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Waipoua Forest

Things to do in New Zealand

Waipoua Forest
New Zealand is known for its magnificent landscapes and outdoor pursuits and although its cities offer plenty to see and do, its soul belongs to the wilderness. A cruise around Milford and Doubtful Sounds allows you to enjoy peaceful Fiordland from the water, while in Kaikoura we suggest one of the award-winning whale watching tours. Discover New Zealand’s geothermal activity in Rotorua, which is also a great place to immerse yourself in Māori culture at the Mitai Māori Night.

If you're seeking more action, try an exhilarating jet boat trip along the Dart River in Queenstown, the self-proclaimed ‘adventure capital of the world’, where numerous adrenaline-fuelled experiences are on offer.
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Audley Travel specialist Barbara

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Ideas for experiencing New Zealand

Experiences you have as you travel often hold the longest memories. As part of their research trips, our specialists seek out authentic ways to get to know New Zealand, and the best local guides. These activities reflect some of their best-loved experiences.

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  • Auckland Highlights Tour
    Mount Eden, Auckland

    Auckland Highlights Tour

    Auckland

    Auckland Highlights Tour

    Known as the 'City of Sails', this tour is the perfect introduction to the city as you visit several points of cultural and scenic interest; including Mount Eden with its amazing 360 degree views of the city and the city's oldest park, Auckland Domain.

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  • Sea Kayaking in Queen Charlotte Sound
    Beach, Queen Charlotte Sound

    Sea Kayaking in Queen Charlotte Sound

    Marlborough Sounds

    Sea Kayaking in Queen Charlotte Sound

    This one day sea kayaking adventure takes groups of no more than eight paddlers out toward the southern end of the Queen Charlotte Sound.

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  • Whirinaki Eco-Culture Walk
    Lake Waikaremoana, New Zealand

    Whirinaki Eco-Culture Walk

    Rotorua

    Whirinaki Eco-Culture Walk

    This full day walk into one of New Zealand's most remarkable native forests takes you to the heart of the Urewera Ranges.

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  • TSS Earnslaw cruise to Walter Peak High Country Farm
    TSS Earnslaw, Queenstown

    TSS Earnslaw cruise to Walter Peak High Country Farm

    Queenstown

    TSS Earnslaw cruise to Walter Peak High Country Farm

    Affectionately known as the 'Lady of the Lake', the TSS Earnslaw has been steaming the length of Lake Wakatipu since 1912. You can watch sheepdogs in action, see the shearing or even try your hand at wool spinning. After morning or afternoon tea you then steam back to Queenstown.

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  • Tongariro cycling
    Emerald Lakes, Tongariro National Park

    Tongariro cycling

    Tongariro National Park

    Tongariro cycling

    This tour, which involves walking or riding along the historic cobblestone Coach Road through a bush corridor on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu, is an exciting adventure and a journey back in time.

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  • Seal & Beach Walk
    Seal on Ohau Point

    Seal & Beach Walk

    Abel Tasman National Park

    Seal & Beach Walk

    The first part of the excursion starts with a cruise up the coastline, passing golden beaches and secluded bays, to Onetahuti (Tonga Bay), where you visit Tonga Island, which is home to the largest seal colony in the park and has many species of seabird and sometimes penguins.

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  • Whale Watching Responsible Choice
    Sperm whale, Kaikoura

    Whale Watching

    Kaikoura

    Whale Watching

    The local company we use who operate these boats which head out to see the whales as they come up for air, has been running trips for over 20 years and has won many awards in that time. The whole experience is not just exhilarating, but also highly educational and focused on the preservation of the marine environment.

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  • Te Anau Glowworm Caves
    Glow worm caves, Te Anau

    Te Anau Glowworm Caves

    Te Anau & Manapouri

    Te Anau Glowworm Caves

    Travel by small boat and walkways in small groups through cathedral-like caves with waterfalls, whirlpools and beautiful rock formations before drifting through the 'glowworm grotto': an unforgettable experience.

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  • Tiritiri Matangi Wildlife Bird Sanctuary
    Takahe, Tiritiri Matangi Island

    Tiritiri Matangi Wildlife Bird Sanctuary

    Auckland

    Tiritiri Matangi Wildlife Bird Sanctuary

    Tiritiri Matangi is a world-renowned bird sanctuary off the coast of Auckland. You will hike through the native bush on well-formed tracks and boardwalks as your guide identifies fauna, bird species and birdsong, as well as many other points of interest along the way.

