Overview
Discover New Zealand with your students. Welcome to a land like no other. Arrive in Rotorua and begin exploring. See the Highlights and learn about the uniqueness of this part of the world close up. Visit Kaingaroa Forest, and continue to Wellington. Visit Christchurch, and experience whale watching. Afterwards, head for the Southern Alps, then watch the proper technique for shearing a sheep!
Itinerary
Day 1
Start tour
Day 2
Lose a day as you cross the International Date Line
Day 3
Arrive in Auckland
Meet your Tour Director
Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure.
Travel to Rotorua
Before you see Rotorua, you'll definitely smell it: Sulfur. Consider it an introduction to a place that is completely unique. Rotorua offers a fascinating view into the earth's volcanic center. Clouds of steam seem to magically appear throughout the city from the city's four major thermal centers. One geyser erupts about 20 times a day and can spout up to 100 feet.
LEAP Kia Ora
Immerse yourself in the Maori culture, New Zealand's indigenous Polynesian people. Enjoy a full cultural evening complete with an authentic meal and an enthralling performance by the Maori.
Day 4
Kiwi Hatchery guided visit
Watch genuine conservation in action as you learn all about New Zealand’s national icon, the kiwi. See the hatchery’s incubators and watch the adult kiwis forage in the nocturnal house.
Agrodome visit
Rotorua's Agrodome, located in the heart of scenic farmland, offers a fun and educational world-famous show. Learn all about the various breeds of sheep of New Zealand. After the show, a visit to the Farmyard Nursery is not to be missed!
Rotorua guided sightseeing tour
Te Puia Thermal Reserve visit, Maori Cultural Centre visit
Skyline gondola and luge ride
Enjoy a scenic skyline gondola ride this evening and experience a downhill adventure on the Skyline Luge.
Day 5
Kaingaroa Forest visit
This morning you will visit the largest forest in the North Island of New Zealand. Kaingaroa Forest is a privately own forest and one of the oldest softwood plantation forests in the world.
Travel to Wellington
Day 6
Travel to the Blue Mountains
Mount Victoria village and botanic gardens visit
Parliament of New Zealand visit (pending availability)
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa guided visit
Day 7
Fly to Christchurch
International Antarctic Center visit and Penguin Encounter
Learn about the animals of Antarctica.
Snowmobile ride
Day 8
Kaikoura excursion
Take a full-day excursion to cross the farmland of North Canterbury to the coastal township of Kaikoura.
Whale watch
Board a whale watching boat for the edge of the continental shelf.
Day 9
Travel to the Southern Alps via TranzAlpine Rail
Arthur's Pass National Park visit
Waimakariri River speedboat ride
Day 10
End tour
Already Included
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Meals (unless otherwise noted on your itinerary)
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
Guided sightseeing tours & city walks (details in itinerary)
Tips for local guides and drivers
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
Free high school credit for students who choose to complete WorldStrides free online coursework post-program
Professional development credits (CEUs) for educators
Scenes from New Zealand
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
WorldStrides provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance each year to thousands of families. Families with annual adjusted gross incomes of less than $85,000 may qualify. One simple call to Customer Service and you’ll know how much may be available for your trip even before signing up. Please note: financial assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment Plans
Advantage Payment Plan
At program sign-up you can opt to pay in full, or break up the cost of your trip with the Advantage Payment Plan. This plan allows you to pay a small initial deposit, then have your remaining payments spread out into affordable monthly amounts.
EZPay
We offer an EZPay option, which is a simple way to pay for your WorldStrides program by scheduling hassle-free, automatic drafts from your checking account. With EZPay, you'll never be late or miss an installment.
Fundraising Tools
Our easy-to-use tools put students in the driver's seat of their own fundraising efforts. Students can send e-cards, share links on social media, and even send out printed letters through WorldStrides' Gift of Education program. In one click friends and family members can make a direct donation to the trip - with 100% of the money raised going to offset their trip price. Thousands of students pay for their entire trip each year through the Gift of Education.
Also, WorldStrides makes program-specific scholarships available as well as other scholarship resources. Ask your Account Manager for more information about scholarships and fundraising tools.