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Total Aotearoa from Auckland - Top rated by National Geographic

23 days
Start and end in Auckland
2.8
3 traveler reviews
Total Aotearoa from Auckland - Top rated by National Geographic - Flying Kiwi
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Price based on per person in Camping Shared for departure 13 February 2025

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Plan your adventure:
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Guided in English
Group Size 1 - 26
Age range 18 to 65
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Highlights

  • Dig your own spa at Hot Water Beach
  • Cycle through historic Karangahake Gorge
  • Explore geothermal wonders in Rotorua
  • Hike the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing
  • Spot dolphins on the Cook Strait ferry

Itinerary

Expand All
  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1 AUCKLAND TO HOT WATER BEACH
  2. Day 2 HOT WATER BEACH
  3. Day 3 HOT WATER BEACH TO ROTORUA
  4. Day 4 ROTORUA
  5. Day 5 ROTORUA TO NATIONAL PARK
  6. Day 6 NATIONAL PARK TO FOXTON (TONGARIRO CROSSING DAY)
  7. Day 7 FOXTON TO PICTON VIA WELLINGTON
  8. Day 8 PICTON TO KAIKOURA
  9. Day 9 KAIKOURA TO LAKE TEKAPO VIA CHRISTCHURCH
  10. Day 10 LAKE TEKAPO
  11. Day 11 LAKE TEKAPO TO OAMARU VIA AORAKI/MT COOK
  12. Day 12 OAMARU TO TE ANAU
  13. Day 13 FIORDLAND NATIONAL PARK
  14. Day 14 TE ANAU TO QUEENSTOWN
  15. Day 15 QUEENSTOWN
  16. Day 16 QUEENSTOWN – LAKE HAWEA
  17. Day 17 LAKE HAWEA – FOX GLACIER
  18. Day 18 FOX GLACIER - PUNAKAIKI
  19. Day 19 PUNAKAIKI – ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK
  20. Day 20 ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK
  21. Day 21 ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK TO PAEKAKARIKI
  22. Day 22 PAEKAKARIKI TO WAITOMO
  23. Day 23 WAITOMO TO AUCKLAND
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What's Included

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  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Additional Services

Customer Photos

Operated by

Flying Kiwi

Number of tours

6

Age Range

10 to 70 years old

Response time

within 3 days

Response rate

94%

Since 1988 Flying Kiwi has been recognised as New Zealand's leading adventure...

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Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Customer Reviews

