Tour Type: Small Group (Premium)
Duration: 13 Days
Tour Starts In: Christchurch
Tour Finishes In: Auckland
|
from NZ $8305 pp
|
13 Day Grand New Zealand Touring Route:
Tour Inclusions:
- Tour by luxury mini coach with air-conditioning, reclining seats, extra leg room, tinted windows (12–16 passengers)
- Tour with an experienced, professional Tour Director and Tour Driver
- Twin share rooms with private facilities in specially selected hotels
- Full Buffet Breakfasts (12) (B)
- Lunch (1) (L)
- Exciting Highlight Dinner (1) (HD)
- Hotel Dinners (6) (D)
- Welcome Reception
- Travel Wallet and Map
- Hotel Porterage Included
- Airport Transfers Included (Day 1 from Christchurch Airport – flights anytime; Day 13 to Auckland Airport – flights to depart after 7.00pm)
Tour Highlights:
Back to top |
Day
1 |
Arrive Christchurch
On arrival at Christchurch Airport you will be transferred to your hotel. Built in 1876, Huntley Lodge retains most of its original features with recent restoration ensuring that the character of this grand old home is protected. This evening meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception and dinner. Stay: Huntley Lodge, Christchurch (D) |
Day
2 |
Christchurch – Franz Josef
Board the world famous TranzAlpine train, in the comfort of your exclusive private viewing carriage with its extra leg room, for your journey across the Canterbury Plains through the Southern Alps. Join your coach at Arthur’s Pass and visit the small town of Hokitika for a Greenstone (Jade) jewellery demonstration. Travel through the goldmining town of Ross before arriving at Franz Josef. This afternoon you’ll enjoy informative commentary from your expert local glacier guide as he walks you to your viewing area at mighty Franz Josef Glacier, the world’s most accessible glacier. Tonight’s eco-friendly accommodation is set amidst native bush, with an emphasis on relaxation and rejuvenation. Stay: Franz Josef Glacier Country Retreat (B/D) |
Day
3 |
Franz Josef – Queenstown
This morning there is time for an optional scenic flight over Franz Josef Glacier (weather permitting) or to take a dip in the local hot pools or spas. Later you’ll travel over the Haast Pas and along the shores of Lakes Wanaka and Hawea. Stop to explore the historic gold-mining village of Arrowtown on the Arrow River, previously one of the world’s richest rivers, followed by an orientation tour of Queenstown on arrival. Your exclusive accommodation is Millbrook Resort, set amidst babbling streams and rolling hills in the Southern Alps and framed by the Remarkables Mountain Range. Tonight is at leisure to dine at one of the restaurants at the resort. Stay: Millbrook Resort, Queenstown (2 nights) (B) |
Day
4 |
Queenstown ‘Free Time’
Today is free for you to explore New Zealand’s adventure-capital at your leisure. Perhaps try a jet boat ride, white water rafting or a round of golf at Millbrook’s world-renowned golf course. Tonight you’ll ride the Skyline Gondola to Bob’s Peak for dinner with a view overlooking stunning Queenstown, the Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu. (B/D) |
Day
5 |
Queenstown – Milford Sound
We travel south along the shores of Lake Wakatipu to Te Anau, the largest lake in the South Island. Later travel through the rainforest of World Heritage Fiordland National Park, sighting glaciers and mountain ranges. Drive through the handhewn Homer Tunnel to the numerous photo opportunities afforded by the Mirror Lake, Pop’s Lookout, Cleddau Valley and the Chasm, before arriving into Milford Sound for your magical overnight cruise on the Milford Mariner. Stay: Milford Mariner, Milford Sound (B/D) |
Day
6 |
Milford Sound - Stewart Island
This morning enjoy the many early morning activities on board. Perhaps take a walk on the foreshore or go kayaking on the Sound. Later you’ll continue further south to the southernmost city in New Zealand, Invercargill. Board your ferry at Bluff to cruise to Stewart Island for a special experience. With its clear, clean waters, lush rainforest, sweeping sands, flora and fauna and unspoilt natural beauty you’ll get a glimpse into an enviable simpler, slower lifestyle. Tonight is free to dine at one of the cafés or you can meet the locals at the hotel. Stay: Bay Motel, Stewart Island (2 nights) (B) |
