Tours and Trips in New Zealand

Just a short drive from Wellington lies Martinborough, a country town nestled among some of the country's best wineries. Don't worry about rental cars and petrol prices: on this tour, your guide will pick you up direct from your cruise ship and transport you across the Rimutaka Ranges to three world-class Martinborough wineries. Sample their signature wines and be back in Wellington in time for dinner.

Get introduced to the cosmopolitan city of Wellington on a small-group sightseeing tour by luxury mini-coach. You'll travel along the south coast and into the heart the capital, including the suburb of Thorndon, site of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings and Beehive. Travel by cable car to the summit of Mt Victoria and visit the national Te Papa museum. Choose a half-day itinerary or upgrade for a full day that includes a beach picnic or cafe lunch. Numbers are limited to six people for an intimate experience.

Depart Queenstown aboard the TSS 'Earnslaw' for a cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm. You'll travel round-trip by vintage steamship and dig into a gourmet barbecue lunch from the terrace at the Colonel's Homestead. Enjoy chef-prepared Central Otago specialties accompanied by salads, desserts and local cheeses. Don't miss the sheep shearing demonstration or showmanship by the farm's sheepdogs.

Take a half-day bike ride on the Rimutaka Rail Trail when your cruise ship docks in Wellington. The well-maintained bike trail follows the Pakuratahi River through New Zealand's lush green countryside for an exhilarating ride that includes lunch, and the use of a bike and helmet.

Receive a cruise terminal pick up and discover the locally made treats and secret foodie spots in Petone, one of the oldest settlements in Wellington. This 5-hour tour gives your taste buds a thrilling journey through the history and produce of local food and beverage artisans and importers. Get an exclusive behind the scenes look at a local specialty coffee roastery, taste freshly made cheeses, sample local craft beers, visit a chocolatier, try Martinborough's fine wines or have a tasting platter at an Italian restaurant and cafe. A different tasting experience at every location. Itinerary varies daily! Return drop off at the cruise ship terminal available at the completion of the tour.

Go canyoning; a combination of swimming, sliding, climbing and rappelling, during this adrenaline-fueled activity in Wanaka. Follow your expert adventure guide to the mouth of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed canyon, then start exploring with a small group of 5 people or less. No prior experience is necessary, just bring your sense of adventure and get ready to discover the stunning scenery in Mt Aspiring National Park. Lunch, round-trip transportation and use of all equipment are included.

Combine a tour of Wellington and the Lord of the Rings locations during this half-day excursion from Wellington port. Follow your guide, a LOTR specialist, to locations including the Weta Workshop, the LOTR filming and post-production facilities, and Mt. Victoria. Entrance fees and round-trip transportation from Wellington port provided. This small-group tour, limited to 15 people or fewer, ensures an intimate experience.

Enjoy an off-road adventure in the wild of New Zealand on this half-day Wakatipu Basin 4-wheel drive tour from Queenstown. Cruise along off-road routes toward the Remarkables mountain range - widely used in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Admire panoramic views over Deer Park Heights and the Kawarau Gorge, and then head onward to the historic gold-mining settlement of Arrowtown. Traverse bumpy river crossings along the Arrow River, and pan for gold on the riverbank. Then gaze over the Wakatipu Basin from Coronet Peak en route back to Queenstown.

Come visit a New Zealand attraction that's sure to have you 'glowing' during this 45-minute small-group guided boat ride through the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Glide by boat through this underground complex, enjoying a light show put on by the millions of tiny bioluminescent insects hanging above. As an added bonus, many of the trip guides are of Maori descent, adding unique historical context to your visit.

Spend the morning or afternoon visiting Middle-earth on this half-day 'The Lord of the Rings' tour from Wellington. A guide with insider knowledge entertains Frodo fans on a journey into the scenic New Zealand countryside, plus locales like the Embassy Movie Theatre, site of the world premieres. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at LOTR movie production on a tour of Weta Studios and discover why director Peter Jackson selected this region to film the renowned trilogy along with 'The Hobbit' movies.

Explore Wellington at your own pace with this self-guided audio tour. Follow your guide's directions to attractions all around the capital. Start at the iconic Cable Car, explore the city's Botanical Gardens, visit the city's museums and art galleries and take in the harbour from the summit of Mount Victoria.

Experience a two-in-one day tour of Auckland's west coast black sand beaches and gannet colonies, as well as a vineyard tour. This coast is rugged and hilly, with pounding surf and winding roads. Focus on the views and the spectacular nature of the region rather than navigating the roads or worrying about who will be designated driver by joining a guided tour.

See the top attractions of Wellington on a hop-on hop-off minivan tour that follows a 90 minute route throughout the capital city and its outskirts. You can hop off at any of the 11 stops to explore points of interest such as Mt Victoria Lookout, Wellington Zoo, Wellington Botanic Garden or the Te Papa museum on your own. Your guide points out sights such as Parliament & Old St Paul's Church and the Cable Car on this small-group tour.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at nine 'The Lord of the Rings' locations around Wellington and learn about the filming of movies based on the popular books. On a tour of the New Zealand countryside, see re-created scenes of Middle-earth including the Hutt Valley and the Greenbelt, take a forest walk through Tolkien's Rivendell, and step into Weta Studios for a movie production tour of digital special effects. Your guide shares insider gossip on how the movies were made and takes you to a themed lunch.

Take an evening tour of the Weta Workshop, a leading special effects and prop studio co-founded by director Peter Jackson, where you'll learn about Wellington's movie-making history. Discover the creative film production process from skilled technicians at the Weta Cave. You may recognize blockbusters such as 'Avatar,' 'The Amazing Spider-Man' and - of course - 'The Lord of the Rings.' Finish with a 3-course dinner at CoCo at the Roxy in the heart of Miramar. Round-trip transport from the Wellington CBD included.

Go behind the scenes of 'The Lord of the Rings' and other blockbusters at Weta Workshop, the world's leading special effects and prop studio. The informative and entertaining Weta Cave Workshop Tour gives you a glimpse into the film production of your favorite movies including the LOTR trilogy, 'Avatar' and 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2.' Your 2.5-hour tour includes convenient round-trip transport by minivan from central Wellington, eliminating the hassle of driving and parking.

Discover the wine village of Martinborough on a bike tour that visits three wineries and an olive orchard. Includes round-trip transportation from Wellington, a gourmet picnic lunch, and bike rental.

Whether it's your first time in Wellington or you just want to see as much as possible during your time in port,, this half-day sightseeing tour offers a great introduction to the city and a diverse range of sights. Visit the iconic Weta Studios and the historic Old St Paul's Cathedral, ride the cable car to the top of the city, and enjoy panoramic views of Wellington Harbor from the Botanic Gardens and the top of Mount Victoria.

Discover the capital city of New Zealand on a 2.5-hour coach tour of Wellington. Your driver-guide points out the highlights, including historic landmarks and iconic buildings such as the Beehive and Old St Paul's Cathedral. You'll stroll through the Wellington Botanic Garden, drive through the suburbs of Seatoun and Oriental Bay, appreciate the vista over Wellington Harbour and the South Coast from Mt Victoria, and have the option to take a ride on the Wellington Cable Car.

Wellington's sprawling coastline can be intimidating to explore. This guided tour will take you around all the highlights in around five hours. Starting with views of the harbour and the sprawling Wellington region at the Mount Victoria lookout, you'll be driven around Oriental Bay, the Miramar Peninsula and the winding southern coastline. In between, enjoy stops at Weta Workshop's Weta Cave shop, the Wahine Memorial Park and Taputarenga Marine Reserve.