Contrasts Of New Zealand
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Experience Overview
Tick off cities, country life, moving Māori culture, and dramatic landscapes that have put this country on the map. Experience a dose of Kiwi hospitality as you explore must-seespots and feast on must-try tastes across both islands.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 5 Dinner (D)
- 9 Breakfast (B)
- 2 Lunch (L)
Must-see Highlights
- Explore All Blacks Experience in Auckland, Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata, and International Dark Sky Reserve in Tekapo
- Discover Auckland, Queenstown, Lake Tekapo, and Christchurch
- Scenic Cruise on Milford Sound
Be My Guest
- Be My Guest experience: Enjoy warm Kiwi hospitality on a visit to a hill-country sixth-generation Merino sheep and Angus cattle farm in Hurunui
- Hurunui: Step onto a working hill-country sheep farm. Experience what it is like to farm Merino sheep & Angus cattle in this beautiful part of the country. See the animals graze pastures in the open air and learn about where the best natural products come from.
Stays With Stories
- Stays With Stories Peppers Blue Water Resort Lake Tekapo
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience: Visit the National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa and learn about the efforts made to save New Zealand’s national bird
- Rotorua: A feel-good encounter on your New Zealand tour, support the population of New Zealand’s national bird by teaming up with ‘Operation Nest Egg’ on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at The National Kiwi Hatchery. Get up close and see kiwi eggs being incubated, the hatching process, and even newly hatched kiwi chicks. Located in Rotorua, this national leader in kiwi husbandry is helping to prevent kiwis from becoming extinct and without their crucial ongoing support it’s estimated that the brown kiwi will be extinct in the wild within two generations. You’ll learn how The National Kiwi Hatchery was launched in 2008 to become the most successful kiwi hatching facility in the world and has since hatched over 1850 eggs with a 98% survival rate. As you learn about the work being done to save this rare native bird, know that on your travels you’re contributing to this valuable conservation effort.
Dive into Culture
- Auckland: An immersive and emotive state-of-the-art guided journey that showcases the All Blacks though exceptional innovation and technology.
Trafalgar Difference
- Lake Tekapo: This resort overlooks the pristine waters of Lake Tekapo in New Zealand's South Island.
Trip Details
Product Code: 34375
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Explorer, Budget
Tour Operator:
Trafalgar (CA)
Supplier Code: 377.639B
Starts: Auckland, New Zealand
Finishes: Christchurch (Nz), New Zealand
Duration: 10 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Whats Included
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- Porterage where hotels provide this service
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing
- All land transport shown. All transfers shown
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Optional Experiences and free time
- Flight A Trafalgar bonus - Intra-Air Flight: Auckland to Queenstown
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $6792 ($679 /day)
Itinerary
Welcome to Auckland! (Flights to arrive prior to 4pm). Your New Zealand tour kicks off in the 'City of Sails' where you’ll meet your Travel Director and group for dinner at The Grill, as you look forward to your New Zealand adventures.
Accommodation: Horizon by SkyCity
Meals: Dinner
After a relaxed start, set your sights firmly on New Zealand's national game: rugby. The interactive All Blacks Experience explores an introduction to the game as a part of New Zealand culture. Afterwards, get the lay of the land on a city sightseeing tour viewing the beautiful waterfront of Mission Bay, historic overlook of Bastion Point, and spacious gardens and sunken pool at the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial, showing off views of Waitemata Harbour and the North Shore. You pass the Auckland Museum, located on the dormant volcano Pukekawa, meaning 'hill of bitter memories' referring to tribal battles fought on the site until 1828. You have some time free to explore. Perhaps stroll along Queen Street to find the perfect waterfront restaurant in Viaduct Harbour to enjoy water views while enjoying local oysters, crayfish, or New Zealand’s native green lip mussels with a crisp New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Then stretch your legs popping into the many boutique shops.
