19 Day Both Island Showcase

Grand Pacific Tours

19 Day Both Island Showcase

Daily Itinerary

(B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner (SD) Specialty Dinner.

Day 1. Arrive Auckland (D)

On arrival in Auckland, you will be met by a Grand Pacific Tours representative and transferred to your hotel. This evening meet your Tour Leader and travelling companions for dinner.

Hotel Sudima Auckland City 

Day 2. Auckland - Bay of Islands (B,D) 

Depart Auckland and travel to the Parry Kauri Park to see a magnificent example of a Kauri Tree. Enjoy a visit and informative talk at the Kauri Museum in Matakohe, then 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 Mãori tribes and the British Government in 1840. 

Hotel Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands (2 nights) 

Day 3. Bay of Islands (Free Day) (B) 

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)

Day 4. Bay of Islands - Auckland (B) 

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. Return to Paihia and travel south via Whangarei to Auckland.  This afternoon includes a visit to Sky Tower at leisure, one of New Zealand’s most spectacular attractions. This evening is also free to explore the many eateries surrounding your hotel. 

Hotel Sudima Auckland City

Day 5. Auckland - Rotorua (B,L,D) 

This morning enjoy a city sights tour of Auckland. Continue through the picturesque countryside to Hobbiton for a buffet lunch. This is followed by a guided tour of the Movie Set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Your guide will recount details of how this beautiful piece of farmland was transformed into The Shire from Middle Earth. 

Hotel Pullman Rotorua (City View Room. 2 nights)

Day 6. Rotorua (B,SD)

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. 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 Mãori Hãngi and Concert. 

Hotel Pullman Rotorua

Day 7. Rotorua - Napier - Masterton (B,D) 

Depart Rotorua and travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to Huka Falls and Lake Taupo. Continue to Napier known as ‘The Art Deco Capital’, where a city tour will showcase an impressive collection of art deco buildings. Enjoy some free time to explore the fascinating architecture before travelling through the Wairarapa, an emerging cool-climate wine region. 

Hotel Copthorne Hotel & Resort Solway Park Wairarapa

Day 8. Masterton - Greytown - Wellington (B,D) 

Enjoy a leisurely start to the day before travelling to quaint Greytown. Drive through the scenic Rimutaka Mountain Range into Wellington, enjoy a city tour of the nation’s capital which will highlight the history and culture on show here. 

Hotel James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor (Executive Room) 

Day 9. Wellington - Picton - Blenheim (B,D) 

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. This afternoon board the Interislander Ferry, cross Cook Strait and travel through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton where you board your coach for the short journey to Blenheim. 

Hotel Scenic Hotel Marlborough 

Day 10. Blenheim - Kaikõura - Christchurch (B,D) 

Tour through Marlborough Country, famous for its food and wine, then travel to the seaside village of Kaikõura. Continue onto the garden city of Christchurch. 

Hotel Distinction Christchurch Hotel

Day 11. Christchurch - Arthur’s Pass - Franz Josef (B,D) 

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 continuing to 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)

Day 12. Franz Josef - Queenstown (B) 

See the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps as you travel south along the West Coast to Fox Glacier. Continue via the Haast Pass, an area of stunning beauty before arriving into picturesque Queenstown, situated on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. This evening is free to dine out at one of the many fine restaurants. 

Hotel Millennium Hotel Queenstown (2 nights) 

Day 13. Queenstown (Free Day) (B,SD) 

Today is a free day to explore Queenstown. You may wish to enjoy optional activities like the thrill of a jet boat ride, a heritage tour of the scenic Skippers Canyon or to get up close to a Kiwi bird. 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.

Day 14. Queenstown - Te Anau (B,D) 

Enjoy a leisurely start this morning before travelling to Arrowtown, an old gold mining village where you visit the Lakes District Museum. Continue to Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland. Today you may like to visit the Te Anau Glowworm Caves (optional). 

Hotel Distinction Luxmore Hotel (Deluxe Room. 2 nights) 

Day 15. Te Anau - Milford Sound - Te Anau (B,L,D) 

Depart Te Anau for 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. This afternoon return to Te Anau where some free time is available. You might like to cap off your Fiordland experience by watching the breathtaking film, Ata Whenua - Shadowland, which screens at the Fiordland Cinema (optional). 

Day 16. Te Anau - Dunedin (B,D) 

Travel via Gore and Balclutha to Dunedin known as the ‘Edinburgh of the South’ and enjoy a city tour. 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 a delicious Devonshire Tea.

Hotel Scenic Hotel Southern Cross

Day 17. Dunedin - Mt Cook - Twizel (B,D) 

Farewell Dunedin and travel to Oamaru famous for its limestone. Follow the Waitaki River and see Lake Benmore as you continue to marvel at Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak. The opportunity is available to enjoy a scenic flight (optional, weather permitting) over the Southern Alps. Travel to Twizel for your overnight stay. 

Hotel MacKenzie Country Hotel 

Day 18. Twizel - Christchurch (B,SD) 

Continue to Lake Tekapo and view the brilliant turquoise water, the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Sheep Dog Statue before arriving in Christchurch for a city tour. This evening enjoy a pre-dinner drink and reminisce on memories shared with your new friends at the farewell dinner.

Hotel Distinction Christchurch 

Day 19. Depart Christchurch (B) 

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