# 15-Day Highlights of New Zealand Tour from Auckland【Max 16 Pax Small Group】: Rotorua, Wellington & Queenstown

Tour in OC — Auckland → Christchurch.
Listed and booked on Yatra For Fun (yatraforfun.com) — our Kathmandu concierge confirms availability, prices it in NPR, and sends a payment link within 2 business hours.

## Key facts

- Type: multiday
- Country: OC
- Route: Auckland → Christchurch
- Duration: 15.00 day
- Price from: $5,248.95
- Rating: 5.00 / 5 (10 reviews)
- Operator: Tours4Fun Provider 1113

## Summary

• 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners included • Marvel at the striking Franz Josef glacier • Feast on a hangi in a Maori village • Let loose in Queenstown • Cruise around the fjords of Doubtful Sound

## Categories

Select Meals Included

## Itinerary

### Day 1: Auckland

Arrive at any time. There are no activities until an evening welcome meeting, so head out and enjoy the city. 【Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group 】 Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

### Day 2: Auckland - Rotorua

Drive to the lakeside town of Rotorua, situated over an active geothermal zone and known for its volcanic features and rich Maori heritage. Stop en route at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Take a boat ride through this spectacular underground realm to see thousands of flickering glowworms light up in the dark. 【Waitomo Cave Excursion】 Enjoy a peaceful boat ride through 30 million year old caverns covered with magical glowworms that are unique to New Zealand. Hundreds of thousands of these tiny creatures radiate luminescent light in underground caves carved by rivers and time. Take in more than 136 years of cultural and natural history on this unique excursion. 【Private Vehicle 】 Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

### Day 3: Rotorua

Visit Rotorua and opt to check out the geothermal area or go whitewater rafting. In the evening visit a Maori village for traditional ceremonies, a Hangi meal and entertainment. Rotorua sits over an active volcanic zone with bubbling mud pits and multi-coloured pools in different areas around the town. Opt to visit one of the sites, or go whitewater rafting nearby. 【Mitai Experience】 Visit the Mitai Maori Village and learn the migration story of Tamatekapua of the Te Arawa canoe to Aotearoa and the Maori Pacifica connection told in dance form. Enjoy a delicious Hangi meal, similar to a Hawaiian Luau, with dishes such as chicken, sweet potato (kumara) and lamb steamed over heated rocks. 【Free Time】 Enjoy free time to visit the geothermal sites around town.

### Day 4: Rotorua - Wellington

Take in the ever-changing scenery of the North Island and travel to the capital, Wellington. 【Private Vehicle 】 Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

### Day 5: Wellington

Enjoy the atmosphere in this relaxed but lively city. After an orientation walk, enjoy a free day to explore. Opt to visit the Te Papa Museum or take the cable car up to the botanical gardens. 【Orientation With CEO】 Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended. 【Free Time】 Spend some time exploring the city.

### Day 6: Wellington - Kaikoura

Fly to the South Island and travel to the seaside town of Kaikoura, known for its diverse marine life. Stop en route for a wine tasting at a local winery. 【Winery Visit】 Stop at a local winery and opt to sample some of the wines produced on site. 【 Plane】 Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually. 【 Private Vehicle】 Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

### Day 7: Kaikoura - Hanmer Springs

Enjoy a free morning in Kaikoura. Opt to go on a whale watching tour and search for giant sperm whales. Or head out on a tour to swim in the open ocean in a place often visited by wild dolphins. In the afternoon, travel to Hanmer Springs. Opt to take a soak in the hot springs. 【Private Vehicle】 Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

### Day 8: Hanmer Springs - Franz Josef

Take in the stunning scenery while travelling across the Southern Alps to the rugged and remote West Coast, before staying in the rainforest near the world's fastest moving glacier. 【Private Vehicle】 Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

### Day 9: Franz Josef

Enjoy a free day to explore the area around Franz Josef. Opt to explore the glacier with a heli hike. There are plenty of optional activities in the area to suit just about any budget and preference. Try heli hiking, scenic helicopter flights, skydiving or lake kayaking. 【Your Discover Moment】 There's plenty to see and do in Franz Josef, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like a glacial hike or a helicopter hike. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!

### Day 10: Franz Josef - Queenstown

Continue to Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world. With beautiful scenery and tons of activities, there's something for everyone. Enjoy the great night life. 【Private Vehicle】 Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

### Day 11: Queenstown

With free time here, opt to go bungee jumping (in its birthplace), jet boating (also born here!), skydiving or hiking. Or take it a little slower and travel by gondola to the top of a local peak. Opt to pre-book the "Queenstown Jet Boating" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour. 【Your Discover Moment】 There's plenty to see and do in Queenstown, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like mountain biking, bungee jumping, and jet boating. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!

### Day 12: Queenstown

Enjoy the stunning scenery of Fiordland National Park and Doubtful Sound on a day cruise. Take in the waterfalls and wildlife, then return to Queenstown for the night. 【Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise】 Cruise through the stunning Doubtful Sound, one of the most untouched, remote places in the world. The only way to get here is by boat across Lake Manapouri, then bus across Wilmot Pass to Doubtful Sound. Marvel at the steep cliff walls and cascading waterfalls, and keep an eye out for area wildlife: dolphins, penguins, seals, and a variety of birds. This isolated part of New Zealand is truly a special place! 【Private Vehicle】 Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

### Day 13: Queenstown - Tekapo

Travel north through the centre of the South Island to Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, named after New Zealand's highest peak. Spend the afternoon hiking the region, taking in the alpine scenery. Learn more about mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary at the Visitor's Centre, before a short but scenic journey to Tekapo Village. 【Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre】 Stop by the visitor's centre to learn more about the region. 【Aoraki/Mount Cook Visit】 Aoraki/Mount Cook is both a village, a national park and the name of New Zealand's highest mountain. Located in central South Island, the park includes a mix of rocks and glaciers, as well as alpine plants including the world's largest buttercup, the Mount Cook lily. There are several short walks that reward with spectacular views. 【Private Vehicle】 Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

### Day 14: Tekapo - Christchurch

Continue on to Christchurch and take in an orientation walk with your CEO. Enjoy one final night together with the group. Travel to the Garden City of Christchurch, a little piece of England in New Zealand, still recovering from a devastating earthquake. 【Orientation With CEO】 Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended. 【Private Vehicle】 Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

### Day 15: Christchurch - Home

Depart at any time.

## Guide languages

English Live

## Links

- Yatra page: https://yatraforfun.com/tour/105270099-highlights-of-new-zealand-tour-small-group-tour-from-auckland-15-day
- WhatsApp concierge: https://wa.me/9779708072951