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From
$8,660
US $8,390

New Zealand Explorer

19 days
From Auckland to Christchurch
4.4
18 traveler reviews
New Zealand Explorer - Explore!
From
$8,660
-3%
US $8,390
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Plan your adventure:
Tour Operator:
Explore!
Max group size:
16
Age range:
16 to 85
Operated in:
English
Tour id:
31880
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Highlights

  • Explore Auckland's city center and wharf
  • Tour the Hobbiton movie set in Matamata
  • Experience Maori culture with a home-hosted lunch
  • Visit Napier's famous vineyards and taste local wines
  • Discover Wellington's Te Papa National Museum

Itinerary

Expand All
  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1 Join trip in Auckland
  2. Day 2 Explore Auckland, visit Hobbiton and drive to the Bay of Plenty
  3. Day 3 Maori cultural experience with modern hangi lunch
  4. Day 4 Visit Lake Taupo en route to Napier, Hawke’s Bay vineyard wine-tasting
  5. Day 5 Art deco tour of Napier
  6. Day 6 Free time in Napier, drive to Wellington
  7. Day 7 Free day to explore the capital
  8. Day 8 Ferry across the Cook Strait to Picton, drive to Nelson
  9. Day 9 Explore the Abel Tasman National Park by boat and on foot
  10. Day 10 Scenic drive on the Great Coast Road to Hokitika
  11. Day 11 Visit Franz Josef Glacier en route to Fox Glacier
  12. Day 12 Explore Fox Glacier then travel to Wanaka
  13. Day 13 Free day in Wanaka
  14. Day 14 Visit Queenstown and see glowworms en route to Te Anau
  15. Day 15 Take a cruise on the magnificent Doubtful Sound
  16. Day 16 Drive to Dunedin, afternoon wildlife cruise to see albatross
  17. Day 17 Drive to Mackenzie Country via the Moeraki Boulders
  18. Day 18 Drive to Christchurch
  19. Day 19 Trip ends in Christchurch
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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport

What's Not Included

  • Optional
  • Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

All accommodations are subject to change

Customer Photos

Operated by

Explore!

Number of tours

445

Age Range

16 to 85 years old

Response time

within 1 day

Response rate

88%

Explore is a global adventure travel company with 42 years’ experience in providing exciting and authentic travel experiences. With over 350 trips in around 100 countries, Explore’s expertly crafted itineraries combined with award-winning tour leaders, small group sizes and a commitment to...

Read more

Sustainability Initiatives

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Animal Welfare

Supporting Destinations

Sustainability Programs

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
    Excellent
    4.4
  • Itinerary
    Excellent
    4.7
  • Guide
    Excellent
    4.9
  • Transport
    Excellent
    4.3
  • Accommodation
    Good
    4.0
  • Food
    Good
    3.7
  • 4.5
  • Most Recent
  • Most Popular
  • Highest First
  • Lowest First
  • A
    · February 4th, 2023
    Too many to mention
    Trip date: January 2023
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · February 28th, 2023
    My highlights were: 1. The Maori lunch & time in Rotorua. Seeing how a modern Maori family live & being able to talk to/eat with the family was quite an emotional experience. 2. The boat rides & walk in Abel Tasman National Park. That was a chance to really appreciate the indigenous wildlife & plants plus the scenery was beautiful. 3. Doubtful Sound The scenery was beautiful & seeing seals in the wild was great.
    Show more
    Trip date: January 2023
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · February 7th, 2023
    There were many highlights, loved all the boat trips, the many hikes with awesome views, the gorgeous lakes, fjords and beaches, the cave tour with the glow worms, the Maori home visit, etc.
    Trip date: January 2023
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · March 26th, 2023
    Wine tasting at Rippon, Wanaka. Wellington, Zealandia, Te Papa National Museum and Botanical Gardens. Abel Tasman NP walking/beach.
    Trip date: February 2023
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · June 6th, 2023
    WE generally enjoyed it all
    Trip date: March 2023
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · December 1st, 2023
    I’ve always wanted to see an albatross in flight and I did - around 40 of them. Helicopter landing on Franz Josef was very special
    Trip date: November 2023
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · February 4th, 2024
    Glow worms Māori interactions Gisborne
    Trip date: December 2023
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · January 26th, 2024
    The inclusion of Whakatane, Gisborne, Nelson and Dunedin were great. We opted out of the walk in the Abel Tasman NP and had a lovely day in Nelson instead. Knowing nothing about the Hobbit films, we were pleasantly surprised by Hobbiton and pleased we saw this.
    Show more
    Trip date: December 2023
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · January 26th, 2024
    The scenery was amazing
    Trip date: December 2023
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · February 2nd, 2024
    Glow worms Māori family meal Gisborne
    Trip date: December 2023
    Review collected by Explore!

Dates & Availability

19 days
New Zealand Explorer
From Auckland to Christchurch

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  • Upcoming departures
  • November 2024
  • December 2024
  • January 2025
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  • December 2025
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  • Monday
    18 Nov, 2024
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    3 Feb, 2025
    Friday
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    Monday
    10 Mar, 2025
    Friday
    28 Mar, 2025
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    Monday
    10 Nov, 2025
    Friday
    28 Nov, 2025
    English
    Multiple Room Types
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    Monday
    17 Nov, 2025
    Friday
    5 Dec, 2025
    English
    Multiple Room Types
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    Only Pay 10% Deposit
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    Thursday
    18 Dec, 2025
    Monday
    5 Jan, 2026
    English
    Multiple Room Types
    $8,940
    Only Pay 10% Deposit
Can’t find the answer to your question?
Reach out to the experts at Explore! with your enquiry, they usually respond within 1 day.

Good to Know

  • Currency
    $
    New Zealand Dollar
    New Zealand
  • Plugs & Adapters

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

    Type I
    New Zealand
  • 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 January 24th, 2025 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after January 24th, 2025, a minimum payment of 10% is required to confirm your booking with Explore!. 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 75 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 Explore! will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Explore!" 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 traveller, 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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