Travel the length of New Zealand’s two islands, experiencing a spectacular range of landscapes and natural wonders, sampling wines and encountering wildlife, and discovering the many facets of Kiwi culture—from the traditions of the Maori to the flourishing creativity of its urban centers.

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Starting at: $7,874 * Includes airfare, taxes & all fees Make a Reservation Ask Us A Question or Call 855-330-1542

Journey Through New Zealand

From Auckland to Queenstown

16 days from $7,874 | includes airfare, taxes and all fees

departure passengers

or Call 855-330-1542

Tour Details

JOURNEYS DISPATCHES

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Accommodations

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Grand Millennium Auckland

Auckland, New Zealand

The Grand Millennium Auckland sits in the heart of Auckland’s central business district, just a few blocks from Waitemata Harbour and a few minutes’ walk to the High Street shopping district and SkyCity casino. The bright, contemporary hotel features a soaring, light-filled lobby area, two restaurants and a bar; fitness center with indoor pool, steam room, and gym; complimentary Wi-Fi internet access; and laundry and dry cleaning services (for a fee). Air-conditioned guest rooms have private bath with hair dryer, coffee- and tea-making facilities, minibar, TV, and phone.

Number of nights: 2

Millennium Hotel Rotorua

Rotorua, New Zealand

Located just steps from Lake Rotorua and a short walk from the city center, the Millennium Hotel Rotorua offers an ideal home base from which to explore this vibrant small city. Amenities of this 227-room hotel include a restaurant, bar, pool, fitness center, spa, laundry and dry cleaning service (for a fee), and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access. Air-conditioned guest rooms feature private bath with hair dryer, coffee- and tea-making facilities, minibar, TV, and phone.

Number of nights: 2

Scenic Hotel Te Pania

Napier, New Zealand

Hawkes Bay is one of the first places in the world to see the light each day, and Scenic Hotel Te Pania in Napier enjoys a premium waterfront location on Marine Parade. The hotel's slender curved form echoes the shape of the bay, and guests enjoy sweeping views out over the water. A fresh, contemporary style hotel, Scenic Hotel Te Pania is just a short stroll from Napier's main art deco style street.

Number of nights: 1

Grand Mercure Wellington

Wellington, New Zealand

Conveniently located in New Zealand’s capital city, the Grand Mercure Wellington stands just a few blocks from the shops and restaurants of the bohemian Cuba Quarter. Hotel amenities include a restaurant with an open kitchen, bar, swimming pool, sauna, gym, laundry facilities (for a fee), weekday dry-cleaning services (for a fee), and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access. Each of the 114 air-conditioned guest rooms has private bath with hair dryer, in-room safe, ironing facilities, TV, phone, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and minibar.

Number of nights: 2

Rydges Latimer Square

Christchurch, New Zealand

The Rydges Latimer Christchurch sits directly adjacent to Christchurch’s central Latimer Square. Amenities of the 138-room hotel include a restaurant and bar/lounge, laundry and dry cleaning service (for a fee), fitness center, and sauna. Air-conditioned guest rooms have private bath with hair dryer, complimentary Wi-Fi internet access, in-room safe, tea- and coffee-making facilities, minibar, ironing facilities, TV, and phone.

Number of nights: 1

Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand

Situated on the edge of Westland Tai Poutini National Park, Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier is located just a few minutes from the glacier from which it takes its name. Hotel amenities include a restaurant, bar, self-serve laundry (for a fee), full spa with massage services (for a fee, located a two-minute walk from the hotel), hot tub, and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access. Guest rooms have private bath with hair dryer, tea- and coffee-making facilities, TV, and phone.

Number of nights: 2

The Millennium Hotel Queenstown

Queenstown, New Zealand

The Millennium Hotel Queenstown sits on a hill in Queenstown, just minutes away from the town’s central shopping district. Amenities include a restaurant, bar, fitness center, sauna, spa, and WiFi internet access (for a fee). Each of the 220 air-conditioned guest rooms has private bath with hair dryer, minibar, safe, tea- and coffee-making facilities, TV, and phone.

