Grand New Zealand Tour - 19 Days

On arrival at Auckland Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel. In the evening meet your tour guide and fellow travelers at your stay for the night.
 

After breakfast a sightseeing tour of Auckland, drive up Mt Eden for a panoramic view of the city, Mission Bay with its beautiful beaches and lovely restaurants. Drive through famous Auckland Bridge to Devonport and take a ferry on the Waitemata Harbour back to the city.

Depart Auckland over the Harbor Bridge and the Hibiscus Coast. Walk among the Kauri trees at Waipoua Forrest. Visit Kauri Museum, which contains many exhibits that tell the story of the pioneering days when early European settlers in the area extracted kauri timber and kauri gum with its many artefacts. From there to beautiful Bay of Islands. Experience natural wonders and spectacular scenery as you cruise to Cape Brett and through the ‘Hole in the Rock’.

Today free day to choose one from a range of sightseeing experiences. You have the option to take a tour to historic Russell. Perhaps go dolphin-watching on the bay. Maybe play a round of golf.

You’ll have time on your own to relax or explore this morning before you return to Auckland. On the way stop in Whangarei and Orewa where you can take a splash in hot mineral pools.

Drive south to Waitomo Caves to visit the amazing Glow Worm Grotto. Local guide will lead you through the grotto where you will be amazed by the sight of glow worms. Then continue to Rotorua. Where you will enjoy a walk through Red Forrest with giant sequoia trees. In the evening time to relax in famous hot water pools.

In the morning vist Way-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, where you will experience sights of geothermal activity with eruption of Lady Knox Geyser. Back to Rotorua and visit Te Puia New Zealand’s Maori Arts & Crafts Institute where you will meet kiwi, New Zelands symbol. In the evening you will take part in Maori Hangi dinner.

To day view Haka Falls on Waikato River. Stop on the shores of Lake Taupo. Discover the alpine scenery of Mt. Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park. Stop for awesome photo opportunities on the way. Time for lunch in Taihaope – informal capital of gum boot. Where you can try your luck in trowing competition of a gum boot. Continue to Wellington capital of New Zealand for a sightseeing tour. Drive up Mt Victoria for a splendid view of the city and surroundings. Visit Museum Te Papa where you will discover many interesting fact about New Zealand way of life and its Maori history.

Take a ferry on the Cook Strait into tranquil Queen Charlotte Sound to Picton, On the way wonderful views of south Island. Then Blenheim for a city tour. Visit winery and try best of New Zealand wines.

Drive to the whale-watching city of Kaikoura, travel past the Grassmere Salt Works and see New Zealand fur seals on the way to Kaikoura. Time for whale watching cruise or take part in beautiful coastal walk. Travel to Christchurch over Canterbury Plains and take a tour of the city being rebuild after the earthquake of 2011

After breakfast visit International Arcitc Centre. Travel on panoramic route on the way to Mt Cook region. Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd on Lake Tekapo. Enjoy alpine scenery of Mount Cook National Park.

Stop at the salmon farm for a taste of local salmon with view Aoraki (Mt Cook) as a bonus. View the Waitaki Hydro Power Scheme and Benmore Dam. Travel through Oamaru, with its white limestone buildings. Stop at Koekohe Beach where you will see famous Moeraki Boulders. Unusually large and spherical boulders lying along a stretch of Koekohe BeachDrive to Dunedin for a tour of the city

This morning choose one from a range of Included Choice sightseeing experiences. Tour Larnach Castle, ride the historic Taieri Gorge Railway or take the Monarch Wildlife Cruise to see the Penguins and the Royal Albatross. Or choose from a visit to Cadbury World or Speight’s Brewery. Travel across rich fertile sheep-filled farming land to Te Anau on the shores of Lake Te Anau, the South Island’s largest lake.

You’ll enjoy the magnificence of the World Heritage listed Fiordland National Park. You will see rainforest, ancient glaciers and mountain ranges. Stop at the Mirror Lake, Pop’s Lookout, Cleddau Valley and the Chasm one of New Zeland`s wonders. Your cruise on mystical Milford Sound. Then drive along the shores of Lake Wakatipu on the way to Queenstown, New Zealand’s adventure capital

A free day to enjoy sightseeing experiences.Join a wine tour, play a round of golf or take a gondola to the Skyline Restaurant for dinner. Take a 4WD minibus through Skippers Canyon, This evening cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard New Zealand’s oldest steamship, the TSS Earnslaw, to Walter Peak Station for a gourmet barbecue Regional Meal at the Colonel’s Homestead.(Buffet Breakfast / Regional Meal)

Visit the historic village of Arrowtown. Stop at iconic Bundy Bridge. Stop to taste some fruits at Cromwell, the fruit capital. Drive along panoramic route along lakes: Dunstan, Hawea and Wanaka. Drive over the Haast Pass and view amazing Thunder Creek Falls. Stop in Fox for a walk to the glacier.

See FOX Glacier from the air on an optional helicopter flight (weather permitting) or take a glacier hike! Depart for Hokitika, home of the native greenstone (jade), for a factory visit and jewelry demonstration. Later, travel to Punakaiki to visit famous panckake rock formation. Travel to Greymouth for the night.

Travelling east through lush alpine beech rain forests towards the Southern Alps, we ascend through spectacular gorges and river valleys to the alpine village of Arthurs Pass for a short break before descending to the East Coast of New Zealand’s South Island, to the Canterbury Plains and Christchurch. Accommodation in Christchurch.

After breakfast time to say good bay and depart for your destination. You will be transferred to Christchurch Airport for your onward flight.