New Zealand Magic
New Zealand Magic
New Zealand Magic
17 Days Starting in Christchurch, New Zealand and ending in Auckland, New Zealand
Visiting: Christchurch, Franz Josef/Waiau, Queenstown, Te Anau, Dunedin, Oamaru, Kaikoura, Wellington, Rotorua, Auckland, Bay of Islands
Tour operator:
Tour code:
LCBA24
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on the "New Zealand Magic" tour, a captivating journey through the breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage of New Zealand. This adventure begins in Christchurch and concludes in Auckland, offering a seamless blend of natural wonders and historical insights. Experience the awe-inspiring Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park, explore the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds, and marvel at the Franz Josef Glacier. Travel in comfort with a specialist team, enjoying quality accommodations and scenic transport, including the iconic TranzAlpine train and Interislander ferry. With opportunities for wine tasting in Queenstown, exploring geothermal wonders in Rotorua, and discovering the vibrant cities of Wellington and Auckland, this tour promises an unforgettable exploration of New Zealand's diverse beauty and culture.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Christchurch
Location: Christchurch
Accommodation Name: Ibis Hotel Christchurch
On arrival in the 'Garden City' you'll have time at leisure to explore or relax. Tonight, meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers at a Welcome Reception.
Day 2: Christchurch - Franz Josef/Waiau
Location: Franz Josef/Waiau
Accommodation Name: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
All aboard the TranzAlpine train, whisking you through tunnels and over viaducts with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks. From Arthur’s Pass, visit the small town of Hokitika, the heritage and cultural centre of the West Coast well-known for its jade. Things are about to get cool again as you arrive in the town of Franz Josef/Waiau, gateway to Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere, a white-out of snow and ice. Get some perspective on an optional flight over this natural wonder.
Day 3: Franz Josef/Waiau - Queenstown
Location: Queenstown
Accommodation Name: Copthorne Hotel and Resort
Over the Haast Pass, the alpine scenery of the Southern Lakes spreads before you: Lake Wanaka, with its Instagrammable shoreline of poplars and willows; Lake Hawea; and Lake Dunstan, where you’ll pause to refuel on flavour-packed stone fruit. We know you’ll want to linger in Arrowtown’s movie-set-like streets, but Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables await in Queenstown.
Day 4: Queenstown Free Time
Location: Queenstown
Accommodation Name: Copthorne Hotel and Resort
Take today at your own pace. Feel the wind in your hair on a high-octane jet boat ride, perhaps; discover some of New Zealand’s feathered friends at a wildlife centre; or sip your way through surrounding vineyards. Then glide across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue dinner.
Day 5: Queenstown - Te Anau
Location: Te Anau
Accommodation Name: Distinction Luxmore Hotel
Your route from the Mirror Lakes through the Cleddau Valley is the entrée to your Milford Sound/Piopiotahi tour. Cruising this World Heritage listed expanse will give you goosebumps, a string of waterfalls creating a misty curtain across sheer escarpments. Look out for dolphins – they’re a common sight here. The onward road through Fiordland National Park is an intoxicating union of beech forests, alluvial flats, meadows and gin-clear rivers, carving up the countryside en route to Te Anau.
Day 6: Te Anau - Dunedin
Location: Dunedin
Accommodation Name: Scenic Hotel Dunedin City
While away your Dunedin afternoon in atmospheric art-lined alleys or sipping a lager or two in Speight’s Brewery (a national institution), or visit grand Larnach Castle. You could venture further afield to discover the wildlife that thrives in this pretty pocket of the country.
Day 7: Dunedin - Omarama
Location: Oamaru
Accommodation Name: Distinction Heritage Gateway Hotel
Time is on your side this morning. Sleep in or take a stroll. Visit Oamaru, known for its stately tree-lined streets and limestone buildings.
Day 8: Omarama - Christchurch
Location: Christchurch
Accommodation Name: Ibis Hotel Christchurch
Your outlook this morning is the Canterbury Plains: the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo, snow-capped mountains and atmospheric towns. 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. Back on earth, it’s time to become reacquainted with Christchurch, your in-the-know guide pointing out the city’s miraculous transformation over the last decade. You'll view the mind-bending Transitional Cathedral, made largely of cardboard, and Turanga, the gold-clad central library.
Day 9: Christchurch - Picton
Location: Kaikoura
Accommodation Name: Picton Yacht Club
There aren’t many beaches more dramatic than the sands of Kaikoura. Bonus points if you spot a sea lion or sperm whale frolicking offshore, Kaikoura is the marine wildlife centre of New Zealand.
