Magnificent New Zealand – 10 nights – 11 days

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1: AUCKLAND

On arrival, you will be met and privately transferred to your accommodation.  Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city, set between two harbours with gentle sandy shores on the east coast and black sand, wild surf beaches on the west coast. Home to sheltered, sparkling blue waters dotted with beautiful emerald islands, we recommend getting out on the water when you are here. Overnight: Auckland 

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES 

• Sky Tower 
• Orbit Restaurant Sky Tower 
• Auckland Harbour Dinner Cruise 
• Weta Workshop Unleashed Tour 

DAY 2: AUCKLAND - HOBBITON - ROTORUA

Today’s coach tour takes you through the rolling green hills to the iconic Hobbiton Movie Set.  See where the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies were filmed as your tour guide shares behind-the-scenes tales. You’ll see sights like Hobbit Holes, the Mill, and The Green Dragon Inn, and learn how farmland was transformed into a living, breathing piece of Middle-earth.  After exploring Hobbiton, tuck into a delicious lunch in the Party Marquee before continuing to Rotorua. 

INCLUDED ACTIVITIES 

• Hobbiton Movie Set Tour 

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES 

• Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa 

DAY 3: ROTORUA

Rotorua is surrounded by a fascinating geothermal landscape with its unique steam vents, spouting geysers, and bubbling mud pools set alongside freshwater lakes and majestic native forests. Visit Rotorua’s most popular geothermal parks on a small group tour. At Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, the amazingly colourful hot springs and moon-like landscapes are key features, along with the famous Lady Knox geyser eruption. At Waimangu Volcanic Valley, you’ll learn about the Mt Tarawera eruption, which blew open this spectacular, bush-covered, geothermal park. 

This evening you’ll be transported to Te Puia for an Indigenous Evening Experience including a buffet dinner and cultural performance. The evening culminates with hot chocolate and pudding on the geyser terrace.  Overnight: Rotorua 

INCLUDED ACTIVITIES 

• Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland 
• Waimangu Geothermal Valley 
• Te Po (Indigenous Evening Experience incl Dinner) 

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES 

• Skyline Gondola Ride with Buffet Lunch

DAY 4: ROTORUA - CHRISTCHURCH

(Flight ticket not included)

Depart on your domestic flight to Christchurch.  (Airfare is NOT included). 

Flight Time Rotorua to Christchurch is approx. 2 hours 

Christchurch is set between the deep blue Pacific Ocean and the mighty snow-capped Southern Alps.  This is a vibrant, ever-changing city with inner-city parks and gardens delightfully interwoven by the meandering Avon River. Overnight: Christchurch 

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES 

• Christchurch Tram Dinner 
• Christchurch Tram Tour 
• Punting on the Avon River 

DAY 5: CHRISTCHURCH - GREYMOUTH

You will be transported to the Christchurch Railway Station for the Tranz Alpine train crossing the vast expanses of the Canterbury Plains, through the dramatic gorge of the Waimakariri River to Arthur’s Pass National Park. On arrival in Greymouth, you will be met and transferred to the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes for a short self-guided walk to view the fascinating pancake-shaped rock formations before being delivered to your accommodation.  Overnight: Greymouth 

INCLUDED ACTIVITIES 

• Tranz Alpine Scenic Train Journey 
• Punakaiki Rocks and Blowholes 

DAY 6: GREYMOUTH - FRANZ JOSEF

This morning, you’ll be transferred to Shantytown Heritage Park for a sense of what it was like to live in New Zealand during the gold rush before returning to Greymouth for your transfer to Glacier Country.  The temperate climate at a low altitude makes Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers among the most convenient to visit in the world.  Steep valleys bear scars from where glaciers have retreated and advanced over millennia, and here, the ice age is still underway.  Overnight: Franz Josef 

DAY 7: FRANZ JOSEF - QUEENSTOWN

Today you will be collected from your accommodation for your transfer through wilderness towns, waterfalls, and river scenery on the journey to Queenstown.  Magnificent vistas and majestic mountains dominate this compact alpine resort town, and with such an expansive natural physical environment, it is not surprising that Queenstown has been described as the Adventure Capital of the World. Overnight:  Queenstown 

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES 

• Skyline Gondola Ride 

DAY 8: QUEENSTOWN

Magnificent vistas and majestic mountains dominate this compact alpine resort town. With such an expansive natural physical environment, it is not surprising that Queenstown has been described as the Adventure Capital of the World. 

Today is a free day to add some of the endless optional activities on offer. Overnight: Queenstown 

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES 

• Glenorchy & Paradise Explorer Tour 
• Arrowtown Wanaka Highlights Tour 

DAY 9: QUEENSTOWN - MILFORD SOUND - QUEENSTOWN

Fiordland is one of the world’s last great wildernesses.  Today’s stunning tour takes you past mirror lakes and waterfalls into Milford Sound, carved by ice age glaciers and famously described as the eighth wonder of the world. On arrival, board your vessel for a cruise of the fjord surrounded by towering mountains and cliffs that plunge into the sea.  Feel the refreshing spray of a waterfall as you cruise close to sheer rock faces before returning to shore.  After a big day out, reflect on memories of a lifetime on your coach return to downtown Queenstown. Lunch is included. Overnight: Queenstown 

INCLUDED ACTIVITIES 

• Milford Sound Cruise 

DAY 10: QUEENSTOWN - MT COOK/TEKAPO - CHRISTCHURCH

Today’s journey departs Queenstown through the stunning Kawarau Gorge and the fruit and wine growing region of Cromwell.  The journey follows beautiful Lake Dunstan and meanders through the dramatic Lindis Pass.   Travel the vast plains of the Mackenzie district, alongside magnificent turquoise blue lakes, framed by Aoraki Mt Cook and the spectacular Southern Alps, to Mt Cook Village, where you have some free time.  Leaving Mt Cook, it’s not hard to see why many Lord of the Rings scenes were filmed nearby.  Make a stop close to the popular Church of the Good Shepherd, sitting in solitude on the banks of Lake Tekapo, before continuing through the amazing countryside to Christchurch. Overnight: Christchurch. 

DAY 11: CHRISTCHURCH

Arrangements conclude today with a departure transfer to Christchurch Airport.