13 Jan 2027
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,699pp
Flights from UK airports
Escorted tour
Grand Tour of New Zealand with Australia & Flights – 26 Days
New Zealand's North and South Islands in depth, then Melbourne and Sydney, with all flights and a tour director.
26 days
From £8,699 incl. flights
Tour overview
This 26-day escorted tour explores New Zealand from top to bottom, then finishes with Melbourne and Sydney, with all international and internal flights included. A tour director looks after you throughout, and hotel porterage is included for one bag each. You stay 22 nights in comfortable three- and four-star hotels, including the Grand Millennium in Auckland and the Copthorne Lakefront Resort in Queenstown, with two nights spent on the long flights out and back. Breakfast is included daily, with a few lunches and dinners, among them a sunset dinner cruise in Sydney.
From Auckland you head north to the Bay of Islands for a cruise among its islands and inlets, then south through farmland to the glow-worm-lit Waitomo Caves and Rotorua, with its geothermal wonders. A visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set brings Middle-earth to life. You continue via Lake Taupō to the Art Deco town of Napier and the capital, Wellington, before crossing the Cook Strait to the South Island.
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Through the Marlborough wine region you reach Nelson for a catamaran cruise along the golden beaches of Abel Tasman National Park. From Christchurch you ride the world-famous TranzAlpine train across the Southern Alps and take a helicopter flight over the glaciers, then travel down the wild West Coast to Queenstown, with a free day for adventure activities. A cruise on Milford Sound, a visit to historic Arrowtown and a day among the peaks around Mount Cook complete the New Zealand journey.
Flying to Melbourne, you ride the Puffing Billy steam railway through the Dandenong Ranges and watch the little penguins come ashore on Phillip Island. In Sydney a city tour takes in The Rocks and the Opera House, with a free day and a farewell sunset dinner cruise on the harbour.
The physical rating is low. This tour suits travellers who want a thorough, comfortable journey through New Zealand, with a taste of Australia and the convenience of all flights included. With so much time on the road, you see far more of New Zealand than most visitors, from subtropical beaches to glaciers.
Trip highlights
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A Bay of Islands cruise (Day 5)
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Waitomo Caves and Hobbiton (Days 7–8)
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Abel Tasman by catamaran (Day 12)
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The TranzAlpine train and a helicopter flight (Day 14)
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Milford Sound and Mount Cook (Days 17–19)
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Phillip Island penguins and a Sydney Harbour dinner cruise (Days 21–24)
Your route
25 stops from Auckland to Sydney
- Auckland Days 1–3 & 6
- Paihia (Bay of Islands) Days 4–5
- Hole in the Rock Day 5
- Waitomo Caves Day 7
- Rotorua Days 7–8
- Hobbiton Movie Set Day 8
- Huka Falls Day 9
- Napier Day 9
- Wellington Day 10
- Picton Day 11
- Nelson Days 11–12
- Abel Tasman National Park Day 12
- Hanmer Springs Day 13
- Christchurch Days 13 & 19
- Arthur's Pass Day 14
- Franz Josef Day 14
- Lake Wanaka Day 15
- Queenstown Days 15–17
- Milford Sound Day 17
- Ōmarama Day 18
- Aoraki / Mount Cook Day 19
- Lake Tekapo Day 19
- Melbourne Days 20–21
- Phillip Island Day 21
- Sydney Days 22–26
Why choose this tour
New Zealand in real depth, plus Melbourne and Sydney, with every flight included. The TranzAlpine, a helicopter flight and three cruises.
Best suited to
- Travellers wanting the trip of a lifetime
- Retired travellers with time for a long journey
- Couples and friends
- Travellers who want everything arranged
Day-by-day itinerary
26 days from UK to UK
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Day 1 · UK Fly to New Zealand
An overnight flight to Auckland.
- Hotel
- Overnight flight
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Day 2 · In flight In flight
Continue your journey.
- Hotel
- Overnight flight
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Day 3 · Auckland Arrive in Auckland
Arrive and transfer to your hotel.
