Be dazzled by this state of the art full size coach (13.5 metres long) which would normally house 48 seats and has been configured with only 20 luxury leather seats complete with incredible amenities. Three new vehicles have been purpose built for Grand Pacific Tours boasting a cutting edge design with the very latest finishes.
We have carefully handpicked a collection of stylish hotels to be part of the Ultimate Small Group Tours experience. You will be treated to a very high standard in each location. Each of the hotels used offer a premium level of comfort, extensive guest facilities and excellent location.
Your Ultimate Coach Captains are the crème of the crop and have been chosen for their professionalism and attention to detail. They are there from start to finish attending to your needs and ensuring a more personal touring experience. A key part of their role is to ensure that the comfort and cleanliness of the coach is kept at the highest standard at all times.
Inclusions
- Round trip coach class air travel from Los Angeles to New Zealand
- Ultimate Small Group Tour Coach with 20 luxury leather reclining seats on a full size vehicle, 2 door access and panoramic windows
- Professional Coach Captain
- Personalised Meet & Greet on arrival
- Return airport transfers in New Zealand
- 15 nights 4.5 star hotel accommodation
- All sightseeing and pre paid attractions
- 15 cooked breakfasts including a specialty breakfast: Stratosfare Restaurant, Rotorua, 12 sumptuous dinners including complimentary pre-dinner drink at the Welcome Dinner and 3 specialty dinners: Walter Peak Homestead, Queenstown; Mãori Hãngi and Concert, Rotorua; Intimate Farewell Dinner, selected beverages, Auckland, 1 picnic lunch, 1 Ultimate High Tea: Larnach Castle & Enjoy GPT Wine Time (discounted drinks)
- GST (New Zealand Goods and Services Tax)
No Hidden Extras - Pre-Paid Attractions
- Larnach Castle*
- Milford Sound Cruise & Lunch
- Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw
- Lakes District Museum
- TranzAlpine Rail Journey
- Cruise on the Interislander Ferry
- Te Papa, NZ’s National Museum
- Skyline Rotorua Gondola & Luge Ride
- Agrodome
- Thermal mud pools & geysers*
- Te Puia Traditional Maori Hangi & Concert
- Waitangi Treaty Grounds*
- Dolphin / Hole in the Rock Cruise
- Kauri Museum*
- City sights tour of Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington & Auckland
Itinerary
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
On arrival into Christchurch you will be met by a Grand Pacific
Tours representative who will transfer you to your hotel. Meet your
travelling companions over a complimentary pre dinner drink.
Accommodation - The George
Includes: Dinner
DAY 4 - CHRISTCHURCH -
MT COOK
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 to enjoy a scenic flight
(optional, weather permitting) over the Southern Alps.
Accommodation - The Hermitage Hotel (Aoraki Wing)
Includes: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 5 - MT COOK -
DUNEDIN
Depart Mt Cook, see Lake Benmore and follow the Waitaki River to
Oamaru. Continue south to Dunedin, enjoy a city tour followed by
free time. You might be interested in a tour to see local wildlife
in their natural habitat (optional)
Accommodation - Distinction Dunedin Hotel
Includes: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 6 - DUNEDIN - TE
ANAU
This morning travel along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle
where you will hear of the tragic and scandalous history on a
guided tour. Enjoy time to wander around this Garden of
International Significance followed by an Ultimate High Tea in the
Grand Ballroom. Farewell Dunedin and travel through Balclutha and
Gore to Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland and your overnight stay.
Today you may like to visit the Te Anau Glowworm Caves
(optional).
Accommodation - Distinction Luxmore Hotel (Deluxe Room)
Includes: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 7 - TE ANAU -
MILFORD SOUND- QUEENSTOWN
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 at leisure, you may choose to dine at one of the
many fine restaurants.
Accommodation - Millennium Hotel Queenstown (2 nights)
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 8 - QUEENSTOWN
(FREE DAY)
Today is a free day for you to explore Queenstown with many
optional activities available. You may wish to enjoy the thrill of
a jet boat ride, a heritage tour to Skippers Canyon or to 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 delicious gourmet barbecue dinner
featuring a menu of seasonal, fresh and locally sourced food 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 - Millennium Hotel Queenstown
Includes: Breakfast, Specialty Dinner
DAY 9 - QUEENSTOWN -
FOX GLACIER
Travel to Arrowtown, an old goldmining village and visit the Lakes
District Museum. Continue via the Haast Pass to the West Coast, an
area of stunning beauty. See the snow-capped peaks of the Southern
Alps as you travel north to the township of Fox Glacier. Time is
available to experience a scenic flight (optional, weather
permitting) over the spectacular glaciers before arriving at your
hotel.