Accommodation: Horizon by SkyCity
Meals: Breakfast
Get ready for a much-anticipated trip to the Hobbiton Movie Set. Upon arrival, set off on a guided tour through the 12-acre set. You'll have plenty of time for photo opportunities in the interactive hobbit hole. After a stop for lunch, continue to Rotorua. This evening, embark upon the Te Po experience at Te Puia. Learn about Māori history and culture on this guided experience which includes a cultural performance in a finely carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. View the Pohutu Geyser, one of New Zealand's geothermal wonderlands. This is followed by a dinner of hangi-inspired cuisine.
Accommodation: Millennium
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Your destination this morning in Rotorua is the National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa, where you’ll join a Local Specialist for a tour. Learn about the work being done to save this rare native bird, get up close and see kiwi eggs being incubated, the hatching process, and even newly hatched kiwi chicks at this national leader in kiwi husbandry. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience is not only fun but will give you fascinating insights into New Zealand’s national bird. The feel-good vibes will follow you all the way to Queenstown, the self-proclaimed adventure capital of New Zealand. It makes perfect sense – there are ski fields, white-water river and bridges strapped with bungy cords wherever you turn. And then there’s the dining scene; Queenstown is home to some of the country’s most awarded restaurants. Whether you’re in the mood for bulging burgers or lakeside tapas, ask us for recommendations on this leg of your Queenstown New Zealand tour.
Accommodation: Millennium
Meals: Breakfast
Today you'll head through stunning landscapes along the shores of Lake Wakatipu to the Devil's Staircase to Te Anau. Experience magnificent scenery afforded by the Mirror Lakes. Plunge through the hand-hewn Homer Tunnel towards Mitre Peak - named after its resemblance to a bishop’s mitre headdress - and Lady Bowen Falls before arriving at World Heritage listed national park, Piopiotahi (Milford Sound). Experience all its beauty on a scenic cruise, which includes a lunch, past sheer cliffs, white-capped peaks, and waterfalls, watching for dolphins, penguins, and seals. Learn how the area was formed by glaciers and take plenty of photos of the stunning sights before returning to Queenstown. The evening is free for you to stay in and relax or enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants overlooking Lake Wakatipu.
Accommodation: Millennium
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Rise and shine to your last day in Queenstown with plenty of choices on how to adventure. If you’re a wine lover, join an optional experience touring three premium boutique vineyards in the famous Otago region known for Pinot Noir. Or feel the wind in your hair with an adrenalin filled jet boat ride on the mighty Shotover River. You’ll meet up with your group this evening over dinner at the historic Coronation Bathhouse, located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. With views of the surrounding lake and mountains, it’s a perfect venue for an evening of local food and wines matched with classic Kiwi hospitality.
Accommodation: Millennium
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today your New Zealand tour takes you to the charming gold-mining town of Arrowtown, then onward to Cromwell on the banks of Lake Dunstan, travelling to lovely Lake Tekapo. Is it Michael Schumacher’s Benetton F1 car or the $4.2-million Aston Martin Vulcan that draws crowds to the Highlands Motorsport Museum? During your visit to this extraordinary space you’ll have the chance to become familiar with some of the rarest cars in NZ motorsports history. There’s just something about being in the same room as these rare special cars that gets everyone buzzing. The museum is home to some of the rarest cars in NZ motorsport history but also some hidden gems. Visit the grounds of the quaint, lakeside Church of the Good Shepherd and see the friendly bronze sheepdog statue. As evening falls, you’re treated to a guided stargazing experience with a Local Specialist in the world-renowned UNESCO Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. See the famous Southern Cross, Magellanic Cloud, and Milky Way and get a better look at these sparkling wonders with a powerful optical telescope. It may be a late night, but tonight's included star gazing experience at a purpose-built observation crater with expert astronomy guides is bound to be a highlight. You'll conclude the day in a Stays With Stories accommodation at Peppers Bluewater Resort overlooking Lake Tekapo. In this area known for its dazzling night sky, there’s plenty to enjoy just stepping outside your room.
Accommodation: Peppers Bluewater Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Get an early start to watch the sun rise over the lake or sleep in before heading north through South Canterbury to Christchurch. Enjoy the city sights of the Garden City at the Cathedral, the temporary home of the Christchurch Cathedral, in awe of its colourful stained-glass windows and sustainable cardboard construction that gives it the nickname “The Cardboard Cathedral". See the city’s top sites including Canterbury Museum, Christchurch Earthquake Memorial, and Bridge of Remembrance.
