Auckland to Queenstown Youth Adventure - 17 Days

Kia ora! Upon arriving in New Zealand's largest city, make your own way to our hostel. You'll have ample time to unwind after your flight before gathering with the group and heading out for an exciting first night in the city together. We'll get together with the group for a welcome dinner at around 19:00, so you can get to know everyone before our adventure begins tomorrow. We recommend you arrive before 15:00 today.

Please note: This tour is designed for younger travellers looking for a backpacker-style experience and to meet like-minded people. The average age on this tour is around 21 - 35, and we are unfortunately unable to take any travellers over the age of 45. We have lots of group tours across our destinations that are suitable for travellers of all ages, browse our website or get in touch to find the perfect trip!

Auckland - Waitomo - Rotorua. Departing from Auckland, our first destination is Waitomo, renowned for its famous glowworm caves. We'll explore this extraordinary underground world by boat, taking in the glowworms that illuminate the darkness. Following this, we'll head to Hobbiton, the authentic movie set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. After a guided tour through the magical village, we'll enjoy a drink at the Green Dragon Inn before continuing on to our accommodation in Rotorua.

First on today's itinerary is Kerosene Creek, a natural hot spring perfect for a relaxing morning soak. Following that, we'll visit one of New Zealand's most spectacular geothermal sites - Wai-O-Tapu, which is renowned for its impressive geysers and bubbling mud pools. After our day of exploring, we head back to our hostel in Rotorua. Maybe we'll go for a drink or two tonight.

This morning, take advantage of some free time to engage in thrilling activities such as zorbing or riding the skyline luge. In the evening, we'll visit the Mitai Maori village for an authentic introduction to Maori culture. We are spending a final night in Rotorua.

Rotorua - Taupo. Prepare your cameras as we make our way to Taupo, a lakeside town located in the central part of the North Island. We have a special evening planned - a memorable sail across Lake Taupo. New Zealand is known for its spectacular scenery, and today promises some of the best. We're spending the night at a hostel back in town.

This morning, we'll visit the spectacular Huka Falls, where you'll see icy, crystal clear water powerfully cascading down from the Waikato River. After experiencing this awe-inspiring natural wonder, you'll have some free time to choose an activity like skydiving or taking on a bungee jump!

Taupo - Wellington. Today, we're heading to Wellington, the vibrant capital of New Zealand! On arrival at our hostel, the rest of today is free for you to dive into the city's energetic atmosphere, taking in the sights, relaxing in its charming cafes or tucking into dinner at one of the top notch restaurants in town.

Start today with a guided city orientation tour to discover the highlights of New Zealand's capital. Enjoy a ride on the iconic cable car for breathtaking panoramic views, and then explore the intriguing history and vibrant culture at Te Papa Tongarewa Museum, renowned as one of the world's leading museums. In the evening, we'll gather for a night out on the town to toast the end of our adventure.

Wellington - Christchurch. Say goodbye to the North Island today as we head to the airport for our included flights south to Christchurch. We'll transfer you to tonight's hostel, and the rest of the day is at leisure.

Please note: Some members of the group may be ending their tour in Wellington, and not continuing with us to the South Island. New travellers may join the tour on arrival in Christchurch.

Christchurch - Lake Tekapo. This morning we embark on a morning orientation tour of Christchurch, taking in the best of this quintessentially English city and the largest city on the South Island of New Zealand. Later, we journey to the breathtakingly beautiful Lake Tekapo and check in to our lakeside hostel.

Today, we'll embark on a hike up Mt John, where we'll enjoy panoramic 360-degree views of the Southern Alps. The hike should takes us around 2 - 3 hours. Later, we'll relax our tired muscles in some hot pools.

Lake Tekapo - Wanaka. We'll embark on a picturesque drive on our way to Wanaka. In the afternoon, we'll hike through incredible landscapes to enjoy breathtaking views of Aoraki/Mt Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand. We're spending the night in a cozy hostel in Wanaka, and tonight is free to head out for a drink or two.

Today, we will explore the highlights of Wanaka. Our activities include kayaking on the beautiful Lake Wanaka and visiting the iconic Wanaka Tree. Later, we'll hike up Mount Iron to enjoy breathtaking views of the local area, including the Pisa Range, Upper Clutha Basin, and the captivating Southern Alps.

Wanaka - Queenstown. Today we’re heading to the beautiful city of Queenstown, New Zealand's adventure capital. We'll have a quick orientation walk and then you're free to start checking some activities off your bucket list. Skydiving, bungee jumping, canyoning, and zip-lining are just some of the options at your fingertips.

Queenstown - Milford Sound - Queenstown. Today, we're heading to one of the most scenic destinations in all of New Zealand - Milford Sound. On arrival, we embark on a boat cruise through the fjord, where we'll be dwarfed by towering cliffs, ancient forests, and cascading waterfalls. Keep your eyes peeled for penguins, or, more rarely, whales. After our cruise, we head back to Queenstown for the evening.

We're spending another day in Queenstown, and it begins with an included jet boat ride, speeding through canyons at speeds of over 80 km/h. Our skilled driver will perform 360-degree spins and other tricks to keep us entertained and on our toes. Back on dry land, we gather this evening for a farewell dinner. We can enjoy a last night out on the town, to see what this backpacker hub is all about after dark!

Our tour comes to an end today. You can depart this morning, making your own way to the airport or your next destination. Although there is no departure transfer included, your tour leader will be available to help you plan your onward travel and is on hand to assist you. Safe travels!