New Zealand

New Zealand

Travelling through New Zealand you'll experience spectacularly beautiful landscapes that range from vast mountain chains, steaming volcanoes & sweeping coastlines to deeply indented fiords and lush rainforests.

Luxury Adventures are specialists in tailored luxury vacations & holidays in New Zealand, Australia & the South Pacific Islands

Comparable in size and/or shape to Great Britain, Colorado and Japan, New Zealand has a population of only 5 million – making it one of the world’s least crowded and safest countries to travel to. It’s a haven for those seeking peace; rejuvenation and relaxation as well as a playground for thrill seekers and adventurers. A temperate climate with relatively small seasonal variation makes it a year-round holiday destination.

Luxury Adventures combine an extensive repertoire of luxury accommodation and unique experiences to create memorable vacations/holidays that are truly extraordinary. Along the way you’ll have the opportunity to meet real kiwi’s so you experience the true essence of New Zealand!

New Zealand’s vivid colour contrasts and spectacular surroundings are not the only things that make this wonderfully diverse country so special. The friendly down to earth people, and relaxed yet enthusiastic culture all contribute to its overall uniqueness as a travel destination. New Zealand is made up of two main islands; the North & South Islands. The North Island has a more temperate climate and is gentler in form becoming more subtropical at the top of the Island; the South Island, the larger of the two, has its gentle side too, but the more south you go, the wilder it gets until, in its Alpine heights, it becomes a landscape of lush rainforest and steep mountains and glaciers.

Come and experience the variety and true beauty of New Zealand with Luxury Adventures. Be inspired by our sample itineraries then have us create a tailored New Zealand vacation especially for you. We can also include Australia as well as the South Pacific Islands! Simply contact us to start planning your tailored New Zealand vacation now!

Sample Itineraries

North Island Regions

Northland

With the wild Tasman Sea buffeting the West Coast and the South Pacific lapping the East Coast, the pleasures of New Zealand's top half are deliciously salt-flavoured.

Bay of Islands

New Zealand welcomes you to the Bay of Islands. Perhaps the finest collection of Islands, Bays and beaches in the country.
Auckland City lights

Auckland

Welcome to Auckland, one of New Zealand's major tourist destinations. Auckland is located in the north of the North Island and is the biggest city in New Zealand.

Coromandel Peninsula

Fabulous golden and white sand beaches with magnificent coastal scenery, a rugged, forest cloaked interior waiting to be explored are just some of the natural attractions in The Coromandel.

Great Barrier Island

New Zealand welcomes you to the Bay of Islands. Perhaps the finest collection of Islands, Bays and beaches in the country.

Waiheke Island

Waiheke Island is just a 35 minutes ferry ride from downtown Auckland and is situated in the beautiful Hauraki Gulf.

Rotorua

Rotorua is considered one of the “must visit” destinations in New Zealand, and attracts visitors throughout the year.
Acacia Cliffs Lodge Taupo, New Zealand

Taupo

The focus of this region is Lake Taupo - New Zealand's largest lake (619 square kilometres) and the heart of the North Island.

Tongariro

Tongariro National Park is located in the middle of the North Island of New Zealand. In the ‘Central Plateau’ the underlying rocks and soils are of volcanic origin.

Hawkes Bay

Amongst the favorite vacation destinations in New Zealand for locals and international visitors alike is The Hawke's Bay; the foremost food and wine destination of the country.

Gisborne

Eastland is the place where the first Polynesian migration canoes landed, where Captain Cook made his first landfall and where Maori and European first encountered each other.

Wellington

Come and find an escape that's inspiring and colourful, remembered for the laughter and great conversations, fascinating for the things you've never seen before.

South Island Regions

Nelson

Nelson is a pocket paradise nestled in the top northwest corner of the South Island.
Biking the vines Marlborough

Marlborough Sounds

The Marlborough Sounds are an unspoilt paradise for those who love the sea, tranquillity, the natural world, freedom walking or outdoor adventure.

Abel Tasman

Welcome to the Able Tasman National Park the only coastal national park in New Zealand and situated at the very top of the South Island.

Christchurch

Christchurch city is located midway down the East Coast of the South Island, just north of Banks Peninsula. Christchurch is the South Island's largest city.

