Tour Type: Low Cost Escorted Tour
Duration: 18 Days
Tour Starts In: Auckland
Tour Finishes In: Christchurch
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from NZ $4152 pp
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18 Day Classic New Zealand Panorama Touring Route:
Tour Description:
Travel the length of New Zealand on one of our most popular coach tour itineraries. In the North Island experience sightseeing tours of Auckland and Wellington and enjoy the Bay of Islands Hole in the Rock cruise. Down in the South Island enhance your holiday enjoyment by choosing an optional excursion helicopter flight over Fox Glacier.
During the course of our Panorama tour you will have free time in Paihia (Bay of Islands), Rotorua, Queenstown and Dunedin so you can relax or choose one of the many different and diverse optional excursions such as helicopter flight over Fox Glacier; Taieri Gorge Railway in Dunedin, Thermal Pools in Rotorua to name a few.
Tour Highlights:
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Day
1 |
Arrive Auckland
Welcome to New Zealand and Auckland, New Zealand's City of Sails. You will be met with a smile and transferred to your hotel by a tour representative. As you travel into the city center you will spot Skytower, Auckland's iconic landmark. Your accommodation this evening is less than half a block from this landmark. Stay: Rydges Hotel |
Day
2 |
Auckland – Bay of Islands
Cross Auckland's Harbour Bridge and drive north along the Hibiscus Coast skimming past the many seaside villages on the Whangaporoa Peninsula. Travel to Matakohe for a visit to the Kauri Museum that houses an exceptional display highlighting the region's early settlement and kauri gum industry, which was so important to the region's early development. Continue north through Kawakawa to Paihia. On arrival into Paihia we meet our local Maori guide, who will provide a comprehensive insight and history of the Bay of Islands, before a visit to New Zealand's birthplace, Waitangi.
A self guided tour through the famous Treaty House, the Maori Meeting House and giant war canoe, all set in spectacular grounds overlooking the bountiful Bay of Islands. This afternoon you will experience a launch cruise through the sheltered waters of the Bay of Islands to Cape Brett.
Cruise past many of the islands of the Bay. Enjoy the views as you cruise past the Cape Brett Lighthouse. Your coach captain will meet you at the wharf to transfer to your accommodation this evening. Bay of Islands. Stay: Tanoa Hotel, Paihia (2 nights) |
Day
3 |
Bay of Islands
A day free for you to relax and enjoy the many optional activities available. Your coach captain will happily assist with all details. We highly recommend a full day tour to Cape Reinga, New Zealand's northern most point. At Cape Reinga you view the blending of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean, and an understanding of the Maori myths and legends of the area, go sand boarding down the giant sand dunes and travel along Ninety Mile Beach the highway of the north. |
Day
4 |
Bay of Islands – Rotorua
Bid farewell to the 144 islands of the Bay of Islands. Your journey will take you south past scenic native forests and sub-tropical bush and towns of Whangarei and Warkworth before crossing the Auckland Harbour Bridge and arriving into Auckland City.
Your tour will visit the summit of the iconic Sky Tower, at 328m the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere for panoramic views across the city and its two harbours, and you can view the ground through the glass floors! Then you will drive past the Domain, the central city area, the Waterfront Drive with its numerous yacht marinas and nearby residential suburbs.
Cross the Bombay Hills to the lush farmlands of the Waikato region noted for its horse studs and the famous Waikato River, which is New Zealand's longest river. Drive past the bush clad Mamaku Ranges to Rotorua, famous for its geothermal activity, thrilling activities, Maori culture and its lakes. Stay: Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua (2 nights) |
Day
5 |
Rotorua
An action packed day today with many included sightseeing activities. First a visit to Agrodome, for an exciting and informative insight into the world of New Zealand agriculture, featuring 19 breeds of sheep, sheep shearing, cow milking, lamb feeding and sheepdog demonstrations. Next stop is at Rainbow Springs Park where you will see pools of brown and rainbow trout and native birds including the Kiwi.
