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New Zealand: Untamed...
 

New Zealand: Untamed Landscapes

16 days |  19 days with Fiji extension
16 days |  19 days with Fiji extension
Group size1222 travelers
Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars

91
Physical activity
a person walking along a boardwalk with mountains in the distance in new zealand
glasses of wine being clinked together
a maori wood carving from new zealand
waters of milford sound with cliffs and blue sky
OverviewItineraryDates & pricesReviewsTraveler photosHotels, flights & FAQ
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Discover the splendidly diverse country of New Zealand.

This island nation is known for its stunningly varied range of natural landscapes; you’ll understand why when you cruise through the fjords of Milford Sound or ascend the peaks of the Southern Alps. Amid these spectacular untamed settings, you’ll get a taste of the welcoming Kiwi culture on this small group Adventure Tour.

Your tour package includes

  • 13 nights in handpicked hotels
  • 13 breakfasts
  • 1 lunch
  • 5 dinners with beer or wine
  • 1 wine tasting
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Included highlights

  • Milford Sound
  • Waiho River walk
  • Kiwi home-hosted dinner
  • Abel Tasman National Park
  • Marlborough wine tasting
Read more
Start planning today

An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.

Talk to a Tour Consultant

Day-by-day itinerary

Print itinerary
Overnight Flight2 nights
Day 1: Travel day

Cross the International Date Line in flight and “lose” a day.

Day 2: Travel day

Your flight continues to New Zealand.

Queenstown3 nights
Day 3: Arrival in Queenstown
Included meal: Welcome dinner

Welcome to New Zealand! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.

Day 4: Milford Sound
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Head out to explore the breathtaking Milford Sound in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park, home to some of the most memorable scenery in the world.

  • Travel through the Five Rivers farming region and past Lake Te’Anau
  • Pass through beautiful beech forests and stop at the glittering Mirror Lakes
  • Enjoy an included lunch as you cruise around Milfod Sound, in view of Mitre Peak
  • See the temperate rainforest and waterfalls that line the shores of the picturesque sound
  • Try to spot dolphins, penguins, seals, and whales (seasonal)
Day 5: Free day in Queenstown
Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a free day in Queenstown or add excursions.

Queenstown Kiwi Wildlife Park

From $69 per person

Walter Peak: Lake Cruise & Dinner

From $129 per person

Franz Josef Glacier1 night
Day 6: Transfer to Franz Josef Glacier
Included meal: Breakfast

Enjoy a scenic drive through the island’s Southern Alps to Franz Josef Glacier, stopping at Lake Hawea, Lake Wānaka, Knight’s Point, and Thunder Creek Falls along the way.

Please note: On some departures, you may stay overnight in Fox Glacier.

West Coast Region1 night
Day 7: Waiho River walk & transfer to the West Coast Region
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, join a local guide for a hike along the Waiho River in the Franz Josef Glacier valley.

  • Walk alongside the Waiho River bed, which is fed by the melting snow and ice from Franz Josef Glacier
  • Admire the snowcapped glacier and verdant landscape within the valley
  • Learn about the glacier’s history and how it got the name Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere in Māori culture

Enjoy a free late-morning at Franz Josef Glacier or add an excursion.

Please note: This excursion is weather-dependent and may be offered on day 6.

Then, transfer down the scenic west coast of the South Island. After settling in to your hotel, gather together for an included dinner.

Franz Josef Glacier Helicopter Ride

From $235 per person

Abel Tasman Region2 nights
Day 8: Abel Tasman Region via Punakaiki
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Leave Hokitika behind as you set out for your eco-hotel in the Abel Tasman region, making scenic stops en route.

  • Join your Tour Director for a walk along a trail to the distinctive “pancake” rocks in Punakaiki
  • Learn how salt water and wind have weathered the limestone as you admire views of the coastline and mountains
  • View natural forming blowholes and caves formed by sea erosion
  • Pass through the dramatic Buller Gorge before arriving in the Abel Tasman region

Sit down for an included dinner this evening with your group.

Day 9: Abel Tasman National Park & cruise
Included meal: Breakfast

Head out to explore Abel Tasman National Park with your Tour Director.

