Accommodation
4 - 4.5 Star
Max. Group Size
20
Trip Style
Ultimate
Trip Code
UGPN16
Overview
Read 6 reviews and enjoy exclusive savings on Grand Pacific's 16 Day Ultimate Highlights. Explore all the highlights of both the North and South Island at an affordable price. When travelling by the ultimate coach throughout New Zealand, it's the natural beauty that puts the magic in your day. Snowy mountains, volcanoes, boiling mud pools, sandy beaches, fiords, wilderness lakes and mighty glaciers, you will see it all on your 16 Day small group holiday. You will hardly have to put your hand in your pocket as the tour includes return airport transfers; 15 nights...read more premium accommodation; all sightseeing attractions including 4 cruises and 30 meals including several speciality evenings. Meet new friends and see the best New Zealand has to offer.
Itinerary
On arrival in Christchurch you will be met by a Grand Pacific Tours representative and transferred to your hotel. Meet your travelling companions over a complimentary pre-dinner drink. Stay: The George or similar (D)
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 Mt Cook for your overnight stay. Stay: The Hermitage Hotel (B/D)
Depart Mt Cook and see Lake Benmore, before following the Waitaki River to Oamaru, famous for its limestone. Continue south to Dunedin and enjoy a city tour followed by some free time to explore at leisure. The sweet tooth might like to tour Cadbury World (optional) whilst others might be interested in a tour of the Speight's Brewery (optional). Stay: Distinction Dunedin (B/D)
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 an Ultimate High Tea in the Grand Ballroom. Farewell Dunedin and travel through Balclutha and Gore to Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland and your overnight stay. Tonight you may like to visit the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves (optional). Stay: Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas (B/D)
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 at leisure, you may choose to dine at one of the many fine restaurants. Stay Two Nights: Millennium Hotel Queenstown (B/L)
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 reboard the TSS Earnslaw for a sing along by the piano as you cruise back to Queenstown. (B/SD)
Travel to Arrowtown, an old goldmining village and visit the Lakes District Museum. Continue via the Haast Pass to the West Coast, an area of stunning beauty. See the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps as you travel north to Fox Glacier. Time is available (weather permitting) to experience a scenic flight (optional) over the spectacular glaciers before continuing to your hotel. Stay: Distinction Fox Glacier (B/D)
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 to the elegant city of Christchurch. On arrival your coach will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. Stay: The George or similar (B/D)
Travel along the East Coast to the seaside village of Kaikoura. Enjoy the spectacular scenery as you travel through Marlborough Country, famous for its food and wine. Continue to Picton, where you board the Interislander Ferry for your journey through the Marlborough Sounds and across Cook Strait to Wellington. Stay Two Nights: InterContinental Wellington (Premium Room) (B/D)
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 a city tour. Enjoy free time this afternoon and this evening is also free to choose your own dining arrangements. (B)
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. Stay Two Nights: Regent of Rotorua (B/D)
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 the Agrodome for an action-packed hour of farming entertainment and education that is unlike anything you’ve seen before. Free time is available 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 Mãori Hãngi and Concert. (B/SD)
This morning depart Rotorua and travel north via Auckland to the Parry Kauri Park to see a magnificent example of a Kauri Tree. Continue via Whangarei to Paihia, situated in the heart of the beautiful Bay of Islands. This afternoon enjoy a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the location of the signing of the treaty between the Maori tribes and the British. Stay Two Nights: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands, Deluxe Rooms (B/D)
Today 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, enjoy a free afternoon where 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 at leisure, you may like to enjoy a relaxing dinner cruise (optional). (B)
Depart the Bay of Islands this morning and travel via Whangarei and Dargaville 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 farewell dinner including selected beverages with your newfound friends. Stay: Grand Millennium Auckland (B/SD)
Time to say goodbye. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home after a memorable New Zealand holiday. (B)
Trip Inclusions
- Guided Tour of Larnach Castle
- Milford Sound Cruise & Lunch
- Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw
- Lakes District Museum
- TranzAlpine Rail Journey
- Cruise on the Interislander Ferry
- Te Papa, New Zealand's National Museum
- Skyline Gondola & Luge Ride
- Agrodome
- Thermal Mud Pools & Geysers Guided Tour
- Traditional Maori Hangi & Concert
- Guided tour of Waitangi Treaty Grounds
- Hole in the Rock Cruise
- Kauri Museum
- City sights tour of Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington & Auckland
- Personalised Meet and Greet on arrival
- Return airport transfers in New Zealand
- Ultimate Small Group Tour Coach with 20 luxury leather reclining seats on a full-size vehicle, 2 door access and panoramic windows
- Professional Coach Captain
- 15 nights 4.5 star accommodation
- 4 two night stays
- Hotel porterage
- 1 rail journey
- 4 cruises
- All sightseeing and prepaid attractions
- Comprehensive documentation pack
- 15 cooked breakfasts including a specialty breakfast at Stratosfare Restaurant - Rotorua
- 12 sumptuous dinners including 3 specialty dinners: Maori Hangi & Concert, Rotorua; Walter Peak Homestead, Queenstown; Farewell Dinner with selected beverages, Auckland
- 1 lunch: Milford Sound Cruise
- 1 Ultimate High Tea at Larnach Castle
- Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
- Dinner on Day 1 not included for anyone arriving later than 8pm
Trip Reviews (6) Most Recent 'Ultimate Highlights' Reviews
4.7
5 Star
4 Star
3 Star
2 Star
1 Star
Excellent Grand Pacific NZ tour 0 Gary & Michele, VIC, Australia, Nov 2022
Grand Pacific ultimate coach tour of New Zealand (North and South islands) was excellent. Coach and driver/guide were outstanding and coach was very comfortable. Itinerary was fantastic and the accommodation and meals overall were of a very good standard. All stops and included tours were very good and we had great companionship from our fellow travellers. ...read more Some friendships that will be maintained on returning home were established and we had great fun.The absence of laundry facilities, particularly in the North Island accommodation was frustrating and the departure from Auckland airport a nightmare but overall would highly recommend this 16 day itinerary.
A wonderful trip, worth every cent! The hotels were first class, the 20 seater full size bus was amazing and the tour guide/driver was excellent. I was lucky to have a diverse group of people from different parts of the world as my travel companions and the sightseeing covered everything you could hope for. I was directed to Hannah Campbell at Global ...read more Journeys for my booking and as I’ve experienced before, she was very helpful and efficient in sorting my holiday. I would highly recommend Global Journeys and my tour operator Grand Pacific Tours. A holiday to remember!
New Zealand - Grand Pacific Ultimate 3 Elizabeth, VIC, Australia, Oct 2019
I booked my tour with Hannah from Global Journeys. This is my third tour that I have booked with them and Hannah. Hannah is brilliant. Always professional and nothing is too much trouble. Hannah communicated with me throughout the entire booking process and ensured that I had everything in order to ensure smooth travelling. Everything was so well organised ...read more and I cannot recommend Hannah and Global Journeys enough.
The tour started in Christchurch and I was met by a host from Grand Pacific at the airport to transfer me to the hotel. That was probably the last time that I handled my bag for any great length of time because throughout the tour bags were picked up from outside your room on day of departure and delivered to your rooms on arrival at your next destination. Being a small group tour was so nice as you actually got to know individuals well throughout the tour. The group was amazing and everyone really got along well. I was the only solo traveller on this tour but was made to feel very much part of the group. Everyone was so welcoming - wouldn't hesitate to go on another tour with this amazing group again.
Our coach driver and tour captain Linda was brilliant. Always felt very safe with Linda at the helm. Driving and commentating didn't appear to phase Linda and her stories were always informative and set the scene for the next stop on the tour. All this with a warm and engaging personality. Linda is a real treasure. The coach is state of the art! Everyone had their own seat with a private side table to plug in your electronic devices etc and with full view windows which made for very comfortable touring.
The tour itself was pretty fast paced particularly when you consider that in 16 days we did the South and North islands. The South Island is so scenic - the landscape is breathtaking and awe inspiring. You would be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the world like the South Island of New Zealand. The North Island appears to have a more cultural feel with most of the Maori population residing there. What beautiful stories they have about how New Zealand evolved - so rich in history. Some more two night stays on the South Island would have been great!
The hotels we stayed in were mostly of a very very high standard with only two hotels if I am honest not in keeping with the standard that the others provided or would be expected from a tour such as this, but with little time spent in the room this was manageable. Food on the tour was plentiful - oh how plentiful. No one went hungry and with buffet breakfasts and several selections to choose from when dining at the hotels in the evening everyone was catered for. The meals were always very nice. The special dinners included which were not provided by the hotels were fantastic.
The optional extras on the tour was a little lacking in some ways. There was little in the way of physical exercise - for eg: hiking, bicycle riding! There were many optional extras whereby scenic flights/helicopter rides were offered. Speed boat trips also. The other optional extras were less inspiring and could be reviewed. Overall this tour was the entree to a main meal! We just got a taste of New Zealand and I'm sure many of us will be back.
The tour started in Christchurch and I was met by a host from Grand Pacific at the airport to transfer me to the hotel. That was probably the last time that I handled my bag for any great length of time because throughout the tour bags were picked up from outside your room on day of departure and delivered to your rooms on arrival at your next destination. Being a small group tour was so nice as you actually got to know individuals well throughout the tour. The group was amazing and everyone really got along well. I was the only solo traveller on this tour but was made to feel very much part of the group. Everyone was so welcoming - wouldn't hesitate to go on another tour with this amazing group again.
