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Mission: No-fly cruises Target: Europe's Rivers
Discover New Zealand
Fly to Auckland from London Heathrow and discover the paradise of the pacific, New Zealand, on this Grand Explorer tour. Enjoy the highlights of Auckland, before moving on to equally enchanting places including the Bay of Islands, Napier, Queenstown and Milford Sound, experiencing majestic mountains, dormant volcanoes and deep forested valleys all the way to Christchurch. Without doubt this is the perfect destination for that once-in-a-life-time holiday.
Tour Includes
- 18 nights hotel with continental breakfast
- 15 evening meals
- Return flights to New Zealand with one checked-in suitcase
- Airport transfers in New Zealand
- Driver/guide in New Zealand
- Porterage at all hotels
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Experiences
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Itinerary
Please choose your preferred 22 day itinerary
Fly to Auckland, New Zealand.
Welcome to New Zealand!
Upon arrival at Auckland International Airport, you'll be greeted and transferred to your accommodation in the heart of the city.
Auckland, known as the "City of Sails," is New Zealand's largest and most cosmopolitan city, set between two harbours and surrounded by volcanic peaks. With a mix of modern urban energy and stunning natural beauty, Auckland offers world-class dining, cultural experiences, and breathtaking waterfront views.
After settling into your hotel, take some time to explore at your leisure. You might wander through the Viaduct Harbour, a lively area with waterfront restaurants and bars, or visit Wynyard Quarter, known for its modern public spaces and stunning marina views.
Welcome dinner to meet your fellow travellers this evening at your hotel.
Includes Dinner
Depart Auckland, crossing the iconic Auckland Harbour Bridge, which offers stunning views over the Waitemata Harbour.
As you leave the city behind, travel through
rolling farmland on your way north, where your first stop is Parry Kauri Park, a hidden gem where you can stand beneath towering kauri trees, some over 800 years old. These giants of the forest were once prized by Maori and early European settlers for their strong, straight timber and valuable gum.
Next, visit the Matakohe Kauri Museum in Otamatea, an award-winning museum offering fascinating insight into New Zealand's early settler history. Discover the importance of kauri timber and gum digging, industries that shaped the region's economy. The museum showcases interactive displays, historical photographs and beautifully preserved machinery from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Continue your journey north, passing through charming rural towns before arriving in Paihia, the gateway to the Bay of Islands, a region renowned for its 144 subtropical islands, golden beaches, and crystal-clear waters.
This afternoon, visit the Waitangi Treaty through Grounds, where New Zealand's founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, was signed in 1840 between Maori chiefs and the British Crown. A guided tour will take you through the Waitangi Treaty House, the beautifully carved Maori Meeting House, and the impressive ceremonial waka (war canoe). Gain a deeper understanding of Maori culture, the treaty's historical significance, and its impact on modern New Zealand.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
This morning, board a luxury catamaran to explore the stunning Bay of Islands, cruising past picturesque coves and golden beaches. Sail out to Cape Brett and pass through the iconic Hole in the Rock, a natural archway carved by the sea. If conditions allow, your boat may even sail through it! Keep an eye out for dolphins, seals, and seabirds along the way.
This afternoon and evening is at your leisure. Relax and soak in the laid-back charm of Paihia, the heart of the Bay of Islands. Wander along the scenic waterfront, grab a seat at a seaside cafe, and enjoy fresh seafood or a classic New Zealand flat white while watching the boats come and go. If you're in the mood for adventure, visit the Paihia Visitor Centre, where you can book an afternoon excursion, or you may wish to take a ferry to Russell, New Zealand's first capital, to explore its historic buildings, boutique shops and waterfront dining.
Whether you choose to relax by the water or seek out a new adventure, Paihia offers the perfect mix of tranquillity and exploration.
Includes Breakfast
Included Highlights
This morning, bid farewell to the beautiful Bay of Islands as you journey south, retracing your route to Auckland.
As you travel through the Northland countryside, enjoy scenic views of rolling farmland, native bush, and coastal inlets. Along the way, pass through Whangarei, Northland's only city, known for its picturesque marina and the nearby Whangarei Falls.
