Grand Tour of New Zealand

We meet at London Heathrow and fly to Auckland, via Singapore. We arrive on the morning of Day 3, and you're free for the rest of the day to settle in. You could relax at the hotel, or head out into the city for your first taste of life in New Zealand.

We travel north today, journeying through scenic farmland on our way to Paihia. On the way, we stop at the Kawiti Glow Worm Caves, a series of underground caverns illuminated by these mysterious creatures to a magical effect. We stay in Paihia for two nights. Next, we continue to the Waitangi Treaty House, where, in 1840, the Māori and the British came to a historic agreement that effectively marked the birth of New Zealand as we know it. Our guided tour here gives us an insight into this fascinating piece of history.

On Day 5, we take to the waters, enjoying a cruise around the spectacular Bay of Islands to rugged Cape Brett. Relax and take in the sights en route, including Cape Brett Lighthouse, Motukokako Island, and the famous Hole in the Rock. We drop anchor on Russell Island, which was the first permanent European settlement in New Zealand and today offers a rich blend of European and indigenous history. We have a little free time here before catching the local ferry back to Paihia.

This morning we drive back to Auckland. Auckland is the country's largest city and dates back to around 1350 when the Māori people inhabited it. Today it's a bustling metropolis, known for its excellent arts and culture.

We head out on a sightseeing tour, taking in the incredible coastal views from Bastion Point, before stopping off at quaint Parnell Village, Auckland's oldest suburb. We continue to the vibrant Viaduct Harbour area, before some free time to explore at your own pace. You could visit the Auckland War Memorial Museum, which tells the story of New Zealand's heritage through engrossing collections.

We take a nostalgic ride on the Glenbrook Vintage Railway on Day 7. Originally opened in 1922, the line transports us through the lush Bombay Hills at the boundary of the Auckland and Waikato regions. We wind through the Waikato Valley before arriving in Rotorua, the spiritual home of the Māori and our base for the next two nights. This afternoon, we visit Hamilton Gardens. A peaceful oasis on the banks of the Waikato River, the gardens are award-winning due to their tranquil beauty. Amongst the displays here is Te Parapara -New Zealand's first traditional Māori garden, as well as individual gardens that represent countries from around the world including England, India and Italy.

Our day showcases some of the best of Rotorua, a place famous for its rich Māori culture. We begin with a guided tour that includes the area's incredible natural sights; the towering trees of the redwood forest, the vast and shimmering waters of Lake Tarawera, and the Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley, an active geothermal area filled with steaming pools and geysers. We also spend time at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute.

After some time to relax at our hotel, we head out on an evening excursion to the Tamaki Māori Village. We're welcomed here in true Māori style, enjoying the chance to see, and even participate in, a real-life haka performance - a traditional ancestral war cry.

Transferring to Hamilton across the Mamaku Mountain Ranges, we board the Northern Explorer for a rail journey through King Country. We soak up spectacular scenery from the panoramic windows, including the peaks of Tongariro National Park, the famous Raurimu Spiral - a railway spiral that allows the train to overcome a height of 139 metres - and the scenic Kapiti Coast.

On Day 10 we tour Wellington. The capital of New Zealand, Wellington, is a stunning and cosmopolitan harbour city that sits at the southernmost point of the North Island. We visit the city's chocolate factory, where chocolate is produced 'from bean to bar' in an ethically sourced and organic way. We find out about the delicious artisanal chocolate and indulge in a tasting here before we continue to Wellington Botanical Gardens. Perched on the side of a hill, this is a lush oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and you have some free time to enjoy the surroundings before using your included cable car ticket to make the return journey to our hotel.

Today we take the Interislander ferry across Cook Strait, a stretch of ocean that serves as a passageway between New Zealand's North and South Islands. We arrive in Picton where we have a little free time to explore and grab lunch in one of the many waterfront cafés. We continue to Blenheim, where we spend the night. Blenheim is nestled in the verdant Marlborough wine-growing region, and is known as one of the sunniest towns in New Zealand. We're introduced to the region's most famous export this afternoon as we visit one of the excellent local wine estates for a wine tasting and a tour.

