Epic New Zealand

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From north to south, New Zealand unfolds like a story told on a grand stage. Sail through fiords carved by glaciers, see snow-capped peaks stretching into the distance, and wander forests shaded by towering ferns. Here, adventure means wide-open skies, thundering waterfalls, and starry nights that make you feel small in the best way. Listen to the roar of the haka and the tales of the proud Māori people. Savour the smoky flavour of a traditional hāngī, sip world-famous Sauvignon Blanc, and sample fresh seafood by the Kaikōura shore. Breathe in the crisp scent of alpine pines and wild lupins in bloom. Feel the warmth of geothermal pools, the chill of glacial lakes at Mount Cook, and the spray of waterfalls in Fiordland. Each day builds on the last, a chapter bigger and wilder than before. This isn’t just another tour — this is New Zealand, and it’s epic.

Departure Dates

All20262027

AllSpringFall

Include sold out

Dates	Availability	Book now
Nov 03 - Nov 21, 2026	2x singles Doubles available	Book this tour
Nov 17 - Dec 05, 2026	1x single Doubles available	Book this tour
Feb 23 - Mar 13, 2027	Single: waitlist Doubles available	Book this tour
Mar 02 - Mar 20, 2027	Single: waitlist Doubles available	Book this tour
Mar 09 - Mar 27, 2027	Single: waitlist Doubles available	Book this tour
Mar 16 - Apr 03, 2027		Book this tour
Mar 23 - Apr 10, 2027		Book this tour

The Details

19 days

All-inclusive

$18,495CAD

Per person in double occupancy

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Save $100 when you purchase an Approach Tours e-gift card (Pay $500 and get $600).
Call 1-866-351-9545 for more details.

Difficulty Rating:

High(details)

Max Group Size: 30 travellers

Single supplement: $2,500

Spring 2027 supplement: +$500

Land Only: save $2,000

Deposit Terms:
$500 per person at time of booking
$1,000 per person 45 days later
Balance due 90 days before departure

Our approach perks

Private car service to and from your home airport

International flights and transportation while abroad

Meals and excursions that are typically sold separately

Tips for all service providers

24/7 Group Guru (in addition to tour guide and local guides)

$5 million of emergency medical travel insurance coverage, as well as protection for lost, damaged or stolen luggage

All taxes at home and abroad (including airport and hotel taxes)

Total PERKS value: $5,548

This tour also includes

Tour essentials

International flights with Air New Zealand and 2 regional flights (details)

16 nights in first class hotels

Dedicated English-speaking tour guide and local guides

Carefully selected visits, with entrance fees

Luxury coach bus transfers and luggage porterage throughout

Food & drink

All 47 meals, including: 16 breakfasts, 15 lunches and 16 dinners

Farewell dinner (included in meal count)

Welcome cocktail

2 lunches at wineries including tastings (included in meal count)

Traditional hāngī feast (included in meal count)

Bottled water daily (2 x 500ml)

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Bring a Friend & Both Save

If you refer someone, and they book any Approach tour by 5pm EST December 23^rd you get a $250 travel credit (like always), and they will also get $250 off their first Approach tour.

Credits are unlimited, so bring your friends!

BRING A FRIEND

This tour’s itinerary

Overview

Detailed View

DAYS 1-3 GOODBYE CANADA, KIA ORA AUCKLAND!

Enjoy a private car ride to the airport and fly to Auckland. It’s a long way to Auckland, but don’t worry, in-flight entertainment helps time fly by! Upon your arrival, meet your Group Guru and fellow travellers before our luxury coach brings you to your hotel. Settle in, take a nice long shower, and enjoy a restful night. Overnight in Auckland. (D)

DAY 4 ALLURING AUCKLAND & MĀORI CULTURE

Begin your adventure in a big way by learning the haka and poi during a Māori cultural performance and workshop at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Continue to Parnell, the city’s oldest suburb, for a walking tour before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant. Drive through Auckland’s neighbourhoods on your way to Mount Eden for panoramic views from the crater rim. Enjoy a welcome cocktail before dinner. Overnight in Auckland. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 5 HOBBITON & ROTORUA RELAXATION (228 KM)

Travel through rolling farmland and volcanic landscapes on your way to Rotorua. Take in a guided tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set, exploring the lush farmland made famous by The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Following lunch, arrive in Rotorua and enjoy free time in this lakeside retreat town. Overnight in Rotorua. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 6 ROTORUA: GEOTHERMAL & MĀORI CULTURE

Explore Te Puia’s steaming valleys of geysers, mud pools, and hot springs before visiting the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute to see traditional carving and weaving in action. Visit the kiwi enclosure for a glimpse of New Zealand’s shy national bird. Following lunch, enjoy free time in Rotorua. In the evening, take part in the Mitai Māori Cultural Experience with a powerful haka and poi performance, a traditional hāngī feast, and a glowworm walk along a sacred stream. Overnight in Rotorua. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 7 LAKE TAUPŌ CRUISE

