Welcome to Christchurch, the largest city on the South Island. Be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel.

This evening, get to know your APT Tour Director and fellow travellers during dinner. Stay: Christchurch, Commodore Hotel (D)

• Board the TranzAlpine train for one of the world's greatest rail adventures.
• Take in the dramatic surrounds of the Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere region.

• On a Freedom of Choice Dining evening perhaps cruise aboard the TSS Earnslaw, a vintage steamboat for a BBQ Dinner at the Walter Peak High Country Farm. Alternatively, enjoy one of the world's most lauded burgers at Fergburger, experience an array of premium local produce at Finz Restaurant, dine amid the stylish surrounds of the Elements Restaurant, or take a ride in the iconic Skyline Gondola up Bob's Peak to Stratosfare Restaurant and enjoy spectacular views of Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Walter and Cecil Peak and of course, Queenstown.

• Perhaps visit several local sites where The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed. Alternatively, set out on a Skippers Canyon adventure or a river safari along the beautiful Dart River. A tour of the country's premier wine-producing region is a tempting option, as is a leisurely cruise over the waters of Lake Wakatipu.

• Enjoy a cruise that explores the full length of the pristine fiord of Milford Sound/Piopiotahi.
• Delight in the authentic flavours of the South Island during a Taste of Fiordland Dinner, showcasing the finest local artisan produce.

• You might like to visit Olveston Historic Home or discover the history behind New Zealand's only castle, Larnach Castle. Alternatively, tour Speight's Brewery and enjoy a tasting.

• Visit the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre or enjoy a fascinating stargazing session with a knowledgeable astronomer guide. Alternatively, during the summer months, board a MAC boat and get up close to icebergs on the Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake.

• Enter the pristine and rugged Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park and admire the majesty of New Zealand's highest peak.

This morning you will travel by coach to Lake Tekapo. Here, you will pay a visit to the tiny Church of the Good Shepherd, built of locally gathered stone and oak and erected as a tribute to the early European pioneers of the region. Continuing your journey, delight in the scenery of Burkes Pass as you make your way back to Christchurch. Reflect on your incredible New Zealand journey over a memorable Farewell Dinner this evening. Stay: Distinction Christchurch Hotel (B/D)

Your journey comes to an end today as you are transferred to the airport. (B)

Welcome to Christchurch, the largest city on the South Island. Be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel.

This evening, get to know your APT Tour Director and fellow travellers during dinner. Stay: Christchurch, Commodore Hotel (D)

• Experience the romance of rail travel aboard the TranzAlpine train. Admire ever-changing landscapes and spectacular gorges as you journey through the famous Southern Alps and along the Waimakariri River on one of the world's most scenic rail routes.
• Drive through Westland Tai Poutini National Park and see the dramatic surrounds of the Franz Josef Glacier/Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere. Tonight, you will stay at the luxurious Legacy Te Waonui Hotel, located on the edge of the Franz Josef/Waiau village. Relax and unwind amid the lush rainforest and breathtaking scenery before enjoying a four-course degustation fine dining experience.

• Walter Peak: Cruise aboard a vintage steamer to Walter Peak High Country Farm to enjoy a lavish BBQ dinner featuring succulent meats expertly prepared on the rotisserie and grill, vegetables, a selection of salads, and bread. And be sure to leave room for dessert.
• Stratosfare Restaurant: Take a magical gondola ride up to the Stratosfare Restaurant on Bob's Peak overlooking Queenstown. Feast on an extensive range of New Zealand and international cuisines while enjoying uninterrupted views over Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables.
• Fergburger: This cult burger house achieved worldwide fame in 2015 when its burgers were crowned the world's best in a travel article on the website of news giant CNN. The best burgers in New Zealand, no doubt. The world? You be the judge.
• Finz Restaurant: Finz Seafood & Grill offers casual, relaxed waterfront dining right in the heart of Queenstown. Finz is a bustling bistro, where you can enjoy fresh seafood daily and other dishes in a fabulous location.
• Your Hotel Restaurant: Enjoy a contemporary fusion of local and international cuisine at your hotel.

