Tour overview

This 18-day adventure travels the length of both islands of New Zealand, with plenty of walking. A tour leader travels with the group, which numbers between six and fourteen. You stay seventeen nights in hotels, lodges and motels and a night on a boat on Milford Sound, with breakfast daily, a lunch and two dinners.

From Auckland you cruise to the volcanic island of Rangitoto, then explore the thermal areas of Rotorua. A free day in Tongariro National Park gives the chance to hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, before you drive to Wellington and take the ferry across Cook Strait.

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You walk a section of the Abel Tasman coast, see the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki and walk to Fox Glacier. A jetboat ride in Mount Aspiring National Park, a night on Milford Sound and a free day in Queenstown are followed by a trek in the Hooker Valley below Aoraki Mount Cook.

The physical rating is medium. This trip suits active travellers who want to see the very best of New Zealand on foot.

Trip highlights

  • Rangitoto Island (Day 2)
  • Tongariro National Park (Day 5)
  • The Abel Tasman coast (Day 8)
  • Fox Glacier (Day 11)
  • A night on Milford Sound (Day 13)
  • The Hooker Valley (Day 16)

Your route

22 stops from Auckland to Christchurch

18-day route: Auckland – Rotorua – Tongariro – Wellington – Abel Tasman – Fox Glacier – Wanaka – Milford Sound – Queenstown – Mount Cook – Christchurch
  1. Auckland Days 1–2
  2. Rangitoto Island Day 2
  3. Rotorua Day 3
  4. Wai-O-Tapu Day 4
  5. Huka Falls Day 4
  6. Tongariro National Park Days 4–5
  7. Wellington Day 6
  8. Picton Day 7
  9. Nelson Day 7
  10. Motueka Days 7–8
  11. Marahau Day 8
  12. Punakaiki Day 9
  13. Greymouth Day 9
  14. Okarito Day 10
  15. Fox Glacier Day 10
  16. Haast Day 11
  17. Wanaka Days 11–12
  18. Te Anau Day 13
  19. Milford Sound Day 13
  20. Queenstown Days 14–15
  21. Mount Cook National Park Day 16
  22. Christchurch Days 17–18

Why choose this tour

Both islands with plenty of walking. A night aboard a boat on Milford Sound.

Best suited to

  • Active travellers
  • Nature lovers
  • Solo travellers
  • Walkers
The Emerald Lakes on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Day-by-day itinerary

18 days from Auckland, New Zealand to Christchurch, New Zealand

  1. Day 1 · Auckland Auckland

    The adventure begins.

    Hotel
    Copthorne Auckland City
  2. Day 2 · Rangitoto Island Rangitoto

    A volcanic island.

    Hotel
    Copthorne Auckland City
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Rotorua Rotorua

    Geothermal country.

    Hotel
    Sudima Lake Rotorua
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Waiotapu, Tongariro National Park Tongariro

    Mud pools and volcanoes.

    Hotel
    The Park Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  5. Day 5 · Tongariro Alpine Crossing Tongariro

    A free day.

    Hotel
    The Park Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · Wellington Wellington

    The capital.

    Hotel
    James Cook Grand Chancellor
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. Day 7 · Cook Strait, Motueka Abel Tasman

    Across the strait.

    Hotel
    Motel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Abel Tasman National Park Abel Tasman

    A coastal walk.

    Hotel
    Motel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  9. Day 9 · Buller Gorge, Punakaiki, Greymouth Greymouth

    The Pancake Rocks.

    Hotel
    Copthorne Hotel Greymouth
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Okarito, Fox Glacier Fox Glacier

    The west coast.

    Hotel
    Heartland Hotel Fox Glacier
    Meals
    Breakfast
  11. Day 11 · Franz Josef, Wanaka Wanaka

    A glacier walk.

    Hotel
    Aspiring Lodge Motel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  12. Day 12 · Matukituki Valley Wanaka

    A jetboat ride.

    Hotel
    Aspiring Lodge Motel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  13. Day 13 · Te Anau, Milford Sound Milford Sound

    A night on the sound.

    Hotel
    Milford Mariner
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  14. Day 14 · Milford Sound, Queenstown Queenstown

    Dolphins and seals.

    Hotel
    Heartland Hotel Queenstown
    Meals
    Breakfast
  15. Day 15 · Queenstown Queenstown

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Heartland Hotel Queenstown
    Meals
    Breakfast
  16. Day 16 · Hooker Valley Mount Cook

    Below Aoraki.

    Hotel
    Aoraki Mount Cook Alpine Lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast
  17. Day 17 · Canterbury Plains, Christchurch Christchurch

    To Christchurch.

    Hotel
    Scenic Hotel Cotswold
    Meals
    Breakfast
  18. Day 18 · Christchurch Christchurch

    The trip ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
A golden beach in Abel Tasman National Park

Where you stay

  • Auckland (2 nights) Copthorne Auckland City
  • Rotorua (1 night) Sudima Lake Rotorua
  • Tongariro (2 nights) The Park Hotel
  • Wellington (1 night) James Cook Grand Chancellor
  • Motueka (2 nights) Motel
  • Greymouth (1 night) Copthorne Hotel Greymouth
  • Fox Glacier (1 night) Heartland Hotel Fox Glacier
  • Wanaka (2 nights) Aspiring Lodge Motel
  • Milford Sound (1 night) Milford Mariner
  • Queenstown (2 nights) Heartland Hotel Queenstown
  • Mount Cook (1 night) Aoraki Mount Cook Alpine Lodge
  • Christchurch (1 night) Scenic Hotel Cotswold

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 17 nights in hotels, lodges and a boat
  • Meals 17 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners
  • All transport, including the Cook Strait ferry
  • Rangitoto cruise and Abel Tasman walk
  • Jetboat ride and Milford Sound overnight cruise
  • Hooker Valley trek
  • Tour leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Optional activities
  • Meals not included 15 lunches and 15 dinners
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
A glacier between rugged mountain valleys

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want luxury hotels
  • You want most meals included
  • You want a short trip
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–18 · Lunch: Day 8 · Dinner: Days 3 and 13
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for New Zealand
The blowhole at the Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £6,448 per person, twin share, tour only. 10 upcoming departures. Single travellers from £8,283 (single supplement from £1,680).

Offer Reduced prices on selected dates, shown with the regular price crossed out. Book by 16 Oct.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Do I need a visa for New Zealand?

UK citizens need a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), applied for online before travel.

How hard are the walks?

Moderate walks of a few hours most days; the Tongariro Crossing is optional and challenging.

What is the Milford Sound boat like?

A small cruise boat with shared cabins, dinner and breakfast on board.

Are transfers included?

Yes, an arrival shuttle and a departure transfer.

Can I have my own room?

A single supplement is available for most nights.

How many people travel together?

Between six and fourteen travellers, with a tour leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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