Classic Warbirds Over Wanaka - 15 Days

On arrival into Wellington, you will be met by a representative and transferred to your accommodation. This evening, join your Tour Leader and travelling companions for a pre-dinner drink ahead of dinner together.

Please note: If you arrive at the accommodation after 8 pm, dinner will not be included.

This morning, we visit the Gallipoli: A Scale of War exhibition at Te Papa, New Zealand's National Museum, where cutting-edge technology brings to life the stories of New Zealanders caught up in extraordinary circumstances. From here, we join an extensive city tour of Wellington.

In the afternoon, we board the Cook Strait Ferry, crossing the Marlborough Sounds to Picton, before a short coach transfer brings us into Blenheim for the night.

After breakfast, our guide leads us through the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, home to one of the largest private collections of WWI aircraft, brought to life in dioramas created by WingNut Films and Weta Workshop.

From here, we travel through Marlborough Country, celebrated for its food and wine, before continuing to the seaside village of Kaikoura. The day continues into the garden city of Christchurch, where we join a city tour on arrival.

Today, we board the TranzAlpine, renowned as one of the world's great train journeys, travelling over towering viaducts, river valleys and dramatic gorges as the line climbs to Arthur's Pass in the heart of the Southern Alps.

From here, we continue by coach to Hokitika, known for its greenstone, before arriving into the township of Franz Josef. Those wanting to see the glaciers from above can opt to join a scenic flight this afternoon, weather permitting.

We begin the day travelling south via the Haast Pass, an area of striking natural beauty, with views of the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps along the way. We arrive into the picturesque, year-round resort town of Queenstown, set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, where you have four nights to enjoy the area.

This evening is free for you to dine out at one of the many fine restaurants in town.

Today, you have the option of a free day in Queenstown or joining the trip to Wanaka for the opening day of the Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshow. No flying takes place today, though you may see some practice overhead.

On the ground, you can check out static displays including classic cars, military vehicles, sport aircraft and aviation trade stands, along with the chance to taste wine and food from the Central Otago region.

Over the next two days, Wanaka Airport becomes our base as we watch some of the world's best display pilots take to the skies. Our Gold Pass grants access to the Enclosure, where we enjoy grandstand seating on the flight line and a marquee where we can relax in comfort while watching the show from some of the best seats in the house.

On the final day of the airshow, we watch as some of the world's most iconic Warbird aircraft take to the skies alongside modern military machines, aerobatic displays and sport aircraft. World-class pyrotechnics add drama as the airfield is "defended" from a mock attack, and the show builds to a finale with a massed fighter flypast not to be missed.

This morning we travel to Arrowtown, known for its striking autumn colours, and visit the Lakes District Museum, a treasure trove of stories and exhibits from the region's mining era in the late 1800s.

We continue to Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland, where those interested can opt to visit the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves this evening.

We depart Te Anau this morning for a scenic drive to Milford Sound, where we board our cruise on this magnificent fiord. We keep an eye out for Bowen Falls and the towering Mitre Peak while enjoying lunch on board.

We return to Te Anau in the afternoon, where you have some free time. You might like to round off your Fiordland experience with the film Ata Whenua - Shadowland, screening at the Fiordland Cinema (optional).

In the morning, we travel to Mandeville Airfield to visit the Croydon Aviation Heritage Centre, where aircraft mostly dating from the 1920s and 1930s make up the largest collection of de Havilland aircraft in the southern hemisphere.

We continue via Gore to Invercargill, New Zealand's southernmost city, where our guide leads an included tour of Bill Richardson Transport World this afternoon. Housed in a purpose-built Art Deco building, this remarkable private collection features vintage trucks, rare classic cars, petrol pumps and an ever-growing showcase of Wearable Art.

Today we journey through the Catlins region, where lush rainforest meets dramatic coastline and pristine beaches. We stop at Curio Bay, home to a 180-million-year-old Jurassic petrified forest, before enjoying lunch.

From here, we visit Purakaunui Falls, a striking triple-tiered waterfall and a wonderful spot for photos, before continuing along the coast with plenty of opportunities to admire the scenery on the way into Dunedin, our base for the next two nights.

This morning we join a city tour of Dunedin, taking in the key sights, before travelling along the picturesque Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle. Our guide shares the tragic and scandalous tales that make up the castle's history, and there is time to wander its gardens - recognised as being of international significance - before the group enjoys a Devonshire Tea together.

The afternoon is free for you to pursue optional activities, and the evening is free for you to dine at your leisure.

We depart Dunedin and travel through Oamaru, known for its limestone architecture, before arriving into Christchurch. Here, our guide leads a "behind the scenes" tour of the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, showcasing restoration projects in action and offering a rare chance to climb inside a Bristol Freighter aircraft.

This evening, we share a pre-dinner drink and a farewell dinner together, reminiscing on the memories made with our new friends along the way.

Kia ora. You are transferred to the airport for your flight home, bringing this memorable New Zealand tour to a close.

Please note: If you depart before the restaurant opens, breakfast will not be included.