Itinerary
Day 1: Auckland
On arrival in Auckland, you will be met and
transferred to the Stamford Plaza Auckland
Hotel for 2 nights. Evening welcome dinner
with the rest of the group. (D)
Day 2: Auckland
Morning tour of Aucklands city sights including
stops at Bastion Point and the Michael Joseph
Savage Memorial. Afternoon at leisure. (B)
Day 3: Tauranga
Travel to Tauranga, stopping for lunch at the
Waikato farm of Lance and Bridgette OSullivan,
New Zealand horse racing royalty. Continue to
Tauranga, with the afternoon at leisure. Stay
overnight at Trinity Wharf Tauranga. (B, L, D)
Day 4: Rotorua
Travel through Te Puke and stop at Kiwifruit
Country, a family business set within a 60-hectare orchard. Continue to Rotorua
with a short orientation tour on arrival.
This afternoon visit Te Puia and explore the
Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve. Tonight,
gain an insight into Maori culture with a Maori
hangi feast (food cooked using hot stones) and
concert. Stay 2 nights at the Millennium Hotel
Rotorua. (B, D)
Day 5: Rotorua
Choose from a selection of included tours: see
the glow-worm caves at Waitomo, take a tour
of the Hobbiton movie set or explore Rotorua
and its three lakes in an amphibious second
world war-era duck. (B)
Day 6: Wellington
Travel south to New Zealands capital city,
Wellington. En route, drive along the shores of
Lake Taupo and pass Tongariro National Park.
Stay at James Cook Grand Chancellor for 1
night. (B)
Day 7: Wellington Blenheim
Morning at leisure to explore Wellington and
later visit Te Papa Museum of New Zealand. In
the afternoon, board the Interislander ferry for
a scenic cruise to the 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)
Day 8: Kaikoura Christchurch
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 excursion. On arrival,
transfer to the Distinction Christchurch for
1 night. (B)
Day 9: Twizel
In the morning, travel to a working farm
for afternoon tea 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)
Day 10: Dunedin
Travel to Dunedin, passing the Waitaki Hydro
Power Scheme and Benmore Dam. On arrival
in Dunedin, there will be a short orientation
tour before a choice of included excursions:
ride the Taieri Gorge railway, take a wildlife
cruise or visit Speights Brewery. Stay overnight
at the Scenic Hotel Southern Cross. (B, D)
Day 11: Te Anau
Travel past lush green fields to the lakeside
town of Te Anau, on the shores of South
Islands largest lake. Stay overnight at the
Distinction Hotel. (B, D)
Day 12: Milford Sound Queenstown
Morning drive to Milford Sound where you will
join a nature cruise. Continue to Queenstown
for an orientation tour. Stay 2 nights at the
Millennium Hotel. (B)
Day 13: Queenstown
Choose from a selection of included excursions:
ride the Shotover Jet, take a gondola to Bobs
Peak for thrilling luge rides, take a 4×4 minibus
tour through spectacular Skippers Canyon or
visit Kiwi Birdlife Park. Evening cruise across
Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station with an
after-dinner farm show providing an insight
into country farm life. (B, D)
Day 14: Arrowtown Franz Josef
Travel to Franz Josef, home to the worlds most
accessible glacier. En route, pass spectacular
scenery, stop at the historic gold-mining
settlement of Arrowtown and take a short
rainforest walk. Stay overnight at Scenic Hotel
Franz Josef. (B, D)
Day 15: Punakaiki
This morning take an exhilarating adventure
among the temperate rainforest on the West
Coast Treetop Walk. Travel north to Punakaiki,
the Pancake Rocks and blowholes. Overnight at
Punakaiki Resort. (B, D)
Day 16: Christchurch
Morning at leisure before travelling to
Greymouth for a brewery experience at
Monteiths. Join the TranzAlpine train for a
journey across the dramatic Southern Alps
to Christchurch, considered one of the most
spectacular rail journeys in the world. On arrival, transfer to the Distinction Christchurch
for 1 night. (B, D)
Day 17: Onward travel
Morning at leisure. Private transfer to
Christchurch airport to fly home, or continue
your holiday. (B)
