SAVE UP TO $1,000 PER PERSON: Book Your 2027 Expedition Cruise

Your adventure begins in Auckland, the melting pot for 190 ethnicities. This exciting diversity is reflected in the lively arts and cultural scene, craft markets, and outstanding local food and wine. You’ll also find extraordinary natural features, including forty-nine dormant volcanoes. The entire city is a banquet. 

While in Auckland, you’ll cruise to Waiheke Island. Delight in beaches, olive groves, laid-back seaside villages, and wine tasting at three boutique vineyards. A guide will let you in on Waiheke’s secrets.

Say farewell to Auckland, pick up your rental car, and head to Waitomo. Be prepared for the magic that is Footwhistle Glowworm Cave. Warm lights cast shadows over formations, glowworms, and lost treasures. Stay in Rotorua, renowned for the intersection of geothermal activity and Māori culture. For a full day, you’ll be part of an Eco-Cultural experience near an active Māori village, ending after a visit to the pristine lakes of this amazing volcanic region.

Queenstown is nestled in a magnificent setting amid steep mountain ranges, with the jagged peaks of the Remarkables Range rising from Lake Wakatipu. Travel the lake in a glass-roof coach, visit the Underwater Observatory, and soar over stunning alpine scenery. This rare New Zealand adventure is for those who love to dig deep when they travel, and come home with their senses renewed.

PLAN AND BOOK

Included Unique Activities

  • Visit three Boutique Vineyards and Enjoy Tastings & an Excellent Platter Lunch on a Small Group Tour of Waiheke Island
  • Glide by Boat through the Enchanted Glowworm Caves of Waitomo
  • Enjoy a Full Day Experiencing Maori culture and the geothermal regions of Rotorua and see how they are intricately entwined
  • Travel along Lake Wakatipu in a Glass-Roof Coach, Enjoy Lunch & a Boutique Cruise Traversing Milford Sound, and Fly over Stunning Alpine Scenery on a Full-Day Nature Discovery Tour
Essence of Wine Tour

Essence of Wine Tour

Waitomo Glowworm Cave Guided Tour

Waitomo Glowworm Cave Guided Tour

Rotorua Cultural Eco Tour Full Day

Rotorua Cultural Eco Tour Full Day

Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, & Fly Tour

Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, & Fly Tour

Take the Ferry to Waiheke Island

Take the Ferry to Waiheke Island

Accommodations

2 Nights

Central Harbor Hotel

2 Nights

Stunning Attractions Hotel

3 Nights

5-Star Boutique Hotel

Transportation and Guides

  • Meet & Greet Private Airport Transfer on Arrival and Departure
  • Ferry between Auckland and Waiheke Island
  • Rental Car with Automatic Transmission for 3 Days

Meals Included

  • Delectable Breakfast Each Morning

Points of Interest

  • Sky Tower
  • Okahu Bay
  • Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park
  • Waitomo Glow Worm Caves
  • Rotorua
  • Te Puia & Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley
  • Lake Wakatipu
  • Queenstown
  • Te Anau & Fiordlands
  • Milford Sound

Mount Eden, North Island

Auckland Art Gallery, North Island

Sky Tower, North Island

Waiheke Island, North Island

Waitomo Caves, North Island

Waitomo, North Island

Lake Wakatipu, South Island

Milford Sound, South Island

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2026

Available Dates

Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

From $4,895 per person

2027

Available Dates

Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

From $5,385 per person

Your Price Includes

ACCOMMODATION

  • 7 Nights in Authentic Superior Hotels

TRANSPORTATION

  • Meet & Greet Private Airport Transfer on Arrival and Departure
  • Ferry between Auckland and Waiheke Island
  • Rental Car with Automatic Transmission for 3 Days

DINING OPTIONS INCLUDED

  • Delectable Breakfast Each Morning

INCLUDED UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

  • Visit three Boutique Vineyards and Enjoy Tastings & an Excellent Platter Lunch on a Small Group Tour of Waiheke Island
  • Glide by Boat through the Enchanted Glowworm Caves of Waitomo
  • Enjoy a Full Day Experiencing Maori culture and the geothermal regions of Rotoroa and see how they are intricately entwined
  • Travel along Lake Wakatipu in a Glass-Roof Coach, Enjoy Lunch & a Boutique Cruise Traversing Milford Sound, and Fly over Stunning Alpine Scenery on a Full-Day Nature Discovery Tour

POINTS OF INTEREST

  • Sky Tower
  • Okahu Bay
  • Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park
  • Waitomo Glow Worm Caves
  • Rotorua
  • Te Puia & Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley
  • Lake Wakatipu
  • Queenstown
  • Te Anau & Fjordlands
  • Milford Sound
Prices Based On
  • All Taxes & Fees Included
  • Prices are Per Person based on 2 people traveling together and sharing a room.
  • Traveling Alone? No Problem. Just Ask Us for a Single Supplement Price.

"Family Vacation"

Alison Evenson

KY

My client's loved their trip to England and Scotland. They were pleased with everything we planned for them and everything went perfectly. Ellie and Authentic Vacations made me look like a rock star. Thank you!

"Revisit to hike the 5 villages"

Brent Shick

Cinque Terre, Italy

What a wonderful visit we had in Cinque Terre. The driver was waiting for us at Florence airport and got us to Cinque Terre quickly and safely. Driver was very nice and spoke English well. He had cold water bottles for us to drink and the Mercedes van was very comfortable transportation.


The Hotel was very nice and the people there took very good care of us. We brought more than one suitcase each, because we had 19 days of travel planned, and found that to be a mistake. We would do that differently if we do it again, we would store most of it and take only one to the hotel or ship the rest ahead to the cruise line. The villages have a lot of steps, but the hotel manager had help for us so we didn't have to do much. Very good to us.


