Spectacular Nature to Sparkling Cityscapes New Zealand Tour

Urupukapuka Island, Bay of Islands.

What to expect on this itinerary

Every day on this opulent 17-day retreat of New Zealand will provide you with limitless opportunities to discover the country at your own pace and in your own way. Resplendent experiences abound across the hypnotizing destinations of New Zealand, and you will be continuously blown away as you explore the idyllic landscapes and cultural nuances that sweep from Keri Keri to Auckland. The choices will be entirely yours!

Countries Visited

New Zealand

Places Visited

Keri Keri, Taupo, Waitomo, Napier, Nelson, Abel Tasman National Park, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Blanket Bay, Auckland

Suggested Duration

17 Days

Customizable Itinerary

Expand All
Day 1

Keri Keri - Arrive at the Bay of Islands

Your journey in New Zealand will begin in the city of Keri Keri on the banks of the breathtaking Bay of Islands. After a short flight from Auckland, you will transfer to your luxurious accommodation on its own private ridgeline of the bewildering bay. Views of snow-capped mountains, turquoise water, and rolling pastures will all officially welcome you to this spellbinding destination.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Keri Keri - Marine Moments in the Bay

Day 3

Keri Keri - More Marvelous Scenes to Explore

Day 4

Taupo - Beneath the Silver Streams of Huka Falls

Day 5

Taupo - Gorgeous Geothermal Spectacles

Day 6

Taupo - Glowing Caves and Thermal Pools

Day 7

Napier - Between Flourishing Vineyards

Day 8

Napier - Delectable Vintages and Delightful Valleys

Day 9

Abel Tasman National Park - A Tasteful Arrival

Day 10

Abel Tasman National Park - Postcard-Perfect Memories

Day 11

Abel Tasman National Park - Slow Living on Golden Shores

Day 12

Queenstown - Adventurous Spirits and History Buffs

Day 13

Queenstown - Mind-Blowing Landscape Views

Day 14

Blanket Bay - Absolute Peace and Quiet

Day 15

Blanket Bay - Remote Journeys in a Rich Landscape

Day 16

Auckland - Fine Dining in a Humming City

Day 17

Auckland - Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Admire the remarkable marine spectacles and marine life sightings when snorkeling among the Bay of Islands
  • Stroll through the forested landscapes of Kauri and Puketi and unravel the history that veils the old-world town of Russell
  • Station yourself beneath the pounding streams of Huka Falls, one of New Zealand’s largest waterfalls
  • Embark on adventures across the geothermal landscapes of Taupo and Rotorua, where you can kayak across  Acacia Bay or traverse the Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland
  • Allow the marvelous scenes of glow worms or moments enjoyed in thermal pools near Lake Rotoiti to seduce you
  • Satiate your desires for fine wine at the premier wine estates on New Zealand’s coveted Napier vineyards
  • Chart the glistening water that surrounds Abel Tasman National Park to castaway coves and golden beaches
  • Witness the mesmerizing scenery that blankets Abel Tasman National Park from a unique vantage point when hovering over it in a biplane
  • Witness the summits that surround Queenstown on a zip-line or uncover the rich ancestry of Arrowtown on a peaceful history tour
  • Capture the unrivaled vistas of Milford Sound by flying above in a plane and cruising past in a boat
  • Race across the Dart River between towering rocky canyons on a jet boat cruise from Queenstown
  • Indulge in remote excursions across the isolated slice of mountainous paradise of Blanket Bay on tranquil walks across the peaks or through the beech forests

Starting Price

$19,400 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 128 reviews

New Zealand, Australia Vacation Review: Queenstown, Auckland, Milford Sound, Christchurch, 2 Weeks

Zicasso’s trip planner did an excellent job. Communication and the quality of the experiences were everything we'd expected and more, especially in New Zealand. The accommodations were first rate; the highlight was the lodge in Queenstown. The guides and drivers were professional and knowledgeable, especially those in Queenstown and Auckland. We loved the dedicated website for reference, as well as the detailed booklet and maps for both countries. 

For future itineraries, I would add another day in Queenstown and a full day in Christchurch. If days were limited, I would recommend one less day in Auckland and/or skipping the drive/train from Franz Josef. 