Continuing south, you'll soon re-enter Auckland, New Zealand's largest and most diverse city. Auckland is built around two harbours, offering a striking mix of urban vibrancy, volcanic landscapes, and coastal beauty. Upon arrival, set off on a highlights tour, showcasing the city's best sights. Drive through Parnell, one of Auckland's oldest suburbs, known for its charming heritage buildings, boutique shops, and elegant cafes. Then, pass through Remuera, an affluent neighbourhood featuring grand homes and tree-lined streets. Follow the scenic waterfront route along Tamaki Drive, which hugs the coastline of the Waitemata Harbour, offering stunning views of Rangitoto Island, Auckland's youngest and most iconic volcanic cone. Stop briefly at Mission Bay, a lively beachfront suburb where you can stretch your legs and enjoy panoramic views across the harbour. Continue through the lush grounds of the Auckland Domain, home to Auckland War Memorial Museum and beautiful parklands.
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Depart Auckland, travelling south into the lush, rolling Waikato countryside, New Zealand's most productive dairy-farming region. As you journey through this fertile land, pass picturesque farmlands, small rural towns, and the mighty Waikato River, New Zealand's longest river.
Arrive at the Waitomo Caves, one of New Zealand's most spectacular underground wonders. Join a guided tour of the limestone caverns, shaped over millions of years. Marvel at the stalactites and stalagmites, which form dramatic underground landscapes. The highlight of your visit is an unforgettable boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto, where thousands of tiny luminescent creatures light up the cave ceiling like a starry night sky.
Leaving Waitomo, continue toward Rotorua, a city renowned for its geothermal activity and rich Maori culture. As you approach, you'll notice the unmistakable scent of sulphur in the air, a sign of the area's bubbling mud pools, steaming geysers, and natural hot springs. Rotorua is set on the shores of Lake Rotorua and is home to some of the most impressive geothermal landscapes in the country
Includes Breakfast
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Spend the morning as you wish, relax at your accommodation, indulge in a world-class thermal spa treatment, or visit central Rotorua to sample the shops.
This afternoon, enjoy a 45-minute guided visit to the National Kiwi Sanctuary, home to the world's most successful kiwi hatchery. Learn about conservation efforts, see the incubation facility, and if you're lucky, witness a newly hatched kiwi chick. Your visit directly supports the National Kiwi Recovery Trust.
Next, explore Te Puia, where geothermal wonders meet Maori culture. Walk through Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley, witnessing boiling mud pools, hot springs, and the mighty Pohutu Geyser, which erupts up to 30 metres high.
Visit the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, where young Maori learn traditional carving and weaving.
Your evening encounter begins with a buffet hangi style dinner at Pcitaka Kai Restaurant, featuring food cooked in a hangi (earth oven). After dinner, immerse yourself in a powerful cultural performance at the carved Te Aronui-a Rua meeting house, featuring waiata (song), poi, and haka!
Return back to your accommodation by Te Puia transfer (note this is a shared service with other guests).
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Day at leisure in Rotorua, which has a large Maori population. This evening you will be treated to a traditional Hangi (feast) and Maori Concert at the Tamaki Maori Village. Experience the warmth of the Maori people during an evening of ceremonial rituals, powerful cultural performance, storytelling & hangi feasting. Enter the pre-European Maori village, witness the earth being scraped carefully away from the hangi pit and enter their ancestral Meeting House to relax, as their family entertain you with a powerful cultural performance, before dining on the traditional hangi buffet dinner (Maori feast) cooked the traditional Maori way in an earth oven.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Optional Excursions
Our optional excursions are a great addition to enhance your holiday experience and are highly recommended.
Prices are per person and are subject to change. Payment will be in local currency.
* This excursion is extremely popular and must be pre-booked before your departure – please call to request your place.
This morning visit Te Puia – The New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute and Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley featuring the famous Pohutu Geyser. Departing Rotorua we travel via New Zealand’s largest pine tree forests to Taupo. En route, we make a visit to the Wairakei Geothermal Steam Field. Continuing our journey, we view the mighty Huka Falls. Huka in Maori translates to 'snow', as the water here has the appearance of snow falling as it is forced along from Lake Taupo through the falls on its journey along the Waikato River. This afternoon, we continue to the ‘Fruit Bowl’ of New Zealand, Hawkes Bay, Napier, for one night.
Includes Breakfast
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Guided city tour of Napier, featuring beautiful Art Deco buildings, before we continue south to Wellington for an informative sightseeing tour, including a visit to Te Papa (Our Place), New Zealand’s national museum. Stay at Wellington for one night.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
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We cruise across the Cook Strait, through picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound and into Picton on South Island, then continue through to Pelorous Bridge. Here, you can walk through the Beech and Podocarp Forest, as well as view the many sculptured boulders in the Pelorous River. We continue on for a tour of Nelson – this being the first city of New Zealand. Stay overnight at Nelson.
