Tour Highlights & Inclusions

• Flights Ex Brisbane & return to Sydney
• All meals daily (except one free day)
• Auckland City Sights, Bay of Islands, Kauri museum
• Hole in the Rock & Dolphin Cruise
• Waitomo Glow Worm Caves, Paradise Valley Springs
• Skyline Gondola & Luge, Agrodome Show, Rotorua, Maori Hangi & Concert
• Thermal mud pools & geysers, Wellington, Interislander Ferry
• Blenheim, Tranz Alpine Rail Journey, Gem Stone Factory, Franz Josef Glacier
• Queenstown, Milford Sound Cruise, Dunedin, Lanarch Castle
• Mt Cook N.P., Christchurch
• Same coach/driver both islands

Day 1. Tue: Brisbane to Auckland

Early flight departs BRISBANE international Airport for Auckland, where our local driver will meet you on arrival. We take an Auckland highlights tour featuring the views from Mt Eden, One Tree Hill and Auckland city, before checking into the Scenic Airedale Hotel. (D)

Day 2. Wed: Paihia

We leave Auckland this morning and travel up and through the hilly north. Our first stop will be at the Matakohe Kauri Museum featuring the old milling ways of the north. We continue on through to Whangarei and on to Paihia for the evening, staying at the Scenic Bay of Islands Hotel. (BLD)

Day 3. Thu: Cape Brett Hole in the Rock, Auckland

This morning we travel to Cape Brett on the famous Hole in the Rock cruise, enjoying a stopover at Otehei Bay before returning to Paihia, then travelling back to Auckland. Overnight at Scenic Airedale Hotel. (BLD)

Day 4. Fri: Waitomo, Rotorua

After breakfast we head out to Waitomo for a guided tour of Waitomo Limestone Caves and the Glow Worm Grotto. Continuing through the Waikato, arguably the best dairy farming region in the country, over the Mamaku Ranges and on to Rotorua, where we’ll spend the next 2 nights. This afternoon we enjoy a visit to Paradise Valley Springs, a natural farm setting and wildlife park featuring trout and native animals. Overnight at Rydges Hotel. (BLD)

Day 5. Sat: Rotorua

We begin our day with a Skyline Gondola ride to the top of Mt Ngongataha for stunning views and buffet breakfast. You may enjoy an exhilarating luge ride before heading off to the Agrodome Sheep Show. After some free time in town, and lunch, we will head off to Te Puia Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, home of the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. Experience the silica terraces, bubbling hot mud pools, boiling springs and geysers. After a drive around the sights of Rotorua, and a walk along the lakes edge, we head back to our hotel. Tonight at the hotel we take part in a truly rich cultural experience, a traditional Maori welcome, concert and Hangi feast cooked by traditional methods. (BLD)

Day 6. Sun: Lake Taupo, Wellington

Today we leave Rotorua and continue south towards Wellington. Pass through picturesque Lake Taupo, the central volcanic area, with the mountains of Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngaruhoe, the Army town of Waiuru, past the Air force base of Ohakea, and along the rugged west coast to Wellington. Overnight at West Plaza Hotel. (BLD)

Day 7. Mon: Interisland Ferry, Picton, Blenheim

Enjoy free time this morning before boarding the Interislander Ferry for a stunning cruise across Cook Straight, through Queen Charlotte Sound and into Picton. We then have a short drive around Picton before ending our day in Blenheim. Overnight at Scenic Hotel Blenheim. (BLD)

Day 8. Tue: Kaikoura, Christchurch

Leaving Blenheim, New Zealand’s premier wine growing region, we continue south past Lake Grassmere, (New Zealand’s salt works), then down the east coast to Kaikoura. After a brief stop to watch the hundreds of seals we travel on to Christchurch, the ‘garden City’, for a city sights tour including the picturesque Avon River, before checking into Elms Hotel for the night. (BLD)

Day 9. Wed: Trans Alpine Rail Journey, Hokitika, Fox Glacier

This morning we travel across the Canterbury Plains to the foot of the Southern Alps, where you board the Tranz Alpine Train at Springfield. Wind your way up to the alpine village of Arthurs Pass , enjoying a brief stop here before re-boarding the coach to descend down the mountain range. We travel to the West Coast, stopping at Hokitika to view “Jade stone” and the Gem Stone Factory. Overnight at Scenic Glacier Country Hotel. (BLD)

Day 10. Thu: Queenstown

Today we leave the rainforest of the West Coast. As you travel across the Haast Pass, begin to see completely different landscapes of the Otago province. Pass the lakes of Wanaka and Hawea, on to Cromwell, a great fruit growing region, then on to Queenstown. After a scenic drive around the town, overlooking Lake Wakatipu with views across Frankton Arm towards the Remarkable Ranges, we then check-in to our hotel for next two nights. Overnight at Rydges Lakeland Resort. (BLD)

Day 11. Fri: Free Day in Queenstown

Today is a free day to explore this stunning town. Consider getting on the double decker bus to travel out to the charming historic old gold mining town of Arrowtown, or try a thrilling ride on a Jet boat on the Shotover River. (BD)

Day 12. Sat: Milford Sound, Te Anau, Fiordland National Park

We travel to Milford Sound, around Lake Wakatipu to Kingston and across the picturesque Southland countryside to Te Anau. Enter Fiordland National Park, featuring magnificent high mountain and deep valley scenery, formed by Ice Age glaciers, and dense unspoiled native rainforest. Stop to see the Mirror Lakes and walk through the bush to see the popular Chasm where a mountain stream surges spectacularly through huge rocks. On arrival at Milford Sound board your cruise of the Fiord, enjoy a picnic box lunch on board and look out for the seals and dolphins often seen in the fiord. Return to Te Anau via the Cleddeau Gorge, through the Homer Tunnel and the pretty Eglinton Valley. Overnight at Distinction Luxmore Hotel. (BLD)

Day 13. Sun: Invercargill, Bluff, Dunedin

This morning we head for the east coast, via the southern most point of New Zealand, Invercargill and Bluff, before travelling on to Dunedin. Here you’ll enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city and see the steepest street in the world before checking in to our central Hotel. Overnight at Scenic Southern Cross Hotel. (BLD)

Day 14. Mon: Twizel

Before leaving Dunedin we take a guided tour through Larnach Castle, enjoying a look around the grounds before driving around the Dunedin Peninsula. Then on through landscape of high country tussock, farmland and snow-capped mountains, we travel to Twizel, a picturesque historic town outside of Mt. Cook, home to the rarest wading bird in the world, the black Stilt. Check-in to your hotel for the night, the MacKenzie Country Inn. (BLD)  

Day 15. Tue: Mt Cook, Christchurch

Hugging the edge of Lake Pukaki we travel to the mighty Mt Cook. Enjoy a short wander around the park before heading through golden tussock land to Lake Tekapo. Enjoy historic sights and museums in the country towns of Fairlie and Geraldine, before passing through the farms and fields of the Canterbury Plains to the rural centre of Rangiora, as we take the scenic route to the South island’s largest city, and our last port of call, Christchurch. Overnight at Elms Hotel. (BLD)

Day 16. Wed: Flight to Sydney

This morning we board our scheduled flight home to SYDNEY international Airport. (B)

Prices and Dates

• Includes airfares ex Brisbane return to Sydney (conditions apply)
• This package is subject to a fuel levy and although flights are correct at time of printing they are subject to change without notice
• Deposit required to secure your tour $600pp

• Includes airfares ex Brisbane return to Sydney (conditions apply)
• This package is subject to a fuel levy and although flights are correct at time of printing they are subject to change without notice
• Deposit required to secure your tour $600pp