*Seasonal offer - save $375 per person

RAC members save $175 per person on all other departures

Day 1: Arrive Auckland

On arrival in Auckland, you will be met by a Grand Pacific Tours representative and transferred to your hotel. This evening enjoy a complimentary pre-dinner drink when you meet your Tour Leader and travelling companions for dinner.
Hotel: Sudima Auckland City
Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Auckland - Bay of Islands

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.
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands (2 nights)
Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 3: Bay of Islands (Free Day)

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).
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Bay of Islands - Auckland

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 evening is also free to explore the many eateries surrounding your hotel.
Hotel: Sudima Auckland City
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Auckland - Rotorua

This morning enjoy a city sights tour including a visit to Sky Tower, one of New Zealand’s most spectacular attractions. 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)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6: Rotorua

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 that is unlike anything you’ve seen before. 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.
Meals: Breakfast, speciality dinner

Day 7: Rotorua - Napier - Masterton

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 and Resort Solway Park (Superior Room)
Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 8: Masterton - Greytown - Wellington

Enjoy a leisurely start to the day before travelling to Greytown to see the most complete example of original Victorian wooden architecture. 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)
Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 9: Wellington - Picton - Blenheim

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
Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 10: Blenheim - Kaikōura - Christchurch

Tour through Marlborough Country, famous for its food and wine, then travel to the seaside village of Kaikōura. Continue onto the garden city of Christchurch.
Hotel: Distinction Christchurch Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 11: 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 12: 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: Millennium Hotel Queenstown (2 nights)
Meals: Breakfast

Day 13: 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 14: 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 15: 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 16: Te Anau - Dunedin

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
Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 17: 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
Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 18: 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 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 Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, speciality dinner

Day 19: 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

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 Tour

Administration

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

• Valid for new bookings only before 30 April 2021
• Prices advertised are per person, twin share
• Offers are subject to availability, can change without notification due to fluctuations in charges and currency and may be withdrawn at any time
• Tour costing will be guaranteed at the price prevailing at the date of final payment
• Pre-paid taxes are subject to change. Exact amounts will be confirmed to your travel agent at time of booking
• Single travellers must pay the single supplement. Single travellers may be interested in our solo traveller departures, call today to enquire
• Grand Pacific Tours reserves the right to cancel or to vary the content of its tours should the need arise
• Prices include local taxes which are paid locally
• Credit card fees of up to 1.2% may apply

 

* Terms and conditions apply: see RAC Travel general terms and conditions