15D13N GRAND TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND

City tour of Auckland : Explore Auckland's scenic highlights, starting with views of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, an eight-lane motorway bridge. Visit Viaduct Harbour and the revitalized Silo Park waterfront. Drive along the picturesque Tamaki Drive to Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park, offering panoramic views of Waitemata Harbour and Rangitoto Island. Mission Bay, a coastal gem, is a tour highlight. End your journey at Auckland Domain, the city’s oldest and largest park, covering 75 hectares.

Overnight: 4* SKYCITY Hotel Auckland | Crowne Plaza Auckland or similar class

NOTE: Duration of City Sightseeing Tour depends on time permitted and traffic conditions.

• Leave the city and journey through the lush countryside to Waitomo, home to vast limestone caves adorned with stalactites, stalagmites, and glow-worms. Included: Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour + Classic BBQ Lunch. Experience a 45-minute tour through ancient formations and a boat ride under thousands of glowing Arachnocampa Luminosa. Photography is not allowed.
• Continue to Rotorua, known for its steaming vents, geysers, and bubbling mud pools. Included: Mitai Maori Village + Buffet Hangi Dinner. Enjoy a warm welcome, traditional performances, including the Haka, and watch the uplifting of a hangi meal. After a guided walk showcasing Māori culture and rare glow-worms.

Overnight: 4* Sudima Lake Rotorua | Millennium Hotel Rotorua or similar class

** NOTE: Return transfers will be provided by Mitai Village Shuttle.

• Agrodome - A real working New Zealand farm. Explore 19 sheep breeds, witness live sheep shearing, and marvel at the skilled farm dogs. 
• Matamata, known for its horse industry and dairy farming. 
• Take a guided tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set, Explore the real Middle-earth with a guided 2.5-hour tour of the Hobbiton set, visiting famous locations, stepping inside a Hobbit Hole, and enjoying a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn.
• Overnight: 4* Sudima Lake Rotorua | Millennium Hotel Rotorua or similar class

• Te Puia (Te Ra Guided Experience). Just minutes from Rotorua, explore the geothermal valley of Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve and Pohutu Geyser. This 90-minute guided tour includes visits to the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, Kiwi Conservation Centre, and geothermal sites.
• Head south to Taupo, known for trout fishing and the breathtaking Huka Falls. The river narrows into a 20-meter-wide gorge, sending 220,000 liters of water per second over an 11-meter waterfall. Enjoy views from a footbridge or scenic lookouts.
• Continue along Lake Taupo’s shores, through the dramatic Desert Road with volcanic peaks, and reach Wellington, New Zealand’s capital. 
• Nestled between a harbor and green hills, Wellington is home to the National Museum and is best explored on foot.
• Overnight: 4* James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor or similar class

• Weta Workshop Wellington - Explore the creative world of Weta Workshop, renowned for its work on films like The Lord of the Rings, Hobbit trilogies, King Kong, and Avatar. Learn about the making of props and costumes during this 90-minute behind-the-scenes tour.
• Enjoy a Wellington City Sightseeing Tour featuring scenic highlights. Take in panoramic views from Mount Victoria, visit the Beehive (parliament building), and the Old Government Buildings, the largest wooden structure in the Southern Hemisphere. Explore Old Saint Paul’s Cathedral, a Revival Gothic architectural gem, and the 25-hectare Wellington Botanic Garden.
• Overnight: 4* James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor or similar class

• Interislander Ferry from Wellington to Picton. Enjoy a scenic 3.5-hour journey across the Cook Strait, renowned for its stunning views of the Marlborough Sounds, with beautiful coves, clear waters, and lush forests.
• Upon arrival in Picton, you'll be greeted by your South Island Coach Captain. A short trip south takes you to Blenheim, in the heart of Marlborough, famous for its vineyards and culinary experiences.
• Included: Wine Tasting at a local winery.
• Overnight: (Handpicked) Scenic Hotel Marlborough | (Handpicked) Bella Vista Motel or similar class

• Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre showcases WWI and WWII aircraft in immersive, cinematic displays supported by Sir Peter Jackson. Highlights include the Red Baron's Fokker and Spitfire, with dramatic scenes and authentic memorabilia, making it a top destination for aviation and history enthusiasts.
• The Pacific Coast Road offers one of New Zealand's most dramatic drives, with mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. Stop at Ohau Point lookout, thirty minutes north of Kaikoura, to view the seal colony lounging on the rocks.
• Overnight: 4* Sudima Kaikoura | The White Morph or similar class

