Classic South Island
with Grand Pacific Tours
- 4* accommodation
- Most meals included
- Members save up to $275pp*
Escape to New Zealand’s majestic South Island. Starting in Christchurch, discover highlights such as the world-renowned TranzAlpine, the rugged West Coast, picturesque Queenstown, scenic Milford Sound and mighty Mt Cook.
Prepaid attractions:
- TranzAlpine Rail Journey
- Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw
- Lakes District Museum
- Milford Sound Cruise and Lunch
- Larnach Castle*
- Haggis Ceremony and Gift
- City sights tour of Dunedin and Christchurch
- *Guided tour is included with 1 guide per 24 travellers.
- 48 seats on a Classic touring coach
- 2 door access; overhead travel bag storage
- Restroom; panoramic viewing
- Professional Coach Captain
- Tour Leader
- Personalised Meet and Greet on arrival
- Return airport transfers in New Zealand
- 9 nights 4 star accommodation
- 2 two night stays
- Hotel porterage
- 1 rail journey
- 2 cruises
- All sightseeing and prepaid attractions
- Extensive Optional Tours Programme
- Classic Documentation Pack
- 9 cooked breakfasts
- 8 sumptuous dinners including 3 specialty dinners: Walter Peak Homestead, Queenstown; Haggis Ceremony, Dunedin;
- Farewell Dinner, Christchurch
- 1 picnic lunch: Milford Sound Cruise
- 1 delicious Devonshire Tea: Larnach Castle
- Enjoy GPT Hotel Wine Time (discounted drinks)
Dinner on Day 1 not included for anyone arriving later than 8pm
2020 | 2021 |
September 21* | January 31 |
October 21, 27 | February 12, 18, 23, 28 |
November 12, 25 | March 2, 13, 18, 23, 29 |
April18 | |
May 4*, 11* |
* Seasonal offer - save $275 per person on these departures
RAC member save $175 on all other departures
Day 1: Arrive Christchurch
On arrival into Christchurch, 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: Distinction Christchurch Hotel
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Christchurch - Arthur’s Pass - Franz Josef
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)
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 3: Franz Josef – Queenstown
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, a year-round resort situated on the shores of magical Lake Wakatipu. This evening is free to dine out at one of the many fine restaurants.
Hotel: Mercure Queenstown Resort (Lakeview Room. 2 nights)
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Queenstown (Free Day)
Today is a free day to explore Queenstown. Your Coach Captain and Tour Leader will assist with the many optional activities available. You may wish to enjoy 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.
Meals: Breakfast, speciality dinner
Day 5: Queenstown - Te Anau
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)
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 6: Te Anau - Milford Sound - Te Anau
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).
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7: Te Anau - Dunedin
Travel via Gore and Balclutha to Dunedin known as the ‘Edinburgh of the South’ and enjoy 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. Tonight, a Scottish evening will be presented comprising of bagpipes, great food, special Haggis Ceremony and gift.
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Dunedin City
Meals: Breakfast, speciality dinner
Day 8: Dunedin - Mt Cook - Twizel
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 or similar
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 9: Twizel - Christchurch
Continue to Lake Tekapo and view the brilliant turquoise water, the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Sheep Dog Statue before arriving into Christchurch for a city tour. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner with your new found friends.
Hotel: Sudima Hotel Christchurch Airport
Meals: Breakfast, speciality dinner
Day 10: Depart Christchurch
Time to say goodbye. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home after a memorable New Zealand holiday.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Grand Pacific Tours conduct various Health and Safety policies and procedures to promote the importance of staying healthy for our travellers while on tour in New Zealand. We are constantly reviewing our health and safety policies. More information and post-COVID-19 enhancements will be available prior to the touring season re-starting in September 2020.
Pre-tour
- Manage the completion of a Good to Go form by the traveller in order to manage any individual health requirements on tour
- Provide each traveller with GPT emergency contact details including our 24/7 emergency hotline
- Provide each traveller with a General Information document outlining important information regarding GPT and their tour to New Zealand i.e. prescriptions and medication
- GPT Crew are provided with a list of dietary and health requirements of each traveller to assist with the management of these requirements
- GPT Crew are provided with a Standard Operating Procedures document to ensure a methodical operation resulting in the continual safety of all travellers
On Tour
Health and Safety DVD is shown on the first coach day of each Island’s touring outlining the safety requirements Stay Healthy on Tour DVD is shown on board the coach, every couple of days. This rotating slide presentation includes such things are washing hands; using hand sanitizer when embarking the coach; covering your mouth when coughing; disposal of tissues etc. Every coach has hand sanitizer dispensers for travellers to use when embarking and disembarking the coach Face masks are NOT provided on tour. If the traveller is wishing to utilise a face mask, GPT Crew can recommend the local pharmacy for purchasing Each coach has the provision of onboard Fire Extinguishers and First Aid Kit Each coach has a fridge available for storage of medications Each coach has a supply of bottled water which can be purchased by the traveller in order to stay hydrated GPT Crew stand at both doors of the coach to assist travellers with embarking and disembarking the coach GPT Crew do a head count before departing each location to ensure all travellers are safely on board GPT Crew do regular cleaning of the coach air conditioner filters to maintain a healthy atmosphere onboard; spraying the coach with disinfectant; regularly wipe down of handrails At each hotel, a formal Meet & Greet is conducted by Management including the awareness of Fire Drill instructions Travellers are prohibited from removing food from the hotel buffet for health reasons GPT Crew are provided with a list of Medical Centres in each town for ease of assisting travellers GPT Crew can make arrangements if sick travellers elect to stay behind or are hospitalised and then enable them to re-join the tour group once they have returned to good health GPT Crew have official forms for completion to record Sickness on Tour; Lost Property; Departure from Tour; Incident on TourAdministration
An extensive Disaster Management Plan is in place to ensure any crisis situation is methodically managed Regular Crew Training is provided to ensure all Policies and Procedures are understood and facilitated correctly An insurance letter for any missed portions of the tour is provided for travellers to liaise with their elected travel insurance provider- Members save $175 across all departures, however this cannot be combined with other discounts
- Price advertised is twin share per person
- Single supplement will apply
- Grand Pacific Tours T&Cs apply
- Itinerary subject to change at any point
- Dinner on day 1 is not included for anyone arriving later than 8pm.
- Credit card surcharge of 1.2% may apply
*Terms and conditions apply: see RAC Travel general terms and conditions