This extremely popular tour has been designed specifically for rail enthusiasts to enjoy the best of New Zealand at a relaxed pace. The itinerary includes a selection of breathtaking journeys, visiting many exciting attractions and includes a wide range of activities. Journey across the Southern Alps on board the TranzAlpine train, and enjoy the beautifully restored Glenbrook Railway vintage train. A highlight is an overnight experience aboard the Milford Mariner as you cruise across the majestic Milford Sound.
New Zealand escorted tour
This suggested tour costs from NZD$7,534 per person (twin share, low season)
Starts in Auckland, finishes in Christchurch
19 days/18 nights
Hotel 4 star
Pre and post tour options? YES
Viewed 37 times in the last 7 days
14 dinners
All breakfasts
Experienced Tour Leader
Rotorua Skyline Gondola with breakfast
Christchurch Tram
Lakes District Museum
Auckland City Sights Tour
Christchurch City Sights tour
Dunedin City Sights tour
Wellington City Sights Tour
Paradise Valley Springs
Glenbrook Vintage Railway
Day 1: Arrive into Auckland. Accommodation: Grand Millennium Auckland (or similar)
Day 2: Visit the impressive Kauri museum on the way to the Bay of Islands. Accommodation: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands (or similar)
Day 3: Bay of Islands free day. Accommodation: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands (or similar)
Day 4: Bay of Islands to Auckland. Accommodation: Grand Millennium Auckland (or similar)
Day 5: Auckland to Rotorua. Accommodation: Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua (or similar)
Day 6: Thermal adventures in Rotorua. Accommodation: Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua (or similar)
Day 7: Rotorua to Wellington. Accommodation: James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor (or similar)
Day 8: Wellington City. Accommodation: James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor (or similar)
Day 9: Say goodbye to the North Island. Accommodation: Distinction Christchurch Hotel (or similar)
Day 10: Christchurch Touring. Accommodation: Distinction Christchurch Hotel (or similar)
Day 11: Christchurch to Franz Josef. Accommodation: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier (or similar)
Day 12: Head down the west coast and through the Haast pass to Queenstown. Accommodation: Millennium Queenstown (or similar)
Day 13: The Adventure capital Queenstown. Accommodation: Millennium Queenstown (or similar)
Day 14: A glorious night on the Milford Mariner. Accommodation: Milford Mariner
Day 15: Milford Sound to Te Anau. Accommodation: Distinction Luxmore Hotel Te Anau (or similar)
Day 16: Te Anau to Dunedin. Accommodation: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross (or similar)
Day 17: Listen to scandalous tales of the castle. Accommodation: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross (or similar)
Day 18: Dunedin to Christchurch. Accommodation: Sudima Hotel Christchurch Airport (or similar)
Day 19: Farewell from your tour and new friends.
On arrival into Auckland, you will be met by a Grand Pacific Tours representative and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore. This evening meet your Tour Leader and travelling companions for dinner.
Your accommodation: Grand Millennium Auckland (or similar)
Located in the heart of the city, a stay at Grand Millennium Auckland places you within walking distance of some of the city's finest dining, shopping and entertainment venues.Meals included: Dinner
Board your coach and enjoy a city tour of Auckland, dubbed the "City of Sails", before travelling 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 Maori tribes and the British.
Your accommodation: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands (or similar)
Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands expansive sub-tropical gardens and extensive guest facilities, enhances the welcoming atmosphere of this resort-style hotel. It's the perfect base from which to explore the beautiful and historic Bay of Islands.Meals included: 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).
Your accommodation: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands (or similar)
Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands expansive sub-tropical gardens and extensive guest facilities, enhances the welcoming atmosphere of this resort-style hotel. It's the perfect base from which to explore the beautiful and historic Bay of Islands.Meals included: 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, call into the Parry Kauri Park to see a magnificent example of a Kauri Tree before returning to Auckland.
Your accommodation: Grand Millennium Auckland (or similar)
Located in the heart of the city, a stay at Grand Millennium Auckland places you within walking distance of some of the city's finest dining, shopping and entertainment venues.Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning travel to Glenbrook Vintage Railway for a nostalgic 15 kilometre trip back in time on a beautifully restored vintage steam train. Visit the restoration workshop and on return to Glenbrook Station, morning tea will be served. Depart Glenbrook and travel through magnificent countryside of rolling hills and green pastures famous for dairying. Continue to Rotorua to visit Paradise Valley Springs, a superb wildlife park where you can hand feed rainbow trout.
Your accommodation: Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua (or similar)
The Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua enjoys a location that is second-to-none on the very shores of beautiful Lake Rotorua, adjacent to the world famous Polynesian Spa complex and just a short stroll to all the attractions in Rotorua.Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today begins with a gondola ride and breakfast at Skyline Rotorua. There is also time for a 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.
Your accommodation: Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua (or similar)
The Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua enjoys a location that is second-to-none on the very shores of beautiful Lake Rotorua, adjacent to the world famous Polynesian Spa complex and just a short stroll to all the attractions in Rotorua.Meals included: Breakfast, Speciality Dinner
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 the capital city of New Zealand, Wellington.
