New Zealand Contrasts - Travel Details

Activities

Hiking

Hiking brings us closer to nature and is therefore an integral part of our tours. However, we are not interested in speed hiking nor long distance hiking, and we don’t expect anyone to break records.

In order to enjoy our hikes you should be in reasonable health, flexible and resilient. You should reckon with the odd rainy day and occasional wet feet.

You will need weather-proof ankle-high hiking boots. If you are used to hiking with trekking poles you should bring some. We have put together an equipment list, tried and tested on many tours. Many of the items you can also hire from us (see rental equipment).

We go on easy short walks of 2-3h duration and on longer hikes of 3-5h. On these longer hikes we sometimes walk on gravel or rock and sometimes cross-country. We walk on moderate slopes and encounter altitude differences of up to 600m.
Hiking distances can often be adjusted depending on your personal fitness level. On some hiking days there is also the option of alternative activities. Feel free to discuss any concerns with us before you book or talk to your guide during the tour.

Sailing Cruise

Maori Waka Canoe Tour

You will be introduced to a unique world filled with ancient spirituality and tribal traditional customs. You will be taught the way of the Ngapuhi (North Island Maori) while learning ancient chants, customs and traditions of Waka (traditional Maori canoe). The morning starts with a tour in a Waka, an official welcome, followed by talking and singing.

We will be paddling about 1-2 hours in the Waka, but as it is a team effort this shouldn’t be too strenuous. In case of strong wind or current a small outboard motor will assist us.

Tongariro National Park & Tongariro Crossing

Tongariro National Park and its impressive volcanic landscapes is a must-see and offers a wide range of first-class walking tracks. Three partly active volcanoes form the heart of the park: Mt. Tongariro, Mt. Ruapehu and Mt. Ngauruhoe, the youngest and thus most symmetrical volcano in the park.

Depending on weather and fitness we can choose from a variety of different walks, most of which offer fantastic views of all three volcanoes and lead through impressive volcanic landscapes.

You have the option of hiking the Tongariro Crossing, often referred to as "the best one-day hike in New Zealand”. It passes over varied and spectacular volcanic terrain complete with twisted lava formations, volcanic steam vents and colourful crater lakes. The scenery is so fantastic - so otherworldly - that this area was used as one of the settings for Peter Jackson's film trilogy Lord of the Rings. The Crossing spans the length of Mt Tongariro (18.5 Kilometres) and takes about 6-8 hours.

This hike falls into category 3, i.e. hiking time of about 6-8 h and altitude difference of 1000 m. You will need comfortable weather-proof ankle-high hiking boots. The Crossing has to be hiked autonomously, but your guide will help with all necessary preparations and can transport you to the starting point and pick you up from the finishing point.

Maori Kaikoura Tour

Optional Activities

The itinerary allows time for optional activities. Here is an overview of some of the available options. Prices as of February 2010 and subject to change.

Free Time

On this tour you will experience many fun-filled adventures, but will also have time to enjoy those special little things along the way. We can’t and don’t want to show you all of New Zealand in four weeks. No matter which of our tours you choose, we always endeavour to take in many well-known sights and true New Zealand highlights but also lesser-known treasures off the beaten track. 

You always have the option to decide whether you want to join the group in an activity or if you prefer having some time to yourself. Please talk to your guide if you would like alternative arrangements. 

We would like to point out, though, that you can not claim for refund of included activities. If you can not take up some of the included services for good reasons (f.ex. unforeseen early departure) we will endeavour to claim for a refund of saved expenses of the service or activity providers. This obligation does not need to be performed for expenses of less than NZ$ 50, or if the refund is against regulations.

Accommodation

General

Hotel and Guest House

The hotels and guest houses belong to the middle-class category. Some of them are unique historic houses.  The rooms are individually different. Sometimes the standard between rooms may vary slightly. Some may have en-suites while others have separate bathrooms. All rooms usually have tea- and coffee making facilities. Most places also provide washing machines and dryers for guest use. 

Bed & Breakfast Homestay

We usually choose small, family-run Bed & Breakfast homestays so that you can enjoy personal contact with our hosts. The groups are usually distributed to different guest families as they normally only run a small number of rooms as guest rooms.

Holiday Home

Sometimes we choose a holiday home, which is a fully furnished house with several rooms and bathrooms. Their standard is comparable to a hotel, but with the added bonus of a fully equipped kitchen and lounge. This gives us the option to prepare our own breakfasts and dinners.  

Cabin

The cabins we use belong to the middle-class category. Each cabin has one or two bedrooms with double or twin (two single) beds and bathroom facilities. All bedding, pillows and towels are provided.  Almost all cabins also have basic kitchen facilities, and a common room is provided in most cases.

Solo Traveler

Participants traveling alone have the option of sharing a twin room or booking a single room. 

If you choose to share a twin room we will endeavour to find a suitable room mate. If we haven’t found one two weeks prior to departure we will only charge you a reduced single supplement of NZ$650 for the entire tour.

If you wish to book a single room for the entire tour, the surcharge is NZ$ 1.225. There is only a limited number of single rooms available in most places, thus a single room booking is always subject to confirmation.
You also have the option of booking a single room only for the first/last night in Auckland and Christchurch. The surcharge in this case is NZ$ 85 per night.

Equipment

For your luggage we recommend that you use a backpack or soft bag/suitcase. We strongly advise that you do not bring a hard-sided suitcase as they are bulky and difficult to fit into our vehicle. Your travel gear needs to be robust rather than bulky. Two smaller travel bags are often easier to carry and store than one big piece of luggage. That also gives you the option of leaving one of the two in the vehicle with unnecessary clothing etc. The weight limit for luggage on the tour is ca. 20kg per person.  

You will also need a small day pack that can fit snacks/lunch, a water bottle, a rain-proof jacket and your camera gear.

For our walks you will need comfortable weather-proof ankle-high hiking boots. If you are used to hiking with trekking poles you should bring some.

We have put together an equipment list, tried and tested on many tours. Many of the items you can also hire from us (see rental equipment).

Meals

All participants are expected to play a part in the meal preparation.

Breakfast on the entire tour is included in the tour price and ingredients will be bought and prepared by the guide and/or the group.

Lunch is either prepared and packed at breakfast time, or we have a picnic, or we visit one of the many inviting cafes. All depending on preferences and options on the day. 

Dinner is either enjoyed in a local restaurant or cooked by one of our cooking teams. In our experience small teams of 2-3 participants who alternate with the cooking work really well. But don’t worry – we always carry our tried and trusted group cook book with plenty of ideas for yummy, quick and easy meals and our experienced guides are always there to lend a hand.   
Our main aim on our journey is for you to get to know the country and people, to see the fauna and flora and to experience what New Zealand has to offer. Therefore, we will try to keep the time used for meal preparation to a minimum. About 30% of our participants prefer vegetarian meals and depending on each group we will endeavour to cater for special needs/preferences or give you the option of preparing separate meals.

Flight to/from New Zealand

Our tour quotes are land prices only and do not include international flights. Thus, the tour dates indicate the departure/arrival date from the start/end point of the tour and the days traveling in the country. This gives you the freedom to individually choose your personal arrival and departure dates and times in/from New Zealand. You can use our tours as building blocks for your holiday and we are very happy to help you plan and book any transport, accommodation or activities before or after the tour.  

If traveling from Europe your flight departure needs to be at least two days before the tour starts and you will arrive back in Europe at the earliest one day after the tour ends. So you will need to add at least three days to the tour to get your overall travel time.