Last activity is the spectacular Skyline Gondola, offering superb views over city, lake and mountains. and for a little excitement, try a Luge ride with our compliments. The Luge is a fun filled ride on a three-wheel cart with a unique braking and steering system providing the rider full control and allowing them to travel as fast or as slow as they wish.
This evening you are in for a cultural treat. Watch in awe as two warriors perform a formal Powhiri (welcome), be thrilled by the Haka (war dance), and see the talented Poi dances. You will even be given the opportunity to try to perform the Haka or the Poi dance. The concert is complemented by mouth-watering buffet selections of Eastern and Western cuisine and divine desserts, including the very 'Kiwi' Pavlova. |
Day
6 |
Rotorua – Napier – Masterton
Skirt some of the worlds largest pine forest to Wairakei where natural steam is harnessed to generate electricity. View the Huka Falls where the Waikato River pours through a narrow chasm and pauses at Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand. Continue across the Central Plateau to the Hawkes Bay region and Napier, claimed to be the world's art deco capital. Orchards and vineyards give way to lush farmland as you pass through Hastings then to Dannervirke and Woodville for an afternoon stop at Mangatainoka, home to Tui Brewery before continuing on to Masterton for the night. Stay: Copthorne Hotel & Resort Solway Park, Masterton |
Day
7 |
Masterton – Wellington
A leisurely day as we travel south over the Rimutaka ranges into the capital city, Wellington.
A city tour will incorporate the summit of Mt Victoria for panoramic views of the city and harbour, the Houses of Parliament and the distinctive "Beehive", Wellington Cathedral, city centre and Oriental Bay. There is ample time for you to explore the city yourself. Don't miss Te Papa, the "Museum of New Zealand" or take a ride on the famous Cable Car. Stay: Bay Plaza Hotel, Wellington |
Day
8 |
Wellington – Picton – Blenheim
Today completes your North Island tour as you venture to the South Island onboard the Interislander Ferry a unique experience treasured by many. Enjoy the spectacular views of New Zealand's Capital from Wellington Harbour; continue through the heads crossing Cook Strait into the secluded waters of Queen Charlotte Sound. Travel through the sheltered waterways, remote bays and pass many isolated holiday homes.
Disembark at Picton, a quaint village nestled on the shimmering shores of the Marlborough Sounds. Here you will be welcomed and met by your South Island coach captain. Continue south from Picton travelling through dairy farms that merge with forestry producers. Enter the Marlborough wine country and the town of Blenheim, a region renowned for its viticulture. A brief tour of the area includes a visit to Brancott Estate Winery. Enjoy a hosted tour of the winery, learn about and taste a range of the famous local wines followed by afternoon tea. Stay: Scenic Hotel Marlborough |
Day
9 |
Blenheim – Kaikoura – Christchurch
Leave the vineyards behind you and travel through the Awatere Valley to the Pacific Ocean Coast. Continue south through the fertile North Canterbury farmlands and onto the arable Canterbury Plains and Christchurch "the gateway to Antarctica". On arrival into Christchurch experience the International Antarctic Centre, before a brief tour of Christchurch and its
surrounds. Stay: Pavilions Hotel |
Day
10 |
Christchurch – Mt Cook – Omarama
As you leave the most English city outside of England, your coach captain will highlight the main attractions of the city of Christchurch. From the arable plains travel inland to the rolling green pastures of Geraldine and onto the semi barren land of MacKenzie Country. In the heart of the MacKenzie Basin Tekapo is nestled on shores of azure Lake Tekapo. You will visit The Church of the Good Shepherd, quite likely the most photographed church on your South Island Tour.
