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2028

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1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

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2026

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2027

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2028

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Who is travelling?

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From
$6,419
US $4,814 per person

Journeys: Discover New Zealand National Geographic Journeys

12 days
•
From Auckland to Queenstown
4.7
9 traveler reviews
  • Mountainous landscape image with a body of water at dawn.
  • Scenic lake surrounded by lush mountains and clouds
  • View all

  • Tour was a nice mix of beautiful landscape and fun physical activities, accommodations were clean and comfortable.

    Journeys: Discover New Zealand National Geographic Journeys reviewer 1
    Alina, traveled in October
    4.5
  • Aerial view of beautiful Queenstown with surrounding lakes and mountains.
    View all
From
$6,419
-25%
US $4,814 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
Save and compare this adventure

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:
Platinum Operator
National Geographic Expeditions with G Adventures
In-depth Cultural
Immerse yourself in rich history and local traditions
Group Tour
Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity
Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 10 - 16
Ages 12+
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Auckland

    Start point
    Auckland, Auckland Region, New Zealand (Hotel)
    Accommodation
    Hotel (CityLife Auckland)

    Included Activities

    • Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group

    Optional Activities

    • Auckland Sailing: America's Cup Experience (Pre Tour) - 210 NZD per person
    • Maritime Museum Visit - 24 NZD per person
    • Hobbiton Movie Set day trip (requires pre-night accommodation)
  2. Day 2

    Auckland

    Meals
    Breakfast
    Accommodation
    Hotel (CityLife Auckland)

    Included Activities

    • Orientation with Expedition Leader
    • Waiheke Island Wineries
    Landmarks
    Waiheke Island
  3. Day 3

    Auckland to Rotorua

    Meals
    Breakfast
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Millennium Rotorua)

    Included Activities

    • Waitomo Cave Excursion
    Landmarks
    Waitomo Glowworm Caves
  4. Day 4

    Rotorua

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional hangi lunch prepared underground pit style at Kohutapu Lodge)
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Millennium Rotorua)

    Included Activities

    • A day at Kohutapu
    • Kohutapu Lodge Experience

    Optional Activities

    • Evening meal in Rotorua
    • Hot Springs soak - 50-360 NZD per person
    Landmarks
    Whirinaki Rainforest
    Kohutapu Lodge
  5. Day 5

    Rotorua to Christchurch

    Meals
    Breakfast
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Distinction Christchurch Hotel)

    Included Activities

    • The National Kiwi Hatchery
    • Orientation with Expedition Leader

    Optional Activities

    • Hot springs soak in Rotorua - 50-360 NZD per person
    Landmarks
    National Kiwi Hatchery
  6. Day 6

    Christchurch

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch (BBQ lunch prepared with locally sourced ingredients at sheep farm)
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Distinction Christchurch Hotel)

    Included Activities

    • TransAlpine Train
    • Sheep Shearing Experience
    Landmarks
    Arthur's Pass
    Canterbury Plains
  7. Day 7

    Christchurch to Lake Tekapo

    Meals
    Breakfast
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Woolshed Suites)

    Included Activities

    • Tekapo Dark Sky Experience

    Optional Activities

    • Christchurch Botanic Gardens
    Landmarks
    Christchurch Botanic Gardens
    Lake Tekapo
  8. Day 8

    Lake Tekapo

    Meals
    Breakfast
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Woolshed Suites)

    Included Activities

    • Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre
    • Aoraki/ Mt Cook Kea Point Trek
    Landmarks
    Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre
    Aoraki/Mt Cook
    Kea Point Track
  9. Day 9

    Lake Tekapo to Queenstown

    Meals
    Breakfast
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Novotel Queenstown Hotel)

    Optional Activities

    • Walking tour of Arrowtown starting at the Lakes District Museum
    Landmarks
    Wanaka
    Arrowtown
    Lakes District Museum
    Itinerary Image 1
  10. Day 10

    Queenstown

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Novotel Queenstown Hotel)

    Included Activities

    • Fiordland National Park Wilderness Cruise
    Landmarks
    Fiordland National Park
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2
  11. Day 11

    Queenstown

    Meals
    Breakfast
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Novotel Queenstown Hotel)

    Optional Activities

    • Cruise Lake Wakatipu on a historic steamer (Earnslaw Steamship Cruise) - 115-269 NZD per person
    • Thrilling jet boat ride (Shotover Jet Boating) - 159 NZD per person
    • Local winery visit and wine tasting (Vineyard Tour) - 189-265 NZD per person
    • Gondola Ride - 66-215 NZD per person
    • Farewell dinner with Expedition Leader and group
    Landmarks
    Lake Wakatipu
  12. Day 12

    Queenstown

    End point
    Queenstown, Otago Region, New Zealand (Queenstown)
    Meals
    Breakfast

    Included Activities

    • Departure Day

    Optional Activities

    • Jet boating
    • Mountain biking
    • Other adventure activities

Want to read it later?

