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Discover the breathtaking scenery, charming hospitality, and exciting wildlife in New Zealand’s North and South Islands with overnights in Christchurch, Queenstown, Te Anau, Dunedin, Lake Taupo, and Cambridge. Witness natural wonders on a Milford Sound cruise and during a delightful journey by rail on the Taieri Gorge Railway. Make discoveries at the Orakei Korako Thermal Park, Fiordland National Park, and the Larnach Castle & Gardens. Learn about the famously regional kiwi bird at the Kiwi Birdlife Park, tour the Hobbiton™ Movie Set from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings films, and more! Then arrive home with lifelong memories from this special place.
You can earn a $100 Travel Show Credit good for your next trip with Holiday Vacations by simply clicking the photo to watch the online travel show! The show is about 10 minutes long and at the end, you'll have the ability to submit your contact information and receive a travel credit which can be applied to this or any Holiday Vacations tour. Get started now!
Choose Your Departure Year:
March 19, 2023 - March 31, 2023
Occupancy
Price Per Person
Double
$7299
Single
$8499
Final Payment Date: 01/03/2023
October 22, 2023 - November 3, 2023
$7499
$8699
Final Payment Date: 08/08/2023
October 29, 2023 - November 10, 2023
Final Payment Date: 08/15/2023
Day 1 : Depart the USA
Following our included flight to California, we board our overnight flight for Auckland. Enjoy delicious meals and attentive service.
Day 2 : New Zealand Bound
When we cross the International Date Line, we lose a calendar day.
Day 3 : Christchurch, South Island
Upon arrival we clear customs in Auckland and fly to Christchurch on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Once we land, we clear customs once more and transfer to the Distinction Christchurch Hotel. The remainder of the day is free.
Day 4 : Glacial Lakes & Southern Alps
This morning we travel through picturesque patchwork farmlands of the Canterbury Plains and enter the Geraldine foothills and expansive Mackenzie Country. We stop to visit the Church of the Good Shepherd overlooking Lake Tekapo’s pristine waters where we view the bronze statue of a sheep dog, symbolizing the important role these animals have played in the development of high country farming. We then drive along Lake Pukaki’s shimmering, turquoise glacial waters while enjoying the spectacular backdrop of Mount Cook and the Southern Alps. We journey over Lindis Pass and through the tussock-covered plains of Mackenzie Country to the Fruitlands of Central Otago, famous for its summer fruit production including apricots, peaches, nectarines, and plums. Our memorable day ends in the city situated on the rippling shores of Lake Wakatipu and set against the dramatic 7,000-foot Remarkables mountains.
Day 5 : Kiwi & Birdlife Park
Enjoy a private homemade breakfast featuring local produce at the Kiwi Birdlife Park. After breakfast we have the rare opportunity to meet New Zealand’s most iconic bird. Specially designed nocturnal houses allow us to view the kiwi during the day. Later we visit the historic and picturesque “gold rush” settlement of Arrowtown, then view the Kawarau River suspension bridge where bungee jumpers come for thrills from all over the world. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy New Zealand’s adventure capital with jet boating, golf, picturesque walks, and abundant restaurants and shops in one of the most scenic settings in the world.
Day 6 : Milford Sound Cruise
Today we travel through an ancient ice age region by first crossing pasturelands on our way to Fiordland National Park. We journey through beech forests and the beautiful Eglinton Valley to the Homer Tunnel before descending through the spectacular Cleddau Canyon, reaching Milford Sound. Our cruise takes us past Mitre Peak, rising over 5,500 feet. We pass by the phenomenal Stirling Falls and Bowen Falls. Cascading at more than 500 feet, these falls flow from valleys formed by receding glaciers. Watch for sea lions and a variety of birds. Our accommodations tonight are in Te Anau, the town nestled on the shores of Lake Te Anau with a spectacular backdrop of Mount Luxmore and the Murchison Mountains.
Day 7 : Larnach Castle & Dunedin
Departing Te Anau, we travel through some of New Zealand’s most populated sheep country, taking us through Lumsden and Gore to the historic Larnach Castle and Gardens nestled on picturesque Otago Peninsula. With its exciting and at times scandalous and tragic history, our guided tour of the castle and gardens offers a vision of the past and present. Marvel at magnificent carved ceilings, antiques, and breathtaking views. We arrive in Dunedin, known for its Scottish heritage and Victorian and Edwardian architecture. We witness some of the city’s iconic attractions such as Speights Brewery, the University of Otago, the world’s steepest street, and First Church of Otago.