  • Journey by boat through the South Island’s pristine coves and turquoise waters
  • Visit breathtaking Kaiteriteri Beach
  • Enjoy free time to explore the national park

Please note: For an additional cost, you can book hiking, paddle boarding, and kayaking activities through your Tour Director.

Spend free time in the Abel Tasman region or add an excursion.

Waka Tour: Traditional Māori Canoe Adventure

From $109 per person

Wellington2 nights
Day 10: Wellington via Marlborough
Included meals: Breakfast, Wine tasting

On your way to Wellington, stop for a wine tasting in Marlborough.

  • Sip four of the region’s signature wines, including its renowned sauvignon blanc
  • Enjoy some light snacks like bread, cheese, olives, caviar, and cured meats

Then, board a ferry in Picton for a scenic cruise across the Cook Strait to the city of Wellington on the North Island.

Day 11: Sightseeing tour of Wellington
Included meal: Breakfast

Get to know Wellington, the southernmost capital city of any sovereign state, on a guided tour led by your Tour Director.

  • Take in views of the city from Mount Victoria
  • Walk along the Wellington waterfront
  • Explore the interactive exhibitions at Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand’s national museum, on a self-guided tour

Please note: The sightseeing tour of Wellington may move to day 10 on some departures.

Rotorua2 nights
Day 12: Transfer to Rotorua
Included meal: Breakfast

Head to Rotorua, which is located in the heart of the North Island’s Māori country. Make photo stop along the way at Lake Taupo and Tongariro National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Day 13: Sightseeing tour of the Rotorua Region & traditional Māori village dinner
Included meals: Breakfast, Tasting, Dinner

Set off on a sightseeing tour of the Rotorua region today.

  • Visit the village of Whakarewarewa, which is home to thermal springs and bubbling hot pools
  • Join a local Whakarewarewa guide to learn about the lifestyle and traditions of the Māori people, who live in harmony with nature in the village
  • Try some traditional sweet corn, which is cooked in geothermal hot pools
  • Visit Rotorua’s Government Gardens, a public park and site of great historical importance to the local Māori people

Tonight, make your way to a traditional Māori village for a private home-hosted dinner experience.

  • Begin the evening with a whakatau, or welcome ceremony, by men and women of the village
  • Enjoy a delicious dinner featuring regional specialties cooked using the area’s geothermal steam
  • Take time to get to know the villagers daily life, culture, architecture, aspirations, and so much more during cultural discussion after dinner

Please note: Travelers will need to remove their shoes during the Māori village visit.

Auckland2 nights
Day 14: Auckland via Waitomo
Included meal: Breakfast

En route to Auckland, stop at Waitomo Caves to try your hand at spelunking. Then, take a subterranean cruise to view the remarkable Glowworm Grotto on a guided tour.

Later, take a walk along Auckland Harbour with your Tour Director.

Please note: For an additional cost, you can book a dinner at the Sky Tower through your Tour Director.

Day 15: Free day in Auckland
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner

Enjoy a free day in Auckland or add an excursion.

This evening, celebrate your trip with your fellow travelers at a farewell dinner.

A Day on Waiheke Island: Olive Oil & Wine Tasting

From $145 per person

Flight Home
Day 16: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your stay to explore Fiji.

Extension to Fiji
Fly to Fiji to continue your trip and discover what makes the island the definition of paradise. It definitely has something to do with all those palm trees and totally perfect beaches, which you’ll have plenty of time to get familiar with.
Fiji3 nights
Day 16: Arrival in Fiji
Included meal: Breakfast

Fly to Nadi, Fiji, and transfer to your seaside hotel.

Day 17: Sightseeing tour of Nadi Market & Viseisei Village
Included meal: Breakfast

Get to know Fiji’s indigenous culture and traditions today.

  • Walk through the fruit and vegetable stalls at Nadi Market with your Tour Director
  • Set off to Viseisei Village, one of the oldest settlements in Fiji
  • Taste kava, a ceremonial beverage, during a traditional welcome ritual
  • Take a walking tour of the village
  • Learn to collect, husk, and extract milk from coconuts during a hands-on demonstration
  • Finish your day with a farewell drink before you return to your hotel
Day 17: Free day in Fiji
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner

Enjoy a free day in Fiji or add an excursion.

