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Abstract
Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand and it means "The land of the long white cloud", because that's how it appeared to the Maori from a distance over a thousand years ago when they arrived in canoes from the legendary island of Hawaiki.
Starts from
10 days / 9 nights - from Auckland to Queenstown.
Characteristics
Group tour with a local guide / escort
accompanist/guide in Italian/Spanish during the tour (but driver/guide in Italian/Spanish for small groups). Transfers upon arrival/departure with an English-speaking driver.
departures are guaranteed (min 2 participants). Subject to availability
include the American breakfast and some meals.
Minimum age: 2 years.
Important notes
- The high season in New Zealand runs from October to March, but also from July to September in the ski areas of Queenstown and Wanaka (South Island). It is therefore important to book well in advance.
- The domestic flight Rotorua / Christchurch NZ5783 or 5785 depending on the seasonality (departure time 12:30) is sold as an additional supplement. We will take care of the booking in order to avoid any inconvenience or problems for the rest of the group. IMPORTANT: if the issuance of the international flight is not covered by Naar, we kindly ask you to provide us with the international ticket number (12 digits) in order to avoid paying the GST. If this information is not provided, the GST cost will be added to the tour cost.
- The north of New Zealand is subtropical, while the south has a temperate climate. The warmest months are December, January, and February; the coldest are June, July, and August.
Optional visits
We recommend those who wish to take the scenic flight from Milford to Queenstown to book on-site with the guide, as the flight is weather-dependent and often gets cancelled. Additionally, the guide is able to obtain group discounts in case there are more people interested.
Possibility to take a scenic flight over the Southern Alps to admire Mount Cook and the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers (subject to weather conditions).
Honeymoon Special
For honeymoon couples, we will ask the hotels for a room upgrade (not guaranteed), but it is essential to inform them at the time of booking that it is a honeymoon couple.
Furthermore:
- Auckland, Grand Millennium - 2 glasses of sparkling wine at the hotel bar.
- Rotorua, Millennium Hotel - 2 glasses of sparkling wine at the hotel bar.
- Distinction Hotel Christchurch - Small cake in the room.
- Wanaka, Edgewater Resort - 2 glasses of sparkling wine at the hotel bar.
- Queenstown, Millennium Hotel - 2 glasses of sparkling wine at the hotel bar.
Meals
Legend: B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner.
Itinerary
Giorno 1 — Auckland
Reception in Italian upon arrival and transfer to the hotel. The room is available starting from 15. The rest of the day available.
The "city of sails" is not the capital of the country (which is Wellington instead), but with about one million inhabitants, of which at least two hundred thousand are of Polynesian origin, it gathers a third of the entire New Zealand population. The city center is located on an 11 km isthmus that separates two bays, Waitemata and Manukau, and is a true paradise for sailors. In the spectacular Hauraki Gulf, there are more than fifty islands with inactive volcanoes, beaches, sea caves, vineyards, and wildlife refuges. Beyond the historic center, the city is vast, with one or two-story wooden houses surrounded by large gardens. A dense subtropical forest covers the hills, which are actually extinct volcano cones.
Accommodation Grand Millennium Auckland.
Giorno 2 — Auckland
American breakfast. Day dedicated to visiting Auckland and its surroundings. You leave Auckland to reach the Muriwai Regional Park on the west coast, to admire the wild black sand beaches, the rich surrounding vegetation, and the colony of gannets, white and black seabirds with a wingspan of up to 2 meters.
Then you visit the Auckland Museum, with an interesting collection of Maori and Polynesian art and crafts, the prestigious neighborhood of Parnell, one of the oldest in the city, and continue towards Mission Bay, famous for its beautiful beaches and trendy bars. Back in the city center, you stop at Viaduct Harbour, the site of the America's Cup and a lively area with bars and restaurants. Finally, you climb the Sky Tower, the tallest tower in the entire South Pacific at 328 meters. From the observatory, the 360-degree view of the city and its beautiful bays is spectacular.
Return to the hotel. Available evening.
Accommodation Grand Millennium Auckland.
Giorno 3 — Auckland → Waitomo → Rotorua
American breakfast. Departure for Waitomo to visit the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. We will start our journey south of Auckland, passing through the rich agricultural region of Waikato. Upon arrival in Waitomo, a guided tour awaits you, taking you through 250 meters of breathtaking underground landscapes. The highlight of the visit is a boat ride along the Waitomo River, where you can admire thousands of larvae illuminating the Glowworm Grotto. As you enter this galaxy of small living lights, you will experience an exciting atmosphere and be fascinated and intrigued by the little luminous beings that shine along your path. At the end of the tour, you can enjoy a traditional New Zealand-style barbecue at a local restaurant.