- Hotel
- Grand Millennium Auckland or similar
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Day 4 · Bay of Islands Bay of Islands
Travel north via the kauri forests.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 5 · Bay of Islands Bay of Islands cruise
Cruise among the islands.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 6 · Auckland Back to Auckland
Return via the Twin Coast Discovery Highway.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 7 · Waitomo Caves, Rotorua Waitomo to Rotorua
See the glow-worm caves, then Rotorua.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 8 · Hobbiton, Rotorua Hobbiton
Visit the Hobbiton Movie Set.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 9 · Taupō, Napier Napier
Travel via Lake Taupō to Art Deco Napier.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 10 · Wellington Wellington
Continue to the capital.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 11 · Cook Strait, Nelson Nelson via Marlborough
Cross the Cook Strait to the South Island.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 12 · Abel Tasman National Park Abel Tasman
A catamaran cruise along the coast.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 13 · Lewis Pass, Christchurch Christchurch
Travel over the Lewis Pass to Christchurch.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 14 · Southern Alps, West Coast TranzAlpine and helicopter
Ride the TranzAlpine and fly over the glaciers.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 15 · Queenstown Queenstown
Travel down the West Coast to Queenstown.
- Hotel
- Copthorne Lakefront Resort or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 16 · Queenstown Free day in Queenstown
Enjoy the lake and mountains.
- Hotel
- Copthorne Lakefront Resort or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 17 · Milford Sound, Te Anau Milford Sound
A cruise on Milford Sound.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 18 · Arrowtown, Ōmarama Arrowtown to Ōmarama
Visit historic Arrowtown.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 19 · Mount Cook, Christchurch Mount Cook
A day of alpine scenery, then Christchurch.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 20 · Melbourne Fly to Melbourne
Fly to Australia.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 21 · Dandenong Ranges, Phillip Island Puffing Billy and Phillip Island
A steam train ride and the penguin parade.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 22 · Sydney Fly to Sydney
Fly to Sydney.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 23 · The Rocks, Sydney Opera House Sydney
A city tour of Sydney.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 24 · Sydney Harbour Free day in Sydney
A free day and a sunset dinner cruise.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 25 · Sydney Fly home
Begin your journey home.
- Hotel
- Overnight flight
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Day 26 · UK Arrive home
Arrive back in the UK.
Where you stay
- Auckland (1 night) Grand Millennium Auckland or similar
- Bay of Islands (2 nights) Hotel
- Auckland (1 night) Hotel
- Rotorua (2 nights) Hotel
- Napier (1 night) Hotel
- Wellington (1 night) Hotel
- Nelson (2 nights) Hotel
- Christchurch (1 night) Hotel
- West Coast (1 night) Hotel
- Queenstown (2 nights) Copthorne Lakefront Resort or similar
- Te Anau (1 night) Hotel
- Ōmarama (1 night) Hotel
- Christchurch (1 night) Hotel
- Melbourne (2 nights) Hotel
- Sydney (3 nights) Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- All international and internal flights, and airport transfers
- Accommodation 22 nights in three- and four-star hotels with porterage
- Meals 21 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners, including selected lunches and dinners
- Bay of Islands and Abel Tasman cruises
- Waitomo Caves and the Hobbiton Movie Set
- TranzAlpine train and a helicopter flight
- Milford Sound cruise, Puffing Billy and Phillip Island
- Sydney city tour and sunset dinner cruise, with a tour director throughout
Not included
- Australia eVisitor and New Zealand NZeTA
- Meals not included 1 breakfast, 19 lunches and 20 dinners
- Optional activities
- Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a short trip — this tour lasts 26 days
- You want to see the Outback or reef — Australia is limited to cities
- You want a small group — coach groups can be large
- You want to arrange your own flights — flights are part of the price
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 4–24 · Lunch: Day 12 · Dinner: Days 7 and 24
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £8,699 per person, including flights. 2 upcoming departures.
Flights from UK airports.
12 Jan 2028
Twin share
Incl. flights
Not sold tour only on this date
£8,949pp
Flights from UK airports
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.
Are flights included?
Yes, all international and internal flights and airport transfers are included.
Is the helicopter flight included?
Yes, along with the TranzAlpine train journey, subject to weather.
Do I need visas?
UK visitors need a New Zealand NZeTA and an Australian eVisitor visa, applied for online.
Are activities weather-dependent?
Boat cruises and the helicopter flight depend on the weather on the day.
What is the minimum age?
The minimum age is 18.
How much walking is there?
Gentle walking at sights and in towns.
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