Tour Type
International Tours
DEPARTURE INFORMATION
Lower Mainland
March 11, 2026 – 24 Days
Vancouver Island
March 10, 2026 – 25 Days
BC Interior
March 10, 2026 – 25 Days
Activity Level 3
GROUP SIZE
TOUR SUMMARY
Super Natural New Zealand
New Zealand consists of 2 major islands and about 600 smaller ones. The largest city is Auckland with 1.6 million people, and the second largest is Wellington. Otherwise, most of the country is rural. This leisurely tour has enough time for a comprehensive visit to the North and South Islands. We fly to Auckland and home from Christchurch via Auckland. Highlights on the North Island are a cruise in the Bay of Islands, the geysers of Rotorua, Waitomo Glow-worm Cave, the Hobbiton Movie Set, the Te Papa National Museum, and the beautiful capital of Wellington. The South Island is more rugged with high peaks, glaciers, and splendid coastlines. Highlights are the International Antarctic Centre, TranzAlpine train excursion, Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, Mount Cook, a Zodiac trip among the icebergs of Tasman Lake, and a cruise on Milford Sound. Some wonderful hotels are featured including the renowned Hermitage. Join Wells Gray Tours for an amazing itinerary around New Zealand!
WHAT’S INCLUDED
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Meals
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38 meals
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37 meals
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36 meals
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Transportation
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Accommodation
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Guides & Gratuities
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Knowledgeable Wells Gray tour director
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Tour Highlights (Included)
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TOUR FARES
| Departure Point | Fares per Person |
|---|---|
$19,995$23,745 |
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$20,170$23,920 |
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$19,870$23,535 |
- Please add 0.1% GST.
- There is an additional cost to fly from/to Nanaimo or Comox to join this tour.
Early Booking Bonus!
$300 on first 8 seats; $150 on next 6.
DEPARTURE POINTS & DATES
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Level
High Activity: You are an active traveler who wants to explore wherever you go. You don’t mind a mix of full days, early morning starts, long flights, and some late nights. You can walk longer distances, up to 4 km without difficulty which may be over uneven ground, beaches/shorelines, or at higher elevations; climb in and out of zodiacs or small boats without any assistance; stand for prolonged periods; can climb three flights of stairs easily and unassisted; and can handle your own luggage in airports or at hotels where luggage handling may not be available.
This tour is not appropriate for people with canes, walkers, wheelchairs, or other mobility assistance devices. Hiking poles are fine. Additionally, this tour is not appropriate for those who have cognitive impairments such as memory loss or confusion, difficulty expressing thoughts, repeating questions, or getting lost. The tour director and driver have many responsibilities, so please do not expect them, or your fellow travelers, to provide ongoing assistance. If you are not capable of keeping up with the group or require frequent assistance, the tour director may stop you from participating in some activities or some days of the tour. In extreme situations, you may be required to leave the tour and travel home at your own expense; travel insurance will probably not cover you.
Please read the Activity Level 3 declaration attached to this brochure. By paying the tour deposit, you agree that you are capable of travelling on an Activity Level 3 tour.
Tour Size
This tour is limited to 25 participants, making it a more intimate travel experience.
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Documentation: A passport is required and must be valid for 3 months after your return date. A Visa is not required for Canadians, but you must obtain a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority via a website before arrival.
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Currency & Expenses: The currency in New Zealand is the dollar and, as of March 2025, a Canadian dollar is worth about NZ$1.20. You should order New Zealand dollars from your bank 1-2 weeks before departure, or plan to use ATMs. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere. Gratuities are included for all group meals and for New Zealand guides and drivers. Tipping is not expected for meals you buy on your own and tax is included on menu prices. Costs for meals you choose yourself are higher than in Canada.
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Please book early!: New Zealand is a very popular tourist destination. Some hotels have strict policies about our commitment to the number of rooms needed and will cancel rooms from our original reservation if they can sell the rooms to other visitors. If this happens, we have to consider the tour full, even though seats are available on the motorcoach. Therefore, waiting too long to book usually means “Sorry, wait till 2028, our next tour.”