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  • Swim with Seals in Kaikoura
    New Zealand fur seals, Kaikoura

    Swim with Seals in Kaikoura

    Kaikoura

    Swim with Seals in Kaikoura

    One of the best nature activities in New Zealand, swimming with wild New Zealand fur seals in Kaikoura is a truly unique experience.

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  • Dolphin Swim
    A pair of Hector's dolphins

    Dolphin Swim

    Kaikoura

    Dolphin Swim

    This three-hour excursion is perhaps the best way in the world to swim with dolphins. Kaikoura attracts dolphins all year round, hugely increasing the chances of being able to get in the water with these incredible creatures.

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  • Zealandia Night Tour
    Kiwi bird

    Zealandia Night Tour

    Wellington

    Zealandia Night Tour

    Zealandia, which encompasses the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, is an urban wildlife haven where some of New Zealand's most endangered native animals thrive in this predator-free environment. The guided night tour begins with highlights of the fully immersive and interactive exhibition, where you will discover how this safe haven was created.

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  • Ulva Island Tour
    Birding Bonanza and Kiwi Spotting full day tour of Ulva and Stewart Islands, Stewart Island

    Ulva Island Tour

    Stewart & Ulva Islands

    Ulva Island Tour

    Ulva Goodwillie is a Māori Eco/Nature guide who is passionate about, and absolutely committed to, Ulva Island and its protection. As a predator free island, the plants and native birds have been able to flourish as nature originally intended, and a visit to the island is like stepping back in time.

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  • Swimming with Dolphins
    Dolphin, Pemba Island

    Swimming with Dolphins

    Paihia

    Swimming with Dolphins

    This four-hour trip departs from Paihia and Russell in the morning or afternoon on a jet-powered catamaran from which you will meet one of nature's most charming creatures in the warm waters of the Bay of Islands.

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  • Swimming with Hector's Dolphins in Akaroa Harbour
    A pair of Hector's dolphins

    Swimming with Hector's Dolphins in Akaroa Harbour

    Akaroa & Banks Peninsula

    Swimming with Hector's Dolphins in Akaroa Harbour

    The sheltered harbour of Akaroa is an ideal place for a unique encounter with the world's smallest, rarest and friendliest dolphins, the Hector's dolphins.

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  • Farewell Spit Ecotour
    Farewell Spit Eco Tours, Collingwood

    Farewell Spit Ecotour

    Nelson

    Farewell Spit Ecotour

    Farewell Spit, at the very northernmost point on the South Island, has been a sanctuary since the 1930s and is now home to over 90 species of bird including famous waders such as bar-tailed godwits, knots, curlews, whimbrels and turnstones, which spend the summer here.

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  • Mitai Māori Night
    Maori house in Rotorua

    Mitai Māori Night

    Rotorua

    Mitai Māori Night

    This evening of Māori culture is both entertaining and educational. The cultural display, performed by a talented local cast, consists of the formal welcome, traditional dances and Māori weaponry display, as well as the arrival of the warriors by ancient canoe.

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  • Waipoua Forest Twilight Encounter
    Kauri trees, Waipoua Forest

    Waipoua Forest Twilight Encounter

    The Kauri Coast

    Waipoua Forest Twilight Encounter

    The spiritual environment of the Waipoua Forest provides a natural stage for an unforgettable encounter with some of the largest remaining kauri trees in the world.

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  • Milford Sound Overnight Cruise
    Milford Mariner, Milford Sound

    Milford Sound Overnight Cruise

    Milford Sound

    Milford Sound Overnight Cruise

    Spending a night on board the Milford Mariner is by far the best way to experience the splendour of the majestic Fiordland scenery.

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  • Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise
    Hall Arm, Doubtful Sound

    Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise

    Te Anau & Manapouri

    Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise

    Once on board the Fiordland Navigator you will cruise through hidden waterways where bottlenose dolphins are frequently seen playing and riding the waves under the bows, fur seals bask on outcrops around the fiord, and at times the rarest penguins in the world can be observed.

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  • Waiheke Island Wine Tour
    Vineyard on Waiheke Island

    Waiheke Island Wine Tour

    Auckland

    Waiheke Island Wine Tour

    Enjoy Waiheke's award-winning wines and locally produced gourmet delights, along with gardens and galleries, music and poetry, native birds and bush walks.

