Meals

11 Breakfast (B) 3 Dinner (D) Paihia: A dinner of fish ’n’ chips, enjoyed while overlooking the Bay of Islands in Paihia. Is this heaven? No sir, it’s just salt and vinegar.

Accommodation

7 nights in Hotels, 2 nights in Featured Accommodation, 1 night in Special Stay, 1 night in Hostel

Others

Christchurch: Which Version is Northbound vs Southbound? Southbound trips start in Auckland and end in Christchurch. Northbound trips start in Christchurch and finish in Auckland. They’re both the same itineraries, just in reverse. Marlborough Sounds: Check out the sunken river valleys of Marlborough Sounds from an iconic Interislander Ferry. You’d wanna get your camera for this one! Mount Ruapehu: It’s not a real carrot, just a statue. But standing at 7.5 metres tall, it still impresses. This famous spot in Ohakune represents all of the carrot farms (and there are plenty here) in town. Mount Ruapehu: Today we’ll check out Mt Ruapehu, an active stratovolcano elevated almost 2,800 metres into the air! Mount Ruapehu: See even more of the sights made famous by "The Lord of the Rings." Huka Falls: Huka falls is a jaw-jutting display of natural hydro power. Here you’ll see 220,000 litres of water tumble over the waterfall... per second that is(!) Rotorua: Wait til you see ’em. Wait til you smell ’em. These geothermic mudpools are a thing to behold. Rotorua: A traditional Māori cultural performance, topped off with a traditional Māori feast... this ought to satisfy even the keenest of culture vultures. Auckland: Cameras at the ready folks, the views will be extraordinary here. Auckland: With sailboats at every angle, this is a beaut view indeed. Whangārei: See the work of the visionary Austrian painter, architect and ecological activist who made New Zealand his spiritual home. Paihia: The Waitangi Treaty Grounds might just be NZ’s most important historical site, marking the place where the British Crown and the Māori people signed their first accords back in 1840. Kaikōura: On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, we’ll meet eco-warrior Sabrina Leucht, who has dedicated many years of her life to helping New Zealand’s injured native birds... and is now working to establish the region’s first wildlife hospital. Rotorua: On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, we’ll head to National Kiwi Hatchery near Rotorua to learn all about the locals’ efforts to protect New Zealand’s adorable national bird.

Transport

Coach

Guide

Expert Trip Manager + Driver Team + Local Guides

Not included:

Insurance

Travel Insurance is not included

Optional

Other activities and services are not included

Flights

International flights are not included

Others

Other activities and services are not included

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Day 1 Day 1: Tautahi (Christchurch) To Kaikōura
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Tautahi (Christchurch) To Kaikōura

Contiki crew, are you ready?! We’ll board the coach, travelling through South Island to reach Kaikōura by lunch. We’ll stop off at a seal colony on the seafront to get our daily fix of cuteness, before heading to Kaikōura Wildlife Rescue to meet a local wildlife biologist, Sabrina Leucht. She has been working to build a dedicated wildlife hospital in Kaikōura and Contiki has been helping with the fundraising! We’ll learn about the types of wildlife we might encounter here, which threats they face, and what we can all do to make a difference - locally and in our own hometowns. After a busy day of wildlife wonders, we’ll check into our seafront hotel, before heading out for a spot of dinner. Did you know that Kaikōura literally translates into ’eat (kai) crayfish (koura)’? So, no prizes for guessing what type of local cuisine we’ll be trying!
Day 2 Day 2: Kaikoura
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Kaikoura

We all love a free day - especially one spent in beautiful Kaikōura! We recommend taking a whale watching tour, where you’ll have the opportunity to see giant sperm whales in action, as well cute seas and dusky dolphins. Other free time add-ons include a kayak trip across the coastline, and more. We’ll stay another night in Kaikōura after an action-packed day, before heading to Wellington tomorrow morning.
Day 3 Day 3: Kaikōura To Te Whanganui A Tara (Wellington)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Kaikōura To Te Whanganui A Tara (Wellington)

After breakfast, we’ll head back on the Contiki coach and head to our next destination. We’ll stop at a seal colony, where you’ll struggle not to break into a collective ’cuuuute’ as you watch these guys sunning themselves on the rocks. Afterwards we’ll continue on to Wellington, the capital of NZ since 1865, when it replaced Auckland. Almost thirty years later, Wellington parliament was the first in the world to allow women the right to vote. A pretty cool city all in all.
Day 4 Day 4: Te Whanganui A Tara (Wellington)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Te Whanganui A Tara (Wellington)

Ready to explore Wellington in all its glory? Today, why not head to a local cafe and try the famed flat white coffee in its city of origin (sorry Australians). Caffeinated and refreshed, you can opt to take a trip to Zealandia, a 225-hectare (basically massive) eco-sanctuary that protects over 40 rare native wildlife species. Because Zealandia is fully fenced, you’ll be able to walk alongside incredibly rare birds like the hihi and the takahē. Look out for the tuatara, a prehistoric reptile known as a ’living fossil’, which can only be found in New Zealand!
Day 5 Day 5: Te Whanganui A Tara (Wellington) To Ruapehu (Mount Ruapehu)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Te Whanganui A Tara (Wellington) To Ruapehu (Mount Ruapehu)

