Day 1
Arrive in Auckland
Today you’ll arrive in the bustling city of Auckland, where you’ll be transferred to your hotel. The rest of your day is then free for relaxation and your choice of activities before you have a welcome dinner with your tour guide and group.
Overnight: Rendezvous Grand Hotel, Auckland (Dinner included)
Day 2
Waitomo Caves/Rotorua
Today you’ll leave Auckland and head to the pretty Waitomo Caves. Here you’ll take a boat ride through a majestic grotto containing thousands of glow-worms – an amazing sight. Later you’ll continue on to Rotorua which is home to the vibrant Maori culture as well as being a hotspot for geothermal activity. In the evening you’ll enjoy a traditional Hangi feast where you’ll learn about the customs and the traditions of the Maori people.
Overnight: Vacation Inn Rotorua (Breakfast and dinner included)
Day 3
Rotorua
Today is a free day to explore the charms of Rotorua. There’s a great range of activities for you to choose from including an eco-thermal tour of Rotorua’s hot-springs and mud pools, a four-wheel-drive bush safari, a sightseeing tour with the chance to encounter the Kiwi, a visit to Rotorua’s fascinating museum, golf on a high quality course or a trip to see some of the filming locations from the Lord of the Rings movies.
Overnight: Vacation Inn Rotorua (Breakfast included)
Day 4
Taupo/Wellington
Today you’ll head out on the road again, driving on the Thermal Explorer Highway. Here you’ll pass the Huka Falls and enjoy the tranquil beauty of Lake Taupo. You’ll then cross the impressive volcanic plateau of Tongariro National Park and reach Wellington, New Zealand’s quaint capital city. This evening you’ll have a choice of restaurants to dine at in the city.
Overnight: Amora Hotel, Wellington (Breakfast and dinner included)
Day 5
Wellington
On day five you’ll take a sightseeing tour of Wellington, where you’ll see many of the city’s best sites. On the tour you’ll see the Museum of New Zealand and finally ride the iconic cable car.
Overnight: Amora Hotel, Wellington (Breakfast included)
Day 6
Cook Straight/Christchurch
Today you’ll board the famous Interislander ferry to cross the Cook Straight between the North and South Islands. You’ll arrive at the pretty town of Picton where you’ll re-join your coach and travel southwards to the South Island’s largest city, Christchurch.
Overnight: Christchurch Heartland Hotel Cotswold (Breakfast and dinner included)
Day 7
TranzAlpine train/Franz Josef
On day seven you’ll board the TranzAlpine on which you’ll enjoy one of the world’s most scenic rail journeys. Passing through the jaw-dropping New Zealand countryside you’ll be treated to exceptional photo opportunities before arriving at Arthur’s Pass, where you’ll disembark and continue to Hokitika.
Here you’ll see jade carving and also get the chance to enjoy the wonderful glacial scenery including the valley of Franz Josef Glacier. You’ll then check in to your hotel for a delicious four-course dinner.
Overnight: Te Waonui Forest Retreat (Breakfast and dinner included)
Day 8-9
Queenstown
Enjoy more superb scenery today as you travel along the west coast toe Haast and then onwards to Queenstown. Known as New Zealand’s Adventure Capital, Queenstown has a wide range of activities including watersports, bungee jumping and skydiving. In the evening you’ll have a choice of four fantastic restaurants.
On day nine you’re free to choose from a selection of activities including a Safari of the Scenes tour which takes you to several nearby sites where the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed. Alternatively, you could take a thrilling ride on the Shotover River Canyons or visit a local vineyard for a wine tour.
Overnight: Novotel Queenstown Lakeside (Breakfast and dinner included)
Day 10
Milford Sound/Te Anau
Today you’ll continue your tour passing The Remarkables mountain range to Fiordland National Park. You’ll then travel along Milford Road and take a cruise to explore the Milford Sound for some of New Zealand’s most dramatic water scenery. You’ll then head down to the lakeside town of Te Anau for an evening enjoying a special Taste of Fiordland dinner.
Overnight: Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas (Breakfast and dinner included)
Day 11
Dunedin
Today you’ll journey to town of Dunedin in the southern territory of the South Island. Drawing on its Scottish influences, Dunedin has some wonderful architecture to explore and some of the quirkiest features in New Zealand including the country’s only castle and the only land Royal Albatross breeding colony in the world.
Overnight: Scenic Hotel Dunedin City (Breakfast and dinner included)
Day 12
Mt Cook
Today you’ll visit the impressive Moeraki Boulders before heading to Mt Cook National Park where you’ll enjoy some more stunning scenery.
Overnight: The Hermitage Mt Cook (Breakfast and dinner included)
Day 13
Lake Tekapo
On the penultimate day of your tour you’ll journey to Lake Tekapo, another of New Zealand’s beautiful bodies of water. Here you’ll visit the Church of the Good Shepherd before heading back to Christchurch for a farewell dinner with your tour group.
Overnight: Copthorne Hotel Commodore Christchurch (Breakfast and dinner included)
Day 14
Depart Christchurch
After breakfast you’ll transfer to the airport where you’ll catch your flight home.
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