The Very Best of New Zealand Tour

Depart from the UK airport most convenient for you with Qantas & Emirates. London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stanstead, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Edinburgh or Glasgow. Alternatively, fly direct to Singapore with Singapore Airlines from London Heathrow or Manchester. No matter which airline or airport you choose, there will be no additional cost.

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.

Alternative stopover
We have based days 2-4 of this itinerary on a stopover in Singapore. If you are flying with Qantas & Emirates, you may choose to stop in Bangkok or Dubai for the same price. Your stopover includes transfers, accommodation, daily breakfast and a city sightseeing tour. Flight timings will vary and will be advised at the time of booking.

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 Coach Captain, 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 is South Island’s second largest city and is considered New Zealand’s architectural heritage capital, with its lovingly restored Victorian and Edwardian buildings. Upon arrival, we check in to Southern Cross Hotel 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.

Tour Highlight

Today we travel to the magnificent Fiordland National Park and to Milford Sound, which will undoubtedly prove to be one of our tour’s many highlights. Only when out cruising on Milford Sound can the sheer scale of the dramatic scenery be fully appreciated: towering peaks rise all around and spectacular waterfalls cascade into the calm waters below. Our cruise takes in the impressive Mitre Peak and Bowen Falls. Remember to keep a look out for dolphins as well as seals and penguins. In the afternoon, we travel to Queenstown, where a scenic drive takes us through a variety of landscapes – farmland, native tussock grasslands, lush beech forests and impressive glacial valleys. We spend the next three nights at the four-star Millennium Hotel.

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.

Queenstown smiles south across Lake Wakatipu into an incomparable alpine scene. 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 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.

We Recommend – Kaikoura whale watching cruise

An opportunity to spot sperm whales, orcas, dolphins and other marine life.

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 re-join our coach and make our way to the Grand Chancellor Hotel James Cook, 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.

This morning our journey continues north via the Kapiti coast and Hastings as we make our way 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, superbly 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. This evening, we attend a concert featuring traditional song and dance, including the world-famous war dance – The Haka. Also included is a buffet dinner. The next two nights are spent at the four-star Distinction Hotel.

This morning, 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. During our free afternoon you may wish to take a scenic flight over Mount Tarawera or visit the Polynesian Thermal Pools.

We travel north this morning, via Auckland, 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

Tour Highlight

Undoubtedly one of the highlights of this tour is a cruise around the Bay of Islands, as in our opinion, there’s no better way to see this picturesque area of New Zealand. We cruise via Red Head Passage to Cape Brett and Piercy Island and on to the famous ‘Hole in the Rock’. In these world-famous deep-sea fishing waters, it’s not uncommon to see schools of fish and dolphins. The return trip travels via historic Russell. It’s hard to believe that this quaint township was once known as the ‘Hell Hole of the Pacific’. As the afternoon has been left free, we have an excellent opportunity to take an optional visit to the grounds of the Waitangi National Reserve. It was here in 1840 that the British and Maori chiefs signed the Waitangi Treaty.

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.

We Recommend – Cape Reinga

Take a tour to Cape Reinga, at the top of the North Island, where the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea meet, followed by a drive along Ninety Mile Beach.

After breakfast, we leave the Bay of Islands. On the drive to the Waipoua Kauri Forest Reserve, we pass rolling hills dotted with dairy farms which give way to lush forest the closer we get to the reserve. There’s a chance to marvel at the gigantic kauri tree Tane Mahuta, or ‘Lord of the Forest.’ From here, we head south, crossing the impressive Waitemata Harbour Bridge and head into Auckland and the Grand Chancellor Hotel Auckland for our final two nights in New Zealand.

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 see Rangitoto Island, a dormant volcano, dominating the horizon. Our afternoon is free to spend as we please. Perhaps take a trip to the top of Sky Tower; the panoramic views from the tallest building in the southern hemisphere are truly breathtaking.

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.

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