This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.

A Day on Tivua Island: Sailing & Snorkeling

From $145 per person

Flight Home
Day 19: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Spend the afternoon relaxing in a dayroom, then transfer to the airport for your flight home.

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Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars

Overall rating 4.6 out of 5

Based on 91 authentic traveler reviews
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    5 out of 5 stars

    Untamed New Zealand and Fiji Extension
    2/15/24 by 3rd-time traveler Doreen

    This “untamed” tour was a great way to see both New Zealand islands and Fiji. Our guides and bus drivers were extremely knowledgeable and very proud of the Māori history and way of life. I would not hesitate to recommend this trip to anyone!

    EF Go Ahead Tours replied on 3/7/24

    Hi Doreen, Thank you so much for sharing your exp...

    Read more +

    5 out of 5 stars

    Best way to see New Zealand
    2/15/24 by 3rd-time traveler Tina

    NZ beyond stunning. All travel details taken care without a hitch. Long bus rides, but we covered a lot of ground. Extra side trips to Huka Falls and Mrs Jones Fruits was great. Best of all, tho, was our fabulous guide, Tania. She is the best ever and we travel a lot. We learned so much about ...

    Read more +

    2 out of 5 stars

    Disappointed
    2/1/24 by 3rd-time traveler Anonymous

    Tour director always kept us guessing: where’s the bus going to be?, what exactly are we doing tomorrow?, can we eat on the bus?, why did we go to see a tree growing on a post in a lake?, why can’t we ever find time for lunch?, how long will we be on the bus today? After 30 hours travel we just wa...

    Read more +
    EF Go Ahead Tours replied on 2/21/24

    Hello, We're sorry to hear about the challenges y...

    Read more +
    Show more reviews

    Traveler photos

    Hotels, flights & FAQ

    Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.

    Hotels

    We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
    Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown Lakefront
    Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown Lakefront

    This charming hotel is located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown. Guests enjoy mountain views, spacious rooms, and on-site restaurant. Near...

    Read more +
    Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
    Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier

    This spacious hotel is located in Franz Josef, New Zealand along the edge of Westland World Heritage Park. Guests enjoy the on-site restaurant, spa, a...

    Read more +
    Scenic Hotel Punakaiki
    Scenic Hotel Punakaiki

    This beachfront hotel is located in the Paparoa National Park in Punakaiki. Guests enjoy beach access, the sun terrace, and bike rentals. Nearby you'l...

    Read more +
    Kimi Ora Eco Resort
    Kimi Ora Eco Resort

    This secluded hotel is located in Kaiteriteri. Guests enjoy both indoor and outdoor pools, complimentary bikes, and game room. Nearby you’ll find the ...

    Read more +
    James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor
    James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor

    This modern hotel is located in the heart of Wellington. Guests enjoy a fitness center, spa, and free Wi-Fi. Nearby, you’ll find Parliament, Lambton Q...

    Read more +
    Millennium Hotel Rotorua
    Millennium Hotel Rotorua

    This eco-friendly hotel is located next to Lake Rotorua. Guests enjoy a heated pool, spa, and free Wi-Fi. Nearby, you’ll find geothermal parklands, Te...

    Read more +
    Rydges Auckland
    Rydges Auckland

    This vibrant hotel is located downtown. Guests enjoy an on-site coffee house, a gym, and restaurant. Nearby, you'll find Albert Park, the New Zealand ...

    Read more +
    Shangri-La Yanuca Island
    Shangri-La Yanuca Island

    This picturesque hotel is located on the private island of Yanuca in Fiji. Guests enjoy the 9-hole golf course, multiple swimming pools, and the spa. ...

    Read more +

    Flights

    Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
    Add our airfare package and you'll get:
    • Round-trip flight for your tour
    • Airport transfers at your destination
    • A great price locked in today
    • 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
    • Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
    • Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
    • Find out more about flights

    FAQ

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