Legendary New Zealand
Trip Code: PHRZC
Why we love it
From the geothermal delight of Rotorua to the pristine beaches of the Coromandel Peninsula and endless waters of Lake Taupo, experience the beauty of the North Island., Head to a Maori village where profits from your visit are fed back into the community, learn the haka and Maori weaving before tucking into a traditional hangi dinner., Calling all adventure seekers! Queenstown is overflowing with adrenaline-pumping activities, so dive straight in or sit back with a glass of world-class local wine., Stand in awe of the epic Franz Josef glacier and visit a local gallery to learn about the significance of pounamu (greenstone) to Maori culture while carving your own pendant., Explore the coastal delights of Abel Tasman National Park, where secluded coves and golden beaches make walking, kayaking and swimming a real joy.
Is this trip right for me?
This trip is operated and run by Haka Tours, an Intrepid Company. You will be travelling with a mixture of both Haka customers and Intrepid customers. Intrepid works closely with Haka Tours to ensure that all of our customers enjoy their time in New Zealand.
Accommodation on this trip is in mixed-gender multi-share dormitory style hostels with shared facilities.
Important information
ROOMING
Accommodation on this trip is in mixed-gender multi-share dormitory style hostels with shared facilities.
PRIVATE ROOM SUPPLEMENT
A supplement for a private room is bookable on this trip, subject to availability at the time of booking. If you are a single traveller this will give you a single room, if you are travelling as a couple a double room will be allocated to you. Please note that due to the small properties we use there is only a limited amount of private room supplements available per trip departure. Please also note that a private room upgrade is not available on day 4, and you will share a room that night. If you would like to book this service or enquire about availability please speak to your booking agent.
START & END TIME
This trip start with an early morning meeting over breakfast on day 1 and ends after breakfast on the last day.
MINIMUM NUMBERS
Please note this trip requires a minimum number of booked customers to guarantee the departure. Your Booking Agent will advise at time of booking if the departure has met minimum numbers. If minimum numbers are not met, you will be advised no later than 56 days out from departure (prior to full payment due). We recommend arranging flights and related travel services once your departure is guaranteed. In the event that your departure is cancelled due to minimum numbers not being met, a full refund will be provided of monies paid.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
New Zealand is the adventure capital of the world, and there are plenty of opportunities for you to customise your itinerary with as much adrenaline as you like. However please note that a lot of activities you may be interested in can sell out well in advance of your arrival. To ensure you have the opportunity to participate in your chosen activities and don’t miss out due to unavailability, we have made a selection of those activities available to be pre-booked via your booking agent. Please see the daily itinerary and the 'optional activities' section in your trip notes for a list of activities you can pre-book. Not all activities may be available on your particular departure, and the list of activities is not exhaustive, as there are other optional activities that can be booked either via your leader or the relevant supplier on the ground. Please consult with your booking agent should you have any questions or require any further information on any of these activities.
What to bring/pack
What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. Generally speaking, we recommend you pack as lightly as possible and make sure that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage, and walk with it for short distances or up or down a flight of stairs. Our travellers usually find the smaller their luggage is, the more they enjoy the trip not having to worry about carrying heavy bags! Aim to keep your main luggage under 15kg.
Many travellers carry their luggage in a compact smaller suitcase or backpack with wheels. We recommend your bag has carry straps or handles so it is easy to lift and carry for the times you are unable to wheel it (ie. on rough surfaces or up steps).
If you are taking overnight trains, or primarily using public transport then the smaller your luggage the easier it will be to store under or above bunks. Large suitcases may not be able to be taken on board. A lockable bag or small padlock for your bag will be useful especially when travelling on public transportation as well.
You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water, camera, swimming suit, hiking shoes and jacket etc. when you’re exploring during the day.
