Showcases New Zealand’s breathtaking South Island scenery as you relax on board the comfort of a modern coach. Witness a palette of dramatic landscapes and enjoy a number of iconic attractions.
Image: Grand Pacific Tours
NO HIDDEN EXTRAS PRE PAID ATTRACTIONS
- Haggis Ceremony & Gift
- Larnach Castle
- Milford Sound Cruise & Lunch
- Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw
- Lakes District Museum
- TranzAlpine Rail Journey
- City sights tour of Christchurch & Dunedin
TOURING
- Modern coach travel with 2 door access, restroom, reclining seats and panoramic windows
- Professional Coach Captain
- Personalised Meet & Greet on arrival
- Return airport transfers in New Zealand
- 8 nights 3 – 3.5 star hotel accommodation
- 1 two night stays
- Hotel porterage
- 2 cruises
- All sightseeing and pre paid attractions
- GST (New Zealand Goods and Services Tax)
- Comprehensive documentation pack
MEALS
- 8 cooked breakfasts including a specialty breakfast: Stratosfare Restaurant, Rotorua
- 7 sumptuous dinners including 3 specialty dinners: Haggis Ceremony, Dunedin; Walter Peak Homestead, Queenstown; Maori Hangi & Concert, Rotorua
- 1 picnic lunch
- 1 delicious Devonshire Tea: Larnach Castle
Enquire about departure dates and cost
ITINERARY
(B) Breakfast. (L) Lunch. (D) Dinner. (SD) Specialty Dinner.
DAY 1 - Depart
US
Ask about our options with Premium Economy and Business class
airfare.
DAY 2 - Cross International Date Line
DAY 3 - Arrive Christchurch
(D)
On arrival into Christchurch you will be met by a Grand Pacific
Tours representative and transferred to your hotel.
Accommodation - Hotel Heartland Hotel Cotswold
DAY 4 - Christchurch - Omarama
(B,D)
After an introductory city sights tour depart Christchurch and
travel through the southern Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo. See
the brilliant turquoise water, visit The Church of the Good
Shepherd and view the Sheep Dog Statue. Marvel at the spectacular
mountain ranges including Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest
peak. The opportunity is available (time and weather permitting) to
enjoy a scenic flight (optional) over the Southern Alps before
travelling to Omarama.
Accommodation - Hotel Heritage Gateway Hotel
DAY 5 - Omarama - Dunedin
(B,S,D)
Depart Omarama 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.
Tonight a Scottish evening will be presented comprising of
bagpipes, great food, special Haggis Ceremony and gift.
Accommodation - Hotel Mercure Leisure Lodge
DAY 6 - Dunedin - Te
Anau (B,D)
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. Tonight you may like to visit
the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves (optional).
Accommodation - Hotel Distinction Luxmore Hotel (Superior Room)
DAY 7 - Te Anau - Milford Sound - Queenstown
(B,L)
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 a
picnic 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 and you may choose to dine at one of the many
fine restaurants.
Accommodation - Hotel Mercure Queenstown Resort
DAY 8 - Queenstown (Free Day)
(B,SD)
Today is a free day for you to explore Queenstown at leisure. Your
Coach Captain is available to assist with the many sightseeing
options available, including the thrill of a jet boat ride, a
heritage tour to Skippers Canyon or get up close to a Kiwi bird.
This evening board the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw and cruise
across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station. Sit back, relax and
enjoy a gourmet barbecue dinner which the chef will prepare in
front of you 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.
Accommodation - Hotel Mercure Queenstown Resort
DAY 9 - Queenstown – Arrowtown – Fox
Glacier (B,D)
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 Fox Glacier. Time is available (weather permitting)
to experience a scenic flight (optional) over the spectacular
glaciers.
Accommodation - Hotel Heartland Hotel Glacier Country
DAY 10 - Fox Glacier - Arthur’s Pass -
Christchurch (B,D)
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 to the
elegant city of Christchurch. On arrival your coach will be waiting
to transfer you to your hotel.
Accommodation - Hotel Heartland Hotel Cotswold
DAY 11
- Depart Christchurch (B)
Time to say goodbye. You’ll be transferred to the airport for
your flight home after a memorable New Zealand holiday.
Aspire Tip: Grand Pacific Tours home base is in Australia and as such is very popular with the Australian traveler. So when you travel on a Grand Pacific Tour, your traveling companions are most likely to be Australian which usually means for a fun time with a friendly group of like-minded travelers!
Additional departure
gateways & pricing:
- Depart on Air New Zealand’s non-stop Houston –
Auckland flight for a supplement of $250 per person
- Add on airfares available from most major airports - Add $200
from Dallas, Add $320 from Denver, Seattle, Add $400 from Chicago,
Minneapolis, Add $450 from NYC, Boston, Miami, Washington
International Economy
with Air New Zealand
State-of-the-art Economy seats have been designed to provide a
really comfortable seat for everybody. The armrest disappears right
into the back of the seat so you can be more comfortable during our
longhaul trips.
As well as the delicious and fresh meals from the kitchen, you can order tasty snacks throughout the flight, at the touch of your screen. No waiting for hours between meals - eat when you want to. And, of course, there's always a superb selection of New Zealand wines from the onboard cellar.
The vast selection of activities on our inflight entertainment will keep even the most fidgety of flyers engaged for the whole flight. Enjoy over 1,700 hours of content - including latest movies, TV box sets, video games, and a dedicated kids section - all on a 10.6” personal touch screen in widescreen format. If you need more, there are always the USB and iPod connections to plug in to.
Upgrade
Options
Consider upgrading Skycouch,
Premium Economy or Business Class.
Skycouch - from $549 one way
(based on 2 persons sharing)
Premium Economy - from $950 per
person round trip
Business Class (Lie-flat bed) from
$4000 round trip
Skycouch
Premium Economy
Business Class
Note: All upgrades are subject to availability, upgrade cost may be higher
Conditions
Package from pricing is based on double occupancy (2 people sharing a room) from Los Angeles or San Francisco. Ask an Aspire consultant for pricing for other travel dates. Add-on fares are available from other cities. Certain blackout dates apply on the accommodation and tour value add offers - check with your Aspire consultant. Seats are limited and may not be available on every flight. Hotels are subject to availability. All prices reflect a discount for purchases made by cash/wire transfer/check, please see terms and conditions for credit card payments. There are no discounts for payment made by credit cards. Cancellation penalties and other restrictions apply.
