Tour
You could spend eons exploring New Zealand’s North and South Islands. But you can also experience a New Zealand tour in two weeks – if you have the right advice. Follow us for Franz Josef/Waiau tours, a ride on one of the world's top trains, Milford Sound/Piopiotahi cruises in the company of fur seals, glowing Waitomo Caves tours… and some down time amid wineries and city restaurants that take home awards.
Comfortable walking shoes
Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat
Water bottle
Warm layers
Camera
Airport to Hotel transfers are available to purchase on request.
Flights to and from your tour are not included in the tour price.
Pricing and availability are supplied by our partner network and can change. Your ohsotravel agent confirms every detail before you book — no surprises.
Auckland never fails to turn on the charm, as you’ll discover while exploring the city before meeting your fellow adventure-seekers. Peruse waterfront precincts filled with yachts or hit up the CBD to discover local designers. Turns out Kiwi creativity is surging. This evening, your Travel Director will welcome you and will brief you on your tour.
Accommodations: Grand Millennium, Auckland
After a morning of sightseeing, set your GPS for the Waikato River to Waitomo Caves. Here, your cruise route is cast in a magical light by thousands of glowworms. It’s a landscape almost as otherworldly as Rotorua, where mud pops and jettisons from bubbling geysers, and steam rushes skywards from cracks in the Earth. Tonight, delve deep into Maori traditions with the Te Po Indigenous Experience at Te Puia. It begins with an exhilarating cultural performance in a beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua, followed by views of the Pohutu Geyser, one of New Zealand’s geothermal wonderlands, and ends with a delicious buffet dinner of hangi-inspired cuisine.
Accommodations: Ibis Rotorua Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
We’re leaving you up to your own devices today. But have plenty of North Island tour travel tips, depending on your mood. How about an optional experience? Want a bit of down time? Bliss out at Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa. Hobbit fans will want to take advantage of the opportunity to tour the sights featured in The Lord of the Rings movies at Hobbiton. These beautiful landscapes are not only a bucket list tour for Hobbit fans, but a gorgeous countryside getaway. The choice is yours.
Accommodations: Ibis Rotorua Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
A staggering 220,000 litres of water thunder over Huka Falls’ 11-metre high escarpment every second. It creates quite the calamity. From here, the road ahead unfolds in a broad panorama of Lake Taupo, its waters so vivid and blue they resemble an Ice Mint. Traverse the Kapiti Coast to New Zealand’s cool little capital, Wellington, where there are so many restaurants and bars to choose from, you’ll need a guidebook. Wait, you have an in-the-know Travel Director to talk to.
A century ago, the Australian outback was but a twinkle in most travellers' eyes. But thanks to visionaries like the Pyke family and Bill King, the way we explore the Land Down Under was about to change in unimaginable ways. Over the coming decades, maps were unfolded, desert cruisers and coaches were customised, and guides were trained. From humble beginnings, the company now known as AAT Kings was going places few had gone before, pioneering new paths across Australia and New Zealand and taking intrepid domestic and international travellers on a wild and wonderful ride.
We've spent the last century perfecting a Holy Grail of life-changing moments around Australia and across New Zealand – ones you likely never knew even existed, and that you won't find in a guidebook or listed on any website. Our DNA has never changed – we are, and always have been pioneers committed to worry-free and sustainable travel, revealing these majestic countries in a way that you never imagined possible.
Prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and confirmed by your agent before booking.
Accommodations: James Cook Grand Chancellor
Meals: Breakfast
Forget everything else you have to do today and focus on one thing: getting a cup of Wellington’s amazing coffee. The city is known for its uber-cool cafés, designed to fuel you through a session at Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand (entrance fee applies). Wellington sightseeing done and dusted: onwards to the ferry for a cruise across Cook Strait, from the North Island to the South, through a maze of arms and inlets into the sleepy seaside village of Picton.
Accommodations: Picton Beachcomber Inn, Picton Yacht Club
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
There aren’t many beaches more dramatic than the sands of Kaikoura. Bonus points if you spot a sea lion or sperm whale frolicking offshore, Kaikoura is the marine wildlife centre of New Zealand. Talk to your Travel Director for tips on the essential restaurants to dine in tonight – Christchurch has reinvented itself in more ways than one.
Accommodations: Ibis Hotel Christchurch
Meals: Breakfast
From its devastating 2010/11 earthquakes, Christchurch has become one of the most forward-thinking cities in the world when it comes to design. Case in point the mind-bending Transitional Cathedral, made largely of cardboard, and Turanga, the gold-clad central library. This Christchurch tour is as eye-opening as it is educational. From here, your outlook is the Canterbury Plains: the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo, snow-capped mountains and atmospheric towns. Your Indoor Dark Sky Astronomy Experience at Tekapo, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience hosted by passionate guides, will forever change the way you see the night sky. You'll see for yourself it may be one of the quietest spots on the planet, yet it has one of the busiest skies in the universe.