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  • Milford Track Day Walk
    River near Milford Sound, Fiordland

    Milford Track Day Walk

    Milford Sound

    Milford Track Day Walk

    This small group excursion gives you a taste of the majestic scenery of the Milford Track without having to dedicate five days to complete the whole trail. Your lunch is included, and complimentary tea and coffee are available at the start and end of the walk.

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  • Hole in the Rock Cruise
    Hole in the rock, Russell & The Bay of Islands

    Hole in the Rock Cruise

    Paihia

    Hole in the Rock Cruise

    Be whisked away by the high speed luxury catamaran for a comfortable journey out through game fishing waters to the Cape Brett Lighthouse before reaching Motukokako Island and the famous 'Hole in the Rock'. The excitement grows as you make passage through the hole and on to the majestic Grand Cathedral Cave.

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  • The Siberia Experience
    Jet boat, Siberia Experience

    The Siberia Experience

    Lake Wanaka

    The Siberia Experience

    The Siberia Experience offers you a selection of New Zealand's best adventurous activities all in one day.

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  • Hawke's Bay Wine Tour
    Hawke's Bay winery

    Hawke's Bay Wine Tour

    Hawke's Bay

    Hawke's Bay Wine Tour

    This afternoon (half day) wine tour will take you to four of the region's excellent wineries, where you will have the opportunity to taste and purchase some of the wines for which the area is famous.

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  • Wellington Food Tour
    Wellington, New Zealand

    Wellington Food Tour

    Wellington

    Wellington Food Tour

    Spend time behind the scenes with a personal guide at some of Wellington's excellent food venues.

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  • Kiwi Dundee Nature & Coast
    Cathedral Cove, Coromandel Peninsula

    Kiwi Dundee Nature & Coast

    Coromandel Peninsula

    Kiwi Dundee Nature & Coast

    This full day excursion provides a sample of many of the highlights of this stunning peninsula. The guides at Kiwi Dundee will introduce you to areas of scenic beauty and historic significance, and will endeavour to tailor the day to the preferences of the group.

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  • Shotover River Jet Boat
    Shotover River, Queenstown

    Shotover River Jet Boat

    Queenstown

    Shotover River Jet Boat

    The Shotover Jet is an adrenaline fuelled jet boat trip through the Shotover Canyon, which towers over you on either side. Skim around crags and boulders and then enjoy the sensation as the boat spins around 360 degrees in its own length.

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  • Hukafalls Jet Boat
    Huka Falls Jet Boat excursion, Lake Taupo

    Hukafalls Jet Boat

    Lake Taupo

    Hukafalls Jet Boat

    This jet boat ride takes you upriver, through native bush and past thermal pools, to the very base of the Huka Falls, where 220,000 litres of water per second come tumbling over the cliff face.

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  • Maori Cultural Experience
    Traditional Maori Hongi Greeting

    Maori Cultural Experience

    Kaikoura

    Maori Cultural Experience

    This memorable tour brings you close to the Māori community in Kaikoura in a way that is not possible elsewhere in New Zealand. You will spend the day with the family who introduce you to a culture which dates back over 800 years.

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  • Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
    Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington

    Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

    Wellington

    Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

    Te Papa Tongarewa is the national museum of New Zealand. Explore areas of New Zealand's history, culture and natural environment via interactive exhibits.

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  • Milford Sound Nature Cruise
    Milford Sound, New Zealand

    Milford Sound Nature Cruise

    Te Anau & Manapouri

    Milford Sound Nature Cruise

    Once in Milford you will board the Milford Mariner for a nature cruise of two and a half hours which leads you the full length of the sound and into the Tasman Sea.

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  • Otago Peninsula Wildlife Cruise
    Penguins in the Otago Peninsula

    Otago Peninsula Wildlife Cruise

    Dunedin

    Otago Peninsula Wildlife Cruise

    The Otago Peninsula is home to some of New Zealand's rarest animals, but it is also the most accessible wildlife area on the South Island. A cruise on the peninsula allows you to view this amazing array of ocean birds and marine mammals in their natural environment.

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  • Harbour Wildlife Cruise
    Akaroa & Banks Peninsula, New Zealand

    Harbour Wildlife Cruise

    Akaroa & Banks Peninsula

    Harbour Wildlife Cruise

    This harbour cruise is one of the most picturesque in New Zealand and gives you the chance to experience the Banks Peninsula's most majestic scenery.