• This morning will be a free at own leisure till time for transfer to Christchurch. Why not enroll for an optional excursion for a Whale watching cruise as around 80% of the world's whale and dolphin species migrate past the Kaikoura coastline. The tour focuses on locating and viewing the Giant Sperm Whale in its natural habitat, with the possibility of encountering other whale species, dolphins, and seals.
• Enjoy the impressive scenery of rugged coastal ranges and thundering seas as you travel south to Christchurch. The route takes you through farmlands, vineyards, and olive groves in the Waipara region, known for its food and wine.
• Explore the highlights of Christchurch City Tour - Drive pass the Avon River, Hagley Park, and Botanic Gardens. Discover the city's history, view historic cathedrals, and enjoy innovative street art in this revitalized urban center.
• Overnight: 4* Doubletree by Hilton | Crowne Plaza Christchurch Hotel or similar class

• Depart Christchurch and enjoy the lush patchwork of flat, green farmlands as you travel through some of the world’s most impressive braided rivers, entering Mackenzie country to reach Lake Tekapo.
• Make a brief stop at Farmer’s Corner for a shopping experience featuring a variety of New Zealand-made products. Marvel at Lake Tekapo’s stunning turquoise waters, visit the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd, and see the Bronze Sheepdog Statue. 
• Lake Tekapo Petting Zoo. Located in the heart of the township, this farmyard petting zoo offers hands-on encounters with animals such as Merino sheep, kune-kune pigs, lambs, alpacas, cattle, and rabbits. Visitors can feed the animals and enjoy close-up interactions.
• Overnight: 4* Peppers Bluewater Resort Hotel or similar class
• ** Note: In the event that accommodation is unavailable in Lake Tekapo Peppers Bluewater Resort, we will arrange to stay at the (Handpicked) Godley Hotel (Superior room) or stay at (Handpicked) Distinction Mackenzie Hotel (Twizel) 

• Travel along the brilliant blue Ohau Canal and the shores of magnificent Lake Pukaki, heading into the rugged landscape of Aoraki Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain.
• Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre. This 126-seat theatre honors Sir Edmund Hillary, showcasing the Aoraki Mount Cook region, its people, and its significance in the universe.
• Mount Cook at Leisure: Enjoy free time to relax or explore the area.
• Return along Lake Pukaki's shores to rejoin the main highway. Just before Omarama, marvel at the towering pinnacles of the Clay Cliffs as you take the southern route through the dramatic Lindis Pass. Your journey continues alongside lakes and rivers through Cromwell, a historic mining town famous for its stone fruit, to the vibrant resort town of Queenstown. Nestled among majestic mountains and crystal-clear Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is a hub for adventure and outdoor activities.
• Overnight: 4* Copthorne Lakefront | Holiday Inn Queenstown or similar class

Today, free time to explore Queenstown. You may want to consider to joinon an optional excursion to Glenorchy Lord of the Rings 4WD Safari or a Shotover Jetboat Ride.

• Visit historic Arrowtown and the Chinese Settlement Village, just a 20-minute drive from Queenstown. Known for its charming character, scenic beauty, and preserved gold mining heritage, Arrowtown is a must-see.
• The drive from Queenstown to Wanaka offers stunning views, perfect for an epic road trip. In Wanaka, a lively lakeside town, enjoy a mix of fine living, family fun, and adventure, with numerous cafes, restaurants, and shops. Don’t miss the iconic Wanaka Tree on Lake Wanaka’s shore. 
• Continue up the West Coast, known for its wild rivers, rainforests, and glaciers. At the Gates of Haast, admire the waterfall-like rapids of glacial waters. Travel through lush rainforest to the glacier regions of Fox and Franz Josef, remnants of the last ice age and among the world's most accessible glaciers.
• Overnight: 4* Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier or similar class
• ** Note: In the event that accommodation is unavailable in Franz Josef, we will arrange for you to stay in another town

• Travel through scenic rainforests and along flowing rivers towards Hokitika, renowned for its pounamu (jade). Visit popular spots like the Tree Top Walkway.
• West Coast Treetop Walkway - Enjoy an exhilarating treetop adventure among towering rainforest trees, just 15 minutes south of Hokitika. Stroll along a 450-metre elevated platform, 20 metres above the forest floor, and take in breathtaking views of the Southern Alps, rainforest, lakes, and sea. Listen to native bird songs as you explore the treetop canopy. The walk takes about 45–60 minutes.
• Afterward, embark on the Great Alpine Highway, traveling along the Arthur’s Pass Road, the most direct and scenic route to the East Coast. Pass through the Southern Alps’ foothills, along braided rivers, and across the Canterbury Plains, arriving in Christchurch.
• Overnight: 4* Doubletree by Hilton | Crowne Plaza Christchurch Hotel or similar class