We wave goodbye to Wellington and its beautiful scenery and we prepare ourselves for our next adventure – and trust us, this one is bucket-list worthy. Known as the après-ski capital of the North island, Ohakune is a tranquil town with stupendous view. Today you have the option to go mountain biking along one of NZ’s most picturesque track, "the Old Coach Rd" or spend the day bettering your skills on the slopes or generally treating yourself to all the snowy based activities on offer, then tonight snuggle down in our Special Stay ski lodge, located in prime position at the base of Mt. Ruapehu.
Day 6 Day 6: Ruapehu (Mount Ruapehu) To Taupō Nui A Kiwa (Lake Taupō)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Ruapehu (Mount Ruapehu) To Taupō Nui A Kiwa (Lake Taupō)

Wake up in the spectacular surroundings of Mt. Ruapehu with the epic views of the volcano. Today we head off to Lake Taupō!
Day 7 Day 7: Taupō Nui A Kiwa (Lake Taupō) To Rotorua Via Huka Falls
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Taupō Nui A Kiwa (Lake Taupō) To Rotorua Via Huka Falls

As we leave Lake Taupo keep an eye out for even more recognisable ‘The Lord of the Rings’ backdrops. 220,000 litres (58 000 gallons) of water gush over Huka Falls per second. Just let that sink in for a minute. Wild, right? When you catch your first whiff of that… ‘unusual’ sulphur smell, you’ll know we’ve arrived in Rotorua. Upon arrival in Rotorua we get to learn some fascinating info on NZ’s national birds, as well as watch new lives hatch right in front of our eyes! How impressed are you right now? Soak in a hotspring, go skydiving or take a canopy tour - there’s plenty of time for you to make the best of this town. Tonight we enjoy a Maori cultural performance and feast on a Hāngi dinner that is sweetly roasted in the ground.
Day 8 Day 8: Rotorua
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Rotorua

The day is yours to roam free in this geothermal paradise. Soak in a hot spring, go white water rafting or hike up a volcano. The options are limitless and the decisions are yours. We recommend the Rotorua Dawn Canopy Tour, exclusive to Contiki, where you’ll watch the sun rise, eat some breakfast and drink coffee up in the towering trees as the birds make start their morning calls. Then, you’ll get to soar 1200m through the forest on the ultimate zipline adventure.
Day 9 Day 9: Rotorua To Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Rotorua To Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

Ta-ra, Rotorua! We’re headed to Auckland, where there’s an array of awesome Free-Time Add-Ons to choose from.Adrenaline junkies, get ready for a bungee jump, climb over the iconic harbour bridge or sky jump off the Skywalk. For those who prefer to keep two feet on the ground, why not get your taste buds tingling with a multi-sensory ice cream experience at Giapo?
Day 10 Day 10: Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) To Paihia Via Whangārei
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) To Paihia Via Whangārei

We’ll cross Aucklands Harbour Bridge admiring the ’City of Sails’ harbour before starting our journey north to Paihia. We’ll stop off at the stunning yacht marina in Whangārei to check out the quirky exterior of the weird and wonderful Hunderwassert art centre, a unique architectural project dedicated to the ecological activist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. After lunch we’ll hit the road again onwards to the Bay of Islands.We’ll start off with a dose of Kiwi history on a guided tour at Waitangi Treaty grounds where in 1840 New Zealand officially became a nation of two communities. And because we like to give you that something extra, how about included admission to the Treaty museum for more detail on Kiwi history. Tonight we’ll feast like the locals and enjoy a true Kiwiana fish’n’chips as we overlook the glittering Bay of Islands.
Day 11 Day 11: Paihia
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Paihia

Whether it’s parasailing or a catamaran cruise - today’s (idyllic) list of optionals reads like a who’s who of adventure. This area is filled with natural beauty and is sure to inspire your inner wild child. Make the most of the Free Time Add-On experiences on offer - tomorrow we head back to the big city vibes.
Day 12 Day 12: Paihia To Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Paihia To Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

Feeling salty and sun-kissed we’ll wave goodbye to beautiful Paihia & sashay our way back down NZ in the direction of Auckland. Our adventure comes to an end in Auckland today. Make sure you swap contact deets and start planning the next adventure. Anyone for ’Straya?

12 days tour

New Zealand: Northern Choice (Northbound, 12 Days)

This tour includes:

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Itinerary of your trip New Zealand: Northern Choice (Northbound, 12 Days)

Day 1: Tautahi (Christchurch) To Kaikōura

Day 2: Kaikoura

Day 3: Kaikōura To Te Whanganui A Tara (Wellington)

Day 4: Te Whanganui A Tara (Wellington)

Day 5: Te Whanganui A Tara (Wellington) To Ruapehu (Mount Ruapehu)

Day 6: Ruapehu (Mount Ruapehu) To Taupō Nui A Kiwa (Lake Taupō)

Day 7: Taupō Nui A Kiwa (Lake Taupō) To Rotorua Via Huka Falls

Day 8: Rotorua

Day 9: Rotorua To Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

Day 10: Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) To Paihia Via Whangārei

Day 11: Paihia

Day 12: Paihia To Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

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