Manage my booking
We need your info! Log into your booking to provide the advance traveller information we require for you to travel.
We are open 24/7 in case you’d like to speak to a travel specialist.
Give us a call at 1-866-266-8454
In-Depth Explorer
Learn about our travel styles.
14 days
15 places
13 Breakfasts, 4 Dinners
Coach
Average 45 people
Expert Trip Manager, Driver and Local Guides
Queenstown, Franz Josef Glacier, Christchurch, Wellington, Mount Ruapehu, Lake Taupo, Rotorua, Auckland, Wanaka, Haast Pass, Hokitika, Arthurs Pass, Kaikoura, Picton, Huka Falls
Feed your adrenaline cravings - relaxation is overrated! Kick it off in Queenstown, the adventure-adrenaline Capital of the World. Ride the Shotover Jet (until Sep 2018) & get a slice of the action! Ever tried bungy jumping, or luging? Now's the time! As you head North, see stunning glaciers, visit Christchurch, try a Maori 'hangi', cruise Lake Taupo & hit Rotorua to try the 'Zorb' or luge!
Reserve your space now with a deposit of only $200, pay the rest 45 days before departure
Can't pay in full? We've got you covered with our Part Pay Program
Change your travel dates or even your trip for free
Book now, pay later when you're eligible for Uplift
Customize the itinerary of your trip depending on yours preferences
Option 1
This trip version is two days shorter and will take you from Auckland to Queenstown in winter
Option 2
This trip version is two days shorter and will take you from Queenstown to Auckland in winter
Option 3
This is the full version of the trip, starting in Auckland and finishing in Christchurch during winter
Option 4
This is the full version of the trip, starting in Christchurch and finishing in Auckland during winter
Option 5
This is the full version of the trip, starting in Auckland and finishing in Christchurch during summer
Option 6
This trip version is two days shorter and will take you from Auckland to Queenstown in summer
Option 7
This is the full version of the trip, starting in Christchurch and finishing in Auckland during summer
Option 8
This trip version is two days shorter and will take you from Queenstown to Auckland in summer
Kia Ora and welcome to New Zealand, the land of Hobbits and an epic Rugby team, not to mention adrenalin, wildlife, surfing, beach breaks...are you hooked yet? You'll be hitting up the stunning South first, arriving into Queenstown with a free afternoon to kill. This being the adventure capital of the world though, we really doubt you'll struggle to stay entertained. Tonight you'll meet up with your Contiki Crew & fellow adventurers, no doubt swapping notes on which thrill seeking activity to tick off first.
Today is yours to get acquainted with Queenstown and spend some time mulling over the activities up for grabs in the next two days. To get you warmed up, we'll be treating you to an exhilirating Shotover Jet experience (until Sep 2018), so throw those hands in the air as you fly through narrow Shotover canyons at speeds of up to 85 kph.
With our last day in adrenalin city edging closer, this is the time to push yourself to the limits and jump over any mental barriers you've put up around yourself. Embrace the spirit of adventure and conquer those niggling fears once and for all. For those who did their dash yesterday, a day staying mellow and enjoying this beautiful region will prove more than sufficient.
It's times like this that you really start to work out what sort of traveller you are. And human for that matter. You might be the one trailing through wine country and doing a spot of horse back riding, or you may be that guy that crams in a bungy jump, a skydive and a heliraft & still craves more. It's your holiday - run wild as you see fit.
Time to return our adrenalin levels to normal and make tracks to the wild (and often wet) West Coast and it's towering glaciers. But before we do, bridge bungy jump, anyone?
Enjoying our scenic drive we'll stop for lunch in Wanaka, a pretty ski resort town situated on a lake front and dwarfed by mountains. This town is fast becoming one of NZ's most popular spots, and a trip to the 'Dough Bin' for a luscious pie should be high on the list today.
Our first piece of NZ eye-candy comes in the form of Hasast Pass, beautified by ancient rainforests, small glaciers and waterfalls. Note how the scenery changes as we roll away from Queenstown through the Southern Alps.
Playing host tonight is the town of Franz Josef, home to some of NZ's finest natural beauty with bushlands and glaciers that almost reach the sea. Tomorrow we'll be out and about making the most of it - who's excited?
This morning will be another big ol' tick off the list as we take to the ice of Franz Josef Glacier. We've got a heli ride over the glacier up for grabs, or the opportunity to carve your own Pounamu (jade) pendant, under the tuition of a Maori mastercraftsman. Pounamu is sacred to the Māori people, and this is a great way to learn about its cultural significance, while also creating a beautiful please of jewellery. An optional highlight today is a boat cruise across Lake Mapourika. But this ain't your ordinary boat cruise. You'll cruise up the glassy lake, framed by glaciers and mountains, before switching to a stand up paddle board and gliding along a narrow estuary. This takes you to your journey's destination, the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary, where you'll get to meet New Zealand's adorable but vulnerable national bird.
Armed with a new found appreciation for frozen water, we hop back on the coach & start making our way back to Christchurch.
In the gold rush town of Hokitika we'll watch authentic carvers get to work on green jade and take a look at traditional Maori art. Back on the coach we're coastline bound to one of the islands most jaw-droppingly beautiful spots...
Take in the beautiful scenery as we wind our way across the highest and most spectacular mountain pass across the Southern Alps.
Tonight we'll sleep well in Christchurch, drifting off to the pleasant memories of NZ's natural beauty that seasoned our day.