• 'The Lord of the Rings' 4WD Safari: Discover why this beautiful landscape was chosen to portray Middle-earth in 'The Lord of the Rings' on this sensational 4WD safari. Visit several breathtaking locations where the iconic motion picture trilogy was filmed.
• Wine Tour: Embark on a personalised sightseeing tour of New Zealand's southernmost wine region, as you indulge in tastings from various wineries.
• Skippers Canyon: Enjoy an exciting 4WD adventure following the Shotover River Valley. Admire rocky cliffs, sheer drops and breathtaking river gorges along the way.
• Million Dollar Cruise: Glide across the mystical waters of Lake Wakatipu, keeping your eyes peeled for local bird life as well as enormous trout, which are plentiful here.
• Dart River Wilderness Jet: A wilderness jet boat journey on the glacier-fed Dart River takes you deep into Mount Aspiring National Park, which is part of the larger World Heritage Site of Te Wahipounamu. Here, your guide will share fascinating insights into the area's rich history.
• Best of Queenstown: Gaze in wonder at the beauty of New Zealand's adventure capital on this spectacular tour. Take in panoramic views of Queenstown, visit the charming township of Arrowtown and explore Gibbston, home to the world's first commercial bungy jump location. Enjoy a wine tasting at a local winery and to top it all off, relax during a scenic boat cruise on Lake Wakatipu.

• A cruise through Milford Sound/Piopiotahi draws you into a magical world of snow-dusted mountains, breathtaking scenery and engaging wildlife. Edge close to tumbling waterfalls and colonies of seals and penguins, all beneath the ramparts of mighty peaks that rise sheer from the water as they stretch to the vast sky above.
• Delight in a delectable Taste of Fiordland dinner this evening at the exceptional MacKinnon Restaurant & Explorer Bar. With a menu that has been carefully crafted to showcase the South Island's regional cuisine, you'll savour mouth-watering local fare made from the finest artisan produce.

• Olveston Historic Home: Wander through the historic home of a wealthy merchant family built in the early 1900s. Inside, admire fine art, furniture and artefacts, which have been collected from around the world.
• Larnach Castle: Discover the history of Larnach Castle and its beautiful gardens on a guided tour. Nestled on the stunning Otago Peninsula, it is New Zealand's only castle and dates back to 1871. Travel to the East Coast and the town of Dunedin today. Known as the ‘Edinburgh of the south', the former gold mining town was once New Zealand's largest city thanks to an influx of miners during the gold rush. This afternoon, select your Freedom of Choice activity.

• Visit the state-of-the-art Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre and discover the history of the iconic surrounding region. The museum is dedicated to the achievements of the famous mountaineer and explorer Sir Edmund Hillary and his affiliation with Aoraki/Mount Cook.
• Learn all about the stars of the southern sky with an expert astronomer.
• Step aboard a MAC boat for an up-close encounter with stunning icebergs on the terminal lake of the Tasman Glacier (summer months only).

• Journey into Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, a bewildering landscape of towering mountain peaks, alpine herb fields and epic glaciers. See New Zealand's tallest mountain, Aoraki/Mount Cook, and stay at the iconic Hermitage Hotel. Dine at the hotel's Alpine Restaurant this evening, indulging in a delicious seasonal menu that incorporates the finest local ingredients.

This morning, you will travel by coach to Lake Tekapo/Takapo. Here, you will pay a visit to the Church of the Good Shepherd. Built in 1935 from locally gathered stone and oak, the church was erected as a tribute to the early European pioneers of the region.

Afterwards, continue to Christchurch, delighting in the scenery of Burkes Pass along the way. Reflect on your incredible New Zealand journey over a memorable farewell dinner this evening. Stay: Distinction Christchurch Hotel (B/D)

Your journey comes to an end today as you are transferred to the airport. (B)