Travel through forest and volcanic landscapes to Lake Taupō, New Zealand’s largest lake. Cruise across its waters to see the impressive Māori rock carvings at Mine Bay. Following lunch, return to Rotorua for free time and dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Rotorua. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 8 WELLINGTON: STORIES BY THE SEA (FLIGHT)

This morning, fly to New Zealand’s capital and enjoy a panoramic tour before checking in at your hotel. Guided tour of the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum to discover fascinating exhibits on natural history, Māori heritage, and art. Following lunch, stroll along the waterfront to Te Wharewaka o Pōneke before settling in for a cultural presentation and storytelling session. Watch the stories you’ve just learned come to life during a waka paddling experience on the peaceful harbour. Overnight in Wellington. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 9 WELLINGTON BY CABLE CAR

Ride Wellington’s iconic Cable Car from Lambton Quay up to Kelburn for sweeping views of the city and harbour. Visit the Cable Car Museum or wander through the nearby Botanic Garden before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon is at your leisure to explore more of the capital before dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Wellington. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 10 MARLBOROUGH VINEYARDS & KAIKŌURA (FLIGHT)

Fly to Blenheim and head straight to a celebrated winery in the heart of Sauvignon Blanc country for a vineyard lunch paired with local wine. Continue south along the Pacific Coast Highway to Kaikōura, where ocean views and mountain backdrops line the road, with chances to spot fur seals basking on the rocks. Arrive mid-afternoon for free time before dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Kaikōura. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 11 WHALE WATCHING & CHRISTCHURCH (181 KM)

Set out on a whale watching cruise off the coast of Kaikōura, with the chance to see sperm whales, dolphins, and fur seals against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks. After lunch, travel south along the Pacific Coast Highway to Christchurch. On arrival, step aboard a heritage tram for a narrated tour of the city centre, passing sights like the Transitional Cathedral and New Regent Street. Overnight in Christchurch. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 12 GARDENS, MARKETS & THE AVON RIVER

Begin the day in the Botanic Gardens, a serene haven of towering trees and colourful blooms. Visit Quake City, an exhibition sharing the stories of Christchurch’s 2011 earthquake and the city’s resilience. Explore Riverside Market, filled with local food, crafts, and regional flavours, then follow the urban art trail, where murals and installations brighten the cityscape. End the day with a punting ride on the Avon River, drifting past leafy banks and historic landmarks. Overnight in Christchurch. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 13 LAKE TEKAPO & DARK SKY STARGAZING (227 KM)

Travel through the wide-open landscapes of the Mackenzie Basin on your way to Lake Tekapo, famous for its turquoise waters and dramatic mountain backdrop. Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd, a stone chapel perched on the lake’s edge. This evening, with a warm drink in hand, look skyward. The Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve offers some of the clearest stargazing on earth, where the Milky Way stretches brightly overhead. Overnight in Lake Tekapo. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 14 MOUNT COOK & ALPINE SCENERY

Take a day trip to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, travelling through breathtaking alpine landscapes. Stroll part of the Hooker Valley Track, crossing swing bridges with views of glaciers and New Zealand’s highest peak. Visit the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, a museum celebrating the legendary mountaineer and the region’s climbing history, before sitting down for lunch at a lakeside retreat overlooking the Southern Alps. Return to Tekapo in the afternoon for free time at your leisure. Overnight in Lake Tekapo. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 15 EN ROUTE TO QUEENSTOWN (198 KM)

Journey through the Mackenzie Basin and over the dramatic Lindis Pass, where golden tussock plains meet alpine peaks. Pause in the lakeside town of Wānaka to see the famous lone willow, “That Wānaka Tree,” and enjoy time along the waterfront. Continue over the Crown Range Road, New Zealand’s highest sealed highway with sweeping views, before descending into Queenstown, the adventure capital of the country. Overnight in Queenstown. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 16 ICONS OF QUEENSTOWN

Start the day with a gondola ride to Bob’s Peak for sweeping views over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu. Cruise aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm, where you’ll tour the grounds and enjoy a lakeside lunch. Back in Queenstown, browse artisan markets or simply relax by the waterfront as live music drifts through the evening air. Overnight in Queenstown. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 17 MIGHTY MILFORD SOUND

Travel deep into Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of soaring peaks and glacier-carved valleys. Board a luxury catamaran to cruise Milford Sound, often called the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” Glide past sheer granite cliffs, rainforest-draped slopes, and waterfalls plunging into the dark waters below, with the chance to spot seals, dolphins, and penguins along the way. Return to Queenstown in the evening. Overnight in Queenstown. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 18 QUEENSTOWN VINES & VIEWS

Spend a leisurely morning in Queenstown before visiting a winery set among rugged peaks and vine-clad hills, to sample the region’s celebrated Pinot Noir over a vineyard lunch. Return to Queenstown for free time to pick up that last souvenir before gathering in the evening for a festive farewell dinner with local entertainment—an unforgettable way to close your New Zealand adventure. Overnight in Queenstown. (B,L,D) View image gallery

DAY 19 HOME SWEET HOME

Fly from Queenstown to Canada, with a same day arrival. Your driver will meet you at the airport to help you with your luggage and drive you home. (B)

View the full itinerary

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