New Zealand Showcase Premium Tour

This premium escorted tour offers you a thorough journey around both the north and south islands, as well as included a number of great daily excursions. It also offers premium, air-conditioned coach transfers and a higher quality of hotel stays than many other tours.

• Auckland – 1 night
• Bay Of Islands – 2 nights
• Auckland – 1 night
• Rotorua – 2 nights
• Masterton – 1 night
• Wellington – 1 night
• Blenheim – 1 night
• Christchurch – 1 night
• Franz Josef – 1 night
• Queenstown – 2 nights
• Te Anau – 2 nights
• Dunedin – 1 night
• Twizel – 1 night
• Christchurch – 1 night

Day 1: Arrive Auckland – On arrival into Auckland you will be met by a Grand Pacific Tours representative and transferred to your hotel. (D)

Hotel: SkyCity Hotel

Day 2: Auckland – Bay of Islands: Depart Auckland and travel to the Parry Kauri Park to see a magnificent example of a Kauri Tree. Enjoy a visit and informative talk at the Kauri Museum in Matakohe, then 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. (B, D)

Hotel for 2 nights: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands

Day 3: Bay of Islands – 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). (B)

Day 4: Bay of Islands/Auckland – 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 to Auckland and enjoy a visit to the Sky Tower. (B, D)

Hotel: SkyCity Hotel

Day 5: Auckland/Rotorua – This morning enjoy a city sights tour. Continue through the picturesque countryside to Longlands Farm & Restaurant to enjoy a delicious home cooked lunch hosted by a rural New Zealand family. This afternoon travel to Hobbiton and discover the real Middle-earth when you visit the movie set from The Lord of the Rings film trilogy on a fascinating guided tour. (B, L, D)

Hotel for 2 nights: Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua (Superior Room)

Day 6: Rotorua – Today begins with a Gondola ride to Cableway Restaurant where a buffet breakfast and spectacular views are on offer. Travel to the Agrodome where you see performing sheep, a shearing display and sheep dog trial. 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. (B, SD)

Day 7: Rotorua/Napier/Masterton – Depart Rotorua and travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to Huka Falls and Lake Taupo. Continue to Napier known as ‘The Art Deco Capital’, where a city tour will showcase the most comprehensive collection of art deco buildings in the world. Enjoy some free time to explore the fascinating architecture before travelling through the Wairarapa, an emerging cool-climate wine region. (B, D)

Hotel: Copthorne Hotel and Resort Solway Park

Day 8: Masterton/Greytown/Wellington – Enjoy a leisurely start to the day before travelling to Greytown where you see the most complete example of original Victorian wooden architecture. Drive through the scenic Rimutaka Mountain Range into Wellington, then enjoy a city tour of the nation’s capital which will highlight the history and culture on show here. (B, D)

Hotel: James Cook Grand Chancellor

Day 9: Wellington/Picton/Blenheim – This morning visit Te Papa, New Zealand’s National Museum and explore Wellington. This afternoon board the Interislander Ferry, cross Cook Strait and travel through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton where you board your coach for the short journey to Blenheim. (B, D)

Hotel: Scenic Hotel Marlborough

Day 10: Blenheim/Kaikoura/Christchurch – Tour through the Marlborough Country, famous for its food and wine, then travel to the seaside village of Kaikoura. Continue onto the garden city of Christchurch for an introductory city sights tour. (B, D)

Hotel: Sudima Hotel Christchurch Airport

Day 11: Christchurch/Franz Josef – 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 located in the centre of the Southern Alps. Board your coach and travel to Hokitika, famous for its Greenstone before continuing to Franz Josef where time is available to experience a scenic flight (optional, weather permitting) over the spectacular glaciers. (B, D)

Hotel: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier

Day 12: Franz Josef/Queenstown – See the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps as you travel south along the West Coast to Fox Glacier. Continue via the Haast Pass, an area of stunning beauty before arriving into picturesque Queenstown, a year round resort on the shores of magical Lake Wakatipu. (B)

Hotel for 2 nights: Mercure Queenstown Resort

Day 13: Queenstown – Today is a free day. There are plenty of sightseeing options and your Tour Director and Coach Captain are available to assist. This evening board the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw and cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station and enjoy the best of New Zealand’s high country cuisine in the Colonel’s Homestead. After dinner enjoy a short farm tour then cruise back to Queenstown. (B, SD)

Day 14: Queenstown/Te Anau – Enjoy a leisurely start this morning before travelling to Arrowtown, an old gold mining village where you visit the Lakes District Museum. Continue to Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland. This afternoon you may like to visit the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves (optional). (B, D)

Hotel for 2 nights: Distinction Luxmore Hotel

Day 15: Te Anau/Milford Sound/Te Anau – Depart Te Anau for a fascinating drive to Milford Sound where you board your launch for a cruise on this magnificent fiord. See the spectacular Bowen Falls and towering Mitre Peak as you enjoy a picnic lunch on-board. This afternoon return to Te Anau where some free time is available. (B, L, D)

Day 16: Te Anau/Dunedin – Travel via Gore and Balclutha to Dunedin known as the ‘Edinburgh of the South’ and enjoy an informative city tour. Tonight a Scottish evening will be presented comprising of bagpipes, great food, special Haggis Ceremony and gift. (B, SD)

Hotel: Scenic Dunedin City

Day 17: Dunedin/Twizel – Travel along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle where you will hear of its tragic and scandalous history on a guided tour. Next visit Glenfalloch Restaurant for a delightful morning tea. Farewell Dunedin and travel to Oamaru famous for its limestone. Explore the Victorian Precinct including the Loan and Merc restaurant, the Woolstore complex, auto museum, shops, galleries and the penny farthing shop. Follow the Waitaki River and see Lake Benmore as you travel to Twizel for your overnight stay. (B, D)

Hotel: MacKenzie Country Inn

Day 18: Twizel/Mount Cook/Christchurch – This morning you can marvel at the stunning beauty of Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak. The opportunity is available to enjoy a scenic flight over the Southern Alps (optional, weather permitting). Continue to Lake Tekapo and view the brilliant turquoise water, visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and see the Sheep Dog Statue before arriving into Christchurch. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner. (B, SD)

Hotel: Sudima Hotel Christchurch Airport

Day 19: Depart Christchurch – Transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)