New Zealand to USA West Coast Adventure Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival & Exploration in Houston

Morning: Arrive at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and take an Uber to your downtown hotel to check‑in and freshen up.

Afternoon: Stroll through the vibrant Houston Museum District, visiting the Museum of Fine Arts and the Contemporary Arts Museum.

Evening: Dine at a local Tex‑Mex restaurant and enjoy a relaxed walk along the Buffalo Bayou Park.

Day 2: Space Center Houston

Morning: Take an Uber to Space Center Houston and explore the Starship Gallery.

Afternoon: Participate in the astronaut training simulation and tour the historic Mission Control.

Evening: Return to downtown for a dinner cruise on the Houston Ship Channel.

Day 3: Downtown & Chinatown

Morning: Visit the historic Houston City Hall and the nearby Market Square Park.

Afternoon: Wander through Houston Chinatown for lunch and boutique shopping.

Evening: Catch a performance at the Houston Theatre District.

Day 4: Museum of Natural Science

Morning: Head to the Houston Museum of Natural Science to see the dinosaur exhibit.

Afternoon: Explore the planetarium and the Hall of Ancient Egypt.

Evening: Enjoy a rooftop bar with skyline views.

Day 5: Day Trip to Galveston

Morning: Uber to Galveston Island and walk the historic Strand District.

Afternoon: Relax on the beach and visit the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier.

Evening: Return to Houston for a casual dinner at a seafood shack.

Day 6: Shopping & Parks

Morning: Browse the upscale shops at the River Oaks District.

Afternoon: Picnic in Hermann Park and paddle‑boat on McGovern Lake.

Evening: Sample Houston’s famous BBQ at a local joint.

Day 7: Relaxation & Departure to Las Vegas

Morning: Take a leisurely breakfast and enjoy a spa treatment at the hotel.

Afternoon: Pack and check‑out, then Uber to the airport for your flight to Las Vegas.

Evening: Arrive in Las Vegas, take an Uber to your hotel, and explore the famous Strip at night.

Day 8: Las Vegas Strip & Shows

Morning: Walk the Las Vegas Strip, snapping photos of iconic resorts.

Afternoon: Visit the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens and enjoy a poolside lunch.

Evening: Attend a world‑class show and dine at a celebrity chef restaurant.

Day 9: Hoover Dam Day Trip

Morning: Take an Uber‑shared tour to the Hoover Dam for a guided walk.

Afternoon: Cross the dam and explore the visitor center, then return to Vegas.

Evening: Experience Fremont Street’s neon lights and live music.

Day 10: Relax & Explore Downtown Vegas

Morning: Brunch at a downtown café and stroll through the Arts District.

Afternoon: Visit the Neon Museum to see historic signs.

Evening: Enjoy a rooftop cocktail bar with panoramic city views.

Day 11: Travel to San Diego

Morning: Check out and Uber to the airport for your flight to San Diego.

Afternoon: Arrive, Uber to hotel, and settle in.

Evening: Walk along the Embarcadero and dine with a view of the bay.

Day 12: San Diego Zoo

Morning: Spend the morning at the world‑renowned San Diego Zoo.

Afternoon: Continue exploring the zoo’s animal exhibits and botanical garden.

Evening: Return to the Gaslamp Quarter for dinner and nightlife.

Day 13: Balboa Park & Museums

Morning: Wander through Balboa Park and visit the San Diego Museum of Art.

Afternoon: Explore the Natural History Museum and the Japanese Friendship Garden.

Evening: Sunset at La Jolla Cove followed by a seafood dinner.

Day 14: Beach Day & Travel to Los Angeles

Morning: Relax on Coronado Beach and enjoy a beachfront breakfast.

Afternoon: Uber to the airport, fly to Los Angeles, and check into your hotel.

Evening: Stroll along Santa Monica Pier and watch the sunset.

Day 15: Hollywood & Griffith Observatory

Morning: Tour the Hollywood Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre.

Afternoon: Ride the Metro to the Griffith Observatory for panoramic city views.

Evening: Dine in Los Angeles’ trendy Arts District.

Day 16: Downtown LA & Departure

Morning: Explore The Broad Museum and the nearby Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Afternoon: Last‑minute shopping on Rodeo Drive and enjoy a final lunch.

Evening: Uber to LAX for your premium‑economy flight back to Wellington.

Time and Cost Estimates

• Wellington → Houston (premium economy, 2 adults): 20 hr, NZ$5,000
• Houston hotel (7 nights @ NZ$300/night): 7 nights, NZ$2,100
• Space Center Houston visit: 6 hr, NZ$60 per adult (total NZ$120)
• Houston meals (7 days @ NZ$160/day): 7 days, NZ$1,120
• Houston Uber rides (7 days @ NZ$50/day): 7 days, NZ$350
• Houston to Las Vegas flight (premium economy, 2 adults): 4 hr, NZ$2,000
• Las Vegas hotel (3 nights @ NZ$300/night): 3 nights, NZ$900
• Hoover Dam tour: 4 hr, NZ$80 total
• Las Vegas meals (3 days @ NZ$160/day): 3 days, NZ$480
• Las Vegas Uber rides (3 days @ NZ$50/day): 3 days, NZ$150
• Las Vegas to San Diego flight (premium economy, 2 adults): 2 hr, NZ$1,200
• San Diego hotel (3 nights @ NZ$300/night): 3 nights, NZ$900
• San Diego Zoo entry: 5 hr, NZ$70 total
• San Diego meals (3 days @ NZ$160/day): 3 days, NZ$480
• San Diego Uber rides (3 days @ NZ$50/day): 3 days, NZ$150
• San Diego to Los Angeles flight (premium economy, 2 adults): 1.5 hr, NZ$1,200
• Los Angeles hotel (3 nights @ NZ$300/night): 3 nights, NZ$900
• Los Angeles meals (3 days @ NZ$160/day): 3 days, NZ$480
• Los Angeles Uber rides (3 days @ NZ$50/day): 3 days, NZ$150
• Los Angeles to Wellington flight (premium economy, 2 adults): 15 hr, NZ$5,000
• Total Estimated Cost: NZ$18,160

Tips

If you’d like to shorten the trip, consider dropping either San Diego or Las Vegas for a single day each, which would save roughly NZ$2,000‑NZ$2,500 in accommodation, meals, and activities. To extend the adventure, add an extra day in each city to explore nearby attractions such as the Texas Hill Country, the Grand Canyon West Rim, or Disneyland Resort, which would increase the overall budget by about NZ$1,200‑NZ$1,800.