19 Day Signature Rail, Cruise and Coach
Snapshot
- 19 Days
- Fly & Tour Package
- Auckland to Christchurch
- Multiple departures
From
$10,179*
per person twin share
BOOK NOW
Overview
Experience the romance of rail travel, the majesty of cruising and the luxury of Premium Economy coach travel on this activity-packed 19-day tour. Visit the "best of attractions" in New Zealand including scenic rail journeys onboard the Glenbrook Vintage Railway, Coastal Pacific Rail Journey and the world-renowned TranzAlpine Rail Journey.
Relax on 4 cruises featuring an overnight cruise on the beautiful Milford Sound. The tour includes 2-night stays in the Bay of Islands, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown and Dunedin.
Signature Mid-Size Group Touring: The Signature coach is beautifully crafted and designed for touring NZ with delivering excellence in mind. Travel in the Premium Economy Comfort of a full-size coach, touring with a mid-size group of up to 32 travellers. Stay in stylish 4 star accommodation and tour with an experienced Tour Leader, ensuring you a memorable Kiwi experience.
Inclusions
Inclusions
- Return airfares from Adelaide
- Personalised Meet and Greet on arrival
- Return airport transfers in New Zealand
- Professional Coach Captain
- Tour Leader
- 17 nights 4 star accommodation
- Milford Sound Overnight Cruise
- 6 two night stays
- Hotel porterage
- 3 rail journeys
- 4 cruises
- All sightseeing and prepaid attractions
- Extensive Optional Activities
- Signature Documentation Pack
Meals
- 18 cooked breakfasts including a specialty breakfast: Stratosfare Restaurant, Rotorua
- 12 sumptuous dinners including complimentary pre-dinner drink at the Welcome Dinner and 3 specialty dinners: Māori Hāngi and Concert, Rotorua; Walter Peak Homestead, Queenstown; Farewell Dinner including pre-dinner drink, Christchurch
- 2 delicious morning teas
- Enjoy GPT Hotel Wine Time (discounted drinks)
*Day 1: Dinner not included for anyone arriving later than 8pm.
Coach Features
- 32 Premium Economy Comfort seats on a full-size coach
- 2 door access; seat back tray table; cup holder
- Restroom; daily onboard Wi-Fi allowance
Highlights
- Kauri Museum
- Waitangi Treaty Grounds
- Hole in the Rock Dolphin Cruise
- Glenbrook Vintage Railway
- Skyline Rotorua Gondola and Luge Ride
- Agrodome
- Thermal mud ools and geysers
- Te Puia traditional Māori Hāngi and Concert
- Te Papa, NZ's National Museum
- Cruise on the Interislander Ferry, Queen Charlotte Lounge
- Coastal Pacific Rail Journey
- International Antarctic Centre
- Christchurch Tram
- TranzAlpine Rail Journey
- Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw
- Lakes District Museum
- HIGHLIGHT Milford Sound Overnight Cruise
- Larnach Castle and Devonshire Tea
- Olveston Historic Home
- Auckland City Sights Tour
- Wellington City Sights Tour
- Christchurch City Sights Tour
- Dunedin City Sights Tour
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive Auckland
On arrival into Auckland, you will be met by a Grand Pacific Tours representative and transferred to your hotel. This evening enjoy a complimentary pre-dinner drink when you meet your Tour Leader and travelling companions for dinner.
Hotel: SkyCity Hotel
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 - Auckland - Bay of Islands
Enjoy a city tour of Auckland, dubbed the ‘City of Sails’, before travelling to Matakohe to enjoy a visit and informative talk at the Kauri Museum. Travel via Whangarei to Paihia, situated in the heart of the beautiful Bay of Islands. Enjoy a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the location of the signing of the treaty between the Māori tribes and the British.
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands (2 nights)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Bay of Islands
Today is a free day. Choose from the many optional activities available, including the Cape Reinga coach trip via Ninety Mile Beach or a spectacular scenic flight. This evening is also free, you may like to enjoy a relaxing dinner cruise (optional).
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 - Bay of Islands - Auckland
This morning cruise through the beautiful Bay of Islands aboard a luxury catamaran to Cape Brett, where a historic lighthouse keeps watch over Piercy Island, or as it is popularly known, the ‘Hole in the Rock’. Keep an eye out for dolphins and other marine life. Upon return to Paihia, travel south via Whangarei, before returning to Auckland. This evening is free to explore the many eateries surrounding your hotel.
Hotel: SkyCity Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 - Auckland - Rotorua
This morning travel to Glenbrook Vintage Railway for a nostalgic 15 kilometre trip back in time on a beautifully restored vintage steam train including a delightful morning tea. Depart Glenbrook and travel through magnificent countryside of rolling hills and green pastures famous for dairying. Continue to Rotorua renowned for its geothermal activity and Māori culture.
Hotel: Pullman Rotorua (City View Room) (2 nights)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Rotorua
Today begins with a gondola ride and breakfast at Skyline Rotorua. There is also time for a thrilling luge ride! Next stop is the Agrodome for an action-packed hour of farming entertainment and education that is unlike anything you’ve seen before. Enjoy some free time this afternoon before travelling to Te Puia to see the boiling mud pools and awesome geysers that Rotorua is famous for. This evening experience an entertaining Māori Hāngi and Concert.
Hotel: Pullman Rotorua (City View Room)
Meals: Breakfast, Specialty Dinner
Day 7 - Rotorua - Wellington
Travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to the spectacular Huka Falls. Continue to Lake Taupo for some free time to enjoy this scenic lakeside town. Travel via the Tongariro National Park and continue south to New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington.
