New
Zealand Grand Spectacular
An eighteen day small group tour of both islands, with
lots of inclusions and plenty of individual flexibility
Three options - enjoy the complete tour or either of two
shorter options
|
This New Zealand tour can be enjoyed by
itself, or can be combined with time in Australia, Fiji, Tahiti,
or various other places.
You can add extra time in
New Zealand or elsewhere at the beginning and/or end of your tour.
If you prefer, you can
travel by private car, joining the group only for accommodation,
meals, and any other activities that you might wish.
Total flexibility. And
total enjoyment.
NOTE : THIS IS THE
ARCHIVED 2005 TOUR. WE WILL BE RUNNING THE TOUR AGAIN IN
0CT 2008 -
PLEASE CLICK TO VISIT THE NEW TOUR PAGE.
Tour
Itinerary
(Click map for
a larger image)
This tour gives you an opportunity to visit
all the major destinations in beautiful New Zealand.
And, as well as the better known sights, we'll take you
places only the locals know about, too.
This varied itinerary offers you a mix of luxury coach
travel, scenic train, inter-island ferry, and a domestic
flight with wonderful views across NZ as you fly from Rotorua to Queenstown. |
Tour Options
This tour is available in
three forms :
-
An Introduction to New
Zealand : Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown and
Christchurch. This is the complete 'A list' of NZ
attractions ideal for the first time visitor, or the
enthusiast seeking to return to the places they know and
love. This module is 11 days, counting from the day you
leave the US to the day you return (this is the main tour up
to day 11, on which day you return home to the US from
Christchurch). $1399 per person share twin plus airfare to
Auckland and back home from Christchurch.
-
Advanced New Zealand :
Wellington, Martinborough, Hawkes Bay, and Taupo. These are
places that most international travelers, with too little
time, omit from their quick NZ touring. But you'll find
these places every bit as special and perhaps more uniquely
NZ-ish than the 'A list' above. This is 10 days, from the
day you leave the US to the day you return (this joins the
main tour by flying into Wellington on day 11). $1049 per
person share twin plus your airfare to Wellington and back
from Auckland.
-
Complete New Zealand :
This is the entire 18 day tour as shown below, and includes
the extra touring on day 11 between Christchurch and
Wellington by train and ferry. $2449 per person share
twin plus your airfare to and from Auckland.
Tour Dates
The tour is guaranteed to
operate. It will not be cancelled because more than
the minimum number of needed participants have already signed
up.
The tour allows you to make
your own way to Auckland, New Zealand, any way you wish.
You should arrive into Auckland no later than the morning of
Wednesday, 26 October.
If you're starting your
travels in North America, you'll probably take an overnight flight on
Monday 24 October (or sooner), to arrive into Auckland on
the morning of Wednesday 26 October
(or sooner).
This might seem like a very long flight, but
a nonstop flight from Los Angeles to Auckland is only about 12½
hours in duration. The reason you leave on a Monday night and
arrive on a Wednesday morning is because you skip over Tuesday when you
cross the international date line on the way to New Zealand.
Don't
worry, the day you 'lose' on the way to NZ isn't lost forever.
You get the extra day returned to you when you fly back - meaning you'll land
back in North America 'before' you depart
Auckland!
The tour ends on Thursday 10
November when we return to Auckland from Hawkes Bay by coach. You
are free to fly back this evening, or to stay longer
in NZ, or perhaps to go somewhere else like Fiji, Tahiti or
Australia before returning home.
If you're traveling directly
home, you could arrange to take an
evening flight that day. We will be at the airport no
later than 5pm, in time for the flights that leave after 7pm
that night.
Small Group Size
The group is limited to a
maximum of 30 persons.
Most of the time we'll be
traveling on 48 - 50 seater coaches so there'll always be lots
of room for everyone to spread out.
Because we're a small group,
if we decide we want to change or vary a day's itinerary, we'll
simply make the changes we wish.
Tour Inclusions
Your $2249 per person tour
price includes all the following :
-
One night accommodation in
central Auckland
-
Two nights accommodation in
Rotorua in the middle of the geothermal area
-
Three nights accommodation in
the heart of lovely Queenstown
-
Two nights accommodation in
downtown Christchurch
-
Two nights accommodation in
central Wellington
-
Five nights accommodation in
the lovely village of Havelock North, Hawkes Bay
-
Feature dinners in Auckland, Rotorua
and Hawkes Bay
-
Breakfasts every morning
-
Introduction to Auckland
sightseeing tour
-
'Getting to know you' welcome
dinner in Auckland
-
Coach touring in luxury coach
with toilet, driver/guide and live commentary from Auckland
to Rotorua
-
Visit to and tour of the Waitomo Glow-worm Caves
-
Guided tour of the
Whakarewarewa geothermal area
-
Attend a performance at the
Agrodome featuring performing sheep and trained farm dogs
-
Visit the Buried Village -
NZ's Pompeii and enjoy a stunningly beautiful bushwalk down
to a semi-subterranean waterfall
-
An evening visit to a Maori
marae with traditional entertainments and a hangi feast
-
Scenic flight from Rotorua to
Queenstown (not included in tour price)
-
Introduction to Queenstown
sightseeing tour
-
Two full days in Queenstown
in which you're free to sightsee as you wish
(there's so much to experience in this beautiful area we
didn't want to dictate what you should see and do)
-
Coach touring in luxury coach
with toilet, driver/guide and live commentary from
Queenstown to Christchurch
-
Visit to the Hermitage on Mt
Cook (New Zealand's tallest mountain)
-
Introduction to Christchurch
sightseeing around the city and area
-
Scenic train journey up the
East Coast of the South Island from Christchurch to Picton
-
Travel by inter-island
ferry from Picton, through the beautiful Marlborough Sounds
and then across the open waters of Cook Strait and into
Wellington Harbor
-
Wellington City Sightseeing
Tour
-
Cable car ride in Wellington
-
Special guided tour of New
Zealand's 'Te Papa' National Museum
-
Coach touring in luxury coach
with toilet, driver/guide and live commentary from
Wellington to Havelock North
-
Visit to beautiful
Martinborough
-
Four full days in the Hawkes
Bay area while staying in Havelock North. We include
coach excursions to all the regional highlights
-
Wine-tasting tour around some
of the wonderful Hawkes Bay wineries
-
Farewell dinner at a Hawkes
Bay winery
-
A full free day to experience
the relaxed Hawkes Bay lifestyle as you choose
-
Coach touring in luxury coach
with toilet, driver/guide and live commentary from
Havelock North to Auckland Airport
-
Time at Lake Taupo, NZ's
largest lake; and visit to the spectacular Huka Falls
Itinerary
Day 1 (Monday 24 October) :
Leave the US |

