New Zealand: A North & South Island Adventure 2021
Overview
Highlights
- See Christchurch from the back of a Harley and go punting on the River Avon... walk on Tasman Glacier... jetboat the Dart River and hike wilderness trails through what feels lik 'Middle-earth'... dance at a Gatsby-style gala in Napier... discover Maori culture and a Hobbit village in Auckland... with adventures in world-class wine and cuisine along the way. Immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring landscapes
- cultures
- and cuisines of New Zealand on this 14-day journey far off the beaten tracks. Your journey begins with two nights in Christchurch at a luxury hotel on the River Avon; tour the city sights by foot
- bicycle
- or motorcycle... go punting on the River Avon... Stay at a lodge inside Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park where the landscape of rugged peaks and glaciers calls you to its hiking trails; ride a plane and/or helicopter to Tasman Glacier; lose yourself in the spectacular night sky (the park is one of the best places in the world for stargazing)... Hike the Arrow River and pan for gold in Queenstown... ride a jet-boat on the Dart River
- bicycle-ride
- zip-line
- play golf
- or take a 4WD 'safari' to landscapes featured in the Lord of the Rings movies... Stay two nights in the heart of New Zealand's winemaking region at Blenheim
- where you'll visit a winery and a sheep farm
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Trip includes
- TAUCK EXCLUSIVE — A sparkling 1930s party with a live swing band in Napier TAUCK EXCLUSIVE — Private Maori performance at Auckland Museum and a tour of the Maori exhibit guided by the performers Tauck’s exclusive charter flights mean more sightseeing and less waiting (3 flights in total) Cruising the sunken valleys of the Marlborough Sounds A jetboat ride on the Dart River, and a Lord of the Rings tour in Mt. Aspiring National Park Wine tastings in Blenheim Ride a boat through underground Waitomo Caves, illuminated by glow worms Stargazing the night sky over Aoraki / Mt. Cook National Park with an expert guide Tour of a sacred Maori site in Auckland with a member of the Waimarama Tribe
Itinerary
Begin the day with a visit to Quake City, a museum that documents the disastrous earthquakes that struck Christchurch and the surrounding Canterbury region in September 2010 and February 2011; exhibits tell of heroism and loss, the ...
Today, drive to Aoraki / Mt. Cook National Park, a land of skyscraping peaks and expansive glaciers in the heart of South Island, a mountain-climbers' mecca; here, the famed mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary practiced his climbing skil...
Set off to explore the stunning Tasman Valley and the mountains and glaciers of the South Island from the air on an Ultimate Alpine Experience that combines flights in both a ski plane* and a helicopter*. Soar up to the valley and o...
Head to Glenorchy at the north end of Lake Wakatipu for an exhilarating jet boat ride* through Mt. Aspiring National Park along the Dart River; the park's strikingly diverse landscapes of alpine mountains, forests and valleys are la...
You have a choice of excursions in Queenstown today: ride in a 4WD vehicle* through breathtaking scenery on a Lord of the Rings safari to locations used in the movies (including Minas Tirith, Misty Mountains, Argonath, the Ford of B...
Fly to Blenheim in the Marlborough region by private charter, then head to a working sheep farm where a garden tour with lunch (accompanied by popular New Zealand wines) is followed by sheepdog and sheep-shearing demonstrations. Aft...
Sail along the enchanting Marlborough Sounds, a vast network of sunken valleys, islands, secluded bays, and fjord-like vistas at the northern tip of South Island, on a private wine and green-lipped mussel cruise that includes lunch;...
Start your day with a tour of the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, a museum presenting an astonishing array of vintage aircraft from the world wars, including many World War I planes from filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson's personal collec...
Drive this morning from Napier up to Te Mata Peak, 1300 feet above Hawke's Bay, with panoramic views of the city, the bay, and Heretaunga Plains. Drop in at Birdwoods Gallery, an art gallery sporting a sculpture garden, café, and ol...
Sleep in this morning... or explore Napier on your own, then lunch at Elephant Hill, an eco-friendly wine estate and restaurant on the Te Awanga Coast in Hawke's Bay. This afternoon you have a choice of activities. Choose a “safari”...
This morning, take a private charter flight from Napier to the "City of Sails," Auckland, before enjoying lunch in Ponsonby. A visit this afternoon introduces you to the Auckland War Memorial Museum, one of New Zealand's most treasu...
Take your pick of excursions this morning in Auckland, called the "City of Sails" for the abundance of yachts in its harbors. One is a City Highlights Tour that includes major highlights, bays and residential suburbs, and the Domain...
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : Auckland, New Zealand
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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Tour Operator
It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.
In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.
Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.
Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.
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