Day 8 : Larnach Castle & Wildlife Tour
Today we explore the historic Larnach Castle & Gardens nestled on picturesque Otago Peninsula. With its exciting and at times scandalous and tragic history, our guided tour of the castle and gardens illustrates the history of the Castle from its very beginnings to the present day. Marvel at magnificent carved ceilings, antiques, and breathtaking views. Later, we visit Nature's Wonders. Placed at the very tip of the Otago Peninsula, this guided tour features an exhilarating ride aboard an Argo 8 wheeled vehicle. You will get a first hand look at the wildlife of New Zealand, featuring Yellow-eyed Penguins, Blue Penguins, and New Zealand Fur Seals.
Day 9 : Lake Taupo
This morning we fly to the North Island and transfer to the quaint town of Taupo located on the edge of New Zealand’s largest lake. Taupo is home to award-winning attractions, activities, and breathtaking lake and mountain vistas. Our lodging for two nights are at the Hilton Lake Taupo featuring spacious rooms overlooking the thermally heated pool.
Day 10 : Orakei Korako & Maori Concert
We begin with a visit to Orakei Korako, one of the finest thermal areas in the world. On our walk through the Hidden Valley, we see silica terraces, boiling pools, geysers and a rare geothermal cave. After lunch at leisure in Taupo’s town center, we cruise the Waikato River and witness impressive Huka Falls, New Zealand’s most visited natural wonder. Tonight we enjoy an authentic Maori hangi feast including a customary cooking method that prepares food in an underground pit oven followed by powerful song and dance from the traditional culture.
Day 11 : Hobbiton™ & The Red Barn
We travel to Alexander Sheep & Cattle Farm in Matamata, a combination working sheep farm and Hobbiton™, The Shire™ from Middle-earth™. Our visit includes a drive through the picturesque 1,250-acre farm with spectacular views across to the Kaimai Ranges and a guided tour of the Hobbiton™ Movie Set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films. The set has been completely rebuilt and remains as it was seen in these films. During our tour we see Hobbit Holes™, The Green Dragon Inn™, the mill, the double-arched bridge, and other structures and gardens built for this beloved imaginary world. For lunch, we enjoy a traditional pasture-to-plate meal at The Red Barn, a 500-acre working dairy farm. Originally built at the turn of the previous century as a livery stable for horses journeying across the greater Waikato, The Red Barn showcases the very best of New Zealand cuisine and country hospitality. Later we take a pleasant drive to Cambridge in the heart of rural Waikato, a picture-perfect country town characterized by quaint charm and tree-lined streets.
Day 12 : Auckland & Evening Flight
This morning we arrive in Auckland, the largest Polynesian city in the Southern Hemisphere. We enjoy lunch before ascending Auckland’s iconic Sky Tower, the tallest man-made structure in New Zealand, offering breathtaking views in every direction. We enjoy a brief sightseeing tour of the city including American’s Cup Village, lively Queen Street, and the Harbor Bridge before heading to the airport for our evening flight to Los Angeles. We cross the International Date Line and regain a day, arriving early in the afternoon.
