From CAD 3,645
Guarantee
Group Tour
Easy
Rating
(10 reviews)
Experience Overview
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 Māori 'hangi', cruise Lake Taupō & hit Rotorua to try the 'Zorb' or luge!
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 15 Breakfast (B)
- 3 Dinner (D)
FAQs
- Christchurch: Which Version is Northbound vs Southbound? Southbound trips start in Auckland and end in Queenstown. Northbound trips start in Queenstown and finish in Auckland.
- Sydney: What does a modular trip mean? A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
Included Experience
- Queenstown: Check out the epic views of the valley from the world's first ever (and some would say most famous) bungy jump bridge. You might even witness some epic bungy jumps!
- Wānaka: A lake town with views for days, surrounded by beech forests, alpine lakes, and wilderness glaciers.
- Haast: Ready for some incredible views? We'll drive through the gorgeous mountains of the Gates of Haast and catch once-in-a-lifetime views of the river below. Seems like Mother nature does have a favourite!
- Hokitika: The South Island is known for Pounamu (in fact, it’s even named after the stuff.) Today in Hokitika, we’ll meet with a local Māori Guide, who’ll tell us all about the connection between the illustrious greenstone and the Māori people. After that, we’ll go and check some out for ourselves.
- Arthur's Pass: Check out the village that has been a haven for mountain climbers for over a century. Better keep your camera ready and eyes peeled - because this is spot where you might be able to get a glimpse of rare alpine parrots AKA Keas.
- Kaikōura: On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, we'll meet eco-warrior Sabrina Leucht, who has dedicated many years of her life to helping New Zealand's injured native birds... and is now working to establish the region's first wildlife hospital.
- Marlborough Sounds: Check out the sunken river valleys of Marlborough Sounds from an iconic Interislander Ferry. You'd wanna get your camera for this one!
- Mount Ruapehu: It's not a real carrot, just a statue. But standing at 7.5 metres tall, it still impresses. This famous spot in Ohakune represents all of the carrot farms (and there are plenty here) in town.
- Mount Ruapehu: Today we'll check out Mt Ruapehu, an active stratovolcano elevated almost 2,800 metres into the air!
- Mount Ruapehu: See even more of the sights made famous by "The Lord of the Rings."
- Huka Falls: Huka falls is a jaw-jutting display of natural hydro power. Here you'll see 220,000 litres of water tumble over the waterfall... per second that is(!)
- Rotorua: Wait til you see 'em. Wait til you smell 'em. These geothermic mudpools are a thing to behold.
- Rotorua: On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, we'll head to National Kiwi Hatchery near Rotorua to learn all about the locals' efforts to protect New Zealand's adorable national bird.
- Rotorua: A traditional Māori cultural performance, topped off with a traditional Māori feast... this ought to satisfy even the keenest of culture vultures.
Trip Details
Product Code: 17169
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+, Luxury
Supplier Code: 544.1859B
Starts: Queenstown (Nz), New Zealand
Finishes: Auckland, New Zealand
Duration: 16 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 3645 (CAD 228 /day)
Itinerary
Kia Ora and welcome to Queenstown (Tāhuna). After checking in to your hotel the rest of the afternoon is yours to start discovering why Queenstown is best known as the adventure capital of the world. Tonight you'll meet up with the rest of the crew, no doubt swapping notes on which thrill seeking activity to tick off first. Let the adventure commence...
Accommodation: Lylo (or similar)
Today is yours to get acquainted with Queenstown and spend some time mulling over the activities up for grabs in the next two days. First, we'll visit the legendary Kawarau Bungy Bridge (AKA the home of the world home of the bungy!) for your morning adrenaline hit. Later, we'll stroll around this beautiful city.
Accommodation: Lylo (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
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 exploring wine cellars and caves, or you may be that one that crams in a bungy jump and ziplining & still craves more. It's your holiday - run wild as you see fit.
Accommodation: Lylo (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
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. Tonight you can choose to jump on a gondola and to wine & dine atop of the highest restaurant in Queenstown, Skyline. What a way to end our time here!
Accommodation: Lylo (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Time to return our adrenalin levels to normal and make tracks to the wild (and often wet) West Coast and it's towering glaciers.
Enjoying our scenic drive we'll stop for lunch in Wānaka, 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 Haast Pass (Tioripatea), 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 (Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere), 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?
Accommodation: Rainforest Retreat (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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 Māori 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.
Accommodation: Rainforest Retreat (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Armed with a new found appreciation for frozen water, we hop back on the coach & start making our way back to Christchurch (Ōtautahi).
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.
Accommodation: The Breakfree on Cashel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
We'll set off on an inspiring tour of Christchurch this morning, the city that was totally rebuilt after the Christchurch earthquake. Look out for the Cardboard Cathedral, which is the only cathedral in the world to be built mostly from plain old cardboard! After that, it's another jaw-dropping drive up to the top of the South Island. The coach cuts across the Canterbury Plains to Kaikoura.
