New Zealand Marvel
New Zealand Marvel
New Zealand Marvel
14 Days Starting in Christchurch, New Zealand and ending in Auckland, New Zealand
Visiting: Christchurch, Franz Josef, Queenstown, Fiordland National Park, Dunedin, Picton, Wellington, Rotorua, Auckland
Tour operator:
Tour code:
LCCA24
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Cultural, Gardens & Nature Tours, Rail Tours, Wildlife Tours
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on the "New Zealand Marvel" tour, a captivating journey through the breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage of New Zealand. Begin your adventure in Christchurch, exploring the city's remarkable transformation, before boarding the scenic TranzAlpine train to Franz Josef. Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the Southern Lakes, Milford Sound, and Fiordland National Park. Enjoy free time in Queenstown for thrilling activities or serene vineyard visits. Discover the unique geothermal wonders of Rotorua and the enchanting glowworm caves of Waitomo. Cruise through the picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound to Wellington, and conclude your journey in Auckland, the vibrant "City of Sails." With comfortable accommodations and expert guidance, this tour offers an unforgettable exploration of New Zealand's natural wonders and cultural treasures.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Christchurch
Location: Christchurch
Accommodation Name: Ibis Hotel Christchurch
There are plenty of reasons to arrive in New Zealand’s ‘Garden City’ early, among them the astonishing transformation that has reinvigorated streets since the devastating 2010/11 earthquakes. Explore at your leisure. Meet your Travel Director and travelling companions at a Welcome Reception tonight.
Day 2: Christchurch - Franz Josef/Waiau
Location: Franz Josef
Accommodation Name: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
Meals Included: Dinner
When the journey matters just as much as the destination, jump aboard the TranzAlpine train. This scenic spectacular – the start of your tour of the South Island of New Zealand – takes you through tunnels and over viaducts, with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, icy rivers, beech forests, gorges and river valleys along the way. Visit the small town of Hokitika, the heritage and cultural centre of the West Coast well-known for its jade. Around the corner is the town of Franz Josef, gateway to Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere, compact of snow and ice that shimmers like a gem. Get some perspective on an optional Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere flight tour over this natural wonder – if the weather behaves, you may even get to land on it. Now that’s cool.
Day 3: Franz Josef/Waiau - Queenstown
Location: Queenstown
Accommodation Name: Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown
If you thought the scenery yesterday was dramatic, wait until you hit the Haast Pass today: over the saddle, the alpine scenery of the Southern Lakes spreads before you in a patchwork of blues and greens. First up there’s lovely Lake Wanaka, with its Instagrammable shoreline of poplars and willows. Then Lake Hawea – the colour of an Ice Mint – and Lake Dunstan, where you’ll pause to refuel on flavour-packed stone fruits. As tempting as it is to linger in Arrowtown’s movie-set-like streets, Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables await in Queenstown.
Day 4: Queenstown Free Time
Location: Queenstown
Accommodation Name: Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown
Today, choose your own adventure – there are plenty to be had. Feel the wind in your hair on a high-octane jet boat ride, perhaps. Or discover some of New Zealand’s feathered friends at a wildlife centre. Wine aficionado? Sip your way through surrounding vineyards. Wherever you wander, make sure you’re back in time to glide across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue dinner.
Day 5: Queenstown - Te Anau
Location: Fiordland National Park
Accommodation Name: Distinction Luxmore Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
There are some travel days that defy the imagination. Thankfully, you don’t have to dream about all the natural highs in today’s itinerary – they’re about to become a reality. Your route from the Mirror Lakes through the Cleddau Valley is the entrée to Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, a cavernous wonderland where waterfalls thunder from ancient escarpments into inky water. You’ll likely spot them on your Milford Sound/Piopiotahi cruise. It’s all part of World Heritage listed Fiordland National Park, an intoxicating union of beech forests, alluvial flats, meadows and gin-clear rivers, carving up the countryside. This is your backdrop all the way to Te Anau. And just when you thought things couldn’t get any more magical, glow worm-filled grottoes make an appearance. We highly recommend a visit.
