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Auckland, Mt. Cook & Queenstown

New Zealand Cultural Walking Tour

8 DaysStarting at $6,995
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Overview

Our New Zealand adventure tour will take your breath away. If the snow-capped peaks don’t do it, then the sheer cultivated beauty of Waiheke Island will. You’re as likely to gasp at the thrill of sailing on an America’s Cup yacht as at the chill splendor of Tasman Glacier Lake where icebergs surround your boat. As we divide our time between New Zealand’s two main islands, Classic Journeys will introduce you to a land you would not find on your own. We’ll visit with a family on their vast sheep station. You’ll sip wine at a renowned vineyard in a setting you could easily mistake for the Napa Valley. Our local guide also arranges for naturalists, historians and expert specialists in glacier walking and jet boating. As you sample the green lip mussels…learn about Maori folklore and culture…and walk the swing bridge across the wild Hooker River, you’ll appreciate New Zealand as the most scenically diverse and unstoppably fun destination anywhere.

Classic Journeys provides unbeatable access to experiences around the globe.”
Travel + Leisure

Itinerary Highlights

Download Full Daily Itinerary

• Cross a jaw-dropping gorge on a walk across the Arapuni Suspension Bridge to Putaruru Springs 

• Visit the largest geyser in the southern hemisphere 

• Cruise the gentle waters of Lake Rotomahana, the setting of the fabled Pink and White Terraces 

• Savor an authentic Maori dinner, learning about their culture

• Fly to the South Island and experience Lake Tekapo, one of the country’s most iconic sites 

• Explore Aoraki Mount Cook National Park 

• Enjoy an easy alpine walk and go boating on a glacial lake weaving amid freshly calved icebergs 

• Take a once-in-a-lifetime walk on the Hooker Valley Track surrounded by the soaring, snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps.

• Pan for gold in Arrowtown, site of the 19th-century gold rush 

• Enjoy scenery so cinematic it was featured in “Lord of the Rings” 

• Join a winemaker at a boutique winery for a tasting 

• Meet sheep farmers at work on a countryside walk 

• Thrill to a jet boat ride on the Dart River 

• Walk in beech forests in Mt. Aspiring National Park.  

Download Full Daily Itinerary

Map

  • Starting Point:

    Auckland – 9:30 am – Lobby of Sofitel Auckland Hotel

  • Ending Point:

    Queenstown – 9:00 am – Lobby of St. Moritz Queenstown Hotel
Itinerary Map

Click map to enlarge

Walking Level

  • Daily Mileage Options: 2-8 miles

  • Route Notes:

    The terrain on this trip includes a mix of paved streets in Rotorua and Queenstown, as well as well-maintained vineyard, mountain, countryside, lakeside and riverside trails of compressed dirt and stone. The footpaths offer a selection of level, rolling and hilly terrain; there will be elevation gain and loss.
To See Mileage Daily, Download Full Itinerary

Dates & Prices

The earlier you book, the more choice you’ll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won’t be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. Talk with one of our travel experts at 800-200-3887.

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Family Departure

Select our “Family Departure” to travel with other families.

Internal Airfare

$225: This tour includes airfare between the north and south islands for a supplemental cost. (subject to change)

Hotels

We spend years cultivating personal relationships with our hoteliers to provide you thoughtfully selected accommodations that reveal the true character of the region. Here is a sampling of our favorite hotels on this tour. 

The Hermitage Hotel

Originally built in 1884, the Hermitage is located deep within Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Expansive windows bring the outside into the contemporary style rooms. And you’re only steps from some of the most magnificent scenery on earth.

St. Moritz Queenstown

Built in the style of an elegant alpine residence, this luxurious property offers wonderful views of Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables Mountains. Guest rooms are decorated with understated elegance. The hotel also offers a gym, sauna and hot tub garden.

Sofitel Auckland

Situated at the edge of Waitemata Harbour amid the city’s liveliest new neighborhoods, this glamorous property is quietly sophisticated. Decorated in contemporary style, the rooms feature by floor-to-ceiling windows, and a 20-meter heated indoor pool.

