The Very Best of New Zealand

Arrive into the wonderful city of Singapore and transfer to the four-star M Hotel City Centre, where we spend the next two nights. Occupying a great location in Singapore city centre, our hotel offers a warm welcome and a range of services alongside comfortable, contemporary accommodation.

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. Perhaps explore the impressive Gardens by the Bay or enjoy high tea at Raffles Hotel.

A day at leisure in Singapore until it’s time to leave for our evening flight to Christchurch.

If flying with Qantas & Emirates your flight will transfer via Australia before arriving into Christchurch. We transfer to the centrally located Distinction Hotel Christchurch, where we spend our first two nights in New Zealand. On arrival we meet our local Tour Manager, who will be our driver and guide during our time in New Zealand.

Considered the most English of New Zealand’s cities, today in the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake, Christchurch is in the midst of an epic rebuild that has completely reconstructed the city centre. This morning, we take a tour to see what this exciting developing city has to offer. We start our day with a visit to the Sign of the Takahe, a historical building on the edge of the city and continue to view the key landmarks of the city centre. From here we take a visit to the Botanic Gardens. Founded in 1863 with the planting of an English oak tree, the Christchurch Botanic Gardens contain an impressive array of flora and fauna. Our afternoon is at leisure to continue exploring this delightful city.

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 check in to the Scenic Hotel Dunedin City for a two night stay.

This morning, we enjoy a sightseeing tour taking in the city’s neo-Gothic churches, town hall, opulent theatres and other 19th century buildings. In the afternoon, why not join an optional wildlife cruise to the Otago Peninsula? Enjoy uninterrupted views of the world’s only mainland colony of Royal albatross. We may also encounter sea lions, Blue penguins and Hector’s dolphins.

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 the Distinction Hotel and Villas.

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, you 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 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.

Enjoy incredible scenery today as we travel via Lake Dunstan, created by the mighty Clyde hydro dam in 1994. Continue along the shores of Lake Wanaka and across the Haast River Bridge and via Clark Bluff, along one of the most exciting scenic roads ever built. Later in the afternoon we reach Westland National Park and the Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier for our next two nights.

A relaxing day to take in the beauty of Franz Josef and the surrounding area at your leisure. We will arrange a transfer from the Franz Josef township to the Franz Josef glacier valley. From here, we stroll through the amazing rainforest to a viewpoint, from which there is a wonderful view 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.

Today, we begin our adventure towards Christchurch. We pass Lakes lanthe and Mapourika taking us alongside striking wild scree-scarred terrain with forests of Crimson Rata and Kahikatea. From Arthur’s Pass, we make the spectacular ascent up the western side of the Southern Alps, through thick native beech forest. As we descend instead every turn offers spectacular views of the chiselled alpine landscape that take our breath away. Our journey continues through the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. We stay overnight at the centrally located Distinction Hotel Christchurch.

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Christchurch and head towards the coastal town of Kaikoura, admiring the picturesque valley of Waipara, one of the country’s most notable wine regions, as we make our way north. Kaikoura means ‘crayfish’ in Maori, and the town is known as the crayfish capital of New Zealand. Kaikoura’s coast is also home to a variety of whale species, most prominently Sperm whales, which can be seen year-round. This afternoon we have the option to take a whale watching cruise, weather permitting, with the chance to see these magnificent creatures, as well as orcas, dolphins and other marine life. Later, we travel onwards to the township of Blenheim and our hotel for the night, the Scenic Hotel Marlborough.

This morning, we spend at leisure in Blenheim before a visit to a local winery for a chance to taste Marlborough’s world-renowned Sauvignon Blanc and other fantastic wines. We journey from Blenheim to Picton, and in the afternoon we leave South Island in our wake as we board the ferry for our inter-island cruise to New Zealand’s North Island. During the cruise, enjoy spectacular views as we depart Queen Charlotte Sound. With the possibility of birds and dolphins following, we make our way across the Cook Strait to Wellington. Upon arrival we rejoin our coach and make our way to the Rydges Wellington Hotel or James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor where we spend the next two nights.

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.

Our journey continues north via the Kapiti coast and Hastings to the Art Deco city of Napier, located in an area dominated by orchards and vineyards. Napier’s city centre has the feeling of a time capsule – the seamless line of 1930s architecture is quite extraordinary. One of the ways to enjoy the streetscape is on a self-guided tour. Our evening is spent at the delightful Scenic Hotel Te Pania, situated on Napier’s seafront.

Today we make our way along the Thermal Explorer Highway to Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake. We visit the impressive Huka Falls where the Waikato River suddenly narrows to a chasm less than 15 metres across and heaves its vast bulk over an 11 metre ledge to boil furiously in a deep semi-circular basin below. We continue to Rotorua, which is at the heart of New Zealand’s rich Maori culture. The next two nights are spent at the Millennium Rotorua.

We explore some of Rotorua’s most famous sights, including its tudor-inspired bath house. We continue to Te Puia, home to Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, to view its spouting geysers, bubbling mud pools and hissing fumaroles. Here we enjoy a cultural performance, featuring a traditional welcome and song, including the world-famous war dance – The Haka.

We travel north this morning, as we make our way to the pale sands and turquoise waters of the Bay of Islands. In the pretty seaside town of Paihia, the Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands will be our home for the next three nights.

Today we have a full day at leisure, allowing you to do the things that really interest you. For example, there is the opportunity to join a fantastic optional trip to Cape Reinga. It’s a full day excursion which visits the northern tip of New Zealand. Not only is this where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean, but it holds a special significance in Maori tradition as the place where Maori spirits return to their traditional homeland, Hawaiiki-A-Nui, via the roots of a lone – and still standing – 800-year-old pohutukawa tree. Other standout locations during the tour include the Te Paki sand dunes and a drive along Ninety Mile Beach, passing magnificent scenery along the coast.

After breakfast, we leave the Bay of Islands. On the drive south, we make a stop for an early lunch at Whangarei Town Basin, a picturesque international yachting marina on the Hatea River. From here we head to the Parry Kauri Park in Warkworth where ice cream awaits, before we arrive in Auckland. We stay for two nights at the Hotel Grand Chancellor.

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 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, before indulging in a three course dinner.

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.