Top AAA Vacations Tours in the South Pacific: Adventures Through New Zealand

Did you know New Zealand has been the backdrop for iconic films like The Lord of The Rings, Mission Impossible, King Kong and more? Home to picturesque landscapes like statuesque snowy mountains, rolling green hills and rocky coves, New Zealand also has active volcanic areas and stunning beaches. New Zealand is perfect for the adventurous traveler who wants to spend time outdoors and it offers a variety of activities for kids of all ages.

AAA Vacation Planners have hand-crafted incredible guided tours through the region and with your AAA membership, you’ll get discounts and savings that are unavailable anywhere else. Take a look at the top AAA vacation tours in New Zealand.

Australia’s Outback to New Zealand’s South Island

The creme de la creme of Australian and New Zealand tours, this 20-day guided trip immerses you in the best this region has to offer.

·Price: Starting from $5,599

·Operator: AAA Member Choice Vacations

·Length: 17 nights accommodation

Beginning in the bustling capital of Sydney, you’ll dine in the iconic Sydney Harbor. Cruise along the shoreline and view the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Flying to Cairns brings you to one of the most stunning natural attractions in the world - the vibrant Great Barrier Reef, which is a haven for millions of species of sea life.

Next, head down under to the Australian Outback. Enjoy a memorable bush dinner and a guided tour of the sacred land of the Arrernte Aboriginal people. A stop in Melbourne gives you time to explore on your own through the Melbourne Botanical Gardens, Shrine of Remembrance or another attraction in this cosmopolitan city. You’ll also visit Queensland, the “Adventure Capital of the World” to challenge yourself with heart-racing thrills like commercial jet boating or bungee jumping - all in the picturesque backdrop of snowcapped mountains and a crystal blue bay.

Endless Shores

Head to the idyllic North Island of New Zealand, exploring the stunning cities of Auckland and Wellington.

·Price: Starting from $4,275

·Operator: Luxury Gold

·Length: 7 nights accommodation

Immersive yourself in the unbeatable beauty of natural New Zealand. Start your adventure by exploring Wellington and touring the creative museums for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Next, set off to Hawke’s Bay, a classic New Zealand destination known for biking and wine. Enjoy a wine tasting and dinner at Craggy Range Winery, one of the region's world-famous wineries.

Get ready for a stunning geothermal experience when you travel to Lake Taupo and Lake Rotorua. At Waimangu Volcanic Valley, check out the one-of-a-kind terrain and wildlife that surrounds an active geothermal site. Brilliant microbiology, exotic birds and animals and hot water springs await. Adventure through the highest jungle treetops across the Redwoods Treewalk, which consists of 21 suspension bridges traversing huge Californian Coastal Redwoods.

Your final stops take you to the jaw-dropping sites of Auckland and New Zealand Glowworm caves, a magical cave exploration that will be a memory for years to come.

Spectacular New Zealand

With a native guide, immerse yourself in the history, culture and adventure of New Zealand on this epic guided tour.

·Price: Starting from $7,299 (land only)

·Operator: Alexander + Roberts

·Length: 9 nights accommodation

Dive into everything New Zealand has to offer — from incredible landscapes to thrill-seeking adventures to fine dining and bustling cities. Kick off your tour with a step back in time to Middle Earth, visiting the stunning locations for the setting of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Take the Skyline Gondola to the top of Bob's Peak, nearly 1,500 feet above Queenstown, providing an epic view of the country. Cool down with a delightful lakeside dinner capped off with fine New Zealand wine after a day of visiting an authentic New Zealand high-country homestead.

Next up, explore New Zealand by water with an expedition ship through Milford Sound. In one of the most gorgeous locations in the country, you’ll have the option of kayaking, too. Take a tour through Te Anau Bird Sanctuary, an epic animal habitat where you’ll see the rare, flightless Takahe. Next, shoot your shot at finding the next pile of gold with gold panning at Goldfields Mining Center and spend a cloudless night viewing the Southern Constellations. Enjoy a final dinner of locally-sourced food and wine and head home with beautiful memories of New Zealand tucked into your back pocket.

The Complete South Pacific

Ready for the most comprehensive tour of Australia and New Zealand? Make the South Pacific your home for 27 epic days.

·Price: Starting from $6,999 (land only)

·Operator: AAA Member Choice Vacations

·Length: 24 nights accommodation

Get to know the South Pacific like never before in this unparalleled adventure from Melbourne to the Great Barrier Reef to the stunning mountains of the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Spend 3 days on the island of Tasmania, the second oldest city in Australia and explore the up-and-coming area. Next, head to Adelaide, South Australia's bustling cosmopolitan capital, for world-class wine tastings at Chateau Tanund and a tour of the sandstone domes at Ayers Rock.

Next, get outside even more and see the natural wonder of the Great Barrier Reef. Home to more than 1 million aquatic species, view this one-of-a-kind habitat from a glass-bottom catamaran and choose from a handful of activities. Next up is the iconic city of Sydney with its metropolitan energy of Darling Harbor, the Sydney Opera House and the Harbor Bridge. Fly to Auckland, the "City of Sails,” for more outdoor adventures on the coast. Tour Rotorua's dramatic geothermal landscape and see how local people live in an authentic Maori village.

Final stops include Wellington, nicknamed Windy Wellington thanks to its volatile winds blowing off statuesque mountains. Join a local family for a home-hosted dinner and enjoy a city tour through magnificent gardens and an elegant park district. Your journey ends with the thrill of a lifetime in the "Adventure Capital of the World,” Queenstown, where you can explore a variety of hear-pounding adventures like bungee jumping, skydiving and more.

South Pacific Wonders

The perfect AAA tour for the outdoor lover, South Pacific Wonders explores the best natural beauty of the South Pacific.

·Price: Starting from $3,799 (land only)

·Operator: AAA Member Choice Vacations

·Length: 12 nights accommodation

The South Pacific offers some of the most gorgeous and diverse landscapes. With everything from humid jungles to windy coastlines and the tropical Great Barrier Reef, the South Pacific islands hold adventure and beauty at every turn. Kick off the tour in New Zealand with a walk through Willowbank Wildlife Reserve and a chance to catch a glimpse of New Zealand's "Big 5" — the Kiwi, the Kea, the Tuatara, the Kaka and the Takahe.

Next, head to the "Adventure Capital of the World," Queenstown, which is built on Lake Wakatipu. Explore the rugged grandeur of the Hollyford Valley and the quiet tranquility of stunning Milford Sound, one of the wettest places on Earth. Cruise Lake Wakatipu on an iconic coal-fired steamship and then head to (your choice) of bird watching at the Kiwi Birdlife Park or a gondola ride up Bob's Peak for breathtaking panoramic views as you say “Goodbye!” to New Zealand.

Begin your nature adventure through Australia at Cairns, home to the Great Barrier Reef, which is the largest collection of coral in the world. Sail aboard a catamaran and then head to the bustling capital of Sydney. Tour through Kings Cross, the Harbour Bridge and Sydney’s iconic Opera House and finish up your day with a sunset dining cruise of Sydney Harbor.

The South Pacific islands hold some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the world that many people never get to experience. AAA offers unbeatable guided tours for members with special discounts and savings you can’t find anywhere else. Enjoy the laidback experience of booking through an expert travel agent who removes the stress and hassle from your worldwide travels. Head “Down Under” for the trip of a lifetime with AAA!