Continue to Rotorua. Hotel accommodation.
The presence of a rich volcanic substrate, due to the presence of a chain of now extinct volcanoes, and abundant rainfall make this region one of the greenest and most fertile in the world. The most famous tourist destination on the North Island, and perhaps in all of New Zealand, stands out first and foremost for the strong smell of rotten eggs due to the abundant presence of sulfur. A lively geothermal activity with geysers, lakes and hot water streams, bubbling mud pools, and multicolored silica terraces are the main characteristics of this region, which also stands out for its large Maori population with interesting cultural activities. It is also a paradise for fishermen, with the best trout fishing in the world.
In the afternoon, you will visit Te Puia, an area rich in thermal activities where geysers stand out. You will continue with a visit to the "Kiwi House" (the nocturnal habitat of the kiwi bird, which does not fly), where you can admire some specimens of this bird and the native birdlife. There will be a stop at the "Maori Arts & Crafts Institute", where you can discover the art of carving and sculpting wood according to Maori tradition.
To conclude the visit to Te Puia, you will participate in a Maori typical Maori dinner.
Accommodation Millennium Hotel Rotorua.
Giorno 4 — Rotorua → Christchurch
American breakfast. In the morning, visit the volcanic valley of Waimangu, a geothermal area formed in 1886 following the eruption of the Tarawera volcano. Here you will find the Frying Pan Lake, the largest boiling water spring in the world, and the Inferno Crater Lake, with its beautiful blue color, the largest geyser in the world, but invisible because the geyser's eruption occurs at the bottom of the lake. Waimangu is protected as a Scenic Reserve, as it is an extremely rare example of an ecosystem formed without any human intervention after a phenomenon of absolute devastation (the eruption of Tarawera).
Airport transfer. Flight to Christchurch. A fertile and vast plain is flanked by the beautiful chain of the Southern Alps. Here stands the main city of the South Island, Christchurch, "Garden City", built with local volcanic stone in a neo-Gothic style, which gives it a distinct English imprint. City tour. Transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation Distiction Christchurch.
Giorno 5 — Christchurch → Lake Tekapo
American breakfast. Departure to Lake Tekapo. Stop at Lake Tekapo, a beautiful alpine lake with crystal clear turquoise waters and surrounded by stunning mountains, visit the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd. Next, stop at a New Zealand house where you can also taste the most famous local dessert, Pavlova. Leave Tekapo and continue south, with views of the breathtaking landscapes of Mount Cook, the highest peak in the country (3750 m), between turquoise glacial lakes and rivers. Before reaching Wanaka, you will cross the MacKenzie region.
Accommodation Peppers Bluewater Resort.
Giorno 6 — Lake Tekapo → Te Anau
American breakfast. Visit Tekapo, to admire the beautiful alpine lake with crystal clear turquoise waters and surrounded by stunning mountains. Leave Tekapo and continue south, with views of the breathtaking landscapes of Mount Cook, the highest peak in the country (3750 m), amidst turquoise glacial lakes and rivers. Before reaching Wanaka, you will cross the MacKenzie region.
In the afternoon, continuation to Te Anau. Transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas.
Giorno 7 — Te Anau → Milford Sound → Queenstown
American breakfast. Day dedicated to the excursion to Milford Sound. Milford Sound is the most famous fjord in the region, stretching 22 km and dominated by the pyramid-shaped Mitre Peak, which rises 1695 m straight from its waters. Several boats navigate the fjord and linger at the base of the waterfalls that cascade from the hanging valleys into the sea, with groups of dolphins leading the way. The spectacle is superb on rare sunny days, but it is still captivating even in the rain. The abundance of water nourishes forests with giant tree ferns that are found nowhere else in the world.
Departure for Milford Sound fjord passing through Lake Wakatipu, the town of Te Anau and the Fiordland National Park. Upon arrival in Milford, enjoy a splendid cruise in the fjord until reaching the Tasman Sea. Return to Queenstown by bus. There is also the possibility of returning to the city with an exciting scenic flight (additional cost; to be booked on-site with the local guide, subject to weather conditions). Lunch during the visit.
Accommodation Millennium Queenstown.
PLEASE NOTE:
In case of bad weather, the excursion to Milford Sound may be cancelled. Alternatively, an excursion to Doubtful Sound can be arranged (the price difference is paid on-site), but only if there are available spots. Therefore, the alternative is not guaranteed.
