Does this include airfares from Wellington and back.

Our tours do not include airfare. If you would like to book flights with Collette, please confirm that your booking has your legal passport traveler name, the desired roundtrip airport, and/or let us know of any planned deviations. Collette can assist with quotes for air packages. Schedules and rates are subject to change until booked and confirmed. Airlines do not allow for name corrections, so any name adjustment after confirmation may result in complete cancellation and re-booking of the air package at a higher rate, on a different schedule, or both. Seating is under airline control and can be changed or cancelled at any time with or without notice.

Exploring New Zealand's Wonders featuring the North & South Islands (Auckland to Queenstown) (2025)

18 days

•

From Auckland to Queenstown

4.8

28 traveler reviews

View all
View all

No departure dates available

No dates, no problem! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive:

Travel inspiration for similar adventures
Alerts of the newest adventure deals

Plan your adventure:

Gold Operator: Collette
Explorer: Curated to ignite your sense of adventure
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 2 - 44
All Ages Welcome

Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Day 1
Cross International Dateline
Accommodation
Hotel (Rydges Auckland)
Day 2
Auckland
Meals
Dinner (Welcome dinner)
Accommodation
Hotel (Rydges Auckland)
Included Activities
- Welcome dinner
Landmarks
Auckland
Day 3
Auckland
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands)
Included Activities
- Panoramic city tour featuring America's Cup Village
- War Memorial visit
- Queen Street tour
- Auckland Harbour Bridge viewing
Landmarks
America's Cup Village
Auckland War Memorial
Queen Street
Auckland Harbour Bridge
Day 4
Auckland to Bay of Islands
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands)
Included Activities
- Travel to Bay of Islands
- Waitangi Treaty House visit
- Traditional Maori Welcome Ceremony
- Waitangi Treaty Grounds tour
Landmarks
Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Day 5
Bay of Islands
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Sudima Lake Rotorua Hotel)
Included Activities
- Bay of Islands cruise featuring Hole in the Rock
- Cape Brett Lighthouse viewing
Landmarks
Hole in the Rock
Cape Brett Lighthouse
Paihia
Day 6
Bay of Islands to Rotorua
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Sudima Lake Rotorua Hotel)
Included Activities
- Travel to Matakohe
- Kauri Museum visit
Landmarks
Kauri Museum
Day 7
Rotorua
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner (Authentic Hangi dinner with Maori ceremonial rituals and performance)
Accommodation
Hotel (Novotel)
Included Activities
- Whakarewarewa visit - Maori cultural and geothermal experience
- Authentic Maori village exploration
- Hangi dinner with Maori ceremonial rituals
- Maori cultural performance
Landmarks
Whakarewarewa
Day 8
Rotorua to Wellington
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Novotel)
Included Activities
- Travel to Wellington
Landmarks
Wellington
Day 9
Wellington
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Distinction)
Included Activities
- Wellington city tour
- The Beehive (Parliament) viewing
- St. Paul's Church visit
- Old Government Building visit
- Te Papa Tongawera Museum visit
Optional Activities
- Wellington Cable Car ride to Kelburn suburb for panoramic views
Landmarks
The Beehive
St. Paul's Church
Old Government Building
Te Papa Tongawera Museum
Wellington Cable Car
Day 10
Wellington to Christchurch
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation
Hotel (Distinction)
Included Activities
- Cook Strait ferry crossing
Landmarks
Cook Strait
Picton
Day 11
Christchurch
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (The Hermitage Hotel)
Included Activities
- Christchurch sightseeing tour featuring gardens and park district
- Willowbank Wildlife Reserve visit
- New Zealand 'Big 5' viewing (kiwi, kaka, tuatara, kea, takahe)
- Avon River waka (traditional canoe) paddle
Landmarks
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
Avon River
Day 12
Christchurch to Mt. Cook
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Scenic Hotel Southern Cross)
Included Activities
- Nature walk in Mt. Cook region
Optional Activities
- Glacier flightseeing tour (weather permitting)
Landmarks
Mt. Cook (Aoraki)
Day 13
Mt. Cook to Dunedin
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Scenic Hotel Southern Cross)
Included Activities
- Travel to Dunedin
- Baldwin Street visit
Landmarks
Baldwin Street
Day 14
Dunedin
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at a local Ale House)
Accommodation
Hotel (Novotel Queenstown Lakeside)
Included Activities
- Panoramic city tour
- Larnach Castle visit
- Royal Albatross Centre visit
- Dinner at a local Ale House
Landmarks
Larnach Castle
Royal Albatross Centre
Day 15
Dunedin to Queenstown
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Novotel Queenstown Lakeside)
Included Activities
- Travel through Central Otago region
Optional Activities
- Bird watching at Kiwi Birdlife Park
- Gondola to Bob's Peak for scenic views
Landmarks
Lake Wakatipu
Kiwi Birdlife Park
Bob's Peak
Day 16
Milford Sound
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Novotel Queenstown Lakeside)
Included Activities
- Milford Sound cruise
Optional Activities
- Scenic flight over Milford Sound area
Landmarks
Milford Sound
Day 17
Queenstown
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner (BBQ dinner lakeside on Lake Wakatipu)
Included Activities
- Lake Wakatipu cruise aboard coal-fired steamship
- BBQ dinner lakeside
- Sheepdog demonstration at Walter Peak High Country farm
Optional Activities
- Queenstown countryside tour featuring movie filming locations and gold rush history
Landmarks
Walter Peak High Country Farm
Day 18
Queenstown Departure
Meals
Breakfast