'Wunala Dreaming' - Qantas applied a ton of extra paint to
cover this plane in traditional Australian aboriginal
images.
Qantas offers the most flights to NZ and Australia of any
airline. |
You should make your
own arrangements to fly from the US to Auckland, departing on
Monday 24 October.
Most
flights leave from Los Angeles in the evening, making it
easy to connect from other places in the US.
Leave
earlier if you wish to spend extra time
in New Zealand
before the start of the main tour |
Day 2 (Tuesday 25 October) :
Skip this day
as you cross the dateline |

Crossing the dateline means you skip a day |
As you fly down to New Zealand, your flight crosses the
international dateline, and suddenly you skip ahead a day.
Don't worry, though - the day you
'lose' on your flight to NZ will be regained on your return
to the US, when you'll find yourself arriving back into Los
Angeles earlier than when you left Auckland! |
Day 3 (Wednesday 26 October) :
Auckland city sightseeing |

Auckland calls itself the 'City of Sails'. Until
recently the home of the Americas Cup, the city is very
water-centric with lots of beautiful bays and beaches all
around the city.
A clean modern downtown is encircled by inactive volcanoes
making for a distinctive skyline.
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Your flight will arrive into
Auckland early this morning.
The group will meet at our central
Auckland hotel at mid day and we'll then spend the afternoon
on a guided sightseeing tour of Auckland, New Zealand's
largest city.
The sightseeing will end in the
lovely town of Devonport on the other side of Auckland's
harbor, giving you the opportunity to then take a beautiful
short ferry ride back to the city side of the harbor after
strolling through Devonport's boutique shops.
We'll have a 'getting to know you'
welcome dinner this evening. |
Day 4 (Thursday 27 October) :
Touring to Rotorua via Waitomo |