We'll arrive in Kaikōura, known for whales & dolphins, so have those cameras at the ready as we roll around the coast. We'll visit Kaikōura Wildlife Rescue to meet a local wildlife biologist, Sabrina Leucht, who has been working to build a dedicated wildlife hospital. We'll learn about the wildlife we might encounter here, the threats they face, and what we can do to make a difference. After a busy day, we'll check into our seafront hotel, then head out for dinner. Did you know that Kaikōura literally translates into 'eat (kai) crayfish (koura)'? So, no prizes for guessing what type of cuisine we'll be trying!
Accommodation: Sudima Kaikōura (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
We all love a free day - especially one spent in beautiful Kaikōura! We recommend taking a whale watching tour, where you'll have the opportunity to see giant sperm whales in action, as well cute seas and dusky dolphins. Other free time add-ons include a kayak trip across the coastline, and more. We'll stay another night in Kaikōura after an action-packed day, before heading to Wellington tomorrow morning.
Accommodation: Sudima Kaikōura (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, we'll head back on the Contiki coach and head to our next destination. 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. Afterwards we'll continue on to Wellington, the capital of NZ since 1865, when it replaced Auckland. Almost thirty years later, Wellington parliament was the first in the world to allow women the right to vote. A pretty cool city all in all.By the afternoon, we'll have reached Wellington (Te Whanganui a Tara), just in time for a tour of the city. After an orientation through the narrow streets of Wellington, and a chance to explore the great food scene, a night on the town will be on the cards.
Accommodation: Mercure Wellington Abel Tasman (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Ready to explore Wellington in all its glory? Today, why not head to a local cafe and try the famed flat white coffee in its city of origin (sorry Australians). Caffeinated and refreshed, you can opt to take a trip to Zealandia, a 225-hectare (basically massive) eco-sanctuary that protects over 40 rare native wildlife species. Because Zealandia is fully fenced, you'll be able to walk alongside incredibly rare birds like the hihi and the takahē. Look out for the tuatara, a prehistoric reptile known as a 'living fossil', which can only be found in New Zealand!
Accommodation: Mercure Wellington Abel Tasman (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
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 Mount Ruapehu (Ruapehu).
Accommodation: Kings Ohakune (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Wake up in the spectacular surroundings of Mt. Ruapehu with the epic views of the volcano. Today we head off to Lake Taupō!Here we are in Lake Taupō (Taupō Nui a Tia). Volcanic peak views & trout fishing will seamlessly slip us into quaint lake life. But don't be fooled by the seemingly still scenery - a skydive is on the menu if that adrenaline itch needs scratching. This evening we jump on a cruise on the lake to watch the sun set, go fishing and enjoy some eats with our Contiki fam.
Accommodation: Lakeland Resort Taupō (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
As we leave Lake Taupō 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? 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 Māori cultural performance and feast on a Hāngi dinner that is sweetly roasted in the ground.
Accommodation: Sudima Lake Rotorua (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Accommodation: Sudima Lake Rotorua (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Just as we were acclimatising to that funky smell, it's time to leave Rotorua. Take one last look at the bubbling geothermic mud pools before we flee. Your Trip Manager will book you into a transfer service this morning.
Arriving into Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau), we'll say goodbye to the wolf pack (sob). NZ - you've been real.