Day
7 |
Stewart Island
Enjoy a Village and Bays tour this morning before a cruise with lunch on Paterson Inlet. Stop at Ulva Island and spend time with native wildlife. Ulva Island is managed by the Department of Conservation. It is predator-free and is a must for viewing native birds and flora. Tonight you may want to try to spot kiwis in the native bush near your accommodation. (B/L) |
Day
8 |
Stewart Island – Rotorua
This morning you’ll board a ferry to return to the mainland and Queenstown for your afternoon flight to Rotorua (airfare included). On arrival at Rotorua Airport you will be transferred to your hotel. This afternoon visit Te Puia, New Zealand’s Maori culture and geothermal experience. A local Maori guide will escort you through Te Puia with its mud pools and geysers. This evening enjoy a Maori Hangi dinner accompanied by local wine and a concert to gain an insight into traditional Maori culture. Stay: Princess Gate Hotel, Rotorua (B/HD) |
Day
9 |
Rotorua - Coromandel
Your sightseeing includes a visit to the entertaining Agrodome Sheep Show, the multi-award-winning stage show where you’ll gain an insight into agriculture in New Zealand. See the art of sheep shearing, sheepdog demonstrations, cow milking, bottle feeding of lambs and an exciting sheep auction. Your next stop is Rainbow Springs Nature Park, where you’ll discover native bush, ferns and trees that grow around the crystal clear mineral water springs. You may even spot a kiwi! Travel to the famous Waitomo Caves and visit Cave World, for an exclusive 5 star Eco Glow Worm experience. Take a short walk through breath-taking New Zealand native bush to the cave entrance.
There, your guide lights the candles setting the scene for an intimate cave experience, where you will see glow worms up close, cave formations up close and appreciate the beauty of Footwhistle Cave. Your guide tells the stories of the insect life that live here - titiwai, the glow worm, and tuna, the eel. After enjoying a relaxed stroll through the cave, you’ll be seated in Footwhistle’s Cathedral to see it lit up by a dazzling magnesium torch. Tonight we stay at Puka Park in Tree Hut Chalets, set amongst the native bush, in the Coromandel Ranges. Stay: Puka Park, Coromandel (B/D) |
Day
10 |
Coromandel – Auckland
Meet ‘Kiwi Dundee’ for a tour of the Coromandel region and a look at native wildlife and history. Later, travel to Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, for a sightseeing tour then time at leisure before arriving at your hotel. Stay: SkyCity Grand Hotel, Auckland (B) |
Day
11 |
Auckland – Bay of Islands
Travel to Orewa and the scenic Hibiscus Coast, birth place of Sir Edmund Hillary. Continue through the Waipoua Forest, home of the largest Kauri tree, Tane Mahuta, over 2,000 years old! Your Maori Guide will walk you through the native bush and explain the history and legend behind the mighty Kauri. Continue to your waterfront resort in the heart of the Bay of Islands. Stay: Copthorne Hotel and Resort, Bay of Islands. |
Day
12 |
Bay of Islands
This morning board a ferry to cross the harbour to historic Russell. Enjoy a guided tour of the first European settlement in New Zealand. Your afternoon is at leisure. Perhaps swim with the dolphins, enjoy a sail or sea-kayaking or just relax by the pool at the resort. (B) |
Day
13 |
Bay of Islands – Auckland
Cruise through the many historic islands to the see the famous ‘Hole in the Rock’. Later, you’ll transfer to Paihia for time at leisure before returning to Auckland, where your tour concludes. You will be transferred to Auckland Airport for your onward flight (flights to depart after 7.00pm). (B) |
 |
Click on the icon to download the 13 Day Grand New Zealand tour in pdf format. |
 |
13 Day Grand New Zealand Reviews
Tour reviews from past clients of Relaxing Journeys.
1 Reviews,
Average Rating 4.0
of 5.
|
This was our second trip with Relaxing Journeys, they were both very good, the first one very similar now to the 19 day Grand Adventurer was a lot cheaper, a larger group the one thing that was nice that everyone was there for the whole trip, and it did have some really good parts to it. We paid more for the 2nd tour which does not seem to be available now, but it had so much more on it, 2 overnight boat trips, Milford Sound, Bay of Islands, farm stay, we had the 21 one day Grand Adventurer but it is not the same as our last one. Also a visit to Stewart Island, fantastic. It was a small group trip and one of the things that bothered me was the people coming and going on the trip, only doing parts of it. A few things were duplicate, second time around, but ones we did want to see again anyway. The hotels except for one room were very good. We were expecting a smaller coach with nicer seats, the coach was smaller and we had lots of room to spread out. We have pretty well done all of the highlights on NZ now and don't think we will be going back, but we did meet a lot of nice people and hope to visit with them again, that was from both of our trips, the first one Australians and the second mostly English and a 2 couple from the US.
[More+]
Value For Money
Accommodaton
Tour Pace
Our Service
Allan & Shirley Franklin (Canada)
Tour Date 06/02/2012 |
Tour Prices
All tour prices are per person, twin share. |
|
EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL OFFER*
2012/13 Earlybird Sale! Save $730 per person off the brochure price. Exclusive to Relaxing Journeys. Deposit this month to qualify! |
| START DATE |
END DATE |
BROCHURE
(Twin Share) |
BROCHURE
(Single) |
OUR
SAVINGS |
OUR
PRICE |
| 22 Oct 2012 |
03 Nov 2012 |
NZ $9750 |
NZ $11885 |
Save $730 |
NZ $9020 |
| 12 Nov 2012 |
24 Nov 2012 |
NZ $9750 |
NZ $11885 |
Save $730 |
NZ $9020 |
| 19 Nov 2012 |
01 Dec 2012 |
NZ $9750 |
NZ $11885 |
Save $730 |
NZ $9020 |
| 26 Nov 2012 |
08 Dec 2012 |
NZ $9750 |
NZ $11885 |
Save $730 |
NZ $9020 |
| 17 Dec 2012 |
29 Dec 2012 |
NZ $8980 |
NZ $10630 |
Save $675 |
NZ $8305 |
| 14 Jan 2013 |
26 Jan 2013 |
NZ $8980 |
NZ $10630 |
Save $675 |
NZ $8305 |
| 21 Jan 2013 |
02 Feb 2013 |
NZ $8980 |
NZ $10630 |
Save $675 |
NZ $8305 |
| 04 Feb 2013 |
16 Feb 2013 |
NZ $9750 |
NZ $11885 |
Save $730 |
NZ $9020 |
| 11 Feb 2013 |
23 Feb 2013 |
NZ $9750 |
NZ $11885 |
Save $730 |
NZ $9020 |
| 18 Feb 2013 |
02 Mar 2013 |
NZ $9750 |
NZ $11885 |
Save $730 |
NZ $9020 |
| 04 Mar 2013 |
16 Mar 2013 |
NZ $9750 |
NZ $11885 |
Save $730 |
NZ $9020 |
| 11 Mar 2013 |
23 Mar 2013 |
NZ $9750 |
NZ $11885 |
Save $730 |
NZ $9020 |
| 18 Mar 2013 |
30 Mar 2013 |
NZ $9750 |
NZ $11885 |
Save $730 |
NZ $9020 |
| 25 Mar 2013 |
06 Apr 2013 |
NZ $9750 |
NZ $11885 |
Save $730 |
NZ $9020 |
| 22 Apr 2013 |
04 May 2013 |
NZ $8980 |
NZ $10630 |
Save $675 |
NZ $8305 |
|
Tour Discounts & Supplements:
Optional extras, single traveller supplement & multiple traveller discounts. |
| |
| Single Supplement: |
Add |
NZ $2,135 |
| Frequent Traveller: |
Save |
NZ $490 |
*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'. |
|
        |
