Auckland - Bay of Islands - Auckland - Rotorua - Napier - Wellington - Blenheim - Christchurch - TranzAlpine - Greymouth - Haast - Queenstown - Milford Sound - Dunedin - Lake Ohau - Christchurch
Day 1. Arrive Auckland
Upon arrival in New Zealand, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your centrally-located Auckland hotel, with the evening at leisure to explore or relax.
Stay: Copthorne Hotel Auckland City
Day 2. Auckland, Bay of Islands
Cross Auckland's busy Harbour Bridge and travel along the Hibiscus Coast to Matakohe's Kauri Museum. Then continue via the Waipoua Forest Reserve to the subtropical Bay of Islands. On arrival enjoy a guided visit to the historic Waitangi Reserve.
Two Night Stay: Bay of Islands, Heartland Hotel Beachcomber (B, D)
Day 3. Bay of Islands at Leisure
Today you are free to explore the beautiful Bay of Islands. (B)
Day 4. Bay of Islands, Auckland
This morning explore the Bay of Islands on a catamaran cruise to Cape Brett and the Hole in the Rock. Returning to Paihia, your coach will then take you to Auckland.
Stay: Copthorne Hotel Auckland City (B, D)
Day 5. Auckland, Waitomo, Rotorua, Hangi Feast
Leaving the City of Sails, travel to Waitomo and experience a guided tour of the underground limestone and glow-worm caverns. Continue to geothermal Rotorua and tonight immerse yourself in traditional Maori hospitality and culture as you enjoy a Maori hangi feast and performance of song and dance.
Two Night Stay: Rotorua, Hotel Ibis (B, D)
Day 6. Rotorua, Freedom of Choice Touring
Today experience the attractions of Rotorua. Visit Te Puia Thermal Reserve, New Zealand's major geyser field. The area has over 500 hot springs and most forms of geothermal activity, including steaming ground, boiling mud pools, hot springs and impressive geysers. Enjoy a guided tour through the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute where your guide will explain the history and origins of the Maori. Continue to the Agrodome to enjoy an entertaining sheep show and learn about New Zealand's important sheep industry. The remainder of today is at leisure for you to explore geothermal Rotorua. Country Homestay option available tonight (B)
Day 7. Rotorua, Taupo, Napier
Depart Rotorua this morning and travel via Wairakei Park and mighty Huka Falls to New Zealand's largest lake, Lake Taupo. Arrive in Napier for a city sights tour and a guided Art Deco walk around Napier city. Afterwards, enjoy a tour and wine tasting at Church Road Winery.
Stay: Napier, The Tennyson Hotel (B, D)
Day 8. Napier, Wellington
Today depart Hawkes Bay and travel south via Hastings. Here, you'll turn inland and travel across to the West Coast of the North Island. Follow the Kapiti Coast before arriving in Wellington, the nation's capital city. On arrival enjoy a city highlights tour. View Parliament Buildings and enjoy spectacular panoramic views of this amazing cosmopolitan city from the summit of Mt Victoria.
Stay: Wellington, Kingsgate Hotel (B, D)
Day 9. Wellington, Picton
Enjoy a brief city tour then visit the Museum of New Zealand - Te Papa. Later, cruise Cook Strait and Marlborough Sounds to Picton on the South Island.
Stay: Picton, Beachcomber Inn (B, D)
Day 10. Picton, Christchurch
Today, journey through the renowned vineyard and orchard region of Marlborough. Visit the fishing town of Kaikoura, famous for its whale and dolphin watching, before arriving in Christchurch, the Garden City. On arrival, enjoy a city sightseeing tour before the afternoon is at your leisure to explore this Garden City.
Stay: Christchurch, Holiday Inn on Avon (B, D)
Day 11. TranzAlpine Train, Greymouth
This morning board the TranzAlpine Train for a journey known as New Zealand's greatest rail adventure. Enjoy stunning scenery as you journey through spectacular gorges, river valleys and across the magnificent Southern Alps. On arrival in Greymouth, rejoin your coach and travel north along the dramatic coastline to Punakaiki to view its Pancake rock formations and blowholes.
Stay: Kingsgate Greymouth Hotel (B, D)
Day 12. Greymouth, Franz Josef, Haast
This morning after breakfast, journey to Hokitika, where you will have the opportunity to see Pounamu (jade) being carved into jewellery and other artefacts. Continue along the coast through dense rainforest to World Heritage Westland National Park. Travel along the West Coast, through a world of mountains and glaciers, limestone landscapes, tranquil lakes, raging rivers and rare bird and plant life.
Stay: Haast, Heartland World Heritage Hotel (B, D)
Day 13. Haast, Queenstown, Dine Around Dinner
Enjoy a day of incredible scenery as you travel through the massive glacier-formed Haast River Valley, with towering peaks, waterfalls and rainforest. Rejoin the coach and continue to Queenstown. This evening, experience a relaxed cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the vintage steamship the TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm. Enjoy a candlelit dinner at the Colonel's Homestead.
Two Night Stay: Queenstown, Kingsgate Hotel Terraces (B, D)
Day 14. Queenstown, Freedom of Choice Touring
Today in Queenstown, you are free to explore at your leisure. You have a selection of activities to choose from (own cost). (B)
Day 15. Milford Sound, Te Anau
Journey along the Milford Road. Wind down the Eglinton and Hollyford valleys, then through the Homer Tunnel to be met by the sight of Mitre Peak. Here, board the Milford Mariner and cruise the full length of Milford Sound. View the cascading waterfalls, sheer cliffs, dense rainforest and towering mountains of this World Heritage-listed area. After reaching the open sea, return and anchor for the night in sheltered Harrison's Cove. Explore further on the Mariner's kayaks.
Stay: Milford Sound, Milford Mariner (B, D)
Day 16. Milford Sound, Dunedin, Freedom of Choice Touring
Following your cruise, enjoy a relaxing drive to the tranquil lakeside settlement of Te Anau. Leaving the Fiordland region, journey through rolling Southland countryside. Travel via the rural support towns of Lumsden and Gore to the east coast and the city of Dunedin. Tonight enjoy dinner along with a Scottish-themed evening at your hotel.
Two Night Stay: Mercure Leisure Lodge (B, D)
Day 17. Dunedin City Sightseeing Tour
This morning enjoy a guided tour of Dunedin before touring Larnach Castle, New Zealand's only castle. The remainder of today is yours to spend at leisure in Dunedin, known as the Edinburgh of the South. (B)
Day 18. Dunedin, Lake Ohau - High Country Dinner
This morning visit Olveston house with its extensive collection of antiques, then travel along the coast to view the unique Moeraki Boulders on Koekohe Beach. Stop at Oamaru, a town known for its limestone architecture, then continue to the settlement of Lake Ohau. Tonight enjoy a High Country Hospitality Dinner.
Stay: Lake Ohau Lodge (B, D)
Day 19. Lake Ohau, Christchurch
Travel by coach to picturesque Lake Tekapo. Here, you'll pay a visit to the tiny Church of the Good Shepherd, built of locally gathered stone and oak and erected as tribute to the early pioneers of the region. Travel through Burkes Pass to Christchurch. On arrival here, your tour concludes upon arrival and a departure transfer to the airport is included. (B)
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