In our opinion the best fully inclusive two week fully escorted tour of New Zealand out there!
Experience the natural beauty and unique culture of both the North and South Islands by modern coach without breaking the budget. This inclusive package features quality accommodations, most meals, the "must do" icons of New Zealand and an extensive list of tours included in your tour price.
Commence your tour in Christchurch, travel across the Southern Alps to Lake Tekapo and the Scottish settlement of Dunedin before arriving at one of the highlights of the South Island – Milford Sound. Continue on to the alpine resort town of Queenstown, across the West Coast Glaciers and board the stunning Tranz Alpine Express Rail Journey, lauded as one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world. Head North and crossing from the South to the North Islands by ferry and arrive at the capital city of Wellington, later on to the Maori cultural center of Rotorua and ending in New Zealand’s largest city Auckland having truly experienced the best of New Zealand from South to North.
Escorted Tour Inclusions
- Round trip coach class air travel from Los Angeles to New Zealand
- Personalized Meet & Greet on arrival
- 14 Days of Modern coach travel with 2 door access, restroom, reclining seats and panoramic windows
- Professional Coach Captain operating as your driver/guide
- 13 nights accommodation in 3.5* accommodation
- All sightseeing and pre paid attractions as outlined in itinerary
- 13 cooked breakfasts including a specialty breakfast: Stratosfare Restaurant, Rotorua, 11 sumptuous dinners including 3 specialty dinners: Haggis Ceremony, Dunedin; Walter Peak Homestead, Queenstown; Mãori Hãngi and Concert, Rotorua, 1 picnic lunch,1 delicious Devonshire Tea: Larnach Castle & Enjoy GPT Hotel Wine Time (discounted drinks)
- Airport transfers in New Zealand
- All airport & hotel taxes
Touring highlights
- Milford Sound Cruise & Lunch
- Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw
- Haggis Ceremony and Gift and Larnach Castle and Devonshire Tea
- TranzAlpine Rail Journey
- Lakes District Museum
- Cruise on the Interislander Ferry
- Te Papa, NZ’s National Museum
- Skyline Rotorua Gondola & Luge Ride, Agrodome & Thermal mud pools & geysers
- Traditional Maori Hangi & Concert
- City sights tour of Christchurch, Dunedin & Wellington
Itinerary
Day 1 - Depart Los
Angeles or San Francisco for evening flight to New
Zealand
Ask about our options with Premium Economy and Business class
airfare.
Day 2 - Cross International Date Line
Day 3 - Arrive
Christchurch
On arrival into Christchurch, you will be met by a Grand Pacific
Tours representative and transferred to your hotel. This evening
meet your Tour Leader and travelling companions.
Accommodation - Heartland Hotel Cotswold or similar
Includes: Dinner
Day 4 - Christchurch -
Omarama
After an introductory city sights tour depart Christchurch and
travel through the southern Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo. See
the brilliant turquoise water, The Church of the Good Shepherd and
the Sheep Dog Statue. Marvel at the spectacular mountain ranges
including Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak. The
opportunity is available (time and weather permitting, optional) to
enjoy a scenic flight over the Southern Alps before travelling to
Omarama.
Accommodation - Heritage Gateway Hotel
Includes: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 5 - Omarama -
Dunedin
Depart Omarama and see Lake Benmore, before following the Waitaki
River to Oamaru, famous for its limestone. Continue south to
Dunedin and enjoy a city sights tour followed by some free time.
Tonight, a Scottish evening will be presented comprising of
bagpipes, great food, special Haggis Ceremony and gift.
Accommodation - Dunedin Leisure Lodge – A Distinction Hotel
Includes: Breakfast and Specialty Dinner
Day 6 - Dunedin - Te
Anau
This morning travel out along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle
where you hear of the tragic and scandalous history on a guided
tour. Enjoy time to wander around this Garden of International
Significance followed by a delicious Devonshire Tea. Farewell
Dunedin and travel through Balclutha and Gore to Te Anau, gateway
to Fiordland and your overnight stay. Today you may like to visit
the Te Anau Glowworm Caves (optional).
Accommodation - Distinction Luxmore Lake Te Anau (Superior Room)
Includes: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7 - Te Anau - Milford Sound -
Queenstown
Depart Te Anau for a fascinating drive to Milford Sound where you
board your launch for a cruise on this magnificent fiord. See the
spectacular Bowen Falls and towering Mitre Peak as you enjoy a
picnic lunch. This afternoon travel to Queenstown, overlooking
magical Lake Wakatipu. Spend the next two nights at this year-round
resort which offers a wide range of activities and attractions.
This evening is free, you may choose to dine at one of the many
fine restaurants. (2 night stay)
Accommodation - Copthorne Hotel & Resort Queenstown Lakefront
Includes: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 8 - Queenstown (Free
Day)
Today is a free day for you to explore Queenstown at leisure. Your
Coach Captain and Tour Leader are available to assist with the many
optional activities available, including the thrill of a jet boat
ride, a heritage tour to Skippers Canyon or to getup close to a
Kiwi bird. This evening board the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw
and cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station. Sit back,
relax and enjoy a delicious gourmet barbecue dinner featuring a
menu of seasonal, fresh and locally sourced food at the
Colonel’s Homestead. After dinner enjoy a short farm tour
then reboard the TSS Earnslaw for a sing along by the piano as you
cruise back to Queenstown.
