KEY POINTS:
Under $185
Chalet accommodation at The Hermitage Aoraki Mt Cook is down to $181 a night for a room and breakfast for two, plus a $10 voucher for each person towards food and beverages. The rooms are usually $255 a night.
Contact: Wotif.com, 0800 441 092 or book on-line at www.wotif.com/hotel50549
Under $300
Grab your partner and climb the arch of Auckland's Harbour Bridge free - (an adult's ticket is usually $65) and book a room for two in the luxurious Hotel Grand Chancellor. For the package price of $299, you'll also get full cooked breakfasts and a room with a view of Auckland's harbour that usually costs $433.
Contact: Wotif.com, 0800 441 092 or book on-line at www.wotif.com/hotel7818
Under $895
Six nights in Niue and return airfares from Auckland are priced from $894 each, twin-share. Book by September 30. Travel until the end of this year.
Contact: Flight Centre, 0800 354 448
On the web: www.flightcentre.co.nz
Under $2145
Costa Rica Tours, suitable for family adventure holidays, take 12 days to explore the capital of San Jose, Tortuguero National Park which is famous for its nesting turtles, and Playa Samara Beach, ideal for snorkelling. A volcano walk in La Fortuna, a horseback ride and even swinging through the treetops on a canopy zip line, are all part of the tour, which is priced from $2140 a person. Eleven nights' hotel accommodation is included, along with private vehicle and boat transport, a tour guide and all activities, plus some meals. International flights and additional activity fees are not included. There are departures throughout this year and next.
Contact: Flight Centre, 0800 354 448
On the web: www.flightcentre.co.nz
Under $3190
Four nights in The Big Apple and the return airfares to get you there, from Auckland via Los Angeles, are priced from $3185 each, twin share.
Flying from Christchurch or Wellington incurs an extra $94 each. Return transfers to Manhattan and discount vouchers for Macy's Department store are included.
Travel between November 8 and 30. Book by September 30.
Contact: House of Travel, 0800 838 747
On the web: www.houseoftravel.co.nz
Under $8700
Plan a very unusual Christmas; not just on the other side of the world, but on a barge.
The Scottish Highlander Luxury Barge departs from Inverness on December 23 with just eight passengers for a six-night Christmas Cruise along the calm stretches of Scotland's waterways.
Return airfares from Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch to Inverness are included. The cruise - which includes all meals and wine on board and a Stateroom Cabin, a bar that never closes, all Christmas festivities and celebrations, excursions and admittance fees on land and bicycles for land trips, is priced from $8699 a person, twin-share. Suite cabins are priced from $9305 a person, twin-share.
Contact: House of Travel, 0800 838 747
On the web: www.houseoftravel.co.nz
