2018

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• Guaranteed Departure Start Date: 19 Dec 2018 End Date: 29 Dec 2018 Brochure - Twin Share: Brochure - Single: Our Savings: Our Price: Request Quote

• Guaranteed Departures. We will confirm tour availability in your quote along with all applicable discounts & specials.

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Tour Itinerary - Day by Day

• Day1

  Arrival in Christchurch

  On arrival into Christchurch you will be met by a Grand Pacific Tours representative who will transfer you to your hotel. Meet your travelling companions over a complimentary pre dinner drink.

  Stay: The George (2 nights) (D)

• Day2

  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. Enjoy free time this afternoon. This evening is also free to dine at leisure. (B)

• Day3

  Christchurch - Mt Cook

  Travel through the Southern Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo. Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and view the Sheep Dog Statue before arriving at Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest peak. Enjoy a scenic flight (optional, time and weather permitting) over the Southern Alps.

  Stay: The Hermitage Hotel (B, D)

• Day4

  Mt Cook - Dunedin

  This morning depart Mt Cook and see Lake Benmore before following the Waitaki River to Oamaru, famous for its limestone. Continuiue south to Dunedin where you will enjoy an informative city tour followed by some free time.

  Stay: Distinction Dunedin (B, D)

• Day5

  Dunedin - Te Anau

  Travel along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle where you will hear of the tragic and scandalous history on a guided tour. Enjoy time to wander around this Garden of International Significance followed by morning tea in the grand ballroom. Continue south through Balclutha and Gore to Te Anau.

  Stay: Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas, (2 nights) (B, D)

View Full ItineraryTotal 11 Days

Day6

Te Anau - Milford Sound - Te Anau

This morning enjoy a fascinating drive to Milford Sound where you board your launch for a cruise on this magnificent fiord. See the spectacular Bowen Falls and towering Mitre Peak as you enjoy a picnic lunch onboard before returning to Te Anau for free time. (B, L, D)

Day7

Te Anau - Queenstown - Christmas Day

Merry Christmas! Today travel to Queenstown, a year round resort, situated on the shores of magical Lake Wakatipu. This evening board the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw and cruise to Walter Peak Station for a delicious gourmet Christmas dinner in the Colonel's Homestead. Reboard the TSS Earnslaw for a sing along by the piano on your return cruise.

Stay: Millennium Hotel Queenstown (2 nights) (B, SD)

Day8

Queenstown (Free Day)

Today is a free day. Surrounded by majestic mountains, Queenstown boasts adventure activities in all forms, from extreme to relaxed exploration. Here you can take a thrilling jet boat ride, pan for gold, 4WD tours into NZ back country, take a wine trail, fish for trout or take a leisurely stroll through Queenstown's excellent shopping area and alongside the Lake Wakatipu. Your Coach Captain is available to assist in any bookings or advice. The evening is also free. You may choose to dine out at one of the many fine restaurants. (B)

Day9

Queenstown - Fox Glacier

Travel to Arrowtown, an old gold mining village and visit the Lakes District Museum. Continue via the Haast Pass to the West Coast, an area of stunning beauty. See the snow capped peaks of the Southern Alps as you travel north to Fox Glacier. Time is available (weather permitting) to experience a scenic flight (optional) over the spectacular glaciers.

Stay: Distinction Fox Glacier (B, D)

Day10

Fox Glacier - Arthur's Pass - Christchurch

Travel to Hokitika and visit the Greenstone Factory. Continue to Arthur's Pass and board The TranzAlpine, one of the great train journeys of the world. View rivers and valleys as you travel through the Waimakariri Basin and across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. This evening you will be treated to a special farewell dinner including selected beverages with your newfound friends.

Stay: The George (B, SD)

Day11

Christchurch – Homeport

Time to say goodbye. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home after a memorable New Zealand holiday. (B)

• Click here to download the 11 Day Ultimate Christmas Tour PDF

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Tour Reviews

View all 2 reviews of this tour from past clients of Relaxing Journeys, averaging 4.0 out of 5.

• 3There are people who enjoy coach tours and there are those who prefer to self-drive. Bev and I generally fall into the latter category and so this was the first tour of this type we've ever undertaken. That said, the luxury coach, the generally high standard of the accommodation and the mostly superb food went a long way towards assuaging our pre-tour fears. We are still not devoted coach tourists but this trip would suit most people. At one point I left my iPad at Lake Wakatipo on our way to Mt Cook. Miraculously, our driver Chris Hannah was able to arrange for a friend of his in Lake Wakatipo to collect it from the place it had been handed into by an honest tourist. That friend of our coach driver then delivered the iPad to the Hermitage for a fee of $300 which I paid to Chris. Fortuitous indeed! Although coach touring is probably not for us, we intend to visit the North Island in Feb/Mar 2019 for a self-drive holiday and would appreciate advice of any offers you may have in this regard.

  • Overall Tour Rating
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  • Relaxing Journeys Experience
  Nick Mazzarol (Australia) - 19/12/2016

• 5A lovely trip with just the right number of travellers.

  • Overall Tour Rating
  • Value For Money
  • Accommodation
  • Tour Pace
  • Relaxing Journeys Experience
  Kay Andersen (Australia) - 19/12/2013

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