Accommodation - Copthorne Hotel & Resort Queenstown Lakefront
Includes: Breakfast and Specialty Dinner
Day 9 - Queenstown – Arrowtown – Fox
Glacier
Travel to Arrowtown and visit the Lakes District Museum. Continue
via the Haast Pass to the mighty West Coast, an area of stunning
beauty. See the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps as you
travel north to the township of Fox Glacier. Time is available to
experience a scenic flight (weather permitting, optional) over the
spectacular glaciers.
Accommodation - Heartland Hotel Fox Glacier
Includes: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 10 - Fox Glacier - Arthur’s Pass -
Christchurch
Travel to Hokitika and visit the Greenstone Factory. Continue into
Arthur’s Pass and board the TranzAlpine, renowned as one of
the great train journeys of the world. View rivers and valleys as
you travel through the Waimakariri Basin, over massive viaducts and
through the patchwork farmlands of the Canterbury Plains. On
arrival into the elegant city of Christchurch, your coach will be
waiting to transfer you to your hotel.
Accommodation - Heartland Hotel Cotswold or similar
Includes: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 11 - Christchurch - Picton -
Wellington
Travel along the East Coast to the seaside village of
Kaikõura. Enjoy the spectacular scenery as you travel
through Marlborough Country, famous for its food and wine. Continue
to Picton, where you will board the Interislander Ferry for your
journey through the Marlborough Sounds and across Cook Strait to
Wellington. (2 night stay)
Accommodation - ibis Wellington
Includes: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 12 - Wellington
A highlight this morning will be time to explore Gallipoli: A Scale
of War exhibition at Te Papa, New Zealand’s National Museum.
Cutting edge technology brings these stories to life through the
eyes of New Zealanders who found themselves in extraordinary
circumstances. Reboard your coach for an extensive city tour which
showcases the history and culture on show. Enjoy free time this
afternoon and this evening is also free to choose your own dining
arrangements.
Accommodation - ibis Wellington
Includes: Breakfast
Day 13 - Wellington - Taupo -
Rotorua
Depart Wellington and travel via Mt Ruapehu and Mt Tongariro to
Lake Taupo. Visit the spectacular Huka Falls then onto the
geothermal wonderland of Rotorua. (2 night stay)
Accommodation - Sudima Lake Rotorua
Includes: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 14 - Rotorua
Today begins with a gondola ride and breakfast at Skyline Rotorua.
There is also time for a thrilling luge ride! Next stop is Agrodome
for an action-packed hour of farming entertainment. Visit Te Puia
to see the boiling mud pools and awesome geysers that Rotorua is
famous for. This evening experience an entertaining Mãori
cultural performance followed by a delicious Hãngi meal.
Accommodation - Sudima Lake Rotorua
Includes: Breakfast and Specialty Dinner
Day 15 - Rotorua -
Auckland
Depart Rotorua and travel north to Auckland to enjoy an afternoon
at leisure to discover the ‘City of Sails’. This
evening enjoy dinner at your hotel.
Accommodation - Rydges Auckland
Includes: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 16 - Depart
Auckland
Time to say goodbye. You will be transferred to the airport for
your flight home after a memorable New Zealand holiday.
Includes: Breakfast
Aspire Tip: This tour is very popular with the Australian traveler. So when you travel on the 16 Day Fully Escorted Tour of New Zealand, your traveling companions are most likely to be Australian which usually means for a fun time with a friendly group of like-minded travelers!
Enquire about departure dates and availability
Single Supplement:
From $1,055
New Zealand Entry Requirements:
New Zealand welcomes fully vaccinated International travelers
Read more about the NZ entry requirements
Terms and Conditions
Package from pricing is based on double occupancy (2 people sharing a room) from Los Angeles or San Francisco for low season tour date departing 30 April 2023. Add $150 per person for all other tour departures: 05 & 16 Oct, 01 & 11 Nov 2022; 20 Jan, 02, 12 & 23 Feb, 02, 11 & 25 Mar, 01 and 08 Apr 2023. Add-on fares are available from other cities. Seats are limited and may not be available on every flight. Hotels are subject to availability. All prices reflect a discount for purchases made by check/wire; please see terms and conditions for credit card payments. Cancellation penalties and other restrictions apply.
To guarantee the package price & purchase the airline tickets, full payment is due at the time of booking. The purchase of travel Insurance is highly recommended for travel to New Zealand. Aspire Down Under partners with CSA Travel Protection. Travelers to New Zealand must be fully vaccinated and obtain a negative COVID-19 test before departure. Travel insurance covers cancellation penalties under the cancellation benefit should you test positive for COVID-19 immediately before traveling to New Zealand. In the unlikely event your scheduled travel date is impacted by New Zealand government entry restrictions, Aspire Down Under will permit a change of travel dates within 12 months from your original booking date without any fees or penalties (the applicable price of the new trip itinerary will apply).