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Accommodation: Accommodation is booked in superior hotels in the range of 3 to 5 stars. Hotel costs are similar to those in large Canadian cities, so many travelers would consider them expensive. However, on an extensive holiday like this, you want to be staying in well-located and memorable accommodations.
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Beverages: Included meals usually have complimentary coffee, tea, or water. Wine, beer, or soft drinks can be purchased and are occasionally included. Please bring a refillable water bottle for use during the travelling days.
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Flight upgrades: Please enquire about current prices for upgrades on the flights between Vancouver and Auckland. Premium economy and business class may be available.
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Flight seating: We are unable to take requests for window or aisle seating on the planes. The airline will not accept them, as group seating is assigned as a block. If this is important to you, we suggest you take the “No Flight” option with a fare reduction (cost available in May 2025) and book your own flight which allows seat selection.
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Food Allergies: You must notify us no later than at final payment if you have a food allergy. This tour goes to some remote places where restaurants may not be able to satisfy all food allergies. An allergy causes medical distress, a preference does not. For some allergies, please consider bringing your own snacks or food items so you are not dependent on what restaurants are able to serve.
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Payments: A deposit of $1,000 per person is requested at time of booking and balance is due November 6, 2025. By paying the deposit, you agree to the Terms & Conditions, Activity Level 3 Declaration, and Cancellation Policy outlined. Payments can be made by online banking or cheque (1.5% discount on tour fare), or by Visa or Mastercard ($5,000 limit per person on credit cards).
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Early Booking Bonus: Receive a $300 discount on the first 8 seats and $150 on the next 6 seats for booking early with deposit. The discount is not offered after November 6, 2025.
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Cancellation Policy: Up to October 6, 2025, the cancellation charge is $100 per person. From October 7 to November 6, 2025, the cancellation charge is $400 per person. From November 7 to December 5, 2025, the cancellation charge is 30% of the tour fare. From December 6, 2025 to January 6, 2026, the cancellation charge is 80% of the tour fare. After January 6, there is no refund.
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Itinerary and Fare Changes: Our many suppliers may notify us about changes to the itinerary prior to departure and sometimes during the tour. We do our best to substitute a similar service if something cancels, but occasionally the only alternative is to provide a refund for the missed activity. Please note that if we are forced to cancel a tour component due to an issue beyond our control, the current penalties still apply if you choose to cancel the entire tour. Fuel surcharges and changes to taxes, currency exchange rates, or other tour costs can occur at any time, therefore Wells Gray Tours reserves the right to increase fares due to such changes up to departure.
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Flight delays or cancellations: Flights can be delayed or cancelled at the last minute, sometimes causing a missed connection. Wells Gray staff will try to assist with rebooking, but the airline usually wants to talk with the individual passenger. There may be an extra payment required if the issue is weather. Wells Gray Tours is not allowed to interfere with this process. Check that your travel insurance policy has a flight delay benefit because that is usually your best recourse for recouping additional flight costs.
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Travel Insurance: A Comprehensive Insurance policy is available through Wells Gray Tours and coverage is provided by Travel Guard. Policies purchased at deposit include a waiver of the pre-existing condition clause for medical and cancellation claims, otherwise policies can be purchased no later than at final payment. Medical questionnaire is not needed. Please contact us for details. If you have your own travel insurance, please read the policy carefully to be sure that you are adequately covered for medical, cancellation, interruption, and luggage.
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Photo Credits: Unsplash (Milford Sound, Church of the Good Shepherd, Queenstown), Pixabay (Hole in the Rock, Auckland), and tour director Jill (Hobbiton).
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Experience Points or E-points: This tour earns 305 e-points. Each time you travel on a Wells Gray tour, you earn e-points that are added to your account after the tour returns. One e-point equals $1. Redeem your earned points on select tours or accumulate enough points to earn a free tour! Redemptions offered until November 6, 2025.
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Consumer Protection BC Licenses: Kamloops 178, Vernon 655, Kelowna 588, Penticton 924, Victoria 65842