Highlights of New Zealand (3360)

11 Day Tour from Auckland to Queenstown

2019 Tour Details View 2020 Tour Details »

Your affordable New Zealand tour begins in Auckland with a two-night stay to start exploring this fascinating country. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city, including the Domain—its park surrounding a dormant volcano. You’ll travel through the lush farmland of Rotorua, home to New Zealand’s Maori culture, bubbling geothermal sites, and the setting for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. You’ll learn about the region’s natural wonders, agricultural and creative traditions, and the Maori culture.

Your value-minded New Zealand guided vacation continues with big sights to see throughout the north island. You’ll travel past New Zealand’s largest lake, Lake Taupo, on your way to visit the art-deco city of Napier. Go sightseeing in the New Zealand capital of Wellington, and take in its vibrant art and dining scene. See the Beehive and Parliament buildings, then take in the sweeping views of the harbor from Mount Victoria. Embark on one of the world’s most scenic ferry rides across the Marlborough Sound—keeping an eye out for dolphins, penguins, or whales on your way to Christchurch. Explore the land of towering mountains, rugged coastlines, and vast plains of New Zealand’s south island as you venture on to Queenstown. Enjoy free time to explore this “adventure capital” before your breathtaking cruise on Milford Sound. Here, be awed by waterfalls, sheer cliff walls, and tropical rainforests surrounding the marine home of seals, penguins, and dolphins.

This budget-minded tour of New Zealand is nothing short of spectacular. Enjoy the idyllic and fantastic scenes around each turn in your escorted vacation from Auckland to Queenstown.

800.646.5374

 Tour Highlights

AUCKLAND
Welcome briefing; sightseeing tour
ROTORUA
Te Puia; Agrodome
NAPIER
Walking tour
QUEENSTOWN
Cruise on Milford Sound

The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be seen or visited on this vacation:

  • Te Wahipounamu

Transportation:

Transportation:
Private, first-class air-conditioned motorcoach while touring, Interislander ferry from Wellington to Picton.

 Meals & Itinerary

 Itinerary

Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.

Day 1 ARRIVE AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Kia ora and welcome to New Zealand! Hotel rooms are available for immediate check-in. The remainder of the day is yours to relax or start exploring.

Day 2 AUCKLAND

This morning begins with a welcome briefing to meet fellow passengers and your Tour Director. Then enjoy a sightseeing tour, discovering first-hand why Auckland is regarded as one of the best places in the world to live. See the Domain, the city’s oldest park, developed around an extinct volcano. Highlights also include charming Parnell Village, bustling Queens Street, and the Viaduct Harbour. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. You may wish to take a trip to the top of Sky Tower, enjoy a sailing experience on Auckland Harbour, or visit nearby picturesque Waiheke Island. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for additional sightseeing, shopping, and dining.

Day 3 AUCKLAND–ROTORUA

Leave Auckland this morning and journey through lush farm land to Rotorua, home to New Zealand’s Maori culture and geothermal wonders. Our first stop is TE PUIA where a guided tour allows you to see bubbling mud, pools of boiling water, and the famous Pohutu geyser, the largest active geyser in the southern hemisphere. You’ll also have a chance to witness traditional Maori carving and weaving along with a Maori cultural performance. Then, visit AGRODOME to learn more about one of the country’s major industries—sheep! This evening is at leisure.

Day 4 ROTORUA

Today is free to explore more of Rotorua. You may wish to take an optional excursion to visit magical Hobbiton, the set used as the Shire in the movie trilogies, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Other options include a zipline and canopy tour, helicopter and floatplane flights over the volcanic valley, or relaxing in a natural hot spring at the Polynesian Spa. In the evening, you may want to attend an optional Maori Hangi dinner and cultural performance.

Day 5 ROTORUA–LAKE TAUPO–NAPIER

Today we continue our journey on the north island traveling past Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake. This afternoon, arrive in Napier, located in the beautiful Hawk’s Bay region. This afternoon, a WALKING TOUR explains how a natural disaster resulted in Napier becoming one of the purest Art Deco cities in the world. With the rest of the day at leisure, you may wish to take a stroll on the beach, shop for a favorite souvenir, or visit the National Aquarium to see sharks, stingrays, penguins, and more.

Day 6 NAPIER–WELLINGTON

Continue to Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city known for is vibrant art scene, world-class restaurant culture, and active outdoor lifestyle. Upon arrival, a sightseeing tour includes the famous Beehive and Parliament building and panoramic views of the city and harbor from the top of Mount Victoria.

Day 7 WELLINGTON–INTERISLANDER FERRY–PICTON–CHRISTCHURCH

Today, enjoy a special treat as you sail from Wellington to Picton and enjoy the spectacular Marlborough Sound on one of the most scenic FERRY journeys in the world. Make sure to have your camera ready as dolphins are frequent traveling companions of the ferry. On occasion, you might even spot a pod of whales or some penguins swimming by. Continue to Christchurch, the largest city on the South IsIand for an overnight stay.

Day 8 CHRISTCHURCH–QUEENSTOWN

Our journey continues across New Zealand’s south island today. This is the land of towering mountains, rugged coastlines, and sweeping plains. Later, arrive in Queenstown, the “Adventure Capital” for a 3-night stay. This evening you may want to take the Skyline Gondola to the top of Bob’s Peak, where you’ll enjoy breath-taking views of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu below.

Day 9 QUEENSTOWN

Today is free to explore more of Queenstown on your own. You may want to take the historic TSS Earnslaw Steamship to Walter Peak Farm for a delicious lunch or dinner, discover a favorite boutique or art gallery, take an exciting helicopter ride over the Remarkables Mountains, or enjoy a wine tour.

