16 Day Highlights of New Zealand Tour with Grand Pacific

Inclusions

• Return airfares from Brisbane including prepaid taxes & levies
• Meet and greet on arrival with return airport transfers in New Zealand
• 15 nights quality hotel accommodation including four 2 night stays
• Luxury coach travel with professional Coach Captain
• 30 superb meals including breakfast daily & a number of speciality meals
• Over $650 worth of prepaid activities and attractions including the TranzAlpine Rail journey, a spectacular cruise on Milford Sound and the famous thermal mud pools and geysers of Rotorua
• A quality Grand Pacific Tours documentation pack

Itinerary

Day 1    Homeport - Christchurch
Fly from your homeport to Christchurch and be transferred to your hotel. Hotel: Heartland Hotel Cotswold.

Day 2    Christchurch - Omarama
City sights tour of Christchurch then travel through the southern Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo. See the brilliant turquoise water, visit The Church of the Good Shepherd and view the Sheep Dog Statue. Marvel at the spectacular mountain ranges including Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak. Hotel: Heritage Gateway Hotel.

Day 3    Omarama - Dunedin
Depart Omarama and see Lake Benmore, before following the Waitaki River to Oamaru, famous for its limestone. Continue south to Dunedin and enjoy a city sights tour followed by some free time. Tonight a Scottish evening will be presented. Hotel: Mercure Leisure Lodge.

Day 4    Dunedin - Te Anau
This morning travel out along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle where you hear of the tragic and scandalous history on a guided tour. Farewell Dunedin and travel through Balclutha and Gore to Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland and your overnight stay. Hotel: Distinction Luxmore Hotel (Superior Rooms).
 
Day 5    Te Anau - Milford Sound - Queenstown
Depart Te Anau for a fascinating drive to Milford Sound where you board your launch for a cruise on this magnificent fiord. This afternoon travel to Queenstown, overlooking magical Lake Wakatipu. Hotel: Mercure Queenstown Resort (2 nights).

Day 6    Queenstown
Today is a free day for you to explore Queenstown at leisure. This evening board the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw and cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station.

Day 7    Queenstown - Arrowtown - Fox Glacier
Travel to Arrowtown, an old gold mining village and visit the Lakes District Museum. Continue via the Haast Pass to the mighty West Coast, an area of stunning beauty. See the snow capped peaks of the Southern Alps as you travel to Fox Glacier. Hotel: Heartland Hotel Glacier Country.

Day 8    Fox Glacier - Arthur’s Pass - Christchurch
Travel to Hokitika and visit the Greenstone Factory. Continue into Arthur’s Pass and board The TranzAlpine, renowned as one of the great train journeys of the world through to Christchurch. Hotel: Heartland Hotel Cotswold.

Day 9    Christchurch - Picton - Wellington
Travel along the East Coast to the seaside village of Kaikoura. Enjoy the spectacular scenery as you travel through Marlborough Country, famous for its food and wine. Continue to Picton, where you board the Interislander Ferry for your journey through the Marlborough Sounds and across Cook Strait to Wellington. Hotel: Ibis Wellington (2 nights).

Day 10    Wellington
Today explore this exciting region and enjoy an extensive city tour which explains the history and culture on show in New Zealand’s capital, Wellington.

Day 11    Wellington - Taupo - Rotorua
Depart Wellington and view the snow capped peaks of Mt Ruapehu and Mt Tongariro as you travel to Lake Taupo. Visit the spectacular Huka Falls then travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua. Hotel: Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua (2 nights).

Day 12    Rotorua
Today begins with a Gondola ride to Cableway Restaurant where a buffet breakfast and spectacular views are on offer. Travel to the Agrodome where you see performing sheep, a shearing display and sheep dog trial. Next visit Paradise Valley Springs, a superb wildlife park where you can hand feed rainbow trout. Some free time is available before travelling to Te Puia to see the boiling mud pools and awesome Geysers that Rotorua is famous for. This evening experience an entertaining Maori Hangi and Concert.

Day 13    Rotorua - Auckland - Bay of Islands
This morning depart Rotorua and travel north via Auckland to the Parry Kauri Park to see a magnificent example of a Kauri Tree. Continue via Whangarei to Paihia, situated in the heart of the beautiful Bay of Islands. Enjoy an introduction to the Bay of Islands, location of the signing of the treaty between the Maori tribes and the British. Hotel: Kingsgate Hotel Autolodge (2 nights).

Day 14    Bay of Islands
This morning cruise through the beautiful Bay of Islands on board a luxury catamaran to Cape Brett and the famous Hole in the Rock. This evening enjoy a moving cultural experience at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds presented by Culture North.

Day 15    Bay of Islands - Auckland
Depart the Bay of Islands this morning and travel via Whangarei and Dargaville to Matakohe. Enjoy a visit and informative talk at the Kauri Museum before continuing to Auckland for a city sights tour. Hotel: Copthorne Hotel Auckland City.

Day 16    Auckland - Homeport
You’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home after a memorable New Zealand holiday.

Departure dates and Prices*

Please contact RACQ Travel on 1300 096 166 for more information.

*Terms and Conditions

• Prices current as at 11 May 2012
• Prices are valid for travel ex Brisbane and Coolangatta
• Prices are per person in AUD$ based on twin share, unless otherwise stated
• Prices are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time
• No other special offers or discounts apply
• Applies to new booking only
• Further terms and conditions apply. Please refer to the Grand Pacific Tours New Zealand Luxury Coach Holidays 2012 brochure