19 day Signature Rail, Cruise and Coach New Zealand
Description:
Itinerary:
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Day 4
- Day 5
- Day 6
- Day 7
- Day 8
- Day 9
- Day 10
- Day 11
- Day 12
- Day 13
- Day 14
- Day 15
- Day 16
- Day 17
- Day 18
- Day 19
Arrive Auckland
Kia Ora and Welcome to Auckland! Upon arrival, a tour representative will meet and transfer you to your hotel. This evening, enjoy dinner and a complimentary pre-dinner drink as you meet your traveling
companions and Tour Leader.
Overnight: Grand Millennium Auckland
Meals: Welcome Dinner with Tour Group
Auckland – Bay of Islands
Enjoy a city tour of Auckland, dubbed the ‘City of Sails’, before traveling to Matakohe to enjoy a visit and informative talk at the Kauri Museum. 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 Māori tribes and the British.
Overnight: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Bay of Islands – Free Day
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, you may like to enjoy a relaxing dinner cruise (optional).
Overnight: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands
Meals: Breakfast
Bay of Islands – Auckland
This morning cruise through the beautiful Bay of Islands aboard a luxury catamaran to Cape Brett, where a historic lighthouse keeps watch over Piercy Island, or as it is popularly known, the ‘Hole in the Rock’. Keep an eye out for dolphins and other marine life. Upon return to Paihia, travel south via Whangarei, before returning to Auckland. This evening is free to explore the many eateries surrounding your hotel.
Overnight: Grand Millennium Auckland
Meals: Breakfast
Auckland – Rotorua
This morning travel to Glenbrook Vintage Railway for a nostalgic 15 kilometer trip back in time on a beautifully restored vintage steam train including a delightful morning tea. Depart Glenbrook and travel through magnificent countryside of rolling hills and green pastures famous for dairying. Continue to Rotorua renowned for its geothermal activity and Māori culture.
Overnight: Pullman Rotorua
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Rotorua
Today begins with a gondola ride and breakfast at Skyline Rotorua. There is also time for a thrilling luge ride! Next stop is the Agrodome for an action-packed hour of farming entertainment and education that is 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 traditional Māori Hāngi and Concert!
Overnight: Pullman Rotorua
Meals: Breakfast and Specialty Dinner
Rotorua – Wellington
Travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to the spectacular Huka Falls. Continue to Lake Taupo for some free time to enjoy this scenic lakeside town. Travel via the Tongariro National Park and then continue south to New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington.
Overnight: James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Wellington
A highlight this morning will be time to explore Gallipoli: A Scale of War exhibition at Te Papa, New Zealand’s National Museum. Cutting edge technology brings these stories to life through the eyes of New Zealanders who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances. Reboard your coach for an extensive city tour. This afternoon, ride the Wellington Cable Car to Kelburn Station where you can explore the Cable Car Museum or stroll through the Botanic Gardens. This evening is also free to explore Wellington’s lively food scene.
Overnight: James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor
Meals: Breakfast
Wellington – Kaikōura – Christchurch
This morning board the Interislander Ferry. Enjoy breakfast as you travel through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton. Join the Coastal Pacific, a truly spectacular rail journey that follows a thin wedge of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Kaikōura Ranges. Meet your coach in the fishing village of Kaikōura for the journey to the garden city of Christchurch.
Overnight: Distinction Christchurch Hotel
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Christchurch
Today visit the International Antarctic Centre, designed to provide an informative account of life in Antarctica. This is followed by an introductory city tour of Christchurch. This afternoon includes a journey on board the Christchurch Tram at leisure. This evening is free to explore the local cuisine.
Overnight: Distinction Christchurch Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Christchurch – Arthur’s Pass
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. Board your coach and travel to Hokitika, famous for its Greenstone before arriving at the township of Franz Josef where time is available to experience a scenic flight (optional, weather permitting) over the spectacular glaciers.
Overnight: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Franz Josef – Queenstown
See the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps as you travel south via the Haast Pass, an area of stunning beauty. We then journey on to beautiful Queenstown and check in to a year-round resort situated on the shores of magical Lake Wakatipu. This evening is free to dine at one of the many fine restaurants.
Overnight: Millennium Hotel Queenstown
Meals: Breakfast
Queenstown – Free Day
Today is a free day to explore Queenstown. Your crew will assist with the many optional activities available. This evening board the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw and cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station. Sit back, relax and enjoy a delicious gourmet barbecue dinner featuring a menu of seasonal, fresh and locally sourced food 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.
Overnight: Millennium Hotel Queenstown
Meals: Breakfast and Specialty Dinner
Queenstown – Milford Sound Overnight Cruise
This morning travel to Arrowtown and visit the Lakes District Museum. Continue via Te Anau to Milford Sound and board the Milford Mariner for your amazing overnight cruise. There is plenty of time to view the fiord’s spectacular waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife – you’re bound to encounter seals and if you’re lucky maybe dolphins and penguins. There are opportunities to explore the shoreline by tender boat or kayak (swimwear required) – or to simply relax on board. As evening falls enjoy a delicious carvery buffet prepared freshly by the onboard chef.
Overnight: Milford Mariner
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Milford Sound – Te Anau
Start the day with a hearty breakfast before heading back out to the Tasman Sea (weather permitting) to explore more of the fiord. Return to the wharf to meet your coach and enjoy the scenic drive to Te Anau where you will enjoy an afternoon at leisure. You may like to visit the Te Anau Glowworm Caves (optional).