Download this tour’s PDF brochure and start tour planning offline

What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

All accommodations are subject to change

  • CityLife Auckland

    Hotel
    Days 1, 2

  • Millennium Rotorua

    Hotel
    Days 3, 4

  • Distinction Christchurch Hotel

    Hotel
    Days 5, 6

  • Woolshed Suites

    Hotel
    Days 7, 8

  • Novotel Queenstown Hotel

    Hotel
    Days 9, 10, 11

Operated by

National Geographic Expeditions with G Adventures

Platinum Operator
Rating
4.5(326 reviews)
Response time
4 hours
Response rate
88%
Cancellation policy

Traveler Moments

  • Mountainous landscape image with a body of water at dawn.
  • People standing on a boat deck overlooking the ocean and islands in the distance.
  • Tree branch overhanging a tranquil lake with ducks and mountains in the distance.
  • Person sitting on a rock near a lake with mountains in the background.
  • View through tree branches of a coastline with clear blue waters.
  • Dense forest with ferns and orange-colored tree trunks.

Traveler Reviews

4.7
Overall rating based on 9 Reviews
  • Itinerary
    4.8
  • Transport
    4.6
  • Guide
    4.7
  • Accommodation
    4.1
  • Food
    4.3
  • Tour Operator
    4.5

Sort by

Most recent
Most popular
Highest first
Lowest first

Sort by

Most Recent
Most Popular
Highest First
Lowest First
  • K
    March 31st, 2025
    Great "stops" with lots of information and photo opportunities.
    Traveled in March 2025
  • Journeys: Discover New Zealand National Geographic Journeys reviewer 2
    January 11th, 2024
    The Guides for individual tours were knowledgeable and helpful, Our overall tour guide worked hard to make sure...
    Show more
    Traveled in December 2023
  • E
    May 26th, 2023
    Greg Bray, our CEO, was knowledgeable fun to be with and skilled at making necessary adjustments when needed. We had...
    Show more
    Traveled in May 2023
  • K
    November 7th, 2022
    The tour itself was excellent. I was very frustrated however by the minimal communication. It was very difficult to...
    Show more
    Traveled in October 2022
  • P
    March 9th, 2020
    great trip and tour of NZ
    Traveled in February 2020
  • D
    December 31st, 2019
    The trip fulfilled my expectations; a good introduction to New Zealand, including both North and South islands. The...
    Show more
    Traveled in December 2019
  • M
    November 16th, 2019
    The beauty of the the country and the tour organization made it fantastic.
    • People standing on a boat deck overlooking the ocean and islands in the distance.
    • Tree branch overhanging a tranquil lake with ducks and mountains in the distance.
    • Person sitting on a rock near a lake with mountains in the background.
    • Dense forest with ferns and orange-colored tree trunks.
    • View through tree branches of a coastline with clear blue waters.
    • Mountainous landscape image with a body of water at dawn.
    Traveled in November 2019
  • A
    October 21st, 2019
    This was an excellent tour with a very knowledgeable guide (Jonno). We only had 6 people on the tour which allowed us...
    Show more
    Traveled in September 2019
  • A
    October 8th, 2019
    Tour was a nice mix of beautiful landscape and fun physical activities, accommodations were clean and comfortable,...
    Show more
    Traveled in September 2019

Dates & Availability

Select departure month and travellers

Select Date

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
Upcoming departures
Hurry, deals only available for a limited time!
Ends on 13 May, 2026
  • -25%
    From Sunday
    14 Jun, 2026
    To Thursday
    25 Jun, 2026
    English
    Check the availability with the operator
    Departure on request
    From:
    $6,419
    US $4,814 per person
    Multiple Room Types
  • Instant Confirmation
    From Sunday
    12 Jul, 2026
    To Thursday
    23 Jul, 2026
    English
    Filling Fast
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    From:
    US $6,419 per person
    Multiple Room Types
  • Instant Confirmation
    From Sunday
    9 Aug, 2026
    To Thursday
    20 Aug, 2026
    English
    Filling Fast
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    From:
    US $6,419 per person
    Multiple Room Types
  • From Sunday
    6 Sep, 2026
    To Thursday
    17 Sep, 2026
    English
    Almost Sold Out
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    From:
    US $6,419 per person
    Multiple Room Types
  • From Sunday
    20 Sep, 2026
    To Thursday
    1 Oct, 2026
    This departure date is not available or sold out
    Sold out
    From:
    US $6,419 per person
  • From Sunday
    4 Oct, 2026
    To Thursday
    15 Oct, 2026
    English
    Almost Sold Out
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    From:
    US $5,899 per person
    Multiple Room Types
  • From Sunday
    11 Oct, 2026
    To Thursday
    22 Oct, 2026
    English
    Almost Sold Out
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    From:
    US $5,899 per person
    Multiple Room Types
  • Instant Confirmation
    From Tuesday
    13 Oct, 2026
    To Saturday
    24 Oct, 2026
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    From:
    US $5,899 per person
    Multiple Room Types
  • From Sunday
    18 Oct, 2026
    To Thursday
    29 Oct, 2026
    English
    Almost Sold Out
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    From:
    US $5,899 per person
    Multiple Room Types
  • From Sunday
    25 Oct, 2026
    To Thursday
    5 Nov, 2026
    This departure date is not available or sold out
    Sold out
    From:
    US $5,899 per person

