Essence of New Zealand
Essence of New Zealand
Essence of New Zealand
18 Days Starting in Christchurch (Nz) and ending in Auckland
Visiting: Christchurch, Omarama, Dunedin, Stewart Island / Rakiura, Invercargill, Queenstown, Franz Josef, Punakaiki, Nelson, Napier, Rotorua, Auckland
Tour Overview
Culture and nature unite in this inter-island New Zealand tour. Oh, and there’s a good dose of food and wine on the side to deliver a well-rounded taste of North and South. Whether you’re into wide, open spaces – Milford Sound, we’re looking at you – bubbling geysers, gem-like glaciers or windswept coasts. Whether you’re a history, sport, architecture or culture buff. This New Zealand guided tour is for you.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Christchurch
Location: Christchurch
Accommodation Name: Wyndham Garden
Arrive early to see just how Christchurch has transformed itself since the 2010/11 earthquakes. Meet your fellow travellers this evening for a Welcome Reception.
Day 2: Christchurch - Omarama
Location: Christchurch
Accommodation Name: Distinction Heritage Gateway Hotel
Step out with your guide for a deeper dive into ‘The City of Gardens’ before traversing the colourful Canterbury Plains: the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo and snow-capped mountains. Your Indoor Dark Sky Astronomy Experience at Tekapo, hosted by passionate guides, will forever change the way you see the night sky. You'll see for yourself it may be one of the quietest spots on the planet, yet it has one of the busiest skies in the universe.
Day 3: Omarama - Dunedin
Location: Omarama
Accommodation Name: Dunedin Leisure Lodge
Architectural drama awaits in Dunedin. While away the afternoon in atmospheric art-lined alleys or sipping a lager or two in Speight’s Brewery (a national institution).
Day 4: Dunedin - Invercargill
Location: Dunedin
Accommodation Name: Kelvin Hotel
Invercargill is obsessed with motor vehicles. Tributes to speed legends colour the city. So it's only fitting that you visit Classic Motorcycle Mecca for a self-guided tour followed by a guided tour and Highlight Dinner at Transport World, exploring classic vehicles as you are transported on a nostalgic walk back in time.
Day 5: Stewart Island
Location: Stewart Island / Rakiura
Accommodation Name: Kelvin Hotel
The ferry ride to subantarctic Stewart Island is wild and wonderful. When you arrive, you’re welcomed by the country’s southernmost community. It’s largely untouched, which means endemic flora and fauna thrive here. But don’t take our word for it. Meet the locals on a Village & Bays tour.
Day 6: Invercargill - Queenstown
Location: Invercargill
Accommodation Name: Copthorne Hotel and Resort
Today on your New Zealand tour, get a taste of country life combined with good old fashioned southern hospitality as you meet a ‘Southern Girl’ local female farmer at Real Country. Get a feel for life on the farm as you have demonstrations of Horse communication and Working sheep dog mustering. Try your hand at a Stock whip cracking lesson, and feed and interact with the friendly farm animals. For every guest, we donate funds to The Fairlight Foundation, Advancing Women in Agriculture, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Continue to Queenstown.
Day 7: Queenstown Free Time
Location: Queenstown
Accommodation Name: Copthorne Hotel and Resort
Today, sign up to dive deep into Milford Sound/Piopiotahi within World Heritage listed Fiordland National Park, best explored on an optional tour cruising the waterway. Don’t be surprised if you see dolphins and seals.
Day 8: Queenstown - Franz Josef/Waiau
Location: Queenstown
Accommodation Name: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
Visit Arrowtown, which found its riches in gold, its residents building stately homes, now filled with boutiques and restaurants – that still line the street to this day. Around the next bend is the Alpine countryside of the Southern Lakes, from Lake Dunstan to oh-so-blue Lake Hawea and lovely Lake Wanaka. Over the Haast Pass, the town of Franz Josef/Waiau at the edge of the Westland World Heritage Park, awaits.
Day 9: Franz Josef/Waiau - Punakaiki
Location: Franz Josef
Accommodation Name: Scenic Hotel Punakaiki
Wandering Hokitika’s windswept shore on the West Coast feels a bit like you’ve discovered the end of the Earth. The town’s other natural beauty is pounamu (native greenstone or jade). Prepare yourself for Punakaiki’s Pancake Rocks and blowholes; they owe their existence to the thundering surf that will lull you to sleep.
