New Zealand Vacation Packages & Sightseeing Tours New Zealand
Great value New Zealand vacations, coach tours & self drive holidays for independent travellers

Premium Escorted New Zealand Coach Tour

  18 Day - Best of New Zealand
 
 Tour Price: from NZ$6250
 Departs: Auckland
 Finishes: Christchurch
 Tour code: ZABC
 
Deals and Discounts! All Departures Guaranteed!

Early Payment Discount
Save 10% - book & pay 12 months before tour starts
Save 7.5% - book & pay 10 months before tour starts
Save 5% - book & pay 6 months before tour starts

Group Discounts
5-15 people.  Everyone saves 5% off their tour price
16 people. One traveller in the group goes FREE

Triple Discount
Save 5% on the twin share price when 3 people share a room.

Concession Card Holders
Discounts for Australian and New Zealand pensioners and Australian "Seniors Card" holders.

Young Travellers
Discounts for children 6-15 years.

Terms and conditions apply - please ask for details.
 

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Included Highlights:   Premium Holiday Inclusions:
 

 

  • Cape Brett 'Hole in the Rock'
  • Waitomo Glow Worm Grotto
  • Experience The Realm of Tãne
  • Maori Hangi and concert
  • Thermal Reserve Rotorua
  • Visit Te Papa
  • View mighty Mt. Cook
  • Cruise on Milford Sound
  • View Franz Josef Glacier
  • Famous TranzAlpine Train
  • Punakaiki Pancake Rocks
  • INCLUDED Maori Cultural Experience

'You are invited' experience

 

 

Transportation
Tour by luxury air-conditioned coach with 2-door access, restroom, seatbelts, reclining seats, panoramic windows

Professionally Guided
Tour with an experienced, professional Tour Director and Tour Driver

Dining Inclusions
Full Buffet Breakfasts (17) B
You are Invited Lunch (1) L & Dinner (1) D
Exciting Highlight Dinners (2) HD
Hotel Dinners (8) D
Farewell Dinner (1) FD

Accommodation
Twin share rooms with private facilities in centrally located hotels

Plus
Welcome Reception
Travel wallet and map
Airport transfers (Day 1 from Auckland Airport - flights to arrive prior to 4.00pm; Day 18 to Christchurch Airport - flights anytime)
Hotel porterage included

     
Day by Day Itinerary:    
 Day 1  Arrive Auckland    Day 10  Mount Cook

Meet and transfer from the airport to your hotel. See Auckland your way until an evening reception with your Tour Director and fellow travellers.

Hotel: Skycity Grand Hotel, Auckland.

 

We depart the city and head for the Canterbury Plains.
  You are Invited - enjoy a taste of country life with a barbecue lunch on a working farm. Later we'll see Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki, visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and soak up the alpine scenery of Mt. Cook National Park.

Hotel: Heritage Gateway, Omarama  B L D

 Day 2  Auckland - Bay of Islands    Day 11  Dunedin

Over the Auckland Harbour Bridge and up the scenic Hibiscus Coast. Walk among the Kauri trees, explore Whangarei, the northern-most city, then on to Paihia and the Bay of Islands. Enjoy a scenic cruise through the Bay of Islands to Cape Brett and the 'Hole in the Rock'. 

Hotel: Copthorne Hotel & Resort (Water View), Bay of Islands, 2 nights. BD

 

From the Waitaki Hydro Power Scheme and Benmore Dam we travel through Oamaru to Dunedin, we tour the city and the afternoon is yours - take a Wildlife Cruise, visit the Cadbury Factory or ride the Taieri Gorge Railway - it's up to you.

Hotel: Scenic Hotel Dunedin City. B D

 Day 3  Bay of Islands 'Free Time'    Day 12  Dunedin - Te Anau

The day is yours to explore the Bay of Islands. Dolphin watch, catch a ferry to Russell, drive along the Ninety Mile Beach, sail or sea-kayak - whatever you like. B

 

A guided tour of New Zealand's only castle - Larnach Castle - and its gardens begins the day. Across fertile farming land to Te Anau, on the shores of Lake Te Anau. The Te Anau Glow Worm Caves is an option tonight. 

Hotel: Distinction Hotel, Te Anau. B D

 Day 4  Bay of Islands - Auckland    Day 13  Milford Sound

We'll tour the historic Waitangi Treaty Reserve You'll have the opportunity to visit and take in highlights such as the Maori War Canoe (Waka) and Meeting House (Marae).

This afternoon we return to Auckland. Tonight dine at the top of the tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere, Auckland's Skytower at Orbit, a revolving restaurant with 360 degree views of the city.

Hotel: SkyCity Grand Hotel. BD

 

In Fiordland National Park we'll cruise on Milford Sound. We'll see Mirror Lakes, Claudu Valley, The Chasm, Mitre Peak, Bowen Falls and more. We travel along Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown for an orientation tour on arrival. 

Hotel: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown, 
2 nights. B

Farm Stay Option
Experience farm life first hand.  For an extra $85 per person enjoy genuine Kiwi hospitality this evening. 

