The ultimate voyage of discovery in 14 or 17 unforgettable days. Your grand tour covers the length and breadth of both islands with visits to all the major attractions and places of interest.
UNFORGETTABLE SIGHTSEEING EXPERIENCES
• Blowholes at Punakaiki
• Fox Glacier
• Historic Arrowtown
• Free time in Queenstown
• Milford Sound cruise
• Church of Good Shepherd
• Mount Cook National Park
• Free time in Christchurch
• Fur seals at Kaikoura
• Montana Winery
• Te Papa National Museum
• Huka Falls
• Hangi Feast & concert
• Agrodome Sheep Show
• Glow Worm Grotto
• Auckland city tour
Day 1: Arrive Christchurch
After your airport transfer and hotel check-in, explore the ‘most English city’ outside of England, your way. You could visit Hagley Park, the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch Cathedral and the Botanic Gardens. Tonight meet your Tour Director for a Welcome Drink and dinner.
Hotel: Hotel Ibis, Christchurch.
Day 2: Fox Glacier
We’ll travel through the west coast rainforest to Punakaiki. View the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. Pass through Greymouth en route to Hokitika, home of the native greenstone (jade) for a factory visit and jewellery demonstration. Next stop is Fox Glacier – a rare, still advancing glacier (optional scenic Fox Glacier flight).
Hotel: Fox Glacier Hotel, Fox Glacier. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day 3: Queenstown
Travel through the Haast Pass, view Thunder Creek Falls, take a rainforest walk. Then it’s a trio of lakes – Wanaka, Hawea, Dunstan. Next is Cromwell and its stone fruit and Arrowtown on the Arrow River. Enjoy a Queenstown orientation tour followed by dinner with views over Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables.
Hotel: Mercure Queenstown Resort, Queenstown, 2 nights. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day 4: Queenstown ‘Free Time’
Explore exciting Queenstown your way. From wine and garden tours to jet boat rides and white water rafting, Queenstown will keep you occupied and exhilarated. For dinner you have the option to dine at the Skyline Restaurant on Bob’s Peak. Access is via the steepest Gondola in the Southern Hemisphere. Dinner options include the Kiwi Haka Maori Show.
Day 5: Milford Sound
Travel along the Devils Stair Case and the shores of Lake Wakatipu to Te Anau. You’ll be awestruck by great sights from Fiordland National Park – New Zealand’s largest – to Milford Sound, one of the world’s most amazing places. En route we’ll drive through the hand made Homer Tunnel to the abundant photo opportunities afforded by the Mirror Lakes, Pop’s Lookout, Claudu Valley, The Chasm, Mitre Peak and Bowen Falls. Then we return to Te Anau. Tonight you have the option to see the Glow Worm Caves.
Hotel: Kingsgate Hotel, Te Anau. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day 6: Dunedin
We’ll cross sheep-filled farming land to Dunedin for a city tour. ‘Free Time’ this afternoon – take a wildlife cruise to see the Penguins and Royal Albatross,
visit the Cadbury Factory or ride the Taieri Gorge Railway.
Hotel: Kingsgate Hotel, Dunedin. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day 7: Mt. Cook
‘Free Time’ this morning – visit Larnach Castle, New Zealand’s only castle. Travel through Oamaru, famous for its limestone buildings, passing the Waitaki Hydro Power Scheme and the Benmore Dam.
Hotel: Heritage Gateway Hotel, Omarama. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day 8: Christchurch
Soak up the scenery of Mt. Cook National Park (optional scenic flight). We’ll see Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo, visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and travel across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. ‘Free Time’ – ride the Christchurch Tram or just relax.
Hotel: Hotel Ibis, Christchurch. Breakfast included.
Day 9: Picton
Travel along the rugged Pacific Ocean coast to Kaikoura, famous for its whales (optional Whale Watching flight). We’ll get up close and personal with some New Zealand’s Fur Seals at Ohau Point. Pass the Grassmere Salt Works to Montana Winery for a tour and tasting. We travel to the pretty seaside fishing village of Picton for an orientation tour.
Hotel: Beachcomber, Picton. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day 10: Wellington
We’ll cruise on Queen Charlotte Sound and across Cook Strait to Wellington for a city tour. ‘Free Time’ then we visit Te Papa, New Zealand’s National Museum.
Hotel: Mercure Willis Street, Wellington. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day 11: Rotorua
Travel along the Kapiti Coast, through the dairy farms of Manawatu and Tongariro National Park, discover the alpine scenery of Mt. Ruapehu. Visit Taupo and drive along the shores of New Zealand’s largest lake. View Huka Falls and pass the Wairaki Geothermal Power Station. Tonight enjoy a Maori Hangi feast and Concert
and gain an insight into Maori culture.
Hotel: Hotel Ibis, Rotorua, 2 nights. Breakfast & Highlight Dinner included.
Day 12: Rotorua
We visit the Agrodome Sheep Show and enjoy an afternoon of ‘Free Time’ – visit Paradise Valley Springs abundant with Rainbow Trout and New Zealand farm animals or Te Puia, where a local Maori will guide you through the Geothermal Valley with its mud pools and geysers. B
Day 13: Waitomo Caves
Travel through the Waikato region to Waitomo Caves for a tour of the amazing Glow Worm Grotto. We then follow the Waikato River to Auckland for a city tour.
Hotel: Mercure Hotel, Auckland. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day 14: Depart Auckland
Time at leisure until your transfer to Auckland Airport for your return flight. (B)
Includes meals where shown – (B) breakfast (L) lunch (D) dinner
14 day Grand tour: Standard – from £1390
or 15 day Premium tour - from £2215
Or extend your tour to include Waitangi and the Bay of islands
17 day escorted tour: Standard - from £1780
18 day escorted tour: Premium - from £2660
Premium tours include a higher level of accommodation and some extra excursions.
Prices include accommodation and touring only. Ask your consultant for flight details.
Accommodation specified is subject to availability and may be substituted to a similar or higher standard if necessary.