There is an opportunity to fly over the Southern Alps with Air Safaris (optional). From Tekapo continue on your New Zealand Coach Tour to Mt Cook National Park, home of the majestic Aoraki Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain. Here you have an opportunity to visit the Sir Edmund Hillary Centre - a tribute to New Zealand's greatest explorer and world renowned mountaineer. Travel back down the valley along the shores of Lake Pukaki, through Twizel (the town of trees) before arriving at your destination, Omarama, nestled in the velvet type tussock covered hills of the Lindis range. Stay: Heritage Gateway Hotel |
Day
11 |
Omarama – Dunedin
As your New Zealand holiday continues, follow the beautiful braided Waitaki River east, passing Benmore and Avemore hydro lakes before reaching the Pacific Ocean at Historic Oamaru. En route visit Moeraki Boulders, marvelling at the huge spherical stones, found strewn along a stretch of Koekohe Beach near Moeraki. These boulders are grey-coloured concretions which have been exposed through shoreline erosion from black mud stone coastal cliffs that back the beach.
An early arrival into Dunedin, "The Edinburgh of the South" allows you plenty of time to explore this nature lover's playground. Take the opportunity to experience at least one of these optional tours - combine a Monarch Harbour Cruise with a Newton's Citibus tour, and see penguins, albatross and seals.
Alternatively take a nostalgic trip on the Taieri Gorge Train, leaving from Dunedin's historic Railway Station. Maybe you would rather visit Cadbury World and Speights brewery, both options filling you one way or the other. This evening prior to dinner, you are treating you to a traditional Scottish Haggis Ceremony complete with the address to the Haggis, bag pipes and a bonnie wee dram. Stay: Cargills Hotel |
Day
12 |
Dunedin – Lake Manapouri – Te Anau
This morning visit the historic Larnach Castle located on the Otago Peninsula looking back over Dunedin. From here it is back to reality as you travel south west over rich fertile farmlands, through the agricultural service towns of Balclutha, Gore and other small villages. Between Clinton and Gore journey on the aptly named Presidential Highway.
As you proceed inland you will view the unusual combination of wind turbines and deer farms in the Mossburn area. If weather and time permits, visit the mysterious Lake Manapouri, (the Lake of many Islands), continue to Lake Te Anau the Gateway to Fiordland. Stay: Distinction Luxmore Hotel (2 nights) |
Day
13 |
Milford Sound Day Trip
Today your coach will climb through the Southern Alps, travelling on one of the highest and most scenic state highways in New Zealand. Leave Te Anau and travel through Fiordland National Park, following the Eglington and Hollyford Valleys, passing through the Homer Tunnel to descend into the Cleddau Canyon to magnificent Milford Sound.
You will see for yourself why Rudyard Kipling described Milford Sound as the 'eighth wonder of the world'. Experience Milford Sound from the water, a launch cruise will take you to the Tasman Sea and back, stopping at the raging Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls. A truly exhilarating experience, make sure your camera is fully charged. If time and weather permits your coach captain will explore the lower Hollyford Valley before your return to Te Anau. |
Day
14 |
Te Anau – Queenstown
This morning travel by boat across Lake Te Anau to explore the fascinating Te Anau caves system on the western shore of the lake. This tour offers an underground adventure that charms visitors of all ages. The tour takes you to a mysterious underground world of rushing water before drifting in silent darkness beneath the luminous shimmer of thousands of glowworms. From Te Anau travel onto Kingston before hugging the shores of Lake Wakatipu to reach New Zealand's adventure capital Queenstown.
This evening cruise across the lake aboard the steamship TSS Earnslaw for dinner in the Colonel's Homestead at Walter Peak High Country Farm. Stay: Rydges Hotel (2 nights) |
Day
15 |
Queenstown
A day to explore the many delights of this stunning alpine resort. Try the world renowned Shotover Jet, an excursion to Skippers Canyon in search of gold, Double Decker coach to quaint Arrowtown, or even a bungy jump. Alternatively, explore Queenstown's many boutiques and galleries - your coach captain will be more than happy to assist with any optional sightseeing. |
Day
16 |
Queenstown – Haast Pass - Fox Glacier
Pass picturesque Lake Hayes then on to an area steeped in fascinating history relating to early settlement and the gold mining era, to Lake Wanaka, a picture postcard resort on the lakes edge with a spectacular mountain backdrop. Pass Lake Hawea and the upper reaches of Lake Wanaka to Makarora, cross the Haast Pass into the Mt Aspiring and Westland National Parks.
