16-DAY TOUR (sample)

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Your adventure begins! Set out on your New Zealand Tour—first you’ll depart from your home airport. Typically, we’ll meet at LAX and board together as a group to continue on to Auckland. (It’s our pleasure to help arrange your flights! See FAQs.)

^{Photo Credit: Tourism New Zealand}

For fans of The Lord of the Rings™ and The Hobbit™, it’s a surreal moment to step into the lush picturesque pastures of The Shire. You’ll receive a guided tour of the 12-acre movie set (included), with explanations of the most famous locations and secrets of how the movie magic was made, ending with a complimentary beverage at The Shire’s Rest™. You’ll spend the night at Hamilton where the Waikato River with its beautiful gardens and walking paths meanders through the city.

^{Photo Credit: Sara Orme}

After traveling through lush rolling hill farmlands, you’ll arrive at the fascinating and popular Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Thousands of glow worms gleam overhead, suspended from cavern ceilings as you explore the caves by boat! Your next stop is one of the world’s most spectacular geothermal sites, Rotorua. Get up close and personal with geysers, hot springs, boiling mud pools and hissing craters. In the evening, we think you’ll like the Maori version of “Dinner and a Show”! You’ll enjoy a traditional feast with thrilling performances featuring the fascinating ancient Maori culture.

Today you’ll have an insider view of a living Maori community where hot pool bathing and cooking are their way of life—during your guided tour of Whakarewarewa Village. Just a short drive away is Huka Falls, a spectacular scene where a raging river is forced through narrow canyon walls. Your accommodations for the night are on Lake Taupo, a colossal lake famous for trout fishing.

^{Photo Credit: Tourism New Zealand}

You’ll marvel at the steam coming from three towering volcanoes today in the central highlands of the North Island (from a safe distance!). At our next stop you’ll be inspired by real-life stories of New Zealand soldiers at a fabulous army museum and reflect on how conflict has shaped the nation. After taking in the beautiful views, we’ll visit some local friends, the Salmons, and tour the neighboring Porirua Marae—a Maori meeting place and a golf course owned by U.S. Open Champion, Mike Campbell.

Today you’ll stroll along the harbor surrounded by picturesque Victorian-style architecture. You’ll be amazed by the famous Wellington Botanical Garden—an awe-inspiring monument to the natural beauty of New Zealand featuring 25 hectares of native forest and plant collections. Your accommodations for the evening are within convenient walking distance from the gardens, Parliament, the Te Papa museum and many other available optional activities.

It’s time to set sail! You’ll cruise on the Interislander Ferry for three hours across Cook Strait which separates the North and South Islands—taking in gorgeous views of still waters and lush forests as you sail. Get your camera ready, because Kaikoura, nestled at the base of towering mountains facing onto the Pacific, provides some of the best photo opportunities anywhere in New Zealand! Keep your eyes peeled for the many species of whales, along with seals and giant squid, who are found in these waters.

Whether you prefer hiking, whale watching, art or golf—there’s something for you in Kaikoura! You can set off to enjoy spectacular views of the mountains and ocean on a hike that suits your desired length and difficulty. Or perhaps you’d rather go on a whale-watching excursion, tour historic sites, explore art galleries or play golf at Kaikoura Golf Club! When you’ve had enough excitement for the day, you’ll kick back in comfort at our waterfront hotel.

Your trip into Christchurch, the Garden City, will take you on to the Canterbury Plains—an unusually long stretch of land along the Pacific Ocean. You’ll get to experience the wonder and magic of Antarctica without launching your own expedition at an award-winning New Zealand attraction where you’ll survive an Antarctic storm, learn about life in modern day Antarctica and hang out with Little Blue Penguins! With your hotel within walking distance of Hagley Park and the downtown area, you’ll be able to explore Christchurch to your heart’s content.

You’ll marvel at the stunning high mountain passes and vast valleys of Arthur’s Pass on your way to Hokitika and its greenstone factories. You can expect a sighting of the cheeky and sociable Alpine parrot, the Kea, who’ll delight you with his antics. En route to the Glaciers of Franz Josef and Fox, you’ll travel through a UNESCO World Heritage Area with rainforest and native ferns on all sides. The New Zealand Alps provide a dramatic backdrop as you travel past the mountains where Sir Edmund Hillary honed his hiking skills before going on to summit Mt. Everest.

Will you join the ranks of our tour members who have bungee jumped off the famous Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown (the world’s first commercial bungee jump), or would you rather watch someone else take the plunge? You won’t find a more striking place to try it! On the way there, you’ll stop at the Gibbston Valley Vineyards, an incredibly scenic wine growing area.

When you see the iconic Milford Sound, you’ll admit that no photo can do justice to its majesty. No trip to New Zealand is complete without taking in this beautiful landscape, and on our 2-hour cruise out to the Tasman Sea, you’ll have plenty of time to do just that! In the evening, we’ll spend the night at Lake Te Anau.

On the return to Queenstown you’ll discover the underground turbines that generate much of New Zealand’s energy supply, and the two expansive lakes that feed them, on a tour of the Manapouri Hydroelectric Power Station—one of New Zealand’s greatest engineering achievements.

Gather round the shearing shed! You’ll help feed the sheep and deer, and even get up close to the Scottish Highland Cattle. Once the farm dogs round up sheep from the hill paddocks, you’ll watch the farmer shear sheep. Also included in today’s activities are a gourmet lunch and farewell dinner. With your free time, you can pursue a wide range of optional activities in Queensland—including jet boating, luge, fishing, hang gliding or golfing.

We know, you wanted to stay forever! Your tour will conclude with a flight from Auckland—connecting to your homeward flight to Los Angeles. With the help of the International Date Line, you’ll arrive home the same day.

We’ll travel to our waterfront hotel at Paihia in the Bay of Islands. The Bay of islands area—famously described by Zane Grey, and one of the most beautiful places on earth—was at the center of much of the early history of New Zealand. Activities include admission to Waitangi Reserve Treaty House and grounds (location for the treaty between the Maori indigenous people and the British government), a short trip across the bay to the historic seaport of Russell, visit the citrus and kiwi fruit groves of Keri Keri, optional golfing at world famous Kauri Cliffs, and we’ll meet some locals with connections to the U.S.