8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners

We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.

Eating is a big part of traveling. Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other’s company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. On truck trips in Africa, aboard the M/S Expedition or our Galapagos yachts, while trekking in remote regions etc. food is included, plentiful and made of fresh local ingredients. The above information applies to G Adventures group trips. For Independent trips please check the itinerary for details of meals included. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.

You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.

1) Please be aware that wifi and internet access is not as readily available in New Zealand as in other parts of the world. There are often additional charges to connect to the internet, and speeds may be slower than what you are used to.

2) Over public holidays in Australia and New Zealand (such as Christmas, New Years Day, Easter, and Anzac Day) there may be some limitations of services and disruptions to schedules. In general our tours still operate effectively over public holidays, but there may be closures of optional activities and restaurants, and slight itinerary adjustments in order to provide all tour inclusions.

3) ACCOMMODATION NOTE:

Please be aware that properties we stay in with only two stories may not have elevators installed and climbing the stairs with your luggage will be necessary.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Bookings for the America’s Cup are at either 11am, 1pm or 2pm – this is dependant on the season and availability. Please be sure to reconfirm your sailing 24 hours prior by phoning Explore (while in New Zealand): 0800 397 567 or International: +64 9 359 5987.

This G Adventures group trip is accompanied by one of our group leaders, otherwise known as a Chief Experience Officer (CEO). The CEO will be the group manager, leader and driver – this person is experienced in the routes travelled and will organize and lead the meal preparations and has experience in cooking a variety of local and international dishes for large groups.

As the group coordinator and manager, the aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. They will also offer suggestions for things to do and to see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends.

We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting – we think it’s the best of both worlds.

Accommodation will be varied throughout your adventure.

The max luggage allowance on most domestic flights within New Zealand is 1 checked bag (20 kgs) and 1 carry on (7 kgs) per person.

You will be on the move a lot, so our advice is to pack as lightly as possible.

We recommend using a backpack for your convenience, or a medium-sized suitcase if you prefer. Heavy luggage is not recommended for the health of the CEO, who will take a lead in loading the storage trailer. Due to space in the trailer, we will not be able to accommodate more than one piece of main luggage per person. A good size day-pack (20-35L) is also essential to carry your personal gear for the day, as access to luggage between destinations will be limited. This daypack will be used to carry your personal gear for the day, your lunch and a water bottle.

New Zealand weather can be quite variable, even in summer, and layers are recommended throughout the year.

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

Join an orientation walk in the “Garden City,” tracing the Avon River and Botanic Gardens. Note key spots for dining and galleries, and see the ChristChurch Transitional Cathedral, a symbol of resilience after the earthquakes.

Between heritage stonework and striking new builds, Christchurch blends English roots with forward-looking design. Your CEO’s pointers help you navigate the revitalized city centre and riverside promenades with ease.

Ride the Wellington Cable Car from Lambton Quay to Kelburn for panoramic harbour views. Stroll downhill through the Wellington Botanic Garden, fragrant with roses and native bush, back toward the waterfront.

This gentle outing pairs vintage transport charm with sculpted landscapes and city vistas. It’s an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour; ideal for photographers and flâneurs alike.

Pause in sun-drenched Marlborough to sample regional wines at a welcoming cellar door. Compare zesty Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with expressive Pinot Noir and aromatics, guided by hosts who share vineyard and vintage insights.

With long, bright days and cool nights, the Wairau and Awatere valleys craft wines famed for vivid fruit and crisp acidity. Enjoy a relaxed tasting that showcases New Zealand’s pioneering spirit in the glass and the warmth of cellar-door hospitality.

Cruise Doubtful Sound, the wild heart of Fiordland, after crossing Lake Manapouri and Wilmot Pass. Glide beneath sheer cliffs and cascading waterfalls, eyes peeled for dolphins, fur seals, and Fiordland crested penguins.

Part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area, Doubtful feels primal and remote. Mist drifts through ancient rainforest, and the water’s inky calm amplifies the silence. This is New Zealand at its most dramatic and humbling.

Explore Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park on accessible alpine trails, where swing bridges span milky glacial rivers and peaks crowd the horizon. Visit the interpretive centre to connect with Sir Edmund Hillary’s mountaineering legacy and local natural history.

Walk among moraine and tussock to viewpoints over glacial lakes dotted with icebergs, feeling the scale of the Southern Alps. On clear days, Aoraki’s snow-clad summit gleams above a landscape shaped by ice and sky.

Use your Discover Moment to enjoy a free afternoon in Franz Josef. Wander rainforest trails to glacier viewpoints, pause at reflective kettles like Peters Pool, and breathe the cool air of Westland Tai Poutini National Park.

Interpretive signs reveal how ice has shaped this rainforest-fringed valley. Your CEO can suggest scenic walks and local cafés so you can balance active time with relaxed, nature-rich moments.

