12 Day Journeys: Discover New Zealand

Fully Guided Adventure Small Group

Our Price From 3,968 Per Person

Exclusive Savings 1,431 Per Person

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Trip Length

12 Days

Trip Starts

Auckland

Trip Finishes

Queenstown

12 Day Journeys: Discover New Zealand Itinerary (G Adventures)

Countries Explored: New Zealand

Trip Operator

G Adventures

118 Reviews

Trip Style

National Geographic Journeys

Departures

Jul 2025 to Dec 2026

Budget

Affordable

Max. Group Size

Pace

Leisurely

Guide Level

Fully Guided

Trip Code

ONENG

Overview

Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on G Adventures 12 Day Journeys: Discover New Zealand. Immerse yourself in New Zealand’s stunning landscapes and multicultural heritage, travelling by plane, train, van, and boat through the North and South Islands. Discover magnificent fjords, ethereal glowworm caves, and snowcapped peaks; visit picturesque vineyards, explore vibrant cities and get to know "The Land of the Long White Cloud".

Itinerary

Please make your own way to the joining hotel. Our CEO will have a welcome meeting this evening. Auckland is a fantastic city with so much to see and do. Should you want more time to explore on your own, we recommend booking pre-nights. Stay: CityLife Auckland

Take an orientation walk in Auckland, one of the most multicultural cities in the Southern Hemisphere. We’ll then catch a ferry to beautiful Waiheke Island, a haven of world-class vineyards and idyllic beaches. Visit wineries to learn about New Zealand's burgeoning wine industry and the history of viticulture in the country while sampling some of the local blends. Stay: CityLife Auckland (B)

Rotorua sits over an active geothermal zone with bubbling mud pits and multi-coloured pools in different areas around the town. This is a fascinating region with Maori history and culture tied directly to the geothermal aspects of the land. Stay: Millennium Rotorua (B)

Begin your full-day excursion with a walk through the 800-year-old podocarp trees in Whirinaki Rainforest, learning the history of the forest and spotting endemic birds and medicinal plants. Then head to the Maori-owned Kohutapu Lodge, our base for exploring New Zealand's indigenous culture. Watch as a hangi lunch is prepared the traditional way-—buried in an underground pit—and enjoy the resulting feast with your Maori hosts. After lunch see ancient rock carvings and learn about their spiritual significance to the Maori people, both past and present. Return to Rotorua for an optional evening meal or a well-deserved soak in the hot springs. Stay: Millennium Rotorua (B/L)

With free time in Rotorua this morning, opt to relax in one of the hot pools fed by water coming directly from the natural springs. Stay: Distinction Christchurch Hotel (B)

Board the TranzAlpine train—one of the world’s most scenic rail routes—for a breathtaking journey through verdant plains, beech forests, and majestic, misty mountains. Disembark at Arthur’s Pass—the highest pass in the Southern Alps - and choose to grab a coffee and spend some time exploring this alpine area. Descend into the Canterbury Plains to visit a working sheep farm. On arrival, dig into a bbq lunch prepared with locally sourced ingredients. Then spend the afternoon with the sheepdogs learning about how the dogs work in tandem with their human owners to care for the farm. Watch a sheep shearing demonstration and hear from the farmers about the their life and work in this fascinating industry. Return to Christchurch later in the afternoon, with time to explore on your own and take dinner at your leisure. Stay: Distinction Christchurch Hotel (B/L)

Enjoy a morning at leisure in Christchurch. Choose to ride the Gondola for incredible sweeping views, or stroll the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. In the afternoon, head west to Tekapo at the base of Aoraki/Mt Cook. This evening after dinner, join local experts for an exclusive astronomy experience in one of the worlds official Dark Sky Parks in Tekapo. Expect breathtaking perspectives of the stars, planets, and distant galaxies. You'll have the rare opportunity to capture stunning celestial images with expert guidance, while experienced guides take you on a journey through the Southern Skies. Stay: Woolshed Suites (B)

