16-Day New Zealand Signature Highlights

An unforgettable journey awaits you

Embark on a travel experience that will stay with you forever. We offer a blend of culture, adventure, and tranquility, ensuring every moment is filled with wonder. Whether you’re seeking thrill or relaxation, we create journeys that are truly unforgettable.

The journey Begins

Signature Tour Style Coach

32 Premium Economy Comfort leather and cloth reclining seats. 2 + 1 armchair seating configuration for better panoramic viewing. Adjustable arm and headrests and seat belts. Individual seat back tray table, cup holder and USB charging port. Multi-media entertainment systems with three screens. 2 door access, restroom, air conditioning and electrical sockets. Cold water storage available. Complimentary daily onboard Wi-Fi allowance.
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 enjoy a complimentary pre-dinner drink when you meet your Tour Leader and travelling companions for dinner.

Overnight: Christchurch

Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Christchurch - Mt Cook - Twizel

After an introductory city sights tour depart Christchurch and travel through the southern Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo. See the brilliant turquoise water, The Church of the Good Shepherd and the Sheep Dog Statue. Marvel at the spectacular mountain ranges including Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak. The opportunity is available to enjoy a scenic flight (optional, weather permitting) over the Southern Alps before travelling to Twizel.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3: Twizel - Dunedin

Depart Twizel and see Lake Benmore, before following the Waitaki River to Oamaru, famous for its limestone. Continue south to Dunedin and enjoy a city sights tour followed by some free time.

Overnight: Dunedin
Day 4: Dunedin - Te Anau

This morning travel out along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle where you 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. Farewell Dunedin and travel through Balclutha and Gore to Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland and your overnight stay. Today you may like to visit the Te Anau Glowworm Caves (optional).

Overnight: Te Anau
Day 5: Te Anau - Milford Sound - Queenstown

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 lunch. This afternoon travel to Queenstown, overlooking magical Lake Wakatipu. Spend the next two nights at this year-round resort which offers a wide range of activities and attractions. This evening is free, you may choose to dine at one of the many fine restaurants.

Overnight: Queenstown
Day 6: Queenstown (Free Day)

Today is a free day for you to explore Queenstown at leisure. Your Coach Captain and Tour Leader are available to assist with the many optional activities available, including the thrill of a jet boat ride or a heritage tour of the scenic Skippers Canyon. 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.

Overnight: Queenstown

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: Queenstown - Arrowtown - Franz Josef

Travel to Arrowtown and visit the Lakes District Museum. Continue via the Haast Pass to the mighty West Coast, an area of stunning beauty. See the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps as you travel north to the township of Franz Josef. Time is available to experience a scenic flight (optional, weather permitting) over the spectacular glaciers.

Overnight: Franz Josef

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8: Franz Josef - Arthur’s Pass - Christchurch

Travel to Hokitika and visit the Greenstone Factory. Continue into Arthur’s Pass and board the TranzAlpine, renowned as one of the great train journeys of the world. View rivers and valleys as you travel through the Waimakariri Basin, over massive viaducts and through the patchwork farmlands of the Canterbury Plains. On arrival into the elegant city of Christchurch, your coach will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.

Overnight: Christchurch

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9: Christchurch - Picton - Wellington

Travel along the East Coast to the seaside village of Kaikõura. Enjoy the spectacular scenery as you travel through Marlborough Country, famous for its food and wine. Continue to Picton, where you will board the Interislander Ferry for your journey through the Marlborough Sounds and across Cook Strait to Wellington.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10: Wellington

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. Reboard your coach for an extensive city tour which showcases the history and culture on show. Enjoy free time this afternoon and this evening is also free to choose your own dining arrangements.

Overnight: Wellington

Meals: Breakfast
Day 11: Wellington - Taupo - Rotorua

Depart Wellington and view the snowcapped peaks of Mt Ruapehu and Mt Tongariro as you travel to Lake Taupo. Visit the spectacular Huka Falls then travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua.

Overnight: Rotorua

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12: Rotorua

Today begins with a gondola ride and breakfast at Skyline Rotorua. There is also time for a thrilling luge ride! Next stop is 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 visiting 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.

