Best of New Zealand Explorer (Superior) - 14 Days

On arrival in Christchurch, you will be met by a representative and transferred to your hotel. This evening, enjoy a complimentary pre-dinner drink as we meet our Tour Leader and fellow travellers before dinner.

Please note: For arrivals later than 8.00pm, dinner is not included.

After an introductory city sights tour, we leave Christchurch and travel across the Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo. Here, we see the striking turquoise water, the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Sheep Dog Statue.

We continue past spectacular mountain scenery, including Aoraki / Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak. There is also the opportunity to take an optional scenic flight over the Southern Alps, weather permitting.

We depart Mount Cook and pass Lake Benmore before following the Waitaki River to Oamaru, a town well known for its limestone buildings. From here, we continue south to Dunedin, where we enjoy a city sights tour and some free time.

This morning we travel along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle. On our guided tour, we hear the dramatic story behind New Zealand’s only castle. We also enjoy a High Tea in the Grand Ballroom and time to explore the gardens, recognised as a Garden of International Significance.

Later, we leave Dunedin behind and travel through Balclutha and Gore to Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland. This evening, you may wish to join an optional visit to the Te Anau Glowworm Caves.

Today we travel through impressive Fiordland scenery to Milford Sound. Here, we board our cruise and take in the scale of this remarkable fiord, including Bowen Falls and Mitre Peak, while enjoying lunch on board.

Later, we continue to Queenstown, set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. We stay here for the next two nights. This evening is free, giving you the chance to choose from the town’s many dining options.

Today is free for you to explore Queenstown at your own pace, with a wide range of optional activities available - such as choose the thrill of a jet boat ride or perhaps a heritage tour into scenic Skippers Canyon. This evening, we board the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw and cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station. At the Colonel’s Homestead, we enjoy a gourmet barbecue dinner featuring seasonal, fresh and locally sourced produce. After dinner, there is time for a short farm tour before we cruise back to Queenstown, complete with a singalong around the piano.

We travel to Arrowtown and visit the Lakes District Museum, which offers an insight into the region’s gold rush past. We then continue via Haast Pass to the rugged West Coast, an area of remarkable natural beauty. As we travel north, we see views of the Southern Alps and pass through Fox Glacier before reaching Franz Josef. There is time to take an optional scenic flight over the glaciers, weather permitting.

This morning we travel to Hokitika and visit the Greenstone Factory. We then continue to Arthur’s Pass, where we board the TranzAlpine - widely regarded as one of the world’s great rail journeys. The route takes us through dramatic river valleys, across impressive viaducts and into the farmlands of the Canterbury Plains. On arrival in Christchurch, our coach meets us and transfers us to the hotel.

We travel north along the east coast to Kaikoura, then continue through Marlborough, a region known for its food and wine. In Picton, we board the Interislander Ferry for the crossing through the Marlborough Sounds and across Cook Strait to Wellington.

A highlight this morning is time at Te Papa, New Zealand’s National Museum, where we visit Gallipoli: A Scale of War exhibition. This powerful exhibition uses detailed figures and immersive storytelling to share the experiences of New Zealanders during the Gallipoli campaign.

We then rejoin our coach for an extensive city tour, showcasing Wellington’s history and culture. The afternoon and evening are free for you to explore and make your own dining arrangements.

We leave Wellington and travel north, enjoying views of Mount Ruapehu and Mount Tongariro as we make our way to Lake Taupo. We stop at the impressive Huka Falls before continuing along the Thermal Explorer Highway to Rotorua, New Zealand’s geothermal heartland.

Today begins with a gondola ride to Skyline Rotorua, where we enjoy breakfast with sweeping views over the region. There is also time for an exciting luge ride. We then visit the Agrodome for a lively and uniquely New Zealand introduction to farming life.

The afternoon is free before we head to Te Puia to see the bubbling mud pools and powerful geysers Rotorua is famous for. This evening, we experience a traditional Maori Hangi and Concert.

This morning we leave Rotorua and travel through rolling countryside to Hobbiton. On our guided tour of the 12-acre Movie Set, we pass Hobbit Holes, the Mill and the Green Dragon Inn, and enjoy the chance to step inside an authentic Hobbit Hole interior.

We then continue north to Auckland for an orientation tour. This evening, we come together for a farewell dinner and a pre-dinner drink with our fellow travellers.

Your New Zealand holiday comes to an end today. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.

Please note: If you depart the hotel before the restaurant opens, breakfast is not included.