The only complication was the day we spent 10 hours going to and coming from Milford Sound.  I recommend doing Milford Sound by plane/helicopter from Queenstown, which would also permit seeing the glaciers/southern alps from the air. The only things we missed were the zoo in Auckland and the Blue Mountain day tour in Sydney. Next trip!

See more

Australia, New Zealand Vacation Review: Sydney, Queenstown, Private Tours, 23 Days

The itinerary was awesome! We had a few snafus with hotel reservations, but they were quickly resolved. The tours were perfect and all private, with excellent guides. The pace made good use of the time we had and maximized seeing the most locations in our time frame. The hotels were beautiful (especially the one in Queenstown, WOW!) and the rooms were perfect for our needs (kitchens and laundry). It was so great having everything pre-booked and guided, as it allowed us to relax and enjoy the trip and not worry about logistics. It was a trip of a lifetime.

I would highly recommend this Zicasso travel agency! When traveling so far away, it made such a difference to have everything coordinated by a professional. I have had many people ask how we managed to do so much with the time we had. Now, I don't think I can travel any other way.

See more

New Zealand Luxury Trip Review: Rotorua, Queenstown, Hobbiton, Wellington, Glenorchy, Milford Sound, Māori Culture, Museum
"Our Zicasso agent and her team hit a home run. All of our expectations were exceeded."

See more

New Zealand Travel Review: Maori Cultural Experience, Hobbiton, Milford Sound, Mount Cook, Spa, Geothermal Park, Hobbiton, Harbor Tour, Railway Trip, Hiking, Dining, 2 Weeks

Zicasso’s tour planner created an amazing trip for us. He was quick to respond with initial planning and tailored the trip to our personal interests, thus creating a true customized experience. His expertise, advice, and recommendations were invaluable. 

Our itinerary allowed us to see and do so much during our trip, including museums, galleries, Māori cultural experiences, a lake-side day spa, geothermal park, Hobbiton, Mount Cook, a harbor tour, Milford Sound, a scenic railway trip through the Southern Alps, hiking, and dining, etc. 

We enjoyed each of the selected accommodations.  

The New Zealand touring app was an amazing resource and contained perfect details for each excursion and accommodation check-ins. Questions that arose during the trip were always answered in a timely manner over the app. Essentially, the stress of planning a two-week, multicity road trip was eliminated and all the hours I would have spent planning this itinerary myself were avoided. I would highly recommend the company.

See more

New Zealand Vacation Review: Glowworm Night Tour, Maori Experience, Culture, Nature, Local Cuisine, Scenery, 11-Night Trip

I really want to thank the travel specialist from Zicasso's travel agency for such amazing planning. My vacation in New Zealand was great, everything flowed flawlessly, and all the activities she suggested were really fun and varied. I got to see some incredible, breathtaking scenery.

All the tour guides were amazing and very knowledgeable, but special mention to the guide for the glowworm tour; he was incredible! The Māori experience was one of my favorite activities as I was able to really get a grasp of the culture, their music, energy, and food. And last, but definitely not least, the guide from the food tour really made my birthday very special! I am looking forward to coming back soon.

See more

New Zealand Tour Review: Milford Sound, Mount Cook, Christchurch, Rotorua, Auckland, 10-Night Trip

We just got back from a most enjoyable trip to New Zealand, planned by Zicasso's travel agent and her company. She understood what we were trying to cover during this trip and planned the excursions/activities, hotels, and transportation very well.

We started in Queensland and, after Milford Sound, worked our way north through Mount Cook, Christchurch, Rotorua, and Auckland. The company planned each day, with the travel times and activities woven well with appropriate meal times and rest breaks. The guides and pick-ups at each location were prompt and well-informed, and we always knew what to expect at each step of our trip.

We had a couple of issues, one with a day trip for wine tasting and another with the quality of one of the hotels, but our agent responded quickly with a solution.

It was a memorable trip; a fun, enjoyable, and educational introduction to New Zealand, and we would heartily recommend them to anyone planning a trip to New Zealand.

See more

Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

30,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews