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.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 1728 reviews

Gary N.
New Zealand Trip Review: Uluru, Christchurch, Milford Sound, Great Barrier Reef, Cruise, Snorkeling, Wine Tour, 3 Weeks

The organization was perfect! I especially liked all the excursions and the special chauffeurs who picked us up at the airports.

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Kathy D.
Australia, New Zealand Trip Review: Sydney, Cruise, Private Zoo Experience, Ayers Rock, Great Barrier Reef, 3 Weeks

All four of us who traveled to Australia and New Zealand this fall agree that Zicasso’s travel specialist did a fantastic job assisting us with planning and the actual trip itself. She listened to our itinerary, wants and desires, as well as the time constraints and budget. And while we did spend quite a bit more than what we originally intended, we had the trip of a lifetime. We are all completely satisfied with our journey, as organized by the travel specialist.

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Ronald D.
New Zealand Vacation Review: Nelson, Mount Cook, Queenstown, 20-Day Trip

From planning to execution, Zicasso’s travel specialist was fantastic. They were very responsive through the app while we were on the trip. They were extremely helpful in helping us recover our passports that we forgot in one of the hotel safes.

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Stephen B.
New Zealand Trip Review: 9 Weeks

Our trip was incredible. Zicasso’s tour operator was fantastic in planning and executing this special trip. We were in New Zealand for almost nine weeks.

Twice during our travel, we were able to get instant help to adjust our travel schedule, once because we wanted more time in one place and later to accommodate for being sick for a week.

Our trip involved 20 different hotels, inns, and guest houses, while experiencing boats, trains, and car driving to navigate both islands. The tour operator helped to arrange about 50 different events for us and then we added in many more ourselves before we left.

It has been almost a year since we traveled (Feb-Apr 2025). We have praised the tour operator (and Zicasso) to all our friends for its incredible attention to details and help anticipating all contingencies. The app for the trip was incredible in supporting the travel and collecting all the details of the arrangements comfortably in one place on our cell phones. We drove more than 2,000 miles during our trip and used Google Maps continually to navigate everywhere.

All our accommodations were comfortable. We carefully planned our packing to match the temperatures predicted for each location. We each traveled with a carry-on suitcase and a small backpack, and had everything we needed.

What helped with our planning was that we actually rehearsed the trip for several nights two months before we left and pre-planned special dinner reservations.

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Tom R.
Australia, New Zealand Vacation Review: Adelaide, Lizard Island, Kangaroo Island, Milford Sound, 1 Month

This was our second trip organized through Zicasso and both trips were great. In retrospect, we might have changed a few things, but by an overwhelming margin, the trip was great. Interesting tours, knowledgeable guides, nice hotels.

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R J.
New Zealand Trip Review: 20 Nights

It was so easy to work with Zicasso’s travel designer and the travel company. After her phone call, she worked up the trip of a lifetime. It was just perfect for us.

As we traveled, if there were any changes, we were alerted in a timely fashion. We were notified of delayed departures and possible cancellations. The only cancellation was quickly rescheduled as per our preferred time. No worries! We just have to check about two cancellations that were weather-related and how we get reimbursed for those expenses. Those cancellations were understandable and not the end of the world. We will be in contact with the travel designer to find out about those and know it will be an easy process, like everything else has been.

We will, and have, recommended this process to friends who want to visit New Zealand.

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Customizable Itinerary

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

29,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews