Tours

Wednesday Tour Summary

All tours depart from the Michael Fowler Centre at 12.30pm

Capital Shopping Tour
Wellington is a great city for a shopping tour, with interesting local fashion designers, contemporary arts and crafts and fabulous food, all within a short walking distance. Hosted by an entertaining local guide, as we show you our uniquely Wellington favourites, you’ll also enjoy local chocolates, and coffee or gelato enroute to help keep the energy levels high.

Capital Tastes Tour
Discover fresh tastes in New Zealand’s café capital, as we introduce you to the city, its local tastes, products and people on this popular tour. Stroll behind the scenes at some of our favourite Wellington food places with a personal guide, to taste hidden culinary treasures and meet some of the people behind some of the city’s best food. (Walking Time: Approx. one hour). 

Inspiration Tour
An introduction to Wellington visiting some of the unique icons that are the Capital.  Take a trip on the Cable Car, a charming and picturesque transport that is one of the few surviving in the world. From the top, enjoy an incredible, far-reaching panorama.

In Thorndon, New Zealand’s oldest suburb, visit the magnificent Parliament buildings and the famous Beehive, our seat of government.

Popular sights include Mount Victoria with panoramic views over Wellington’s harbour, the rugged South Coast with the South Island on the horizon, both modern and historical architecture, a wide range of public art and sculptures, New Zealand’s Parliamentary house also known as the Beehive, as well as features of the New Zealand film industry.

Along the way your expert guide will entertain you with stories about Wellington as well as inform you of all there is to know about this wonderful city.

Wellington City Sights Walking Tour
This walk covers historical things of interest mixed in with modern Wellington and local stories.  Our standard 2 hour daily walk begins at Civic Square and then follows the waterfront to Queen’s Wharf. From there we go to the Old Bank Arcade before heading down Lambton Quay to the Supreme Court and the Old Government Building. After passing the Parliamentary Precinct we finish the walk at Old Saint Paul’s Cathedral. The guides would include relevant history about Wellington as well as local anecdotes and life in Wellington today.

Wellington Rings Tour
Stunning views of the harbour and Wellington city from the top of Mt Victoria and the first filming location site used in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Roam the outskirts of the Shire and Buckland Forest (Fellowship of the Ring), where the Hobbits hid from the Nazgul/Black Riders. Explore the dark forest where they found the steep embankments of the Dunharrow Rohirrim encampment. Run along the same path that the Hobbits ran to the Ferry. A short stop at Roxy Cinemas for refreshments. Enjoy the surrounds of a 1930’s inspired theatre, designed and built by past & current members of Weta Studios.

Visit the Weta Cave in Miramar and take a video tour of Weta. Weta Workshop and Weta Digital created special effects for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and many other movies. The video tour takes you “behind the scenes” with an exclusive insight into the creativity and imagination that goes into crafting the art of Weta.

Wellington Seal Safari
Just minutes from the city centre lies nature’s playground!  To get to the ‘Seal Coast’ we travel through private farmland in powerful, off-road vehicles.  Observing wild animals, the snow-capped mountains of the South Island, and panoramic views over Wellington.

We have tea/coffee and a gourmet muffin with New Zealand seals and take in the beauty of their natural coastal habitat before the homeward journey around the bays and past the spectacular Red Rocks.

Seal Coast Safari provides guests with exhilarating access to the BEST SCENERY in Wellington. We are a Qualmark endorsed visitor activity and seals are guaranteed all year!

Zealandia
A Tour Guide will lead you on an exciting journey where you will discover the story of New Zealand’s natural history and conservation movement through a world-class interactive exhibition. Afterwards, your Zealandia guide will lead you into the sanctuary valley to explore the world’s first fenced urban Eco-sanctuary, in search of the rare sights and sounds of New Zealand’s native bush.  

Pre/Post Conference Touring 

We are not formally organising any pre or post conference tours however, if you are planning to extend your visit to New Zealand, we would recommend the following itineraries:

Travelling South from Wellington

Depart Wellington for Picton on a Cook Strait ferry. From Picton it is just a short drive to Marlborough, a natural paradise of mist-hazed hills, sheltered waterways and sun-drenched plains – world-renowned for its Sauvignon Blanc wines and gourmet delights.