Glow-worms light up the roofs of the Waitomo Caves |
Today we'll
travel by luxury coach from Auckland down to Waitomo, home
of the amazing glow-worm caves, and then on over to Rotorua,
in the center of the geo-thermal region.
As we travel, you'll be amazed at
the beauty of NZ's gentle rolling countryside, the abundant
greenery everywhere, and, of course, lots of sheep, too.
In Waitomo we'll be taken on an
underground boat tour of the lakes and river, above which
the glowing glow-worms hang suspended, creating an overhead
carpet of lights.
As we approach Rotorua you'll
notice a most distinctive side effect of the geothermal
area. A somewhat malodorous sulphur smell!
Don't worry - you'll quickly
forget about this, and the novelty of this extraordinary
area more than compensates. |
Day 5 (Friday 28 October) :
Rotorua |

Vents of sulphurous steam alternate with native bush at
Whakarewarewa

The Agrodome, complete with performing sheep and farm dogs
gives you a fun perspective on NZ farm life
An artist's impression of the 1886 eruption of Mt Tarawera
that engulfed the now Buried Village.

Our day ends with an evening visit to a Maori marae for
traditional entertainment and hangi feast (roasted/steamed
food) |
Rotorua is an amazing area, and you'll get four very
different experiences in a very full day of sightseeing.
We start with a visit to the Whakarewarewa Thermal area.
Geysers, boiling mudpools, mineral waters and hot streams
are everywhere, and in some places it looks more like the
surface of the moon than the earth, although look around a
bit and you'll find beautiful native bush close by.
Next is a visit to the Agrodome for a show that introduces
you to much of NZ's farming way of life. NZ still has
a largely agrarian based economy, and in an entertaining
show featuring performing sheep and sheep dogs, you'll get
an understanding of this essential part of New Zealand.
The Buried Village, our next stop, is exactly what its name
implies. A massive eruption of a nearby volcano buried
this village, and you'll walk around the partially excavated
ruins. After seeing this downside to the geothermal
activity, take the marvelous bush-walk down to where a
waterfall cascades through rocks down to its pool at the
bottom, in an almost subterranean setting. It is a bit
of a walk up the loop back to the Buried Village, but well
worth the effort, and is one of the most beautiful bush
walks in the entire country.
Lastly today we travel to a Maori
marae (meeting place) where NZ's native people treat us to a
traditional welcome, entertainment, and delicious hangi meal
(food cooked by hot rocks in a hole in the ground). |
Day 6 (Saturday 29 October) :
Fly to Queenstown |

The lovely resort village of Queenstown, nestled on the
shores of Lake Wakatipu
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Today we'll
fly from Rotorua down to Queenstown in NZ's South Island.
You should make your own arrangements to fly, and we suggest
the Qantas flight is the better of the two choices, but the
Air NZ flight would also be satisfactory if needed to fit
within your international ticket rules.
Be sure to ask for a window seat
and enjoy the beautiful views from the air. You'll be
able to see from NZ's west coast to NZ's east coast - it
truly is a narrow and small country!
Upon arrival in Queenstown we're
given a short tour around the Queenstown area and taken to
our hotel for the next three nights. |
Day 7 (Sunday 30 October) :
Queenstown on your own |

Magical Milford Sound - for most visitors, this is a 'must
see'
|
There is such a lot to see and do in the Queenstown area
that we decided to leave you free to make your own selection
of activities.
One of our suggested highlights
would be a tour to Te Anau and Milford Sound. This is
a full day tour, although it can be shortened by traveling
one way by light plane rather than by coach (weather
permitting). The drive through Fiordland to Milford
Sound is stunningly beautiful so we'd recommend coaching at
least one way, even if you choose to fly the other.
At Milford Sound you should take
one of the cruises of this beautiful wilderness area before
returning back to Queenstown. |
Day 8 (Monday 31 October) :
Queenstown on your own |

The gondola ride up Bob's Peak in Queenstown gives majestic
views over Lake Wakatipu and to the Remarkable Moutain Range
in the background

