• All-inclusive sightseeing and enriching Signature Experiences
• APT’s Freedom of Choice inclusions in six locations
• 17 Breakfasts and 12 Dinners
• APT Tour Director, plus expert local guides
• Arrival and departure airport transfers in New Zealand
• Luggage porterage for your convenience

Tour Highlights

• Visit the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds
• Explore the Bay of Islands on a dolphin-watching cruise
• Immerse yourself in Maori culture at a Hangi Feast in Rotorua
• Cruise to the South Island aboard the Interislander ferry, taking in the intricate waterways of the Marlborough Sounds
• Ride on the famous Tranz Alpine train
• Marvel at the impressive icy contours of Franz Josef Glacier
• See spectacular Milford Sound, where you’ll enjoy a cruise that explores the length of this pristine fiord
• Discover Australasia’s highest peak at Mt. Cook National Park

SUPERDEAL Savings*:

• SAVE 10%* if you book and pay in full 12 months before your tour departure date.
• SAVE 7.5%* if you book and pay in full 10 months before your tour departure date.
• SAVE 5%* if you book and pay in full 6 months before your tour departure date.

Departure Dates

2020 APR: 3 MAY: 8 SEP: 11, 25 OCT: 3, 17, 24 NOV: 14, 28 DEC: 12, 27  

All trips include 24-hour emergency travel assistance.

Book by:

December 27, 2020

Valid for travel between:

04/23/2020 – 05/07/2020
05/08/2020 – 09/10/2020
09/11/2020 – 09/25/2020
10/03/2020 – 12/27/2020

Additional dates, gateway cities and airlines may be available.

