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Queenstown Cultural Tours & Trips

137 Queenstown trips. Tours from 47 tour companies. 253 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating.

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96 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Cultural
Highlights of New Zealand
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Highlights of New Zealand

By Cosmos
none
4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Auckland, Christchurch, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Rotorua, Wellington

Themes

50 plus, Cultural

What travelers are saying

"We've taken over 10 group tours using Cosmos and Gate1. This trip last month, 9000 was not very good. -During booking, incorrect information was given about airport-hotel transfers -The whispers (listening devices) didn't work from the get-go, so no whispers were used during the 13 day trip. - Porters are no longer hired to bring your luggage to and from your room. (Very elderly had to handle their own luggage. Our friends had to help many of them.) -A few days into the trip one couple left. At the end of the trip we found out they had covid. Cosmos did not let us know; a few people weren't feeling well and two of our friends then tested positive. -One hotel was awful and not even up to "budget" standards -Many of the stops had castles, churches... but were not included, so be sure to count that in when pricing.  don't plan to use Cosmos ever again. Gate1 is the best in my opinion. When my husband's passport was stolen, they assigned someone to go with him to the embassy, translate, etc...It was above and beyond what we expected  "

Trip dates & details
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11 days From$3,399
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New Zealand: A North & South Island Adventure 2024
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New Zealand: A North & South Island Adventure 2024

By Tauck
none
4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Visits

Auckland, Christchurch, Mount Cook, Queenstown, Rotorua

Highlights

  • Explore Christchurch... go punting on the River Avon... walk on Tasman Glacier... travel by ski plane and helicopter... ride a jetboat on the Dart River and hike wilderness trails... discover a rich Maori cultural heritage... attend a sheep dog demonstration... and have 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 13-day journey far off the beaten tracks. Your journey begins with two nights in Christchurch at a lovely hotel where activities include 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)… Ride a jet-boat on the Dart River...Take a 4WD safari – or a scenic flight over Milford Sound – or a helicopter gin tour – while in Queenstown... Stay two nights in the heart of New Zealand's winemaking region at Blenheim
  • where you'll visit a winery and a sheep farm
  • and cruise the fjord-like sunken valleys of the Marlborough Sounds... Discover the geothermal wonders of Rotorua and attend a private Maori dance performance... Fly to Auckland on the North Island for two nights at a waterfront luxury hotel
Show more

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

Trip dates & details
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14 days From$11,990
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Grand Australia & New Zealand 2023
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Grand Australia & New Zealand 2023

By Tauck
none
4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Visits

Auckland, Melbourne, Queenstown, Sydney

Highlights

  • Explore desert Outback
  • tropical rainforests
  • coral reefs
  • glacier-capped mountains
  • dramatic fjords
Show more

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
20 days From$14,490
Price was last confirmed this year
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New Zealand: A North & South Island Adventure 2025
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New Zealand: A North & South Island Adventure 2025

By Tauck
none
4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Visits

Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown

Highlights

  • See Christchurch on the back of a bike and the wind in your hair... go punting on the River Avon... walk on Tasman Glacier... jetboat the Dart River and hike wilderness trails through what feels like 'Middle-earth'... 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 overlooking the River Avon; tour the city sights by foot or bicycle... 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
Show more

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
14 days From$11,990
Price was last confirmed this year
More
New Zealand: A North & South Island Adventure 2023
Save this trip to your favorites or other list

New Zealand: A North & South Island Adventure 2023

By Tauck
none
4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Visits

Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown

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'... 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 overlooking 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
Show more

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
14 days From$11,990
Price was last confirmed this year
More
Grand Australia & New Zealand 2022
Save this trip to your favorites or other list

Grand Australia & New Zealand 2022

By Tauck
none
4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Visits

Auckland, Melbourne, Queenstown, Sydney

Highlights

  • Explore desert Outback
  • tropical rainforests
  • coral reefs
  • glacier-capped mountains
  • dramatic fjords
Show more

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
20 days From$13,990
Price updated 1 year+ ago
More

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Grand Australia & New Zealand 2021
Save this trip to your favorites or other list

Grand Australia & New Zealand 2021

By Tauck
none
4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Visits

Auckland, Melbourne, Queenstown, Sydney

Highlights

  • Explore desert Outback
  • tropical rainforests
  • coral reefs
  • glacier-capped mountains
  • dramatic fjords
Show more

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
20 days From$13,890
Price updated 1 year+ ago
More
New Zealand: A North & South Island Adventure 2021
Save this trip to your favorites or other list

New Zealand: A North & South Island Adventure 2021

By Tauck
none
4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Visits

Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown

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
Show more

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
14 days From$10,490
Price updated 1 year+ ago
More
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Queenstown Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
253  Reviews
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Excellent
69
Great
24
Average
0
Disappointing
0
Terrible
0
H

Heide

Oct 2023

Written on

New Zealand's adventure - a Rousing Success

Unexpected wildlife and plant growth, and land features constantly, with breathtaking beauty, and with an air of untouched freshness. Oh, and the cycling was excitin...

Tour:  New Zealand: The South Island

P

Patti

Oct 2023

Written on

Wonderful and Varied Adventure

This is an excellent trip with a great variety of activities and adventure. A train into the mountains, biking, hiking, kayaking, glaciers, ocean, rainforest, and po...

Tour:  New Zealand: The South Island

P

Patti

Oct 2023

Written on

Wonderful and Varied Adventure

This is an excellent trip with a great variety of activities and adventure. A train into the mountains, biking, hiking, kayaking, glaciers, ocean, rainforest, and po...

Tour:  New Zealand: The South Island

b

bettyj

Oct 2023

Written on

New Zealand

Guides were terrific and NZ is beautiful. The biking on t...

Tour:  New Zealand: The South Island

j

jbird

Oct 2023

Written on

Really fun trip

New Zealand is a beautiful country with really fun and interesting people. But the trip leaders made this an exceptional experience. The trip was well organized and ...

Tour:  New Zealand: The South Island

See all Queenstown reviews

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Queenstown Tour Selection Trips

  • Queenstown is a natural starting or ending point on an exploration of New Zealand's south island. Most tours will allow a few days here.
  • There are several easy day trips you can make from Queenstown, including Arrowtown and Milford Sound.
  • Queenstown is a hub of adventure activities. Even if you're not looking to partake yourself, it's fun to watch! There is a large viewing area at AJ Hackett Bungee Bridge for example.

Additional details

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