A cruise across the lake on the vintage steamer Earnslaw,
and a visit to the sheep farm on the other side, is a
relaxing way to spend some of your day.
|
You'll have already noticed some of Queenstown's obvious
attractions, and if you went to Milford Sound yesterday,
today would be your chance to experience such things
yourself.
The TSS Earnslaw is a vintage steam boat that travels across
Lake Wakatipu. A cruise on
the Earnslaw is a lovely experience to enjoy.
Up above Queenstown is a gondola ride to the top of Bob's
Peak, giving you lovely views across the town and lake to
the mountain range not far north, aptly named the
Remarkables.
And if you'd like to do more than just look at the
(probably) snow covered mountains, you can take a helicopter
flight up to the mountains.
Lower down, you might wish to experience a jet-boat ride on
one of the rivers. Jet-boats were invented in NZ, and
enable boats to travel very quickly in very shallow rivers.
This is a most exhilarating experience.
If this isn't enough excitement, then you could try bungy
jumping (also a NZ invention), or if you'd prefer not to be
taken along the river by a power driven craft, maybe go
river rafting.
Other experiences available include panning for gold, and
riding a vintage steam loco powered train.
Truly, there's a huge variety of experiences to enjoy in the
Queenstown area. |
Day 9 (Tuesday 1 November) :
Touring to Christchurch
via Mt Cook |

A typical view as we travel up to Mt Cook and then on to
Christchurch today |
Today we travel by luxury coach to Christchurch, following
along the base of the majestic Southern Alps, and then
driving a short way up into the mountains to the Hermitage
Resort in Mt Cook National Park. Mt Cook is New
Zealand's tallest mountain (12,316 ft) and you'll have views
to its summit and the other peaks in the Southern Alps from
the Mt Cook village.
As we continue on to Christchurch
the high hill country becomes replaced by the fertile
Canterbury Plains, and then we reach our destination of
Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island. |
Day 10 (Wednesday 2 November) :
Christchurch |

Central Christchurch has a historical tram, and presents as
a very English type town.

The Avon River flows gently through the center of the city. |
Christchurch is described as the most English city outside
of England, and with a cathedral in its town square, and
punting on the river running through the city (named the
Avon) you'll quickly see why this is.
We'll be given a guided
sightseeing tour of the Christchurch area, and then can
enjoy a ride on their central city sightseeing tram, and
enjoy the rest of the day as we wish.
The more active of us might choose
to climb to the top of the Cathedral to look out over the
city, and if we're lucky, Christchurch's wizard may be
holding forth in The Square at lunchtime. |
Day 11 (Thursday 3 November) :
Train to Picton and ferry
to Wellington
END OF Introduction to New Zealand tour in Christchurch
START OF Advanced New Zealand tour in Wellington |

Our train is dwarfed by the majesty of its surroundings

Our ferry cruise to the North Island takes us through the
beautiful Marlborough Sounds |
If you chose the Introduction to NZ tour, today you'll say
goodbye to the other tour members and make your way to
Christchurch airport to fly back home.
If you chose the Advanced NZ tour,
you'll fly into Wellington today (you should leave the US on
or before Tuesday 1 November) and join up with the rest of
the tour when it arrives into Wellington this evening.
For those of us on the complete
tour, today promises to be a
varied day of wonderful travel experiences. We first
travel by wonderful train from Christchurch up the east
coast of the South Island and to Picton, at the base of the
Marlborough Sounds.
In Picton we'll transfer to a
passenger ferry for the three hour journey over to
Wellington. This is a beautiful journey, first through
the Marlborough Sounds, and then through Cook Strait before
entering Wellington's harbor, described as one of the finest
natural harbors in the world.
We'll be spending two nights in
Wellington, New Zealand's capital city. |
Day 12 (Friday 4 November) :
Wellington |

A spectacularly beautiful setting for NZ's capital city of
Wellington |
Called 'windy Wellington' by the locals, but hopefully the
weather will be smiling on us today as we enjoy touring
around the lovely city that was my home for many years.
With only a little encouragement, I might point out the
sites of some of my youthful indiscretions!
We'll travel by cable car up one
of the many hills that encircle Wellington, and by coach up
another of the hills to a wonderful scenic lookout.
A highlight of the day will be a
guided tour of New Zealand's National Museum, 'Te Papa'. |
Day 13 (Saturday 5 November) :
Touring to Havelock North
via Martinborough |

The classic verandah style architecture of the old
Martinborough Hotel |
Today we'll travel by luxury coach to Havelock North.
We'll take the scenic rather than
the more common route, going up through the Wairarapa, and
detouring to visit the lovely little town of Martinborough. |
Day 14 (Sunday 6 November) :
Hawkes Bay - the Countryside
(Guy Fawkes Night this evening) |

A view looking north across the Heretaunga Plains from Te
Mata Peak, one of the defining landmarks of the Hawkes Bay
region.

