17 Day Signature Festive Season

Celebrate the festive season on this 17-day Signature journey across New Zealand, travelling by premium mid-size coach with expert guidance. Enjoy Christmas Day in Queenstown, New Year in Rotorua, and explore alpine scenery, fiords, vibrant cities and the Bay of Islands at a relaxed pace.

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Duration

17 Day / 16 Night Tour

Price

$11,069

PEOPLE GOING

93+ Booked

PACKAGE

Itinerary

Itinerary Details
  1. Day 1
    Arrive in Christchurch

    Arrive in Christchurch and transfer to your hotel. This evening enjoy a welcome drink and dinner with your Tour Leader and fellow travellers. Overnight in Christchurch.

  2. Day 2
    Christchurch Sightseeing

    Visit the International Antarctic Centre, then enjoy a city sights tour highlighting heritage precincts and the modern rebuild. Ride the historic Christchurch Tram before an evening at leisure. Overnight in Christchurch.

  3. Day 3
    Christchurch → Tekapo → Mt Cook → Twizel

    Travel across the Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo, stopping at the Church of the Good Shepherd. Continue into the Mackenzie Basin with views of Aoraki/Mount Cook, before overnighting in Twizel.

  4. Day 4
    Twizel → Oamaru → Dunedin

    Follow the Waitaki River to Oamaru, known for limestone buildings, then continue south to Dunedin for a guided city tour featuring historic landmarks and coastal views. Overnight in Dunedin.

  5. Day 5
    Dunedin → Larnach Castle → Te Anau

    Visit Larnach Castle for a guided tour, Devonshire Tea and garden strolls. Travel south via Balclutha and Gore to Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland. Overnight in Te Anau.

  6. Day 6
    Te Anau → Milford Sound → Queenstown

    Journey along the Milford Road to Milford Sound and cruise beneath waterfalls and Mitre Peak, with lunch onboard. Continue to Queenstown on Lake Wakatipu. Overnight in Queenstown.

  7. Day 7
    Queenstown – Christmas Day

    Cruise Lake Wakatipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak Homestead for a festive Christmas lunch. Return to Queenstown with live entertainment and enjoy a relaxed evening. Overnight in Queenstown.

  8. Day 8
    Queenstown → Arrowtown → Franz Josef

    Visit historic Arrowtown and the Lakes District Museum before crossing the Haast Pass into the West Coast rainforest. Arrive in Franz Josef with optional scenic flights available. Overnight in Franz Josef.

  9. Day 9
    Franz Josef → Arthur’s Pass → Christchurch

    Travel via Hokitika and visit a Greenstone Factory. Board the TranzAlpine train at Arthur’s Pass and cross alpine valleys and viaducts back to Christchurch. Overnight in Christchurch.

  10. 10
    Christchurch → Kaikōura → Wellington

    Follow the East Coast via Kaikōura and continue to Picton. Cruise the Marlborough Sounds aboard the Interislander Ferry to Wellington. Overnight in Wellington.

  11. 11
    Wellington Sightseeing

    Visit Te Papa, including the Gallipoli exhibition, then enjoy a Wellington city tour showcasing harbour views and historic precincts. The remainder of the day is free. Overnight in Wellington.

  12. 12
    Wellington → Taupō → Rotorua

    Travel north through volcanic landscapes, stopping at Lake Taupō and Huka Falls. Continue to Rotorua, New Zealand’s geothermal heartland. Overnight in Rotorua.

  13. 13
    Rotorua – New Year’s Eve

    Ride the Skyline Gondola for breakfast and luge fun, visit the Agrodome, then explore Te Puia’s geysers. Celebrate New Year’s Eve with a Māori Hāngi feast and cultural performance. Overnight in Rotorua.

  14. 14
    Rotorua → Bay of Islands

    Travel north via Whangārei to the Bay of Islands. Enjoy a guided visit to the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Overnight in the Bay of Islands.

  15. 15
    Bay of Islands Cruise

    Cruise to Cape Brett and the Hole in the Rock, watching for dolphins and marine life. Return to Paihia for a relaxed afternoon by the waterfront. Overnight in the Bay of Islands.

  16. 16
    Bay of Islands → Auckland

    Visit the Kauri Museum at Matakohe before returning to Auckland. Enjoy a city sights tour and farewell dinner with your group. Overnight in Auckland.

  17. 17
    Depart Auckland

    After breakfast, transfer to Auckland Airport for your onward flight, concluding your Signature Festive Season journey.

Tour Highlights
    • Arrive in Christchurch, the Garden City of the South Island.
    • Meet your Tour Leader and transfer to your hotel.
    • Enjoy a welcome drink followed by a group dinner.
    • Meet fellow travellers and receive an overview of the journey ahead.
Accommodations
  • 2 nights in Christchurch – 4 Star hotel with breakfast.
  • 1 night in Twizel – 4 Star hotel with breakfast.
  • 1 night in Dunedin – 4 Star hotel with breakfast.
  • 1 night in Te Anau – 4 Star hotel with breakfast.
  • 2 nights in Queenstown – 4 Star hotel with breakfast.
  • 1 night in Franz Josef – 4 Star hotel with breakfast.
  • 1 night in Christchurch (Airport area) – 4 Star hotel with breakfast.
  • 2 nights in Wellington – 4 Star hotel with breakfast.
  • 2 nights in Rotorua – 4 Star hotel with breakfast.
  • 2 nights in Bay of Islands – 4 Star hotel with breakfast.
  • 1 night in Auckland – 4 Star hotel with breakfast.
Package Includes

Coach & Leadership::

  • 32-seat Premium Economy coach with comfort seating, tray tables, cup holders, onboard restroom and daily Wi-Fi allowance.
  • Personalised meet and greet on arrival.
  • Return airport transfers in New Zealand.
  • Professional Coach Captain and experienced Tour Leader.
  • Hotel porterage and luggage handling.
  • Signature Documentation Pack.

 

Exclusive Experiences:

  • International Antarctic Centre
  • Christchurch Tram
  • Larnach Castle guided tour + Devonshire Tea
  • Milford Sound Cruise + lunch
  • TSS Earnslaw Cruise + Walter Peak Christmas Lunch
  • Lakes District Museum
  • TranzAlpine Rail Journey
  • Interislander Ferry (includes 1 meal voucher per person)
  • Te Papa National Museum
  • Skyline Rotorua Gondola + Luge Ride
  • Agrodome Farm Show
  • Te Puia geothermal valley
  • Māori Hāngi and Cultural Concert
  • Waitangi Treaty Grounds
  • Hole in the Rock Dolphin Cruise
  • Kauri Museum
  • Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland City Sights Tours
  • Accommodation in a 4 Star Hotel for 16 nights with Breakfast.

 

Meals:

  • 16 cooked breakfasts including specialty breakfast at Stratosfare Restaurant, Rotorua
  • 12 dinners including Welcome Dinner, Māori Hāngi Dinner and Farewell Dinner with pre-dinner drink in Auckland
  • Christmas Day Lunch at Walter Peak Homestead
  • 1 lunch on Milford Sound Cruise
  • 1 Devonshire Tea at Larnach Castle

 

Additional:

  • Enjoy GPT Hotel Wine Time (discounted drinks)
  • Extensive optional activities available throughout the tour.

Enquire Now

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