New Zealand Escorted Tours

14 Days: Journey through the top of the North Island on the Overlander and travel aboard the TranzCoastal train between Picton to Christchurch, the South Island's largest city. The TranzAlpine train journey is rated as one of the world's greatest, taking you from Christchurch to the wild West Coast.

Highlights

• Cultural Touring Experiences
• Freedom of Choice Touring
• The Overlander Train
• Auckland to Otorohanga
• Te Kuiti to Tongariro National Park
• The TranzMetro Service
• Featherston to Wellington
• The TranzCoastal Train
• Picton to Christchurch
• The TranzAlpine Train
• Christchurch to Greymouth
• The Seasider
• Dunedin to Palmerston
• Enjoy a Maori hangi feast in Rotorua
• Country Homestay available in Rotorua
• Cruise aboard the Interislander ferry
• Ride on the famous TranzAlpine train
• Marvel at Franz Josef Glacier
• Cruise the length of Milford Sound
• Discover Mt Cook National Park
• Enjoy Freedom of Choice Touring in Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Queenstown, Dunedin and Mt Cook
• Enjoy a Dine Around Dinner in Queenstown
• Stay in World Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park at the Chateau Tongariro
• Two nights in the heart of Wellington
• Stay at The Hermitage, Mt Cook
• 13 Breakfasts and 11 Dinners including
• Welcome Dinner and Drinks in Auckland
• Traditional Maori Hangi feast and cultural performance in Rotorua
• Dine Around Dinner in Queenstown
• Fully inclusive of all sightseeing, entrance fees, cruises, meals as specified and accommodation
• Land content only
• At the time of making your booking, let APT's experts secure you the best airfares available
• Contact us for more details

Day 1. Arrive Auckland, Freedom of Choice Touring

On arrival be met and transferred to your hotel. Then, choose a sightseeing activity from a range of options. These include a cruise on Waitemata Harbour, a visit to Auckland Museum and many more.

Day 2. Auckland, The Overlander, Rotorua

Board The Overlander train and journey to Otorohanga. Continue by coach to the Waitomo Caves and be guided into a labyrinth of limestone to see the thousands of glow-worms that call these caverns home. Continue to the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua by coach. This evening, enjoy a Maori Hangi feast and cultural performance.

Day 3. Rotorua, Freedom of Choice Touring

Rotorua is New Zealand's oldest and best known thermal resort, where generations of visitors have enjoyed its waters and learnt of its proud Maori heritage. Our Freedom of Choice Touring presents a range of options for you to select from today, including a thermal reserve tour, a visit to the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, time at Rotorua Museum or a relaxing soak in a thermal mineral pool. Other options are also on offer.

Day 4. Rotorua, The Overlander, Tongariro National Park

This morning you will travel to Te Kuiti by coach and join The Overlander train for a tour through the heart of the North Island. Travel over the world-famous Raurimu Spiral before spending the night in World Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park, nestled at the base of the majestic Mt Ruapehu.

Day 5. TranzMetro Train, Wellington

This morning head south to Featherston. Travel through Taihape, renowned as the gumboot capital of New Zealand. Every year a festival is held here to celebrate this essential item of rural kiwi footwear. Continue through the Manawatu Gorge and the Wairarapa region to Featherston. On arrival in Featherston, visit the Fell Engine Museum before boarding the TranzMetro train. Journey to Wellington via the Rimutaka Tunnel.

Day 6. Wellington, Freedom of Choice Touring

Today choose from a selection of Freedom of Choice activities. Take a guided tour of the city, including Parliament, or experience New Zealand's incredible natural history at Zealandia. Discover the secrets behind the Lord of the Rings movies with a tour of the Wellington movie sets, visit the Carter Observatory and Planetarium or choose from many other options. For dinner, choose from one of the many restaurants in this fabulous city (own expense).

Day 7. Wellington, TranzCoastal Train, Christchurch

Join a cruise for a journey between the North and South islands. Travel across Cook Strait and through the picturesque Marlborough Sounds and Queen Charlotte Sound to Picton. On arrival join the TranzCoastal train for a scenic journey between mountains and sea. Continue to Christchurch, known as the Garden City.

Day 8. TranzAlpine Train, Franz Josef

Board the award-winning TranzAlpine train, voted one of the top rail journeys in the world. Travel through breathtaking gorges, river valleys and across the Southern Alps. Disembark at Greymouth and head to Franz Josef.

Day 9. Franz Josef, Queenstown, Dine Around Dinner

Enjoy incredible scenery leaving this World Heritage-listed area. See spectacular mountain ranges, native forests, lakes and glaciers. Journey along the shores of beautiful lakes Wanaka and Hawea to the alpine resort of Queenstown, with the Remarkables mountain range nearby. Tonight choose from four unique dining experiences with our Dine Around Dinner options. Settle into your accommodation for a two night stay in this beautiful region.

Day 10. Queenstown, Freedom of Choice Touring

Queenstown is an exhilarating year-round alpine resort, perfect for adventurers and leisure-seekers alike. Nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, overlooked by the majestic Southern Alps, the town was named because ‘it was fit for a Queen'. Today there is a selection of activities for you to choose from. A Queenstown double-decker explorer tour, a wine tour of some of the award-winning local wineries, an exhilarating jetboat ride on the Shotover River or a relaxing garden tour might appeal. Alternatively, take the Safari of the Scenes, journey into Skippers Canyon by 4WD or take a lake shore forest and bird walk.

Day 11. Milford Sound, Te Anau

Today journey into beautiful Fiordland National Park to Milford Sound. On arrival, embark on a cruise of the full length of this magnificent, glacier-carved fiord. Afterwards, return to your coach and travel to the delightful lakeside town of Te Anau.

Day 12. Dunedin, Freedom of Choice Touring

This morning after breakfast, travel to the charming city of Dunedin, widely referred to as the Edinburgh of the South. Here, enjoy a choice of sightseeing activities through our Freedom of Choice Touring concept. Among the options available: you might like to embark on the Taieri Gorge Railway Excursion, take a trip to the Otago Peninsula to view the magnificent Royal Albatross or Yellow-eyed Penguin colonies, visit Speight's Brewery or take a tour of historic Larnach Castle.

Day 13. Dunedin, Seasider Train, Mt Cook, Freedom of Choice Touring

This morning board the Seasider Train at Dunedin, and journey north along the east coast. Then travel into World Heritage-listed Mt Cook National Park, home to Australasia's highest mountain, Mt Cook. On arrival, join your selected Freedom of Choice Touring activity. Choose from a guided walk through the national park, a Glacier Explorer cruise, a discovery of the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, or stargazing with expert astronomy guides.

Day 14. Lake Tekapo, Depart Christchurch

Today, visit Lake Tekapo and view the tiny Church of the Good Shepherd, built from locally gathered stone and oak in tribute to the hard-working early pioneers of the land. Dwarfed by the surrounding mountains, the church is a definite photographic highlight. After stopping to enjoy some of the country's freshest air, continue through Burkes Pass to the Garden City of Christchurch, with its distinctive English feel. Your tour concludes on arrival in Christchurch and a departure transfer to the airport is included.