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Grand Pacific Tours 16 Day Signature Highlights
Operated by Grand Pacific Tours
Tripcode: SGPN16
Overview
Destination:
New Zealand,
Duration:16 days
Travel Period
May 2025 - May 2026
RACV Exclusive Savings + Flights Included^
Embrace both islands of New Zealand including the stunning Bay of Islands.
Prepaid attractions:
- Larnach Castle*
- Milford Sound Cruise and Lunch
- Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw
- Lakes District Museum
- TranzAlpine Rail Journey
- Cruise on the Interislander Ferry
- Te Papa, NZ’s National Museum
- Skyline Rotorua Gondola and Luge Ride
- Agrodome
- Thermal mud pools and geysers*
- Te Puia traditional Māori Hāngi and Concert
- Waitangi Treaty Grounds
- Hole in the Rock Dolphin Cruise
- Kauri Museum
- City sights tour of Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland.
Signature Mid-Size Group Touring:
The Signature coach is beautifully crafted and designed for touring NZ with delivering excellence in mind. Travel in the Premium Economy Comfort of a full-size coach, touring with a mid-size group of up to 32 travellers. Stay in stylish 4 star accommodation and tour with an experienced Tour Leader, ensuring you a memorable Kiwi experience.
Coach features:
- 32 Premium Economy Comfort seats on a full-size coach
- 2 door access; seat back tray table; cup holder
- Restroom; daily onboard Wi-Fi allowance.
Please note:
- Prices are based per person twin share.
- Extensive optional activities are available at an additional cost.
- 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;
- Experienced Tour Leader;
- 15 nights 4 star accommodation;
- 4 two-night stays;
- Hotel porterage;
- Sightseeing and prepaid attractions;
- 1 rail journey;
- 4 cruises;
- Signature Documentation Pack;
- 15 cooked breakfasts including a specialty breakfast: Stratosfare Restaurant, Rotorua;
- 12 sumptuous dinners including complimentary pre-dinner drink at the Welcome Dinner and 3 specialty dinners: Walter Peak Homestead, Queenstown; Mãori Hãngi and Concert, Rotorua; Farewell Dinner including pre-dinner drink, Auckland;
- 1 lunch: Milford Sound Cruise;
- 1 delicious Devonshire 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 when you meet your Tour Leader and travelling companions for dinner. Meal: (D).
Hotel: Distinction Christchurch Hotel.
Day 2: Christchurch - Mt Cook - Twizel
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 before travelling to Twizel. Meals: (B,D).
Hotel: Distinction Mackenzie Country.
Day 3: Twizel - Dunedin
Depart Twizel and see Lake Benmore, before following the Waitaki River to Oamaru, famous for its limestone. Continue south to Dunedin and enjoy a city sights tour followed by some free time. Meals: (B,D).
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross.
Day 4: Dunedin - Te Anau
This morning travel out along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle where you hear of the tragic and scandalous history on a guided tour. Enjoy time to wander around this Garden of International Significance followed by a delicious Devonshire Tea. 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). Meals: (B,D).
Hotel: Distinction Luxmore Hotel Lake Te Anau.
Day 5: 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 free, you may choose to dine at one of the many fine restaurants. Meals: (B,L).
Hotel: Millennium Hotel Queenstown (2 nights).
Day 6: Queenstown - Free Day
Today is a free day for you to explore Queenstown at leisure. Your crew are available to assist with the many optional activities available, including 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: Millennium Hotel Queenstown.
Day 7: Queenstown - Arrowtown - Franz Josef
Travel to Arrowtown and visit the Lakes District Museum. Continue via the Haast Pass to the mighty West Coast, an area of stunning beauty. See the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps as you travel north to the township of Franz Josef. Time is available to experience a scenic flight (optional, weather permitting) over the spectacular glaciers. Meals: (B,D).
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier.
Day 8: Franz Josef - Arthur's Pass - Christchurch
Travel to Hokitika and visit the Greenstone Factory. Continue into 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 coach will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. Meals: (B,D).
Hotel: Sudima Christchurch Airport.
Day 9: Christchurch - Picton - Wellington
Travel along the East Coast to the seaside village of Kaikōura. 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 for your journey through the Marlborough Sounds to Wellington. Meals: (B,D).
Hotel: James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor (2 nights).
Day 10: 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. Meal: (B).
Hotel: James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor (Executive Room).
Day 11: 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. Meals: (B,D).
Hotel: Pullman Rotorua (2 nights).
Day 12: Rotorua
Today begins with a gondola ride and breakfast at Skyline Rotorua. There is also time for a thrilling luge ride! Next stop is Agrodome for an action-packed hour of farming entertainment and education that is unlike anything you’ve seen before. Enjoy some free time this afternoon before visiting Te Puia to see the boiling mud pools and awesome geysers that Rotorua is famous for. This evening experience an entertaining Mãori Hãngi and Concert. Meals: (B,SD).
Hotel: Pullman Rotorua (City View Room).
Day 13: Rotorua - Bay of Islands
This morning depart Rotorua and travel north to Whangarei to the Bay of Islands. This afternoon enjoy a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the location of the signing of the treaty between the Māori tribes and the British. Meals: (B,D).
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands (2 nights).
Day 14: Bay of Islands
Today you will cruise through the beautiful Bay of Islands aboard a luxury catamaran to Cape Brett, where a historic lighthouse keeps watch over Piercy Island, or as it is popularly known, the ‘Hole in the Rock’. Keep an eye out for dolphins and other marine life before returning to Paihia for a free afternoon. A range of optional activities are available, or you may choose to relax and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere of the waterfront. This evening is also free, you may like to enjoy a relaxing dinner cruise (optional). Meals: (B).
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands.
Day 15: Bay of Islands - Auckland
Depart the Bay of Islands this morning and travel via Whangarei to Matakohe. Enjoy a visit and informative talk at the Kauri Museum before continuing to Auckland for a city sights tour. This evening enjoy a pre-dinner drink and reminisce on memories shared with your new friends at the farewell dinner. Meals: (B,SD).
Hotel: Sudima Auckland City.
Day 16: Depart Auckland
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 230+ 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
16 Day Signature Highlights
Exclusive to RACV offer: For the 24/25 touring season, RACV customers exclusively save up to $375 per person on the selected seasonal departure of 12 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, the following selected seasonal departure dates include a $250 seasonal offer saving (Members save more): 16 September 2025, 30 September 2025 and 7 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. 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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Price from
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per person
15 nights
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