The all-day hiking with Andrea was absolutely fantastic. He was very accommodating and a wonderful guide and a wonderful person. He talked us through what we wanted to hike and when we want to use a shuttle or the train so that we could do all 5 villages. He recommended a couple of places for lunch and the restaurant we ate at was fantastic.


The food, especially the seafood, was so delicious and fresh, we really enjoyed everything we ate. The anchovies were so fresh and tasty we had the sampler twice, which is 3 or 4 pieces of anchovies, cooked 4 or 5 different ways. I also got a focaccia sandwich with mozzarella and anchovies and sundried tomatoes. I couldn't believe how good that was to eat.


The driver was picked us up after check-out and drove us to the port in Ravenna. This was a 4 hour trip and he got us there on time and safe. Driver was very nice and spoke English well for us. He also had cold water bottles for us to drink and the Mercedes van was very comfortable transportation.


So except for the fact that we probably over did it, hiking 8 or 9 miles up and down hills, it was exceptional.


Thank you for calling me a few days before and talking me through all the things we needed to know and helping with the train tickets. ItalyBeyond also was very responsive, any time I asked them questions.


Thank you very much for putting this together for us, so that we could experience this wonderful vacation with such wonderful memories. We always enjoy the itineraries you prepare for us. Look forward to the next one.

"Italy anniversary trip"

Jan Pepe

GA

Ellie did a fabulous job helping me put together the perfect trip for my clients. She paid such great attention to the details I sent her, and my clients said the trip was AMAZING! Thank you Ellie!!!

"mom and daughter trip"

Tracy Layton

Ireland

What an amazing trip! I chose Authentic because the itinerary sounded exactly what we wanted to see. But what made this the trip of a lifetime was our driver/guide, Colm Dunlea. He was absolutely incredible. The stories he told, the little side trips he took us on, the tips he gave us as we arrived in each of the towns/cities, the pictures he took and all of the extras he gave us were just so very much appreciated. I am forever grateful to Colm Dunlea for all he did. He was BRILLIANT!!!

"85th birthday gift celebration"

Patricia Slota

Montague Michigan

Our trip to Ireland was beyond amazing. Each day brought new vistas filling us all with the heart of this beautiful land, The accomadations were just magical and each one had a lovely history of its own. The tour itinerary was well designed to teach us about Irelands different areas and history. Special praise to our ProCar chauffer / guide, Mr. Declan Cummins for going way above to care for each traveler . ( We were a varied group.) He is a huge asset to your company, We all grew very fond of him by weeks end. Thank you all for creating this wonderful adventure. I'd do it over again in a heartbeat!

"Denmark Vacation"

Eric Jensen

Minneapolis, MN

My clients' 'Denmark in the Spring' trip exceeded expectations — from the seamless logistics to the curated experiences in both Copenhagen and Aarhus, every detail was thoughtfully arranged. Their drivers and guides were exceptional, bringing the destinations to life in ways they couldn't have discovered on their own. They returned home already dreaming of their next trip.

"Mom and daughter trip"

Jill Loveless

Wisconsin

My client and her mother contacted me about travel to Ireland. They wanted something private and special. I met my Authentic Vacations' sales rep the night before and decided to send in a request. Best decision ever! Lauren L. received my request and immediately sent me an email with a few ideas, we talked on the phone and within 2 days I had a winning itinerary.

Fast forward. My client emailed me on arrival day and was very pleased with the service. She emailed me again on the last day and raved about their driver Colm Dunlea.

Working with Authentic Vacations was effortless. I highly recommend them and plan to use their service again.

"Family Vacation"

Denise Ferraro

New York

As a travel advisor, this was the first Ireland trip I entrusted to Authentic Vacations, and they knocked it out of the park. The clients loved having a private driver, thought the hotels were ideal, and a castle stay was the perfect ending to the trip.

1. Click the “GET QUOTE” Button Above.

Complete our inquiry form by selecting your departure date, and all other relevant fields. Be sure to let us know if you're traveling for a special occasion! We can adjust most of our vacation packages to suit your needs, based on the details you provide.

2. Online Account & Quote Created

Your request will be forwarded to our team of Destination Experts, and a price quote will be prepared, based on your submitted preferences and criteria. A free Authentic Vacations online account will also be created, allowing you to view and request changes to your quote at any time. Log into your account via “LOGIN” at the top of any of our webpages.

3. Fine-Tune Your Tour Quote

Work with your assigned Destination Expert to tweak your quote in any way you wish. Our customers continually tell us that our flexibility in this regard is exceptional – your Destination Expert’s sole brief is to create the perfect tour for you!

4. Reserve & Pay Online

Once your quote is 100% to your liking, you can pay for your package with your credit card via your Authentic Vacations online account. We also accept payment by personal check and wire transfer. We only require a 20% deposit to secure your vacation, and our Risk-Free Cancellation Policy provides you with complete peace of mind.

5. Print Your Travel Documents & Go!

Once your vacation has been paid in full, you will be able to print your travel documents directly from your online account. You’re ready to embark on your ideal, authentic vacation!!

Questions?

If you would prefer to discuss your perfect vacation on the phone, we would be delighted to hear from you! Our Destination Experts are standing-by and looking forward to speaking with you at any time during our business hours listed below. We also operate a very responsive and efficient Live Chat service on our website…instant gratification awaits!

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With offices in Scottsdale, San Francisco, London, Dublin, Copenhagen and Edinburgh, we can offer you unrivaled support while you are abroad. We truly believe all our clients deserve an extraordinary, authentic experience!