New Zealand Splendor

(land only)

Explore New Zealand's splendor on this fully escorted tour. Auckland City, the cultural center of Rotorua and the capital city of Wellington are your North Island destinations before crossing over to the South Island and the Marlboough wine region. Continue South to Kaikoura, Christchurch, Mt Cook and Dunedin before crossing Southland to Fiordland National Park and the alpine regions. The West Coast Glacier regions and the Tranz Alpine train journey are your final leg back to Christchurch.

Trip Type: Cosmopolitan, Cultural

Day By Day

Day 1 – Arrive in Auckland

You are transferred from the airport to your hotel. Check in and the rest of the day is yours to enjoy Auckland. Meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers for a welcome drink and dinner.

Starting Accommodation: Cordis, Auckland
Meals: Dinner

Day 2 – Auckland to Rotorua

Travel along the Waikato River to the Waitomo Caves for a guided tour of the amazing Glow Worm Grotto. Then on to Rotorua. Soak up views of Lake Rotorua on your orientation tour. Tonight experience F The Realm of T–ane, and a traditional Maori Hangi feast and concert.

Starting Accommodation: Millennium Hotel Rotorua
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3 – Rotorua

Start the day with a ride on the Skyline Gondola and breakfast at Terraces Café with its stunning views over Rotorua. Then it’s the Agrodome Sheep Show followed by a guided tour of F Te Puia and the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve. In the afternoon relax
or explore, it’s ‘Free Time’.

Starting Accommodation: Millennium Hotel Rotorua
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 – Rotorua to Wellington

From the mountains to the sea. View the Huka Falls. Visit Taupo and drive along the shores of its lake. Travel through the alpine scenery of Mt. Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park, Manawatu and the Kapiti Coast. On Your Wellington City Sights Tour see the city from Mt. Victoria.

Starting Accommodation: James Cook Grand Chancellor
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5 – Wellington to Blenheim

Explore Wellington for yourself this morning before you visit F Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand. Later you’ll cruise the Cook Strait into tranquil Queen Charlotte Sound. The seaside village of Picton is next, then Blenheim and a city orientation tour. Enjoy a tour, dinner and tasting at Georges Michel Wine Estate, a family owned and run winery in the heart of the Marlborough region.

Starting Accommodation: Scenic Hotel Marlborough
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6 – Blenheim to Christchurch

On the way to Kaikoura you pass the Grassmere Salt Works with a chance to see New Zealand fur seals at Ohau Point. Explore Kaikoura your way – maybe take a Scenic Whale Watching flight. Head to Christchurch through the patchwork countryside of the Canterbury Plains.

Starting Accommodation: Novotel Christchurch
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 – Christchurch - Twizel

You are invited to enjoy a taste of country life with a barbecue lunch on a working farm. See Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki, visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and soak up the spectacular alpine scenery of Mt. Cook National Park. Perhaps take a scenic flight over Mount Cook (weather permitting).

Starting Accommodation: Mackenzie Country Hotel Twizel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 – Dunedin

See the Waitaki Hydro Power Scheme, Benmore Dam and the white limestone buildings of Oamaru. A Dunedin city tour, then your afternoon is at leisure – maybe take a Wildlife Cruise, a Cadbury Factory visit or ride the Taieri Gorge Railway.

Starting Accommodation: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9 – Dunedin to Te Anau

First up take a guided tour of New Zealand’s only castle – Larnach Castle and its gardens. Time out in town then you head off across rich fertile, sheepfilled farming land on the way to Te Anau, on the shores of Lake Te Anau, the South Island’s largest. Tonight you can choose to see the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves.

Starting Accommodation: Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10 – Milford Sound

Be awe-struck by the magnificence of the World Heritage Fiordland National Park. Amazing photo opportunities await as you see rainforest, ancient glaciers, mountain ranges and the hand-made Homer Tunnel. The Mirror Lake, Pop’s Lookout, Cleddau Valley and the Chasm, Mitre Peak and Bowen Falls. Cruise on Milford Sound. Travel over the Devil’s Staircase along the shores of Lake Wakatipu back to Te Anau. On arrival in Queenstown you’ll do an orientation tour. Your dinner option is the Skyline Restaurant on Bob’s Peak, via the Southern Hemisphere’s steepest Gondola!

Starting Accommodation: Millennium Queenstown
Meals: Breakfast

Day 11 – At leisure, Queenstown

Explore action adventure Queenstown your way. Take it easy with wine or garden tours. Or go wild with jet boat rides or white water rafting. Just be back in time for dinner and a sheep shearing demonstration at Walter Peak Sheep Station. Travel there and back across Lake Wakatipu via the TSS Earnslaw, New Zealand’s oldest steamship.

Starting Accommodation: Millennium Queenstown
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 12 – Queenstown to Franz Josef

Today experience Arrowtown, the sensational stone fruit of Cromwell, Lake Wanaka, Lake Hawea, Lake Dunstan, Haast Pass, Thunder Creek Falls and a small rainforest walk. Then the ‘pièce de résistance’ – Franz Josef Glacier – the world’s most accessible, and still advancing, glacier.

Starting Accommodation: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 13 – Franz Josef to Punakaiki

Explore Franz Josef Glacier – take an optional flight (weather permitting) or a glacier hike! Then depart for Hokitika, home of the native greenstone (jade) for a factory visit and jewellery demonstration. It’s on to your waterfront hotel at Punakaiki, where you’ll view the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes.

Starting Accommodation: Punakaiki Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 14 – TranzAlpine to Christchurch

Enjoy time at leisure before travelling via Greymouth to Arthur’s Pass where you’ll board the TranzAlpine, one of the top 6 train journeys in the world, to travel to Darfield, in the foothills of the Southern Alps.

Starting Accommodation: Novotel Christchurch
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 15 – Depart Christchurch

You will be met and transferred by private vehicle to the airport for your departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast

Pricing

Package Level: Superior

Pricing for this package is on request. Please call a Swain Destinations Specialist to customize this journey.

Terms and Conditions

This escorted tour is operated by AAT Kings. *Prices are per person, twin/double share in USD. Travel may be restricted to certain days of the week and be available from one or multiple US departure points. Add on fares are available from most US cities and surcharges may be applicable for travel on particular days of the week. Seats are limited and may not be available on every flight. Hotels and tours remain subject to availability. US and Foreign Govt. taxes and fees vary depending on the itinerary selected and may range from $90 to $395 per person and are included in the fare. Passenger Facility Charges of up to $18 per person and the September 11th Security Fee of up to $10 per person, are included. After ticketing changes may not be permissible in some circumstances, or a change fee may be applied. Cancellation penalties and other booking or alteration restrictions may exist. Please note that some air segments may be served by an associated carrier under a Code Share Agreement and will be advised at time of booking. Please note blackout dates may apply to Christmas, New Year and local special event periods. Prices indicated remain subject to change without notice. Some airlines charge additional for checked baggage. CST #2012413-20