly resort right on the waterfront.
Hotel: Punakaiki Resort
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with wine
Day 16 - Punakaiki - Christchurch
Travel to Greymouth to visit the iconic Monteith’s Brewery and taste some of their innovative brews before a pub-style lunch. Later you will journey aboard the TranzAlpine train to Christchurch. This evening, join your Travel Director and new-found friends for a Farewell Dinner.
Hotel: Distinction Christchurch Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Farewell dinner
Day 17 - Depart Christchurch
Say farewell to your fellow travellers when your holiday concludes after breakfast.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Don't want to pay the single supplement? Ask us how you can be matched with another traveller of the same gender!
Freecall our local travel team on 1300 414 198 for details or to book your holiday NOW!
Please note that prices are subject to availability at time of booking and may be withdrawn at any time without notice.
*EARLY BIRD OFFER - Book and pay in full by 31 Jan 2020 and SAVE UP TO 10% PER PERSON!
Twin share NOW from $6,827 per person
Solo NOW from $9,032 per person
- 07-23 Apr 2020
- 14-30 Apr 2020
- 21 Apr-07 May 2020
- 02-18 Jun 2020
- 30 Jun-16 Jul 2020
- 28 Jul-13 Aug 2020
- 11-27 Aug 2020
- 25 Aug-10 Sep 2020
- 01-17 Sep 2020
- 08-24 Sep 2020
- 15 Sep-01 Oct 2020
- 22 Sep-08 Oct 2020
Twin share NOW from $7,565 per person
Solo NOW from $10,040 per person
- 06-22 Oct 2020
- 13-29 Oct 2020
- 20 Oct-05 Nov 2020
- 27 Oct-12 Nov 2020
- 03-19 Nov 2020
- 10-26 Nov 2020
- 17 Nov-03 Dec 2020
- 24 Nov-10 Dec 2020
- 01-17 Dec 2020
- 08-24 Dec 2020
- 15-31 Dec 2020
- 22 Dec 2020-07 Jan 2021
- 29 Dec 2020-14 Jan 2021
- 05-21 Jan 2021
- 12-28 Jan 2021
- 19 Jan-04 Feb 2021
- 12-28 Jan 2021
- 19 Jan-04 Feb 2021
- 26 Jan-11 Feb 2021
- 09-25 Feb 2021
- 16 Feb-04 Mar 2021
- 23 Feb-11 Mar 2021
- 02-18 Mar 2021
- 09-25 Mar 2021
- 16 Mar-01 Apr 2021
- 23 Mar-08 Apr 2021
- 30 Mar-15 Mar 2021
Don't want to pay the single supplement? Ask us how you can be matched with another traveller of the same gender!
Freecall our local travel team on 1300 414 198 for details or to book your holiday NOW!
Your Guided Holiday includes a range of quality accommodation for your comfort. The accommodation you will enjoy on this tour includes:
- Stamford Plaza Auckland
- Trinity Wharf Tauranga
- Millennium Hotel, Rotorua
- James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor
- Chateau Marlborough
- Distinction Christchurch Hotel
- MacKenzie Country Hotel
- Scenic Hotel Southern Cross
- Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas
- Millennium Hotel, Queenstown
- Scenic hotel Franz Josef Glacier
- Punakaiki Resort
- Distinction Christchurch Hotel
Flight Information:
- Day 1 - Flights to arrive prior to 4.00pm into Auckland Airport
- Day 17 - Flights to depart anytime from Christchurch Airport
What to Bring:
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat
- Water bottle
- Camera
- Jacket in cooler months
Fitness Requirements:
- Low level of fitness required
Travel at 60 booking conditions apply
* Early Bird Offer T&Cs - Guests receive a 10% discount on a AAT Kings operated First Choice Guided Holidays in Australia and New Zealand when booked and paid in full by 31 January 2020. First Choice from price includes a 10% discount. Discount applicable to tour portion only. Single travellers must pay single supplement fee. Valid for sale from 26 August 2019 till 31 January 2020. Valid for travel from 01 April 2020 – 31 March 2021. Blackout departure dates may apply. For new bookings only. Subject to availability and seasonal surcharge. Offer combinable with applicable discounts only - Kings Club Past Guest Discount of up to 5% available for guests who have previously travelled with Inspiring Journeys, AAT Kings or our family of brands. Further conditions apply. Discounts are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. ATAS No. 10527c.
This holiday deal has expired.
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