Air New Zealand is offering 'mystery breaks' to domestic travelers

Are you the kind of adventurous traveler who would agree to booking a vacation package to a destination that won't be revealed until two days before departure? If so, the Mystery Breaks program offered by Air New Zealand may pique your interest.

The airline flies to 20 destinations in New Zealand. Mystery Break travelers pay a flat fee from three tiers to book a package to one of these destinations, agreeing not to find out which one until two days before they leave. They select the dates they wish to travel, and are permitted to specify one destination on the carrier's domestic network that they're not interested in visiting – maybe they've been there before. After they arrive at their mystery destination, they pick up their Avis rental car or airport transfer, then check in to their Accor hotel.

A house on a rural hill in New Zealand — Domestic travelers get to explore New Zealand © S Curtis/Shutterstock

The breaks are ideal for travelers from New Zealand as nationwide COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in June, and there are presently no limits on domestic travel. The country's borders currently remain closed to almost all overseas visitors. The packages are for two or three nights and all include return flights and baggage, and they begin at NZ$599 (US$393) per person for the Great Mystery Break. For that tier, travelers get accommodation at a three or four-star Accor Hotel with breakfast and return airport transfers.

The Deluxe Mystery Break starts at NZ$699 (US$459) and it sees travelers staying at a 4 to 4.5-star Accor Hotel, with breakfast included and an Avis rental car for the duration of their stay. The Luxury Mystery Break starts at NZ$1629 (US$1070) per person and guests stay at a 5-star accommodation with breakfast and dinner included, and have the use of a luxury Avis rental car for the duration of their stay. Further information on the Mystery Breaks is available here.