Number of nights: 3

Activity Level

Activity Level 3: Moderate / Active

Expectations: This Classic Land Journey will feature long touring days, many full-day excursions, and a full and active itinerary with a faster pace and longer distances. Some tours may have activities with higher intensity and more active choices/options. Excursions require standing and walking for extended periods of time, sometimes over difficult terrain (cobblestones, city hills, stairs without handrails, limited or no access to elevators, muddy/slippery walking/hiking trails), and walking to city centers where coaches are prohibited. Specific excursions may feature hiking, use of local transportation including trains, internal flights, motorcoaches, and boats, extended overnight train travel. Some days may require early morning departures and later evening returns. Travelers may be in remote and/or rugged regions and may be touring at higher altitudes with steep ascents/descents. There are several afternoons at leisure as well as a full free day in Queenstown. More active options are possible on some excursions (such as moderate hiking, swimming, snorkeling, canoeing, bicycling, rafting, or kayaking), though another choice may be offered for an alternate skill level.

Appropriate for: Travelers who are physically fit, lead active lives, are comfortable participating in long days of activities, and expect some physical exertion.

Reading List

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Highly Recommended

Come On Shore and We Will Kill and Eat You All: A New Zealand Story

By: Thompson, Christina

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New Zealand Wildlife: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Animals (A Pocket Naturalist Guide)

By: James Kavanagh, Waterford Press

The unique, dinosaur-like, tuatara is one of thousands of species of animals inhabiting the diverse ecosystems found throughout New Zealand, many endemic to the islands. This beautifully illustrated guide highlights over 140 familiar and unique species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes and butterflies/insects and includes a map featuring prominent wildlife-viewing areas. Laminated for durability, this lightweight, pocket-sized folding guide is an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by visitors and residents alike. Made in the USA.

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DK Eyewitness New Zealand (Travel Guide)

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New Zealand - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

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Beginner's Maori (Beginner's (Foreign Language))

By: K. T. Harawira

The Beginner's Series is designed to meet the bilingual needs of the traveling businessperson, tourist, and student. These language lessons cover such common situations as: passing through customs, checking into a hotel, placing phone calls, going to the post office, and extending and accepting invitations. First learn about the country's history and culture, acquaint yourself with social customs, restaurant practices, and transportation systems. Then learn basic language skills, including vocabulary, grammar, and useful phrases that will have you communicating with natives and moving about feeely. Clear, easy to use, and insightful, the Beginner's Series will introduce you to the languages of the world.

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Fairness and Freedom: A History of Two Open Societies: New Zealand and the United States

By: David Hackett Fischer

Fairness and Freedom compares the history of two open societies--New Zealand and the United States--with much in common. Both have democratic polities, mixed-enterprise economies, individuated societies, pluralist cultures, and a deep concern for human rights and the rule of law. But all of these elements take different forms, because constellations of value are far apart. The dream of living free is America's Polaris; fairness and natural justice are New Zealand's Southern Cross. Fischer asks why these similar countries went different ways. Both were founded by English-speaking colonists, but at different times and with disparate purposes. They lived in the first and second British Empires, which operated in very different ways. Indians and Maori were important agents of change, but to different ends. On the American frontier and in New Zealand's Bush, material possibilities and moral choices were not the same. Fischer takes the same comparative approach to parallel processes of nation-building and immigration, women's rights and racial wrongs, reform causes and conservative responses, war-fighting and peace-making, and global engagement in our own time--with similar results. On another level, this book expands Fischer's past work on liberty and freedom. It is the first book to be published on the history of fairness. And it also poses new questions in the old tradition of history and moral philosophy. Is it possible to be both fair and free? In a vast array of evidence, Fischer finds that the strengths of these great values are needed to correct their weaknesses. As many societies seek to become more open--never twice in the same way, an understanding of our differences is the only path to peace.

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Maori Tattooing (Dover Pictorial Archives)

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A River Rules My Kitchen

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Slipping into Paradise: Why I Live in New Zealand

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Travel Insurance

For the convenience of our travelers, Travel Guard provides an on-tour Insurance Plan. On-tour emergency evacuation insurance (up to $100,000), medical expense coverage (up to $25,000), dental expense coverage (up to $500), travel medical assistance and worldwide travel assistance (U.S. Residents only). It also includes up to $25,000 medical and up to $500 dental expense coverage, and 24-hour worldwide travel and medical assistance. Please click here to view complete coverage details.

Please visit www.TravelGuard.com/SmithsonianJourneys or call Travel Guard at 1-800-208-6142 to learn about additional (optional) coverage.