10 Day New Zealand Guided Tour

Experience the best of New Zealand on this 5* reviewed guided tour. We offer flexible guided New Zealand vacation packages with no date or itinerary restrictions.

Our New Zealand vacation packages include a guide/driver, private tour vehicle, quality accommodation, and a range of must-do activities. In addition, each guided tour is fully customisable based on your interests. We recommend using the below itinerary as a starting point. After that, we will work with you to tailor your tour to match your preferences.

Read on to learn more about the 10 Day New Zealand Guided Tour.

10 Day New Zealand Guided Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Auckland

Auckland is a multi-cultural urban oasis of food, music, arts and culture. World-class shopping and phenomenal dining is never too far from harbours, islands, native bush and black-sand beaches.

If you would like to get straight into nature; skipper an America’s Cup yacht or experience whale watching.

Option to visit top attractions such as the Sky Tower and Mt Eden’s volcanic crater.

In the evening the fairy lights of Federal Street will lure you into some of the finest restaurants in Auckland or head down to The Viaduct, a food and drinks hub in central Auckland.

Stay 1 night in Auckland.

Day 2 Coromandel Peninsula + Hot Water Beach

Travel time Auckland to Coromandel Peninsula – 3 hours

Renowned worldwide as a spectacular holiday destination, with warm white-sand beaches, misty rainforest and wilderness aplenty, the Coromandel is the ideal place to relax and unwind.

Whitianga is the main settlement of Mercury Bay, an attractive township with a deep-water harbour. Whitianga has an excellent selection of restaurants and cafes, and the thriving retail community provides an interesting collection of outlets.

Home to the world renowned Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach, Mercury Bay is known for its variety of marine experiences both on and under the water. From kayaking and fishing in and around the Mercury Islands to scenic boat trips in the Te Whanganui-O-Hei Marine Reserve, Whitianga and Mercury Bay have it all. Experience the magic and relax in the unspoiled playground of Mercury Bay – a recreational haven just waiting for you.

If the tide is right, visit Hot Water Beach, where you can dig your own hot pools and lap up the scenery.

Stay 2 nights in Whitianga, Coromandel.

Day 3 Cathedral Cove Glass Bottom Boat Tour + Hahei Beach

Today, join the Glass Bottom Boat for a unique boat cruise. Depart from the Whitianga Wharf to explore the breathtaking volcanic coastline, including the famous Cathedral Cove. See the stunning Champagne Bay, plus a range of blow holes and sea caves, including Orua’s Sea Cave, the second largest sea cave in New Zealand! See what lies above and below the surface in the Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve and be amazed by all the marine life to be seen. You can choose your own level of fun. Either sit back and enjoy the amazing marine life through the glass boat, or take the plunge and snorkel amongst the fish.

In the afternoon, your guide will show you some of the best hidden secrets of the Coromandel, including lush forest walks and secluded golden-sand beaches.

Hahei is located 35 km or 30 minutes drive South East of Whitianga. Hahei is an attractive beach, fringed with pohutukawa trees and drifts of pink shells at the northern end. The offshore islands provide something of a breakwater, making this sheltered beach ideal for swimming, boating and snorkeling. Hahei also offers a number of cafes making it the perfect spot for lunch.

Day 4 Hobbiton Movie Set Tour + Rotorua + Skyline Rotorua Gondola Buffet Dinner

Travel time Coromandel Peninsula to Rotorua – 3.5 hours 

Travel time Coromandel to Matamata – 2 hours

Experience the magic of Middle-earth as you tour the Hobbiton Movie Set, where the charming village from The Lord of the Rings has been brought to life. You will be fully guided around the 12 acre set; past Hobbit Holes, the Mill and into the world-famous Green Dragon Inn. You will be presented with a complimentary, exclusive Hobbit Southfarthing beverage to conclude your own Middle-earth adventure.

Travel time Matamata to Rotorua – 1 hour 

Enjoy the scenic drive through rolling farmland to Rotorua, the geothermal capital of New Zealand. Tour the exciting geothermal attractions with your guide, visiting sulphur springs, mud pools, geysers, and sinter terraces.

In the evening, enjoy dinner at Rotorua’s most spectacular location – Skyline Restaurant. Sit back and relax as the views from the gondola unfold on your journey to the Skyline complex. The Skyline Restaurant will then serve you a mouthwatering taste of New Zealand cuisine.

Stay 2 nights in Rotorua.

Day 5 Hell’s Gate Geothermal Reserve & Spa + Māori Culture Evening Experience & Maori Hāngi Dinner

In the morning, stroll through Hell’s Gate, a steaming thermal reserve. See bubbling mud pools, steaming craters, mineral pools, learn about New Zealand’s history and culture, and even try Maori weaving and wood carving! After you have explored the thermal reserve, enjoy a relaxing sulphur spa overlooking the reserve. There is no limit on how long you can spend at Hell’s Gate – enjoy the experience at your leisure.

In the evening, enjoy a Maori Cultural Experience including a Hangi Dinner. Hear stories and learn how Maori traditions live on today. Experience an authentic Maori welcome. Watch a challenge by the Maori warriors, a karanga (call) from the Maori women welcoming you into the marae, and a whaikorero (welcome speech). Relax and enjoy the beautiful waiata (songs), the world-renowned haka (challenge), and the elegant poi dance. Learn Maori customs including Maori musical instruments, haka and poi. The dining experience is a culinary opportunity like no other. Following dessert, you will be transported down into the valley to conclude your evening beside the awe-inspiring Pohutu geyser. 

Day 6 Rotorua -> Christchurch

Board a domestic flight today from Rotorua to Christchurch (price of flight not included in holiday package).

You’re fantastic New Zealand guided continues to Christchurch, New Zealand’s “Garden City.” 

Explore Christchurch with your guide, options include:

• Christchurch Tramway
• Christchurch Gondola
• Christchurch Botanic Gardens
• The International Antarctic Centre
• Venturing to Sumner Beach
• Riverside Market

In the evening option to add dinner aboard the Christchurch Tram. The Tramway Restaurant offers curated seasonal dining combined with evening sightseein

Stay 1 night in Christchurch.

Day 7 Lake Tekapo + Mount Cook Village + Mount Cook & Glaciers Helicopter Flight

Travel time Christchurch to Mount Cook Village – 4 hours 

Your scenic journey through the Mackenzie Basin begins today as you cross over Burkes Pass. As the Southern Alps loom before you, there will be photo opportunities around every corner. You have the option to stop for lunch at Lake Tekapo, where you can visit the Church of the Good Shepherd or take in panoramic views of the surrounding mountains from the Mount John Observatory.

Continue past Lake Pukaki on your way to Mt Cook Village, nestled at the foot of New Zealand’s highest mountain.

Experience a glacier landing in this stunning mountain environment. Firstly, enjoy a scenic flight over the Tasman Terminal Lake and pass by the Horchstetter Icefall. After that, land on the blue ice and moraine rocks of the Tasman Glacier. Encounter the incredible vistas of Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, with unsurpassable scenery in every direction!

Stay 1 night in Mt Cook Village.

Day 8 Queenstown + Queenstown Activities

Travel time Mount Cook Village to Queenstown – 3.5 hours 

Continue south to Queenstown. Along the way, your guide will take you to sample fresh fruit from the orchards of Cromwell. You also have the option to visit top wineries on the drive through the Kawarau Gorge.

Lastly option to visit Arrowtown prior to reaching Queenstown. Arrowtown is charming and quirky – a delightful gold rush village. The heart of its history is Buckingham Street, a procession of heritage buildings that stretches into a tree-lined avenue. The buildings in this lovely precinct house shops, galleries, bars and restaurants. Continue on to Queenstown, New Zealand’s stunning alpine resort and adventure capital.

Add on the famous Onsen Hot Pools experience. Onsen Hot Pools is located high on a cliffside overlooking the magnificent Shotover River canyon, providing views over breathtaking alpine scenery and the perfect vantage point to watch the Shotover Jet boats on the river below. In the evening surround yourself with a sky of stars and Japanese lanterns from sunset.

Stay 3 nights in Queenstown.

Day 9 Doubtful Sound Cruise

Doubtful Sound is the next step up from Milford Sound! In Manapouri, board your luxury catamaran and cruise across picturesque Lake Manapouri. From there, you will make a trip across New Zealand’s most expensive road—Wilmot Pass—pausing along the way to experience the dense Fiordland rainforest and view Doubtful Sound glistening far below. In Doubtful Sound, you will board another catamaran for a three-hour cruise through this pristine fiord. During the cruise, your knowledgeable and friendly nature guides will share with you their passion for the region through their commentary. They will answer questions, point out landmarks and provide you with information about the varied wildlife you may encounter, including dolphins, fur seals and the rare Fiordland crested penguin.

Day 10 Queenstown + Queenstown Gondola, Luge & Lunch

Sit back and relax and take in the stunning views as you ride the Skyline Queenstown Gondola – the steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the must-do activities in Queenstown!

You’ll be carried 450 metres above Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu to the top of Bob’s Peak, where you’ll enjoy the best view in the region. Next enjoy a dining experience that is out of this world. The menu is inspired by iconic New Zealand cuisine and infused with international influences.

Continue your quest for adventure and choose from any adventure activity on offer in Queenstown. Bungy jumping, skydiving, paragliding, quad biking, zip lining, heli flights, 4WD off-roading, you name it we can book it.

If you’re looking for a slightly slower pace there’s plenty of recreational activities including scenic flights to Milford Sound, the Kiwi Birdlife Park, or spa and wellness options to help you truly feel worlds away.

Day 11 Depart Queenstown

Your guide will deliver you to Queenstown Airport for your departing flight.

Plan & Book New Zealand Vacation Packages

Our New Zealand vacation packages are designed for rewarding, stress-free travel. From planning through to the tour itself, we handle every detail.

Once you enquire about a tour, we reach out to discuss your interests and preferences. In addition to the tour packages listed on our website, we book a range of bespoke tours to match client requirements. For instance, we have booked photography tours, family adventure tours, corporate reward tours, event tours, and much more.

If you like the look of one of our New Zealand vacation packages, we will use that as a starting point. Otherwise, we will create a fully customised tour from scratch. Contact us today to start planning.