Set off this morning for the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre. Sir Edmund Hillary, New Zealand's most famous explorer, made some of his very first ascents here at the south face of Aoraki/Mt Cook which set the foundation for his world-changing summit of Everest with Tenzing Norgay in 1953. In a July 1954 issue of National Geographic Hillary was quoted as saying “We are there. Nothing above us, a world below.” Spend time at the visitor centre that honors Sir Edmund Hillary and his achievements in the exploration of so many fascinating parts of the planet. Later in the afternoon, embark on your own explorations with a guided trek along the Kea Point track. This 1.8 mile trail offers views to Mount Sefton, Hooker Valley, Mueller Glacier Lake and Aoraki/Mt Cook. Stay: Woolshed Suites (B)

Set off this morning heading further west towards Wanaka. Enjoy some free exploration time in Wanaka and grab some lunch at leisure. This afternoon, join your Chief Experience Officer (CEO) for a brief orientation of Arrowtown before enjoying some time to explore this historic mining town. Choose to go on a walking tour starting at the Lakes District Museum. Then stroll around the historic miner's cottages, old churches, and explore the Chinese Settlement to learn about the gold mining past that shaped Arrowtown. In late afternoon, head to Queenstown and enjoy dinner at leisure. Stay: Novotel Queenstown Hotel (B)

Discover the glacially carved wilderness of Fiordland National Park on a cruise. Glide past shimmering waterfalls and towering cliffs, and look out for bottlenose dolphins, fur seals, and little blue penguins with our naturalist guides. Travel back to shore, head to Queenstown for the night. Stay: Novotel Queenstown Hotel (B/L)

Enjoy a day at leisure in Queenstown to explore the myriad things that make this southern city so famous. Choose to cruise lake Wakatipu on a historic steamer; experience a thrilling jet boat ride; or visit a local winery to sample the region’s award-winning vintages. Choose to join your CEO and fellow travelers for a delicious farewell dinner on this final evening in New Zealand. Stay: Novotel Queenstown Hotel (B)

For more time to explore Queenstown, we recommend booking post nights with your agent if you are interested in the countless adrenaline-packed activities in the town known as the "adventure capital of the world." Jet boating and mountain biking are some of the activities available. (B)

Trip Inclusions

Sample wine with local experts on Waiheke Island.
Experience the geothermal mysteries of Rotorua.
Glide along the TranzAlpine railway.
Experience farm life in New Zealand with a sheep herding and shearing demonstration.
Witness the stars in the protected International Dark Sky in Lake Tekapo.
Cruise through Fiordland National Park searching for wildlife and waterfalls.

Your Journeys Highlight Moment: A day at Kohutapu, Rotorua
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Sheep Shearing Experience, Canterbury Plains
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Tekapo Dark Sky Experience, Lake Tekapo
Waiheke Island Wineries
Waitomo Caves tour
Kohutapu Local Maori Community Initiative
Guided tour of the Kiwi Hatchery
Scenic TranzAlpine train
Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre
Aoraki Mount Cook Kea Point Trek
Free time in Wanaka and Arrowtown
Wilderness day cruise in Fiordland National Park
Free time in Queenstown
Internal flight
All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Hotels (11 Nights)

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides

11 breakfasts, 3 lunches

Private vehicle, plane, train, boat, walking

Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included

Brochure

G Adventures National Geographic Journeys (2025)

National Geographic Journeys offer an in-depth look into the culture and history of your destination. Paired with G Adventures’ nearly 30 years of experience in community-focused small group tours, you can expect a travel experience like no other.

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Note
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you enquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.

Journeys: Discover New Zealand

Overview

Itinerary Expand All

Day 1: Auckland

Day 2: Auckland

Day 3: Auckland - Rotorua

Day 4: Rotorua

Day 5: Rotorua - Christchurch

Day 6: Christchurch

Day 7: Christchurch - Lake Tekapo

Day 8: Lake Tekapo

Day 9: Lake Tekapo - Queenstown

Day 10: Queenstown

Day 11: Queenstown

Day 12: Queenstown

Trip Inclusions Expand All

Journey Highlights

Trip Inclusions

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Your Tour Guides

Meals Included

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Brochure

G Adventures National Geographic Journeys (2025)

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