Fly from your homeport to Auckland where you will be met by a Grand Pacific Tours representative and transferred to your hotel. Meet your travelling companions over a complimentary pre dinner drink.
Overnight: Auckland
Meals: Dinner
Board the luxurious Ultimate Coach, depart Auckland and travel to the Parry Kauri Park to see a magnificent example of a Kauri Tree. Enjoy a visit and informative talk at the Kauri Museum in Matakohe, then travel via Whangarei to Paihia, situated in the heart of the beautiful Bay of Islands. Enjoy a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the location of the signing of the treaty between the Maori tribes and the British.
Overnight: Paihia, Bay of Islands
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today is a free day. Choose from the many optional activities available, including the Cape Reinga coach trip via Ninety Mile Beach or a spectacular scenic flight. This evening is also free and you may like to enjoy a relaxing dinner cruise (optional).
Overnight: Paihia, Bay of Islands
Meals: Breakfast
This morning travel aboard a luxury catamaran to Cape Brett and the famous Hole in the Rock. Keep an eye out for bottlenose and common dolphins before returning to Paihia. Travel south via Whangarei to Auckland.
Overnight: Auckland
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning enjoy a city sights tour of Auckland before travelling to the Zealong Tea Estate, New Zealand's only tea plantation for a tour & tasting. Continue through the picturesque countryside to Longlands Farm & Restaurant to enjoy a delicious home cooked lunch hosted by a rural New Zealand family. This afternoon travel to Hobbiton and discover the real Middle-earth when you visit the Movie Set from The Lord of the Rings film trilogy on a fascinating guided tour.
Overnight: Rotorua
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today begins with a Gondola ride at the Skyline Rotorua for breakfast with champagne, spectacular views and also time for a thrilling luge ride! Next stop is the Agrodome for an action packed hour of farming entertainment and education that's unlike anything you've seen before. Enjoy some free time this afternoon before travelling to Te Puia to see the boiling mud pools and awesome Geysers that Rotorua is famous for. This evening experience an entertaining Maori Hangi and Concert.
Overnight: Rotorua
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Depart Rotorua and travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to Huka Falls and Lake Taupo. Continue to Napier known as "The Art Deco Capital", where a city tour will showcase the most comprehensive collection of art deco buildings in the world. Enjoy a tour on board the Hawke's Bay Express and hear informative commentary on the city's fascinating history. Enjoy some free time this afternoon to explore the MTG Hawkes Bay or to take a guided walk at your leisure (optional).
Overnight: Napier
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Travel south this morning into Wellington for a city tour of the nation's capital which will highlight the history and culture on show here.
Overnight: Wellington
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
A highlight this morning will be time to explore Te Papa, New Zealand's National Museum, with exhibits that embrace both Maori and European views. This afternoon board the Interislander Ferry and enjoy the scenery as you travel through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton where you board your Ultimate Coach for the short journey to Blenheim.
Overnight: Blenheim
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Tour through Marlborough Country, famous for its food and wine, then travel to the seaside village of Kaikoura. Continue onto the garden city of Christchurch for an introductory city sights tour.
Overnight: Christchurch
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning board the TranzAlpine, renowned as one of the great train journeys of the world. Travel over massive viaducts, river valleys and spectacular gorges as you ascend to Arthur's Pass located in the centre of the Southern Alps. Board your Ultimate coach and travel to Hokitika, famous for its Greenstone before continuing via Franz Josef to Fox Glacier where time is available to experience a scenic flight (optional, weather permitting) over the spectacular glaciers.
Overnight: Fox Glacier
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
See the snow capped peaks of the Southern Alps as you travel south along the West Coast. Continue via the Haast Pass, an area of stunning beauty before arriving into picturesque Queenstown, a year round resort situated on the shores of magical Lake Wakatipu. This evening is free and you may choose to dine out at one of the many fine restaurants.
Overnight: Queenstown
Meals: Breakfast
Today is a free day. There are plenty of sightseeing options and your Grand Pacific Tours Local Host is available to assist. You may wish to enjoy the thrill of a jet boat ride, a heritage tour of the scenic Skippers Canyon or get up close to a Kiwi bird. This evening board the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw and cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station. Sit back, relax and enjoy a gourmet barbecue dinner which the chef will prepare in front of you at the Colonel's Homestead. After dinner enjoy a short farm tour then reboard the TSS Earnslaw for a sing along by the piano as you cruise back to Queenstown.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy a leisurely start this morning before travelling to Arrowtown, an old gold mining village where you visit the Lakes District Museum. Continue to Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland. This afternoon you may like to visit the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves (optional).
Overnight: Te Anau
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Depart Te Anau for a fascinating drive to Milford Sound where you board your launch for a cruise on this magnificent fiord. See the spectacular Bowen Falls and towering Mitre Peak as you enjoy a picnic lunch onboard. This afternoon return to Te Anau where some free time is available.
Overnight: Te Anau
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Travel via Gore and Balclutha to Dunedin known as the "Edinburgh of the South". Enjoy an informative city tour followed by some free time to explore at leisure. The sweet tooth might like to tour Cadbury World (optional) whilst others might be interested in a tour of the Speight's Brewery (optional).
Overnight: Dunedin
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Travel along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle, hear the tragic and scandalous stories on a guided tour with time to wander around this Garden of International Significance followed by an Ultimate High Tea served in the grand ballroom. Farewell Dunedin and travel to Oamaru famous for its limestone. Follow the Waitaki River and see Lake Benmore as you travel to Mt Cook.
Overnight: Aoraki Mount Cook Village
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning marvel at Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest peak. The opportunity is available to enjoy a scenic flight (optional, weather permitting) over the Southern Alps. Continue to Lake Tekapo and view the brilliant turquoise water, visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and see the Sheep Dog Statue before arriving into Christchurch. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner including selected beverages with your new found friends.
Overnight: Christchurch
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Time to say goodbye, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home after a memorable New Zealand holiday.
Meals: Breakfast