26 Jan 2027
Twin share
£7,492pp
Single from £9,904
Escorted tour
Untamed New Zealand: North & South Islands – 17 Days
Maori culture, Napier, Marlborough, Queenstown, Milford Sound and Fox Glacier with a tour director.
17 days
From £6,224
Tour overview
This 17-day tour explores both islands of New Zealand with a focus on nature and Maori culture. A tour director travels with you by coach, with local experts along the way. You stay sixteen nights in hand-picked hotels, a lakeside lodge and a cruise boat on Milford Sound, with breakfast daily, two lunches and six dinners.
From Auckland you travel to Rotorua for an evening of Maori culture and a hangi-inspired dinner at Te Puia, then walk in the Whirinaki Forest with local Maori guides. Two nights in Napier showcase its Art Deco streets, before the wine country and dark skies of the Wairarapa and the capital, Wellington.
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You cruise Cook Strait to Marlborough for a free day among its vineyards, then visit Kaikoura and Christchurch. A night at remote Lake Ohau, two nights in Queenstown and an overnight cruise on Milford Sound are followed by Wanaka and Fox Glacier.
The physical rating is medium. This tour suits travellers who want New Zealand's nature and culture with comfortable stays.
Trip highlights
-
A Maori evening at Te Puia (Day 2)
-
The Whirinaki Forest (Day 3)
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Art Deco Napier (Day 4)
-
Marlborough (Day 8)
-
Lake Ohau (Day 10)
-
A night on Milford Sound (Day 13)
Your route
26 stops from Auckland to Christchurch
- Auckland Day 1
- Rotorua Day 2
- Whirinaki Forest Day 3
- Napier Days 3–4
- Cape Kidnappers Day 4
- Mangatainoka Day 5
- Masterton Day 5
- Greytown Day 6
- Wellington Day 6
- Queen Charlotte Sound Day 7
- Blenheim Days 7–8
- Kaikoura Day 9
- Christchurch Day 9
- Lake Tekapo Day 10
- Lake Ohau Day 10
- Cromwell Day 11
- Arrowtown Day 11
- Queenstown Days 11–12
- Te Anau Day 13
- Milford Sound Day 13
- Wanaka Day 14
- Haast Pass Day 15
- Fox Glacier Day 15
- Hokitika Day 16
- Arthur's Pass Day 16
- Christchurch Days 16–17
Why choose this tour
Maori-led experiences and wildlife. A night on Milford Sound.
Best suited to
- Nature lovers
- Culture lovers
- Travellers who value comfort
- Families with older children
Day-by-day itinerary
17 days from Auckland, New Zealand to Christchurch, New Zealand
-
Day 1 · Auckland Auckland
A welcome dinner.
- Hotel
- Mercure Auckland Queen Street
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 2 · Rotorua, Te Puia Rotorua
Geysers and culture.
- Hotel
- Sudima Lake Rotorua
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 3 · Whirinaki Forest, Napier Napier
A sacred forest.
- Hotel
- Swiss-Belhotel Napier
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 4 · Napier Napier
Art Deco streets.
- Hotel
- Swiss-Belhotel Napier
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 5 · Wairarapa Wairarapa
Wine and dark skies.
- Hotel
- Copthorne Solway Park
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 6 · Greytown, Wellington Wellington
The capital.
- Hotel
- James Cook Grand Chancellor
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 7 · Cook Strait, Queen Charlotte Sound, Blenheim Blenheim
Across the strait.
- Hotel
- Scenic Hotel Marlborough
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 8 · Marlborough Blenheim
A free day.
- Hotel
- Scenic Hotel Marlborough
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 9 · Kaikoura, Christchurch Christchurch
A wild coast.
- Hotel
- Wyndham Garden
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 10 · Christchurch, Lake Ohau Lake Ohau
A remote lake.
- Hotel
- Lake Ohau Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 11 · Lindis Pass, Cromwell, Queenstown Queenstown
To Queenstown.
