The Big Tiki
(Auckland to Christchurch Summer)
Financing available at checkout
The one that unearths the best of NZ, covering both islands in 19 unforgettable days
Travel Style
In-Depth Explorer
Learn about our travel styles.
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Duration
19 days
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Places
22 places
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Meals
18 Breakfasts, 6 Dinners
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Transport Style
Coach
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Group Size
Average 45 people
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Team
Expert Trip Manager, Driver and Local Guides
Auckland, Paihia, Rotorua, Lake Taupo, Mount Ruapehu, Wellington, Christchurch, Franz Josef Glacier, Queenstown, Te Anau, Lake Ohau, Parry Kauri Park, Huka Falls, Picton, Kaikoura, Arthurs Pass, Hokitika, Haast Pass, Wanaka, Milford Sound, Arrowtown, Lake Tekapo
How Contiki works
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STEP 1
Pick your destination & book
Picking where to go out of 150 countries worldwide is the hardest part. Booking is easy with complete flexibility, & confidence that your money is secure.
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STEP 2
Book 7 hotels, try figuring out public transport in a foreign language, get into an argument with your taxi driver, lose your passp… -
STEP 2
Turn up to your dream trip
Everything has been sorted for you. Cool, convenient accom, smooth transport from place to place - plus a bunch of meals and travel experiences all locked in.
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STEP 3
Have the time of your life
Your Trip Host has designed every trip to be packed with incredible, local experiences, made even more amazing as you share it with other incredible 18-35 year old travelers.
Top Experiences
21 included & 40 free time add-ons available to add later
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Experience a traditional Maori cultural performance and feast on a ground-smoked hangi dinner
Included
Rotorua
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See (and smell) Rotorua's bubbling geothermic mud pools
Included
Rotorua
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See the peak of Mt Cook from across the beautiful blue glacial Lake Ohau
Included
Lake Ohau
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Take a day trip to Cape Reinga at the very top of New Zealand's North Island
NZ$117
Paihia
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Glide through NZ's Bay of Islands on a Parasailing experience in Paihia
From NZ$95
Paihia
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Take a leap over the lakeside town of Taupo with a tandem skydive
From NZ$299
Lake Taupo
The Big Tiki (Auckland to Christchurch Summer)
21 Inclusions
Experiences that are included with your trip
- See the 'City of Sails' harbour made famous by the America's Cup
- Check out Whangarei & Kawakawa's famous Hundertwasser toilets
- Get a dose of history with a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds Tour
- Tuck into a true Kiwiana fish'n'chips dinner, seafood chowder or NZ Lamb salad overlooking the Bay of Islands in Paihia
- Visit Hobbiton and take a guided tour of the set made famous by the "Lord of the Rings & Hobbit" movies
- Experience a traditional Maori cultural performance and feast on a ground-smoked hangi dinner
- See (and smell) Rotorua's bubbling geothermic mud pools
- Take a behind the scenes tour of the of a Kiwi conservation project at the Rainbow Springs Kiwi Encounter
- See an active stratovolcano with Mt Ruapehu
- See more of the sights made famous in the "The Lord of the Rings"
- Tuck into coffee and cake in one of Wellington's cafes, including a 'Heart parcels' brownie with proceeds going towards supporting the homeless
- Join our 2019 Changemaker Parris Quinn in handing out 'Heart Parcels' food to Wellington's homeless (from Oct 2020 - selected departures)
- Check out the cafe & restaurant scene in Wellington, voted the coolest little capital in the world
- Spectacular drive along the Kaikoura Coast & visit to a seal colony
- View a native greenstone carving demonstration in the goldrush town of Hokitika
- Stop at AJ Hackett's Kawarau Bridge
- Cruise the glassy waters of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Milford Sound
- Experience rural NZ country life with a farm visit in Te Anau
- See the peak of Mt Cook from across the beautiful blue glacial Lake Ohau
- See the historic Church of the Good Shepard
- Stop at Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo & Geraldine
40 Free Time Add-Ons
Optional experiences that you can choose from and pay for on your trip
- Take a day trip to Cape Reinga at the very top of New Zealand's North Island NZ$117
- Carino Day Sailing NZ$130
- Discover the Bay NZ$149
- Island Adventure Fast Boat NZ$78
- Glide through NZ's Bay of Islands on a Parasailing experience in Paihia From NZ$95
- Auckland Bungy NZ$165
- Live life on the edge with a climb over Auckland's iconic harbour bridge NZ$130
- Sky Walk Sky Jump NZ$225
- Take a walk on the wild side with a Sky Walk around Auckland's 328m high Sky Tower NZ$150
- Get a multi-sensory icecream extravaganza with a Giapo Chef's Table icecream experience NZ$45
- Go white water rafting down the crashing Kaituna River NZ$99
