Culture
The Waitomo Glowworm Caves' history and Rotorua's geothermal Māori sites.
Fourteen nights that hand the group the keys after Queenstown, with a Wanaka flight and a glacier landing built in along the way.
Four friends moving through New Zealand together get the best of both formats here , guided touring through Auckland and Rotorua's highlights, then a rental car handed over in Queenstown so the group can set its own pace for the rest of the South Island.
This is one of the New Zealand itineraries we've planned for a group of friends before , fourteen nights, fifteen days across Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown, Wanaka, Lake Tekapo, Franz Josef and Christchurch, built for four adults travelling together. It's shared here to show what a friends' trip through New Zealand could look like. A version built around your own group's size, pace, and dates would look a little different , and that's the point.
Why This Trip
January into February is New Zealand's summer, and this route uses it well , a Kaituna River rafting run, a jet-boat ride, and an optional tandem skydive for whichever member of the group wants the free-fall (one of ours did, from 15,000 feet).
The self-drive leg from Queenstown covers U-Fly Wanaka, Lake Tekapo, and a Franz Josef scenic flight over Mt. Cook, all at the group's own schedule rather than a fixed coach timing.
per adult, based on 4 adults travelling together, excluding international airfare
Tap a pin to preview each stop
Day By Day
A transfer to Swiss-Belsuites Victoria Park, followed by an evening at the Sky Tower.
A half-day guided tour through the Domain, Devonport and Mt. Victoria, with the afternoon free.
A small-group transfer through the Waikato countryside to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, arriving in Rotorua by evening.
A rafting run down the Kaituna River over Tutea Falls, then an afternoon at the Polynesian Spa's geothermal pools.
A free day around Rotorua's lakes and geothermal town.
A flight via Wellington to Queenstown, with the Skyline Gondola and luge on arrival.
A full-day coach and cruise through Fiordland, with lunch onboard.
A free morning with an optional tandem skydive over Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables , up to 15,000 feet for whoever in the group wants it.
A self-drive vehicle is picked up, with a U-Fly Wanaka scenic flight over Glendhu Bay en route to Lake Tekapo.
A self-drive to Franz Josef, with the evening free in the village.
A free day to explore the glacier town on foot.
A self-drive to the Greystone PurePod above the Waipara Valley's vineyards, a private glass-walled night among the vines.
A short drive into Christchurch, with the International Antarctic Centre on offer.
A drop-off of the self-drive vehicle and a flight home.
What's Included
The Waitomo Glowworm Caves' history and Rotorua's geothermal Māori sites.
Milford Sound's fjords, the Kaituna River's rapids, and Waipara Valley's vineyards from a PurePod cabin.
An optional 15,000-foot skydive, a self-driven leg the group sets the pace for, and a PurePod night to close the trip.
Auckland's Queen Street, Rotorua's local dining, and Waipara's cellar doors.
The International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch and Rotorua's geothermal park history.
The Waitomo Glowworm Caves' history and Rotorua's geothermal Māori sites.
Milford Sound's fjords, the Kaituna River's rapids, and Waipara Valley's vineyards from a PurePod cabin.
An optional 15,000-foot skydive, a self-driven leg the group sets the pace for, and a PurePod night to close the trip.
Auckland's Queen Street, Rotorua's local dining, and Waipara's cellar doors.
The International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch and Rotorua's geothermal park history.
Where You'll Stay
Hotel stays in Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown, Lake Tekapo, Franz Josef and a PurePod night near Christchurch, with a self-drive vehicle for the South Island leg.
Auckland: Swissotel Belsuites Victoria Park.
Rotorua: Silver Fern Rotorua Suites & Spa.
Queenstown: Platinum Queenstown Villas, a Luxury Villa with three bedrooms.
Lake Tekapo: Alpine Lodges.
Franz Josef: Glenfern Villas.
Christchurch: Ramada Suites by Wyndham.
The Fine Print, Handled
Itinerary planning, hotel reservations, the self-drive car rental, sightseeing, internal flights, New Zealand visa and travel insurance, and a single point of contact for the group.
Customised by group size, hotel preference, budget, travel dates, and pace , including how much of the route to self-drive versus keep guided.
Ready When You Are
A rafting run, an optional skydive, a self-driven stretch through Wanaka and Tekapo at whatever pace the group sets , New Zealand gives a group of friends both the guided highlights and the freedom to go find their own.
This is one of the itineraries we've built for a group of friends travelling together before, shared here to show what the trip could look like. A version built for your own group , size, pace, and dates , would look a little different.
Estimated from ₹3,17,500 per adult · All inclusive