The beautiful Tuki Tuki River |
Hawkes Bay enjoys beautiful scenery and countryside.
With the sea on one side, and mountains ringing the
Heretaunga Plains on the other side, and some lovely rivers
flowing through the region, the geography is always
changing.
Sometimes referred to as 'the
fruitbowl of New Zealand' Hawkes Bay has an abundance of
orchards and market gardens - many people buy all their
fruit and vegetables direct from the growers, who have small
road-side stalls.
Whether you're looking for fruit
and vegetables, seafood and fish, or meat and dairy
products, the region produces high quality fresh food of all
types.
This evening notes the celebration
of Guy Fawkes. Mr Fawkes was an English revolutionary
who tried to blow up their Houses of Parliament, an event
which was unsuccessful, and which is celebrated in English
descended countries by the letting off of fireworks and
ceremonial bonfires, often with a stuffed dummy representing
Guy Fawkes himself this evening. |
Day 15 (Monday 7 November) :
Hawkes Bay - the Twin Cities |

Napier, famous for its 1930s art deco architecture, is set
alongside a grand sweep of the bay.

Hastings has a very different feel to it than Napier, and is
located inland. |
Yesterday we enjoyed the countryside. Today you'll
find that the area's two cities are also characterful and
distinctive.
My personal favorite is Napier.
Extensively rebuilt after a massive earthquake leveled
almost the entire city in 1931, the city now stands as a
monument to the Art Deco style.
A rejuvenated port is now becoming
up-market accommodation, and the gorgeous views from the
hill overlooking the city remains another prime residential
location.
Hastings is more a large farming town,
bisected by the infrequently used rail line. It has an
attractive layout and many amenities for the visitor and
resident. |
Day 16 (Tuesday 8 November) :
Hawkes Bay
- at your own pace |

Perhaps get your day off to a flying start with a balloon
ride? Other airborne activities could include a glider
flight, or hang-gliding off the back of Te Mata Peak.
Or maybe you'd rather enjoy a round of golf at a local golf
course? |
Today you're free to do as much - or as little - as you wish.
Maybe stroll around 'the village' as the local people call
Havelock North. Maybe visit some possible property
purchases with us.
If you're an early riser, why not
start your day off with a balloon ride?
Perhaps hire a rental car for the
day and experience driving on the other side of the road (it
is easier than you think!). Or perhaps go on a Gannet
Safari, or enjoy some other form of sightseeing.
Another possibility could be a day
tour up to Gisborne, the first city in the world to see the
sun each morning and the place where NZ's English discoverer
(Captain Cook) first made landfall.
The day is yours to enjoy as you
wish. |
Day 17 (Wednesday 9 November) :
Hawkes Bay - the Wineries |

A profusion of vineyards and wineries

There'll be plenty of opportunity to taste some of NZ's best
wines - wines that are only produced in limited quantities
so they're never seen up here in the US. Take some
home with you! |
Hawkes Bay has long been at the forefront of New Zealand's
winemaking regions, and these day it has a vast abundance of
boutique wineries making some extremely good wines.
We'll visit several of these
wineries this afternoon on a leisurely drive through the
beautiful countryside, and then we'll have a farewell dinner
at a winery this evening. |
Day 18 (Thursday 10 November) :
Touring to Auckland
via Lake Taupo and Huka Falls |

