GRAND RAIL EXPERIENCE

Day 1. Arrive Auckland, Exclusive Experiences
On arrival at Auckland Airport, you will be met and transferred to your accommodation. This afternoon choose from a selection of touring options, included at no extra cost! Perhaps take a trip to the top of the Sky Tower, visit the Auckland museum, enjoy a half day Auckland City sightseeing tour, explore Kelly Tarltons Underwater World, visit Auckland’s Maritime Museum, cruise aboard the ‘Pride of Auckland’, relax with a Bliss Reflexology Treatment, or trek through the Waitakere Rainforest.
Stay: Auckland, Sky City Hotel.

Day 2. Rotorua, Theme Dinner
Journey by coach alongside the Waikato River and pass by Taupiri Mountain, the sacred burial ground of the Maori. Continue through Ngaruawahia, the official residence of the Maori Queen before disembarking at Otorohanga, known for its displays of ‘Kiwiana’. Travel to the world-famous Waitomo Caves and discover stunning underground scenery as we are guided into an ancient labyrinth of limestone caverns and grottos. This evening enjoy the warmth of the Maori people with a New Zealand Hangi (feast) and cultural performance of Maori song and dance.
Two Night Stay: Rotorua, Park Heritage Hotel.
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Day 3. Rotorua, Exclusive Experiences
Rotorua is New Zealand’s oldest and best known resort, where generations of visitors have enjoyed its waters, marvelled at its fascinating geothermal activity and experienced the regions’ unique Maori culture. Today we give you the opportunity to choose the activity and we will include it. You may choose to visit the ‘Must See Three’ Te Puia, the Agrodome Farm Show and Rainbow Springs or perhaps visit the Polynesian Spa for a spa treatment and soak in a natural thermal mineral pool, a half day Eco thermal Tour might appeal or a tour of the Rotorua Museum or cultural experience at the ‘Realm of Tane’.
Country Homestay option available tonight.
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Day 4. Tongariro National Park
Travel to Te Kuiti and tour through the heart of the North Island. Travel over the world-renowned Raurimu Spiral, one of the great surveying and engineering achievements of the main trunk line. Its three horse-shoe curves, one complete circle and two short tunnels allowed the Main Trunk Railway coming south from Auckland and North from Wellington to finally be joined at Horopito. Disembark at the ski village of National Park. Spend this evening in the World Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park, nestled at the base of majestic Mt Ruapehu.
Stay: Tongariro National Park, Chateau Tongariro.
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Day 5. TranzMetro Train, Wellington
This morning we 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 into Featherston, we visit the Fell Engine Museum before we board the TranzMetro train for our short journey to Wellington, via the Rimutaka Tunnel.
Two Night Stay: Wellington, James Cook Grand Chancellor Hotel.
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Day 6. Wellington
Today we take a short stroll to the Wellington Cable Car whose service from Lambton Quay to Kelburn began in 1902. Ascend to the top by cable car, perhaps visit the Cable Car Museum or take a tranquil walk around the Botanic Gardens. The gardens contain native bush and other gardens including the Lady Norwood Rose Garden with over 100 rose species. Rejoin your coach and journey to Mt Victoria for the best view of the city, harbour and surrounding regions. View Parliament buildings and the ‘Beehive’, the 1876 Government Building, one of the largest all-wooden buildings in the world. Continue onto Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand, where our morning sightseeing tour concludes. The remainder of today is at leisure in Wellington.
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Day 7. TranzCoastal Train, Christchurch
A morning cruise across Cook Strait and through the picturesque Marlborough Sounds to Picton. Join the TranzCoastal train for a scenic trip along the east coast. Journey between mountain and sea as we travel along a thin wedge of land pinned between the Pacific Ocean and the rugged Kaikoura Ranges. Continue to Christchurch.
Stay: Christchurch, Holiday Inn City Centre.
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Day 8. TranzAlpine Train, Franz Josef
This morning board the award-winning TranzAlpine train, voted one of the top rail journeys in the world. Travel through spectacular gorges, river valleys and across the country’s greatest mountain range, the mighty Southern Alps. Disembark at Greymouth and continue to Hokitika where you will have the opportunity to see beautiful native Pounamu (Jade). We continue south along the west coast, travelling through dense rainforest. There is an opportunity for a scenic flight over the glaciers this region is renowned for (own expense, weather permitting).
