New Zealand: North Iceland and South Iceland - Pre Reservation

New Zealand

South Island and North Island - Pre-reservation 2025 / 1

February-March 2025
10 Days /9 Nights
This tour starts in Queenstown and ends in Auckland

This tour may be combined with The Spectacular Australia tour (March 2025)

We are currently in the process of planning this tour. Once we have all the activities, dates, hotels and other details confirmed, and the pricing finalized, we will post a complete itinerary, including the price. If you would like to be notified of this tour's availability when the planning process is completed, please complete the pre-reservation form.

PRE-RESERVATION FORM

Click on the image to enlarge the map

Kia Ora! Defined by unspoiled, picture-postcard vistas, dotted with quaint villages with friendly locals, New Zealand combines Nature at its most sublime and dramatic with the native Maori art, adventure and history. The native Maori call it Aotearoa (the land of the long white cloud), but New Zealand has been called the God's Land and the Paradise of the Pacific since the early 1800s. New Zealanders know they live in a paradise, and they love sharing it with visitors.

The memories of the South Island and North Island Tour to New Zealand will stay with you for ever. You simply cannot forget a place that leaves you breathless time after time, the thundering waterfalls, the tranquil lakes, the silent glaciers, the towering mountains, and the surreal green. There are also cosmopolitan cities, flora and fauna found nowhere else on earth and unlimited adventure. Regularly voted the most beautiful country in the world, this South Pacific island nation is often described as a world in itself, and it takes in all climates, from the sub-tropical to the sub-Antarctic. During the tour, we'll experience the outlandishly beautiful scenery of the undulating hills of green, jagged mountains, steep fjords, raging rivers, scenic beaches and active geysers and volcanoes. We'll marvel at the unusual wildlife resulting from the islands' isolation, meet the genuinely friendly locals, and experience the vibrant Maori culture. We'll indulge in gourmet, organic food and excellent wines and stay at upscale hotels, as we experience the exhilarating, clean and green nature all around.

HIGHLIGHTS: Queenstown, Christchurch and Auckland ● Jet boat ride on the Shotover River ● Goldrush village of Arrowtown ● Gibbston Valley Winery ● Cruise across Lake Wakatipu on board the 1912 vintage steamer ● The Milford Sound ● Mt. Cook National Park ● Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley with its boiling mud pools, steaming silica terraces, hot springs, and active geysers ● The Maori cultural experience and Hangi dinner ● Waimangu Valley thermal reserve, with the Pink and White Terraces, Emerald Pool, a boiling lake and colorful silica terraces ● The Shire and Middle Earth on the Hobbiton Movie Set ● Polynesian Spa ● Waitomo Caves with glow worms ● Luncheon cruise in Auckland's Waitemata Harbour

Itinerary specifics subject to change.

Testimonials

The scenery throughout New Zealand was stunning - the glacial lakes, snow-capped mountains, fiords, waterfalls, and endless green fields with sheep. I especially enjoyed Queenstown - the shops, the boat rides, the gardens, the lake and mountains. Visiting Hobbiton was another highlight - it was so detailed and there were many more Hobbit holes than I was expecting. - Diane from Iowa (New Zealand 2 2023)

I did both the Australia and New Zealand tours and enjoyed them immensely. The tours hit the highlights of both countries. We are always “front of the line” and every experience is just a little bit more special than the average tourist. When there was a “hitch” (bad weather for a flight), it is wonderful to relax and let S&S take care of the changes and still have a great day. The local guides are the best, especially our bus driver in New Zealand. The restaurants were outstanding for location and experience, even if you’re not a foodie! The ladies on the tour were great—- there’s a friend for everyone if you’re a solo traveller! - Barbara from Calgary (Australia 2 2023 and New Zealand 2 2023)

Great group of women! S&S planned a great tour of North and South Islands which hit all the highlights! – Marie from Pennsylvania

This was an excellent tour. Everything was first class from the accommodations to the activities. I was really happy with the value of the tour, because of all the included meals and activities. No surprises! – Madalyne from Texas

I really enjoyed the tour. The activities were well planned. The tour guides were knowledgeable and added lots to the trip. It was everything I wanted it to be. – Liz from Texas

I knew I would love New Zealand but S&S tour enhanced my experiences. All the activities were well-planned and they were well balanced with our free time. Accommodations and meals were excellent. The only regret is that the Night Sky tour was canceled due to weather but Marta found alternative activities for us to do. I really enjoyed the walking trails and saw the spectacular Mt. Cook. The spa was a real treat. I enjoyed the good times with the other women. - Jan from Minnesota

Amazing and diverse experiences in a land of contrasts. Beautiful country, memorable trip. - Arlene from Arizona

I just loved New Zealand! All the places were magnificent- Mt. Cook, Polynesian Spa, Thermal Reserves, Waitamo Caves! - Amy from New York

Looking back on everything, I was truly blessed because it was wonderful trip and it shall be etched in my memories forever. I don’t think I have any single experience that is the best; the whole trip was the best! It has been a week since I have been home and I still have the joyful exuberance if a great vacation in my head. Usually everyday life pushes the vacation memories to the back of the memory bank but not this time. When I go on a tour, I want experiences, not lots of shopping time, and we were busy on the tour most of the time seeing NZ. The hotels were all very good and the food at the restaurants was first class and I appreciated that. I personally felt that everything on the tour was a first class choice. I recall when we were on the way to the Ruakuri Cave, our bus driver made a comment that we were going past the cave with a lot of buses to a better and more private tour up the road. I appreciated at that moment that S&S paid the higher price to give us a better experience without a crowd of people. Staying at the hotel in Mt. Cook National Park with a cloudless Mt. Cook out our bedroom window was a pinch me moment. Again, I was appreciating the upscale choice of the rooms we had; I know a room with a view costs more. I truly loved every minute of the trip; even the rainy day at Milford Sound where we saw a lifetime of waterfalls in one day. Who can complain about that? We saw three rainbows on the trip, how lucky is that? - Lucy from Illinois

I could not have been more happy with the trip...everything was more than I had expected and it gave me a very well timed escape from my reality and I want to thank you for your part in making that possible. I loved it! I hope to be able to travel with your group in the future...time and circumstances will dictate that but, again, thank you. - Deborah from Florida

What the Media Says About Us

New Zealand: For Women Only
New Zealand Is The Perfect Place To Experience A Women-Only Trip
Many people have asked me over the twelve years I’ve been a regular international traveler what my favorite destination was or is. Though I prefer my standard quip that “the next trip is always my favorite destination,’ if I was pinned down, I’d have to say New Zealand. Why? Because no other country combines so many outstanding things on two small islands. There is such a wealth of adrenaline activities, a tourist infrastructure that’s set up to make it easy for visitors, and local people who speak English and can understand our culture. The fact that it’s so far down and far away means that nearly all Kiwis have traveled abroad, so there is a lack of provincialism that’s refreshing.