Custom Luxury Vacations to New Zealand
Indulge in a luxurious vacation as you explore the islands of New Zealand with a personalized itinerary crafted by Blue World Journeys.
Enjoy The Splendor of New Zealand
New Zealand is unlike anywhere else on Earth. Our custom New Zealand travel itineraries give you a front-row seat to experience the best of New Zealand in luxury. Every itinerary is unique and carefully crafted by our team of experts to turn your dream vacation into a reality.
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Your Custom New Zealand Vacation
A luxury vacation to New Zealand with Blue World Journeys makes your dream a reality.
Specialized and First-Hand Knowledge
We specialize in countries we know intimately. We have personally evaluated every aspect of your custom itinerary to ensure you receive in-depth knowledge and insider tips everywhere you go.
Explore New Zealand’s Unmatched Beauty
New Zealand has over 600 unique islands and is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, allowing you unfiltered access to spectacular lakes, fjords, glaciers, mountains, active volcanoes, turquoise blue waters, deserted beaches, geysers, and subtropical forests all in one place.
Experience Maori Culture
Witness the spirit of New Zealand’s indigenous culture, the Maori, and their rich heritage and culture that ties them to their land.
Make Fantasy a Reality
New Zealand is where the award-winning Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings movies were filmed. Your fellowship can start its own adventure, but be careful because, as Bilbo said, “You step into the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
Experience New Zealand Like a Local
We create wonderful, cherished memories by offering unique Kiwi insights. Take a bush walk led by a Maori elder, track down the elusive kiwi, visit the country’s largest albatross colony, or swim with wild dolphins! Taste New Zealand in a wonderful farm-to-table gastronomic tour between intimate boutique hotels and just about every outdoor experience you can imagine.
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Discover the Beauty of New Zealand
Experience New Zealand Like a Local
The West Coast
Take the spectacular TranzAlpine Railway, one of the world’s top ten most scenic rail journeys, from the delightful city of Christchurch to the fabulous West Coast. The terrain rises from sea level to 12,000 feet within 20 miles of the coast. This rugged, breathtaking region is known for its dramatic landscapes and remote beauty, featuring towering mountains, glaciers, and dense rainforests. At the iconic Franz Josef Glacier, take an unforgettable heli-hiking tour to see ice caves, compressed blue ice, and glacial crevasses.
The area is rich in wildlife, with particularly abundant birdlife. Visit Mou Wahu Island with our naturalist guides to track the elusive Buff Weka, a flightless bird that only lives on one island, on one lake.
Abel Tasman National Park
The Nelson/Tasman region at the northern end of the South Island is home to breathtaking coastal scenery where you can visit the Abel Tasman National Park to hike and kayak along one of the country’s finest coasts with crystal clear, turquoise-colored waters and tropical beaches. The nearby Marlborough Sounds region is home to some of the country’s best wines and foods (and the home of New Zealand’s Sauvignon Blanc). There are some outstanding wine tours here that you can do by vehicle or bicycle if you’re feeling adventurous.
Wellington
New Zealand’s capital city sits on the southern point of the North Island. It’s a vibrant, fun, walkable city, a foodie’s paradise that claims to have more restaurants per capita than Manhattan. Surrounded by hills and a rugged coastline, it offers picturesque views and outdoor adventures. Wellington is also famous for its museums, including Te Papa Tongarewa, the national museum of New Zealand, as well as Zealandia, a unique wildlife sanctuary dedicated to preserving New Zealand’s native flora and fauna, featuring endangered species such as the kiwi and tuatara.
Rotorua
Rotorua is situated on a geothermal hot spot, making it rich with bubbling, effervescent mud pools and geysers. It’s a great place to spend a day hiking, mountain biking, kayaking to a cave to see bioluminescent glowworms, zip-lining, or relaxing at a Polynesian spa.
Rotorua is home to some of the most authentic Maori cultural experience you will find in New Zealand. Exploring the area guided by a local Maori guide offers a fascinating insight into this unique and fascinating culture.
