New Zealand Splendour

14 Nights

Auckland

From Auckland in the North Island to Dunedin in the South Island, this holiday offers a wealth of wonderful experiences. Cruise glorious Milford Sound, journey through towering pine forests and verdant pastureland, and fall asleep to the sound of waves crashing on the beach outside your hotel in rugged Punakaiki.

From £3775pp
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Highlights

  • Discover Waitomo’s famous Glowworm Grotto
  • Admire Wellington’s city sights & Mt. Victoria and sail the Cook Strait to Queen Charlotte Sound
  • Enjoy dinner with matching wine in Blenheim and savour a delicious BBQ at Morelea
  • Marvel at the clear waters of Lake Tekapo & Lake Pukaki and eperience Milford Sound on a cruise
  • Taste Central Otago stone fruit at a local orchard
  • Discover Franz Josef Glacier and visit a jade factory & see artists at work
  • Explore Punakaiki Pancake Rocks
  • Journey over the Southern Alps on the TranzAlpine Train and Cruise to a High Country farm for a gourmet barbecue dinner
  • Day 1 - Welcome to Auckland
  • Day 2 - Auckland – Rotorua
  • Day 3 - Rotorua Included Choice
  • Day 4 - Rotorua – Wellington
  • Day 5 - Wellington – Blenheim
  • Day 6 - Blenheim – Christchurch
  • Day 7 - Christchurch – Twizel
  • Day 8 - Twizel – Dunedin Included Choice
  • Day 9 - Dunedin – Te Anau
  • Day 10 - Te Anau – Queenstown
  • Day 11 - Queenstown Included Choice
  • Day 12 - Queenstown – Franz Josef
  • Day 13 - Franz Josef – Punakaiki
  • Day 14 - Punakaiki – Christchurch
  • Day 15 - Farewell from Christchurch
  • Additional Information

After arrival in Auckland, the afternoon is at leisure for you to explore this vibrant, multicultural city. You might like to amble down Queen Street to the main shopping precinct, or on to vibrant Viaduct Harbour. This evening, meet your Travel Director for a Welcome Reception and Highlight dinner at your hotel.

Meals Included: Hd

The Cordis Hotel Auckland

Situated in downtown Auckland City, their hotel is located within walking distance of the stunning waterfront, the lush Auckland Domain, and other key attractions. Enjoy the city’s natural beauty and get easy access to its unique sights from their conveniently located hotel.

After a tour of Auckland this morning, you’ll visit the Waitomo Caves to explore the mesmerising Glowworm Grotto with a local guide. Then cross the rolling hills of King Country to Rotorua, where your orientation tour takes in spectacular views of Lake Rotorua.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Millennium Hotel Rotorua

Whether you need to travel for business or leisure, we offer world class residential style accommodation to suit your specific needs. Centrally located in the city beside mystical Lake Rotorua, this welcoming, international class hotel is adjacent to Polynesian Spa and just a brief stroll from the Rotorua Museum and Convention Centre.

Today, choose one from a range of Included Choice experiences. Unwind at the Polynesian Spa, tour the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, or explore Rotorua and its lakes in an amphibious WWII-era Duck. An evening of culture, history and scrumptious food awaits you at the Tamaki Maori Village. Learn about Maori art forms and traditions and enjoy an authentic Hangi Highlight Dinner, with food steamed underground in the traditional way.

Meals Included: B hd

Millennium Hotel Rotorua

Whether you need to travel for business or leisure, we offer world class residential style accommodation to suit your specific needs. Centrally located in the city beside mystical Lake Rotorua, this welcoming, international class hotel is adjacent to Polynesian Spa and just a brief stroll from the Rotorua Museum and Convention Centre.

Say Haere Ra (goodbye) to Rotorua this morning and journey out through pine forest and farmland. From here the road unfolds into a broad panorama of Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake. Trevel south over the Central Plateau and along the Kapiti Coast to Wellington. Enjoy and exclusive guided tour of Te Papa Museum of New Zealand. Top off the night there with a Highlight Dinner.

Meals Included: B hd

James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor

James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor, known for their friendly, professional service and well-appointed accommodation for business and holiday travellers. Two renowned restaurants & bars, conference facilities, a day spa & fitness room, an exclusive club lounge and complimentary Wi-Fi complete the guest experience.

You can discover more of Wellington this morning. Perhaps visit the Parliament buildings and the ‘Beehive’, home to New Zealand’s politicians. Later, cruise the Cook Strait into tranquil Queen Charlotte Sound and travel on to the villages of Picton and sunny Blenheim. This evening enjoy a Highlight Dinner prepared from local produce and matched with fine Marlborough wines.

Meals Included: B hd

Chateau Marlborough

Chateau Marlborough offers luxury 5 star Blenheim hotel accommodation in the heart of one of New Zealand's most famous wine regions.

Travel to Kaikoura, where sperm whales can often be seen not far from shore (an optional whale-watching flight is available). On arrival in Christchurch see the extensive work carried out to rebuild the city after the earthquake of 2011.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Distinction Hotel Christchurch

The newly renovated Distinction Hotel Christchurch is an urban escape combining sophisticated smarts and familiar warmth whilst standing proud amongst the buzz of the rejuvenation of Cathedral Square.

