Tōtara 12-Day New Zealand Coach Tours

Arrive at Auckland Airport and meet your transfer to M Social Auckland, located on the waterfront. The afternoon and evening are free to explore the city independently or rest after your flight.

Begin with a guided tour of Auckland, visiting Bastion Point for views across Waitematā Harbour, the Auckland Museum, historic Parnell Village and the city's waterfront.

Travel south to Rotorua, renowned for its geothermal landscapes and Māori heritage. This evening, enjoy Te Pā Tū, an immersive cultural experience featuring traditional performances, storytelling and a seasonal four-course dinner celebrating Māori ingredients and culinary traditions.

Discover Rotorua's geothermal wonders with a guided visit to Te Puia, where steaming geysers, bubbling mud pools, traditional Māori arts and crafts, and kiwi conservation offer an introduction to the region's heritage. Continue to the Redwoods Treewalk, crossing suspension bridges high among towering redwood trees.

This afternoon, fly to Christchurch and enjoy traditional punting along the Avon River, followed by a journey through the city aboard a beautifully restored heritage tram.

Board the TranzAlpine train for a spectacular journey across the Canterbury Plains and into the Southern Alps, passing the Waimakariri River's dramatic gorges and mountain scenery. Rejoin your coach at Arthur's Pass and continue to the West Coast. Stop in Hokitika, renowned for its pounamu (greenstone) craftsmanship, before travelling south through Franz Josef to Fox Glacier village.

Begin the day with a walk through native forest to Lake Matheson, famous for its reflections of Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman on clear, calm days. Continue south along the West Coast before travelling inland through Haast Pass and Mount Aspiring National Park. Follow forested valleys, rivers and alpine landscapes to the lakeside town of Wānaka, where you will spend the next two nights.

Discover Wānaka's remarkable natural landscapes with a choice of two included morning excursions, followed by an afternoon at leisure.

Option 1: Mou Waho Island Nature Walk and Lake Cruise. Cruise across Lake Wānaka to Mou Waho Island, a protected wildlife sanctuary. Enjoy a guided 3 km return walk to Arethusa Pool, a hidden lake above Lake Wānaka, with an optional climb towards the summit. Learn about local conservation efforts, participate in native tree planting and look for the island's resident buff weka.

Option 2: High Country Off-Road Adventure. Explore a working High Country farm on a guided off-road adventure. Travel along remote farm tracks through rugged mountain landscapes, discovering the region's farming history, historic sites and rural traditions. Enjoy views across alpine valleys and lakes, with opportunities for optional short walks.

Depart Wānaka and stop at the historic Cardrona Hotel before crossing the scenic Crown Range to Arrowtown, a charming former gold-mining settlement. Continue past Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables towards Te Anau. On arrival, enjoy a jet boat journey along the Waiau River towards Lake Manapouri, followed by a working farm visit featuring sheep-shearing and dog-mustering demonstrations.

Journey through Fiordland National Park along the spectacular Milford Road, passing glacial valleys, native forests and towering mountains. At Milford Sound, board a scenic cruise beneath the dramatic cliffs and iconic Mitre Peak, with opportunities to spot waterfalls, seals and dolphins. Enjoy a picnic lunch during your cruise before travelling back through Fiordland and continuing along Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown for a two-night stay.

Today is free to explore Queenstown independently. No organised excursion is included.

You may spend time around Lake Wakatipu, visit the town's shops and restaurants or arrange an activity at additional cost.

Suggested optional activities, not included: Skyline Queenstown gondola, Shotover Jet, ziplining at Bob's Peak, white-water rafting, a Skippers Canyon 4WD excursion, winery visits or a TSS Earnslaw cruise to Walter Peak High Country Farm.

Travel north through the rugged Kawarau Gorge and Central Otago before crossing Lindis Pass into the Mackenzie Basin. Follow the shores of turquoise Lake Pukaki towards Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, home to New Zealand's highest mountain. Enjoy time in Mount Cook Village, surrounded by dramatic alpine peaks and glacial landscapes, before continuing to Twizel for your overnight stay.

Begin the day with a visit to a local home overlooking Lake Tekapo, where you will learn the art of making traditional New Zealand pavlova and enjoy morning tea. Visit the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd before travelling through the Mackenzie Country and across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. This evening, gather for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant, celebrating your New Zealand journey.

After breakfast, transfer from your hotel to Christchurch Airport for your onward flight.

If you plan to stay longer in New Zealand, additional accommodation or touring can be arranged separately from the scheduled 12-day itinerary.