Your 13-day green-friendly New Zealand tour will combine luxury with eco-conscious adventure on the North and South islands. Pristine nature will enchant you as you cruise the depths of Doubtful Sound and listen for traditional Maori songs in Rotorua. The Sky Tower will soar above Auckland’s skyline while a scenic flight over an active volcano will reveal the continued geothermal activity of the archipelago for an enticing customizable tour.
Designed to deliver the most authentic New Zealand...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Auckland - Welcome to the Enchanting North
Arrive in Auckland and be transferred to your luxurious accommodation at Ponsonby Arthotel Bed and Breakfast. Indulge in the serene beauty of Ponsonby, historically trendy, continuously posh and stunning, and complete with modern amenities. Wander around the neighborhood and visit the quaint architecture and vibrant street art. Auckland Harbour can be seen in the distance, the boats swaying in the calm water, their masts stretched into the air like a series of light posts. The old post office stands tall, located on the corner, eggshell in color, and maintaining its triangular shape and prominent clock tower. The Victorian architecture, lively cafes, and charming shops line the streets, and the scent of fresh baked bread lingers along the sidewalk. Here you may choose to take advantage of a half-day guided tour or to utilize the Hop On and Off Explorer Bus to traverse the city on your own.
Whether strolling along the street or dipping into one of the many art galleries in the neighborhood, there is always a selection of aesthetics to feast on. Artstation Toi Tu, or Studio One Toi Tu, is a public art space that is bursting with innovative and imaginative local artists’ displays, from street art to sculptures. Ponsonby is known to be Auckland’s trendy cultural center and at its core is Artstation Toi Tu. The scent of fresh paint often lingers in its interior, children’s laughter echoing through the open spaces during the day. At night the gallery is bustling with local artists, connoisseurs, and locals that enjoy the creation and appreciation of New Zealand art. As the day ends, you have been unequivocally welcomed into Auckland and have embraced the enchantment of the North Island.
What's Included:
Day 2
Auckland - Embrace the Enchantment
Day 3
Tairua - The North Island Like a Local
Day 4
Tairua - Explore the Peninsula
Day 5
Rotorua - Always Enchanting
Day 6
Rotorua - An Enchanting Flight
Day 7
Dunedin - The Magical South Island
Day 8
Dunedin - The Magic of Otago
Day 9
Te Anau - The Quiet Beauty
Day 10
Doubtful Sound - Undoubted Majesty
Day 11
Queenstown - The Luxury of Queenstown
Day 12
Queenstown - The Culture of Queenstown
Day 13
Queenstown - Final Farewell
Trip Highlights
- Nourish in some of the world's most pristine natural settings through Green Journey accommodations and tours
- Experience the serenity of Doubtful Sound
- Visit the incredible culture and famous landmarks of Rotorua
- Wander through the beauty of Waiheke Island
- See the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere, Sky Tower
- Enjoy a scenic flight over New Zealand’s most active volcano
- Explore the beauty of the Otago Peninsula
- Traverse the fabulous natural landscape of Tairua
- Indulge in the famous spa treatments of Rotorua
Detailed Description
With the never ending enchantment of the North Island and the majesty of the South Island, your breath will be taken away. Begin your journey through the enchanted North Island as you arrive in Auckland. The City of Sails is yours to explore and indulge, including the surrounding islands, such as Waiheke Island, which is filled with beaches, vineyards, parks, and more. You will then make your way to Tairua where the Coromandel Peninsula sits and waits to be explored. While in Rotorua you will glide over White Island, New Zealand’s most active volcano, and explore its craggy and weathered terrain, and you will understand why the North Island is so captivating.
The majesty of the South Island starts in Dunedin with its welcoming terrain and Edwardian architecture. The surrounding Otago Peninsula highlights the region’s endangered fur seals and Northern Royal albatross before you transfer to Te Anau. Make your way to the gates of the Fiordland National Park at Manapouri where you will drift through the lake and continue on to the unparalleled spectacle of Doubtful Sound for an overnight cruise. Your final days on the South Island will be spent luxuriating in the alpine style city of Queenstown. The majesty of the South Island will be completely embraced. The enchantment of the North Island will be understood, and the spell that New Zealand casts on you will never wane, nor will you want it to.
For additional travel ideas in the region, see our New Zealand tours and Australia tours pages.
Starting Price
$5,300 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.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.85 stars based on 1681 reviews.
It was a fantastic trip. Zicasso's travel planner nailed all of my interests and left with me an unforgettable experience. She was also accommodating and quick to act with any changes to my travel plans. Even with poor cell service and communication systems down on the app, she was able to communicate updates to my itinerary in a timely and effective manner. Thank you for the unforgettable memories I have as a result of your excellent planning.
Reviewed By Igor K.
Everything was super-easy, which made navigating the trip seamless and stress-free!
Reviewed By Austin M.
We very much enjoyed our time in New Zealand and Australia. The tours were all very good. Zicasso's travel agent and our tour partner were very responsive and helpful throughout the planning phase and while we were on vacation.
The only feedback we have is that the hotels selected, other than the hotels in New Zealand, did not have the amenities we were hoping to get from four-star properties. We'll do a better job of indicating what we need in hotel selections moving forward, but we thought the hotels could have been a notch better than they were.
Reviewed By Tim G.
We absolutely loved so much of our trip! My kids’ (ages 11 and eight) favorite activities were luging in Rotorua, NZ, and the sunset camel ride in Uluru, AU, while my husband and I were enchanted by Hobbiton and enjoyed exploring a glowworm cave with the owner's father! We all loved Tasmania.
There were a few hiccups. However, we were very happy with all the support the Zicasso travel company's team provided in real time to help us get back on track.
The overall trip was fantastic. My husband and I appreciated having the team support our adventures, both the highs and the lows. The team members were detailed-oriented. This trip exceeded our expectations and we’re incredibly grateful for their expertise in curating such memorable experiences.
Reviewed By Sivly R.
The trip was awesome; the trip of a lifetime! We saw/experienced everything we could imagine. The trip reflected all of our wish-list items. Zicasso's travel specialist was very accommodating to our ideas and was very detail-oriented. We didn't have to worry about a thing on this vacation.
Reviewed By Sharon B.
We had a fabulous time celebrating my 75th birthday in New Zealand and Bora Bora. Zicasso's travel specialist was fantastic to work with. She was very responsive to all of our questions and concerns and even checked in with us numerous times while we were on the trip. I'd highly recommend her and the travel company when traveling to New Zealand or French Polynesia.
Reviewed By Paul S.