Members save more on over 100,000 hotels worldwide
Unlock member discounts
Unlock exclusive discounts and inclusions
Members only pricing
Bonus hand-picked inclusions
Grand Pacific Tours 19 Day Ultimate Showcase
Operated by Grand Pacific Tours
Tripcode: UGPS19
Overview
Destination:
New Zealand,
Duration:19 days
Travel Period
September 2025 - May 2026
RACV Exclusive Savings + Flights Included^
Discover the "must see attractions" of New Zealand from top to bottom on this 19-day tour. Featuring the Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tour & Lunch, cultural Rotorua, Napier’s beautifully preserved Art Deco architecture, the world-renowned TranzAlpine Rail Journey, picturesque Queenstown and scenic Milford Sound. Enjoy 4 cruises including Queenstown's Lake Wakatipu where you will cruise on the vintage steamship, TSS Earnslaw.
Prepaid attractions:
- Kauri Museum
- Waitangi Treaty Grounds
- Hole in the Rock Dolphin Cruise
•- Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tour and Lunch*
- Skyline Rotorua Gondola and Luge Ride
- Agrodome
- Thermal mud pools and geysers*
- Te Puia traditional Māori Hāngi and Concert
- Hawke's Bay Express*
- Te Papa, NZ’s National Museum
- Cruise on the Interislander Ferry, Premium Lounge
- TranzAlpine Rail Journey
- Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw
- Lakes District Museum
- Milford Sound Cruise and Lunch
- Larnach Castle*
- City sights tour of Auckland, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin
*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.
- 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
- 18 nights 4.5 star accommodation
- 4 two night stays
- Hotel porterage
- 1 rail journey
- 4 cruises
- All sightseeing and prepaid attractions
- Ultimate Documentation Pack
- 18 cooked breakfasts including a specialty breakfast: Stratosfare Restaurant, Rotorua
- 14 sumptuous dinners including complimentary pre-dinner drink at the Welcome Dinner and 3 specialty dinners: Māori Hāngi and Concert, Rotorua; Walter Peak Homestead, Queenstown; Intimate Farewell Dinner, selected beverages, Christchurch
- 2 lunches: Hobbiton, Shire’s buffet; Milford Sound Cruise
- 1 Ultimate High Tea: Larnach Castle
- Enjoy GPT Hotel Wine Time (discounted drinks).
Itinerary
Expand all 
Collapse all
Collapse allDay 1: Arrive Auckland
On arrival into Auckland 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. Meals: (D).
Hotel: Crowne Plaza Auckland.
Day 2: Auckland - Bay of Islands
Board the luxurious Ultimate Coach, depart Auckland and travel to Matakohe for a visit and informative talk at the Kauri Museum. Travel via Whangarei to Paihia, situated in the heart of the beautiful Bay of Islands. 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 3: Bay of Islands (Free Day)
Today is a free day. Choose from the many optional activities available, including the Cape Reinga coach trip via Ninety Mile Beach or a spectacular scenic flight. This evening is also at leisure, you may like to enjoy a relaxing dinner cruise (optional). Meals: (B).
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands.
Day 4: Bay of Islands - Auckland
This morning you will explore the scenic beauty of the Bay of Islands including an island visit aboard a luxury catamaran. Cruise to Cape Brett and the famous ‘Hole in the Rock’, keep an eye out for dolphins and other marine life. On return to Paihia travel south via Whangarei before returning to Auckland. This evening is free to dine at leisure. Meals: (B).
Hotel: Crowne Plaza Auckland.
Day 5: Auckland - Rotorua
This morning embark on a city sights tour of Auckland, dubbed the ‘City of Sails’. Depart Auckland and travel through the picturesque countryside to Hobbiton for a buffet lunch. A guided tour of the 12-acre set, will take you past whimsical Hobbit Holes, the Mill and into the Green Dragon Inn. You can now venture beyond the door and into an authentic Hobbit Hole interior for a fully immersive experience. Meals: (B,L,D).
Hotel: Regent of Rotorua (2 nights).
Day 6: Rotorua
Today begins with a gondola ride and breakfast at Skyline Rotorua, where spectacular views are on offer. 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 travelling to Te Puia to see the boiling mud pools and awesome geysers that Rotorua is famous for. This evening experience an entertaining Māori Hāngi and Concert. Meals: (B,SD).
Hotel: Regent of Rotorua.
Day 7: Rotorua - Napier
Depart Rotorua and travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to Huka Falls and Lake Taupo. Continue to Napier known as ‘The Art Deco Capital’, where the most comprehensive collection of art deco buildings in the world can be found. Board the Hawke’s Bay Express and hear informative commentary on the city’s fascinating history. Enjoy some free time this afternoon to explore the city. Meals: (B,D).
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Te Pania.
Day 8: Napier - Wellington
Travel south this morning into Wellington for a city tour of the nation’s capital which will highlight the history and culture on show here. At Te Papa, New Zealand’s National Museum, there is time to explore Gallipoli: A Scale of War exhibition. Cutting edge technology brings these stories to life through the eyes of New Zealanders who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances. Meals: (B,D).
Hotel: InterContinental Wellington.
Day 9: Wellington - Picton - Kaikoura
Board your Ultimate Coach for the southbound journey along the rugged coastline, offering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, to Kaikōura. This morning board the Interislander Ferry and experience the comfort and intimate setting of the Premium Lounge. Enjoy breakfast as you travel through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton. Meals: (B,D).
Hotel: Sudima Kaikōura.
Day 10: Kaikoura - Christchurch
This morning enjoy a leisurely start in this seaside village, where the mountains meet the sea. Kaikōura is renowned as one of the best places to see Sperm whales and other marine mammals. There is an opportunity to take a scenic flight to view the year-round population of Sperm whales (optional, weather permitting). Continue onto the garden city of Christchurch for a orientation tour. Meals: (B).
Hotel: The George.
Day 11: Christchurch - Arthur's Pass - Fox Glacier
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 Ultimate Coach and travel to Hokitika, famous for its Greenstone before continuing via Franz Josef to the township of Fox Glacier where time is available to experience a scenic flight (optional, weather permitting) over the spectacular glaciers. Meals: (B,D).
Hotel: Te Weheka Retreat.
Day 12: Fox Glacier - 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 13: 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).
Day 14: 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. 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 15: Te Anau - Milford Sound - Te Anau
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 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 16: Te Anau - Dunedin
Travel through Gore and Balclutha to Dunedin, known as the ‘Edinburgh of the South’ and enjoy a city tour. Continue along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle, where you’ll hear of the tragic and scandalous history on a guided tour. A delicious Ultimate High Tea is included, along with time to wander around the Garden of International Significance. Meals: (B,D).
Hotel: Distinction Dunedin Hotel.
Day 17: 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 Hotel.
Day 18: 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. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner including selected beverages with your newfound friends. Meals: (B,SD).
Hotel: The George or similar.
Day 19: 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 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
19 Day Ultimate Showcase
Exclusive to RACV offer: 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): 3 September and 26 September 2025 and 3 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.
Book now
Need help?
Price from
$12,009
$11,409
*
Member price from
$11,409*
per person
18 nights
Check departuresCan't find the answer you're looking for? Get in touch with our friendly Travel Consultants.
Call 1800 850 888Speak to one of our friendly consultants, available during business hours.
Mon to Fri · 9am - 5pm AEST
Speak to an expert in-store
Prefer to plan in person? Make an appointment at our Travel Store to speak with one of our experts
You might also like
© 2025 Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) All rights reserved.