Day 13 : Homeward
Airport Pickups
Choose a State:
Birmingham - Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
Fayetteville/Bentonville - Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport
Little Rock - Little Rock National Airport
Phoenix - Sky Harbor International Airport
Los Angeles - Los Angeles International Airport
Orange County - John Wayne Airport
San Diego - San Diego International Airport
San Francisco - San Francisco International Airport
Denver - Denver International Airport
Hartford - Bradley International Airport
Washington - Ronald Reagan National Airport
Washington - Washington Dulles International Airport
Fort Lauderdale - Fort Lauderdale International Airport
Fort Myers - Southwest Florida International Airport
Jacksonville - Jacksonville International Airport
Miami - Miami International Airport
Orlando - Orlando International Airport
Tallahassee - Tallahassee International Airport
Tampa - Tampa International Airport
West Palm Beach - Palm Beach International Airport
Atlanta - Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Cedar Rapids - Eastern Iowa Airport
Des Moines - Des Moines International Airport
Boise - Boise Airport
Chicago - O'Hare International Airport
Moline - Quad City International Airport
Evansville - Evansville Regional Airport
Fort Wayne - Fort Wayne International Airport
Indianapolis - Indianapolis International Airport
South Bend - South Bend International Airport
Wichita - Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport
Lexington - Blue Grass Airport
Louisville - Louisville International Airport
Baton Rouge - Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport
Lafayette - Lafayette Regional Airport
New Orleans - Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
Shreveport - Shreveport Regional Airport
Boston - Boston Logan International Airport
Baltimore - Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Detroit - Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Grand Rapids - Gerald R. Ford International Airport
Kalamazoo - Kalamazoo-Battle Creek Airport
Lansing - Capital Region International Airport
Saginaw - MBS International Airport
Duluth - Duluth International Airport
Minneapolis - Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport
Rochester - Rochester International Airport
Kansas City - Kansas City International Airport
Springfield - Springfield-Branson National Airport
St Louis - St. Louis Lambert International Airport
Gulfport - Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport
Jackson - Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport
Billings - Billings-Logan International Airport
Bozeman - Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport
Missoula - Missoula Montana Airport
Charlotte - Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Greensboro - Piedmont Triad International Airport
Raleigh - Raleigh-Durham International Airport
Bismarck - Bismarck Airport
Fargo - Hector International Airport
Grand Forks - Grand Forks International Airport
Lincoln - Lincoln Airport
Omaha - Eppley Airfield
Newark - Newark Liberty International Airport
Albuquerque - Albuquerque International Airport
Las Vegas - McCarran International Airport
Albany - Albany International Airport
Buffalo - Buffalo Niagara International Airport
New York - Kennedy International Airport
New York - La Guardia Airport
Rochester - Greater Rochester International Airport
Syracuse - Syracuse Hancock International Airport
Cincinnati - Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Cleveland - Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Columbus - John Glenn Columbus International Airport
Dayton - Dayton International Airport
Oklahoma City - Will Rogers World Airport
Tulsa - Tulsa International Airport
Portland - Portland International Airport
Allentown - Lehigh Valley International Airport
Harrisburg - Harrisburg International Airport
Philadelphia - Philadelphia International Airport
Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh International Airport
Charleston - Charleston International Airport
Greer - Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
Rapid City - Rapid City Regional Airport
Sioux Falls - Sioux Falls Regional Airport
Knoxville - McGhee Tyson Airport
Memphis - Memphis International Airport
Nashville - Nashville International Airport
Austin - Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Dallas - Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
Houston - George Bush Intercontinental Airport
San Antonio - San Antonio International Airport
Salt Lake City - Salt Lake City International Airport
Norfolk - Norfolk International Airport
Richmond - Richmond International Airport
Seattle - Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Spokane - Spokane International Airport
Appleton - Appleton International Airport
Baldwin - Groome Transportation
Eau Claire - Groome Transportation
Green Bay - Austin Straubel International Airport
Hudson - Groome Transportation
Madison - Dane County Regional Airport
Menomonie - Groome Transportation
Milwaukee - Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport
Charleston - Yeager Airport
Tour days tend to be shorter in length, at a relaxed pace, and include lots of unscheduled time for leisure. Expect standing and walking for extended periods of time on flat surfaces, mostly low altitudes, and consistent temperatures.
Tour days usually move at a leisurely pace. Some days’ scheduled activities last longer than others. Expect standing and walking for long periods of time on occasionally uneven terrain. You may experience changes in altitude or temperature.
Tour days tend to be long, move at a consistent pace, and may include long travel days. Expect standing and walking for long periods of time on uneven surfaces. Some destinations may have changes in altitude and/or temperature.
Tour days tend to be long, move at a brisk pace, and may include lengthy travel days. Expect long periods of walking and standing on uneven surfaces. Scheduled activities may require physical effort or have distinct changes in altitude or temperature.
Tour days tend to be long, move at a vigorous pace, and may include lengthy travel days. Expect long periods of walking and standing on rough surfaces. Scheduled activities may require physical effort or have distinct changes in altitude or temperature.