Giorno 8 — Queenstown
American breakfast. Queenstown is the home of extreme sports: bungee jumping was born here, and thrilling tours along rivers on high-speed boats are organized here. You will find countless opportunities for rafting, paragliding, and any other sport, including less demanding ones like trekking, mountain biking, and skiing. The landscape is enchanting, nestled in a valley and overlooking the eponymous lake. Queenstown is the most cosmopolitan city in the South, with restaurants, shops, and pubs open until late at night.
In the morning visit to Queenstown. The guide will give you the ticket for the Skyline gondola that you can use at your leisure during the day. From the top of Bob's Peak, you can admire a spectacular panoramic view of Queenstown and its surroundings. afternoon available.
Accommodation Millennium Queenstown.
Giorno 9 — Queenstown
American breakfast. Free day.
Accommodation Millennium Queenstown.
Giorno 10 — Queenstown
American breakfast. Check-out in the morning. Airport transfer.
Price includes
- Local companion/guide in Spanish during the bus tour
- Entrances, visits and excursions as per the itinerary
- Accommodation at the scheduled hotel (or similar)
- Meals: 9 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
Price does not include
- Opening fee and Zero Risk coverage
- Medical-luggage-cancellation insurance
- Unmentioned meals, beverages and extras in general
- Tip
- Flights and airport taxes
- Everything not expressly mentioned in "The fee includes"
Notes
LUGGAGE: A medium-sized luggage (max 23 kg) per person is allowed. Due to space constraints, we cannot guarantee extra luggage on the bus.
Triple rooms: it is important to consider that the third bed may be of lower quality compared to the existing beds. Especially during the Southern Cross tour, there are cases where the third bed is a folding bed and therefore potentially less comfortable. It is essential to take this into account when booking the tour. During the trip, it will not be possible to request a room change or a refund for this reason.
DISABLED: passengers with various types of disabilities can participate as long as they are self-sufficient. In fact, the means of transportation are not equipped with ramps to facilitate boarding and disembarking, and for insurance and safety reasons, neither the driver nor the conductor are authorized to assist passengers. Therefore, the presence of a travel companion who can provide all the necessary assistance is mandatory. Any wheelchairs must be of standard size, foldable, and must fit in the luggage compartment (general information subject to the rules and acceptance of the local service provider). Reservations are always upon request.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Participants must ensure before departure that they have the necessary and valid documentation for entry into the countries visited during the tour.
MINIMUM AGE: 2 years old.
SMOKING: smoking is not allowed on buses and in hotels.
HOTEL, CHECK-IN: as a rule, rooms are assigned starting from 2-3 pm; any early check-in is at the hotel's discretion. The request for a guaranteed early assignment requires booking an extra night prior to arrival.
HOTEL, CHECK-OUT: The room must be vacated in the morning, by the time indicated by the hotel; the surcharge for late check-out is equal to an extra night.
HOTEL FINAL LIST: indicated in the travel documents.
HOTEL / ITINERARY, CHANGES: The organizing company reserves the right to modify the itinerary and/or the planned accommodations if required by unforeseen circumstances and if necessary for the safety and smooth continuation of the trip.
INTOLERANCES AND SPECIAL DIETARY REGIMES: food intolerances (allergies, celiac disease, etc.) and special dietary regimes (vegan, etc.) must be communicated at the time of booking. Special menus or treatments are not provided or guaranteed, but we will do our best to accommodate the needs of participants. Notifications made after arrival will not be taken into consideration.
MEALS: not included unless specified.
PUNCTUALITY: we recommend respecting the scheduled times. No refunds are provided for services missed due to customer delays.
REFUNDS: There are no refunds for parts of the tour or excursions not carried out due to force majeure; in any case, no refund is due to the customer who decides to interrupt the trip or stay.
TRANSFERS: transfers on arrival/departure are always included only on the specific start/end days of the tour, regardless of the flight. The transfer will be either individual or shared, in case there are other participants on the same flight. The Italian-speaking guide may not necessarily be the same one accompanying the participants during the tour. In case of arrival/departure on different days from the start/end of the tour, an additional fee must be paid for the transfer, with the option to choose between an Italian or English-speaking driver.
Cancellation policies
- BY WAY OF DEROGATION FROM THE GENERAL CONTRACT: from 29 to 15 days 25%, from 14-8 days 50%, within 7 days 100%
- Domestic flights booked through the local agent carry a 100% penalty from 50 days before departure
- The balance of the tour is required 30 days before departure.
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