Meals: Breakfast
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Tour Operator
Contiki (CA)
Contiki is a New Zealand-based tour company that caters to 18 to 35-year-olds, offering over 350 different tours in over 75 countries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.[1] It is a subsidiary of The Travel Corporation. Its tours historically had a reputation for partying;[2][3] however, it also operates wellness trips culturally immersive experiences that focus less on alcohol, which are more popular with Generation Z.[4] The company owns lodging facilities in Europe, including the Chateau De Cruix, a 16th century castle in the Beaujolais wine region, and the Gasthof Schoneck in the Austrian Tyrol. The name "Contiki" comes from the portmanteau 'Con' from the word 'Continent' and 'Tiki'; from the Māori referring to the first man, often symbolised as a pendant known as hei-tiki. It can also be attributed to the New Zealand slang 'Tiki-tour' describing taking a longer route to a destination in order to explore.[5]
In Business Since 1931
Reviews
Anonymous - Traveled, May 2025
I had a really excellent time on this trip. A great way to cover so much ground and see so many parts of the country. I was impressed by the variety of activities and the different landscapes. I also appreciated being given the autonomy of an adult and not feeling like I was a kid at summer camp. *Personal information removed by Feefo* was respectful and expected us all to be in charge of ourselves while also being prompt when necessary. I want to mention some issues that could be improved upon. We spent 4 days in Queenstown, which is a great amount of time to spend there. BUT-- LyLo Queenstown is not a good place to stay for 4 nights when everyone has a full suitcase to contend with. The rooms were cramped and windowless, which is to be expected for a hostel, but it was so, so, so very uncomfortable having that be "home base" for 4 days. There are NO SURFACES to put things and hardly space to move. For one night it would be fine, but not for our longest stay on the trip. "Included" meals were disappointing. The included "meals" in Franz Josef were hardly edible. Again, doesn't need to be a Michelin star experience, but this is a vacation and it definitely negatively impacted me when it felt like we were eating prison food. One thing I wasn't expecting when I booked this trip was how essential the FTAs were. The trip description made it seem like these were just like premium upgrade options. What I quickly discovered was that unless I was signed up for FTAs at each stop, I would have nothing to do. *Personal information removed by Feefo* did share lists of places to eat/shop/visit, but I expected there to be more structured guidance included in the trip. Instead we were just sort of turned loose. When we're spending less than 24 hours in a town, it makes it logistically difficult to arrange our own entertainment during our free time. And I get it--your model is to upsell the FTAs. But there should be something to gain from the trip outside of those activities. Very little guidance on the whole, which at times made it feel like my time wasn't wisely spent. I felt misled by Contiki and at worst "tricked" into signing up for a different experience than the trip description implied. Critiques aside, I would absolutely do a Contiki again. It was great getting to bond with the group we traveled with; that made the experience extra special.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/20/2025
Braden Shanahan - Traveled, May 2025
Had an absolutely brilliant time on my Contiki with Brit and Chris. The trip was well managed, and I could not be happier with the activities and how they were explained. The other travellers were some of the friendliest and nicest people as well.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/20/2025
Connor Smart - Traveled, February 2025
The locations and the optional excursions on the trip were phenomenal. The places we stayed at varried quite a bit, the majority of them were nice and close to the action and short walking distances to attractions. however a few of them ended up being very cramped. I'd recommend getting your own rooms for this tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/24/2025
Thomas Stever - Traveled, May 2024
Really enjoyed my contiki trip in New Zealand. I really enjoyed my activities & free time. Also enjoyed visiting the nice towns & cities in NZ. Highly recommend it to my family & friends.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/24/2024
Liam Elton - Traveled, May 2025
Awesome experience. Some of the activities are expensive but worth it. Everything was set up so well, trip manager Ashley was amazing, and bus driver Chris did a great job
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/20/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, August 2023
It was perfect! The right amount of time away. Contiki were very easy and straightforward to deal with.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/15/2023
Josie Game - Traveled, August 2023
It was such an amazing experience, everyone I met was unreal, incredible people and places!! Would 100% recommend to anyone!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/19/2023
Anonymous - Traveled, May 2025
Genuinely was such an amazing trip, great sized group and the accomodation from Auckland to Kaikoura is INCREDIBLE for a contiki. "Personal information removed by Feefo was an amazing tour manager and *Personal information removed by Feefo* a great driver. I'd recommend if you're going to NZ, do either this trip or the big tiki. Personally this was the perfect size for me. Easy to book trip, didn't need to be in contact with anyone from contiki for the trip as all the information I needed was provided directly to me via email.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/20/2025
Sarah Dennis - Traveled, June 2023
As a kiwi myself, I wasn't exactly sure if this trip would be worth it. I can say confidently that even after one day all my worries were put to rest! The trip was the perfect amount of fun, adventure, culture, education and wholesome moments! From day one our trip manager encouraged us all to get the most out of the trip and get to know everyone and do as much as we could and wanted to! There was never any pressure but there was a lot of support to figure out the best ways for us each to get what we wanted and needed out of the trip! From the bus days to our included and optional extras to the free days that ended up becoming wholesome bonding moments as our trip manager encouraged us all to get together for bowling/mini golf nights, hikes up mt vic and wholesome pizza nights on the beach! This trip literally had everything I could have ever imagined! I'm already looking at going again next year as I want to take all my friends to experience the spectacular trip that was the NZ Panorama!! It was great! As it was so close to the trip starting date that I booked, I ended up emailing a few people in the contiki team. They were able to ease my mind about the trip becoming sold out as well as helping me hold my place from the second I got approval from work for the time off! Everyone was so helpful, fast and efficient! Thanks!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/19/2023
Anonymous - Traveled, May 2025
It was truely an amazing experience, *Personal Information removed by Feefo* were amazing trip manager *Personal information removed by Feefo* driver they both had lots of knowledge about their home country which made the trip feel extra special. They made the trip extra fun, and the group was amazing. Would highly recommended this trip and contiki in general. Can't wait for my next trip. I wish we stayed in Kaikõura longer but it was truly amazing. The customer service was amazing, *Personal Information removed by Feefo* were very knowledgeable which made the trip fun on the long bus rides. 10/10 they are amazing.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/20/2025
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