About this trip
This is a 12-day coach trip running the length of New Zealand's North and South Islands, from Auckland down to Christchurch. It's a fully guided group trip pitched as easy-paced, though there's no shortage of adrenaline built in along the way.
Expect a mix of food, landscape and activity: fish and chips by the coast, a traditional Māori hāngi meal, and geothermal mud pools bubbling away in the background. Adventure activities are woven through the itinerary rather than being the whole focus.
What you'll do
- Travel overland from Auckland to Christchurch by coach
- Eat a traditional Māori hāngi meal
- Try classic fish and chips
- Watch geothermal mud pools boil
- Take on adrenaline activities along the route
- Easy-paced overall, but includes optional adrenaline activities
- Coach-based, so you cover a lot of ground by road
- Fully guided group format throughout
Worth it if you're keen on the North Island and happy with your guide. Think twice if you're budget-conscious—activities cost roughly £80-90 each and aren't included.
- Activities are pricey add-ons around 100 euros each; base package doesn't include much beyond transport.
- Guide quality makes or breaks it—Susie and Isobel created genuine welcome, local connections, and real adventure throughout.
- Well-organized daily itineraries meant most days felt worthwhile regardless of which optional activities you booked.
- Group dynamics matter; solo travellers report feeling genuinely included and meeting great people throughout.
Distilled from real traveller reviews on TourRadar — we don't edit out the bad bits.
The same-vibe trips, side by side — price, value per day, and how each is moving. Only we can lay two operators' trips out honestly.
Sorted by fit — never by who paid. Price moves and fill fill in from our own tracking as it builds.
Departing in Aug is cheapest — from £1,345, about 28% below the priciest month (Dec).
Getting there
Opens Trip.com, pre-filled — one-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown there.
Where to stay
A night before your tour in Auckland · 31 Jul – 1 Aug
Booked on their own sites, separate from your tour. We may earn a commission — it never changes your price.
Sort the essentials
Partner offersWe may earn a commission from partner offers. It never changes your price or our ranking.
More trips like this
Ranked on real fit — in case this one isn't quite yours.
Booked with the operator via TourRadar · we may earn a commission.
Want longer in New Zealand?
Working holidays, volunteering & more — £50 off with code 18TO35TRAVEL.
Powered by Global Work & Travel · we may earn a commission on bookings.