Make Queenstown your own and enjoy a free day beside Lake Wakatipu. Stroll tree-lined shores, browse artisan boutiques, or find a sunlit terrace to soak in the alpine energy with views of the Remarkables.

Whether you lean into adventure or slow travel, your CEO’s tailored suggestions help you craft a day that fits your style—scenic lookouts, short walks, or cafés famed for locally roasted coffee and Central Otago flavours.

Explore steaming geothermal valleys where mineral pools glow with surreal colour and geysers roar to life. Visit Te Puia to see the mighty Pohutu Geyser and carving workshops, or wander Wai-O-Tapu’s vivid silica terraces and bubbling mud pools.

These landscapes tell the story of Earth’s restless core and Maori connections to the land. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour; timing and venue may vary with interest and conditions.

Grab a paddle and tackle grade 5 rapids in the lush Okere Gorge, culminating in a heart-pounding drop over Tutea Falls, the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall. Professional guides brief you for a safe, exhilarating run.

Surrounded by native bush and volcanic rock, you’ll feel the river’s power firsthand. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour and weather dependent; all specialist gear is provided.

Step inside Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand’s bold national museum, to encounter Maori taonga (treasures), natural history, and contemporary art. Interactive exhibits bring stories to life, from the Earthquake House to cutting-edge cultural installations.

With free entry to core galleries, you can tailor your visit to interests—from seabirds to sculpture. This is an optional experience at additional cost for select exhibitions; admissions can be arranged on tour.

Soak in mineral-rich pools at Hanmer Springs, an alpine sanctuary of thermal basins, sulphur pools, and quiet corners ringed by mountains. Let travel muscles unwind in naturally heated waters.

The resort town’s crisp air and towering pines frame an inviting pause between road-trip chapters. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour; spa treatments and private pools are available.

Choose your perspective on ice and rainforest: heli-hike on the glacier with crampons after a helicopter landing on the neve, take a scenic flight over seracs and crevasses, or kayak mirror-still Lake Mapourika among kahikatea wetlands.

Guides share glaciology and local ecology as you navigate a landscape in motion. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour and highly weather dependent; all specialist gear provided.

Dial up the adrenaline where adventure tourism was born: leap from Kawarau Bridge, jet boat the Shotover through canyon narrows, or skydive over the Remarkables with views that stretch to the Southern Alps.

Professional operators, top-tier safety, and cinematic scenery define Queenstown’s pulse. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour; the Queenstown Jet Boating option can be pre-booked at checkout. Weather conditions may affect operations.

Glide up the Skyline Gondola to Bob’s Peak for panoramic views of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables. Linger over photo-ready vistas and follow short alpine walks across tussock ridgelines and pine forest.

It’s a serene counterpoint to the town’s high-octane side, ideal for golden-hour photography or a coffee with a view. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour; luge rides are also available at the summit.

Join an orientation walk through compact, creative Wellington to get your bearings. Navigate from Cuba Street to the Wellington waterfront, locate essentials, and note landmarks like Te Papa and the Cable Car terminus for later exploration.

Absorb the capital’s café culture, street art, and wind-brushed harbour vistas. Your CEO’s local pointers help you enjoy a free afternoon with confidence—whether that’s museums, markets, or shoreline promenades.

Drift silently by boat through the ethereal Waitomo Glowworm Caves, gazing up as thousands of Arachnocampa luminosa shimmer like a night sky. Glide beneath a constellation-like canopy while guides interpret this fragile underground ecosystem.

Formed in limestone caverns sculpted over 30 million years, Waitomo reveals the power of water and time. The hush, the cool air, and the blue-green glow create a contemplative mood that contrasts beautifully with New Zealand’s sunlit landscapes.

Gather in Auckland to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, hear how the journey works, and get insider tips for exploring with confidence. Swap first impressions of Aotearoa and enjoy a free evening to sample nearby eateries and waterfront strolls at your own pace.

Learn about small-group travel etiquette, safety, and local customs so you can travel respectfully and well. This relaxed introduction sets the tone for easygoing Kiwi hospitality and a collaborative, fun-loving group dynamic from the outset.

Visit a living Maori village to witness a powhiri welcome and haka, learn stories of Te Arawa ancestry, and savour a traditional hangi cooked in earth ovens. Engage respectfully with hosts who share their culture through song, dance, and carving.

Hear how geothermal forces shaped daily life and beliefs, and appreciate the resilience and creativity of iwi communities. The warmth of manaakitanga—Maori hospitality—infuses the evening, making this a deeply connective cultural experience.

Head offshore to search for giant sperm whales drawn by the deep Hikurangi Trench. Depending on your choice, join a cruise or don a wetsuit to meet dusky dolphins and soaring albatross in their natural realm.

Operators share marine science and Kaitiakitanga (guardianship) principles as you travel along a dramatic, snow-capped coastline. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour and weather/sea-state dependent.