What’s Included

  • Meals: All breakfasts, five lunches, and four dinners.
  • Hotels: Award-winning boutique properties, thoughtfully selected for their exceptional location, design, history, and regional character.
  • Tour Leader(s): Expert guides who are your well-connected local friends and provide you access to people and places you wouldn’t find on your own.
  • Supplemental Experts: Additional regional guides and specialists on select tours.
  • Transportation: All land transportation as listed in the daily itinerary, including fares for trains, ferries, and other modes of travel.
  • Equipment: Premium gear and expert guides for kayaking, rafting, glacial hiking, and snorkeling as outlined in the daily itinerary on select tours.
  • Privileged Access Events: One-of-a-kind access to remarkable people, places, and experiences arranged just for you, as noted in the daily itinerary.
  • Admissions & Entry Fees: Entry to tastings, historic sites, and other scheduled activities listed in the daily itinerary.
  • Baggage Transfers: Upon arrival, we whisk you and your bags directly to your room—no waiting, no tipping.
  • Gratuities: All gratuities at hotels, restaurants, and for baggage handling.
  • Dedicated Guest Services Coordinator: Your pre-trip concierge and tour expert, available to answer questions and ensure you’re fully ready to get the most out of your tour.
Not Included: Tour Leader gratuities, travel to and from your trip’s start and end points, and any meals or activities taken independently.

Why Choose Classic Journeys


We believe in creating authentic connections by immersing you into the history and culture of a people and place. So we find the most well-connected local guides who share their relationships and knowledge with us. And with them, we handcraft walking tours in cinematic settings that allow you to see the world on foot and at eye level.

It’s why Travel + Leisure magazine has named Classic Journeys as the #1 World’s Best Tour Operator multiple times, and the editors of T+L say, "Classic Journeys provides unbeatable access to experiences around the globe." Here’s what that access means for you every time you travel with us.

  • Experience the world on foot and at eye level. Each day, join your guide on the most cinematic footpaths in the region.
  • Exceptional full-time local guides who become your well-connected friend. Our amazing guides are with you throughout each day of the tour, share their lifelong connections as well as engaging anecdotes about the history and culture of the region.
  • Small groups that provide you unrivaled access. An average of fewer than 10 guests per departure means we can offer you special access to sites like Stonehenge so you experience the stone circle when it’s closed to the general public, a guided visit to Zion Narrows that other companies cannot arrange because of larger group sizes, and vineyard walks with a count and countess in Tuscany.
  • Award-winning hotels are waiting for you at the end of every day. Luxuriate in the finest and most distinctive accommodations in the region you’re exploring, including rainforest lodges, 16th century villas, and award-winning properties that show up on World’s Best and Gold lists.
  • Eat like (and with) the locals. Food is a foolproof way into the hearts, homes and history of the places you visit with us. From gourmet picnics to coveted local restaurants, our meals offer you opportunities to explore native food traditions and fine dining.
  • Handcrafted itineraries with all activities included. With our long-term friendships, we know our walking tour regions more personally than anyone else. So you get thoughtfully curated itineraries that combine explorations of the villages, organic farms, archeological sites and the people who know them best.
  • Sustainable travel that supports the places you’re visiting. We put our local currency into the pockets of the people who live where we travel. It’s your guarantee that you’ll have authentic, up-close experiences on your trip. Best of all, our person-to-person approach helps sustain their ways of life.

 

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FAQs

Why is Classic Journeys the best tour company for New Zealand tours?

If you’re looking for the most genuine and authentic way to experience New Zealand, Classic Journeys is your perfect match. You’ll join small groups led by expert local guides—who will become your well-connected friends—on cinematic walks across both islands, sharing special access to Maori cultural encounters, boutique vineyards, and wilderness trails you wouldn’t discover on your own.

Which locations does the Classic Journeys New Zealand itinerary include?

On your Classic Journeys New Zealand adventure, you’ll walk along Auckland’s harbor, explore Rotorua’s geothermal parks and Maori cuisine, pan for gold in Arrowtown, and soak up the amazing scenery as you walk on the Hooker Valley Track. Sip wines at a boutique winery, enjoy a cruise on the Dart River and stroll through Mt. Aspiring National Park. Every day is a new and unforgettable discovery as you explore on foot at eye level.

When is the best time to visit New Zealand?

The best time to visit New Zealand is October through April, when days are mild and trails are peaceful—perfect for daily curated walks. Classic Journeys offers departures each month during this ideal travel window, so you can pick the time that works best with your schedule.

How active is the New Zealand cultural walking tour?

Classic Journeys’ New Zealand walks are tailored for every ability—expect scenic strolls on Rotorua’s boardwalks, gentle lakeside paths near Queenstown, and optional longer tracks like the Hooker Valley. You can expect 2-8 miles each day on terrain that includes a mix of paved streets in Rotorua and Queenstown, as well as well-maintained vineyard, mountain, countryside, lakeside and riverside trails. Follow your expert local guides who will help tailor the pacing every day for optimal exploring.

How many travelers are in each small group on your New Zealand tour?

Classic Journeys keeps groups small—usually fewer than 10 guests and never more than 18—ensuring access, flexibility, and genuine connections. This ensures personalized attention from your expert local guides as well as genuine camaraderie from your travel companions while exploring New Zealand.