14 Day Signature Panorama Mid-Size Group Tour

Note on meal inclusions: (B) Breakfast | (L) Lunch | (D) Dinner | (SD) Specialty Dinner

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A Grand Pacific Tours representative will be there to greet you on arrival and transfer you to your hotel. In the evening, enjoy a pre-dinner drink while meeting your Tour Leader and fellow travellers.

A city sights tour provides an introduction to Christchurch before travelling through the Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo. Admire the brilliant turquoise waters, visit the Church of the Good Shepherd, and see the Sheep Dog Statue. The journey continues to Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak, with an optional scenic flight available (weather permitting). The day concludes in Twizel, set in the heart of Mackenzie Country.

Travel past Lake Benmore, following the Waitaki River to Oamaru, known for its historic limestone architecture. The journey continues south to Dunedin, where a city tour highlights its rich Scottish heritage, followed by free time to explore.

A morning visit to Larnach Castle includes a guided tour, sharing its fascinating and scandalous history. Wander through its Garden of International Significance, followed by a Devonshire Tea in the Grand Ballroom. Travel through Balclutha and Gore to Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park. An optional tour of the Te Anau Glowworm Caves is available in the evening.

A scenic drive through Fiordland National Park leads to Milford Sound, where a cruise showcases towering waterfalls, sheer cliffs, and Mitre Peak, with lunch served onboard. The journey then continues to Queenstown, set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. The evening is free to explore Queenstown’s excellent dining options.

A free day allows time to enjoy Queenstown at leisure, with optional activities including a jet boat ride or a Scenic Skippers Canyon tour. In the evening, board the TSS Earnslaw steamship for a cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station. A gourmet barbecue dinner is served at the Colonel’s Homestead, followed by a farm tour. The return cruise features a live piano singalong.

A visit to Arrowtown, a historic goldmining village, includes time at the Lakes District Museum. The journey continues via Haast Pass to the West Coast, where breathtaking views of the Southern Alps unfold. Arrive in Franz Josef, with an opportunity for an optional scenic flight over the glaciers (weather permitting).

Travel north to Hokitika, known for its Greenstone (pounamu) craftsmanship, before arriving in Arthur’s Pass. Board the world-renowned TranzAlpine train, one of the world’s greatest rail journeys, passing through deep gorges, towering viaducts, and patchwork farmlands before returning to Christchurch.

Journey along the East Coast to Kaikōura, known for its stunning coastal scenery. Travel through Marlborough wine country before arriving in Picton to board the Interislander Ferry. Enjoy a scenic cruise through the Marlborough Sounds before arriving in Wellington, New Zealand’s capital.

A visit to Te Papa Museum includes time to explore the Gallipoli: A Scale of War exhibition, which brings history to life through state-of-the-art technology. A city tour follows, showcasing Wellington’s rich history and culture. The afternoon is free for independent exploration, and the evening is also at leisure to sample the city’s renowned dining scene.

Travel north past the snow-capped peaks of Mt Ruapehu and Mt Tongariro, before stopping at Lake Taupō and the Huka Falls. The journey continues along the Thermal Explorer Highway to Rotorua, a city famed for its geothermal activity and Māori heritage.

A gondola ride to Skyline Rotorua offers spectacular panoramic views, followed by breakfast at the top. There’s also time for an exciting luge ride before visiting the Agrodome, where a live farm show provides an entertaining insight into New Zealand’s agricultural industry. Free time is available in the afternoon before a visit to Te Puia, home to boiling mud pools, steaming geysers, and Māori arts and crafts. In the evening, experience a traditional Māori Hāngi feast and cultural performance.

Travel through scenic countryside to Hobbiton, where a guided tour of the 12-acre movie set includes a visit to Hobbit Holes, the Mill, and the Green Dragon Inn. For the first time, visitors can step inside a fully immersive Hobbit Hole interior. The journey continues to Auckland, with a city orientation tour before a farewell dinner with a pre-dinner drink.

A transfer to the airport is provided for your departing flight, marking the end of a memorable New Zealand adventure.