In this tour you will experience some of New Zealand's most awesome scenery. Discover the best of both the North and South Island, begin in Christchurch, and discover the delights of the South Island including Milford Sound and Queenstown. Admire cultural Rotorua, the stunning Bay of Islands and finishing the tour in Auckland, the 'City of Sails'. New Zealand is a land of immense and diverse landscape.
Fly to Christchurch.
Fly to Christchurch.
On arrival in Christchurch, you will be warmly welcomed and transferred to the Rendezvous Hotel.
After breakfast, we leave for the Christchurch city tour. The tour begins with central city highlights, including the Botanical Gardens, Museum and Art Centre, the Avon River, Bridge of Remembrance, the city's new pop-up container mall, and many other inner-city attractions. The journey continues to the Sign of the Takahe, a famous structure with amazing views of the city, Canterbury Plains, and Southern Alps, followed by Mona Vale, a historic homestead and garden. After that, we cross the Port Hills to the Port of Lyttelton and go through the harbour tunnel to the seaside suburb of Sumner and Cave Rock—one of the most popular tours in Christchurch.
In the evening, enjoy an encounter with a variety of birds and animals during a guided tour of the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, followed by an entertaining evening with the Ko Tane Maori cultural performance and a buffet dinner. Willowbank is home to Ko Tane—an authentic Maori cultural experience that will leave you more knowledgeable, moved, and smiling.
You begin your Mt Cook tour from Christchurch, travelling through the fertile farmland of the Canterbury Plains to the shores of the stunning, glacier-fed Lake Tekapo. Here, you can view the solitary Church of the Good Shepherd and take in the sights of the spectacular Southern Alps. You then continue to the location of New Zealand's tallest mountain, Aoraki / Mount Cook, situated in a national park and UNESCO World Heritage site. Rising to 3,754 metres high, Aoraki certainly lives up to its name, which in Māori can be translated as 'cloud piercer'.
Legend tells of a young boy named Aoraki who was stranded with his brothers when their canoe struck a reef. As it tilted, the brothers climbed to the high side, where they were frozen by the south wind and turned into stone. Aoraki and his brothers now form the Southern Alps. After lunch, you'll have time to explore the village and soak up the view.
The tour continues south, past Lake Pukaki and through the tawny tussock of the Mackenzie Country. Your tour concludes in the evening upon reaching Queenstown. On arrival, check in at the Hilton Queenstown hotel.
Travel along the edge of Lake Wakatipu beneath the rugged Remarkables to Te Anau, the 'Gateway to Fiordland'. This excellent Milford Sound tour is one of the highlights of many Queenstown tours. Here, we enter the Fiordland National Park—prepare to be mesmerised by the rugged grandeur of this region.
As we pass through the Eglinton Valley, you'll see ancient alpine beech forest, stunning waterfalls, and the famous Mirror Lakes, where we will make a photo stop. From here, we continue through the Upper Hollyford Valley, past the beautiful Christie Falls, and enter the 1.2 km Homer Tunnel.
Prepare yourself for the breathtaking impact of the Cleddau Valley and the descent into Milford Sound tour. Here, you will enjoy an unforgettable Red Boat buffet lunch cruise, offering views of the majestic Mitre Peak, rock walls scarred by glaciers rising 1,200 metres vertically from the sea, and waterfalls cascading from hanging valleys into the sound.
Explore a mysterious underground world of rushing water before drifting in silent darkness beneath the luminous shimmer of thousands of glowworms. Hidden beneath the mountains is an underground network of caves lit by these magical creatures. This unique experience is a highlight of many Queenstown tours.
On arrival, join the specialist nature guide for the Te Anau Glowworm Caves experience. The crew will share stories about the natural history and early pioneers of the region. Then, below ground, witness a twisting network of limestone passages and the roaring whirlpools and waterfalls of the Tunnel Burn Stream.
By geological standards, the caves are very young and are still being carved out by the force of this river. Follow the path deep underground before transferring into small boats to drift silently along the river beneath a glittering canopy of glowworms in the glowworm grotto. In the subterranean darkness, they produce a sparkling display that is nothing short of extraordinary
Free to explore Queenstown on your own.
