New Zealand Getaway : Value Plus Escorted Vacation

Be met on arrival into Auckland and transferred to your hotel.

Journey north to the Matakohe Kauri Museum which details the story of pioneering settlers of the Kauri industry, as well as the legacy of Kauri forests. See a mighty Kauri tree and marvel at its size at the Matakohe Kauri Museum. Continue to the Bay of Islands. Enjoy a special Welcome Dinner this evening.

Home to 144 islands, enjoy this aquatic playground with a full day at leisure. Perhaps relax on the beach, explore the wilderness areas via one of the many walking tracks, or set off into town.

The captivating coastline of the Bay of Islands provides sheltered waters for dolphins, whales, seals, penguins and other marine life. Continue to the Hole in the Rock, a distinctive sandstone arch formation. Return to Auckland by coach and relax prior to dinner.

Insider Experience
Explore New Zealand's finest maritime park on a cruise to Cape Brett and the famous Hole in the Rock.

Leaving Auckland after breakfast, travel to Waitomo, home to the famous glow worm caves where thousands of tiny luminescent creatures radiate an unmistakable glow. Continue to the geothermal capital of New Zealand, Rotorua. Visit Te Puia, New Zealand's premier cultural centre, and enjoy a guided tour of the Māori Arts & Crafts Institute. You will also see the Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley and witness the phenomenal spectacle of erupting geysers and bubbling mud pools. Delight in the opportunity to dine and interact with locals who will enchant you with their customs and cheerful hospitality.

Insider Experience
Discover the magical natural spectacle of Waitomo Caves with a local guide.

Insider Experience
Enjoy a Maori Hangi Feast with performances of song and dance at Te Puia tonight.

Today is totally free and at leisure. You can take advantage of any optional activities available or simply relax.

Farewell Rotorua and enjoy the scenery as you travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to Lake Taupo - the largest freshwater lake in Australasia - and thundering Huka Falls. Continue south across the vast volcanic plateau of World Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park to Wellington. The evening has been left free for you to explore the vibrant dining scene independently. From seafood cafes to cosy wine bars and spectacular fine-dining restaurants, you will see that New Zealand's wild and fresh produce is showcased on a plate here in Wellington.

This morning take in a city sights tour which includes Te Papa Tongarewa. Afterwards, admire coastlines defined by tiny coves on the way to Blenheim.

Insider Experience
Enjoy one of the world's most scenic voyages as the Interislander ferry traverses Cook Strait through the Marlborough and Queen Charlotte sounds.

This morning, head to Kaikoura. Delight in the chance to embark on a whale watching cruise, where you may catch a glimpse of the arc of a tail, or a spouting fountain from a blowhole. Here is one of the few areas on Earth where sperm whales can be sighted all year round thanks to the deep Kaikoura Canyon that runs along the coast. Continue your journey onwards to Christchurch. Upon arrival, enjoy dinner.

Absorb the rural scenery from aboard your coach before beginning the ascent into the Main Divide. Then, sit back and enjoy the vistas as you journey through the Southern Alps to Westland Tai Poutini National Park. This evening, enjoy dinner.

Journey through spectacular Haast Pass, skirting the tranquil shores of lakes Wanaka and Hawea to the alpine resort of Queenstown on Lake Wakatipu. Delicious food is always on the menu in Queenstown as it is renowned for its world-class food scene and nightlife. This evening, during time at leisure, you may like to dine at one of the many restaurants in the town centre.

Insider Experience
Settle in for a two-night stay overseeing the calming blue waters of Lake Wakatipu, all the while admiring the dramatic backdrop of towering mountains.

With the entire day to spend as you please, you have the freedom to simply relax or pursue your interests and choose one of our exciting select experiences. Perhaps step aboard the TSS Earnslaw steamship for a cruise to Walter Peak Station, or take a scenic gondola ride to the top of Bob's Peak for panoramic views over Queenstown (both at own expense). Or, if you're more of a gourmand, perhaps choose to set off into the Central Otago region independently - one of New Zealand's foremost wine-producing areas.

Enter Fiordland National Park along the Milford Road, then enjoy an exciting Insider Experience. Afterwards, make your way to your hotel and enjoy dinner.

Insider Experience
Board a boat and cruise the full length of Milford Sound, a magnificent fiord with views of cascading waterfalls, dense rainforest, sheer cliffs and surrounding mountains.

Today, journey through rolling Southland countryside before arriving in Dunedin. Enjoy a guided tour then head to the nearby hills to take an intriguing tour of Larnach Castle, New Zealand's only castle. Steeped in scandal and tragedy, it is filled with magnificent antiques and offers breathtaking views. Enjoy some time at leisure before dinner this evening.

See the Moeraki Boulders and visit Oamaru to see some of New Zealand's finest 19th-century architecture.

Insider Experience
Journey into Mt Cook National Park to view Australasia's highest mountain, Aoraki (Mt Cook). Arrive this afternoon at your hotel, situated on the shores of Lake Tekapo.

Insider Experience
Dine on fresh local produce at your hotel's restaurant during a memorable Farewell Dinner.

Pay a visit to the tiny Church of the Good Shepherd before travelling to Christchurch airport for your onward flight.