- Hotel
- Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 12 · Queenstown Queenstown
A free day.
- Hotel
- Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 13 · Devil's Staircase, Milford Sound Milford Sound
A night on the sound.
- Hotel
- Milford Mariner
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 14 · Fiordland, Wanaka Wanaka
Lake country.
- Hotel
- Wanaka Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 15 · Haast Pass, Fox Glacier Fox Glacier
The west coast.
- Hotel
- Heartland Fox Glacier
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 16 · Arthur's Pass, Christchurch Christchurch
Back east.
- Hotel
- Wyndham Garden
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 17 · Christchurch Christchurch
The tour ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Auckland (1 night) Mercure Auckland Queen Street
- Rotorua (1 night) Sudima Lake Rotorua
- Napier (2 nights) Swiss-Belhotel Napier
- Wairarapa (1 night) Copthorne Solway Park
- Wellington (1 night) James Cook Grand Chancellor
- Blenheim (2 nights) Scenic Hotel Marlborough
- Christchurch (1 night) Wyndham Garden
- Lake Ohau (1 night) Lake Ohau Lodge
- Queenstown (2 nights) Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown
- Milford Sound (1 night) Milford Mariner
- Wanaka (1 night) Wanaka Hotel
- Fox Glacier (1 night) Heartland Fox Glacier
- Christchurch (1 night) Wyndham Garden
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 16 nights in hotels, a lodge and a cruise boat
- Meals 16 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 6 dinners
- Coach travel and Cook Strait ferry
- Te Po evening at Te Puia
- Whirinaki Forest with Maori guides
- Milford Sound overnight cruise
- Tour director throughout
Not included
- Flights and airport transfers
- Optional activities
- Meals not included 13 lunches and 10 dinners
- Travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a small group
- You want an active holiday
- You want a short trip
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–17 · Lunch: Days 3 and 11 · Dinner: Days 1–2, 5, 10, 13 and 16
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for New Zealand
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £6,224 per person, twin share, tour only. 23 upcoming departures.
09 Mar 2027
Twin share
£6,757pp
Single from £8,933
30 Mar 2027
Twin share
£6,757pp
Single from £8,933
12 Oct 2027
Twin share
£6,224pp
Single from £8,101
26 Oct 2027
Twin share
£6,224pp
Single from £8,101
02 Nov 2027
Twin share
£6,224pp
Single from £8,101
23 Nov 2027
Twin share
£6,224pp
Single from £8,101
04 Jan 2028
Twin share
£6,224pp
Single from £8,101
25 Jan 2028
Twin share
£6,224pp
Single from £8,101
08 Feb 2028
Twin share
£6,224pp
Single from £8,101
15 Feb 2028
Twin share
£6,224pp
Single from £8,101
07 Mar 2028
Twin share
£6,224pp
Single from £8,101
28 Mar 2028
Twin share
£6,224pp
Single from £8,101
10 Oct 2028
Twin share
£7,175pp
Single from £9,340
24 Oct 2028
Twin share
£7,175pp
Single from £9,340
31 Oct 2028
Twin share
£7,175pp
Single from £9,340
21 Nov 2028
Twin share
£7,175pp
Single from £9,340
02 Jan 2029
Twin share
£7,175pp
Single from £9,340
23 Jan 2029
Twin share
£7,175pp
Single from £9,340
06 Feb 2029
Twin share
£7,175pp
Single from £9,340
13 Feb 2029
Twin share
£7,175pp
Single from £9,340
06 Mar 2029
Twin share
£7,175pp
Single from £9,340
27 Mar 2029
Twin share
£7,175pp
Single from £9,340
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.
Are airport transfers included?
No, but they can be purchased on request.
Is this suitable for children?
Yes, for ages 5 and over.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast daily, two lunches and six dinners.
Can I have my own room?
A single supplement is available on request.
Who leads the tour?
A tour director, with local experts and Maori guides.
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