New Zealand

Book with us by 31st March 2021 for travel by 31st December 2022 and we’ll give you the flexibility to change your plans for free.

New Zealand has the kind of scenery that demands a standing ovation — and it’s all in such close proximity. Our specialists are passionate about helping you get out to explore it all. There are Milford Sound’s arrow-headed peaks, and stretches of sand so vast they earn outlandish names (‘Ninety Mile Beach’). Caves spangle with glow-worms like a million fairy lights. Stratovolcanoes rise above grassy plains. Ice fields career down almost to the edge of the Tasman Sea. And that’s just for starters.

Whether you’re keen to explore on foot or by car, bicycle or even helicopter (or a combination of them all), our specialists can help. They’ll devise a New Zealand holiday that allows you to take in the major destinations, as well as more out-of-the-way spots or lesser-known activities. They can recommend everything from the best Maori guides to the best places for viewing New Zealand’s unique panoply of birdlife.

New Zealand in pictures

Hiking on the great white tongue of the Tasman Glacier. Cruising Milford Sound, keeping watch for dolphins. Spotting whales breaching in Kaikoura. On a tailor-made holiday, we won’t just show you the popular places to visit in New Zealand. Our specialists, leaning on their experiences of travelling and living in the country, will help you decide on the places that speak most to you.

Hear Maori prayers sung by twilight in the sacred kauri forests of Northland. Boat through caverns spangled with glow worms in Te Anau. Go behind the scenes at a kiwi sanctuary in Rotorua, and, if you’re lucky, meet the latest batch of hatchlings. Chink glasses of biodynamic wine and linger over cheese platters at family-owned vineyards in Blenheim or Hawke’s Bay. Traverse the snowy shanks of the Southern Alps by train.

Tongariro’s volcanoes and fumaroles. The Coromandel Peninsula’s beaches, where hot water naturally burbles up through the sand. The bosky island nature reserves of Lake Wanaka. Travel at your own pace, in your own style, with the confidence that we’ll show you the best places to visit in New Zealand.

Popular places to visit in New Zealand

Featuring heavily on our itinerary ideas for visiting New Zealand, these places are destinations that we know prove consistently popular with our travellers. How you choose to include them in your trip can be tailored into a route that best suits your preferences.

Auckland
Christchurch
Rotorua
Doubtful Sound
Dunedin
Kaikoura
Marlborough Sounds
Wellington
Milford Sound
Queenstown

New Zealand is known for its magnificent landscapes and outdoor pursuits and although its cities offer plenty to see and do, its soul belongs to the wilderness. A cruise around Milford and Doubtful Sounds allows you to enjoy peaceful Fiordland from the water, while in Kaikoura we suggest one of the award-winning whale watching tours. Discover New Zealand’s geothermal activity in Rotorua, which is also a great place to immerse yourself in Maori culture at the Mitai Maori Night.

If you're seeking more action, try an exhilarating jet boat trip along the Dart River in Queenstown, the self-proclaimed ‘adventure capital of the world’, where numerous adrenaline-fuelled experiences are on offer.

Ideas for experiencing New Zealand

Experiences you have as you travel often hold the longest memories. As part of their research trips, our specialists seek out authentic ways to get to know New Zealand, and the best local guides. These activities reflect some of their best-loved experiences.

Milford Sound Overnight Cruise

Milford Sound Overnight Cruise

Milford Sound

Milford Sound Overnight Cruise

Spending a night on board the Milford Mariner is by far the best way to experience the splendour of the majestic Fiordland scenery. Arriving just as the busy day-trip schedule draws to a close, you are treated to a much more serene experience.

The boat will visit hanging valleys, dramatic waterfalls, penguin and seal haunts, and you can sit back and enjoy the scenery whilst watching out for dolphins and orca. The onboard naturalist will give those that are interested a running commentary and when the conditions allow the sails will be unfurled for gentle motor-sailing.
Auckland Highlights Tour

Auckland Highlights Tour

Auckland

Auckland Highlights Tour

Auckland is affectionately known as the 'City of Sails' and is located on a unique narrow strip of land rich in natural, Maori and European history. It is flanked by both the western and eastern coastal shorelines; with only 800 metres between them at the narrowest point.

This tour is the perfect introduction to the city as you visit several points of cultural and scenic interest; including Mount Eden with its amazing 360 degree views of the city and the city's oldest park, Auckland Domain.
The Siberia Experience

The Siberia Experience

Lake Wanaka

The Siberia Experience

The Siberia Experience offers you a selection of New Zealand's best adventurous activities all in one day.

You begin with a short light aircraft flight from Makarora, which provides you with stunning views of Mount Aspiring National Park and its awesome peaks before you land in the Siberia Valley.
Whale Watching

Whale Watching

Kaikoura

Whale Watching

The local company we use who operate these boats which head out to see the whales as they come up for air, has been running trips for over 20 years and has won many awards in that time. The whole experience is not just exhilarating, but also highly educational and focused on the preservation of the marine environment.
Glacier Boat Cruise

Glacier Boat Cruise

Mount Cook National Park

Glacier Boat Cruise

This three-hour tour of Lake Tasman, and the front edge of New Zealand's largest glacier, is a unique opportunity to learn about this incredible remnant of the Ice Age. A minibus will collect you from your hotel for the drive out close to the shore, from where a guided half-hour walk introduces you to the fascinating geography and geology of the alpine massif, en route to the power boat launch site.
Sea Kayaking

Sea Kayaking

Marlborough Sounds

Sea Kayaking

This one day sea kayaking adventure takes groups of no more than eight paddlers out toward the southern end of the Queen Charlotte Sound. You and your guide will paddle to secluded coves and sheltered beaches while also learning about the wildlife and history of the Sounds.
Auckland City Taste Walking Tour

Auckland City Taste Walking Tour

Auckland

Auckland City Taste Walking Tour

Indulge in a culinary exploration as you visit two of the city's most vibrant foodie locations: Britomart and the viaduct Harbour. Surrounded by beautiful heritage buildings, Britomart is a neighbourhood of eclectic cafés, restaurants, cool bars and a fantastic city farmers' market.
Te Anau Glow Worm Caves

Te Anau Glow Worm Caves

Te Anau & Manapouri

Te Anau Glow Worm Caves

From Te Anau you will cruise across Lake Te Anau to the glow worm caves where you travel by small boat and walkways in small groups through cathedral-like caves with waterfalls, whirlpools and beautiful rock formations before drifting through the 'glow worm grotto': an unforgettable experience. The Te Anau glow worm caves are still relatively undiscovered and are among the most beautiful in New Zealand.
Swimming with Dolphins

Swimming with Dolphins

Paihia

Swimming with Dolphins

This four hour trip departs from Paihia and Russell in the morning or afternoon on a jet-powered catamaran from which you will meet one of nature's most charming creatures in the warm waters of the Bay of Islands.