After breakfast, we leave for Franz Josef—an unforgettable journey that's often included in some of the most scenic tours in Queenstown. Breathe in the deep, earthy scents of a West Coast rainforest, listen to the calls of native birds, and feast on the sights of nature in all its abundance.
This tour takes you past wonderful landscapes, from high mountain peaks to the crystal-clear blue lakes of Wakatipu, Dunstan, Wanaka, and Hawea. You’ll stop at Wanaka, a destination blessed with an incomparable alpine panorama, and Makarora, surrounded by lush rainforest and the majestic mountains of the Southern Alps.
On arrival in Franz Josef, check in at Glen Villas Hotel and take in the raw beauty of New Zealand’s glacier country.
Departing Franz Josef township—an iconic stop on many Queenstown glacier tours—you’ll travel northwards through magnificent bush scenery, passing the beautiful Lakes Mapourika and Ianthe, along with lush green farmland, en route to the township of Hokitika, famous for its Greenstone (Jade) factory.
From Hokitika, continue along the Tasman Sea coastline, enjoying magnificent coastal views before arriving in Greymouth, the largest city on the West Coast. From here, your adventure continues with one of the most scenic New Zealand train tours—the TranzAlpine Express—one of the world's most famous train trips. This wonderful journey takes you over the Southern Alps, through Arthur’s Pass, and onwards to Christchurch.
On arrival in Christchurch, check in at the Rendezvous Hotel and reflect on the breathtaking landscapes you've experienced.
After breakfast, transfer to Christchurch Airport to board your flight to Rotorua. On arrival, you will be welcomed and transferred to the Rydges Hotel. In the evening, experience one of the most culturally immersive Rotorua tours as you visit the renowned Tamaki Tours Rotorua.
Your driver-guide will warmly welcome you on board as you head 20 minutes out of Rotorua to the pre-European Tamaki Maori Village. Here, you'll observe the people of the land demonstrating traditional activities such as carving, weaving, hut thatching, food preparation, hunting, and ancient cooking techniques.
The Tamaki Cultural Group delivers a powerful performance of waiata (songs), haka, and traditional dance, offering deep insight into Maori heritage. The evening features a traditional hangi meal, slow-cooked underground on hot rocks for three to four hours, served buffet-style.
After dinner, enjoy time mingling with the locals and exploring the Tribal Market Place, where you'll find meaningful Maori treasures such as bone carvings and handcrafted jewellery. The evening concludes with a moving closing ceremony, song, and speeches.
Enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of Rotorua. As part of these immersive Rotorua tours, begin your experience at Te Puia, where you'll gain insight into Maori culture and traditions. Explore workshops where master weavers and carvers pass on their ancestral skills, then step into the Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley to witness its surreal landscape of boiling mud pools and steaming vents. A major highlight is the famous Pohutu Geyser, which erupts with jets of vapour reaching up to 30 metres into the air.
Next, encounter native and exotic wildlife at Rainbow Springs Nature Park, including New Zealand’s iconic flightless bird, the kiwi. Learn about these endangered creatures and view them in a special nocturnal enclosure.
Continue your exploration at the Agrodome, a working farm on the city's outskirts, where you’ll gain insight into New Zealand’s thriving agricultural industry. Enjoy an entertaining show featuring sheep shearing and skilled sheepdogs in action.
Conclude your adventure with a ride on the Skyline Gondola to the summit of Mount Ngongotaha. From 487 metres above sea level, take in breathtaking panoramic views over Rotorua’s main centre, Lake Rotorua, and the surrounding countryside.
Take a sightseeing day tour from Rotorua to Auckland, including a guided Waitomo Caves New Zealand tour. Leaving the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua in the morning, we travel through lush farmland into the King Country region. Along the way, enjoy your driver-guide's commentary on the area's history and highlights, and take in spectacular sights like Fitzgerald Glade, where the trees arch overhead to form a tunnel of natural greenery.