Hotel: James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor (Executive Room) (2 nights)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 - Wellington
A highlight this morning will be time to explore Gallipoli: A Scale of War exhibition at Te Papa, New Zealand’s National Museum. Cutting edge technology brings these stories to life through the eyes of New Zealanders who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances. Reboard your coach for an extensive city tour. Enjoy time at leisure this afternoon and this evening is also free to explore Wellington’s lively food scene.
Hotel: James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor (Executive Room)
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 - Wellington - Kaikōura - Christchurch
This morning board the Interislander Ferry where you can relax in comfort in the Queen Charlotte Lounge. Enjoy the scenery as you travel through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton. Join the Coastal Pacific, a truly spectacular rail journey that follows a thin wedge of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Kaikōura Ranges. Meet your coach in the fishing village of Kaikōura for the journey to the garden city of Christchurch.
Hotel: Distinction Christchurch Hotel (2 nights)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 - Christchurch
Today visit the International Antarctic Centre, designed to provide an informative account of life in Antarctica. This is followed by an introductory city tour of Christchurch. This afternoon includes a journey on board the Christchurch Tram at leisure. This evening is free to explore the local cuisine.
Hotel: Distinction Christchurch Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11 - Christchurch - Arthur’s Pass - Franz Josef
This morning board the TranzAlpine, renowned as one of the great train journeys of the world. Travel over massive viaducts, river valleys and spectacular gorges as you ascend to Arthur’s Pass located in the centre of the Southern Alps. Board your coach and travel to Hokitika, famous for its Greenstone before arriving at the township of Franz Josef where time is available to experience a scenic flight (optional, weather permitting) over the spectacular glaciers.
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier (Douglas Wing)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12 - Franz Josef - Queenstown
See the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps as you travel south via the Haast Pass, an area of stunning beauty before arriving into picturesque Queenstown, a year-round resort situated on the shores of magical Lake Wakatipu. This evening is free to dine at one of the many fine restaurants.
Hotel: Millennium Hotel Queenstown (2 nights)
Meals: Breakfast
Day 13 - Queenstown
Today is a free day to explore Queenstown. Your Coach Captain and Tour Leader will assist with the many optional activities available. This evening board the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw and cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station. Sit back, relax and enjoy a delicious gourmet barbecue dinner featuring a menu of seasonal, fresh and locally sourced food at the Colonel’s Homestead. After dinner enjoy a short farm tour then reboard the TSS Earnslaw for a sing along by the piano as you cruise back to Queenstown.
Hotel: Millennium Hotel Queenstown
Meals: Breakfast, Specialty Dinner
Day 14 - Queenstown - Milford Sound Overnight Cruise
This morning travel to Arrowtown and visit the Lakes District Museum. Continue via Te Anau to Milford Sound and board the Milford Mariner for your amazing overnight cruise. There is plenty of time to view the fiord’s spectacular waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife - you’re bound to encounter seals and if you’re lucky maybe dolphins and penguins. As evening falls enjoy a delicious carvery buffet prepared freshly by the onboard chef.
Stay: Overnight Milford Mariner
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 15 - Milford Sound - Te Anau
Start the day with a hearty breakfast before heading back out to the Tasman Sea (weather permitting) to explore more of the fiord. Return to the wharf to meet your coach and enjoy the scenic drive to Te Anau where you will enjoy an afternoon at leisure. You may like to visit the Te Anau Glowworm Caves (optional).
Hotel: Distinction Luxmore Hotel Lake Te Anau (Deluxe Room)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 16 - Te Anau - Dunedin
Travel via Gore and Balclutha to Dunedin, famous for its stunning Edwardian and Victorian architecture dating back to the gold rush of the 1800s. This afternoon enjoy a tour of Olveston Historic Home, beautifully preserved merchant’s home from the turn of the century containing a wealth of precious treasures of a bygone era.
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross (2 nights)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 17 - Dunedin
This morning travel along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle where you hear of the tragic and scandalous history on a guided tour. Enjoy time to wander around this Garden of International Significance followed by a delicious Devonshire Tea. Return to Dunedin for a city tour followed by some free time for optional activities. This evening is also free to dine at leisure.
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross
Meals: Breakfast
Day 18 - Dunedin - Christchurch
Today travel to the small town of Oamaru, famous for its limestone architecture before continuing to Christchurch. This evening enjoy a pre-dinner drink and reminisce on memories shared with your new friends at the farewell dinner.
Hotel: Distinction Christchurch Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Specialty Dinner
Day 19 - Depart Christchurch
Time to say goodbye. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home after a memorable New Zealand holiday.
Meals: Breakfast
Dates/Prices
Departs | From Price | Save! |
---|---|---|
14 October 2024 | $10,379*pp | $175*pp |
26 November 2024 | $10,379*pp | $175*pp |
11 December 2024 | $10,479^pp | $175*pp |
4 January 2025 | $10,379*pp | $175*pp |
17 January 2025 | $10,379* pp | $175*pp |
24 January 2025 | $10,379*pp | $175*pp |
30 March 2025 | $10,379*pp | $175*pp |
6 April 2025 | $10,379*pp | $175*pp |
21 April 2025 | $10,179* pp | $375*pp |
*Advertised prices are based on per person, twin share ex Adelaide. Prices correct as of 23 April 2024.
* Conditions Apply. Prices are based on per person twin share ex Adelaide (economy class) and include pre paid taxes (subject to change). Save up to $750 per couple ($375 per person) on selected departures in April 2025. All other departures will save $175 per person off the brochure price. GPT Touring Jacket is one per person. Maximum savings are included in the advertised prices. Special Offer: not valid on group departures, no further discounts apply, not to be used in conjunction with any other special offer, for new bookings only for travel Sep 2024 – May 2025 unless sold out prior and can be withdrawn at any time without notice. ^$100 Festive Season Surcharge applies to 11 Dec 2024 departure.