Your accommodation: James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor (or similar)
At the heart of Wellington's commercial and retail districts, the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor has 260 well-appointed rooms and suites.Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
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 this afternoon and this evening is also free to choose your own dining arrangements.
Your accommodation: James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor (or similar)
At the heart of Wellington's commercial and retail districts, the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor has 260 well-appointed rooms and suites.Meals included: Breakfast
This morning board the Interislander Ferry, cross Cook Strait and travel through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton. Join the Coastal Pacific, a truly spectacular rail journey that showcases the Kaikoura mountain ranges on one side and the rugged scenic coastline on the other. Travel through numerous tunnels and across several bridges before departing the train in Kaikoura. Travel via coach south through some of the finest farmland areas to the garden city of Christchurch. *Please note the Coastal Pacifc Train does not run in winter, therefore departures in May will not include this rail sector and will be replaced by a coach.
Your accommodation: Distinction Christchurch Hotel (or similar)
This 4.5 star hotel is centrally located in the revitalised Cathedral Square. Ideally positioned, only a few minutes walk from the brand new Christchurch Convention Centre.Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today visit the International Antarctic Centre designed to provide an informative account of life in Antarctica. This is followed by a city tour of Christchurch. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is at leisure to explore further.
Your accommodation: Distinction Christchurch Hotel (or similar)
This 4.5 star hotel is centrally located in the revitalised Cathedral Square. Ideally positioned, only a few minutes walk from the brand new Christchurch Convention Centre.Meals included: Breakfast
This morning board the TranzAlpine, 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 coach and travel to Hokitika, famous for its Greenstone before arriving at Franz Josef where time is available to experience a scenic flight (optional, weather permitting) over the spectacular glaciers.
Your accommodation: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier (or similar)
Located in the heart of Franz Josef Village the hotel offers all the amenities you would expect and is close to the shops, restaurants and activities on offer.Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
See the snow capped peaks of the Southern Alps as you travel south 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.
Your accommodation: Millennium Queenstown (or similar)
The 4 star deluxe Millennium Queenstown is located in the heart of Queenstown within minutes of the central shopping and entertainment area.Meals included: Breakfast
Today is a free day for you to explore Queenstown with 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.
Your accommodation: Millennium Queenstown (or similar)
The 4 star deluxe Millennium Queenstown is located in the heart of Queenstown within minutes of the central shopping and entertainment area.Meals included: Breakfast, Speciality Dinner
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. As evening falls enjoy a delicious carvery buffet prepared freshly by the onboard chef.
Your accommodation: Milford Mariner
On board the Milford Mariner you will cruise the full length of this spectacular fiord to the Tasman Sea before anchoring for the night in sheltered Harrison Cove. After the day's activities, you enjoy a delicious evening buffet in the spacious saloon before retiring to your private cabin.Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Start the day with a hearty breakfast before heading back out to the Tasman Sea (weather permitting) to explore more of the fiord. Return back 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 Glow Worm caves, (optional).
Your accommodation: Distinction Luxmore Hotel Te Anau (or similar)
The perfect base for all your Fiordland travel, Distinction Luxmore Hotel provides comfortable accommodation right in the heart of Te Anau.Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Travel via Gore and Balclutha to Dunedin, famous for its stunning Edwardian and Victorian architecture dating back to the gold rush of the 1800s. Today Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university city.
Your accommodation: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross (or similar)
The Scenic Hotel Southern Cross provides stylish inner city accommodation and is the perfect location from which to explore Dunedin. Just a short walk to the Octagon, Railway Station, theatres, shops, and close to Otago University.Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning travel along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle where you hear of the tragic and scandalous history on a guided tour. Enjoy time to wander around this Garden of International Significance followed by delicious Devonshire Tea. Return to Dunedin for a city tour followed by some free time. Optional activities you might be interested in, include a tour of Speights Brewery or the chance to see wildlife in their natural habitat. Tonight, a Scottish evening will be presented comprising of bagpipes, great food, Haggis Ceremony and gift.
Your accommodation: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross (or similar)
The Scenic Hotel Southern Cross provides stylish inner city accommodation and is the perfect location from which to explore Dunedin. Just a short walk to the Octagon, Railway Station, theatres, shops, and close to Otago University.Meals included: Breakfast, Speciality Dinner
This morning visit Olveston House, a prestigious historic home from the turn of the century, before travelling to Oamaru, famous for its limestone. This evening enjoy a pre-dinner drink and reminisce on memories shared with your new friends at the farewell dinner.
Your accommodation: Sudima Hotel Christchurch Airport (or similar)
Located 2 minutes from the Christchurch International Airport the Sudima Hotel Christchurch Airport is just 15 minutes from Christchurch City Centre.Meals included: Breakfast, Speciality Dinner
After breakfast (included) your tour concludes this morning. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
Starts | Status | Twin/Double (2 people sharing) | Single occupancy | You save | |
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Sep 19, 2021
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Oct 7, 2021
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Oct 14, 2021
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19 days, from Auckland to Christchurch
19 days, from Auckland to Christchurch
19 days, from Auckland to Christchurch
17 days, from Auckland to Christchurch
17 days, from Auckland to Christchurch
17 days, from Auckland to Christchurch
17 days, from Christchurch to Auckland
18 days, from Christchurch to Auckland