If enough of us want to, we can go jetboating at Huka Falls
on our way up to Auckland. |
Our time in New Zealand comes to a close today and we'll
travel by luxury coach back up to Auckland Airport.
Our route north from Hawkes Bay takes
us to Lake Taupo, NZ's largest lake and a very popular
summer holiday spot.
A short distance north of Taupo we'll
visit the spectacular Huka Falls near the start of the
Waikato River, NZ's largest river.
We'll be back at Auckland Airport
no later than 5pm, enabling you to take flights back to the
US from 7pm onwards. |
Tour Cost
Tour Cost
$2449 per person, share
twin.
Want more information?
Got questions you need answered?
You can chat with David directly if he is online. Click on the
button below if it says 'Click for Live Help'.
 |
A single supplement of $775
is available. We will also help to match together singles
if you'd like to share with a compatible fellow single traveler.
These prices reflect a 3% discount
for cash/check.
A $250 per person
non-refundable deposit is required to confirm your places on
this tour.
You are responsible for
arranging your travel between the US and New Zealand, and for
the flight between Rotorua and Queenstown in New Zealand.
What about the Air Fare?
You will save money and gain
flexible convenience if you arrange your own air travel.
These days airlines seldom give discounts to groups, and
sometimes even charge more, while also adding extra restrictions
to the tickets!
You can choose whichever
carrier has the best fare and the best schedules for you, and
you can also choose a carrier that you wish to earn miles with.
You can even cash in miles and fly on frequent flier awards.
We'll be pleased to answer
any questions you might have about arranging your air
transportation, of course.
Using Frequent Flier Miles
We all know it can be
difficult to get the exact flights you want if you're trying to
cash in some frequent flier miles. So here are some tips
to help you if you're trying to use frequent flier miles :
-
Check availability in all
three cabins (coach, business and first class) and be
prepared to fly one way in one cabin and the other way in a
downgraded cabin if necessary
-
Check availability for both
the 'real' flights on the real airlines, and on codeshare
flights too if your mileage can be used for both - for
example, Qantas codeshares with AA and Air NZ with UA.
-
If you can't get flights to
and from Auckland, consider flights to and from Sydney or
Melbourne instead (either one way or both ways), and then
simply buy a cheap flight across the Tasman, or include
Auckland as a stop on your travel to/from Australia.
-
Be flexible about dates - if
you have to spend another day or two in NZ so as to get free
flights, that's probably a trade-off you'll be pleased to
make.
How to Extend or Vary this Tour
There are many ways you can
extend or vary this tour.
You might want to include
other destinations as you fly to and from New Zealand.
While there are plenty of non-stop flights to Auckland, other
flights can be arranged allowing for stops in places such as
Tahiti, Hawaii, and Fiji, either on the way to or from NZ.
And you might also want to
fly just a little further west to include some time in
Australia, too.
If you wanted to spend more
time in New Zealand, you could of course arrive before the main
tour start date, and/or stay on after the tour completion date.
Truly, this tour gives you a
great number of ways to add extra time and sightseeing.
And, if you have more questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
We're here to help ensure your experience is as good as
possible.
Suggested Tour Extensions
We suggest you arrive in
Auckland a day or two before Wednesday 26 October, so that you are well
rested when the tour starts.
Tour Terms and Conditions
Our
standard terms and conditions
apply to this tour.
In addition, please note
these extra terms :
1. The 45 day
payment due date is considered to be Monday 5 September.
2. US citizens require a
current passport that will not expire for at least six months
after the date of their planned return back to the US in order
to be admitted to New Zealand. They do not require a NZ
visa. Citizens of other countries should check with the
airline that will transport them to New Zealand to determine what
passport and visa requirements may apply.
3. Tour price is based on a
NZ/US exchange rate in the wholesale range between 0.65 and
0.70. If the exchange rate varies outside of this rate
prior to final payment being received, the tour price will be
adjusted (either up or down) to reflect the change in the cost
of tour components. If the price of the tour increases by
more than 5%, participants will be offered a no cost, no penalty
opportunity to cancel and receive a full refund of all monies
paid.
4. Triple share
rates may be available. Ask for a quote if this is
required.
5. There's
plenty of room in the coach's luggage bays for as much luggage
as you choose to bring. But you'll find it easier on
the train journey, and in the hotel rooms, if you try and limit
yourself to one main suitcase and one smaller item per person.
The Travel Insider is
licensed by the State of Washington as a seller of travel -
registration number 602 036 247.
Originally published
1 Jul 2005, last update
30 May 2021
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