Landmarks
Auckland

Landmarks
America's Cup Village
Auckland War Memorial
Queen Street
Auckland Harbour Bridge

Landmarks
Waitangi Treaty Grounds

Landmarks
Hole in the Rock
Cape Brett Lighthouse
Paihia

Landmarks
Kauri Museum

Landmarks
Whakarewarewa

Landmarks
Wellington

Landmarks
The Beehive
St. Paul's Church
Old Government Building
Te Papa Tongawera Museum
Wellington Cable Car

Landmarks
Cook Strait
Picton

Landmarks
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
Avon River

Landmarks
Mt. Cook (Aoraki)

Landmarks
Baldwin Street

Landmarks
Larnach Castle
Royal Albatross Centre

Landmarks
Lake Wakatipu
Kiwi Birdlife Park
Bob's Peak

Landmarks
Milford Sound

Landmarks
Walter Peak High Country Farm

What's Included

Expand All

Accommodation
Guide
Meals
Additional Services
Transport

What's Not Included

Flights
Insurance
Optional
Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

All accommodations are subject to change

Rydges Auckland
Hotel
Days 1, 2
Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands
Hotel
Days 3, 4
Sudima Lake Rotorua Hotel
Hotel
Days 5, 6
Novotel
Hotel
Days 7, 8
Distinction
Hotel
Days 9, 10
The Hermitage Hotel
Hotel
day 11
Scenic Hotel Southern Cross
Hotel
Days 12, 13
Novotel Queenstown Lakeside
Hotel
Days 14, 15, 16

Operated by

Collette

Gold Operator

Rating: 4.6(7,571 reviews)
Response time: within 1 day
Response rate: 88%
Cancellation policy