Our coach driver and tour captain Linda was brilliant. Always felt very safe with Linda at the helm. Driving and commentating didn't appear to phase Linda and her stories were always informative and set the scene for the next stop on the tour. All this with a warm and engaging personality. Linda is a real treasure. The coach is state of the art! Everyone had their own seat with a private side table to plug in your electronic devices etc and with full view windows which made for very comfortable touring.
The tour itself was pretty fast paced particularly when you consider that in 16 days we did the South and North islands. The South Island is so scenic - the landscape is breathtaking and awe inspiring. You would be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the world like the South Island of New Zealand. The North Island appears to have a more cultural feel with most of the Maori population residing there. What beautiful stories they have about how New Zealand evolved - so rich in history. Some more two night stays on the South Island would have been great!
The hotels we stayed in were mostly of a very very high standard with only two hotels if I am honest not in keeping with the standard that the others provided or would be expected from a tour such as this, but with little time spent in the room this was manageable. Food on the tour was plentiful - oh how plentiful. No one went hungry and with buffet breakfasts and several selections to choose from when dining at the hotels in the evening everyone was catered for. The meals were always very nice. The special dinners included which were not provided by the hotels were fantastic.
The optional extras on the tour was a little lacking in some ways. There was little in the way of physical exercise - for eg: hiking, bicycle riding! There were many optional extras whereby scenic flights/helicopter rides were offered. Speed boat trips also. The other optional extras were less inspiring and could be reviewed. Overall this tour was the entree to a main meal! We just got a taste of New Zealand and I'm sure many of us will be back.
Loved it! 10 days on the South Island and 6 days on the North Island, all done with Grand Pacific Tours. Our coach driver, Chris, was a gem - an experienced driver with a conversational style of narrative that made the journey fun. A couple of days were on the longish side but overall, it was a well-paced coach tour. Meals were great, accommodation ...read more was great, and the included excursions were good too. The Gallipoli Exhibit at the museum, in particular, was an eye-opener. We missed out on optional helicopter flight at Fox Glacier due to weather but did one over the Bay Of Islands later on to make up for it. Everywhere you look is beautiful in terms of scenery. Try the Thunder Trike ride (350 Chev V8 motor in it) at Bay of Islands; it's a real hoot!
Comfortable coach while travelling beautiful New Zealand 1 Carleen & Russell, TAS, Australia, Sep 2019
Accommodation was very good, especially The George in Christchurch. Te Anau is a long way out of the way, but was a peaceful spot and I had a wonderful, much needed massage there. Fantastic landscape in the South Island. Rotorua was fantastic... great local guides and the luge ride is a must. The cultural evening was terrific. Bay of Islands - a long ...read more awaited treat. Time in Auckland was limited. Very early starts every day; long days on the coach mostly. Pace was a bit fast. 4,000 kms over 14 days. Itinerary - it would be very helpful if the hotels with laundry facilities were outlined. Driver had to be tour director as well, which was a lot of work for him to cover.
The tour was great 3 Margaret Dumesny, Australia, Oct 2013
The Ultimate tour had lots of advantages, when comparing with the large tours. However we found that of the 17 of us, there weren't many like minded travelling companions. It was quite clear that several people wanted to keep to themselves, so there wasn't a lot of interaction within the group, whereas our friends who did the same tour & recommended ...read more it, had a wonderful time & a lot of fun times. John & I have travelled many places & we loved everything about New Zealand, we just think we were unlucky with some of the group. The tour driver/guide was good & a gentleman. He sometimes talked too much about irrelevant things, like cost of insurances, fuel, weigh bridges etc. etc. but overall he did well. Would we do another small group tour ? Maybe, maybe not. The tour however was great.
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Tuesday 21 May 2024
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Wednesday 27 Sep 2023
Thursday 12 Oct 2023
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Friday 13 Oct 2023
Saturday 28 Oct 2023
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Saturday 28 Oct 2023
Sunday 12 Nov 2023
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Sunday 12 Nov 2023
Monday 27 Nov 2023
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Tuesday 13 Feb 2024
Wednesday 28 Feb 2024
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Monday 06 May 2024
Tuesday 21 May 2024
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Key
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Note
Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you enquire. Additional savings may apply. We guarantee the lowest price in Australia. T&C’s apply.
Flights Included:
All departures can be booked with return flights from Australia to New Zealand included. Please select the flight option when you enquire with us.
Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you enquire. Additional savings may apply. We guarantee the lowest price in Australia. T&C’s apply.
Flights Included:
All departures can be booked with return flights from Australia to New Zealand included. Please select the flight option when you enquire with us.
Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Grand Pacific.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Grand Pacific.
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