From $5,795* per person, twin share

15 days Auckland to Christchurch

Inclusions:

• 14 nights in premium accommodation
• 23 meals – 14 breakfasts and 9 dinners, including special Welcome and Farewell Dinners
• Services of a Travelmarvel Tour Director and experienced Driver
• Premium air-conditioned coach travel
• All sightseeing, cruises, rail travel and entrance fees as specified
• Airport transfers on the first and last day

Highlights:

• Dine in traditional style with a Maori Hangi feast in Rotorua
• Take the TranzAlpine train from Christchurch to Greymouth
• Take a ride aboard the Glenbrook Vintage Steam Train
• Ride the Coastal Pacific Train along the Kaikoura coastline
• Cruise Milford Sound and enjoy spectacular views

Trip code: NTR15

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Auckland

Arrive in the ‘City of Sails’ and be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Tonight, enjoy a special Welcome Dinner as you get to know your fellow travellers.

Stay: Two nights, Heritage Hotel Auckland

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Auckland, Glenbrook Vintage Steam Train

This morning travel to Glenbrook and board the Glenbrook Vintage Steam Train. Take a journey through the beautiful rural Franklin countryside before stopping at the Pukeoware Depot to explore the workshop, view other historic locomotives, and enjoy a morning tea. After your time here, return to Auckland by coach.

Insider Experience: Ride the historic Glenbrook Vintage Steam Train.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Auckland, Rail Cruise Experience, Rotorua

After breakfast, board your coach and head towards the Mamaku Ranges for a special rail experience. In Rotorua, visit Te Puia Cultural Centre, and tour the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute before an evening of traditional culture and food.

Insider Experiences: Enjoy a unique self-drive Rail Cruising experience. In your hybrid vehicle, you will have a first-class view of the ranges, with an audio guide to inform you about the region. Delight in a Hangi feast and Maori cultural performance.

Stay: Two Nights, Sudima Rotorua or Distinction Rotorua

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4: Rotorua

Rotorua captures the essence of New Zealand with its geothermal geysers, fascinating Maori culture and rich heritage. Your sightseeing continues with a visit to one of New Zealand’s best-loved attractions, the Agrodome, and then enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore further or simply relax.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Rotorua, Wellington

We leave Rotorua, headed for the national capital, Wellington. In the afternoon we visit the fascinating Fell Locomotive Museum, which houses the only remaining steam-powered Fell locomotive in the world. It ran from 1877, using a unique system of four grip wheels on a raised centre rail to enable it to pull carriages up the steep Rimutaka Incline. After your visit, continue on to Wellington.

Stay: Two Nights, Travelodge Hotel Wellington

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6: Wellington

After breakfast today, set off on a sightseeing tour of the city’s best-loved landmarks and sights, including New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa Tongarewa. This innovative and interactive museum celebrates the treasures of the country. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to explore the city. Perhaps get a panoramic view of the city and harbour at the Mount Victoria Lookout. You may prefer to simply take a leisurely walk around the waterfront.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Wellington, Picton, Coastal Pacific Train, Christchurch

This morning, step aboard the Interislander ferry to cruise from Wellington Harbour across Cook Strait and through the Marlborough and Queen Charlotte sounds to Picton. Join the Coastal Pacific train to Kaikoura. Re-board your coach to travel to Christchurch.

Insider Experience: View the beautiful Pacific coastline from the Coastal Pacific Train.

Stay: Christchurch, Quality Elms Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8: Christchurch, TranzAlpine Train, Fox Glacier

This morning after breakfast, you will board the renowned TranzAlpine trains to cross the South Island. Upon arrival at Greymouth, you will disembark and travel by coach to the incredible natural surrounds at Franz Josef and Fox glaciers.

Insider Experience: On your TranzAlpine journey, considered to be one of the world’s greatest rail adventures, you will follow the Waimakariri River and travel across the Southern Alps within Arthur’s Pass National Park.

Stay: Heartland Hotel Fox Glacier

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9: Fox Glacier, Queenstown

Enjoy a day of truly beautiful scenery as you travel to the alpine resort of Queenstown. Known as the country’s ‘adventure capital’. Queenstown is also renowned for its world-class culinary scene. This evening you may like to sample some of the region’s fresh flavours at one of the many restaurants in walking distance from your hotel (own expense).

Stay: Two Nights, Queenstown, Copthorne Hotel and Apartments Queenstown Lakeview

Meals: Breakfast 

Day 10: Queenstown

Today you have the freedom to simply relax or choose one of Travelmarvel’s exciting Select Experiences. For the adventurous, perhaps head out on a jet boat ride. The Shotover Jet Boat roars through dramatic river canyons within centimetres of sheer rock walls.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 11: Queenstown, Milford Sound, Te Anau

Follow The Remarkables mountain range and Lake Wakatipu to Fiordland National Park. Today, enjoy a memorable cruise on Milford Sound.

Insider Experience: Cruise the full length of Milford Sound, a magnificent fiord with views of waterfalls, dense rainforest and sheer cliffs.

Stay: Kingsgate Hotel Te Anau

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 12: Te Anau, Dunedin

Enjoy spectacular scenery today as you drive from Te Anau to the Scottish-flavoured southern city of Dunedin.

Stay: Scenic Hotel Dunedin City 

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 13: Dunedin, Lake Tekapo

Journey north to view the Moeraki Boulders then continue to Oamaru and visit the tiny Church of the Good Shepherd on the shores of Lake Tekapo. Later, arrive at your resort.

Stay: Lake Tekapo, Peppers Bluewater Resort

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 14: Aoraki Mt Cook, Christchurch

Head into the stunning scenery of Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. Later, head back to Christchurch for a special Farewell Dinner.

Insider Experience: View majestic Aoraki Mt Cook, the highest point in Australasia.

Stay: Christchurch, Commodore Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 15: Depart Christchurch

Your tour concludes after breakfast with a transfer to the airport.

Meals: Breakfast