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  • Birding Bonanza and Kiwi Spotting full day tour of Ulva and Stewart Islands
    Tui, Ulva Island

    Birding Bonanza and Kiwi Spotting full day tour of Ulva and Stewart Islands

    Stewart & Ulva Islands

    Birding Bonanza and Kiwi Spotting full day tour of Ulva and Stewart Islands

    This full-day trip is the ultimate birding and nature experience on Stewart Island. This tour also includes an opportunity to see the elusive and beautiful local kiwis, but due to their susceptibility to weather conditions the exact timing of your visit to watch them is flexible.

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  • Greenshell Mussel Cruise
    Lake Wanaka, New Zealand

    Greenshell Mussel Cruise

    Picton

    Greenshell Mussel Cruise

    Take a gentle cruise through the beautiful inner Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds, enjoying the scenery whilst learning about the history of mussel farming in the area, with commentary from your knowledgeable guide.

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  • Walk the Hollyford Track
    Hollyford Track, New Zealand

    Walk the Hollyford Track

    Milford Sound

    Walk the Hollyford Track

    This easy-paced three day valley walk encompasses crystal clear rivers, mirror-like lakes, waterfalls, reefs, sand dunes and surf, against the backdrop of the soaring, snow-capped Darran Mountains.

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  • Tongariro Guided Walk
    Tongariro National Park

    Tongariro Guided Walk

    Tongariro National Park

    Tongariro Guided Walk

    This one day walk traverses the stark and spectacular volcanic terrain of Mount Tongariro, and is one of the most fascinating treks in the world. This walk is led by an expert guide who will provide informative commentary, so finding your way will not be a problem.

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  • Routeburn Track — 3 Days
    Lake McKerrow, Hollyford Track

    Routeburn Track — 3 Days

    Queenstown

    Routeburn Track — 3 Days

    Climb a well-graded track to Key Summit, where you can sit among the alpine plants and partake in 'The Annual General Meeting of the Mountains'. You then descend to Lake Howden before gradually climbing through lush silver beech forest to the base of Earland Falls: quite a sight in wet weather!

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  • Tasman Glacier Sightseeing Flight
    Franz Josef Glacier, West Coast

    Tasman Glacier Sightseeing Flight

    Mount Cook National Park

    Tasman Glacier Sightseeing Flight

    From the foothills of Mount Cook National Park you can take a spectacular scenic ski-plane flight which will take you up the length of the Tasman Glacier before landing on the newly fallen snow near the top.

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  • Fiordland Navigator Cruise
    Fiordland Navigator, Doubtful Sound

    Fiordland Navigator Cruise

    Doubtful Sound

    Fiordland Navigator Cruise

    Perhaps one of the finest options in Fiordland, the overnight Fiordland Navigator cruise on Doubtful Sound takes you to some of the national park’s most untouched and inspiring scenery.

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  • America's Cup Sailing
    Waitemata Harbour, Auckland

    America's Cup Sailing

    Auckland

    America's Cup Sailing

    This is a two-hour excursion offering the opportunity for you to participate in sailing these grand prix racing machines. Passengers become the crew and are encouraged to take the helm, exert energy on the grinders or simply sit back and enjoy the action while sailing around the beautiful Waitematā Harbour.

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  • On Yer Bike Winery Tour
    On Yer Bike winery tour, Hawke's Bay

    On Yer Bike Winery Tour

    Napier

    On Yer Bike Winery Tour

    Hawke's Bay is beautiful and most importantly flat, which makes it perfect cycling terrain. All bikes are professionally maintained and as well as safety helmets come with baskets or backpacks and visibility flags.

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  • Marlborough Sounds Cruise
    Marlborough Sounds scenery

    Marlborough Sounds Cruise

    Picton

    Marlborough Sounds Cruise

    Over the course of the trip you will learn about Māori culture and history, and enjoy the amazing biodiversity of the Sounds whilst slowly sailing round the sheltered inland waterways.

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  • Dart River Wilderness Safari
    Jet boat on the Dart River

    Dart River Wilderness Safari

    Queenstown

    Dart River Wilderness Safari

    Board the Dart River jet-boat on a white-knuckle ride for an hour and a half up the narrow, meandering waterway, into real wilderness country.

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  • Flight over Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers
    Helicopter landing, Fox Glacier

    Flight over Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers

    Fox & Franz Josef Glaciers

    Flight over Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers

    This is a 30-minute scenic flight that will take you high above the spectacular scenery of both Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, with views across to Mount Cook and Mount Tasman.