Visit Morelea, the home of Angie and Stan Taylor, on the shores of Lake Tekapo.  Enjoy a Be My Guest barbecue lunch in their garden and gain and insight into a lifetime spent farming in New Zealand. This afternoon, see Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki, and view the famed Church of the Good Shepherd on your way to Twizel.

Included: Breakfast, Be My Guest lunch and Dinner with wine

Meals Included: Full Board

MacKenzie Country Inn

The MacKenzie Country Inn is located in the town of Twizel which is in the very heart of the historic MacKenzie Basin, surrounded by both man-made and natural lakes and waterways.

View the massive Waitaki Hydro Power Scheme and Benmore Dam this morning before stopping in at the harbour-side township of Oamaru with its celebrated white limestone buildings. Then make your way to New Zealand’s southernmost city, Dunedin. This afternoon choose one from a range of Included Choice experiences. Tour stately Larnach Castle, ride the historic Taieri Gorge railway, take a wildlife cruise, or experience an interactive tour of famous Speight’s Brewery.

Meals Included: B dw

Scenic Hotel Southern Cross

Dunedin’s largest and most prestigious hotel, the Scenic Hotel Southern Cross, enjoys a premium location in the heart of the city. Just a short walk from the Octagon, railway station, theatres, shops, and close to Otago university, it is the perfect location from which to explore Dunedin.

Today, travel through lush green sheep-grazing country on your way to the town of Te Anau on the shores of Lake Te Anau, the South Island’s largest lake.

Meals Included: B dw

Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas

Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas offers chic, elegant accommodation for the perfect Fiordland getaway. Surrounded by extensive, colourful gardens and overlooking spectacular Lake Te Anau and the Fiordland ranges, this 4 star hotel and villa accommodation sets the tone for your stay in one of the world’s most breathtaking regions.

Experience the magnificence of Fiordland National Park today. Explore the length of Milford on a Sound Cruise. Learn about the history of the region and benefit from the knowledge of your specialist nature guide. After disembarking, travel on to beautiful Queenstown.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Millennium Hotel Queenstown

At the Millennium Hotel Queenstown, you will always find spellbinding luxury and it is easy to relax in the air of timeless elegance. This welcoming Queenstown hotel captures the essence of a truly unique region and is perfect for either an international conference venue or as a restful haven from the rigours of Queenstown's many outdoor adventure pursuits.

Today, choose one from a range of Included Choice sightseeing experiences. Ride the heart-stopping Shotover Jet boat, take a gondola to Bob's Peak for thrilling luge rides, visit Kiwi Birdlife Park or take a minibus excursion through Skippers Canyon. Enjoy a peaceful cruise this evening across Lake Wakatipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue Highlight dinner.

Meals Included: B hd

Millennium Hotel Queenstown

At the Millennium Hotel Queenstown, you will always find spellbinding luxury and it is easy to relax in the air of timeless elegance. This welcoming Queenstown hotel captures the essence of a truly unique region and is perfect for either an international conference venue or as a restful haven from the rigours of Queenstown's many outdoor adventure pursuits.

Stop to visit the faithfully-restored gold mining settlement of Arrowtown, and enjoy the serenity of the region’s vivid blue lakes. Enjoy the tastes of stone fruit at Cromwell, before travelling over Haast Pass and view the sheer drop of Thunder Creek Falls on your way to the extraordinary Franz Josef Glacier. You may want to view the glacier on an optional experience helicopter flight. This evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel.

Meals Included: B dw

Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier

Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier is close to the edge of one of New Zealand's most spectacular natural attractions, welcoming you to this enticing and dramatic region.

Explore Franz Josef Glacier, then spend some time amongst temperate rainforest giants on the West Coast Treetop Walkway. Afterwards, travel to Hokitika, home of New Zealand’s famous greenstone, then on to Punakaiki. You’ll spend the night in an eco-friendly resort right on the waterfront.

Meals Included: B dw

Punakaiki Resort

Punakaiki Resort is a Williams Hotel Group property. Other Williams Hotel Group properties include: The Ashley Hotel Greymouth, The Ashley Hotel Christchurch, Grand Mercure Oakridge Resort Wanaka and the Towers on the Park Christchurch.

Board the iconic TranzAlpine train in the village of Arthur’s Pass this morning and embark on one of the world’s most scenic rail journeys. Back in Christchurch, join your Travel Director for a Farewell Dinner.

Included: Breakfast and Farewell Dinner

Meals Included: Half Board

Distinction Hotel Christchurch

The newly renovated Distinction Hotel Christchurch is an urban escape combining sophisticated smarts and familiar warmth whilst standing proud amongst the buzz of the rejuvenation of Cathedral Square.

Say farewell to your fellow travellers when your holiday comes to an end this morning after breakfast.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Flight information

Day 1 – flights to arrive prior to 4.00pm into Auckland Airport 

Day 15 – flights to depart anytime from Christchurch Airport

Flights are not included in the holiday price.