  • Overall Rating
    Average
    2.8
  • Itinerary
    Good
    4.0
  • Guide
    Excellent
    4.3
  • Transport
    Good
    3.7
  • Accommodation
    Good
    3.3
  • Food
    Good
    3.7
  • 4.5
  • K
    · March 18th, 2024
    I would like to start by saying that the basic concept of the 23-day Total Flying Kiwi tour is beautiful! But due to terrible organisational talents of Flying Kiwi (Stray) we missed out on a lot, together with the trouble and stress around booking the trip. Almost every person on our tour complained about how poor the organization and information from Flying Kiwi was prior to the trip. The Flying Kiwi employees offered no sympathy, with exception of Brett the first time he called me. I am convinced that Flying Kiwi have done their best, but there is huge room for improvement with the soft skills, communication, and customer service. My experiences below were avoidable, and these issues need corrective action to ensure the success of future Flying Kiwi tours. * Equipment issues There were issues regarding the equipment during the trip. Several of the issues were quality related and others related to are poor planning and execution. These issues should be relatively easy to solve. * Microphone The busdriver'smicrophone was so unintelligible that most of the time the bus couldn't understand his stories. * Bicycles There were no bicycles during the first part of the trip. Then there were 6 bicycles for 10 people, each of whom paid the full amount for renting these bicycles. *Tents We were given the cheaper smaller tents to use as opposed to the beautiful new tents recently purchased. With the recent price increase, we actually paid for these. *Mattresses Half of the mattresses leak. *Sleeping bags When we returned to the North Island had changes busses, the new bus had no sleeping bags. Anyone who didn't have their own sleeping bag had to use their own clothes to stay warm at night. *Program issues Several attractions on the itinerary were failures. There was some rain, but for the most part we can see each issue was due to poor preparation, organization, and management. -Martha’s Mine The itinerary enthusiastically describes a working goldmine, but it looked profoundly abandoned. We saw a skeleton of a building, and that's it. -Māori cultural dinner at the Tamaki Village (now called Te Pā Tū) was canceled because it was fully booked the day it was scheduled in the itinerary! Flying Kiwi didn’t prepare and arrange this dinner in advance. We were offered an alternative that was described as “exactly the same experience.” were taken to Te Puia instead of Te Pā Tū, the experience was far from what we were promised. This was an outright waste of time and money, and every person on the bus shared this sentiment. Not only were all 19 of us robbed of a wonderfully unique cultural experience, but were lied to. To make things worse, we also missed out on an awesome zipline through the untraversed native forest valleys as well as feeding birds because the Te Puia disappointment was scheduled at the same time. The highlight of the day was when were told that we had to prepare our own dinner - on top of missing out on unique and awesome experiences because of poor planning. This was a turning point in the trip, and the entire bus group was furious. The group was irritated at the poor communication and information before the trip and poor preparation for the actual tour. We were offended that we missed very unique activities and experiences. Especially considering we've come a long way to New Zealand, to see and experience this beautiful country and their history. -Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland visit was canceled because they are not open on Thursdays. This activity was included in the price of the trip! Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland should have been contacted well in advance regarding the bus full of 24 tourists; and if needed, the itinerary should have been amended to make this visit possible. - Tongariro crossing Flying Kiwi worked with Adrift Tongariro. I knew that they would not allow us into the park until 10 am while we had to be back at the bus at 2 pm. We had to cancel the walk due to the rain, but even if the sun had been shining, we would not have been able to do this walk. For the Tongariro at least 6 hours are needed for the crossing, and preferably 8-9 hours are needed for people who walk slower. I didn't mention this to the other passengers, because I didn't want to upset them even more than they already were about Flying Kiwi's. We did an unattractive hike as an alternative while there was a beautiful hike to do at the beginning of Tongariro. My local New Zealand friends did that beautiful hike that day. Multiple missed chances at Tongariro. - Weta workshop We had less time in Wellington than originally planned. We were unable to take part in the 4-hour Weta Workshop. I was looking forward to this, and again I was disappointed. - Wanaka tree We stayed at the campsite in Wanaka, near the lake with the Wanaka tree. But without us realizing it, the bus drove past the tree. It was a 15 minute drive, and it would have taken a maximum of 1 hour including the stop to see the famous tree. - The assistent The assistant tried her best, but her lack of experience, training, and support was evident throughout the trip. When problems arose, she could not empathize with us and could only laugh at the situation. She also brought the bus on a very unsafe route, on an unsealed road. The passengers were distressed and she laughed her mistake away. Also the assistant told us that rooms were booked at Attic backpackers for all passengers on the last night of the tour, at the expense of Flying Kiwi. I immediately canceled my reservation that night because of this, but a few hours later we were told by her that she made a mistake and Flying Kiwi will not provide the accommodation on the last night of the tour. She also informed us that the accommodation was fully booked and we were on our own with no support from Flying Kiwi. Further, first aid training is a must. The busdriver cannot be the only other person with first aid knowledge. As a cultural entrepreneur, I took the lead after the Māori dinner debacle to discuss her approach in organization. Contacting tourism organizations on short notice (sometimes only an hour before hand) while they are short-staffed and in the high season for a bus full of tourists was not a formula for success! The assistant did not feel pre-arrangement was her responsibility as she was under the impression that it should have been done before her employment began. After a bit of conversation, we decided to survey everyone on the tour to gauge interest in activities and give the assistant the info to make reservations as soon as possible. Conclusion I cannot recommend a tour from Flying Kiwi at this time, purely because the organization was very poor relative to the price paid. Honestly, it feels that Flying Kiwi is growing too fast, lack experienced staff in key positions, and / or are understaffed. It's such a shame because the tour set up is great! It's a dream trip! But due to poor preparation, organization, and management the tour is worth much less. The rating 4.8 out of 5 stars is a score from the original Flying Kiwi organization. Flying Kiwi has been takenover by Stray. Only a few of us from the tour have given a rating online, but if all the travelers from our group give a rating, the average will not be higher than 3.5 stars. I did enjoy the trip. I have chosen to be positive, see the beauty of the trip, and I enjoyed helping the assistent. So in short what, due to the poor preparations and organization, we have missed out/ experienced: 1. Information on the nature, culture, and history of New Zealand - Māori and settlers. 2. No sleeping bags for 1 night 3. Cheap tents 4. Often a leaky mattress 5. Limited bicycles 6. Working Goldmine at Martha's Mine 7. Exceptional and special zipline through untraversed native forest valleys 8. Māori cultural experience and dinner at the Tamaki Village 9. Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland 10. Tongariro Crossing (even if the weather had been acceptable, we would not have been able to do the crossing). 11. Missing out on a visit at the Wanaka tree.
    Show more
    Flying Kiwi commented on this review
    Hi Kim, Thank you for leaving this review, we always appreciate hearing honest customer feedback. We have spoken at length via email about your experience of your tour last year and I would like to thank you once again for your helpful comments, and... Show more
    Trip date: February 2023
  • Total Aotearoa from Auckland - Top rated by National Geographic reviewer 2
    · February 19th, 2023
    The guides were great, but the cost of the tour is at least twice what it is worth, some locations of the campgrounds were terrible, audio on the speaker bus was not good.
    Flying Kiwi commented on this review
    Hi Kubrik, Thank you for leaving these comments. I am so sorry to hear that some of the campgrounds we use aren't up to standard, we are making some changes for the coming season but if you'd like to leave us some more detailed feedback, please feel... Show more
    Trip date: January 2023
  • DD
    · March 28th, 2018
    New Zealand is gorgeous and the tour immersed...
    Show more
    Flying Kiwi commented on this review
    great to hear you had a good time Dianne and love the pics :)
    Total Aotearoa from Auckland - Top rated by National Geographic customer review photo 1Total Aotearoa from Auckland - Top rated by National Geographic customer review photo 2Total Aotearoa from Auckland - Top rated by National Geographic customer review photo 3
    Trip date: March 2018

