The ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’ – it’s a classic Kiwi understatement if there ever was one. And while most travellers are drawn to New Zealand for those epic experiences out in nature – the open spaces, the dusted peaks, the lakes that pop with blue and make a mockery of Instagram filters – that stuff is just the tip of the glacier. From the feather-clad harbingers of Maoritanga to the happening backstreets of Wellington and Dunedin, to the natural beauty of Milford Sound, this country jumps with vitality in more ways than the merely geological. Come for the epic trails and bubbling geysers, stay for the friendliest folk in the southern hemisphere.
Departing | Trip name | Days | From EUR | |
---|---|---|---|---|
16 Feb 2023Active New Zealand: Wanaka |
Queenstown to Queenstown |
4 |
|
|
18 Feb 2023Cycle New Zealand: Otago Rail Trail |
Cycle New Zealand: Otago Rail Trail Queenstown to Queenstown |
4 |
|
|
19 Feb 2023Whanganui River Adventure |
Taupo to New Plymouth |
5 |
|
|
5 Mar 2023Walk New Zealand's Abel Tasman National Park |
Walk New Zealand's Abel Tasman National Park Nelson to Nelson |
5 |
|
Explore the rugged reaches of the South Island on this six-day trip with Intrepid from...
Explore the rugged reaches of the South Island on a 12-day adventure through the West...
Cycle New Zealand's South Island, from Queenstown to Middlemarch’s Otago plains. Follow...
Take in the spectacular scenery of the South Island on a 4-day walking adventure along...
Take five days to discover New Zealand’s natural North Island with Intrepid. From Lake...
Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary
Explore New Zealand’s South Island on a 10-day small group tour which includes Franz...
Explore the rugged West Coast on this 7-day trip from Christchurch to Queenstown,...
Uncover the natural wonders of New Zealand’s North Island on an eight-day Premium...
Explore lakes, mountains and rivers on a 4-day Wanaka adventure, taking in Arrowtown,...
Discover the best of New Zealand on a 17-day Premium adventure, taking in the most...
Follow the iconic Coast Track of Abel Tasman National Park on this 5-day walking tour...
Be amazed by New Zealand’s beauty on a 10-day adventure through the South Island,...
Mountains, lakes and glaciers await on a 7-day adventure through New Zealand’s South...
Hit the road for a 10-day adventure through New Zealand’s North Island, taking in...
Discover the best of New Zealand’s North Island on a 10-day adventure taking in Rotorua...
Join a local leader for a 4-day exploration of New Zealand’s Northland region,...
The best of New Zealand’s North Island awaits on a thrilling adventure through...
Uncover the very best of New Zealand over 20 days on an unforgettable journey from...
The very best of New Zealand awaits on an in-depth 20-day adventure, taking in...
Adventure is calling – spend 8 days exploring New Zealand’s North Island, from...
Spend 21 days discovering the very best of New Zealand, from the north to the south,...
The best of New Zealand awaits! Spend 17 days exploring Christchurch, Queenstown, Franz...
Discover the best of New Zealand on a 17-day north to south adventure taking in Rotorua...
An abundance of natural wonders awaits in New Zealand’s South Island. Spend 14 days...
Join a 5-day small group tour for advanced skiers and snowboarders visiting Porters...
Ski the slopes of New Zealand’s Southern Alps on a 7-day small group tour that includes...
Ski the slopes of New Zealand’s Southern Alps on a 7-day small group tour that includes...
Ski and snowboard the very best slopes of New Zealand’s Southern Alps on a 12-day small...
Sometimes the best way to really get to know a place is by getting out into nature...
Here's an idea: visit one and then immediately go to the other one straight after.
Even if your family has already seen a lot of Australia and New Zealand, these kid...
Get your culture on with these cool cultural activities in Australia and New...
With the announcement of a trans-Tasman bubble, we’ve compiled five fantastic...
Calling the Bay of Islands the ‘Winterless North’ is a big statement, but this...
A go-to guide to New Zealand's most epic one-day hike.
The best way to explore Nelson is by walking around it.
The South Island of New Zealand is the star of the show for many visitors. Here...
New Zealand is full of bustling cities and beautiful scenery but which island does...
Choosing where to go for breakfast can be tough. Make sure you get it right!
Refuel and recharge at these top restaurants in Wanaka.
Discover some of New Zealand’s most delicious dining options at 5 of the best...
The east coast of the North Island of New Zealand includes the stunning scenery of...
Here are some of our favourite new Intrepid Premium accommodation options for an...
It turns out that Queenstown is not where Mother Nature's beauty ends...
There’s nowhere else on the planet that offers the diversity of landscapes,...
From classic cocktails to creative concoctions, these top Christchurch bars have...
In case you're feeling overwhelmed at the many activities you can do in the Bay of...
It's not just Queenstown that gets the heart rate going.
Nature runs the show at Milford Sound, and you have a front-row ticket. Find out...
It's one of the North Island's most unique and dazzling experiences.
From the Bay of Islands to Rotorua to Wellington, there's a thing or two to learn...
It's a tough choice. From Maori encounters to next-level mountain scenery, New...
It's the world's most liveable city they didn't tell you about.
Friendly locals, fascinating Māori culture and out-of-this-world landscapes make...
Who needs sun and sand? We've got the perfect alternative.
As the responsible travel movement gains momentum, more countries are asking...
By the time we ended our two weeks in New Zealand's North Island, our Intrepid...
The towns on this list are lesser-known destinations. Although some of them serve...
Travelling alone doesn’t mean you have to travel alone. One of the best ways I’ve...
Some of the most picturesque glaciers on planet Earth may be available for a...
Travelling with Intrepid is a little bit different. We endeavour to provide travellers with an authentic experience to remember, so we try to keep accommodation as unique and traditional as possible.
When travelling with us in New Zealand you may find yourself staying in a:
One of the most relaxing ways to experience New Zealand’s natural world is aboard an overnight boat. Spot wildlife and admire the scenery during the day, and drift off to sleep at night.
Every Intrepid small group tour has been carefully designed to make sure you have an unforgettable grassroots travel experience, with ultimate itineraries, perfectly sized groups, legendary local leaders and plenty of authentic real life experiences.
Trips on or before 31 December 2022
If your Intrepid trip starts on or before 31 December 2022, you must provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19.
If you are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons, you may apply for an exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To apply, you must provide a medical certificate from a medical professional.
Children under 18 are exempt. Children aged between 5 and 17 years old must provide proof of either vaccination, recovery or a negative COVID-19 test.
Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards
From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).
However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.
Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.
Australia: No - not required
Belgium: No - not required
Canada: No - not required
Germany: No - not required
Ireland: No - not required
Netherlands: No - not required
New Zealand: No - not required
South Africa: No - not required
Switzerland: No - not required
United Kingdom: No - not required
USA: No - not required
For the most up to date information on visa requirements, we recommend you contact the New Zealand embassy in your country or visit http://www.immigration.govt.nz
Tipping isn’t mandatory in New Zealand, however rounding up the bill or leaving spare change is common practice. Restaurant staff, taxi drivers and other service workers welcome tips for good service.
Internet access is widely available in most parts of New Zealand, with internet cafes and Wi-Fi hot spots commonly found in urban areas.
Mobile phone coverage is excellent in most parts of New Zealand, especially in large cities and urban areas. Remote, rural and mountainous places may have limited to no coverage, so be aware of this before venturing away from the city. Ensure global roaming is activated before leaving your home country if you want to use your mobile.
You'll find western-style flushable toilet in most parts of New Zealand.
Cup of coffee = 3–4 NZD
Jug of beer = 15–18 NZD
Lunch at a cafe = 10–20 NZD
Dinner at a restaurant = 30–40 NZD
Drinking water from taps in New Zealand is considered safe, unless otherwise marked. For environmental reasons, try to use a refillable water bottle rather than buying bottled water.
Credit cards are widely accepted by shops, restaurants and cafes in New Zealand. Smaller establishments may only accept cash or require a minimum purchase for credit card use, so be sure to carry enough cash for smaller purchases.
ATMs are commonly found in large cities and regional towns in New Zealand. ATM access will be very limited in remote areas so be aware of this before heading out of the city.
Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.
For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance
Please note these dates are for 2017. For a current list of public holidays in New Zealand go to: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/new-zealand/public-holidays
New Zealand legalised same-sex marriage in 2013, and is by and large welcoming of gay and gender-fluid communities. While the big cities such as Auckland and Wellington are accommodating towards LGBTQI travellers, caution should be used in rural areas where conservative views are more prevalent (as in any developed country). For more detailed and up-to-date information, visit Equaldex or Smartraveller before you travel.
Intrepid is committed to travelling in a way that is respectful of local people, their culture, local economies and the environment. It's important to remember that what may be acceptable behaviour, dress and language in your own country, may not be appropriate in another. Please keep this in mind while travelling.
In New Zealand, we stay in locally run accommodation including guesthouses, smaller-scale hotels and homestays in an effort to support the local economies. We also visit locally-run restaurants and markets where travellers will have opportunities to support local businesses and purchase handicrafts created by local artisans.