Day 6: Te Anau - Dunedin
Location: Dunedin
Accommodation Name: Scenic Hotel Dunedin City
On the banks of the South Island’s biggest lake, Te Anau turns on the sunrise charms. Enjoy a morning stroll before swapping the forested slopes of Fiordland for the rolling green hills of the Edinburgh of the South. Welcome to Dunedin, a beguiling union of both Māori and Scottish heritage (it was colonised by Scots in the 19th century). While away the afternoon in atmospheric art-lined alleys or sipping a lager or two in Speights Brewery (a national institution), or visit grand Larnach Castle, the only one of its kind in the country. You could venture further afield to discover the wildlife that thrives in this pretty pocket of the country – fur seals, anyone?
Day 7: Dunedin - Omarama
Location: Dunedin
Accommodation Name: Distinction Heritage Gateway Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
Time is on your side this morning. Sleep in or take a stroll around the manicured grounds of Otago University to the city’s main George Street. If you’ve ever wanted to see New Zealand’s oldest public gardens, today you’re in luck with a visit to Oamaru, known for its stately tree-lined streets and limestone buildings.
Day 8: Omarama - Christchurch
Location: Christchurch
Accommodation Name: Ibis Hotel Christchurch
Meals Included: Dinner
Your outlook this morning is the Canterbury Plains: the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo, hemmed by snow-capped mountains and atmospheric towns. If it seems familiar, that’s because it regularly stars on postcards. Your Indoor Dark Sky Astronomy Experience at Tekapo, hosted by passionate guides, will forever change the way you see the night sky. You'll see for yourself it may be one of the quietest spots on the planet, yet it has one of the busiest skies in the universe. Back on earth, it’s time to become reacquainted on a Christchurch tour, your in-the-know guide pointing out the city’s miraculous transformation over the last decade. Local spirit is strong here.
Day 9: Christchurch - Picton
Location: Picton
Accommodation Name: Picton Yacht Club
Meals Included: Dinner
There aren’t many beaches more dramatic than the sands of Kaikoura. Bonus points if you spot a sea lion or sperm whale frolicking offshore, Kaikoura is the marine wildlife centre of New Zealand. Your onward route skirts the pink-tinged crystallisation ponds of the Lake Grassmere Salt Works, before arriving in the pretty seaside fishing village of Picton.
Day 10: Picton - Wellington
Location: Wellington
Accommodation Name: Travelodge Wellington
Cruising through Queen Charlotte Sound, up the Tory Channel and across Cook Strait is a journey as scenic as it is serene. Today’s chariot, the Interislander, transports you from the South Island to the North, navigating a maze of arms and inlets into New Zealand’s cool little capital of Wellington. We hope you got some rest on your journey, because you’ll need all your stamina to explore the award-winning (and eye-opening) Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand on city highlights. (Please note: There is an entry fee for Te Papa, this must be paid at the guests own expense.) Ask your Travel Director for tips on where to sip wine and coffee tonight – this city is known for its uber-cool cafés, restaurants and bars.
Day 11: Wellington - Rotorua
Location: Rotorua
Accommodation Name: Ibis Rotorua Hotel
Follow the lead of locals along the Kapiti Coast, the summer playground of Wellingtonians – for good reason. The road ahead unfolds in a broad panorama of Lake Taupo, the largest (and perhaps bluest) of its kind in the country. It’s a landscape almost as otherworldly as Rotorua, where mud pops and jettisons from bubbling geysers, and steam rushes skywards from cracks in the Earth. This evening, explore Te Puia’s geothermal valley, and learn about Māori history and culture on this guided experience, which includes a dinner of hangi-inspired cuisine and a cultural performance in a finely carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. It ends on a high at the Pohutu Geyser, where, armed with a hot chocolate you’ll view one of New Zealand’s geothermal wonderlands.
Day 12: Rotorua Free Time
Location: Rotorua
Accommodation Name: Ibis Rotorua Hotel
Sometimes, the best adventures are those that you have when you least expect them. Like wandering into Rotorua’s Wai Araki Hot Springs & Spa and falling into a few hours of bliss while soaking in steamy thermal springs. And then there’s Hobbiton. These beautiful landscapes are not only a bucket list tour for Hobbit fans, but a gorgeous countryside getaway.