Day 10: Punakaiki - Nelson
Location: Punakaiki
Accommodation Name: The Rutherford Hotel
Ease along the Heritage Highway toward Nelson. Press your nose against the glass as your coach weaves through Buller Gorge and Kahurangi National Park, a place of wild rivers, high plateaus, alpine herb fields and coastal forests.
Day 11: Nelson Free Time
Location: Nelson
Accommodation Name: The Rutherford Hotel
Today is at your leisure. Lace up your hiking shoes, or sit back on a boat and soak up the silence of Abel Tasman National Park. This wilderness inspires calm, its golden beaches framed by sculpted granite cliffs that all unite to create one of the country’s most legendary coastal tracks.
Day 12: Nelson - Wellington
Location: Nelson
Accommodation Name: Travelodge Wellington
You’ll want a window seat for the cruise from the South Island to the North aboard the Interislander. Breathtaking views unfold as you glide through Queen Charlotte Sound to NZ’s cool little capital of Wellington.
Day 13: Wellington - Napier
Accommodation Name: Scenic Hotel Te Pania
Travel to Napier. Beautifully preserved 1930s architecture is Napier's special point of difference. After a massive earthquake in 1931 destroyed the commercial centre of Napier, rebuilding began almost immediately in the architectural styles of the times - Striped Classical, Spanish Mission and Art Deco.
Day 14: Napier
Accommodation Name: Scenic Hotel Te Pania
After a devastating earthquake in 1931, Napier completely rebuilt itself in just two years. The end result is architectural Nirvana, a city home to the world’s greatest concentration of Art Deco, Spanish Mission and Striped Classical buildings. This morning get the lowdown from your in-the-know local guide on a Napier tour. Your afternoon is at leisure.
Day 15: Napier - Rotorua
Location: Napier
Accommodation Name: Sudima Lake Rotorua
This afternoon, explore Te Puia's geothermal valley, and learn about Maori history and culture on this guided experience, which includes hangi-inspired cuisine and a cultural performance in a finely carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. It ends on a high at the Pohutu Geyser, where, armed with a hot chocolate you'll view one of New Zealand's geothermal wonderlands.
Day 16: Rotorua Free Time
Location: Rotorua
Accommodation Name: Sudima Lake Rotorua
Today, it’s your choice. Hobbit fans will want to take advantage of the opportunity to tour Hobbiton movie Set featured in The Lord of the Rings & Hobbit movies. Want a bit of down time? Bliss out at Wai Araki Hot Springs & Spa (both own expense).
Day 17: Rotorua - Auckland
Location: Rotorua
Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre
Welcome to Auckland, the ‘City of Sails’. You’ll understand how it got its moniker when you glimpse yachts gliding around its two harbours. But today your sights are firmly set on New Zealand's national game: rugby. The interactive All Blacks Experience explores an introduction to the game as a part of New Zealand culture.
Day 18: Farewell From Auckland
Location: Auckland
It’s amazing how much of two islands you can see in 18 days. Provided you have the right people at the helm, and like-minded company, that is.
What's Included
Mode of Transport
Day 1 – flights to arrive prior to 4.00pm into Christchurch Airport
Day 18 – flights to depart any time from Auckland Airport
Flights are not included in the holiday price
Return airport to hotel transfers are not included in the holiday price
Accommodation
Your Guided Holiday includes a range of quality accommodation for your comfort. The accommodation you will enjoy on this tour includes: Wyndham Garden, Heritage Gateway Hotel, Dunedin Leisure Lodge, Kelvin Hotel, Copthorne Hotel and Resort, Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier, Scenic Hotel Punakaiki, The Rutherford Hotel, Travelodge Wellington, Scenic Hotel Te Pania, Sudima Lake Rotorua, Holiday Inn Express, Auckland.
Check out our Q&As
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a holiday with us is you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
It is important to adhere to departure times while on tour for the comfort of everyone on-board, and to make sure no one misses out on the planned experiences. The coach will not be able to wait for you, and in some instances, if you miss a departure time you will need to make your own way to the next destination to re-join the tour.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
AAT Kings operated Guided Holidays have competitive single supplement rates available if you prefer to confirm your own room. Or we can match you to share with a guest of the same gender at no extra cost. If we fail to match you, we will accommodate you in a single room at no extra cost.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Over 100 years
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
We will email your documents to you approximately four weeks before your departure date provided you have completed your pre trip registration using the My Travel Portal. If you’ve booked through a travel agent, your documents will be emailed directly to your agent.
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Low Deposit
AAT Kings requires a minimum deposit of 100 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of aat kings charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.