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  • Sightseeing flight over Mount Cook
    The Grand Traverse of Mount Cook, West Coast

    Sightseeing flight over Mount Cook

    Mount Cook National Park

    Sightseeing flight over Mount Cook

    This unique flight encompasses Aoraki (Mount Cook), Westland and Tai Poutini national parks, traversing 200 kilometres of New Zealand's most beautiful and spectacular alpine scenery.

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  • Queen Charlotte Track Freedom Walk — 4/5 Days
    Beach, Queen Charlotte Sound

    Queen Charlotte Track Freedom Walk — 4/5 Days

    Picton

    Queen Charlotte Track Freedom Walk — 4/5 Days

    Board the motor launch that will take you to Meretoto, a significant area for local Māori. It's also known as Ship Cove, in reference to British navigator Captain Cook's five visits here for ship supplies.

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  • Heli-Hike on Franz Josef Glacier
    Helicopter on Franz Josef Glacier

    Heli-Hike on Franz Josef Glacier

    Fox & Franz Josef Glaciers

    Heli-Hike on Franz Josef Glacier

    Join your crew at The Helicopter Line Officer, Main South Road to commence a heli-hike tour. A scenic 10-minute helicopter flight takes you over Franz Josef Glacier to its icefall, where the helicopter lands and you start a two-hour guided walk among its ice caves, pinnacles and seracs.

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  • Cape Reinga Fly/Drive
    Cape Reinga, New Zealand

    Cape Reinga Fly/Drive

    Kerikeri

    Cape Reinga Fly/Drive

    This unforgettable excursion is a five-hour tour of Cape Reinga and the extreme Northland. The day starts with a breathtaking flight over the west coast of Northland in a Cessna aircraft. This is the perfect — indeed, the only — way to put this stunning scenery into perspective.

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  • Fox Glacier Heli Hiking
    Helicopter landing, Fox Glacier

    Fox Glacier Heli Hiking

    Fox & Franz Josef Glaciers

    Fox Glacier Heli Hiking

    The Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers are two of the fastest moving in the world, sometimes at a rate of up to 20 m a year. This means that the terrain is ever-changing as crevasses close and new ones open so your guide leads you on an unplanned route which is a true adventure.

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  • Small group tour with MoaTrek
    Fox Glacier, New Zealand

    Small group tour with MoaTrek

    Small group tour with MoaTrek

    A family-run company offering smaller group tours, ranging in length and covering either both the North and South Island.

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  • One Day Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly
    Milford Sound, New Zealand

    One Day Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly

    Milford Sound

    One Day Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly

    You will be flown down to Milford Sound in a twin-engine aircraft, from which you can enjoy the majestic views of the Southern Alps, Lake Wakatipu, Mitre Peak and the sounds.

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  • 4x4 Safari of Scenes
    Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown

    4x4 Safari of Scenes

    Queenstown

    4x4 Safari of Scenes

    The perfect tour for those who want the thrills of an off-road adventure but also want to discover exciting 'Lord of the Rings' film locations.

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  • Glacier Boat Cruise
    Glacier cruise, Mount Cook National Park

    Glacier Boat Cruise

    Mount Cook National Park

    Glacier Boat Cruise

    This three-hour tour of Lake Tasman, and the front edge of New Zealand's largest glacier, is a unique opportunity to learn about this incredible remnant of the Ice Age.

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  • Chris Jolly's Cruise on Lake Taupo
    Maori rock carvings, Lake Taupo

    Chris Jolly's Cruise on Lake Taupo

    Lake Taupo

    Chris Jolly's Cruise on Lake Taupo

    A scenic cruise taking you out onto Lake Taupo, to the Māori rock carvings and to historical points of interest in Whakaipo Bay.

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  • TranzAlpine Railway
    The TranzAlpine Train, New Zealand

    TranzAlpine Railway

    Christchurch

    TranzAlpine Railway

    Making the great traverse of the Southern Alps, the TranzAlpine train links Christchurch on the Pacific with Greymouth on the Tasman Sea, in a spectacular journey lasting four and a half hours.

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  • Coastal Pacific
    The Coastal Pacific train, New Zealand

    Coastal Pacific

    Picton

    Coastal Pacific

    Linking the port of Picton with the city of Christchurch, the Coastal Pacific railway offers a fantastic opportunity to discover the east coast of the South Island.

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  • Auckland City Tastes walking tour
    Auckland

    Auckland City Tastes walking tour

    Auckland

    Auckland City Tastes walking tour

    Indulge in a culinary exploration as you visit two of the city's most vibrant foodie locations: Britomart and the viaduct Harbour.

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