Below we have listed the essentials for this trip:, https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, CLOTHING & CLIMATE
New Zealand has relaxed attitudes to standards of dress, however there are a few practical considerations. New Zealand has a temperate climate but be prepared for colder temperatures, wet weather and a very strong sun, no matter the time of year. It is wise to bring layers for colder spells, and a sunhat and sunglasses are a must. New Zealand also receives quite a bit of rainfall throughout the year, and weather forecasts change frequently and rapidly. As you will spend a lot of time outside exploring it is essential that you bring wet weather gear, especially when you plan on doing some hiking., LUGGAGE RESTRICTIONS:
Pack only your bare essentials. Due to limited space and strict road laws limiting gross weight of vehicles, you are required to limit your luggage to one reasonable sized suitcase or backpack (maximum weight limit of 20kg) and a small airways bag/day pack, which can be carried inside the coach. We cannot guarantee to carry overweight or oversized luggage., WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill along the way. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please use the water dispensers which are provided on some of our vehicles and at some of our accommodation. Your leader will advise whether tap water is safe to drink in your destination and if it is you can simply refill with tap water. When unable to avoid bottled water it is better to buy the largest available and distribute into your smaller bottle for the day. If you are walking or trekking as part of your trip you will need to carry at least 2L of water with you.
Physical rating
This trip can be enjoyed by just about anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. Some trips may have individual inclusions that may be of a higher physical rating compared to the overall rating of the trip. Please read the day-to-day itinerary carefully to find out more details on each day's activities, and whether they are suitable for you. Activities can be opted out of if you don't want to participate.
Joining your group
Haka Lodge Auckland, 373 Karangahape Road, Auckland, NEW ZEALAND, Phone: +64 93794559
Alternate Joining Point
Joining instructions
Finishing your trip
YHA Wellington Backpacker Hostel, 292 Wakefield Street, Te Aro, Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
Alternate Finish Point
For trips departing on the following dates
use this finish point.
11 Jan 2025 (PHRZC250111)
08 Feb 2025 (PHRZC250208)
15 Feb 2025 (PHRZC250215)
01 Mar 2025 (PHRZC250301)
08 Mar 2025 (PHRZC250308)
14 Mar 2025 (PHRZC250314)
05 Apr 2025 (PHRZC250405)
18 Apr 2025 (PHRZC250418)
25 Apr 2025 (PHRZC250425)
08 May 2025 (PHRZC250508)
25 May 2025 (PHRZC250525)
Nomads Capital Hostel Wellington
118-120 Wakefield St
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Meals & dietary information
Breakfasts included: 20
Lunches included:
Dinners included: 1
While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. If you have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let your booking agent know prior to departure.
New Zealand is renowned for its fresh air and clean waters. Fresh food, including dairy (amazing cheese and milk), produce, seafood and meat - especially lamb. From high end restaurants and gastro pubs and cafe's to local restaurants and suburban dairies there is plenty of choice for all budgets. Wine is also done extremely well in NZ and not just sav blanc, but excellent pinot's and cool climate red's.
Vegetarians and Vegans are well catered for in New Zealand and most restaurants and cafe's will have a good selection of vegetarian meals. Gluten and Lactose free diets are also well catered for.
Tap water is safe and delicious in cities and towns. Further out of town its best to check with your guide if in doubt. Please bring a reusable bottle and drink tap water where you can. You'll use less plastic, saving both the environment and money.
New Zealand has strict laws regarding arriving with fruit and veg into the country. Please pay attention to signs when arriving internationally.
Please budget approximately $15 per lunch, and $20 - $40 for each dinner, perhaps a little more if you intend to also enjoy a glass of wine or beer with your meal.
Climate & seasonal information
In case of emergency
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or our local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your group leader/local partner may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the leader to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.
For general contact details please use the following page: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/ourtrips/contact/
In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:
Intrepid's Local Operator: +64 9 520 5593
Accommodations
ROOMING
Accommodation on this trip is in multi-share dormitory style hostels, on a mixed-gender basis.
PRIVATE ROOM SUPPLEMENT
A supplement for a private room is bookable on this trip, subject to availability at the time of booking. If you are a single traveller this will give you a single room, if you are travelling as a couple a double room will be allocated to you. Please note that due to the small properties we use there is only a limited amount of private room supplements available per trip departure. If you would like to book this service or enquire about availability please speak to your booking agent.