It’s another jaw-dropping drive up to the top of the South Island today. The coach cuts across the Canterbury Plains to Kaikoura.
Arriving in Kaikoura will see us amongst a seaside settlement known for whales & dolphins, so have those cameras at the ready as we roll around the coast. We'll stop at a seal colony, where you'll struggle not to break into a collective 'cuuuute' as you watch these guys sunning themselves on the rocks.
Our next drive takes us up the wild, rugged east coast and the wine country of Marlborough. Jump on the Inter-Island ferry and leave the South Island behind. Cruise through the gorgeous Marlborough Sounds, where thick forested peaks rise straight up from the sea. It’s a camera-friendly spot with picturesque inlets, remote coves and tiny beaches that dot the islands.
We dock in the capital city of Wellington, where no doubt New Zealand's well-cultured capital will prove an utter delight. After an orientation through the narrow streets a night on the town will be on the cards, plus an optional dinner to start the night off as we mean to go on.
The day is yours to explore Wellington! In the early evening we'll head to a local cafe and try the famed flat white coffee in its city of origin (sorry Australians). Then you'll have a free afternoon, or (from Oct 2020) we'll meet Parris Quinn our 2019 changemaker, and try some of her Heart Parcels brownies. Heart Parcels is a charity that Parris started to ensure Wellington's homeless have enough food to eat. Buy a delicious brownie here and the proceeds go straight towards feeding people living on the streets of Wellington. If it's a Monday night, you're welcome to join Paris as she hands out donations. It's inspiring stuff.
We wave goodbye to Wellington and its beautiful scenery and we prepare ourselves for our next adventure – and trust us, this one is bucket-list worthy.
Known as the après-ski capital of the North island, Ohakune is a tranquil town with stupendous view. Today you have the option to go mountain biking along one of NZ's most picturesque track, "the Old Coach Rd" or spend the day bettering your skills on the slopes or generally treating yourself to all the snowy based activities on offer, then tonight snuggle down in our Special Stay ski lodge, located in prime position at the base of Mt. Ruapehu.
Wake up in the spectacular surroundings of Mt. Ruapehu with the epic views of the volcano, and you have the option this morning to go mountain biking along one of NZ's most picturesque track, "the Old Coach Rd" before we head to Taupo.
Volcanic peak views & trout fishing will seamlessly slip us into quaint lake life. But don't be fooled by the seemingly still scenery - a bungy jump or skydive are both on the menu if that adrenaline itch needs scratching.
As we leave Lake Taupo keep an eye out for even more recognisable ‘The Lord of the Rings’ backdrops.
220,000 litres (58 000 gallons) of water gush over Huka Falls per second. Just let that sink in for a minute. Wild, right? Even wilder still is the Huka Falls Jet experience – a thrilling ride that will get you experiencing the full force of the falls and leave you with even more of a taste for adventure.
When you catch your first whiff of that… ‘unusual’ sulphur smell, you’ll know we’ve arrived in Rotorua. Upon arrival in Rotorua we get to learn some fascinating info on NZ's national birds, as well as watch new lives hatch right in front of our eyes! How impressed are you right now? Soak in a hotspring, go skydiving or take a canopy tour - there's plenty of time for you to make the best of this town. Tonight we enjoy a Maori dance performance and feast on a Hāngi dinner that is sweetly roasted in the ground.
The day is yours to roam free in this geothermal paradise. Soak in a hot spring, go white water rafting or hike up a volcano. The options are limitless and the decisions are yours. We recommend the Rotorua Dawn Canopy Tour, exclusive to Contiki, where you'll watch the sun rise, eat some breakfast and drink coffee up in the towering trees as the birds make start their morning calls. Then, you'll get to soar 1200m through the forest on the ultimate zipline adventure.
Famed for its spurting geysers, boiling mud pools & hot springs, gondola and speeding luge rides, Rotorua is a natural wonderland and then some. But don't let the allure of this place consume you, for there's a fun stop at Hobbiton village we must complete. Join us at our short visit at the land of 'Lord of the Rings', before we head to Auckland. That's right, it wouldn't be a complete experience without a stop at the "Shire".
This is it! And what an adventure we've had. Say your goodbyes to your new-found family as your trip ends on arrival here in Auckland. New Zealand, we’ll never forgot you.
This trip can be booked in smaller or bigger sections, so you can pick your dream adventure, tailored for you
1 Country, 17 Days
4.8
Visiting Queenstown, Wanaka, Haast Pass and 14 more
Visiting 17 places
1 Country, 17 Days
4.8
Visiting Auckland, Parry Kauri Park, Paihia and 14 more
Visiting 17 places
Learn more about the accommodation available on this trip
13 nights
All accommodation is included on this trip
6 nights in Lodge, 6 nights in Hotel, 1 night in Contiki Special Stay
Throughout your trip you’ll be getting your beauty sleep in cosy, warm beds in multi-share rooms, plus the chance to stay in funky sleeping pods that can be completely enclosed for sleeping and chilling out. Your accommodation will always be located in the heart of the action, with communal areas for you and your new best friends to relax and socialise.
Sorry! The reviews aren't available for the chosen filter.
We believe that travelling solo, shouldn't mean having to pay more. On many of our hand-crafted itineraries, you can enjoy up to 100%* off our standard single supplement free.
Download Brochure