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Your suggested New Zealand tour itinerary
Milford Sound

Fiordland tour

Rainforest

National Parks
Tour highlights: Auckland - Waipoua Forest - Cape Reinga - Bay of Islands - Waitomo Caves - Rotorua - Taupo - Tongariro National Park - Wellington - Punakaiki Pancake Rocks - Glaciers - Westland - Queenstown - Milford Sound - Catlins - Dunedin - Oamaru - Mount Cook - Christchurch
7 National Parks 4 cities
2 islands (North Island and South Island)
This suggested New Zealand tour itinerary starts in Auckland and ends in Christchurch. You can purchase international flights arriving into one city and leaving from the other. The duration of this tour can be easily reduced to 20 days by removing days 2-6.
Day 1: Auckland

exclusive tour in nzEarly arrival at Auckland International Airport. Transfer to your accommodation (available from 12:00). Time for rest and sightseeing including Mount Eden, Kelly Tarlton aquarium, America's Cup village, Ponsonby. Early dinner and overnight in Auckland.

Day 2: Auckland - Dargaville

New Zealand endemic floraWaitakere jungle (native plants and birds) and Muriwai gannet colony. Matakohe kauri museum. Overnight in Dargaville area.

Day 3: Dargaville - Kaitaia

self-driving tourWaipoua Forest National Park with world's second largest trees. Opononi and the sad story of dolphin Opo. Rawene ferry. Overnight in Kaitaia area.



Day 4: Kaitaia - Bay of Islands

tourNinety Mile beach drive. Sand dunes. Cape Reinga ("top" of New Zealand). Tapotupotu Bay. Wagener Museum. Kauri World. Mangonui. 2 nights in Paihia (Bay of Islands).


Day 5: Bay of Islands

Scenic flight - Bay of IslandsScenic flight over the Bay of Islands. Kerikeri (oldest New Zealand house). Maori village replica. Haruru Falls. Mangrove Forest.

Day 6: Bay of Islands - Auckland

luxury tourWaiomio Caves (glowworms). Clapham's Clock Museum. Whangarei Museum (kiwi birds). Back to Auckland for one night. Dinner at Sky Tower's panoramic restaurant (52nd floor). Overnight in Auckland.

Day 7: Auckland - Waitomo Caves

luxury tour vacationScenic coastal road. Winery tour. Waikato plains. Farm tour. Overnight in a very comfortable farm in Otorohanga / Waitomo Caves.



Day 8: Waitomo Caves - Rotorua

World's largest hot springWaitomo glowworm caves. Waimangu geothermal valley (world's largest hot spring). 2 nights in Rotorua.

Day 9: Rotorua

luxury vacationOhinemutu Maori village and church. Agrodome farm show. Whakarewarewa geysers. Maori concert. Maori arts & crafts institute. Second night in Rotorua.



Day 10: Rotorua - Mangaweka

nikau palm treeWairakei geothermal power station. Huka Falls. Taupo and its lake. Mt Ruapehu (ski fields and lava) and Tongariro National Park. Overnight in remote countryside.

Day 11: Mangaweka - Wellington

Wellington tourWellington, the southernmost capital in the world. Mt Victoria panoramic view, Old St Pauls Cathedral, Te Papa National Museum. Overnight in Wellington.

Day 12: Wellington - Picton

nz escorted tourMore time to enjoy Welllington. Early afternoon ferry crossing over Cook Strait (3 hours cruise). Overnight in Picton.



Day 13: Picton - Murchison

nz flax bushQueen Charlotte drive. Nelson, its orchards and crafts. Tasman Bay. Nelson Lakes National Park. Overnight in Murchison, in a remote farm.



Day 14: Murchison - Punakaiki

nz holiday vacationBuller Gorge. Cape Foulwind furseal colony. Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and rainforest 4WD guided tour in Paparoa National Park. Overnight in Punakaiki.

Day 15: Punakaiki - Fox Glacier

Fox GlacierHokitika ghost and jade town. Ross gold mine. Franz Joseph and Fox glaciers. Optional helicopter flights. Overnight at Fox Glacier.

Day 16: Fox Glacier - Haast

nz kiwi birdIf desired, early wake-up to see the sunrise over Lake Matheson. Westland National Park. West Coast rainforest walks. Ship Creek swamp and dune ecosystems. Jackson's Bay. Overnight in Haast.

Day 17: Haast - Queenstown

nz nature tourHaast Pass. Wanaka and its lake. Queenstown sightseeing (bungy jumping, jet- boating) and shopping. Overnight in Queenstown / Arrowtown.



Day 18: Queenstown - Milford Sound

Milford Sound - FiordlandLake Wakatipu. Te Anau wildlife sanctuary. Fiordland National Park. Kea mountain parrot spotting. Overnight cruise on a very comfortable boat on Milford Sound. (Subject to availability; if not available, overnight in Te Anau.)

Day 19: Milford Sound - Catlins

nz personal guideBack to the East coast, to the Catlins wilderness area. 2 nights in the Catlins.



Day 20: Catlins

nz personal tour guideFull day wildlife and nature sightseeing with local naturalist guide. Hooker sealions, yellow-eyed penguins, and endemic plants of Catlins National Park. Second night in the Catlins.

Day 21: Catlins - Dunedin

Close encounter with a New Zealand fursealDunedin Scottish city. Otago Peninsula. Monarch wildlife cruise. Albatross colony. Overnight in Dunedin.

Day 22: Dunedin - Oamaru

nz self-driving tourMoeraki Boulders. Oamaru white stone city. Blue penguin colony. Overnight in Oamaru.



Day 23: Oamaru - Twizel (Mount Cook)

nz vacation tourMaori rock paintings. Mt Cook National Park views and walks. Overnight in Twizel, one of the world's youngest towns (founded 1965).



Day 24: Twizel (Mount Cook) - Christchurch

pernal driver tourLakes Pukaki and Tekapo. Good Shepherd's chapel. Christchurch sightseeing: cathedral, Arts Centre, Museum. Overnight in Christchurch.



Day 25: Christchurch

ChristchurchMore time for sightseeing and free time in Christchurch. Drop-off at Christchurch International or domestic airport. Haere ra e te manuhiri tuarangi (farewell, honoured guests).

This New Zealand tour is best enjoyed in:
75°F   80°F
23°C   25°C
March   April   May
70°F   65°F  60°F
20°C   18°C   15°C
June   July   August
55°F   55°F   55°F
12°C   12°C   13°C
60°F   65°F
15°C   17°C
70°F   75°F
20°C   22°C
Boat ride inside the Waitomo Caves At Waitomo you can experience the brilliant caves that make the region so famous. There are three caves to choose from. The Waitomo cave is where you will enjoy a tranquil boat ride inside the cave lined with our wonderful glowworms lighting the way. The Ruakuri cave will show you ancient limestone formations and delicate crystals along with our dazzling glowworms. The third cave is Aranui. That cave is virtually lifeless past its' opening and is a showcase of stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones and decorative formations. For the more adventurous, black-water rafting is an unforgettable Kiwi experience.