Accommodation: Distinction
Meals: Breakfast
Travel through rolling countryside to Hurunui Hills, a hill-country farm in North Canterbury. Enjoy warm Kiwi hospitality with the Bamford Family, who have been farming at Hurunui since 1884, with six generations focused on producing premium Merino sheep, wool, and Angus cattle. Soak up the stunning scenery, meet the farm animals, and discover what it is like to live off the land on this unique By My Guest experience. Then visit a local vineyard, Waipara Springs Winery, where it's time to relax and enjoy wine tasting and a platter-style lunch among the vines. A big day leads to a big evening, joining your Travel Director and travel mates for with a celebratory dinner featuring produce from the Canterbury region.
Accommodation: Distinction
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Your adventure sadly comes to an end this morning. Before your transfer to Christchurch Airport, enjoy one last breakfast with your travel mates reflecting on your incredible travels through New Zealand (flights anytime).
Meals: Breakfast
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Trafalgar (CA)
Family owned and run since 1920, The Travel Corporation (TTC) is the world leader in immersive travel experiences across an extensive range of travel categories. Each year TTC's 40 award winning hospitality and travel brands connect over 1 million happy travellers to the world. We give you access to the 12 DMC’s behind these brands, so you can build your business by capitalizing on the extensive experience, local expertise, and financial assurance of TTC. LOCAL EXPERTISE The world leaders in travel for over 100 years, we offer unparalleled local expertise with a global footprint. Our 12 DMCs, led by experienced in-destination teams, deliver experience rich travel solutions in more than 80 countries. Additionally, our market based teams are on hand to support across our 40 offices worldwide
In Business Since 1931
Reviews
Trusted Customer - Traveled, March 2024
South Island is the Highlight. An excellent and informative guide. Fabulous locations and scenery for South Island part of tour. Would liked to have had time to visit the geysers at Rotorua rather than visit Hobbiton. Or done Lake Taupo. Otherwise full-on tour but very enjoyable, particularly South Island. South Island is the highlight of the tour. Wasn’t interested in Hobbiton.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/04/2024
Kathleen Johnson - Traveled, March 2024
Our New Zealand Tour Guide and Bus Drivers were absolutely amazing. Andi, our Tour Guide was extremely organized and knowledgeable about all the cities we visited and the history of New Zealand. She told us many stories of the people and their customs. It was great getting to know the people in our Tour Group and becoming friends. Our bus drivers were incredible and kept everyone safe. It was the trip of a lifetime with many wonderful memories! Thank you! The Hotels we stayed at were excellent. The breakfasts provided at the hotels were very good as well. Thank you!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/08/2024
Casey Corcoran - Traveled, March 2024
Great job! Very great job all around.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/12/2024
Paul Roholt Arnesen - Traveled, February 2024
Contraqsts of New Zealand. Everything was top notch and most assuredly we will use Trafalgar again. We would consider this trip above and beyond all expectations.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/02/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, March 2025
On time Efficient Well informed. They think of everything!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/06/2025
Steven Fagerstrom - Traveled, March 2025
Well planned and full of variety.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/14/2025
3 Kings - Traveled, March 2025
Trip of a Lifetime to New Zealand! Trafalgar has become our go-to family vacation for major celebrations and trips. We appreciate having a local guide, the chance to learn something as we go, and making friends with others on the tour group. We booked this as our last big family trip before our only daughter went off to college, and what an amazing experience it was! We knew we would love the country, but we always go with Trafalgar because of the friends we make with our group, and all the neat little experiences that we wouldn't even think to try. In patricular the Hobbiton day, Te Pa Tu, and guided stargazing are the most amazing vacation experiences we've ever had. On this trip we even had a weather related disruption that would have ended most trips but our director had the whole thing figured out before we even landed. We're Trafalgar Travelers for life.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/03/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, March 2025
wonderful NZ trip with Trafalgar. the itinerary was very good to show us NZ over a 10 day period. *Personal information removed by Feefo* did a great job of showing us the highlights of each area of NZ that we stopped at. She was able to adjust when our flights were cancelled. She was very supportive when we needed changes on the fly.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/01/2025
Roger Van Der Horst - Traveled, March 2025
Itinerary was great, the team worked very hard during scheduling changes due to weather.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/01/2025
