Spectacular Nature to Sparkling Cityscapes New Zealand Tour

Urupukapuka Island, Bay of Islands.

What to expect on this itinerary

Every day on this opulent 17-day retreat of New Zealand will provide you with limitless opportunities to discover the country at your own pace and in your own way. Resplendent experiences abound across the hypnotizing destinations of New Zealand, and you will be continuously blown away as you explore the idyllic landscapes and cultural nuances that sweep from Keri Keri to Auckland. The choices will be entirely yours!

Countries Visited

New Zealand

Places Visited

Keri Keri, Taupo, Waitomo, Napier, Nelson, Abel Tasman National Park, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Blanket Bay, Auckland

Suggested Duration

17 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Keri Keri - Arrive at the Bay of Islands

Your journey in New Zealand will begin in the city of Keri Keri on the banks of the breathtaking Bay of Islands. After a short flight from Auckland, you will transfer to your luxurious accommodation on its own private ridgeline of the bewildering bay. Views of snow-capped mountains, turquoise water, and rolling pastures will all officially welcome you to this spellbinding destination.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Keri Keri - Marine Moments in the Bay

Day 3

Keri Keri - More Marvelous Scenes to Explore

Day 4

Taupo - Beneath the Silver Streams of Huka Falls

Day 5

Taupo - Gorgeous Geothermal Spectacles

Day 6

Taupo - Glowing Caves and Thermal Pools

Day 7

Napier - Between Flourishing Vineyards

Day 8

Napier - Delectable Vintages and Delightful Valleys

Day 9

Abel Tasman National Park - A Tasteful Arrival

Day 10

Abel Tasman National Park - Postcard-Perfect Memories

Day 11

Abel Tasman National Park - Slow Living on Golden Shores

Day 12

Queenstown - Adventurous Spirits and History Buffs

Day 13

Queenstown - Mind-Blowing Landscape Views

Day 14

Blanket Bay - Absolute Peace and Quiet

Day 15

Blanket Bay - Remote Journeys in a Rich Landscape

Day 16

Auckland - Fine Dining in a Humming City

Day 17

Auckland - Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Admire the remarkable marine spectacles and marine life sightings when snorkeling among the Bay of Islands
  • Stroll through the forested landscapes of Kauri and Puketi and unravel the history that veils the old-world town of Russell
  • Station yourself beneath the pounding streams of Huka Falls, one of New Zealand’s largest waterfalls
  • Embark on adventures across the geothermal landscapes of Taupo and Rotorua, where you can kayak across  Acacia Bay or traverse the Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland
  • Allow the marvelous scenes of glow worms or moments enjoyed in thermal pools near Lake Rotoiti to seduce you
  • Satiate your desires for fine wine at the premier wine estates on New Zealand’s coveted Napier vineyards
  • Chart the glistening water that surrounds Abel Tasman National Park to castaway coves and golden beaches
  • Witness the mesmerizing scenery that blankets Abel Tasman National Park from a unique vantage point when hovering over it in a biplane
  • Witness the summits that surround Queenstown on a zip-line or uncover the rich ancestry of Arrowtown on a peaceful history tour
  • Capture the unrivaled vistas of Milford Sound by flying above in a plane and cruising past in a boat
  • Race across the Dart River between towering rocky canyons on a jet boat cruise from Queenstown
  • Indulge in remote excursions across the isolated slice of mountainous paradise of Blanket Bay on tranquil walks across the peaks or through the beech forests

Starting Price

$19,400 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.8

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 1492 reviews

New Zealand Trip Review: Milford Sound, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef Glacier, 2 Weeks

Zicasso’s travel specialist responded to emails and questions promptly.

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New Zealand Vacation Review: Christchurch, Queenstown, Doubtful Sound, Te Anau, Lake Tekapo, Kaikoura, Cruise, Bike Tour, Glowworm Caves, 3-Week Trip

We had a great trip! All the logistics and connections were spot-on. If I had it to plan again, I would incorporate fewer long drives and possibly take one or two short flights. We had three days of actual driving five-plus hours, which turned into six to seven hours with stops.

Highlights included the Christchurch tour, the Around the Basin bike tour in Queenstown, the Doubtful Sound overnight cruise, biking around Lake Tekapō, as well as Kaikōura, and the glowworm caves in Te Anau. The TranzAlpine train was enjoyable. However, the mountain scenery encountered was not as dramatic as that seen in the more southern areas.

Unfortunately, our helicopter ride to the glaciers in Franz Josef was rained out. Our days in Queenstown were muted with fog, so both the gondola dinner experience, as well as the dinner cruise on Lake Wakatipu, were somewhat compromised. Both activities involved large buffets, with mediocre food and lots of tourists.

We enjoyed the Fiordland jet-boat ride and the biking back option. I felt the portion on the water was a bit light on the 360 turns and heavy on the nature focus. The Dark Sky experience was a disappointment, as wind conditions only allowed our group to go to the crater, not the observatory. Add to that a very bright, near-full moon and the conditions were not ideal for viewing.

After that late-night experience, the next day we drove to Lake Tekapō (with stops, six to seven hours). Between the time in the car and a developing hip issue that could compromise the required hiking, we decided not to drive one-and-a-half hours the next morning to Mount Cook for the Tasman Glacier tour.

Kaikōura is an attractive, quiet coastal town that was a nice final stop on our itinerary. We rented bikes and traversed the Peninsula Trail, including the seal colony.

All of our accommodations were in line with the parameters that we gave Zicasso’s travel specialist regarding location, ratings, and features. We especially enjoyed our hotel in Christchurch, our hotel in Te Anau, and our inn in Kaikōura. The motel in Lake Tekapō was the most dated property; however, the location was fabulous.

Again, we had a wonderful trip and I have already recommended this travel company to our friends, who are booked later this year.

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New Zealand Vacation Review: Waiheke Island, Wine Tour, 9 Days

The travel arrangements, activities, and accommodations were all excellent; we couldn't be happier.

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Australia, New Zealand Anniversary Trip Review: Scenery, 3 Weeks

My husband and I were celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary with a bucket-list trip to Australia and New Zealand. Every aspect of the trip was planned meticulously and every hotel, tour, and transport was seamless in its execution. Zicasso’s travel specialist was superb in every detail and was always available when I had a question. I recommend the travel specialist and the travel company highly.

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New Zealand Travel Review: Milford Sound, 10 Days

We had a marvelous vacation! We loved New Zealand and can’t wait to go back. Zicasso’s travel specialist made sure we had a wide variety of experiences, all of which represented her wonderful country. Everything went smoothly and was well planned. Great job to our specialist, the travel company, and Zicasso!

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Australia, New Zealand Tour Review: Sydney, Milford Sound, Mount Cook, Hamilton Gardens, Opera House, Cruise, 2 Weeks

Excellent trip—the planning was flawless and Zicasso’s travel specialist was a pleasure to work with. She remained available to us during our entire trip and anytime I had a question, she responded immediately.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

30,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews