Holiday Overview
New Zealand has been the backdrop of many successful films over the years, like ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’, ‘King Kong’, ‘Willow’, and more famously ‘Lord of the Rings’. The set of Hobbiton from the ‘Lord of the Rings’ can be visited on this whistle stop trip around North and South Island. During your fly drive you will be able to take in the Southern Alps, the awe-inspiring Fox Glacier and Tranzalpine train. Throughout your trip you will see and experience the Maori culture so you can fully understand the draw to this unique part of the world.
Start Auckland - End Christchurch
12 nights / 13 days
Islands visited: North and South Island
Highlights;
Maori cultural experience in Rotorua
Tranzalpine rail journey through the Southern Alps
Fox Glacier in the small town of Franz Josef
New Zealand’s Movies, Mountains & Maori includes:
- Flights
- 2 nights accommodation Auckland
- 2 nights accommodation Rotorua
- 2 night accommodation Christchurch
- 1 night accommodation Hokitika
- 1 night accommodation Fox Glacier
- 3 nights accommodation Queenstown
- 1 night accommodation Lake Tekapo
- Maori Experience Rotorua
- Transfer to Tranzalpine train
- Tranzalpine train
- Compact car hire
Day 1 - Auckland
Check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure
Why not extend your New Zealand trip with an 'unmissable experience' to the Bay of Islands before starting this itinerary?
Day 2 - Auckland
Spend a full day at leisure exploring the “city of sails”.
Staying at Rydges Auckland
Day 3 - Auckland – Rotorua
Leave Auckland behind and journey to the Maori cultural and geothermal area of Rotorua. Perhaps stop off en route at Matamata for a tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set, as featured in the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit trilogies.
Day 4 - Rotorua
Visit Te Puia a 70-hectare geothermal park right on the edge of Rotorua. It's home of the world famous Phutu geyser and the national carving and weaving schools. They also house the kiwi, New Zealand's most well-known bird and have daily Maori cultural performances.
Day 5 - Rotorua – Christchurch
Take a lunchtime flight from Rotorua to Christchurch, check into your chosen hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 6 - Christchurch – Hokitika via the TranzAlpine train
Take the spectacular rail journey through the Southern Alps from Christchurch to Greymouth, the train departs at 08:15 and arrives in Greymouth at 13:05, continue down the coast to Hokitika.
Day 7 - Hokitika – Fox Glacier
Take the drive from Hokitika to Fox Glacier, perhaps stop off at Franz Josef en route. Ask your consultant for options regarding a once in a lifetime helicopter experience.
Day 8 - Fox Glacier – Queenstown
Drive onwards to one of the South Islands beautiful and exciting hubs, Queenstown. After checking into your chosen hotel, spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 9 - Queenstown
Spend the day at leisure exploring Queenstown. In the evening ride the Skyline Gondola to the top of the mountain for a stargazing guide of the southern skies.
Staying at Heritage Queenstown
Day 10 - Queenstown
Enjoy a full day of leisure in Queenstown, ask you consultant regarding the many tours and excursions available.
Staying at Heritage Queenstown
Day 11 - Queenstown - Lake Tekapo
Depart Queenstown for Tekapo, the township faces north across the remarkable turquoise coloured lake to the mountainous drama of the Southern Alps. Lake Tekapo gets its intense milky-turquoise colour from the fine rock-flour (ground by glaciers) which is suspended in the water. Tekapo is also home to the well photographed Church of the Good Shepherd.
Day 12 - Tekapo - Christchurch
Return to Christchurch and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Perhaps take the Gondola to take in the magnificent view across the city, over the Canterbury Plains and on to the Southern Alps.
Day 13 - Christchurch
Today your journey concludes in Christchurch
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Image Gallery
Matamata - Hobbiton
Mt Doom (Mt Ngauruhoe)
Lake Tekapo - Church of the Good Shepherd
Mt Cook
Maori Culture
Rotorua
Franz Josef Glacier
Alternative Holidays That May Interest You
Below you will find a small selection of 2026, 2027 holidays that may interest you. Remember, we tailor-make each holiday to your exact needs, so please call us on 0800 917 5742 and let one of our Holiday experts design the perfect trip for you
New Zealand’s Movies, Mountains & Maori
- Auckland
- Rotorua
- Christchurch
- Hokitika
- Fox Glacier
- Queenstown
- Lake Tekapo
- Receive a free case of wine
- Save £300 per booking book by 31 October
- Visit Hobbiton
- Travel on the TranzAlpine train
- Climb the Fox Glacier
- Ride the Skyline Gondola
12 Nights from £3740pp
Natural Wonders of Australia & New Zealand
- Christchurch
- Lake Tekapo
- Queenstown
- Sydney
- Cairns
- Melbourne
- Receive a free case of wine
- Save £300 per booking book by 31 October
- Stunning Mountain Scenery in New Zealand
- See Sydney and the Blue Mountains
- Visit the Great Barrier Reef and Tropical Rainforest
- Get up close to Koala's and Penguins on Phillip Island
14 Nights from £4500pp
New Zealand’s Islands, Geysers & Glaciers
- Auckland
- Bay of Islands
- Rotorua
- Napier
- Wellington
- Marlborough Sounds
- Kaikoura
- Christchurch
- Franz Josef
- Wanaka
- Queenstown
- Receive a free case of wine
- Save £300 per booking book by 31 October
- Hibiscus Coast
- Maori cultural experience
- Wellington cable car
- Cruise Milford Sound
21 Nights from £5680pp
New Zealand in Style
- Auckland
- Bay of Islands
- Rotorua
- Christchurch
- Twizel
- Queenstown
- Receive a free case of wine
- Save £300 per booking book by 31 October
- Boutique Accommodation
- Heli Hiking Tour
- Scenic Milford Flight
- Māori culture
15 Nights from £6795pp
Snapshot of North Island
- Auckland
- Rotorua
- Taupo
- Tongariro National Park
- Martinborough
- Wellington
- Receive a free case of wine
- Save £300 per booking book by 31 October
- Matamata for Hobbiton Movie Set
- Mount Victoria lookout
- Rotorua’s geothermal parks
- Tongariro National Park
9 Nights from £1300pp
Golf New Zealand
- Auckland
- Rotorua
- Taupo
- Christchurch
- Hokitika
- Franz Josef
- Queenstown
- Receive a free case of wine
- Save £300 per booking book by 31 October
- Jacks Point Queenstown
- Millbrook Resort Queenstown
- The Kinloch Club Taupo
- Explore Rotorua and its volcanic plateau
14 Nights from £1300pp