Overnight: Bay of Islands

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 13: Rotorua - Auckland - Bay of Islands

This morning depart Rotorua and travel north via Whangarei to Paihia, situated in the heart of the beautiful Bay of Islands. Enjoy an introduction to the Bay of Islands, location of the signing of the treaty between the Mãori tribes and the British.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 14: Bay of Islands

Today you will 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 before returning to Paihia for a free afternoon. A range of optional activities are available, or you may choose to relax and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere of the waterfront. This evening is also free, you may like to enjoy a relaxing dinner cruise (optional).

Overnight: Bay of Islands

Meals: Breakfast
Day 15: Bay of Islands - Auckland

Depart the Bay of Islands this morning and travel via Whangarei and Dargaville to Matakohe. Enjoy a visit and informative talk at the Kauri Museum before continuing to Auckland for a city sights tour. This evening enjoy a pre-dinner drink and reminisce on memories shared with your new friends at the farewell dinner.

Overnight: Auckland

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 16: Depart Auckland

Time to say goodbye. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home after a memorable New Zealand holiday.

Meals: Breakfast

Download Full Itinerary

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Applicable taxes vary depending on travel destination and are not included. Please ask your sales agent what extra taxes will be payable for your tour.

OUR KEY TO EARNING TRUST IS

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What’s Included

Personalised Meet and Greet on arrival
Return airport transfers in New Zealand
Professional Coach Captain
Tour Leader
15 nights 4 star accommodation
4 two night stays
Hotel porterage
1 rail journey
4 cruises
All sightseeing and prepaid attractions
Extensive Optional Activities
Signature Documentation Pack

What’s Not Included

Airfare unless specified as included within the itinerary
Taxes as applicable
Travel Insurance and Cancellation Protection (strongly recommended, ask us for a quote!)
Gratuities for Local Guides, Tour Managers, and/or Bus Drivers
Meals not specifically mentioned as included in the itinerary
Items (attractions and sightseeing & entrance fees) not listed as included in the itinerary

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Tour Questions

The tour officially starts in the elegant city of Christchurch and concludes in Auckland on the final day. Travelers embark on a comprehensive journey embracing both the South and North Islands of New Zealand.

This is an extensive 16-day signature vacation package designed to showcase the top highlights of New Zealand. The itinerary begins with a welcome dinner upon arrival in Christchurch on Day 1 and wraps up after breakfast on Day 16 in Auckland.

Key highlights include the TranzAlpine rail journey, a Milford Sound cruise and lunch, a Lake Wakatipu cruise on the TSS Earnslaw, and a Hole in the Rock dolphin cruise in the Bay of Islands. Additional experiences feature a guided tour of Larnach Castle, a Wellington city tour including the Te Papa museum, a Rotorua geothermal and Maori cultural experience, and a visit to the Kauri Museum.

The package includes 15 nights of 4-star accommodation alongside 15 breakfasts and 13 dinners. It also covers airport transfers, a professional Coach Captain and Tour Leader, hotel porterage, rail and ferry journeys, multiple cruises, and all prepaid sightseeing attractions.

Exclusions from the package include international airfares unless specified, applicable local taxes, and travel insurance or cancellation protection. Additionally, gratuities for local guides and bus drivers, optional excursions, and any unlisted meals or attractions are not covered.

While the tours are suitable for all age demographics, the average age of travelers is typically 45 and older. This ensures a comfortable, well-paced, and relaxed group environment for mature travelers.

Solo travelers can choose to pay a single supplement to secure their own room throughout the tour. For those willing to share, a Twin Share option is offered on most tours where you room with another single, same-gender traveler to avoid the single supplement fee.

This tour features a mix of coach travel, scenic walks, and boat cruises, offering a low to moderate level of physical demand. However, guests should discuss any specific mobility restrictions with their booking agent before finalizing reservations to ensure comfort.

Each passenger is allowed to bring one large suitcase with a weight limit of 20 kilograms (about 40 pounds) and one small soft-sided carry-on bag that fits into the coach overhead shelf. Passengers are responsible for carrying their own hand luggage, while hotel baggage handling is provided.

Yes, the tour operators gladly accommodate dietary restrictions such as food allergies, vegan, and vegetarian requirements within reason. Guests are requested to inform staff of any specific dietary needs at the time of booking so alternative meal choices can be arranged.

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