Signature Highlights

Day 1  Christchurch  
Welcome to Christchurch. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel. This evening, enjoy a drink with your tour leader and travelling companions before dinner.  

Day 2  Christchurch to Twizel    
After a tour of the city’s sights, depart Christchurch and travel through the southern Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo. See the brilliant turquoise water, the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Sheep Dog Statue. Marvel at the spectacular mountain ranges including Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak before travelling to Twizel.  

Day 3  Twizel to Dunedin  
Depart Twizel and see the vast Lake Benmore, before following the Waitaki River to Oamaru, famous for its blue penguin colony and limestone architecture. Continue south to Dunedin and enjoy a city sights tour followed by some free time.  

Day 4  Dunedin to Te Anau  
This morning, travel out along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle where you learn about its history on a guided tour. Enjoy a delicious Devonshire Tea and take time to wander around the beautiful gardens which have been rated as a Garden of International Significance. Bid farewell to Dunedin and travel through Balclutha and Gore to Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland.    

Day 5  Te Anau to Queenstown    
Depart Te Anau for a fascinating drive to Milford Sound where you board your cruise on this magnificent fiord. See the spectacular Bowen Falls and towering Mitre Peak as you enjoy lunch. This afternoon, travel to Queenstown, overlooking magical Lake Wakatipu. This evening is at your leisure.  

Day 6  Queenstown    
Today is a free day for you to explore Queenstown at your own pace. 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.  

Day 7  Queenstown to Franz Josef
Travel to Arrowtown and visit the Lakes District Museum. Continue via the Haast Pass to the mighty West Coast, an area of stunning natural beauty. See the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps as you travel north to the township of Franz Josef.    

Day 8  Franz Josef to Christchurch    
Travel to Hokitika and visit the Greenstone Factory. Continue into Arthur’s Pass and board the TranzAlpine, renowned as one of the great train journeys of the world. View rivers and valleys as you travel through the Waimakariri Basin, over massive viaducts and through the patchwork farmlands of the Canterbury Plains. On arrival into the garden city of Christchurch, your coach will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.

Day 9  Christchurch to Wellington    
Travel along the East Coast to the seaside village of Kaikôura. Enjoy the spectacular scenery as you travel through Marlborough Country, famous for its food and wine. Continue to Picton, where you will board the Interislander Ferry for your journey along the Cook Strait to Wellington.  

Day 10  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 which showcases the history and culture on show. Enjoy free time for the remainder of today.

Day 11  Wellington to Rotorua    
Depart Wellington and view the snow-capped peaks of Mt Ruapehu and Mt Tongariro as you travel to Lake Taupô. Visit the spectacular Huka Falls then travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua.  

Day 12  Rotorua    
Today begins with a gondola ride and breakfast at Skyline Rotorua, there is also time for a thrilling luge ride. Next stop is Agrodome for an action-packed hour of farming entertainment and education. Enjoy some free time this afternoon before visiting Te Puia to see the boiling mud pools and awesome geysers that Rotorua is famous for. This evening, experience a Mâori cultural evening with a Hângi feast and concert.    

Day 13  Rotorua to Bay of Islands  
This morning, depart Rotorua and travel north to Whangarei, the gateway to the Bay of Islands. This afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the location of the signing of the treaty between the Mâori tribes and the British.  

Day 14  Bay of Islands    
Today you will cruise through the beautiful Bay of Islands 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 before returning to Paihia for a free afternoon and evening.  

Day 15  Bay of Islands to Auckland    
Depart the Bay of Islands this morning and travel via Whangarei to Matakohe. Enjoy a visit and informative talk at the Kauri Museum before continuing to Auckland for a city sights tour. This evening, enjoy a pre-dinner drink and farewell dinner.  

Day 16  Auckland  
Transfer to the airport in time for your flight home.