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Day 1 Arrive Auckland On arrival into Auckland, be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Stay: Grand Millennium Hotel, Auckland Day 2 Auckland, Bay of Islands SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE Visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where the original treaty between the British and Maori people was signed. Cross Auckland’s Harbour Bridge and travel along the Hibiscus Coast. Stop at Matakohe’s Kauri Museum for an insight into the rich pioneering history of the Northland region. Continue to the Bay of Islands and visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Here, you will also enjoy a visit to the Maori Meeting House and War Canoe. Stay: Two Nights, Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands, in a room with harbour views Breakfast, Dinner Day 3 Bay of Islands FREEDOM OF CHOICE™ – Sightseeing Perhaps take a day tour to Cape Reinga; experience life on the high seas; embark on a dolphin-watching adventure; or take a mini-tour of Russell. Today, discover this spectacular region with our range of Freedom of Choice activities. Breakfast Day 4 Bay of Islands, Auckland SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE Explore the Bay of Islands on a dolphin-watching cruise to Cape Brett and the famous Hole in the Rock. Meander through the inner islands, admiring the sandy beaches and keeping watch for dolphins, then spend some time in a secluded bay. Back at your hotel in Auckland tonight, enjoy a delicious Pacific-themed dinner. Stay: Grand Millennium Auckland Breakfast, Dinner Day 5 Auckland, Waitomo Caves, Rotorua SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE Immerse yourself in Maori culture as you enjoy a traditional Hangi feast and performance of song and dance. Travel to Waitomo, home to the famous glow worm caves where thousands of tiny luminescent creatures radiate an eerie glow. Discover this natural wonder on a guided tour, before continuing to Rotorua. Stay: Two Nights, Millennium Rotorua, overlooking Lake Rotorua Breakfast, Dinner Day 6 Rotorua FREEDOM OF CHOICE™ – Sightseeing Perhaps enjoy a sheep show at the Agrodome followed by a kiwi encounter at Rainbow Springs Nature Park and a visit to Te Puia Thermal Reserve. Choose to visit Wai-O-Tapu; experience Middle-earth during a tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set, or embark on a relaxing Redwood Treewalk with a Maori guide. Spend this morning on your Freedom of Choice activity. Afterwards, the afternoon and evening are free for you to explore at your leisure. Breakfast Day 7 Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington Follow the Thermal Explorer Highway to the heart of New Zealand’s North Island this morning. View the Wairakei Steam Valley, then visit Huka Falls and Lake Taupo, before travelling across the plateau of Tongariro National Park to Wellington. Stay: Two Nights, InterContinental Wellington Breakfast, Dinner Day 8 Wellington With two nights in the New Zealand capital, you will have plenty of time to discover the city’s highlights. After breakfast, set off on a sightseeing tour taking you to Wellington’s best-loved landmarks and sights, including the spectacular waterfront area and New Zealand’s national museum – Te Papa Tongarewa. The rest of the day will be yours at leisure to further explore this coastal city and perhaps dine at a local restaurant. Breakfast Day 9 Wellington, Kaikoura, Christchurch SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE Step aboard the Interislander ferry to cruise across Cook Strait and through the stunning waters of Marlborough and Queen Charlotte sounds to Picton. This morning, enjoy a special Signature Experience. Afterwards, rejoin your coach and drive to the quaint fishing town of Kaikoura. Continue travelling along the central east coast all the way to Christchurch. Stay: Christchurch, The Commodore Breakfast, Dinner Day 10 Christchurch, TranzAlpine Train, Franz Josef Glacier SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE Board the TranzAlpine train for one of the world’s greatest rail adventures. SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE Take in the dramatic surrounds of the Franz Josef Glacier. Disembark at Arthur’s Pass and travel to Hokitika, where you will see pounamu (jade) being carved into pieces of jewellery. Continue to Franz Josef. Arrive later at your luxury eco-resort for a special four-course dinner. Stay: Franz Josef, Te Waonui Forest Retreat Breakfast, Dinner Day 11 Franz Josef Glacier, Queenstown FREEDOM OF CHOICE™ – Dining Perhaps sample quality crafted beer at Canyon Food & Brew Co. Alternatively, take a scenic gondola ride to the Skyline Restaurant where you can enjoy your meal with stunning panoramic views of the city. You may prefer a cruise aboard the TSS Earnslaw, a vintage steamboat, or dine amid the stylish surrounds of the Elements Restaurant. Enjoy a day of truly breathtaking scenery as you travel to Queenstown. On a Freedom of Choice Dining evening, you can choose from four restaurants for dinner. Stay: Two Nights, Novotel Queenstown Lakeside Breakfast, Dinner Day 12 Queenstown FREEDOM OF CHOICE™ – Sightseeing Perhaps embark on a Safari of the Scenes tour and visit several local sites where The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed. Alternatively, thrillseekers may enjoy an exhilarating ride on the Shotover Jet Boat, a Skippers Canyon adventure, or a river safari along the beautiful Dart River. New Zealand is rightly famous for its fine wines, and a tour of the country’s premier wine-producing region is a tempting option. Other activities you may choose from include a Station 2 Station Cycle Trail bike ride along the tranquil country roads at Lake Wakatipu or a leisurely cruise over the waters of the lake. Spend the morning on your Freedom of Choice activity. Breakfast Day 13 Queenstown, Milford Sound, Te Anau SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE At Milford Sound, enjoy a cruise that explores the full length of this pristine fiord. SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE Enjoy a Taste of Fiordland Dinner, and savour local delights such as salmon and lamb. Embark on one of the most scenic drives today as you journey along the Milford Road and into the heart of Fiordland National Park. Keep your camera at the ready as you wind down the Eglinton and Hollyford valleys, then drive through the Homer Tunnel to be met by the sight of Mitre Peak, the iconic backdrop to Milford Sound. Afterwards, enjoy a picturesque drive to the lakeside settlement of Te Anau. Stay: Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas Breakfast, Dinner Day 14 Te Anau, Dunedin FREEDOM OF CHOICE™ – Sightseeing Visit Olveston House, head to Dunedin’s railway station and board the Taieri Gorge Railway or tour Speight’s Brewery. Alternatively, choose to visit the Otago Peninsula where you can observe an albatross colony; or take a wildlife tour. Journey through Southland countryside as you travel to Dunedin, a city known as the ‘Edinburgh of the South’. This afternoon, choose your Freedom of Choice activity. Stay: Distinction Dunedin Hotel Breakfast, Dinner Day 15 Dunedin, Mt Cook SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE Visit World Heritage-listed Mt Cook National Park. FREEDOM OF CHOICE™ – Sightseeing Perhaps visit the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, including a visit to the planetarium and a stargazing session with an astronomer. Alternatively, during the summer months, board a MAC boat and get up close to icebergs on the Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake. Drive north and stop to view the large spherical Moeraki Boulders on Koekohe Beach. Continue to World Heritage-listed Mt Cook National Park, where you can choose your activity. Stay: Mt Cook, The Hermitage Hotel, in a room with alpine views Breakfast, Dinner Day 16 Mt Cook, Lake Tekapo, Christchurch Travel to Lake Tekapo and pay a visit to the tiny Church of the Good Shepherd. In Christchurch this evening, you will enjoy a Farewell Dinner at your hotel. Stay: Rydges Latimer Christchurch Breakfast, Dinner Day 17 Depart Christchurch Today you will be transferred to the airport. Breakfast

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