Where to be and when
Your tour begins with a relaxed evening together. Your welcome email confirms the start hotel, the meeting point, the date and the exact time β we meet up in the evening, so you'll have the day to arrive and settle in.
π Welcome evening
Our first group meet-up is at 6:00 PM in the hotel lobby.
Before 6:00 PM is your own time β check in, freshen up, have a look around. Just plan to be back in the lobby on time for our group start.
π¨ Hotel check-in
Check-in is typically available from 3:00 PM. If you arrive earlier, most hotels will store your main luggage at reception until your room is ready.
If you have some time before check-in, it is a nice opportunity to explore a little at your own pace before the tour begins.
βοΈ Flights & transfers
Flights are due into your start city by 4:00 PM on Day 1, which gives you plenty of time before our 6:00 PM get-together.
Airport transfers aren't included on this tour. You're welcome to make your own way to the hotel, or arrange a private transfer through AAT Kings on request β this is at your own expense.
π§ Arrival note
Before you travel, register on the My AAT Kings Travel Portal (my.aatkings.com/register) β it only takes a few minutes and covers your passport, contact and emergency details.
Keep your hotel address, booking details, passport and phone easily accessible on travel day.
What stays with you
One habit makes travel days much easier: keep the important things in your day bag, not your main suitcase.
π Passport & travel documents
Know where your passport is at all times, and keep it with you β not packed in your main suitcase β on travel days.
It is also good habit to carry some form of ID on your person day to day.
β Day bag essentials
Your main suitcase goes into the coach hold on travel days and may not be accessible until you reach the hotel. Keep anything you might need during the day with you:
- Glasses, contact lenses or hearing aids
- Medication and prescription items
- Phone, charger and any cables
- Cards, cash and travel money
- A reusable water bottle β we'll have rest stops to refill along the way
A useful rule: if you would miss it for a few hours, it belongs in your day bag.
Before you pack
These are the details that tend to make the biggest practical difference.
π Walking shoes
Glacier viewpoints, canyon trails, geothermal walkways, Hobbiton's rolling hills β this journey covers a lot of ground on foot, right across New Zealand.
Comfortable, well-worn shoes make a genuine difference. If you are unsure which pair to bring, bring your most comfortable ones.
π¦οΈ Weather and layers
New Zealand's weather shifts with the region, the island and the altitude β a mild coastal morning and an alpine afternoon can feel like different seasons entirely.
A waterproof jacket you trust, a mid-layer, and comfortable shoes will do most of the heavy lifting. Forecasts are useful but treat them as a guide rather than a guarantee.
π Power adapters
New Zealand uses the Type I plug (angled three-pin), the same as Australia β so bring a suitable adapter if your devices use a different plug.
𧳠Packing
Pack for usefulness rather than volume. Most people bring more than they use β and on a tour with several hotel changes, lighter luggage is noticeably easier to live with. Laundry facilities are available at most of the places we stay, so you don't need to pack for the whole trip at once.
If hot pools or thermal spas appeal β Rotorua is the place for it β a swimsuit is worth packing.
The rhythm of it
This is a modular journey β some of you are exploring the North Island, some the South, and some are travelling the whole country from Auckland to Christchurch. Whichever you've chosen, you're in for a real taste of the best of New Zealand.
The North Island brings Auckland, the geothermal wonders and MΔori culture of Rotorua, Huka Falls and Lake TaupΕ, and the capital, Wellington. The South Island is where the landscape takes over β cruising through the fjords of Milford Sound, riding the TranzAlpine train through the Southern Alps, standing in front of the glaciers of the West Coast, and soaking up the adventure of Queenstown.
These itineraries are designed to let you experience the best of New Zealand β the pace moves, and that's part of what makes it feel so full. There will be some earlier starts and longer travel days, but most people settle into the rhythm surprisingly quickly. Free time is built in throughout, so there's plenty of room to explore at your own pace or add an optional experience.
π On the coach
Seat rotation happens daily, and I'll explain the system clearly on Day One.
Snacks are absolutely fine. Just avoid hot food, hot drinks and anything likely to melt, spill or perfume the entire coach. Please keep your seat area tidy β it's a shared space and it makes a real difference to everyone's day.
On the day of our ferry crossing, your main suitcase travels with the coach β keep your day bag with you, and a layer handy for the sailing.
Seatbelts on whenever you are seated β it's a simple habit that matters.
π¨ Hotels vary
Across New Zealand, hotels range from modern city properties to smaller, regional stays β that variety is part of the character of a trip like this.
Porterage is generally provided in major cities, but at some of the smaller regional stops you may need to carry or wheel your own bags to your room β good to know in advance.
π Our Driver
Our Driver navigates a genuinely varied route β coastal roads, mountain passes and city centres across the country all take real skill.
By the end of the tour, most groups have a real appreciation for just how much goes into it.
β° Tour timings & inclusions
Our days run to a schedule. Being ready on time β for departures, meals and activities β keeps things on track for everyone in the group.
I'll always let you know what's coming up and what to be prepared for. All we ask is that you're there on time, ready to go.
I use WhatsApp for simple reminders and day-to-day updates while we are travelling. It is optional, but it usually makes the small daily details easier.
- 1Download and set up WhatsApp before you travel if you do not already use it. Download WhatsApp
- 2Save my number β it is in your welcome email, or use the WhatsApp link at the top of this page.
- 3Send me a message with your name so I know you are set up.
If you'd rather not use WhatsApp, that's fine β everything important will still reach you.
A few practical things for later
You do not need to make all of these decisions before we meet. They become much easier once you can see the pace of the tour and what suits you.
β Optional experiences
New Zealand has one of the widest ranges of optional experiences I take guests through β Hobbiton, Milford Sound scenic flights, glacier helicopter landings, jet boating, wine tours, glow worm caves and plenty more, depending on where we are.
In my experience, the optionals are often what people remember most. I'll walk you through what's available as we go, and payment is by card only, arranged through me on tour.
π³ Money & cards
Cards are widely accepted across New Zealand, but a small amount of cash can still be useful for smaller cafes, markets or local purchases.
It's a single currency for the whole trip β New Zealand Dollars (NZD) β which keeps things simple.
πΆ Gratuities
When you're out during free time, if the service is good β tip. A little local currency at the end of a good meal is always appreciated.
On the tour itself, porterage and restaurant tips on included meals are already taken care of. Tips for your Travel Director and Driver are separate. Local Specialists β the guides who join us in different cities and regions along the way β are separate again. Good ones are hard to find, and a small tip at the end of their time with the group is customary and well received.
Guidance on suggested amounts is in your AAT Kings documents, and you can always ask me on tour. This does not need to be solved on the first morning.
Questions before we begin?
Save my contact now, and keep your official joining instructions somewhere easy to find. That is enough for the moment.
Damian Watson
Travel Director Β· AAT Kings
Phone / WhatsApp
WhatsApp is usually the easiest way to reach me during the trip.
Urgent before departure?
Before the tour begins, I may occasionally be travelling or finishing another tour, but I will always get back to you as soon as I can.
For anything time-sensitive before Day 1, AAT Kings' New Zealand Guest Services team is there to help: 0800 500 146 (New Zealand).
Once we are together, things usually become much more straightforward day to day.
Final note
Geysers, fjords, glaciers and everything in between β there's a huge amount of Aotearoa New Zealand ahead of us, and I'm genuinely looking forward to sharing it with you. See you soon.