Dates & Availability

23 days
Total Aotearoa from Auckland - Top rated by National Geographic
From Auckland to Auckland

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What our customers ask about this tour

    The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
    • Will I need to purchase travel insurance?

      We strongly recommend purchasing travel telecommunications, particularly insurance that covers both medical issues and trip cancellations.

    • What is the age range allowed on the tour?

      Generally, we welcome all age groups as we believe you're as young as you feel, though the tour activities are aimed at a more adventurous crowd.

    • Do I need to worry about power availability for my devices?

      Most campsites provide power outlets, and it's generally safe to leave devices charging in communal areas.

    • Is there assistance for dietary requirements?

      Yes, we cater to various dietary needs. Please communicate your specific requirements in advance, and our tour leaders will ensure to assist with appropriate food arrangements.

    • How are the camping facilities on the tour?

      Our campsites generally include good toilets, showers, kitchens, and laundry facilities. Some more remote nights may use basic facilities but are always planned in advance.

    • Can I bring my own bike or do I have to rent one?

      Bringing your own bike is not necessary as bikes are optional and available for rent during the tour.

    • Can I book extra nights at the end of the tour in Christchurch?

      Yes, you can choose to stay in Christarch instead of returning to Auckland at the end of the tour.

    • What provisions are there for laundry during the tour?

      Laundry facilities are available at several campsites we use during the tour, and they are generally self-service.

    • Is there a guide who assists during the camping?

      Yes, our trips are always accompanied by a guide who will assist you throughout the tour, including during camping.

    • Can we bring our own tents or are they provided during the tour?

      All tickets include a shared tent for two people, so there is no need to bring your own unless you prefer to do so.

    Can’t find the answer to your question?

    Good to Know

    Tour ID: 102859

    • Currency
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      New Zealand
    • Plugs & Adapters

      As a traveler from USA, Canada, England, South Africa you will need an adaptor for type I.

      Type I
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    • Visa
      • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
      • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
    • Payment information
      • For any tour departing before March 11th, 2025 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after March 11th, 2025, a minimum payment of $140 is required to confirm your booking with Flying Kiwi. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 36 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
      • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Flying Kiwi will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
      • The following cards are accepted for "Flying Kiwi" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
    • Cancellation Policy
    • Accessibility
      Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.

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