Canterbury

Canterbury, a unique combination of nine supremely beautiful and different districts, on the East coast of New Zealand’s South Island.

West Coast

In New Zealand, the 'West Coast' generally refers to the narrow strip of land between the South Island's Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea.

Franz Josef/Fox Glacier

New Zealand boasts two of the most spectacular glaciers in the world - Franz Josef and Fox glaciers.

Hokitika

Here, visitors are welcome to rub shoulders with West Coasters & to experience the stories of nature, history & culture that are at the heart of Hokitika.

Wanaka

Wanaka is located in Central Otago, where large flocks of moas once lived, and is sheltered behind the Southern Alps in the South Island.

Queenstown

Queenstown is known for its stunning scenery, luxury accommodation, fine wine and cuisine, winter sports and adventure activities.

Dunedin

Dunedin is widely regarded as the best preserved Victorian and Edwardian heritage city in the southern hemisphere.

Fiordland

Fiordland is a geographic region of New Zealand, which is located on the south western corner of its South Island.

Stewart Island

Stewart Island is located at the very bottom of New Zealand. Visiting Stewart Island and Rakiura National park is certainly a great experience.

Getting to New Zealand

From the West Coast of the United States, a direct flight to New Zealand is 12 hours. There are now also direct flights available from San Francisco & Texas. Other places on the Pacific Rim, like Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo, take around 10 hours.

When travelling to New Zealand from another country, you’ll probably arrive here at one of four major airports – Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, or Queenstown with the majority landing in Auckland. Domestic flights are operated out of all the main airports including Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington and Christchurch.

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Sydney International Airport is located in the Sydney suburb of Mascot. It is the major airport serving Sydney, and is a major hub for Qantas. It is the world’s oldest continually operated commercial airport, and the busiest commercial airport in Australia, handling in excess of 26 million passengers per year, which is expected to rise to over 68 million by 2020. The airport is located 9km (6 miles) south of Sydney.

Flight Times to Sydney
Auckland, New Zealand: 2 hr 55 min
Melbourne, Australia: 1 hr 35 mins
Brisbane, Australia: 1 hrs 30 mins
Perth, Australia: 5 hrs
Los Angeles, USA: 14 hr 40 min
New York City, USA: 21 hrs
London, England: 14 hr 40 min
Hong Kong: 8 hr 50 min
Singapore: 12 hrs 20 mins
Nadi, Fiji: 3 hrs 55 mins
Papeete, Tahiti: 9 hrs 20 mins
Dubai, UAE: 14 hrs 35 mins

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Melbourne International Airport Melbourne is the gateway for air travel in Victoria, the airport is located 25km (15 miles) northwest of Melbourne.

Flying Times to Melbourne
Auckland, New Zealand: 3 hr 40 min
Los Angeles, USA: 15 hr 20 min
London, England: 16 hr 15 min
Hong Kong: 9 hr 10 min
Sydney, Australia: 1 hr 35 min
Brisbane, Australia: 2 hrs 10 mins
Perth, Australia: 4 hrs 15 mins

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Brisbane International Airport Brisbane Airport is conveniently located approximately 15-20 minutes drive (13 km) from Brisbane CBD, 75 minutes drive from the Gold Coast and 105 minutes drive from the Sunshine Coast.

Flying Times to Brisbane
Auckland, New Zealand: 3 hr 00 min
Los Angeles, USA: 16 hr 15 min
London, England: 22 hr 30 min
Hong Kong: 8 hr 35 min
Cairns, Australia: 2 hr 05 min
Perth, Australia: 5 hrs 45 mins
Sydney, Australia: 1 hr 30 min
Melbourne, Australia: 2 hours 10 mins

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Queenstown International Airport is one of the most dramatic in the world – surrounded on both sides by spectacular, rugged mountains. Queenstown Airport is located close to town in the lakeside suburb of Frankton.

Flying Times to Queenstown

Auckland: 1 hr 50 mins
Rotorua: 1 hr 45 mins
Wellington: 1 hrs 30 mins
Christchurch: 45 mins

New Zealand FAQ's

The longest direct flight in New Zealand is from Auckland to Queenstown this is 2 hours. Shorter flights are also readily available such as the flight from Auckland to Rotorua taking only 40mins and the Christchurch to Queenstown flight only takes 1 hour. So it is very easy to fly around the country visiting lots of destinations during your vacation.