- Hike the unique volcanic landscape of Mt Tarawera, Rotorua NZ$149
- Explore native rainforest at dawn with breakfast & coffee followed by ziplining on a Contiki Exclusive Rotorua Rainforest Canopy tour NZ$149
- Cook your kai (food) the traditional way over an active steam vent at Te Puia Maori Village, followed by a guided tour & hands-on weaving experience NZ$84
- Chris Jolly Dinner & Party Cruise NZ$80
- Take a leap over the lakeside town of Taupo with a tandem skydive From NZ$299
- Experience the rush of a Huka Falls Jet boat ride NZ$115
- Glacier Country Kayaks NZ$115
- Across Country Quad Bikes NZ$160
- Scenic Helicopter Flight and Glacier Landing From NZ$245
- Helihike NZ$439
- Carve your own pounamu (jade) pendant using traditional Māori methods with a master carver at Franz Josef
- Boat and SUP the Kiwi Sanctuary
- Group Photograph NZ$19
- Queenstown Wine Trail
- Swing through the tree tops on a Ziptrek Zipline tour in Queenstown NZ$189
- Enjoy dinner with unparallelled views at Queenstown's Skyline restaurant NZ$85
- Canyon Swing NZ$215
- Funyaks NZ$359
- Take your happy hour in sub-zero temperatures at Queenstown's Ice Bar experience NZ$20
- Canyon Fox NZ$150
- Take the plunge on the world's OG bungy at Kawarau Bridge, Queenstown NZ$205
- Jump off the third highest bungy platform in the world at AJ Hackett's Nevis Bungy in Queenstown NZ$275
- Get a thrilling perspective of Queenstown's skyline with the famous AJ Hackett Ledge bungy NZ$205
- Go all out with Thrillogy - 3 of Queenstown's world class bungy jumps including the historic Kawarau Bungy, the freestyle Ledge Bungy, and the hair-raising Nevis Bungy NZ$420
- Take the swing of your life on the 300m Nevis Swing, one of the world's biggest canyon swings in Queenstown NZ$210
- Get your adrenalin pumping with AJ Hackett's Ledge Swing with sweeping views of Queenstown NZ$165
- Queenstown Adventurer Canyoning NZ$199
- Be awed by the magical twinkle of the Te Anau glowworm caves NZ$98
- Grand Traverse Scenic Flight NZ$340
Where You'll Stay
Learn more about the accommodation available on this trip
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18 nights
All accommodation is included on this trip
10 nights in Hotel, 1 night in Contiki Special Stay, 7 nights in Lodge
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.
About this trip
This is the big one. Kicking off in Auckland, you'll bungee and skydive in Queenstown, feast on a ground-smoked Māori 'hangi' in Rotorua, stroll wine trails, visit Hobbiton, hike active volcanoes and experience the otherworldly beauty of Milford Sound in an unforgettable 19 day adventure. Drastic in beauty but humble in charm, New Zealand is here to steal your heart away. Get ready for the ultimate adrenaline rush.
Buy With Confidence
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Only $99 deposit to book*
For a limited time, reserve your space now with a deposit of only $99, pay the rest 45 days before departure
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Pay over time, interest free
Can't pay in full? We've got you covered with our Part Pay Program
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No booking fee, no change fees
Change your travel dates or even your trip for free
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Financing available with UpLift
Book now, pay later when you're eligible for Uplift
Trip Variation
Customize the itinerary of your trip depending on yours preferences
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The Big Tiki
(Auckland to Christchurch Summer)
This is the full version of the trip, starting in Auckland and finishing in Christchurch during summer
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The Big Tiki
(Auckland to Christchurch Winter)
This is the full version of the trip, starting in Auckland and finishing in Christchurch during winter
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The Big Tiki
(Auckland to Queenstown Summer)
This trip variation is two days shorter and will take you from Auckland to Queenstown in summer
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The Big Tiki
(Auckland to Queenstown Winter)
This trip variation is two days shorter and will take you from Auckland to Queenstown in winter
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The Big Tiki
(Christchurch to Auckland Summer)
This is the full version of the trip, starting in Christchurch and finishing in Auckland during summer
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The Big Tiki
(Christchurch to Auckland Winter)
This is the full version of the trip, starting in Christchurch and finishing in Auckland during winter
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The Big Tiki
(Queenstown to Auckland Summer)
This trip variation is two days shorter and will take you from Queenstown to Auckland in summer
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The Big Tiki
(Queenstown to Auckland Winter)
This trip variation is two days shorter and will take you from Queenstown to Auckland in winter
Map & Itinerary
- Start location
- End location
- Trip day
- Via location
- River route
- Plane route
Nights spent per location
Short on time?
This trip can be booked in smaller or bigger sections, so you can pick your dream adventure, tailored for you
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