Want to read it later?

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What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
All questions
We couldn't find results
Try a different search term or ask a question to this adventure's experts
  • J

    Júlia

    Asked on January 26th, 2025

    How do I handle payment for my trip?

    Payments
  • A

    Alex

    Asked on January 3rd, 2025

    Are there accommodations available before the tour begins?

    Accommodation
  • M

    Melissa

    Asked on November 13th, 2024

    What is the group size for the tour?

    Group size
  • A

    Adrian

    Asked on November 11th, 2024

    What is the luggage limit for the trip?

    Transport
  • A

    Ana Cristina

    Asked on October 1st, 2024

    How do refunds work for cancellations?

    Payments
  • J

    Jeff

    Asked on August 2nd, 2024

    Who is the tour operator?

    Operator
    Tour Details

  • Мартин

    Asked on June 26th, 2024

    Can you accommodate special dietary needs during the trip?

    Meals
  • B

    Brittany

    Asked on June 2nd, 2024

    I would like to enquire for Newzealand tours for Oct 2024 departure dates and are keen in this tour National Geography Journeys. We are a family of four, aged 52,47,18, and 14 years. We are fine with 12-14 days itinerary. 1. Private vehicle - does it refer to self drive or driver is included. None of us drive so this is one critical criteria for us. 2. Is the pick up and drop off from airport included? 3. Can you list down the optional items with prices for this itinerary so we can look through? We are vegetarians - no meat no seafood. Dont drive.

    Age Range
    Meals
    Tour Details
    Transport
    • National Geographic Expeditions with G AdventuresOperator•Written June 2024

      This tour is suitable for any travellers 12 and older so it would be a great fit for your family of 4. This tour is fully guided and comes with a driver so you will not have to drive at any point while on this trip. All transportation to included activities and accomodations is included in the tour. We don't offer airport pick up or drop off from the airports but it's very easy to take a taxi or a rideshare between the destinations. We can accommodate your dietary requirements as well.

    • B

      Brittany

      Traveler•Written June 2024

      Is there anyway you can customise and end this tour at Christchurch as our flight bk will be from Christchurch.

    • B

      Brittany

      Traveler•Written June 2024

      Can please include the price for helicopter or heli hike glaciers?

    • National Geographic Expeditions with G AdventuresOperator•Written June 2024

      We sell these tours as pre-packaged itineraries. This trip finishes in Queenstown. If your flight is from Christchurch you will need to find alternative transportation to get there. The quickest way is to fly from Queenstown to Christchurch. There are also buses but they will take up to 8 hours. National Geographic does not partner with companies that operate flying tours so we don't have exact prices. We have 7 spaces left on the 20th Oct - 31st Oct date. There is only 1 spot left on the 27th Oct - 7th Nov date.

      • B
      B
      3 more answers
  • M

    Michel

    Asked on May 8th, 2024

    Can we customize the tour to end at a different location?

    Tour Details
  • L

    Lorraine

    Asked on April 5th, 2024

    What rating are the hotels

    Accommodation
Can’t find the answer to your question?
Reach out to the experts at National Geographic Expeditions with G Adventures with your enquiry, they usually respond within 4 hours.
From
$6,419
-25%
US $4,814 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
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Good to Know

Tour ID: 124113

  • Currency
    $
    New Zealand Dollar
    New Zealand
  • Plugs & Adapters

    As a traveler from USA, Canada, England, South Africa you will need an adaptor for type I.

    Type I
    New Zealand
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before July 10th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after July 10th, 2026, a minimum payment of 20% is required to confirm your booking with National Geographic Expeditions with G Adventures. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 65 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • Some departure dates and prices may vary and National Geographic Expeditions with G Adventures will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
    • The following cards are accepted for "National Geographic Expeditions with G Adventures" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.
  • People also viewed

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Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec