New Zealand 12 day small group tour
Highlights
Auckland | Rotorua | Lake Tarawera | Tongariro National Park | Wai-O-Tapu | Napier | Wellington | Cook Strait | Picton | Blenheim | Nelson | Abel Tasman National Park | Kaikoura | Mount Cook National Park | Queenstown | Te Anau | Milford Sound | nature cruise | scenic flight | Milford Sound |Description of New Zealand 12 day small group tour
This New Zealand 12 day small group tour takes you from Auckland on the North Island to Queenstown in the South Island, taking in the sensational scenery, ancient Maori culture and wildlife of this beautiful country. You¹ll travel in a comfy small coach, as part of a group of no more than 18 travellers, with a local guide passionate about showing you the very best of New Zealand. Stay in lovely accommodation, too, perfectly placed near all the beautiful attractions. There are two private lunches with welcoming Kiwi hosts, too, at Lake Tarawera, and on a farm in Canterbury.This holiday starts on the North Island, where highlights include learning about Maori culture and history, seeing the geothermal landscape and lakes of Rotorua, take a catamaran cruise on thermal Lake Rotoiti and a walk through the wilderness of Tongariro National Park.
You¹ll cross the Cook Strait to the South Island on the Interislander ferry. Here, explore the capital Wellington and enjoy a wine tasting in the Marlborough. Explore Abel Tasman and Mount Cook National Parks and spend some time in the pristine and dramatic Milford Sound, taking a cruise here followed by an unforgettable scenic flight over the Southern Alps and across Lake Wakatipu.
The holiday ends in Queenstown, where you can survey the city and the mountains beyond from the heights of the Skyline Gondola. You¹ll see waterfalls, volcanoes, bubbling mud pools, vast lakes, snowy peaks, vineyards, hip cities and so much more on this 12 day adventure, as well as meeting the warm and friendly Kiwi people - a fortnight to remember.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
01273 823 700 Calling from outside the UK? rosy@responsibletravel.com
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Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your holiday will help support conservation and local people.
We are committed to operating environmentally sustainable tours. By nature small group touring using one vehicle to transport multiple clients is more environmentally friendly than usual modes of travel including rental car or campervan. We have monitoring systems in place to ensure our vehicles are serviced and driven in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines making the running of the fleet as efficient as possible.On this tour local Department of Conservation guides help us explore the ancient geothermal wonderland at Wai-O-Tapu and local guides take us around Okarito Lagoon. They know the area and so are the best to advise on environmental issues and how to travel responsibly through the area.
We are a Qualmark Approved Visitor Service which means we have been independently reviewed and deemed to operate in an ethical, professional and environmentally sustainable way. Wherever possible we select suppliers that are also Qualmark approved and therefore deemed to operate in an ethical, professional and environmentally sustainable way.
We pay an annual licence and have official accreditation to operate on Department of Conservation land which demonstrates our commitment to the environment and sustainability. Payment of the license fee funds the protection of New Zealand’s national parks.
Office: We work from several home offices saving on travel time and fossil fuel consumption. All printer cartridges and paper is recycled. Both home offices water supply is supplied by rain water.
The Impacts of this Trip
We are a sponsor of the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre. From Morepork chicks to one-legged kiwi birds and talking tuis, the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre works tirelessly to provide help, treatment and rehabilitation for ill and injured native New Zealand birds. This award-winning centre cares for over 1,200 birds per year and is part of the Department of Conservation's kiwi recovery program. We are proud to be a contributor to the conservation of New Zealand's native bird population, helping to ensure that our rare wildlife will be around for generations to come. Many of our favourite tours such as the Kiwi and Kakapo are named after our native birds.
Maori culture and customs are an integral part of the tour experience. All of the below experiences are inclusions on our tours. As these activities are owned and operated by indigenous Maori Iwi (Tribes)there are economic benefits for these communities.
Footprints Waipoua - we learn how Kauri trees are inter-twined with the lives of local Maori and the important role they play in the eco-system that is the Waipoua Forest.
Kawiti Glowworm Caves - The caves traditional Maori owners act as living links to the past and making history come alive with their rich local knowledge.
We also where possible visit local craftsmen, markets and restaurants further helping to support the local community.
We are committed to operating environmentally sustainable tours. By nature small group touring using one vehicle to transport multiple clients is more environmentally friendly than usual modes of travel including rental car or campervan. We have monitoring systems in place to ensure our vehicles are serviced and driven in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines making the running of the fleet as efficient as possible.On this tour local Department of Conservation guides help us explore the ancient geothermal wonderland at Wai-O-Tapu and local guides take us around Okarito Lagoon. They know the area and so are the best to advise on environmental issues and how to travel responsibly through the area.
We are a Qualmark Approved Visitor Service which means we have been independently reviewed and deemed to operate in an ethical, professional and environmentally sustainable way. Wherever possible we select suppliers that are also Qualmark approved and therefore deemed to operate in an ethical, professional and environmentally sustainable way.
We pay an annual licence and have official accreditation to operate on Department of Conservation land which demonstrates our commitment to the environment and sustainability. Payment of the license fee funds the protection of New Zealand’s national parks.
Office: We work from several home offices saving on travel time and fossil fuel consumption. All printer cartridges and paper is recycled. Both home offices water supply is supplied by rain water.
The Impacts of this Trip
We are a sponsor of the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre. From Morepork chicks to one-legged kiwi birds and talking tuis, the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre works tirelessly to provide help, treatment and rehabilitation for ill and injured native New Zealand birds. This award-winning centre cares for over 1,200 birds per year and is part of the Department of Conservation's kiwi recovery program. We are proud to be a contributor to the conservation of New Zealand's native bird population, helping to ensure that our rare wildlife will be around for generations to come. Many of our favourite tours such as the Kiwi and Kakapo are named after our native birds.
Maori culture and customs are an integral part of the tour experience. All of the below experiences are inclusions on our tours. As these activities are owned and operated by indigenous Maori Iwi (Tribes)there are economic benefits for these communities.
Footprints Waipoua - we learn how Kauri trees are inter-twined with the lives of local Maori and the important role they play in the eco-system that is the Waipoua Forest.
Kawiti Glowworm Caves - The caves traditional Maori owners act as living links to the past and making history come alive with their rich local knowledge.
We also where possible visit local craftsmen, markets and restaurants further helping to support the local community.
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