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New Zealand wildlife & nature

New Zealand: Māori Traditions & Natural Marvels

From $7,250 USD
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Overview

New Zealand: Māori Traditions & Natural Marvels

Continent

Oceania

Days

13 days

Nights

12 nights

Group Size

12 people

Activity

Moderate

Interest

Wildlife & Nature

Highlights

  • Explore a hidden bioluminescent glow worm grotto by kayak without crowds
  • Experience bubbling mud pools, geysers and hot springs at Wai-O-Tapu in Rotorua
  • Dance a ceremonial Māorian haka
  • See the Southern Alps on one of the world’s most spectacular train rides
  • Take a helicopter for a remote “Middle Earth” waterfall picnic
  • Be a part of the Mt. Maunganui community at a backyard barbecue
New Zealand 13 days 12 nights

Itinerary

Day 1

Arriving on the North Island

Karangahake Gorge
Karangahake Gorge

Day 2

Sacred Mount Maunganui

Mount Maunganui, North Island
Mount Maunganui, North Island

Day 3

Community & Bioluminescent Grotto

Glowworms
Glowworms

Day 4

A 200-Million-Year-Old Rainforest

Whirinaki Forest
Whirinaki Forest

Day 5

Geothermal Dreamland & Southbound

View from the top of the Christchurch Port Hills
View from the top of the Christchurch Port Hills

Day 6

Trains & Pancake Rocks

Pancake rocks at Punakaiki, South Island
Pancake rocks at Punakaiki, South Island

Day 7

An Untouched Natural Paradise

Fiordland crested penguins
Fiordland crested penguins
  • Special note

Day 8

Into the Heights of the Southern Alps

Lake Wanaka
Lake Wanaka

Day 9

An Island of Unbelievable Creatures

Mou Waho Island, Lake Wanaka
Mou Waho Island, Lake Wanaka

Day 10

Where Bungy Jumping Began

Glenorchy Lagoon
Glenorchy Lagoon

Day 11

Darting along the Dart River

Aerial view of Glenorchy and the Southern Alps
Aerial view of Glenorchy and the Southern Alps

Day 12

A Chopper Out to Middle Earth

Middle Earth waterfalls
Middle Earth waterfalls, Lee Saunders

Day 13

North to South and, Now, Back Home

What is included?


What is not included?


Upcoming departures

1 available date
  • Apr 12–Apr 24, 2024
    Few Spots Left
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Additional info

Pricing

The listed price of this trip is per person based on double occupancy.

The listed price does not include the internal domestic flight from Rotorua to Christchurch. This flight is priced separately at $180 per person and will automatically be added to your booking and final balance.

Traveling Solo?

You’re in good company. Solo travelers typically make up about half of our small groups. With curiosity at the center of our experiences, there’s a natural camaraderie that develops over the course of a trip. We have two options for you:

Shared Room (subject to the latest Covid-19 guidelines): You'll be matched with another solo traveler of the same gender.

Private Room: Have your own room, subject to availability, for a supplemental cost of $1785. After booking your trip, please request a private room when you fill out your traveler information form and we’ll add the option to your booking and final balance.

Activity Level

Travelers should feel comfortable walking two to six miles over the course of each day, spending time in nature, remaining on their feet for long periods of time, and sometimes walking on uneven terrain.

Arrival & Departure

Our trip begins on Day 1 with a morning pick-up and group departure by road from Auckland, either at the Auckland Airport or a designated city center location. We recommend you arrive at least the night before or early in the morning of the day the tour starts so you can meet your guide and fellow travelers in time for the morning departure from Auckland.

Collection Points (approx. times):

8:30 a.m.:  QT Auckland Hotel, Viaduct Harbour

9:00 a.m.: Auckland Airport

Our trip concludes on the morning of Day 13 with a transfer from Glenorchy to Queenstown. You’ll be  dropped off either at the Queenstown airport in time for domestic flights departing in the afternoon, or in central Queenstown if you are extending your travels on your own. 

Drop off Points (approx. times):

11:30am: Queenstown Park Hotel

12:00pm: Queenstown Airport

Any questions about this trip? Don't hesitate to reach out

Frequently asked questions

What will the weather be like?
When should I travel if seeing penguins is a top priority?
Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?
What are the Visa and/or passport requirements for this trip?
What positive impact will I have by taking this trip?

Trip Leader

Lee Saunders

Lee's passion for showing people New Zealand is evident as soon as you meet him. Having grown up in and around Queenstown and traveling the length and breadth of New Zealand, he knows the country like the back of his hand. Lee grew up on a sheep and deer farm in the lower South Island. In 1986 he moved with his family to Queenstown where his father worked on the famous Clyde dam. Lee played rugby and did rowing at school in Dunedin. After school Lee worked a variety of careers including forestry, road construction, and running a large bitumen sealing crew in Australia. He returned to New Zealand in 2014 and started guiding and the rest is history. He lives in Queenstown with his partner, his 7-year-old rugby-loving son, and their energetic black Labrador.

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