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Grand Pacific Tours 10 Day Ultimate South Island
Operated by Grand Pacific Tours
Tripcode: UGPSI10
Overview
Destination:
New Zealand,
Duration:10 days
Travel Period
January 2025 - May 2026
RACV Exclusive Savings + Flights Included^
Explore the dramatic landscapes of the spectacular South Island while travelling Business Class on Wheels on the Ultimate coach, with a maximum of 20 travellers. Start your tour in Christchurch, discover highlights such as the world-renowned TranzAlpine Rail Journey, view the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps along the rugged west coast, enjoy picturesque Queenstown, cruise on the majestic Milford Sound and visit historical Dunedin.
Prepaid attractions:
- TranzAlpine Rail Journey
- Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw
- Lakes District Museum
- Milford Sound Cruise and Lunch
- Larnach Castle*
- City sights tour of Dunedin and Christchurch
*Guided tour.
Exclusive to Grand Pacific Tours, Ultimate Small Group Touring itineraries are specifically tailored to provide a Business Class level of comfort, service and quality without compromise. Travel in style on a full-size, state-of-the-art coach with a maximum of only 20 travellers and enjoy extensive onboard features and VIP extras.
Coach features:
- 20 Business Class seats on a full-size coach
- 2-door access; dedicated seat side storage with tray table; cup holder
- Restroom; daily onboard Wi-Fi allowance.
Please note:
- Prices are based per person twin share.
- Dec 20, 2025 departure date includes a $100pp Festive Season surcharge.
- Optional activities are available and can be booked at an additional cost with your crew once on tour.
- Day 1: Dinner not included for anyone arriving later than 8pm.
Standard inclusions
- Return airfares from your homeport ex MEL
- Personalised Meet and Greet on arrival
- Return airport transfers in New Zealand
- Professional Coach Captain
- 9 nights 4.5 star accommodation
- 2 two-night stays
- Hotel porterage
- 1 rail journey
- 2 cruises
- All sightseeing and prepaid attractions
- Ultimate Documentation Pack
- 9 cooked breakfasts
- 8 sumptuous dinners including complimentary pre-dinner drink at the Welcome Dinner and 2 specialty dinners: Walter Peak Homestead, Queenstown; Intimate Farewell Dinner, selected beverages, Christchurch
- 1 lunch: Milford Sound Cruise
- 1 Ultimate High Tea: Larnach Castle
- Enjoy GPT Hotel Wine Time (discounted drinks).
Itinerary
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Collapse allDay 1: 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. Meal: (D).
Hotel: Sudima Christchurch City.
Day 2: Christchurch - Arthur's Pass - Franz Josef
This morning board the TranzAlpine, renowned as one of the great train journeys of the world. Travel over massive viaducts, river valleys and spectacular gorges as you ascend to Arthur’s Pass located in the centre of the Southern Alps. Board your coach and travel to Hokitika, famous for its Greenstone before continuing to the township of Franz Josef where time is available to experience a scenic flight (optional, weather permitting) over the spectacular glaciers. Meals: (B,D).
Hotel: Te Waonui Forest Retreat.
Day 3: Franz Josef - Queenstown
See the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps as you travel south along the West Coast. Continue via the Haast Pass, an area of stunning beauty before arriving into picturesque Queenstown, a year-round resort situated on the shores of magical Lake Wakatipu. This evening is at leisure, you may choose to dine out at one of the many fine restaurants. Meals: (B).
Hotel: Heritage Queenstown (2 nights).
Day 4: 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 re-board the TSS Earnslaw for a sing along by the piano as you cruise back to Queenstown. Meals: (B,SD).
Hotel: Heritage Queenstown.
Day 5: Queenstown - Te Anau
Enjoy a leisurely start this morning before travelling to Arrowtown, an old gold mining village where you visit the Lakes District Museum. This innovative museum is heavily involved in the protection of the historic buildings scattered around town. Continue to Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland. Today you may like to visit the Te Anau Glowworm Caves (optional). Meals: (B,D).
Hotel: Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas (2 nights).
Day 6: Te Anau - Milford Sound - Te Anau
Depart Te Anau for a fascinating drive to Milford Sound where you board your launch for a nature cruise on this magnificent fiord. See the spectacular Bowen Falls and towering Mitre Peak as you enjoy lunch onboard. This afternoon return to Te Anau where some free time is available. You might like to cap off your Fiordland experience by watching the breathtaking film, Ata Whenua - Shadowland, which screens at the Fiordland Cinema (optional). Meals: (B,L,D).
Hotel: Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas.
Day 7: Te Anau - Dunedin
Travel via Gore and Balclutha to Dunedin known as the ‘Edinburgh of the South’ and enjoy a city tour. 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 and a delicious Ultimate High Tea served in the Grand Ballroom. Meals: (B,D).
Hotel: Distinction Dunedin Hotel.
Day 8: Dunedin - Mt Cook
Farewell Dunedin and travel to Oamaru famous for its limestone. Follow the Waitaki River and see Lake Benmore as you travel to Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak. Meals: (B,D).
Hotel: The Hermitage.
Day 9: Mt Cook - Christchurch
This morning marvel at Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak. The opportunity is available to enjoy a scenic flight (optional, weather permitting) over the Southern Alps. Continue to Lake Tekapo and view the brilliant turquoise water, the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Sheep Dog Statue before arriving in Christchurch for an introductory city sights tour. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner including selected beverages with your newfound friends. Meals: (B,SD).
Hotel: Sudima Christchurch City.
Day 10: Depart Christchurch
Time to say goodbye. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home after a memorable New Zealand holiday. Meals: (B).
Departure dates
Select your preferred date or enquire
Operator
Grand Pacific Tours
Since 1996, Grand Pacific Tours, the New Zealand Coach Holiday Specialist has been indulging travellers from all over the world with the holiday of a lifetime. Taking a coach tour is like choosing the best seat in the house. Through large panoramic windows, you will be in awe of the picture-postcard scenery that is unveiled with every corner turned. Tour in style, choose between an Ultimate Small Group Tour, boasting a Business Class level of comfort with only 20 luxury leather seats, or a Signature Mid-Size Group Tour, enjoying Premium Economy comfort onboard a coach with 32 seats. Select an itinerary from their extensive product range to suit your desired holiday duration and one of their 180+ guaranteed departure dates. The choice is yours!
Important Information
*Terms and conditions
Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.
For more information, please see Terms of Use
^RACV Exclusive Savings + Flights Included: Terms & Conditions
Exclusive to RACV offer: For the 24/25 touring season, RACV customers exclusively save up to $275 per person on the selected seasonal departures of 5 May and 15 May 2025 - Members save more. For the new 25/26 touring season, an exclusive-to-RACV special discount of $150 applies (Members save more).
Within the 25/26 touring season, there are selected seasonal departure dates that include a $250 seasonal offer saving (Members save more): 1 September 2025, 19 September 2025, 2 May 2026 and 10 May 2026.
All savings are reflected in the prices shown.
*Conditions apply. Prices valid ex MEL (economy class) and include prepaid taxes (subject to change). **Travel on selected seasonal departures in Sep 2025 and May 2026 and save up to $500 per couple ($250 pp). All other departures will save $150 pp off the brochure price. 20 Dec 2025 departure date includes a $100 Festive Season surcharge. Maximum savings are reflected in the advertised prices. Special Offer is valid on new bookings only for travel Sep 2025 – May 2026. Not to be used in conjunction with any other special offer; not applicable on group departures; can be withdrawn at any time without notice.
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9 nights
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