Enjoy a free morning in pretty Blenheim on Day 12 before we join the Coastal Pacific Train for a journey to Christchurch. Our rail journey affords us incredible views of the Marlborough region and the farmlands of the North Canterbury Plains, as we travel along a stretch of track where the ocean stretches out on one side and mountains rise towards the sky on the other. We arrive in Christchurch, where we spend the night. Christchurch is known as the newest city in the world, and there's a distinctly English atmosphere here.

Leaving Christchurch, we continue by coach for a beautifully scenic journey to Twizle, seeing many of the highlights of the area. We journey through Fairlie, an attractive rural town, before crossing the mountainous Burkes Pass. We arrive in the lakeside town of Tekapo, where we pause to visit the quaint Church of the Good Shepherd, a pretty church set against a striking mountain backdrop on the shores of the lake. We also see Lake Pukaki, an endlessly beautiful alpine lake with striking, icy blue waters.

We arrive in Mount Cook National Park, a land of ice and rock that's home to immense glaciers and soaring mountains, including the highest alpine peak in Australasia. We spend tonight here in Twizel, a charming town nestled among the stunning surroundings.

We leave Twizel and travel to Te Anau on Day 14. Known as the gateway to New Zealand's Fiordland, Te Anau is a gorgeous destination, home to a host of splendid natural wonders.

Our full-day excursion today starts with a drive through Fiordland National Park. One of New Zealand's most dramatically beautiful areas, the wild landscapes here comprise of ancient fiords, towering forests, and craggy mountains.

We make a scenic stop at the Mirror Lakes, two deep blue lakes framed by a striking mountain backdrop, before continuing through the valleys. We arrive at Milford Sound, the most famous of the grand glacier-carved fjords scattered amongst this area. Here, lush rainforest valleys nestled in the mountains send waterfalls cascading over sheer granite cliffs to the sea below; an incredible sight to behold. We enjoy a peaceful cruise across the waters ahead of our journey by road to Queenstown, a popular destination dominated by magnificent scenery.

After a free morning, we embark on a sightseeing tour of the area surrounding Queenstown. We visit historic Arrowtown, the site of a significant gold rush in the 1860s and a famous 'Lord of the Rings' filming location. We continue to the Gibbston Valley Winery, where we take a look around the cellars before a tasting of the local wines. Next, we board a vintage steamship, TSS Earnshaw, for a cruise across the azure waters of Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand's longest lake. Mooring up at the Colonel's Homestead, we sit down to a BBQ dinner and watch a sheep shearing demonstration before our night-time return sailing.  

On Day 17, you have a day to explore Queenstown at your own pace. 

We travel by coach to the Franz Josef Glacier, enjoying a scenic journey through Kawarau Gorge to Cromwell. We pause here at Jones Family Fruit Stall, a locally famous stall known for its excellent goods. There's free time here to peruse the stall; perhaps purchase some of the fresh produce, honey, preserves or gifts, or indulge in one of the delicious real fruit ice creams. You could also take the time to stroll through the orchards here, where you can admire the lovely rose and dahlia gardens. We continue, passing Lake Dunstan and Lake Wanaka before arriving in Franz Josef, home to the Franz Josef Glacier. We stay here overnight, enjoying the opportunity to admire the ancient glacier up close.

On Day 19, we visit Hokitika, the centre for New Zealand jade. We visit Hokitika Greenstone Factory, where the local stone is crafted into stunning jewellery and ornaments, both in modern and traditional styles. After lunch, we travel to Arthur's Pass, nestled in a mountainous National Park of the same name. 

From here, we board the TranzAlpine for our rail journey back to Christchurch, travelling along what is arguably the most scenic railway line in New Zealand. The route takes us through the country's Southern Alps and across the Canterbury Plains, presenting awe-inspiring views of the country's striking natural mountainous landscapes along the way.

On our final day in New Zealand, we enjoy a morning to relax at our hotel, or explore Christchurch independently. You could visit the International Antarctic Centre, where visitors can learn how explorers have survived in such harsh environs over the centuries, and see some indigenous blue penguins.

Later, we transfer to the airport for our flight to London Heathrow, via Singapore, where we arrive on Day 21.