Day 10: Picton - Wellington
Location: Wellington
Accommodation Name: Travelodge Wellington
Swap wheels for water aboard the Interislander for a cruise from the South Island to the North into New Zealand’s cool little capital of Wellington.
Day 11: Wellington - Rotorua
Location: Rotorua
Accommodation Name: Ibis Rotorua Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
This evening, explore Te Puia’s geothermal valley, and learn about Māori history and culture on this guided experience, which includes a dinner of 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 12: Rotorua Free Time
Location: Rotorua
Accommodation Name: Ibis Rotorua Hotel
Explore at your own pace: Bliss out at Wai Araki Hot Springs & Spa. And then there’s Hobbiton. These beautiful landscapes are not only a bucket list tour for Hobbit fans, but a gorgeous countryside getaway.
Day 13: Rotorua - Auckland
Location: Auckland
Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre
Waitomo Caves is radiant – quite literally. While cruising waterways, your route is cast in a magical light by thousands of glowworms. The next thing that glows on your horizon is Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city.
Day 14: Auckland - Bay Of Islands
Location: Bay of Islands
Accommodation Name: Copthorne Hotel and Resort
The Bay of Islands is undeniably beautiful, but it also holds a special historical significance: this is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840.
Day 15: Bay Of Islands Free Time
Location: Bay of Islands
Accommodation Name: Copthorne Hotel and Resort
Trip the light fantastic and head off in whatever direction you please. Perhaps travel up to Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua, the very top of New Zealand, via idyllic Ninety Mile Beach. Or glide around on an historic tall ship, or visit Russell and learn more about the settling of the Bay of Islands.
Day 16: Bay Of Islands - Auckland
Location: Auckland
Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre
Today, New Zealand’s most northerly city is on your radar. Explore Whangarei at your leisure before sinking back into your seat for the mesmerising commute back to Auckland.
Day 17: Farewell From Auckland
Location: Auckland
It’s hard to say goodbye. But you have a camera full of photos to categorise before you get home.
What's Included
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Specialist team
A specialist team of two, both highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide, is included.
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UNESCO World Heritage Site
Visit to 1 UNESCO World Heritage Site – Fiordland National Park is included.
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Accommodation
Comfortable accommodation with easy access to city centres is included.
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National Park entrance fees
Entrance fees to National Parks are included.
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Transport
Transport includes the TranzAlpine train and a cruise aboard the Interislander from the South Island to the North.
What's Not Included
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Flights
Flights to and from the start/end of your trip are not included in the trip price.
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Airport transfers
Return airport to hotel transfers are not included in the holiday price.
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Personal items
Items such as comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, water bottle, warm layers in cooler months, and camera are not included.
Mode of Transport
All aboard the TranzAlpine train, whisking you through tunnels and over viaducts with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks. Swap wheels for water aboard the Interislander for a cruise from the South Island to the North into New Zealand’s cool little capital of Wellington.
Accommodation
Your Guided Holiday includes a range of quality accommodation for your comfort. The accommodation you will enjoy on this tour includes: Ibis Hotel Christchurch, Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier, Copthorne Hotel and Resort, Distinction Luxmore Hotel, Scenic Hotel Dunedin City, Heritage Gateway Hotel, Picton Yacht Club, Travelodge Wellington, Ibis Rotorua Hotel, Holiday Inn Express Auckland.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of transportation is included in the New Zealand Magic tour?
The tour includes a ride on the TranzAlpine train, which offers panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, and a cruise aboard the Interislander from the South Island to the North Island.
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Are flights included in the New Zealand Magic tour package?
No, flights to and from the start and end of the trip are not included in the tour price.
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What type of accommodation can I expect on the New Zealand Magic tour?
The tour includes a range of quality accommodations such as the Ibis Hotel Christchurch, Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier, Copthorne Hotel and Resort, and Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre, among others.
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Is there a specific fitness level required for the New Zealand Magic tour?
A low level of fitness is required for this tour.
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What are some of the highlights of the New Zealand Magic tour?
Highlights include visiting Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park, exploring the Waitangi Treaty Grounds with a local guide, and seeing the Franz Josef Glacier in the Southern Alps.
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What is the starting and ending point of the New Zealand Magic tour?
The tour starts in Christchurch and ends in Auckland.
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Are airport transfers included in the New Zealand Magic tour?
No, return airport to hotel transfers are not included in the holiday price.
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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.