Alan Sprinkle - Traveled, March 2024
The Increedible Trip! We had two parts to the trip, Australia new Zealand. The guides both *personal info removed by Feefo* did an incredible job. We got to see all the sites we expected and they went out of the way to help to meet all out requests. *personal info removed by Feefo* did a great job explaining everything
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/11/2024
Jennifer Pickron - Traveled, November 2024
Excellent itinerary and perfect pace Tour director and driver worked very well together offering us a seamless travel experience
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/06/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, November 2024
Wonderful trip. I would suggest that you add the Maritime museum in Aukland. The tour guide gives you a wonderful background story on how NZ was populated over the years. Lovely background information.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/08/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, September 2024
Completely stress free transfers from hotel to hotel. Loved having our luggage picked up outside the hotel room and loaded on the coach. This was a more relaxed tour than other Trafalger tours we have been on. Plenty of “free” time to explore or rest.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/09/2024
Kathleen Stroben - Traveled, June 2024
Pick ups to and from airports were all great. Hobbiton should be part of the tour, not an extra. Loved that they played a movie about a local hero on the way back from Milford Sound.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/18/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, March 2024
New Zealand Trip of a Lifetime! Trafalgar did a great job organizing our trip to New Zealand. We saw so much in a 2 week timeframe from the North Island to the South Island. Our accommodations were comfortable. The meals were well scheduled. They were always served timely and were delicious. And, truly a taste of NZ. Our tour director and coach drivers were professional and knowledgeable of the country. Being homegrown, they were able to give us so much history and knowledge of the country. Awesome trip! The itinerary was perfect for our time in New Zealand. We were given the opportunity to really explore and learn so much about city life and the countryside. Our tour director, Andie and the coach drivers did an exceptional job providing so much knowledge about NZ and getting our group from point to point efficiently and timely. It was truly a trip of our lifetime.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/31/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, February 2025
The hotel in Rotorua (Millennium Rotorua) didn't fit in with all the other amazing hotels (that goes for food and accomodation). Other than that, the trip was outstanding!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/24/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, September 2024
Contrasts of NZ tour. Hope was the perfect, knowledgeable tour director and very much a mother hen to every member of our travelling whanau (family). She made us feel safe and informed of any changes that were required to be made well ahead of time. *Personal information removed by Feefo* and *Personal information removed by Feefo* (the tour drivers) were friendly, easy to talk to (outside of the coach) and drove smoothly. Ten out of ten for service!!! As a Lord of the Rings and Hobbit fan, this was the perfect tour. For the most part, i felt like we had plenty of time to do our own thing and the included planned activities, although I would suggest an additional day or two in Rotorua so people get the opportunity to enjoy the hot springs.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/23/2024
Vanessa Snyder - Traveled, February 2025
The itinerary was delightful---after the fact, we realized how brilliant it was to combine urban and rural sites. Bravo you. Inspiration for future paintings AND fun city experiences- all beautiful. Some photoshop helps!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/26/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, January 2025
Good value, hits the highlights. We had a great guide who added a great deal to our trip. She handled every issue from our late arrival to my problems with motion sickness. Good value and one hits all the highlights. I wish we had more time in Rotarura and that we had stayed over near Milford Sound rather than commuting from Queenstown, but one has to stay longer if one wants to do those things. The hotels were all very nice and well located which made walking around during free time very easy. We had an excellent guide.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/19/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, March 2024
Contrasts of New Zealand! Our tour director, *personal info removed by Feefo* was outstanding. His knowledge and enthusiasm were truly impressive. He made the experience so much richer. I was disappointed at how many meals were not included with the package and the amount of free time we were given. More meals should be provided and less time on our own and more time touring as a group. All in all it though it was a good experience. Worth the money. I recommend the trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/25/2024
