Day 1 Welcome to Christchurch

Christchurch has bounced back after the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 and is now thriving once again. Contemporary art galleries, boutiques and open-air markets add to the city’s creative vibe. Meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers this evening for a Welcome Reception. Hotel: Distinction Christchurch Hotel

Day 2 Christchurch – Twizel

Visit the home of Angie and Stan Taylor for a Be My Guest barbecue lunch, and hear about a lifetime spent farming in the Southern Alps. This afternoon see Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki, and view the famed Church of the Good Shepherd. Continue to the outdoor-adventure hub of Twizel. Hotel: MacKenzie Country Hotel Included Meals: Full buffet breakfast, Be My Guest Lunch, Dinner with wine

Day 3 Twizel – Dunedin

This morning, visit the spectacular Waitaki Hydro Power Scheme on the mighty Waitaki River. Explore the historic town of Oamaru, with its stately tree-lined streets and celebrated limestone buildings, then make your way to New Zealand’s southernmost city, Dunedin, home to many fine examples of Victorian and Edwardian architecture. With the rest of your morning at leisure, relax and unwind or join an optional experience to see more of the region. This afternoon, choose one from a range of Included Choice sightseeing experiences. Tour imposing Larnach Castle, ride the historic Taieri Gorge railway, take a wildlife cruise, or experience an interactive tour of famous Speight’s Brewery. Hotel: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross Included Meals: Full buffet breakfast, Dinner with wine

Day 4 Dunedin – Te Anau

Today, travel through lush green sheepgrazing country on your way to the spectacular Fiordland National Park and the town of Te Anau, nestled in the southwestern corner of the South Island. Tonight, enjoy dinner at your hotel. Hotel: Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas Included Meals: Full buffet breakfast, Dinner with wine

Day 5 Te Anau – Queenstown

Your experience in magnificent Milford Sound today is sure to be one of the highlights of your journey. Travel first through native rainforests and lush meadows to Mirror Lakes and the hand-hewn Homer Tunnel, and marvel at the stunning Cleddau Valley. Your unforgettable Milford Sound cruise takes in cascading waterfalls, hanging glacial valleys, and the sheer pinnacle of Mitre Peak. After disembarking, travel on to beautiful Queenstown. Hotel: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown, 2 nights Included Meals: Full buffet breakfast

Day 6 Queenstown

Today, choose one from a range of Included Choice sightseeing experiences. If you’re feeling energetic you have the option of riding the exhilarating Shotover Jet boat. For a more laid-back experience, a minibus excursion will take you through spectacular Skippers Canyon, or take the gondola to Bob’s Peak for amazing views over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu and then visit a Kiwi Birdlife Park. This evening, settle into a peaceful cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm, for a gourmet barbecue Highlight Dinner and an entertaining farm show. Hotel: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown Included Meals: Full buffet breakfast, Highlight Dinner

Day 7 Queenstown – Franz Josef

Your destination today is the wild west coast of the South Island. Stop to visit the faithfully-restored gold-mining settlement of Arrowtown, and enjoy the serenity of the region’s vivid blue lakes. Drive over the spectacular Haast Pass, passing the 96-metre Thunder Creek Falls on your way to the extraordinary Franz Josef Glacier. Hotel: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier (Douglas Wing) Included Meals: Full buffet breakfast, Dinner with wine

Day 8 Franz Josef – Punakaiki

Consider an optional experience helicopter flight over the glaciers, or you may wish to take a stroll through the small but lively Franz Josef village. Travel on to Hokitika, home of New Zealand’s famous greenstone. Continue to Punakaiki to view the intriguing Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. You’ll spend the night in an eco-friendly resort right on the waterfront. Hotel: Punakaiki Resort Included Meals: Full buffet breakfast, Dinner with wine

Day 9 Punakaiki – Christchurch

Join your personal guide for a tour of Monteith’s Brewing Company, including tastings at the brewers’ table, before sitting down to lunch. Afterwards, board the iconic TranzAlpine train in Greymouth and embark on one of the world’s great train journeys, passing through magnificent landscapes ranging from the fertile farmlands of the Canterbury Plains to rugged gorges and pristine ice-fed streams and lakes. Back in Christchurch, join your Travel Director for a Farewell Dinner. Hotel: Distinction Christchurch Hotel Included Meals: Full buffet breakfast, Farewell Dinner

Day 10 Farewell from Christchurch

Say farewell to your fellow travellers when your holiday comes to an end this morning after breakfast. Included Meals: Full buffet breakfast