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
- 13 nights 4.5 star hotel accommodation
- All sightseeing and pre paid attractions
- 13 cooked breakfasts including a specialty breakfast: Stratosfare Restaurant, Rotorua, 11 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 and Ultimate High Tea
- Milford Sound Cruise and Lunch
- Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw
- Lakes District Museum
- TranzAlpine Rail Journey
- Cruise on the Interislander Ferry, Premium Lounge
- Te Papa, NZ's National Museum
- Skyline Rotorua Gondola and Luge Ride
- Agrodome
- Thermal mud pools and geysers
- Te Puia traditional Maori Hangi and Concert
- Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tour
- Christchurch City Sights Tour
- Dunedin City Sights Tour
- Wellington City Sights Tour
- Auckland City Sights Tour
Itinerary
Day 1 - Depart
US
Air New Zealand is the number one way to travel to New Zealand, and
your vacation begins the second you step onboard your overnight
flight. Air New Zealand offers direct service from Los Angeles, San
Francisco, Houston, Chicago, and New York JFK, addon fares with
United Airlines available from other cities.
The Air New Zealand onboard experience has a travel option for every passenger from Business Premier, Premium Economy, and Economy cabins, with the option to add the innovative Skycouch
Day 2 - Cross International Date Line
DAY 3 - ARRIVE
CHRISTCHURCH
On arrival into Christchurch you will be met by a Grand Pacific
Tours representative and transferred to your hotel. This evening
enjoy a complimentary pre-dinner drink as you meet your travelling
companions.
Accommodation - The George (or similar)
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, The Church of the Good Shepherd and
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 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 - Heritage Queenstown
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 or a heritage tour of the scenic Skippers Canyon.
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 - Heritage Queenstown
Includes: Breakfast, Specialty Dinner
DAY 9 - QUEENSTOWN -
FRANZ JOSEF
Travel to Arrowtown to 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. Next you visit Franz Josef, where
time is available to experience a scenic flight (optional, weather
permitting) over the spectacular glaciers before arriving at your
hotel.
Accommodation - Te Waonui Forest Retreat
Includes: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 10 - FRANZ JOSEF -
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 (or similar)
Includes: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 11 - CHRISTCHURCH -
PICTON- WELLINGTON
Travel along the East Coast to the seaside village of Kaikoura.
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 and experience the comfort
and intimate setting of the Premium Lounge. Enjoy complimentary
refreshments as you travel through the Marlborough Sounds to
Wellington.
Accommodation - InterContinental Wellington (Premium Room)
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 (Premium Room)
Includes: Breakfast
DAY 13 - WELLINGTON -
TAUPO - ROTORUA
Depart Wellington and view the snow-capped 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
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 Maori Hangi and Concert.
Accommodation - Regent of Rotorua
Includes: Breakfast, Specialty Dinner
DAY 15 - ROTORUA -
AUCKLAND
This morning depart Rotorua and travel through the picturesque
countryside to Hobbiton for a guided tour of the Movie Set from The
Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Your guide will recount
details of how this beautiful piece of farmland was transformed
into The Shire from Middle Earth. Continue north to Auckland for an
orientation tour. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner including
selected beverages with your newfound friends.
Accommodation - Crowne Plaza Auckland
Includes: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 16 - DEPART
AUCKLAND
Time to say goodbye. You’ll be transferred to the airport for
your flight home after a memorable New Zealand vacation.
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Costing Per Person
| Starting from | $7,499 |
New Zealand Entry Requirements
Before committing to a trip, please ensure you have a valid passport. New Zealand welcomes US travelers with an approved Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).
Additional departure gateways & pricing
Add on airfares are available from most major airports – please ask an Aspire consultant for a quote
Upgrade Options
- Upgrade to premium economy from $1,250 per person each way
- Upgrade to business class from $3,500 per person each way*
Can take the upgrade one way or round trip and combine premium/business classes on same ticket
* Upgrade from pricing based on Monday through Thursday departures from Los Angeles - ask an Aspire consultant for the upgrade fee from other departure points and travel Thursday through Saturday.
Conditions
Package from pricing is based on double occupancy (2 people sharing a room) from Los Angeles or San Francisco for travel until May 2026. 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 the terms and conditions for credit card payments. Cancellation penalties and other restrictions apply. Travel insurance is highly recommended for travel to New Zealand. Aspire Down Under partners with CSA Travel Protection.