Accommodations: Distinction Heritage Gateway Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Your visit to Clyde will have your camera clicking non-stop. This charming historic town may be small, but it’s full of character, with its town centre designated as a historic precinct, featuring buildings from its gold mining past now transformed into cafes and shops. Next, head to Gore, the Country Music capital of New Zealand, before continuing to Fiordland National Park and stunning Te Anau, nestled on the shores of the South Island’s largest lake. Immerse yourself in the serenity - this is as good as it gets.
Accommodations: Distinction Luxmore Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
From the moment you step outside today, nature rules. Your route through Fiordland National Park is an intoxicating union of beech forests, alluvial flats, meadows and mirror-like lakes. Gin-clear rivers carve the countryside, with all roads leading to Milford Sound/Piopiotahi. Venture out into the pristine fiord on an included sightseeing cruise for awe-inspiring scenery with towering cliffs, tumbling waterfalls and abundant wildlife. Seals, penguins and the New Zealand alpine parrot, the Kea are a common sight.
Accommodations: Distinction Luxmore Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Today on your New Zealand tour, travel the aptly named Devil's Staircase. Winding along the edge of Lake Wakatipu, the Devil’s Staircase from Kingston to Queenstown is a breathtaking stretch of road with a combination of lake and Mountain views. Visit the historic gold rush village of Arrowtown, where you can wander the streets, lined with trees and character-filled boutiques, then continue to Queenstown for your two-night stay in the adventure capital of New Zealand. Tonight, glide across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue dinner and farm show.
Accommodations: Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown Lakefront
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Take today at your own pace; you won’t be lost for things to do in Queenstown. Here are some optional experiences. Like adventure? Feel the wind in your hair on the high-octane jet boat ride, perhaps. There’s a reason why Queenstown is known as the "Adventure Capital of the World". Nature lover? Discover some of New Zealand’s feathered friends at Kiwi Park.
Accommodations: Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown Lakefront
Meals: Breakfast
Journey past shimmering Lake Hawea and through Haast Pass with its powerful waterfalls and dramatic mountain backdrops to the pretty town of Franz Josef/Waiau where time is available to experience an optional experience scenic flight (weather permitting) over the spectacular glaciers.
Accommodations: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Swap white at Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere for green at Hokitika: the pounamu (native jade) found here is the stuff jewellery dreams are made of. Just when you thought your adventure couldn’t get any better, you’ll board the TranzAlpine train bound for Christchurch, through tunnels and over viaducts with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, icy rivers, beech forests, gorges and river valleys. Tonight, enjoy dinner and drinks to toast your holiday.
Accommodations: Ibis Hotel Christchurch
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Two islands, two weeks. It’s remarkable what you can see when you have the right people guiding you.
Meals: Breakfast
We're captivated by the places we visit, from the rugged, crimson sands of Australia's outback deserts to the verdant forests and inky depths of New Zealand's fjords and valleys. Our passion for our lands, their people and wildlife is part of what makes each AAT Kings experience unique, and is why we work with partners who share our vision for making travel matter, now and in the future. When you travel with AAT Kings and any of our sister brands you can be assured that you are choosing to travel with a company that puts sustainability and the planet at the core of everything we do.
The TreadRight Foundation was founded over a decade ago as a joint initiative between The Travel Corporation's (TTC) family of brands with a mission to ensure our trips have a positive impact, and AAT Kings is proud to be a founding member.
Community support and cultural preservation by targeting overtourism through the inclusion of new MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experiences, the creation of a standalone strategy to encourage greater diversity and inclusion at AAT Kings, and our global give-back efforts.
Sustainability and conservation by targeting climate change, sustainable food production and responsible consumption through carbon management, renewable energy, the food cycle, waste reduction, and the elimination of single-use plastics.
Conservation and protection by targeting animal welfare and conservation, and ethical wildlife experiences through our Animal Welfare Policy.
In partnership with the TreadRight Foundation, we have supported more than 55 sustainable tourism projects worldwide which seek to protect wildlife and marine life and have a positive impact on the people and communities we visit. Each tourism project we support is assessed based on its impact on each of the TreadRight pillars of people, planet and wildlife, underpinned by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Since 1995 Rainbow Springs Nature Park in Rotorua on New Zealand's North Island has provided vital support to vulnerable populations of the flightless Kiwi bird, a beloved national species. The species is under threat from predators and their ground nests lack adequate protection, causing their population to decline each year. To date the National Kiwi Hatchery at Rainbow Springs has hatched more than 2,000 eggs, providing a safe environment for birds to hatch, releasing them into ideal habitats in the wild so that they can continue to reproduce. You can visit the Hatchery to learn more about the vital work they are doing to ensure the survival of the species, with less than 70,000 kiwis left in the wild.
