New Zealand by Rail, Road & Sea

Arrive into the wonderful city of Singapore and transfer to the four-star M Hotel Singapore.

Known as ‘the crossroads of Asia’, Singapore is a city where east meets west; a cosmopolitan melting pot with an inspirational identity. This morning, enjoy a tour of this wonderful city. Included is a stop at Merlion Park with impressive views of Marina Bay. See the historic Civic District, Thian Hock Keng Temple and the fabulous orchid gardens set within Singapore’s botanical gardens. Return to the hotel where the rest of our day is free to spend as we please.

A day at leisure in Singapore to further explore the city, until it’s time to leave for our evening flight to Christchurch. Possibly visit historic Raffles for high tea or discover the wonderful Gardens by the Bay.

If flying with Qantas & Emirates your flight will travel via Australia before arriving into Christchurch. We transfer to the centrally-located Distinction Hotel Christchurch, where we spend our first night in New Zealand. On arrival we meet our Tour Manager in New Zealand.

We travel south, first making a stop at Oamaru, where we stroll through New Zealand’s best-preserved Victorian streets. A stop is then made in Moeraki to view a collection of huge spherical boulders which are scattered along a beautiful stretch of beach. Maori legend says that the boulders are gourds washed ashore from a voyaging canoe called Araiteuri, that was wrecked when it made landfall a long time ago. Scientists have discovered the boulders are actually calcite concretions, created about 65 million years ago, which have been raised from the seabed and uncovered one by one by the elements. We continue to the 'Edinburgh of the South', Dunedin, South Island's second largest city and considered New Zealand's architectural heritage capital, with its lovingly-restored Victorian and Edwardian buildings. Upon arrival we will check in to the Scenic Southern Cross Hotel or Scenic Dunedin City Hotel for a two night stay.

This morning, we say goodbye to Dunedin. Fresh, green farm scenery will accompany us to Balclutha, which has a distinctive arched concrete bridge. We travel onwards via Gore and Lumsden until we reach Te Anau. We spend tonight at Distinction Hotel Luxmore.

This morning we take a tour to visit the nearby historic mining town of Arrowtown. The heart of its history is Buckingham Street, a procession of small-town heritage buildings that stretch into a tree-lined avenue of tiny miners’ cottages. Be sure to try a cream tea in one of the quaint tea rooms. In the afternoon, we are free to enjoy this wonderful alpine setting. The thrill-seekers amongst us may wish to try the Shotover Jet – an exhilarating boat ride amongst the crags and boulders of the Shotover River canyon. For a more serene experience, maybe stroll by the lakeside or take a gondola ride to the top of Bob’s Peak for a magnificent panoramic view of Queenstown.

Today has been left free to take advantage of the incredible variety of activities available in and around New Zealand’s most glamorous alpine resort. For a relaxing experience, follow Queenstown’s wine trail for an enjoyable day of wine tasting and sightseeing, or take a leisurely cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the vintage steamboat TSS Earnslaw. For something a little more adventurous, a four-wheel drive adventure along the famous Skippers Road may be appealing.

A relaxing day to take in the beauty of Franz Josef and the surrounding area at our leisure. A transfer has been arranged to the Franz Josef glacier valley. From here, we can stroll through the amazing rainforest to a viewpoint, from which there is a wonderful vista of the steep glacier valley and the glacier terminal in the distance. Weather permitting, we may also take an optional scenic flight, which is at an additional cost, over the glacier and the awe-inspiring alpine region.

This morning, we discover Christchurch on an orientation tour. Later, we journey out of the city to the Waipara Valley, whose warm and dry summers, followed by cool autumn nights, make this region perfect for growing olives, lavender, hazelnuts and grapes. We explore this pretty area and sample its cool climate wines during a tasting and lunch in one of its wineries.

Today, go behind the scenes of some of the best-loved movies in history with this tour of the Weta Workshop near Wellington, a studio famous for creating some of the movie industry’s most famous costumes, props, special effects and much more. Their creations have featured in much-loved films including Lord of the Rings, Avatar and District 9. After our visit of the Weta Workshop we enjoy a short orientation tour of Wellington, including a scenic drive to Mount Victoria for a fantastic view over the city.

A Freedom Day to spend as we please. Wellington is compact, cultured and full of character. There are a whole host of excellent activities in and around Wellington. A visit to Te Papa museum is highly recommended, as it offers a fascinating insight into New Zealand’s rich history and cultural heritage. Alternatively, ride a cable car to Wellington’s beautiful botanical gardens or take a relaxing stroll through the city’s streets and waterfront.

This morning, we tour some of Rotorua’s most famous sights, including its tudor-inspired Bath House. We explore Te Puia, home to the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve and its spouting geysers, bubbling mud pools and hissing fumaroles. We enjoy a cultural performance featuring traditional song and dance, including the world-famous war dance – The Haka. Our afternoon is free to relax at your leisure. For those interested, a floatplane flight over Mount Tarawera offers breathtaking aerial views.

We journey north from Rotorua, crossing a landscape of rolling hills and dairy farmland. We cross the Waitemata Harbour on the famous Auckland Harbour Bridge and spend time at one of Auckland's northern beaches. In the afternoon, we continue into the Northland region, which is known as the ‘winterless north’, as its lovely climate is influenced by subtropical conditions. We drive past Whangarei and our journey ends in Paihia, gateway to the Bay of Islands, and our next three nights are spent at the Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands.

Our day has been left at leisure to further explore the beautiful Bay of Islands. For many this provides a great opportunity to visit New Zealand’s northern tip at Cape Reinga, where the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea collide. This fabulous full day excursion also includes a journey along Ninety Mile Beach in a custom-built coach that moves effortlessly over the terrain of sandy beaches, rugged roads and quicksand streams.

Before leaving Paihia we visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds for a guided tour. Known as the 'Birthplace of the Nation', Waitangi is where in 1840 the first accord between the British Crown and the Maori people was signed. We will enjoy a Maori cultural performance before heading south. We make a stop at the Parry Kauri Park in Warkworth before arriving in Auckland. We stay for two nights at the Legacy Airedale Hotel.

This morning, we take an orientation tour of the city. Known as the ‘City of Sails’, Auckland is New Zealand’s most populous city, with a beautiful waterside setting and a landscape dotted with volcanic hills. We drive along the stunning coastline of the famous Waitemata Harbour. In the distance we see Rangitoto Island, a dormant volcano, dominating the horizon. Our afternoon is free to spend as we please. Perhaps take a scenic boat trip in Auckland’s harbour to enjoy the beautiful sunset.

All good things must come to an end, and this morning we transfer to Auckland Airport. Our flights to our chosen UK airport operate via Australia and Dubai if travelling with Qantas & Emirates, or via Singapore if travelling with Singapore Airlines.

This morning, we arrive at our chosen airport, bringing to an end our incredible adventure.