Enjoy Your Custom Luxury New Zealand Vacation with 24/7 In-Country Concierge Support
Our team and network of local specialists are experts in New Zealand. Let us handle planning and coordinating your vacation so your time can be spent enjoying the breathtaking sights, sounds, cuisine, and culture New Zealand has to offer.
Our in-country support concierge team based in Auckland will closely monitor your journey during your trip. They’ll keep track of your progress and are available to assist you 24/7 if the need arises.
4 Easy Steps to a Luxury Custom Trip
We need to learn more about your interests before planning your custom luxury New Zealand vacation.
Schedule your consultation today
Consult with your travel expert by phone or Zoom call so we can share some ideas based on your interests.
Let Us Learn More About You
Your custom luxury vacation is all about you. We want to learn who you are, what you love, and what you want from your vacation.
Receive Your Custom Itinerary
We will create a tailored itinerary based on your preferences and goals to ensure you get the most from your luxury vacation.
Refine and Finalize
Based on your feedback, we will refine your itinerary until everything is perfect before booking and making reservations.
Make Your Dreams a Reality with Blue World Journeys
Our experts know New Zealand. We provide you with in-depth expertise to plan your luxury New Zealand vacation perfectly.
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Learn from the Experts
New Zealand and Maori culture are rich with profound meaning and history. The best way to immerse yourself in this world is through expert-led tours that offer genuine insights. We go beyond scripted tours, providing you with direct access to knowledgeable local expert guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best time to visit New Zealand?
New Zealand is beautiful year-round, but the activities available to you depend on when you come to visit. For New Zealand, summers (December – February) can be warm, which makes it ideal for hiking and enjoying the brisk air of the mountains. During fall (March-May), you get milder weather, which makes it a perfect time to visit walkable cities like Queenstown, Christchurch, and Auckland. Winter (June-August) is the best time to visit if you are interested in skiing or snowboarding in the mountains, but it’s also a great time to visit the rest of the country with fewer crowds. Springtime (September – November) is a perfect time to visit the national parks, as everything is blooming and full of life and color.
No matter when you plan to visit New Zealand, we tailor your itinerary to meet your needs.
What are the must-visit destinations in New Zealand?
Some of the most popular destinations you should experience when you come to New Zealand include:
- Queenstown – Explore the world’s adventure capital. Queenstown offers rich outdoor experiences year-round for every level of thrill seeker.
- Milford Sound – Experience one of the most breathtaking fjords in the world, surrounded by towering peaks and picturesque waterfalls.
- Rotorua – Relax and purify your body with geothermal heated spas and bubbling mud baths or enrich your soul by coming closer to the richness of Māori culture.
- Auckland – Nicknamed “The City of Sails,” Auckland has multiple harbours and marinas hosting more than 500,000 sailboats and yachts. There’s also great dining and easy day trips to nearby islands, the coast, and the rainforest.
- Wellington – Enjoy the compact city of Wellington that is the arts and culture hub of New Zealand.
- Bay of Islands – Compromising more than 140 islands to the far northeast of New Zealand, the Bay of Islands offers solitude and beauty on undeveloped and private beaches and iconic big-game fishing.
- Franz Josef Glacier – See an ancient river of ice descending through rocky forests on New Zealand’s longest and largest glacier.
- Christchurch – the largest city on the South Island is known as the “Garden City” for its lush parks and botanical gardens. A vibrant cultural hub, it blends modern innovation with historic charm.
How much should I budget for a trip to New Zealand?
The exact costs of your vacation depend entirely on your travel style and the length of your vacation. The longer you plan on staying, and the more elevated your activities, the higher your budget will need to be.
Because we specialize in custom luxury vacations, the average budget we recommend is around $4,000 per person per week. This is only a starting point. If you are looking for premium accommodations and ultra-luxury experiences, your budget could increase to over $10,000 per person. We have worked with clients with lower budgets, as well as many whose ultra-luxury itineraries cost over $20,000 per person per week. We will work with you to maximize your experience based on your desired budget.
What unique experiences should I include in my itinerary?
Asking us to pick only a few of our favorite unique experiences is like asking us to pick a favorite child. There are too many to pick from.
If we had to pick only a few, here are a few of the one-in-a-lifetime experience you should absolutely include in your itinerary.
- Private helicopter tour and landing on the Franz Josef glacier.
- Overnight luxury cruise through Milford Sound
Wine tasting in Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay - Kayaking to quiet glowworm caves with no other tourists in sight
- Luxury farm stays for an authentic Kiwi experience
- Explore Middle Earth in a Lord of the Rings-inspired adventure
If there’s something else you’re looking to do, let us know! We make what our competitors say is impossible, possible and specialize in creating personalized itineraries to match your interests.
What kind of wildlife can I see in New Zealand?
New Zealand is home to some of the world’s most unique wildlife, including:
- Kiwi birds – a fluffy, flightless bird that you can see in national parks, sanctuaries, or wild reserves.
- Dolphins and whales: From May to September, humpback whales call New Zealand home after their long migration. Kaikoura is a marine wildlife paradise.
- Albatross and penguins – Otago Peninsula on the southern island is a birdwatcher’s dream
- Glowworms—Several caves around the country are lit entirely by bioluminescent worms, which illuminate the roof of the cave in a mystical, blue, phosphorescent glow.
We can include ethical wildlife encounters in your itinerary.
Are There Fixed Departure Dates?
No, our trips don’t have fixed departure dates as each tour is private, allowing you to choose your preferred departure day. Every itinerary is available to start on any day of the year.
How long should I plan to stay in New Zealand?
New Zealand offers a diverse mix of nature and culture. If you are only looking to explore a single island, we recommend 7-10 days for your vacation. A longer stay of around two weeks, would provide you with a better balance of exploring the wealth that both islands have to offer. If you’re looking to take a deeper dive into what New Zealand has to offer, it’s very possible to spend three or more weeks so you have the time to fully immerse yourself in the culture and lifestyle of New Zealand.
How do I get around New Zealand?
The best way to explore New Zealand is on one of our custom private tours using a combination of flights, trains, and private transfers. Renting a car allows you to see and explore New Zealand at your own pace. Roads in New Zealand are easy to navigate, and many of the most scenic locations are accessible when you drive.
If you plan on visiting both islands, there are convenient domestic flights and ferries between the islands.
If you would like to see more of the islands and have more time to spend, consider using trains when traveling between cities. They offer breathtaking scenery but do require a bit more time when traveling.
No matter where you want to go, we’ll arrange all the logistics at every location to ensure your vacation is stress-free.
Do I need a visa to visit New Zealand?
Most travelers can use an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) to visit New Zealand without applying for a visa. We’ll guide you through the visa process to ensure smooth entry.
What is the food and wine scene like in New Zealand?
New Zealand is world-famous for its food and wine selections. If you’re looking for wine and spirits, there are a wide range of vineyards and distilleries that specialize in everything from a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc to gin distilled from locally foraged rosehip, juniper, coriander seed, and angelica root. New Zealand’s connection to the ocean also brings the freshest seafood to the dining room.
With New Zealand’s broad range of world-class options, just let us know more about your dining preferences, and we’ll include the best foodie experience in your trip!
What should I pack for my trip to New Zealand?
No matter what time of the year you visit, it’s normal for New Zealand’s weather to change quickly throughout a day, so it’s important to come prepared for everything. Layering is a good idea to ensure you are ready for whatever New Zealand has to throw your way.
During the summer, choose lighter clothing so you don’t overheat. Sunscreen and comfortable shoes are an absolute must if you plan on walking outside and exploring New Zealand.
Winters in New Zealand can be cold, so it’s important to bring multiple warm layers so you can stay warm and dry.
To help ensure your trip is enjoyable, we will provide a comprehensive packing guide. This is built off your custom itinerary to make sure you’re well-prepared each day of your vacation.
Are These Group Tours?
No, we don’t offer group tours. Our trips are all private, for just you and your travel companions. Your itinerary is fully customizable, so you can decide on activities and sights each day. We tailor your itinerary to match your interests, travel style and pace. We do offer small group day tours (around 15 people) that you can join in each of our locations, which are priced more affordably than private day tours. You would still be on your own private tour, but would join our small group day tours with different travelers every day. These are a great option for travelers who want great value, but want to keep within a lower budget.