Stay: Franz Josef Glacier Hotel.
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Day 9. Franz Josef, Queenstown, Dine About
Enjoy incredible scenery today as we leave this World Heritage-listed area. See spectacular mountain ranges, untouched native forests, lakes and glaciers. Journey along the shores of beautiful lakes Wanaka and Hawea. Continue to Queenstown. Tonight enjoy our dining choice in Queenstown, where you get to choose from one of four restaurants and we will include it! Perhaps enjoy a leisurely cruise to Walter Peak to enjoy a candlelight dinner at the Colonel’s homestead or ride the Queenstown gondola to the Skyline Restaurant for dinner and spectacular views over Queenstown. A quiet night may appeal, so perhaps dine at your hotel or a local restaurant.
Two Night Stay: Queenstown, Copthorne Lakefront Resort.
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Day 10. Queenstown, Exclusive Experiences
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 Remarkables, the town was named because “...it was fit for a Queen”. Today we have a selection of activities for you to choose from and we will include it! A Queenstown ‘Double Decker Explorer’ tour, an ‘Original Wine Tour’ of some of the local and award-winning wineries, an exhilarating jetboat ride on the Shotover River or a relaxing garden tour might be for you. Perhaps the Safari of the Rings tour or an adventure into Skippers Canyon by 4WD might appeal or a leisurely walk around Lake Wakatipu on a ‘Lakeshore Forest and Bird Walk’.
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Day 11. Kingston Flyer, Milford Sound Cruise
Travel back in time today aboard the Kingston Flyer, New Zealand’s famous vintage steam train. Travel from Kingston to Fairlight through alpine desert and tussock grasslands. Continue to Milford Sound and on arrival into Milford join a cruise for a journey on this magnificent, glacier-carved fiord. Enjoy views of stunning natural scenery and cascading waterfalls, and cruise out onto the open ocean at the mouth of this magnificent fiord. This afternoon travel to the delightful town of Te Anau.
Stay: Te Anau, Luxmore Hotel.
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Day 12. Dunedin, Exclusive Experiences
Travel across the South Island through small farming communities to Dunedin. The city was settled by the Scottish in 1848 and is now renowned as the ‘Edinburgh of the South’ – Dunedin is the old Gaelic name for Edinburgh. The Scottish heritage is still apparent today in the architecture of the many fine buildings including the University of Otago, modelled on the University of Glasgow. This afternoon you choose the activity and we will include it. Perhaps a visit to Speights Brewery, where they brew the popular Speights ale, and Heritage Centre. A trip to the Otago Peninsula to see the Royal Albatross Colony or travel to Penguin Place to view the rare yellow-eyed penguins, the ‘Hoiho’, or maybe a visit to Larnach Castle for a tour of the castle and stroll around the beautiful gardens. Or perhaps join the Taieri Gorge Train at Dunedin’s stately railway station and journey through the heart of Otago.
Stay: Dunedin City Hotel.
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Day 13. The Seasider, Dunedin, Twizel
This morning we board The Seasider at Dunedin’s railway station, and journey north along the east coast. View the spectacular eastern coastline before disembarking at Palmerston. At Oamaru view the towns beautifully preserved Victorian stone buildings, which were created with local cream coloured limestone. We turn inland and travel towards the High Country. During our journey we pass wide expanses of tussock grasslands, High Country sheep stations, massive hydro-electric dams and beautiful glacier-fed lakes.
Stay: Twizel, MacKenzie Country Inn.
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Day 14. Twizel, Mt Cook, Christchurch
Today we journey into Mt Cook National Park. This World Heritage-listed area is home to Australia’s highest mountain. You may wish to enjoy a scenic flight over this awe-inspiring alpine region (own expense, weather permitting). Visit picturesque Lake Tekapo and view the tiny Church of the Good Shepherd, built of locally gathered stone and oak. Leaving the High Country and its sheep stations, we travel through Burkes Pass and descend to the vast Canterbury Plains. Cross the braided Rakaia River to the city of Christchurch. Your tour concludes on arrival and a departure transfer is provided.