Travel south along the magnificent east coast to Christchurch, stopping off at Kaikoura to take a Whale Watching boat trip. Explore Christchurch, New Zealand’s garden city, or experience a horse trek over the hills of Banks Peninsula.

From Christchurch and en-route to Aoraki/Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain, stop at the Church of the Good Shepherd to view Lake Tekapo. Continue to Mount Cook village – nestled under the mountain that overlooks a network of glaciers feeding Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki. There are a number of activities including walks, tramps and scenic flights that will enable views of Aoraki/ Mt Cook and the glaciers.

Travel to Queenstown by following the “gold trail” alongside the winding Kawarau River. Queenstown nestles up to the northern shore of Lake Wakatipu from where it commands an expansive view of the peaks that surround the lake.

Spend time in Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world. Bungy jump, go jet boating, white water rafting, hiking, climbing and horse trekking. Enjoy a wine tour of one of the best wine regions in New Zealand.

Take a Milford Sound day excursion from Queenstown. Drive through the magnificent beech forests of the Eglington and Hollyford Valleys, through the Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound for a launch excursion on the fiord. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery including the awe-inspiring Mitre Peak. While in the area, walk the Milford Track – long been described as “the finest walk in the world”. The Milford Track Guided Walk is a 5 days/4 nights Queenstown to Queenstown all-inclusive guided walk through the heart of Fiordland National Park to Milford Sound. Accommodation is in luxury lodges and you will be led by expert guides.

Depart from Queenstown to Franz Josef Glacier. During the trip you will traverse the Kawarau Gorge, Hawea River and travel alongside Lake Wanaka. Travel through the Haast Pass and continue on to Franz Josef.

View the magnificent Franz Josef glacier then travel to Greymouth. Board the scenic Tranz Alpine for a rail journey famous for its spectacular mountain scenery as it traverses the Southern Alps that divide the east and west coasts of the South Island. Travel across the Canterbury Plains and back to Christchurch.

Travelling North from Wellington

Head north from Wellington up the Kapiti Coast and drive through the spectacular Desert Road on the volcanic plateau to Lake Taupo. Stop in Taupo township, on the shores of the lake, and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Go fly fishing for the day on one of the many rivers or streams in the region, or play a round of golf at the magnificent Wairakei International Golf Course.

From Taupo it’s a short drive to Rotorua, the centre of the geothermal region of New Zealand. It is also the main centre for Maori culture. Boiling mud, geysers and silica deposits surrounding the lake attract visitors from all over the world. Enjoy a thermal tour – visit Whakarewerewa Thermal Reserve, Rainbow Springs and Farm Show and Lake Rotorua. Perhaps take a tour of Mt Tarawera or the Buried Village, or enjoy a swim at the Polynesian Spa.   Enjoy a Maori hangi (feast) and concert in the evening.

Continue north via Lake Karapiro to Waitomo. Visit the Waitomo Caves and enjoy the magical boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto. From Waitomo, travel through Te Awamutu to Hamilton City and follow the Waikato River north, head over the Bombay Hills to Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city.

While in Auckland, enjoy the best in local food and fashion. Spend a half day out on the harbour in one of the America’s Cup yachts or take a guided walk through Auckland’s volcanic landscape.

Travel north across Auckland’s harbour bridge, along the beautiful Hibiscus Coast to the Bay of Islands. On arrival in the Bay of Islands, visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Considered to be the birthplace of New Zealand as a bicultural nation, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds are set in an extensive park-like reserve. Learn about the first Maori canoes to New Zealand, the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, and visit Te Whare Runanga, a fully carved Maori Meeting House, which is representative of all Iwi (regional tribes) in New Zealand.

While in Northland, take a stroll amongst 1000-year old kauri trees at Puketi Forest. Pass by golden sand beaches at Whangaroa, Coopers Beach, Cable Bay and Taipa. The departing place for Maori spirits is Cape Reinga where the Tasman Sea and mighty Pacific Ocean crash together beneath the Cape Reinga Lighthouse.

Other highlights in the Far North include Te Paki Quicksand Stream, thrilling sand tobogganing on body boards down the giant Te Paki Sand Dunes and travelling by coast down the vast Ninety Mile Beach. Return to Auckland via the same route for your flight home.

Please also visit http://www.newzealand.com/int/ for further ideas. 

Quick link to North Island Trips 

Quick link to South Island Trips