You can visit New Zealand at any time of the year. Summer and winter temperatures vary by only about 10°C (50°F) over most of the country, making New Zealand an ideal holiday destination all year round. There are 4 quite distinct seasons – Spring (Sept-Nov), Summer (Dec-Feb), Autumn/Fall (Mar-May) and Winter (June-Aug). In summer there’s plenty of sunshine, and activities in and around the water include Fishing (saltwater, freshwater and big game) mountain biking, Scuba diving, golf and hunting. In fact just about any thing you can imagine! You’ll find snow on the mountains in winter and excellent skiing. Away from the mountains, New Zealand winters are mild and temperatures generally do not fall below freezing.

New Zealand’s International Airports are at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown & Dunedin. Most International flights will land at Auckland.

All visitors to New Zealand must carry a passport that is valid for at least three months beyond the date you intend to leave the country. Most visitors who intend to stay for less than 3 months do not require a visa. If you want to stay longer than three months, or your country of origin does not have a visa waiver agreement with New Zealand, then you will need to apply for a Visitor’s Visa. Please go to www.immigration.govt.nz for more information.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have valid passports, visas and re-entry permits which meet the requirements of immigration and other government authorities. Any fines, penalties, payments or expenditures incurred as a result of such documents not meeting the requirements of those authorities will be your sole responsibility. All travelers must have a valid passport for international travel and many countries require at least 6 months validity from the date of return and some countries require a machine-readable passport. If you need information regarding visa and other travel document requirements for your trip please let us know. You can find more information about entering New Zealand here.

Yes – Buying a local SIM at your destination is the way to go & often better than international roaming, especially if you’re staying for an extended time and your plan doesn’t have roaming inclusions. Even $5 per day can add up quickly. If you have an eSIM-enabled smartphone, you can literally just download a digital SIM card to your phone when you get to the airport, or even before you leave. You won’t need to hunt around the airport for a local SIM. All you’ll need to do is download an app or scan a QR code.

You can drive in New Zealand without a New Zealand driver licence if:

-You have a current and valid overseas licence or driver permit, and

-You haven’t been given a disqualification or suspension in New Zealand, and

-You came into New Zealand less than 12 months ago, and

Your overseas licence is in English, or you have an accurate translation, and

-You haven’t been granted a New Zealand driver licence since you last entered New Zealand.

As the holder of a valid and current overseas driver licence, you’re considered to hold a New Zealand driver licence of a class that allows you to drive the motor vehicles you are allowed to drive under your overseas licence

It is relatively easy to drive around New Zealand. New Zealanders drive on the left-hand side of the road. Drivers give way (or yield) to all traffic crossing or approaching from the right.

Tipping in New Zealand is not expected. However, tipping for great service is at your discretion.

All goods and services are subject to a 15 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST). This is included in the displayed price of most items.

Dress is informal and relaxed on most occasions. Smart casual clothes are acceptable at most restaurants and nightspots. Men are generally not expected to wear suits and ties, except in a few of the top formal bars and restaurants in major cities. In summer a light jacket or sweater should be included in your luggage should the weather turn cooler or you visit the high country. You can expect some rain, so include a light waterproof jacket or coat. Pack warm winter clothing if visiting between May and September. Layer your clothing.

New Zealand’s seasons are the reverse of the Northern Hemisphere. This means that the warmest months are December, January and February, while the coldest are in June, July and August. In summer, the average maximum temperature ranges between 20-30°C and in winter between 10-15°C.

 SummerAutumnWinterSpring
 LowHighLowHighLowHighLowHigh
Northland152413218161118
Auckland152312208151118
Waikato1223920514818
Bay of Plenty/Coromandel14231120615918
Rotorua1222918413817
Taupo/Central Plateau1123818312717
Eastland13241020515919
Hawke’s Bay14241020514919
Wanganui/Manawatu13221018613917
Wairarapa1123819313717
Taranaki13211119614916
Wellington13201117712915
Marlborough1223819313818
Nelson1322818213817
Canterbury1228818212717
West Coast1219917413815
Mt Cook Mackenzie820415-17314
Coastal Otago1118815410715
Central Otago102861709517
Southland918615110514
Fiordland91951519415