Leisure Time Travel: Warbirds over Wanaka
Experience the thrill of Warbirds over Wānaka, one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest airshows, set against the stunning backdrop of Wānaka’s alpine mountains. Join over Easter weekend for an unforgettable aviation experience at Warbirds over Wānaka, featuring more than 80 aircraft, including iconic warbirds, sleek jets, helicopters, and thrilling aerobatic displays. With your exclusive Gold Pass, enjoy prime grandstand seating, access to the Gold Pass marquee for food and drinks, and a welcome bag with airshow merchandise and a programme. The event features WWII aircraft alongside modern planes from the Royal New Zealand, Australian, and United States Air Forces.
The tour begins in Queenstown, your base for the next few days, with an orientation tour of this picturesque resort town. Over the next two days, spend time in Wānaka for the Warbirds over Wānaka Airshow, where you’ll experience exciting aerial displays and fascinating ground exhibits. The tour finishes with a day of leisure in Queenstown, with optional tours like scenic cruises and jet boating available at your choosing (own cost). This tour promises unforgettable aviation action and the stunning beauty of the South Island.
Quick Itinerary Details
New Zealand Small Group Tour
This suggested tour costs from NZD$4,780 per person (twin share, low season)
Starts in Auckland, finishes in Auckland
5 days/4 nights
Hotel 4 star
Pre and post tour options? YES
Viewed 12 times in the last 7 days
NZD$4,780
NZD$4,780
Today, you begin your tour with a flight from Auckland to Queenstown. Upon arriving in Queenstown, you will meet your driver and coach for an orientation tour of this picturesque alpine resort, before being transferred to our accommodation for the next few days. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax or stroll around Queenstown. Dine this evening at your hotel restaurant.
Auckland – Queenstown return flights with Air New Zealand.
Your accommodation: Millennium Hotel Queenstown
Right in the heart of the action, Millennium Hotel Queenstown is just minutes from Queenstown central shopping, entertainment and outdoor activities. The hotel offers 220 spacious, elegantly designed rooms with a contemporary city-inspired style. Guests can enjoy a range of amenities, including free WiFi, dry cleaning, and laundry services. For dining, the Observatory Restaurant serves modern New Zealand cuisine, while the Club Bar provides the perfect spot to unwind and relax after a day of exploration.
Today, travel through the Kawarau Gorge and past Cromwell to Wānaka for your tour highlight – the Warbirds over Wānaka Airshow! This event held every two years is the largest warbird airshow in the Southern Hemisphere and showcases some of the world’s best examples of WWII flying aircraft in action. A Gold Pass* to the airshow is included for the weekend, giving you the best viewing opportunities from grandstand seating. The Gold Pass* also includes access to the Gold Pass marquee where food and beverages can be purchased, a welcome bag including airshow merchandise, an airshow programme and a gold lanyard.
Warbirds over Wānaka is famous for attracting a wide variety of privately owned Warbird aircraft along with their modern-day counterparts from the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), Royal Australia Air Force (RAAF), United States Air Force (USAF) and French Air Force. While the aircraft are the main focus of the event, there are many fascinating displays on the ground that have contributed to making this show so successful over the past 36 years. Aircraft confirmed for the 2026 show is announced from mid-2025 onwards. For a taste of the calibre of aircraft that Warbirds over Wānaka attracts, the 2024 line-up included: De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito; F-16 Fighting Falcon; North American P51D – Mustang; Goodyear FG-1D Vought Corsair, and Bill Reid’s Avro Anson MK 1. At the conclusion of the day’s events, retrace your journey back to Queenstown. Tonight is at leisure to sample some of Queenstown’s excellent restaurants, cafés and bars.
Your accommodation: Millennium Hotel Queenstown
Right in the heart of the action, Millennium Hotel Queenstown is just minutes from Queenstown central shopping, entertainment and outdoor activities. The hotel offers 220 spacious, elegantly designed rooms with a contemporary city-inspired style. Guests can enjoy a range of amenities, including free WiFi, dry cleaning, and laundry services. For dining, the Observatory Restaurant serves modern New Zealand cuisine, while the Club Bar provides the perfect spot to unwind and relax after a day of exploration.
Travel to Wānaka for the final day of the Warbirds over Wānaka Airshow. The Warbirds flying programme for both days may vary in content and sequence and will be subject to aircraft availability. Your Gold Pass* grandstand seating will ensure wonderful viewing opportunities to see the aircraft flying and the exciting pyrotechnics. You will also have time to explore the amazing ground displays including aviation trade stands, static display aircraft, market stalls and the Wanaka Warhorses military vehicles. At the conclusion of the airshow, travel back to Queenstown where the remainder of the evening is at leisure.
Your accommodation: Millennium Hotel Queenstown
Right in the heart of the action, Millennium Hotel Queenstown is just minutes from Queenstown central shopping, entertainment and outdoor activities. The hotel offers 220 spacious, elegantly designed rooms with a contemporary city-inspired style. Guests can enjoy a range of amenities, including free WiFi, dry cleaning, and laundry services. For dining, the Observatory Restaurant serves modern New Zealand cuisine, while the Club Bar provides the perfect spot to unwind and relax after a day of exploration.
Today is at leisure to explore Queenstown. There is a wide choice of optional tours and activities in this marvellous alpine resort town such as lake cruises; jet boating; 4WD excursion to Lord of the Rings filming locations; and winery tours. In the evening, you might choose to take a scenic cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the steamer TSS Earnslaw, before arriving at Walter Peak Station for a memorable dinner at the Colonel’s Homestead. Please note that optional tours and activities come at an additional cost and should be pre-booked.
Your accommodation: Millennium Hotel Queenstown
Right in the heart of the action, Millennium Hotel Queenstown is just minutes from Queenstown central shopping, entertainment and outdoor activities. The hotel offers 220 spacious, elegantly designed rooms with a contemporary city-inspired style. Guests can enjoy a range of amenities, including free WiFi, dry cleaning, and laundry services. For dining, the Observatory Restaurant serves modern New Zealand cuisine, while the Club Bar provides the perfect spot to unwind and relax after a day of exploration.
After breakfast, your tour concludes with a flight from Queenstown to Auckland, marking the end of a memorable journey.
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