19 Day Signature Rail, Cruise, and Coach Tour

Note about meals included: (B) Breakfast | (L) Lunch | (D) Dinner | (SD) Specialty Dinner

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A Grand Pacific Tours representative will be waiting to welcome you to Auckland and transfer you to your hotel. In the evening, enjoy a pre-dinner drink while meeting your Tour Leader and fellow travellers.
Accommodation: Grand Millennium Auckland

A morning city tour of Auckland highlights its harbour and vibrant culture before travelling to Matakohe for a visit to the Kauri Museum, where fascinating stories of New Zealand’s pioneering past are shared. The journey continues via Whangārei to Paihia, the heart of the stunning Bay of Islands. A guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds provides insight into the historic agreement between the Māori tribes and the British Crown.

A full free day allows time to enjoy optional activities such as a Cape Reinga coach tour via Ninety Mile Beach or a scenic flight over the stunning coastline. The evening is also at leisure, with an option to join a relaxing dinner cruise.

A scenic cruise through the Bay of Islands takes in Cape Brett and the famous ‘Hole in the Rock’, with the chance to see dolphins and marine life. The return journey to Auckland includes a stop in Whangārei, and the evening is free to explore the city’s lively dining scene.

A morning visit to Glenbrook Vintage Railway offers a nostalgic steam train journey through rolling countryside, including a delightful morning tea. Travel continues through lush farmland before arriving in Rotorua, known for its geothermal wonders and Māori culture.
Accommodation: Pullman Rotorua (2 nights)

Begin the day with a gondola ride to Skyline Rotorua, where breakfast is served with spectacular views. There’s also time for a luge ride before visiting the Agrodome for a unique farming experience. The afternoon is free before heading to Te Puia, home to boiling mud pools and geysers. The evening features a traditional Māori Hāngi dinner and cultural performance.

Travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to Huka Falls, then enjoy free time in the lakeside town of Taupō before continuing through the Tongariro National Park to Wellington, New Zealand’s capital.

A visit to Te Papa Museum includes time to explore the Gallipoli: A Scale of War exhibition, an immersive experience using cutting-edge technology. A city tour follows, with the afternoon free to explore. A ride on the Wellington Cable Car to Kelburn Station is included, with access to the Cable Car Museum and Botanic Gardens. The evening is at leisure to discover Wellington’s renowned food scene.

A morning Interislander Ferry journey offers stunning views of the Marlborough Sounds before arriving in Picton. From here, board the Coastal Pacific train, travelling between the Kaikōura Ranges and the Pacific Ocean. The coach meets the group in Kaikōura for the journey to Christchurch.

The morning includes a visit to the International Antarctic Centre, where an interactive experience brings Antarctica to life. A city tour follows, with the afternoon free to explore at leisure, including a ride on the historic Christchurch Tram.

One of the world’s greatest train journeys, the TranzAlpine, takes you through rugged landscapes, deep gorges, and the Southern Alps to Arthur’s Pass. Continue by coach to Hokitika, famous for its Greenstone (pounamu), before arriving in Franz Josef, with an option for a scenic flight over the glaciers (weather permitting).

A journey south along the West Coast leads through the spectacular Haast Pass before arriving in Queenstown, set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. The evening is free to dine at one of the city’s many renowned restaurants.

A free day in Queenstown allows time to experience optional activities, with assistance available from the tour crew. The evening features a scenic cruise aboard the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak Station, where a gourmet barbecue dinner awaits at the Colonel’s Homestead. A farm tour and live piano music onboard complete the experience.

A visit to Arrowtown and the Lakes District Museum starts the day before travelling via Te Anau to Milford Sound. Boarding the Milford Mariner, an overnight cruise offers a rare opportunity to experience the fiord’s beauty in the evening tranquillity. Stunning waterfalls, rainforest, and wildlife, including seals, dolphins, and penguins, surround the journey. A buffet dinner is prepared onboard, with options to explore the shoreline by tender boat or kayak.

A morning cruise explores more of Milford Sound, heading toward the Tasman Sea (weather permitting). Returning to the wharf, rejoin the coach and travel to Te Anau for an afternoon at leisure, with an optional visit to the Te Anau Glowworm Caves.

A journey through Gore and Balclutha leads to Dunedin, famous for its Edwardian and Victorian architecture from the gold rush era. A city tour introduces New Zealand’s oldest university city.

A visit to Larnach Castle includes a guided tour of its fascinating history and time to explore its Garden of International Significance. A Devonshire Tea follows. The afternoon is free, with optional activities such as a wildlife excursion or a visit to Olveston Historic Home.

A stop in Oamaru, known for its limestone architecture, is included before returning to Christchurch. A pre-dinner drink and farewell dinner provide a chance to reminisce about the journey.

After a memorable New Zealand adventure, a transfer to the airport is provided for the departing flight.