Day 13: Rotorua - Auckland
Location: Auckland
Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre
Before you reach your final destination, get set to glow on a tour through the Waikato River’s Waitomo Caves. This place is radiant – quite literally. While cruising cavernous limestone waterways, your route is cast in a magical light by thousands of glowworms. Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, appears on the horizon, dazzling with not one, but two harbours. And plenty of yachts to decorate both, as you’ll see from the lookout at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Day 14: Farewell From Auckland
Location: Auckland
The ‘City of Sails’ flutters as if waving goodbye as you make your way home – with two weeks’ worth of extra baggage (all that wine!) and an innumerable number of memories.
What's Included
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Specialist team and UNESCO World Heritage Site
The tour includes a specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide, and a visit to 1 UNESCO World Heritage Site – Fiordland National Park.
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Comfortable accommodation
Your Guided Holiday includes a range of quality accommodation for your comfort, with easy access to city centres.
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National Park entrance fees
Entrance fees to National Parks are included in the holiday package.
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Dining Summary
The tour includes 13 Full Breakfasts, 5 Dinners, 2 Highlight Dinners, and 1 Farewell Dinner.
What's Not Included
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Flights
Flights are not included in the holiday price.
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Airport Transfers
Return airport to hotel transfers are not included in the holiday price.
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Entry fee for Te Papa Museum
There is an entry fee for Te Papa Museum, which must be paid at the guests' own expense.
Dining Summary
- 13 Full Breakfast (B)
- 5 Dinner (D)
- 2 Highlight Dinner (HD)
- 1 Farewell Dinner (FD)
Fitness Requirement
- Low level of fitness required
Flexible Holidays
- From helicopter jaunts to jet-boat rides, winery expeditions and Hobbiton tours, your Travel Director is ready to organise optional experiences across Rotorua and Queenstown.
Flight information
- Flights to and from the start/end of your trip are not included in the trip price. Day 1 – flights to arrive prior to 4.00pm into Christchurch AirportDay 14 – flights to depart any time from Auckland Airport
Iconic Sites
- Waterfalls, ancient escarpments and dolphins await in Fiordland National Park’s Milford Sound/Piopiotahi. This World Heritage Site is as humbling as it is immense.
Natural Wonders
- From snow-tipped mountains to a wild and dramatic coastline and turquoise alpine lakes, the Southern Lakes region is one of NZ’s most diverse and distinctive wilderness areas.
What to Bring
- Comfortable walking shoes Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat Water bottle Warm layers in cooler months Camera
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of accommodation can I expect on the New Zealand Marvel tour?
The tour includes a range of quality accommodations such as the Ibis Hotel Christchurch, Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier, Copthorne Hotel and Resort, Distinction Luxmore Hotel, Scenic Hotel Dunedin City, Heritage Gateway Hotel, Picton Yacht Club, Travelodge Wellington, Ibis Rotorua Hotel, and Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre.
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Are flights included in the New Zealand Marvel tour package?
No, flights are not included in the holiday price. You will need to arrange your own flights to and from the start and end of the tour.
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What is the fitness requirement for the New Zealand Marvel tour?
A low level of fitness is required for this tour.
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What are some optional activities available during the tour?
Optional activities include helicopter jaunts, jet-boat rides, winery expeditions, and tours of Hobbiton, particularly in Rotorua and Queenstown.
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What is the transportation like during the tour?
Transportation includes a scenic journey on the TranzAlpine train with panoramic views, and a cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound and across Cook Strait on the Interislander ferry.
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What unique experiences are included in the New Zealand Marvel tour?
Unique experiences include a cruise on Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park, a visit to the Dark Sky Project at Lake Tekapo, and a cultural performance and hangi-inspired dinner at Te Puia in Rotorua.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a holiday with us is you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
It is important to adhere to departure times while on tour for the comfort of everyone on-board, and to make sure no one misses out on the planned experiences. The coach will not be able to wait for you, and in some instances, if you miss a departure time you will need to make your own way to the next destination to re-join the tour.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
AAT Kings operated Guided Holidays have competitive single supplement rates available if you prefer to confirm your own room. Or we can match you to share with a guest of the same gender at no extra cost. If we fail to match you, we will accommodate you in a single room at no extra cost.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Over 100 years
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
We will email your documents to you approximately four weeks before your departure date provided you have completed your pre trip registration using the My Travel Portal. If you’ve booked through a travel agent, your documents will be emailed directly to your agent.
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Low Deposit
AAT Kings requires a minimum deposit of 100 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of aat kings charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.