 Day 5  Auckland - Rotorua    Day 14  Queenstown 'Free Time'

After an Auckland City Sights Tour, we trace the Waikato River to Waitomo Caves, where we'll see the amazing Glow Worm Grotto by boat.. Our Rotorua orientation tour takes in views of Lake Rotorua. Tonight experience The Realm of Tãne and then you are invited to a Maori Hangi feast and concert of the Tamaki Family Marae.

Hotel: Millennium Hotel, Rotorua, 2 nights. 
B D

 

Explore Queenstown for yourself. Take it easy with wine or garden tours. Or go wild with jet boat rides or white water rafting. 

This evening cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard New Zealand's oldest steamship, the TSS Earnslaw, to Walter Peak Station for a carvery Highlight Dinner at the Colonel's Homestead. B HD

 Day 6  Rotorua    Day 15  Franz Josef

Start the day with a ride on the Skyline Gondola and breakfast with stunning views over Lake Rotorua.  Visit the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.  See volcanic craters, steaming ground and bubbling mud pools on an exclusive guided tour of the geothermal valley. B

 

First stop - historic gold mining town, Arrowtown. Second stop Cromwell and its sensational stone fruit. Then it's a trio of lakes - Dunstan, Hawea and Wanaka, the Haast Pass, Thunder Creek Falls. A small rainforest walk. Then Franz Josef Glacier - the world's most accessible glacier.

Hotel: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier B D

 Day 7  Rotorua - Wellington    Day 16  Franz Josef - Punakaiki

From the mountains to the sea. View the Huka Falls. Visit Taupo and drive along the shores of its lake. Travel through the alpine scenery of Mt. Ruapehu. Tongariro National Park. Manawatu.  Continue along the Kapiti Coast to Welington. See the city from Mt Victoria on your sightseeing tour. 

Hotel: Travelodge,  Wellington. B D

 

Time this morning to explore Franz Josef Glacier.  Depart for Hokitika, home of the native greenstone (jade) for a factory visit and jewellery demonstration. It's on to Punakaiki, where we'll view the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes.
Punakaiki Resort, Punakaiki. B D

 Day 8  Wellington - Blenheim    Day 17  TranzAlpine - Christchurch

A morning to explore Wellington your way. Visit Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand, with time to discover it yourself. 
We cruise the tranquility of Queen Charlotte Sound. On to Picton then Blenheim for a  tour. Tonight we'll enjoy a tasting, tour and dinner at George Michel Wine Estate, a family owned and run winery in the heart of the Marlborough region.

Hotel: Scenic Hotel Marlborough, Blenheim. B HD

 

Enjoy time at leisure before travelling via Greymouth to Arthur's Pass where we'll board the TranzAlpine to travel through the Southern Alps to Christchurch.
Join your Tour Director this evening for a Farewell Dinner.

Hotel: Rendezvous Hotel. B D

 Day 9  Kaikoura - Christchurch    Day 18  Depart Christchurch

En route to the whale-watching haven of Kaikoura, we pass the Grassmere Salt Works and see New Zealand fur seals at Ohau Point. 
We travel to Christchurch and see the extensive work carried out to rebuild the city after the earthquake of February 2011.  

Hotel: Rendezvous Hotel. B

 

Your tour concludes after breakfast. You will be transferred to Christchurch Airport for your onward flight.   B

(B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner (HD) Highlight Dinner
 
Tour Dates - 2012 / 2013
Start
Auckland
Finish
Christchurch
Promotions & Deals Guaranteed
Departure
NZ $6250 per person, share twin (Single Supplement Add NZ $1695)
Sat 06 Oct Tue 23 Oct see above for great discounts Yes 
Sat 20 Oct Tue 06 Nov see above for great discounts Yes 
Sat 17 Nov Tue 04 Dec see above for great discounts Yes  
Sat 24 Nov Tue 11 Dec see above for great discounts Yes 
Sat 15 Dec Tue 01 Jan see above for great discounts  Yes 
Sat 29 Dec Tue 15 Jan see above for great discounts Yes  
Sat 12 Jan Tue 29 Jan see above for great discounts Yes  
Sat 26 Jan Tue 12 Feb see above for great discounts Yes  
Sat 02 Feb Tue 19 Feb see above for great discounts Yes  
Sat 09 Feb Tue 26 Feb see above for great discounts  Yes 
Sat 23 Feb Tue 12 Mar see above for great discounts  Yes 
Sat 02 Mar Tue 19 Mar see above for great discounts Yes  
Sat 30 Mar Tue 16 Apr see above for great discounts Yes  
Sat 27 Apr Tue 14 May see above for great discounts Yes  

Discounts (Oct 12 - Apr 13)
Triple Discount Save NZ$300
Young Traveller Discount (6-15 years) Save NZ$600
Concession Card Holders Save NZ$90
     
  • Tour prices and dates are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking.
  • Prices may vary because of fuel surcharge or changes in statutory taxes or charges.
  • All tour information is correct at time of tours going live, however is subject to change, please confirm all details at time of booking.
  • For full terms and conditions, please refer to our Conditions page.
 

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