In some areas, more than 80% of the Tasmanian Devil population has been wiped out by Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) which continue to spread through wild populations in Tasmania. In conjunction with the TreadRight Foundation, AAT Kings support the work done at the University of Tasmania to develop a vaccine to ensure the population of Tasmanian devils can thrive disease-free in the wild. Guests travelling on selected Tasmanian tours can spend time observing the nocturnal behaviour of the Tasmanian Devil and learn more about these fascinating creatures with our Devils After Dark experience.
AAT Kings is committed to only offering ethical wildlife experiences on our trips guided by TreadRight's Animal Welfare Policy to support a tourism industry free of animal cruelty. The policy is based on the Five Domains of Animal Welfare and you can read more about the policy here.
Our mission is to MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®. In 2025, our 5-year sustainability strategy How We Tread Right came to a close. With 8 of our 11 goals achieved, and the rest ongoing, we are proud of our achievements, learnings, and progress. As a leader in sustainable travel across Australia and New Zealand, we remain committed to responsible tourism initiatives that reduce our environmental impact and support our journey toward net zero. Our efforts focus on protecting the beautiful planet we call home, supporting the people and communities who host us, and safeguarding the world's precious wildlife.
Reach net zero GHG emissions across the value chain by 2050 from a 2019 baseline year
Source 50% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2025
Reduce food waste by 50% across
Increase use of local & organic food products by our supply chain by 2025
Reduce printed brochures by 50% by 2025
Eliminate as many unnecessary single-use plastics from our operations and itineraries
Include at least 1 Make Travel Matter Experience on 50% of TTC itineraries by 2025
Achieve a 20% increase of itineraries visiting developing regions for select specialist brands by 2025
Increase employee and market sentiment regarding diversity and inclusion across our brands
Complete 30,000 volunteer hours by 2025
Ensure all wildlife experiences across TTC brands adhere to our animal welfare policy
At AAT Kings we've assembled a range of fun, passionate, quirky, knowledgeable and talented people to help make your holiday great and one you'll remember forever. Our team will bring your holiday to life and they'll share their passion and knowledge for Australia and New Zealand in ways beyond expected.
At AAT Kings we pride ourselves on having some of the most experienced and insightful Travel Directors in the world. They'll provide the commentary, stories and local insights behind each destination to allow you to truly get a feel for the places you visit. They'll share advice, provide personal recommendations and reveal some 'Hidden Gems' along the way that you simply couldn't experience if travelling on your own.
We personally train all our Driver Guides to provide exceptional service every step of the way. Each and every Driver Guide has extensive on road experience and driver training with a safe driving track record. Along with passion and local insight these genuine Aussie characters will enhance your AAT Kings experience and make sure you have a holiday you won't forget. If you're travelling on a Short Break you may be joined by a different Driver Guide each day so you can benefit from the breadth of their combined knowledge and years of experience for a more independent style of travel.
We'll also be joined by a number of Local Guides at various destinations on selected Day Tours and Short Breaks. These Local Guides have specialist knowledge of their hometown and local traditions. They'll take your sightseeing experience to a whole new level as they share their passion and stories in an engaging and entertaining way.
Travelling solo doesn't mean that you have to travel alone. Travelling solo on an AAT Kings Guided Holiday connects you with other like-minded travellers to experience the best Australia and New Zealand have to offer on a worry-free adventure.
On nearly all of our itineraries you can choose to be matched with a same gender traveller and only pay the twin share price
We offer single room supplements across our tours if you want to enjoy a room all to yourself. Simply choose your tour and select your room preference in the booking process.
On an AAT Kings Guided Holiday you'll be joining a tour with travellers who have one thing in common. A desire to uncover the true beating heart of Australia and New Zealand in ways that you never imagined possible. Getting under the skin of a destination, learning from local experts, and travelling worry-free, you'll experience places more beautiful than any guidebook can describe.
Drink in the view, discover wild tastes to feed your soul and immerse yourself in stories that live and breathe, safe in the knowledge that every detail of your trip will be taken care of. You'll enjoy the benefits of travelling in a group, with all of the essentials like accommodation and exclusive experiences all seamlessly sorted 'behind the scenes'.
You don't need to be single to travel solo. Perhaps you want to travel to parts of Australia and New Zealand your partner is not keen to visit, or you want to challenge yourself to travel solo for the first time. Our First Choice and Best Buys Guided Holidays give you the flexibility to choose a fully curated experience with plenty of local connections or a flexible itinerary with more time for you.
Trip prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and reflect applicable discounts. Trip prices and discounts are subject to change. Airfare is additional. Tour prices, dates and itineraries are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. Other restrictions may apply.
from $6,400
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