Explore the wildlife on a boat trip outside Christchurch in New Zealand

Luxury New Zealand Family Vacation

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

New Zealand

Places Visited

Bay of Islands, Rotorua, Christchurch, Queenstown

Suggested Duration

16 Days

Effortlessly blending natural superlatives with child friendly adventure, this custom tailored luxury vacation brings New Zealand to life for the whole family. Tranquility merges with exhilaration, sumptuous lodges hide amongst inspiring landscapes, and every activity holds the attention of both children and adults. Travel time is kept to a bare minimum and each of your four destinations burst with endless opportunity to explore New Zealand at its most authentic.

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Take the ultimate helicopter ride by cruising through Fjordland National Park and landing on an isolated glacier
  • Sail around the Bay of Islands archipelago in a yacht, stopping at secluded bays and enjoying abundant marine life
  • White water raft down the Rangitaiki River and jet boat along the Dart River, each journey filled with thrills and achingly beautiful surroundings
  • Watch geysers explode and mud pools bubble at the thermal wonderland of Wai-O-Tapu
  • Hot air balloon across Canterbury, New Zealand’s astounding aesthetics revealed from a tranquil vantage point
  • Discover the world’s smallest and cutest dolphin species on a wildlife boat safari near Christchurch
  • Enjoy vehicle rental throughout the trip, enabling the whole family to explore their own side of New Zealand
  • Limit travel time by taking domestic flights and spending three or four days at each unique destination
  • Enjoy idiosyncratic luxury accommodation throughout, each hand-selected choice blending into the natural environment and offering endless charm

Detailed Description

New Zealand has all the ingredients to serve up the perfect family vacation. It oozes serenity and a laid-back atmosphere, ensuring every adult can float on a dreamy blanket of relaxing bliss. The renowned natural splendor provides the ultimate playground, emanating opportunity for the whole family to explore. Jet boat rides, hot air ballooning, dolphin cruises, helicopters landing on isolated glaciers; these are activities that fill children with an exhilarated smile and inspired eyes. Yet they’re equally marvelous for the accompanying parents. This tailored itinerary pieces together New Zealand’s finest family charms, filling the itinerary with forever memorable experiences. There’s also lots of free time, and with a rental vehicle included you can explore your own personal piece of the country.

The biggest stress of a family vacation is the actual travel, so this itinerary keeps it to a bare minimum. Internal flights connect you to four distinct destinations, each complimented by sumptuous luxury accommodation. Start in the Bay of Islands, a pristine archipelago of hidden coves and lush waters. Sail through the uninhabited islands on a luxury yacht, take a micro-flight over Ninety Mile Beach, and be guided through ancient scenic reserves full of delight and intrigue. It’s untamed, idyllic, and always delivering jaw-dropping views. Journey to the heart of Maori heritage, the thermal wonderland of Rotorua filled with exploding geysers, cultural journeys, white water rafting, and endless enchantment. With a heavenly location on the Central Plateau, these four days afford stunning opportunities to discover the country’s famed Middle Earth scenery.

Christchurch provides the vacation’s city angle. It's imbued with an endearing sense of optimism and togetherness. Just a few years on from the devastating earthquake, it’s been rebuilt and redefined with unforgettable style and determination. Cruise above it all in a hot air balloon, gazing across at a blue ocean and rugged mountains. Spend a day in Akaroa, a wildlife cruise bringing astonishing shots of Hector’s dolphins, and a myriad of activities getting you even closer to these endemic beauties. Nestled between fjords and peaks, beautiful Queenstown is your final stop. Your family heads deep into the wilderness here, with a jet boat safari heading to 80 million year old forests, and a breathtaking helicopter ride exploring Fjordland National Park. You’re witnessing places that rarely see tourist eyes, epitomized by landing on a secluded glacier and flying past artistic natural ice formations.

Like all New Zealand family vacations, this itinerary is fully customizable and any of the activities can be substituted for something more appealing to your family. Maybe glass-blowing? How about a horse-back trail ride or a trek along a famous hiking trail? With these four destinations there’s endless choice to keep adults and children entertained. And for all the excitement and adventure, the carefully chosen collection of accommodation ensures there’s always absolute peace and luxury indulgence to complete the day.

Starting Price

$18,300 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service

4.85 stars based on 1603 reviews.

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