Accommodation - Distinction Fox Glacier
Includes: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 10 - FOX GLACIER -
ARTHUR’S PASS - CHRISTCHURCH
Travel to Hokitika and visit the Greenstone Factory. Continue to
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. On
arrival into the elegant city of Christchurch, your Ultimate Coach
will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.
Accommodation - The George
Includes: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 11 - CHRISTCHURCH -
PICTON- WELLINGTON
Travel along the East Coast to the seaside village of
Kaikõura. Enjoy the spectacular scenery as you travel
through Marlborough Country, famous for its food and wine. Continue
to Picton, where you will board the Interislander Ferry for your
journey through the Marlborough Sounds and across Cook Strait to
Wellington.
Accommodation - InterContinental Wellington (Deluxe Room) (2 nights)
Includes: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 12 -
WELLINGTON
A highlight this morning will be time to explore Gallipoli: A Scale
of War exhibition at Te Papa, New Zealand’s National Museum.
Cutting edge technology brings these stories to life through the
eyes of New Zealanders who found themselves in extraordinary
circumstances. Reboard your coach for an extensive city tour which
showcases the history and culture on show. Enjoy free time this
afternoon and this evening is also free to choose your own dining
arrangements.
Accommodation - InterContinental Wellington (Deluxe Room)
Includes: Breakfast
DAY 13 - WELLINGTON -
TAUPO - ROTORUA
Depart Wellington and view the snowcapped peaks of Mt Ruapehu and
Mt Tongariro as you travel to Lake Taupo. Visit the spectacular
Huka Falls then travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to the
geothermal wonderland of Rotorua.
Accommodation - Regent of Rotorua (2 nights)
Includes: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 14 -
ROTORUA
Today begins with a gondola ride and breakfast at Skyline Rotorua
where spectacular views are on offer. There is also time for a
thrilling luge ride! Next stop is the Agrodome for an action-packed
hour of farming entertainment and education that is unlike anything
you’ve seen before. Free time is available this afternoon
before travelling to Te Puia to see the boiling mud pools and
awesome geysers that Rotorua is famous for. This evening experience
an entertaining Mãori Hãngi and Concert.
Accommodation - Regent of Rotorua
Includes: Breakfast, Specialty Dinner
DAY 15 - ROTORUA -
AUCKLAND - BAY OF ISLANDS
This morning depart Rotorua and travel north via Auckland to the
Parry Kauri Park to see a magnificent example of a Kauri Tree.
Continue through Whangarei to the Bay of Islands. This afternoon
enjoy a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the location of
the signing of the treaty between the Mãori tribes and the
British.
Accommodation - Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands (2 nights)
Includes: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 16 - BAY OF
ISLANDS
This morning you will explore the scenic beauty of the Bay of
Islands including an island visit aboard a luxury catamaran. Cruise
to Cape Brett and the famous ‘Hole in the Rock’, keep
an eye out for dolphins and other marine life. On return to Paihia,
enjoy a free afternoon where a range of optional activities are
available, or you may choose to relax and enjoy the pleasant
atmosphere of the waterfront. This evening is also at leisure, you
may like to enjoy a relaxing dinner cruise (optional).
Accommodation - Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands
Includes: Breakfast
DAY 17 - BAY OF ISLANDS
- AUCKLAND
Depart the Bay of Islands this morning and travel via Whangarei and
Dargaville to Matakohe. Enjoy a visit and informative talk at the
Kauri Museum before continuing to Auckland for a city sights tour.
This evening enjoy a farewell dinner including selected beverages
with your newfound friends.
Accommodation - Sudima Auckland City or similar
Includes: Breakfast, Specialty Dinner
DAY 18 - DEPART
AUCKLAND
Time to say goodbye. You’ll be transferred to the airport for
your flight home after a memorable New Zealand holiday.
Enquire about departure dates and cost
New Zealand Entry Requirements:
New Zealand welcomes fully vaccinated International travelers
Read more about the NZ entry requirements
Terms and Conditions
Package from pricing is based on double occupancy (2 people sharing a room) from Los Angeles or San Francisco for tour departing 04 May, 2023. add $150 per person for all other tour departures when booked by August 31, 2022. Add-on fares are available from other cities. 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 check/wire; please see terms and conditions for credit card payments. Cancellation penalties and other restrictions apply.
To guarantee the package price & purchase the airline tickets, full payment is due at the time of booking. The purchase of travel Insurance is highly recommended for travel to New Zealand. Aspire Down Under partners with CSA Travel Protection. Travelers to New Zealand must be fully vaccinated and obtain a negative COVID-19 test before departure. Travel insurance covers cancellation penalties under the cancellation benefit should you test positive for COVID-19 immediately before traveling to New Zealand. In the unlikely event your scheduled travel date is impacted by New Zealand government entry restrictions, Aspire Down Under will permit a change of travel dates within 12 months from your original booking date without any fees or penalties (the applicable price of the new trip itinerary will apply).
