On arrival in Auckland, you will be met and transferred to the Cordis Hotel for 1 night. (D)
Morning tour of Auckland’s city sights before travelling south towards Rotorua. En route, visit the glow-worm caves at Waitomo. Stay 2 nights at the Millennium Hotel Rotorua. On arrival in Rotorua, there will be a short orientation tour before an evening Maori hangi feast (food cooked using hot stones) and concert*. (B, D)
Choose from a selection of included tours: unwind at the Polynesian Spa, visit Te Puia and explore the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, take a tour of the Hobbiton movie set or explore Rotorua and its three lakes in an amphibious second world war-era ‘Duck’. Tonight you have the option of staying at your hotel or with a nearby Kiwi family. (B)
Travel south to New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington. En route, drive along the shores of Lake Taupo and pass Tongariro National Park. Enjoy an exclusive after-hours guided tour of Te Papa Museum of New Zealand. Stay at James Cook Grand Chancellor for 1 night. (B, D)
Morning at leisure to explore Wellington before a visit to Te Papa, the National Museum of New Zealand. In the afternoon, board the Interislander ferry for a scenic cruise to South Island. On arrival, take a panoramic city tour of Blenheim before transferring to the Chateau Marlborough for 1 night. Tonight, dinner will be accompanied by wines of the region, which have been paired with the meal. (B, D)
Morning drive south to Christchurch, visiting the whale-watching town of Kaikoura en route, where there will be time to join an optional whale watching cruise. On arrival, transfer to the Novotel Hotel Christchurch* for 1 night. (B)
In the morning, travel to a working farm for a barbecue lunch before travelling south to Twizel. En route, visit the Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo and see the spectacular Mount Cook National Park. Stay overnight at MacKenzie Country Inn. (B, L, D)
Travel from Twizel to Dunedin, passing the Waitaki Hydro Power Scheme and Benmore dam. On arrival in Dunedin, there will be a short orientation tour before spending the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. Stay overnight at the Scenic Hotel Southern Cross. (B, D)
In the morning, choose from a selection of included tours such as a visit to New Zealand’s only castle, Larnach Castle, a ride on the historic Taieri Gorge Railway, a wildlife cruise or a tour of Speight’s Brewery. In the afternoon, travel to the lakeside town of Te Anau. Stay overnight at the Distinction Hotel. (B, D)
Morning drive to Milford Sound and join a scenic cruise*. Continue to Queenstown for an orientation tour. Stay 2 nights at the Millennium Hotel. (B)
Choose from a selection of included excursions: ride the Shotover Jet, take a gondola to Bob’s Peak for thrilling luge rides, take a 4x4 minibus tour through spectacular Skippers Canyon, visit Kiwi Birdlife Park or journey deep into the mountains to Mount Nicholas High Country Farm for lunch. Evening cruise across Lake Wakatipu Walter Peak Station with an after-dinner farm show providing an insight into country farm life. (B, D)
In the morning, travel to Franz Josef, home to the world’s most accessible glacier. En route, pass spectacular scenery, stop at the historic goldmining settlement of Arrowtown and take a short rainforest walk. Stay overnight at Scenic Hotel Franz Josef. (B, D)
This morning enjoy an exhilarating adventure among the temperate rainforest on the West Coast Treetop Walk. Travel north to Punakaiki, the Pancake Rocks and blowhole. Overnight at Punakaiki Resort. (B, D)
Morning at leisure before travelling to Arthur’s Pass, where you will join the TranzAlpine train for a spectacular journey across the dramatic Southern Alps to Christchurch, considered one of the most spectacular rail journeys in the world. On arrival, transfer to the Novotel Hotel Christchurch for 1 night. (B, D)
Morning at leisure. Afternoon transfer to Christchurch airport to fly for youe next destination. (B)