Overnight: Distinction Luxmore Hotel Lake Te Anau
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Te Anau – Dunedin
Travel via Gore and Balclutha to Dunedin, famous for its stunning Edwardian and Victorian architecture dating back to the gold rush of the 1800s. Enjoy a city tour of New Zealand’s oldest university city.
Overnight: Scenic Hotel Dunedin City
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Dunedin
Travel along the picturesque Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle. On a guided tour you will hear the tragic and scandalous tales which make up the castle’s history. Enjoy time to wander around this Garden of International Significance followed by a delicious Devonshire Tea. Return to Dunedin for some free time. Optional activities to consider include a wildlife excursion to observe animals in their natural habitat or a guided tour of Olveston Historic Home, containing a wealth of treasures of a bygone era.
Overnight: Scenic Hotel Dunedin City
Meals: Breakfast
Dunedin – Christchurch
Today travel to the small town of Oamaru, famous for its limestone architecture before continuing to Christchurch. This evening, enjoy a pre-dinner drink and reminisce on memories shared with your new friends at the farewell dinner.
Overnight: Distinction Christchurch Hotel
Meals: Breakfast and Specialty Dinner
Depart Christchurch
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home after a memorable New Zealand holiday!
Meals: Breakfast
Inclusions:
- Personalized Meet and Greet on arrival
- Return airport transfers in New Zealand
- Professional Coach Captain
- Experienced Tour Leader
- 17 nights 4 star accommodation, including hotel porterage
- Milford Sound Overnight Cruise
- 6 two night stays
- 3 rail journeys
- 4 cruises
- All sightseeing and prepaid attractions
- Extensive Optional Activities
MEALS
- 18 breakfasts, including a specialty breakfast: Stratosfare Restaurant, Rotorua
- 12 dinners, including three specialty dinners: Māori Hāngi and Concert, Rotorua; Walter Peak Homestead, Queenstown; Farewell Dinner including pre-dinner drink, Christchurch
- Complimentary pre-dinner drink at the Welcome Dinner
- 2 delicious morning teas including Devonshire Tea at Larnach Castle
- Day One: Dinner not included for anyone arriving later than 8pm
- Kauri Museum
- Waitangi Treaty Grounds
- Hole in the Rock Dolphin Cruise
- Glenbrook Vintage Railway
- Skyline Rotorua Gondola and Luge Ride
- Agrodome
- Thermal mud pools and geysers
- Te Puia traditional Māori Hāngi and Concert
- Te Papa, NZ’s National Museum
- Wellington Cable Car
- Cruise on the Interislander Ferry
- Coastal Pacific Rail Journey
- International Antarctic Centre
- Christchurch Tram
- TranzAlpine Rail Journey
- Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw
- Lakes District Museum
- HIGHLIGHT Milford Sound Overnight Cruise
- Larnach Castle and Devonshire Tea
- Auckland City Sights Tour
- Wellington City Sights Tour
- Christchurch City Sights Tour
- Dunedin City Sights Tour
For a majestic experience, spend the night on board the Milford Mariner. Cruise the full length of Milford Sound with commentary by a specialist nature guide. View the fiord’s spectacular waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife. You are bound to encounter seals, maybe dolphins and penguins. There are opportunities to explore the shoreline by tender boat or kayak (swimwear required) – or to simply relax onboard. As evening falls, enjoy a delicious carvery buffet, prepared by an onboard chef. Relax in the company of your fellow travelers or take in some stargazing before retiring to your cabin. Next morning, indulge in a hearty breakfast before heading back out to the Tasman Sea (weather permitting) and exploring more of the breathtaking fiord.
- 32 Premium Economy Comfort seats on a full-size coach
- 2 door access; seat back tray table; cup holder
- Onboard Restroom
- Onboard daily Wi-Fi allowance
Exclusions:
- Return airfares from your home to New Zealand
- Meals not defined in the inclusions
- Any travel insurances
- Tour guide gratuities
- Items such as souvenirs, laundry and similar personal expenses
Optional activities:
*Please note, whilst your tour package includes an extensive range of pre-paid attractions and sightseeing, the Optional Activities outlined are available to enjoy during your free time. They will provide the ‘icing on the cake’ experience that will hold memories for a lifetime. Optional Activities will be booked with your Crew once on tour.
Bay of Islands:
- Cape Reinga via Ninety Mile Beach
- Russell Mini Tour
- Tall Ship Sailing Sundowner Sail
- Darryl’s Lunch Cruise to Russell
- Darryl’s Dinner Cruise
- Helicopter Scenic Flight
- Cape Reinga fly/drive (half day tour)
- Thunder Trike Tours
Auckland:
- All Blacks Experience
- Auckland Museum
- Weta Workshop Unleashed
Rotorua:
- Rotorua City and Lakes Tour
- Mount Tarawera/Waimangu via Floatplane
- Mount Tarawera Volcano Landing via Helicopter
- Polynesian Spa
Wellington:
- The Weta Workshop Experience Wellington
West Coast:
- Haast River Safari
- Westland Greenstone Ltd
- Twin Glacier Helicopter Flight
- Neve Discoverer Helicopter Flight
- Mountain Scenic Spectacular Helicopter Flight
- West Coast Wildlife Center
Queenstown:
- KJet boat ride across Lake Wakatipu
- Time Tripper Underwater Cinematic Experience
- Unforgettable Skippers Canyon
- The Grand Circle Helicopter Flight
- Southern Glacier Experience Helicopter Flight
- Skyline Queenstown
- Shotover Jet
- Best of Queenstown Tour
Te Anau:
- Fiordland Cinema
- Te Anau Glowworm Caves
Dunedin:
- Eco Wildlife Tour
- Speight’s Brewery