Traveler Reviews

4.8

Overall rating based on 28 Reviews

Guide
4.9
Accommodation
4.4
Tour Operator
4.6

A
Valerie
June 5th, 2025
Overall, we did love our trip and the choice of locations to stop for. 22. People was a nice size. Our tour guide...
Overall, we did love our trip and the choice of locations to stop for. 22. People was a nice size. Our tour guide and bus driver were fantastic. In general, most of the hotels were OK, but we felt like second rate citizens always getting their lesser rooms with bad views. Perhaps an option to upgrade rooms would be a solution for people willing to spend an up charge. The attached pictures are from the hotel at the Bay of Islands. The condition of the room was substandard. Even at Restaurants, we were relegated to tables with bad views. Vegetarian options were very limited and redundant. This was consistent with throughout the trip. Making us feel like low class citizens.Show more
Traveled in December 2024
Review collected by Collette
A
Sharon
June 5th, 2025
How beautiful the s energy was and the information provided by tour guide.
Traveled in December 2024
Review collected by Collette
A
Claudia
June 5th, 2025
All of N. Zealand is beautiful from north to south, from the Bay of Islands to Milford Sound with mountain and ocean...
Show more
Traveled in February 2025
Review collected by Collette
A
Sharon
June 5th, 2025
Our tour manager Dexter was outstanding. A very active tour with lots of neat sites and activities.
Traveled in February 2025
Review collected by Collette
A
Rahn
June 5th, 2025
Melissa Troup added so much to the tour enjoyment for all of us.
Traveled in March 2025
Review collected by Collette
A
Deldi
October 30th, 2024
Colletteâ€™s Covid policies leave a lot to be desired. Tour inclusions would have been nice but most of the best...
Show more
Traveled in January 2023
Review collected by Collette
A
Diane
October 30th, 2024
Our tour took started on the day that a state-of-emergency was declared in Aukland because of completely excessive...
Our tour took started on the day that a state-of-emergency was declared in Aukland because of completely excessive rainfall and flooding/landslides. The next 10 days were spent one step ahead of the next disaster. Through it all, our tour manager (and the coach driver) were innovative and flexible with itinerary changes that may have ended up improving over the original plans! One example was the visit to the Antarctic Center, which was just plain fun. Collette's home office was good about approving and footing the bill for "substitute" activities to make up for planned activities that were closed/canceled because of the disaster, which we appreciate. We also enjoyed having a very small tour group of people who were on-time for departures and flexible about schedule/itinerary changes. A good experience overall, and we know it had a lot to do with our tour manager and driver working hard on our behalf.Show more
Traveled in January 2023
Review collected by Collette
A
Johnette
October 30th, 2024
Noâ€¦â€¦â€¦.. I already did this
Traveled in February 2023
Review collected by Collette
A
Christine
October 30th, 2024
I think the flight schedule was not as thought out. I had an eight-hour layover in Chicago. The same airline had two...
I think the flight schedule was not as thought out. I had an eight-hour layover in Chicago. The same airline had two additional flights after the flight from St. Louis that would have reduced the layover by hours. An eight hour layover is too long before a 16-hour flight. Also, there was a lot of driving. I thin you could have cut out one stop and reduced the driving significantly. Our tour guide was excellent and did a great job distracting us from all of the driving, but there was too much!Show more
Traveled in March 2023
Review collected by Collette
A
William
October 30th, 2024
Our tour guide, Sharon, arranged birthday surprises from the hotel and group dinner location in Wellington for my...
Show more
Traveled in March 2023
Review collected by Collette

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

C
Catherine
Asked on February 1st, 2026
Does this include airfares from Wellington and back.
Flights / Transfers
Price / Availability
- ColletteOperator•Written February 2026
  Our tours do not include airfare. If you would like to book flights with Collette, please confirm that your booking has your legal passport traveler name, the desired roundtrip airport, and/or let us know of any planned deviations. Collette can assist with quotes for air packages. Schedules and rates are subject to change until booked and confirmed. Airlines do not allow for name corrections, so any name adjustment after confirmation may result in complete cancellation and re-booking of the air package at a higher rate, on a different schedule, or both. Seating is under airline control and can be changed or cancelled at any time with or without notice.

No departure dates available

No dates, no problem! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive:

Travel inspiration for similar adventures
Alerts of the newest adventure deals

Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 283890

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 August 8th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after August 8th, 2026, a minimum payment of $349 is required to confirm your booking with Collette. 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 95 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 Collette will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
- The following cards are accepted for "Collette" 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
- Your money is safe with TourRadar, as we only pay the tour operator after your tour has departed.
- TourRadar is an authorized Agent of Collette. Please familiarize yourself with the Collette payment, cancellation and refund conditions.
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
Colorado Vacation Packages
Great Migration Safari
5 Stans - A Journey to Central Asia
Mauritian Wonders (4* Hotel)
Amalfi Coast Walking - Hotel Risorgimento
Caribbean dream: from Guadeloupe to Sint Maar…
10 Days Tour From Tangier : North to South

Exploring New Zealand's Wonders featuring the North & South Islands (Auckland to Queenstown) (2025)

No departure dates available

Itinerary

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Want to read it later?

What's Included

What's Not Included

Where You'll Stay

Traveler Reviews

What our customers ask about this tour

No departure dates available

Earn while you share

Good to Know

Keep Exploring New Zealand

Like this Moment?