After arriving in the small town of Waitomo, you'll embark on a 45-minute guided tour through the world-famous Glowworm Caves, discovered in 1887 and now one of New Zealand's most popular tourist destinations. Wander through subterranean caverns and learn how the stalagmites, stalactites, and other spectacular limestone formations were created over millions of years.
To end your tour, enjoy a magical boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto, surrounded by the twinkling lights of thousands of glowworms. Upon arrival in Auckland, check in at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Discover Auckland's charms on a half-day Auckland city tour showcasing its scenic highlights. Travel through the city centre, along fascinating Karangahape Road, past fashionable Ponsonby, and over the iconic Auckland Harbour Bridge. Visit the Viaduct Harbour and Auckland's famous Queen Street before continuing to the Auckland Domain, the city’s oldest park.
Continue to Parnell Village and explore the boutique shops and speciality stores of this historic suburb during a morning tea break (own expense). Then travel along the scenic waterfront route of Tamaki Drive en route to Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park, above Mission Bay. This tranquil park offers panoramic views over Auckland city and the Waitemata Harbour.
Your city sights tour concludes with a trip back along the waterfront to downtown Auckland. The afternoon is free for your own leisure and other activities, making this one of the popular Auckland tours for visitors.
After breakfast, discover the beautiful and historic Bay of Islands region and enjoy a dolphin-watching cruise on a full-day return tour from Auckland—one of the popular Auckland island tours. Travel through Northland’s spectacular rural countryside and sub-tropical bush en route to Paihia, where you'll board the catamaran Dolphin Seeker for a cruise around the Bay of Islands.
Dolphin Seeker is licensed for dolphin and whale viewing and features large outdoor decks to maximise your chances of spotting common and bottlenose dolphins, whales, and other marine life. Keep your camera ready as the experienced local crew brings you up close to the action. Cruise through the sheltered waters of the Bay to Cape Brett Lighthouse and marvel at the majestic Hole in the Rock on Motukokako Island. (Conditions permitting, the skipper will navigate through the narrow rock passage.)
On your return, experience a guided tour of the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where in 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed—a landmark event in New Zealand’s history. Finally, rejoin your coach for the return journey to Auckland.
This full-day excursion is one of the must-do Auckland tours for visitors wanting to explore the region’s natural beauty and rich heritage.
Coromandel Peninsula’s amazing landscape consists of a mountainous, forest-covered backbone, with the Pacific Ocean on the east and the sheltered bays and coves of the Hauraki Gulf on the west. Embark on a scenic Coromandel Peninsula tour from Auckland, beginning with a drive along the spectacular western coastline to Coromandel Town.
Ride the mountain railway through the rugged landscape, then journey through pristine rainforest, stopping for a peaceful stroll to view ancient kauri trees. Continue to the stunning east coast, where you'll stop at Hot Water Beach—famous for its natural hot spring in the middle of the beach, where you can take a rejuvenating dip.
The adventure continues at Cathedral Cove, where the Pacific Ocean flows through a natural rock arch, leading to a beautiful white sandy beach surrounded by striking white cliffs. This wonderful day is one of the most scenic and fulfilling tours in Auckland, making it a perfect choice for both nature enthusiasts and thrill-seekers alike.
Transfer to Auckland airport to board your flight to UK. Arrive home today.
| # | Date | Price | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 September 2025 | £1,200 | Book Now |
The Auckland Harbour Bridge stretches across the beautiful Waitematā Harbour.
The Avon River is a peaceful and scenic jewel that flows through the heart of Christc
Located in the heart of Christchurch, the Bridge of Remembrance stands as a powerful
Franz Josef Glacier is one of New Zealand’s most accessible and spectacular nat
Located in Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, Christchurch, Ko Tāne offers an authentic journey into Māori culture with traditional practices, performances, and timeless s
Few landscapes in the world capture the imagination quite like New Zealand’s South Island. Among its many natural gems, Lake Pukaki stands out as a breathtakin
Nestled in the centre of New Zealand's southern island, Lake Tekapo is an alpine lake
Lake Wakatipu, nestled among the towering peaks of New Zealand’s South Island, is a sparkling gem at the heart of Queenstown.
