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, enjoy a relaxing trip on the beautifully restored Glenbrook Railway vintage train and a cruise the Cook Strait on the Interislander Ferry. A highlight is an overnight experience aboard the Milford Mariner as you cruise across the majestic Milford Sound.
Escorted Coach Touring
This suggested tour costs from NZD$8,529 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 58 times in the last 7 days
Day 1: Arrive into Auckland
Accommodation: Skycity Hotel 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: Sudima Auckland City
Day 5: Auckland to Rotorua
Accommodation: Pullman Rotorua
Day 6: Thermal adventures in Rotorua
Accommodation: Pullman Rotorua
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 Hotel Queenstown (or similar)
Day 13: The Adventure capital Queenstown
Accommodation: Millennium Hotel 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 Lake 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: Distinction Christchurch Hotel (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. This evening enjoy a complimentary pre-dinner drink when you meet your Tour Leader and travelling companions for dinner.
Quality merchandise is great value for money and will provide a special memento of your holiday for years to come. Tour jackets and tour caps are avai...
Read moreQuality merchandise is great value for money and will provide a special memento of your holiday for years to come. Tour jackets and tour caps are available for purchase. Merchandise items must be ordered at the time of booking and are not available for purchase in New Zealand
HideYour accommodation: Skycity Hotel Auckland (or similar)
This modern and spacious hotel allows you to relax in style while enjoying the world-class casino, more than 20 restaurants, cafes and bars, a theatre, free live entertainment on selected nights and the iconic Sky Tower - all right on your doorstep!Board the luxurious Ultimate 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 beautiful Bay of Islands. Enjoy a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the location of the signing of the treaty between the Mãori 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.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).
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.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: Sudima Auckland City
Conveniently located within easy walking distance of Auckland’s bustling shopping, arts, dining and entertainment precincts and opposite the New Zealand International Convention Centre.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: Pullman Rotorua
Pullman Rotorua is surrounded by surreal scenery and iconic attractions. Discover shooting geysers, bubbling mud, natural hot springs and magical forests.Today begins with a gondola ride and breakfast at Skyline Rotorua where spectacular views are on offer. There is also time for a thrilling luge ride! Next stop is 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 Mãori Hãngi and Concert.
Your accommodation: Pullman Rotorua
Pullman Rotorua is surrounded by surreal scenery and iconic attractions. Discover shooting geysers, bubbling mud, natural hot springs and magical forests.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.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 Ultimate coach for an extensive city tour that showcases the history and culture on show. Enjoy free time this afternoon and this evening is also at leisure.
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.This morning board the Interislander Ferry, cross the Cook Strait and enjoy the scenery 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 KaikĹŤura Ranges. Meet your coach in the fishing village of KaikĹŤura for the journey to the garden city of Christchurch.
*Please be aware, there are some departure dates where the train may not be available due to schedule changes outside of Grand Pacific's control. If this occurs, your journey along the spectacular Kaikoura Coastline will continue onboard your coach. Chat to a consultant to check the current schedule for your preferred departure.
Your accommodation: Distinction Christchurch Hotel (or similar)
This 4 star hotel is centrally located in the revitalised Cathedral Square. Ideally positioned, only a few minutes walk from the brand new Christchurch Convention Centre.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 your leisure. This evening is free to enjoy one of the many eateries near your hotel.
Your accommodation: Distinction Christchurch Hotel (or similar)
This 4 star hotel is centrally located in the revitalised Cathedral Square. Ideally positioned, only a few minutes walk from the brand new Christchurch Convention Centre.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.
*Please be aware, there are some departure dates where the train may not be available due to schedule changes outside of Grand Pacific's control. If this occurs, your journey through the incredible Arthur's Pass will continue onboard your coach. Chat to a consultant to check the current schedule for your preferred departure.
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.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 situated on the shores of magical Lake Wakatipu. This evening is free to dine out at one of the many fine restaurants.
Your accommodation: Millennium Hotel 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.Today is a free day for you to explore Queenstown with many optional activities available. You may wish to enjoy the thrill of a jet boat ride or a heritage tour of the scenic Skippers Canyon. 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 Hotel 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.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.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 Lake 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.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. This afternoon visit Speight’s Brewery, a Dunedin icon, for an informative and interactive tour through this working brewery. The tasting session will be followed by a delicious dinner at the Ale House restaurant.
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.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 a delicious Devonshire Tea. Return to Dunedin for a city tour followed by some free time. Optional activities you might be interested in, include the chance to see wildlife in their natural habitat.
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.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, reminisce on memories shared with your new friends at the farewell dinner.
Your accommodation: Distinction Christchurch Hotel (or similar)
This 4 star hotel is centrally located in the revitalised Cathedral Square. Ideally positioned, only a few minutes walk from the brand new Christchurch Convention Centre.Time to say goodbye. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home after a memorable New Zealand holiday.
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