Drive north along the coast through the flourishing rainforests of the West Coast and onto the glorious Glacier region. This is an ideal opportunity for you to experience small town New Zealand in the heart of Westland. The rainforest and surrounding area is so green it will hurt your eyes. (Upon arrival into Fox Glacier there is opportunity to either take an optional guided walk to the glacier's terminal face or an optional exhilarating helicopter flight over the glacier)
Both these options are at your own expense and are very weather dependant. Stay: Heartland Hotel Fox Glacier |
Day
17 |
Fox Glacier – Christchurch
Time for an optional helicopter flight over the glacier then on to Franz Josef. Snow capped Southern Alps dominate the skyline as you pass dense bush, tiny landlocked lakes with and small pockets of farmland. Visit a Greenstone (Jade) factory. Here you will find many artisans carving Jade into contemporary carvings of traditional NZ designs or modern designs, and beautiful sculptures of whales, birds or just about anything that reflects the area where these carvers live. Greenstone or Pounamu has been recovered locally from the Westland or the South Westland area.
From Greymouth leave behind the lush beech rain forests through undulating farmlands, hugging the Taramakau River as it descends the valley. Travel over the Otira viaduct and into Arthurs Pass, traversing the main divide. As you leave Arthurs Pass follow the Waimakariri River, note it flows the opposite direction to the Taramakau as you have crossed the main divide, and the majestic Southern Alps. Head east through New Zealand's wheat belt and the Canterbury plains into Christchurch. Stay: Pavilions Hotel |
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TranzAlpine Train Option
Experience one of the world’s top 6
train trips aboard the TranzAlpine to Christchurch. Additional cost $NZ 180 per person from Greymouth. |
Day
18 |
Depart Christchurch
It is farewell to your new found friends and traveling companions. This completes your New Zealand Holiday. You will be transferred to the Christchurch International Airport in ample time to join your flight home. Safe travels. |
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Click on the icon to download the 18 Day Classic New Zealand Panorama tour in pdf format. |
from NZ $4,152
18 Day Classic New Zealand Panorama
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18 Day Classic New Zealand Panorama Reviews
Tour reviews from past clients of Relaxing Journeys for the 18 Day Classic New Zealand Panorama. |
It was a great tour but NZ didn't turn on the best of weather for us. We never got to see the top of Mt Cook, and it rained in Milford Sound - the waterfalls were great to experience and we took about 45 snaps of them - they don't have the same impression when seen on our computer screen. We couldn't hear them thundering down the cliff face into the Sound in our photos! We have to say that the courtesy and service we received was second to none, from the suited cab driver who collected us at Christchurch airport to the humour, knowledge and skill of our tour driver. On the whole the hotels were very comfortable and the meals great. Our only disappointment was being put out into an annexe at Fox Glacier where the hotel room lacked several basic comforts. We would have liked to have spent more time in Christchurch, arriving there at 3pm the day before the tour didn't allow us the time to take advantage of the $99 deal the city has to offer to explore more thoroughly. Perhaps Christchurch could have a day of its own? At Shanty Town in Greymouth, how did you organise a wedding in the Chapel? Well done!! The wine tasting at Blenheim didn't live up to my expectations. I had visions of a greater variety on offer - maybe I'm just greedy. I had visions of people giving us the opportunity to sample many of the wines on sale. On the whole, John and I thoroughly enjoyed it, although we were both pretty exhausted on our return to day to day life. Perhaps we're getting a bit long in the tooth and our age needed a more sedate itinerary.
John & Kathleen Canty (Australia)
Tour Date 29/03/2010 |
We enjoyed the tour - everything was well organised and accommodation was good (both in quality and locations). We appreciated the wealth of knowledge of the coach captain - that makes travel by this method so rewarding. We had a great time thank you. At one stage (the trip from Auckland to Bay of Is.) we had to use a replacement 20-seat bus while the coach was in for repair. The 20-seat bus was not very comfortable and should be avoided for longish trips if possible. It was partly for this reason that we declined an optional trip further north - did not want another day in a small bus.
Robert & Gwen Ivey (Australia)
Tour Date 25/11/2009 |
It was an excellent holiday in all respects, wonderful scenery, good quality accommodation and food in every hotel on the tour in both North and South Islands. The excursions and additional events in the tour were all a great experience for us, Milford Sound cruise, Fox Glacier, Steam Train Ride , Rotorua and the Maori evening were just a few examples of the many memorable events. The whole holiday was very well organised and certainly lived up to our expectations. Our sincere thanks to you Georgie and your company for making it happen, it will be a holiday we will always remember.
Gerald & Anna Maber (United Kingdom)
Tour Date 20/04/2009 |
Excellent trip. I wish you could have included a tour package for New Zealand and Australia. No complaints. I plan on using relaxing journey on my next vacation.
Pamela Auzenne (United States)
Tour Date 29/03/2009 |
Tour Prices
All tour prices are per person, twin share. |
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EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL OFFER*
2012 Season Hot Seat Deals! Unbeatable Savings Exclusive to Relaxing Journeys!
Valid for bookings made with Relaxing Journeys between 1 February 2012 and 29 February 2012
. Subject to availability at time of booking. |
Tour
Starts |
Tour
Finishes |
Tour
Status |
Brochure
Price |
OUR
SPECIAL |
OUR
PRICE |
| 05 Feb 2012 |
22 Feb 2012 |
G |
NZ $5125 |
Save $205 |
NZ $4920 |
| 14 Feb 2012 |
02 Mar 2012 |
G |
NZ $5125 |
Save $374 |
NZ $4751 |
| 26 Feb 2012 |
14 Mar 2012 |
G |
NZ $5125 |
Save $374 |
NZ $4751 |
| 06 Mar 2012 |
23 Mar 2012 |
G |
NZ $5125 |
Save $374 |
NZ $4751 |
| 13 Mar 2012 |
30 Mar 2012 |
G |
NZ $5125 |
Save $205 |
NZ $4920 |
| 20 Mar 2012 |
06 Apr 2012 |
G |
NZ $5125 |
Save $374 |
NZ $4751 |
| 03 Apr 2012 |
20 Apr 2012 |
G |
NZ $5125 |
Save $762 |
NZ $4363 |
| 10 Apr 2012 |
27 Apr 2012 |
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NZ $5125 |
Save $762 |
NZ $4363 |
| 01 May 2012 |
18 May 2012 |
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NZ $4610 |
Save $458 |
NZ $4152 |
| 19 Jun 2012 |
06 Jul 2012 |
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NZ $4610 |
Save $458 |
NZ $4152 |
| 10 Jul 2012 |
27 Jul 2012 |
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NZ $4610 |
Save $185 |
NZ $4425 |
| 21 Aug 2012 |
07 Sep 2012 |
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NZ $4610 |
Save $185 |
NZ $4425 |
| 11 Sep 2012 |
28 Sep 2012 |
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NZ $4610 |
Save $185 |
NZ $4425 |
| 18 Sep 2012 |
05 Oct 2012 |
G |
NZ $4610 |
Save $185 |
NZ $4425 |
| 25 Sep 2012 |
12 Oct 2012 |
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NZ $4610 |
Save $185 |
NZ $4425 |
Note: Tour Status: 'G' Tours are guaranteed to depart. The majority of departures above will proceed. We will confirm the status of your preferred departure date in your quote along with all applicable discounts and specials.
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Tour Options & Single Supplement:
Optional extras & single traveller supplement. |
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*Terms & Conditions apply to any discounts and/or specials above. Your designated tour consultant will apply the appropriate discounts automatically to your quote and detail any currently applicable 'Exclusive Specials'. |
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