Day 10 QUEENSTOWN. EXURSION TO MILFORD SOUND

Today, travel to breathtaking Milford Sound and enjoy a CRUISE to see cascading waterfalls, sheer cliff walls, tropical rainforest, wildlife including seals and dolphins, and fantastic scenery. It’s sure to be a highlight of your trip! Return to Queenstown this evening.

Day 11 QUEENSTOWN

Your vacation ends this morning.

 Tour Director

With COSMOS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of your Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

TESSA CLARKE

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

“Kia Ora! I'm Tessa, and I've been guiding in New Zealand for some time. I can't wait for you to come and immerse yourself in my country. My goal is that when you go home, you leave with a deep understanding of what it is to be a Kiwi - and that you have discovered things not found in the guide books. Ka Kite Ano (see you soon)!”

Tour Director - TESSA CLARKE

 Accommodations

Auckland
Rotorua
Napier
Wellington
Christchurch
Queenstown

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 USD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 USD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 USD)
$$$$ (Over $150)


Rotorua
Queenstown

Rotorua

Mt Tarawera Volcanic Valley by Floatplane

Mt Tarawera Volcanic Valley by Floatplane

Near the northeast coast of the North Island is Mount Tarawera, the volcano whose massive eruption in 1886 destroyed the famed Pink and White Terraces and buried three Maori villages. This exciting flight-seeing excursion includes the thrill of a water take-off and landing on Rotorua Lake.

Price Range: $$$$

Rotorua Duck Tours

Rotorua Duck Tours

Get a unique view of Rotorua's geothermal wonders on this fun excursion by Duck! Discover historic sights, Maori culture, and incredible natural beauty on this sightseeing adventure aboard a WWII amphibious vehicle that travels on both land and water.

Price Range: $

Rotorua Zipline and Canopy Tour

Rotorua Zipline and Canopy Tour

Soar along 500-year-old Mamaku Forest on New Zealand's only native forest zipline canopy tour. Set in a 1,200-acre forest, this 3-hour adventure combines heart-racing fun and pristine natural beauty as you switch between six zipline cables suspended 72 feet above the ground. Keep your eyes open for bellbirds, whiteheads, fantails, and many other native bird species. This is an experience of a lifetime!

Price Range: $$

Dinner with a New Zealand Family

Dinner with a New Zealand Family

Experience New Zealand "Kiwi" hospitality and a traditional 3-course dinner on this authentic New Zealand dining experience.

Price Range: $$

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

Experience the real Middle-earth with a visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set, the beautiful setting for The Shire that was featured in the Peter Jackson directed films, The Lord of the Rings. Your tour starts with a drive through the picturesque 1,250 acre sheep farm with spectacular views across to the Kaimai Ranges. Next, your guide will escort you through the 12 acre site recounting fascinating details on how the Hobbiton Movie Set was created, showing you the intricate detailing, pointing out the most famous locations, and explaining how movie magic was made. After your tour of the film set you have time to visit the Green Dragon Inn, The Shire's Rest Cafe, and the popular Shire Store.

Price Range: $$

Redwoods TreeWalk at Night

Redwoods TreeWalk at Night

The TreeWalk consists of 21 suspension bridges traversing between 22 Californian coastal redwoods. It gives walkers a unique view of the native undergrowth below from up to 12 meters (40 feet) above the ground. The TreeWalk allows plenty of time to appreciate the beauty of the forest that is quite different from what you experience on the ground. In the evening, the forest and ferns are illuminated by 30 suspended lanterns designed by David Trubridge and multiple colored spot lights. A truly unique night time experience!

Price Range: $

Queenstown

Discover Arrowtown and Wanaka

Discover Arrowtown and Wanaka

Discover the beauty of Arrowton and Wanaka with a half day tour exploring these stunning towns. Experience Arrowtown's charming streets, journey over the Crown Range (New Zealand's highest main road), and learn the histiory of the area and take in breathtaking view at every turn.

Price Range: $$$

Walter Peak Farm and BBQ Lunch

Walter Peak Farm and BBQ Lunch

Cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the 103-year-old TSS Earnslaw steamship to enjoy a popular lunch excursion at the historic Walter Peak High Country Farm. Enjoy great scenery, a delcious meal, and learn more about life on a New Zealand farm.

Price Range: $$

KJet Thrill Ride

KJet Thrill Ride

KJet offers 60 minutes of unforgettable thrills, spins and exhilaration across three waterways in one of the world's most stunning locations.

Price Range: $$

Cruise onboard the historic TSS Earnslaw Steamship

Cruise onboard the historic TSS Earnslaw Steamship

It's New Zealand's most iconic boat and one of Queenstown's most historic destinations.The leisurely cruise across beautiful Lake Wakatipu showcases some of Queenstown's spectacular alpine scenery while offering you plenty of time to explore a piece of Queenstown's living history - the 105 year old TSS Earnslaw.

Price Range: $

Queenstown Wine Trail Tour

Queenstown Wine Trail Tour

Take this tour and experience the true flavor of the local pinot noir and other wine varietals at three premium vineyards.

Price Range: $$$

Upgrade One-Way Flight from Milford Sound to Queenstown

Upgrade One-Way Flight from Milford Sound to Queenstown

After your cruise of Milford Sound, take a scenic flight back to Queenstown.

Price Range: $$$$

 Know Before You Go

These Know Before You Go travel tips are designed with you in mind, with helpful hints to help you prepare for and enjoy your escorted vacation. They are your guide to getting ready and contain general information on travel documentation, customs, and the country/countries you will be visiting, including budgeting, transportation, climate, languages, and much more. With Globus, you benefit from our experience.



* The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price includes a limited time promotional offer(s) – please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Cosmos).

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