SOLO OFFER! Explore New Zealand (17-day Tour from Auckland to Christchurch)

Day 1 - Welcome to Auckland

On arrival in Auckland you'll have time at leisure to explore or relax. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Reception and dinner with your Travel Director.

Hotel: Stamford Plaza Auckland, 2 nights

Included Meals: Dinner with wine

Day 2 - Auckland

After a city sights tour enjoy time at leisure.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 - Auckland – Tauranga

You’re invited to a Be My Guest lunch at the Red Barn on the Waikato farm of Lance and Bridgette O’Sullivan, New Zealand horse racing royalty. Later, travel to Tauranga, in the Bay of Plenty.

Hotel: Trinity Wharf Tauranga

Included Meals: Breakfast, Be My Guest Lunch, Dinner with wine

Day 4 - Tauranga – Rotorua

Travel through Te Puke to visit Kiwifruit Country, then on to Rotorua for an orientation tour. This afternoon explore Te Puia Thermal Reserve. Then an evening of culture, history and a Hangi feast Highlight Dinner awaits you at the Tamaki Māori Village.

Hotel: Millennium Hotel, Rotorua, 2 nights

Included Meals: Breakfast, Highlight dinner

Day 5 - Rotorua Included Choice

Embark on one of your Included Choice sightseeing experiences. Glide through the Waitomo Glowworm Grotto, take an ancient forest zipline adventure with Canopy Tours, visit the Hobbiton Movie Set, or explore Rotorua and its lakes in an amphibious WWll-era Duck.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 6 - Rotorua – Wellington

Journey through forests and farmland to the turquoise torrent known as Huka Falls. The road unfolds in a broad panorama of stunning Lake Taupo. Continue south and along the Kapiti Coast to the capital city, Wellington.

Hotel: James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor

Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 - Wellington – Blenheim

Explore Te Papa Museum of New Zealand. This afternoon cruise the Cook Strait into tranquil Queen Charlotte Sound. The village of Picton is next, then it’s on to Blenheim for a city sightseeing tour. Tonight, enjoy a 3-course Highlight Dinner celebrating local produce and the wines of the Marlborough region.

Hotel: Chateau Marlborough

Included Meals: Breakfast, Highlight dinner

Day 8 - Blenheim – Christchurch

Travel to Kaikoura, where sperm whales can often be seen not far from shore. Travel along the Pacific coast and across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.

Hotel: Distinction Christchurch Hotel

Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 9 - Christchurch – Twizel

This morning, join our Sustainable Tourism Commitment by planting a native tree in the Port Hills of Christchurch, an area recovering from wildfire. Next, visit the home of Angie and Stan Taylor at Lake Tekapo, for a Be My Guest afternoon tea and to learn about a lifetime spent farming. Later, view the little stone-hewn Church of the Good Shepherd on your way to Twizel.

Hotel: MacKenzie Country Hotel

Included Meals: Breakfast, Be my Guest afternoon tea, Dinner with wine

Day 10 - Twizel – Dunedin Included Choice

Journey along the Waitaki River, with a photo stop at the Waitaki Hydro Power Scheme and Benmore Dam. Travel through to Oamaru and on to Dunedin. Choose an Included Choice sightseeing experience. Take a wildlife cruise out to Otago Peninsula, visit the famous Speight's Brewery or ride the historic Taieri Gorge Railway.

Hotel: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with wine

Day 11 - Dunedin – Te Anau

After free time, travel through lush sheepfarming land. Then the rolling, grassy hills turn back into forested, rugged mountains, as you meander your way up into Fiordland National Park to Te Anau.

Hotel: Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with wine

Day 12 - Te Anau – Queenstown

You will take the scenic journey through the rainforests, beech forests and meadows of Fiordland National Park and out to Milford Sound to cruise on this natural wonder. Afterwards, travel to Queenstown for an orientation tour.

Hotel: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown, 2 nights

Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 13 - Queenstown Included Choice

Choose an Included Choice sightseeing experience. Ride the Shotover Jet, take a gondola to Bob’s Peak and visit Kiwi Birdlife Park or a minibus tour through Skippers Canyon. This evening, cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue Highlight Dinner.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Highlight dinner

Day 14 - Queenstown – Franz Josef

Visit the gold mining settlement of Arrowtown. From here you will travel to Cromwell to taste delicious stone fruit at a local orchard. It is a day of gorgeous lakes, as you travel further into Central Otago. Cross over the Haast Pass as the landscape changes from alpine scenery to the rainforest marvels of the wild West Coast. Your destination is the extraordinary Franz Josef Glacier.

Hotel: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier (Douglas Wing)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with wine

Day 15 - Franz Josef – Punakaiki

Visit Hokitika, home of the native greenstone for a factory visit and jewellery demonstration. Later, travel to Punakaiki to view the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. You’ll spend the night in an eco-friendly resort right on the waterfront.

Hotel: Punakaiki Resort

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with wine

Day 16 - Punakaiki - Christchurch

Travel to Greymouth to visit the iconic Monteith’s Brewery and taste some of their innovative brews before a pub-style lunch. Later you will journey aboard the TranzAlpine train to Christchurch. This evening, join your Travel Director and new-found friends for a Farewell Dinner.

Hotel: Distinction Christchurch Hotel

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Farewell dinner

Day 17 - Farewell from Christchurch

Say farewell to your fellow travellers when your holiday concludes after breakfast.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Please note prices are subject to availability at time of booking and may change without notice.

Apr 2020 - Sep 2020 - WAS from $9.925/ NOW from $8.700

Oct 2020 - Mar 2021 - WAS from $11,045 / NOW from $9.670

Prices for Dec 2019 - Mar 2020 (15 day tour) and Twin share prices available on request.

Freecall our local travel team on 1300 414 198 to secure this offer.

Your Guided Holiday includes a range of quality accommodation for your comfort. The accommodation you will enjoy on this tour includes:

• Stamford Plaza Auckland
• Trinity Wharf Tauranga
• Millennium Hotel Rotorua
• James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor
• Chateau Marlborough
• Distinction Christchurch Hotel
• MacKenzie Country Hotel
• Scenic Hotel Southern Cross
• Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas
• Millennium Hotel Queenstown
• Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier (Douglas Wing)
• Punakaiki Resort
• Distinction Christchurch Hotel

Flight Information:

• Day 1 - Flights to arrive prior to 4.00pm into Auckland Airport
• Day 17 - Flights to depart anytime from Christchurch Airport

What to Bring?

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat
• Water bottle
• Camera
• Jacket in cooler months

Fitness Requirements:

• Low level of fitness required