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We travel through the Golden Downs Forest to Murchison, through the Maruia Forest and Lewis Pass and into Hanmer Springs, a lovely alpine village, then on to Christchurch, where we enjoy the sights of the ‘Garden City’, also known as 'the most English city outside of England', staying one night.
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From Christchurch, we traverse the Southern Alps aboard the famous Tranz-Alpine railway to Arthurs Pass. From your carriage, you will see the fields of the Canterbury Plains and farmland, followed by the spectacular gorges and river valleys of the Waimakariri River. Your train then climbs into the Southern Alps. From the village of Arthurs Pass, continue our journey to the West Coast, stopping in Hokitika, where a visit is made to the Greenstone and glass-blowing factories. Further south, we tour the Westland National Park, the home of Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. Stay overnight near Franz Josef.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Optional Excursions
Our optional excursions are a great addition to enhance your holiday experience and are highly recommended.
Prices are per person and are subject to change. Payment will be in local currency.
* This excursion is extremely popular and must be pre-booked before your departure – please call to request your place.
Driving towards the southern end of the South Island’s West Coast Road, there is a strong sense of entering a primeval land, and a feeling of total isolation. Arriving at Haast, you are surrounded by a landscape of rainforest, wetlands, sand dunes and surf-pounded shingle beaches. From the Westland National Park, we travel through the Haast River valleys and over the Haast Pass to Makaroa and on to the upper reaches of Lake Wanaka. This afternoon, we travel via Cromwell following the Kawerau Gorge Road into Queenstown. Stay for two nights.
Includes Breakfast
Included Highlights
Optional Excursions
Our optional excursions are a great addition to enhance your holiday experience and are highly recommended.
Prices are per person and are subject to change. Payment will be in local currency.
* This excursion is extremely popular and must be pre-booked before your departure – please call to request your place.
Free time in Queenstown. This evening, we take a cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the steamer TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak Station to dine at the Colonel’s Homestead.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Optional Excursions
Our optional excursions are a great addition to enhance your holiday experience and are highly recommended.
Prices are per person and are subject to change. Payment will be in local currency.
* This excursion is extremely popular and must be pre-booked before your departure – please call to request your place.
Leaving Queenstown, we skirt the shores of Lake Wakatipu, then through the beautiful Eglinton Valley, climbing to Homer Tunnel, before descending through the spectacular Cleddau Canyon to reach Milford Sound, where we enjoy a cruise of the Sound. The Sound is dominated by the grandeur of Mitre Peak and the Bowen Falls. From Milford Sound, we head to Te Anau for an overnight stay.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
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Departing Te Anau we travel through some of New Zealand’s most populated sheep country to Dunedin, 'the Edinburgh of the South'. Here, you can join an optional scenic train ride on the Taieri Gorge Train excursion from the historic Dunedin Railway Station into the spectacular Taieri Gorge to Pukerangi and back again. (Only available to those who have pre-booked.) Stay for one night in Dunedin.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Optional Excursions
Our optional excursions are a great addition to enhance your holiday experience and are highly recommended.
Prices are per person and are subject to change. Payment will be in local currency.
* This excursion is extremely popular and must be pre-booked before your departure – please call to request your place.
This morning, we visit Olveston House, an impressive turn-of-the-century house that is still home to all the lavish furnishings and art collections that have been collected from all corners of the world. We take in the sights of this old Scottish City before travelling onto Oamaru, where we have time to look at the ‘White Stone City’, where the old buildings have been constructed with local limestone. Travelling inland through Benmore and Otematata, through Sailors Cutting we arrive at Omarama, for an overnight stay.
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A day for spectacular sights. We head north to skirt the shore of Lake Pukaki to Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain. Travelling to Tekapo, we witness the magnificent blue waters of Lake Tekapo. Here, we visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and the statue of the Collie dog, before travelling the vast Mackenzie Basin, over Burke’s Pass and across the Canterbury Plains into Christchurch. Stay overnight in Christchurch.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Transfer to the airport to connect with your homeward bound flight.
Includes Breakfast day 21
Got a question about
this holiday?
Don’t hesitate to get in touch – our friendly team are ready and waiting to help with any further information you need!
Accommodation
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this holiday?
Don’t hesitate to get in touch – our friendly team are ready and waiting to help with any further information you need!
