18 Day Auckland to Christchurch Rail and Coach Small Group Tour

Ask our expert Brendan Prendergast about the 18 Day Auckland to Christchurch Rail and Coach Small Group Tour

Day 1 Arrive Auckland
Haere Mai’ … welcome to New Zealand

Having cleared customs & immigration formalities, you will be met by our representative & transferred by limousine to your city hotel.
Stay Rendezvous Hotel

Day 2 Overlander Train, Ruakuri Cave, Rotorua (B)
Board the Overlander train & journey to the small township of Otorohanga. Enjoy a guided excursion through the newly opened Ruakuri Caves, part of the famous Waitomo Caves complex. It has some unique features, including an ancient tapu place and fossil shells that are over 30 million years old. The Ghost Walk, the Bridal Chamber, the Mirror Pool and the roar of a hidden waterfall are among the reasons visitors are enthralled by this journey into an underground world of mystery and ancient spirituality. Later, continue on to the geothermal city of Rotorua.
Stay Millennium Hotel Rotorua

Day 3 Rotorua Sightseeing (B,D)
Enjoy a day of comprehensive sightseeing that includes Te Puia Thermal Reserve, the Agrodome, the Skyline Gondola, Paradise Valley Springs & the Rotorua Museum. End the day with a relaxing soak in the mineral & thermal pools at the Polynesian Spa. Tonight, sit back & experience a traditional Maori Hangi (feast) & Cultural show.
Stay Millennium Hotel Rotorua

Day 4 Lake Taupo, Tongariro National Park (B)
Stop to view the Wairakei Geothermal project & the cascading Huka Falls as you enter the popular lakeside resort of Taupo. Enjoy time to wander around before skirting the lake on your travels to the World Heritage listed Tongariro National Park
Stay The Grand Chateau

Day 5 Overlander Train to Wellington (B)
An early afternoon departure this afternoon aboard the Overlander as you continue the journey through New Zealand’s heartland to Wellington, the nation’s capital.
Stay James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor

Day 6 Discover Wellington (B)
Today is at leisure to explore what Wellington has to offer. Downtown Wellington on Lambton Quay is popular with shoppers. Perhaps a trip on the Cable Car, which takes you from Lambton Quay to Kelburn or a visit to the Botanic Gardens. A visit to Te Papa National Museum is highly recommended.
Stay James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor

Day 7 Interislander ferry, TranzCoastal Train to Kaikoura (B)
Journey across Cook Strait aboard the Interislander to the delightful port of Picton. Board the TranzCoastal train for the journey to Kaikoura, located on a narrow strip of coastline with mountains on one side & the Pacific Ocean on the other.
Stay White Morph Inn

Day 8 Continue on to Christchurch (B)
Time this morning for optional excursions such whale-watching or swimming with dolphins. This afternoon, reboard the Tranz Coastal & journey on to Christchurch. Over the 2 days, the TranzCoastal travels through 22 tunnels and crosses 175 bridges, one of them being New Zealand’s only road-rail bridge.
Stay Millennium Hotel

Day 9 Christchurch at leisure (B)
A free day to explore Christchurch & its surrounds. It is a city alive with colour, atmosphere and world class attractions. You can ride a punt down the Avon River through beautiful Hagley Park; enjoy a day excursion to the quaint seaside village of Akaroa, home to the early French settlers of the 1840’s; travel to Hanmer Springs & soak in its natural thermal waters
Stay Millennium Hotel

Day 10 Spectacular TranzAlpine Train, West Coast Glaciers (B)
Enjoy breathtaking alpine scenery aboard the award-winning TranzAlpine train on this coast-to-coast journey through the mighty Southern Alps. Travel through spectacular gorges, river valleys & over massive viaducts on this excursion rated as one of the most scenic in the world. Later, travel along the dramatic West Coast to the glacier townships of Fox & Franz Josef.
Stay Te Weheka Inn

Day 11 Westland National Park, Queenstown (B)
View incredible scenery as you travel past the untouched native forests and pristine lakes of the World Heritage Westland National Park and Haast Pass. Continue on to Queenstown, a beautiful alpine resort regarded as New Zealand's premier holiday destination.
Stay Millennium Hotel Queenstown

Day 12 Queenstown at leisure (B)
Surrounded by majestic mountains, Queenstown boasts adventure activities in all forms, from extreme to relaxed exploration. There are numerous activities from which to choose and your Tour Host will be pleased to offer advice and help you in your selection.
Stay Millennium Hotel Queenstown

Day 13 Ride the Kingston Flyer (B)
Enjoy a return journey between Kingston & Fairlight on The Kingston Flyer, New Zealand's famous vintage steam train. The original Kingston Flyer was a passenger service that operated between Kingston and the Main South Line at Gore from 1878 through to the mid 1950s. It provided a passageway to Queenstown and the surrounding stations, by meeting up with the lake steamers at Kingston Wharf. This afternoon is free for further sightseeing
Stay Millennium Hotel Queenstown

Day 14 Taieri Gorge Railway, Dunedin
At Pukerangi, join the Taieri Gorge Railway for a journey through the rugged and spectacular Taieri River Gorge, across wrought iron viaducts and through tunnels carved by hand more than 100 years ago. On arrival at the historic Dunedin Railway station, transfer to your overnights accommodation.
Stay Southern Cross Hotel

Day 15 Otago Peninsula Wildlife Tour (B)
Your tour today includes the full Otago Harbour and Taiaroa Head wildlife cruise, scenic Otago Peninsula bus tour, and guided tours of the Royal Albatross Colony, the Yellow Eyed Penguin Reserve and a visit to wading bird habitats.
Stay Southern Cross Hotel

Day 16 To Mt Cook National Park (B,D)
Continue on to the Mt Cook National Park, a World Heritage listed site covering over 70,000 hectares of breathtaking alpine scenery. Optional ski-plane & helicopter flights are available (subject to weather conditions).
Stay Mt Cook Hermitage Hotel - Aoraki Wing

Day 17 Tasman Glacier, Lake Tekapo, Christchurch (B)
This morning, an experienced guide will whisk you away in a stable MAC Boat to explore the melting ice-face of the Tasman Glacier where you will also get to touch & taste 400-year old icebergs. Visit beautiful Lake Tekapo and view the tiny Church of the Good Shepherd, & cross the vast Canterbury Plains to the 'Garden City' of Christchurch.
Stay Millennium Hotel

Day 18 Depart Christchurch (B)
Sadly, your holiday is at an end and you will be transferred to Christchurch airport today for your onward flight.

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