Explore the wonderful scenery and unique flora and fauna while you cruise Waitemata Harbor and discover New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland. Take a guided boat in Waitomo to see the amazing Glow Worm Grotto and limestone caves. Visit Te Puia Thermal Reserve in Rotorua and experience Maori culture with a traditional Maori Hangi. Journey on the TranzAlpine train and see spectacular Franz Josef Glacier. Enjoy a cruise on scenic Milford Sound, explore the adventure capital Queenstown before discovering historical Christchurch.

Highlights
Auckland, Waitomo, Rotorua, TranzAlpine, Franz Josef, Milford Sound

Day 1 to Day 2 DEPART USA
You will fly over the international date line on your way to Auckland, New Zealand.

Day 3 ARRIVE AUCKLAND
On arrival in Auckland you will be transferred to your hotel, with a guaranteed early check-in. Later, board your cruise on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbor. Sit back and relax – the time is yours – it’s the best way to see Auckland, the City of Sails! Next up is a sightseeing tour including views from the top of Mount Eden and the War Memorial. See Bastion Point and Viaduct Harbor, home to the 2000 America's Cup. This evening enjoy a Welcome Drink and dinner with your Tour Director and traveling companions.

Meal(s): (Dinner)
Hotel: Stamford Plaza (D)

Day 4 AUCKLAND - ROTORUA (2 NIGHTS)
Trace the Waikato River to the Waitomo Caves. You will explore the amazing Glow Worm Grotto by boat and walk through the limestone caves. From here your journey continues on to Rotorua. Enjoy a Maori Hangi Highlight Dinner accompanied by local wine and a concert to gain an insight into traditional Maori culture.

Meal(s): (Buffet Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)
Hotel: Millennium Hotel (D)

Day 5 ROTORUA SIGHTSEEING
Your sightseeing includes the entertaining Agrodome Sheep Show, the multi-award-winning stage show where you'll gain an insight into agriculture in New Zealand. Visit beautiful Rainbow Springs Nature Park to experience native bush, ferns and trees that grow around the crystal clear mineral water springs. You may even spot a kiwi! Continue to Te Puia (New Zealand's Maori culture and geothermal experience). A local Maori guide will escort you through the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve to view New Zealand's biggest geyser, bubbling mud pools and thermal springs.

Meal(s): (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 6 ROTORUA - CHRISTCHURCH
Today you will fly to Christchurch (flights to arrive prior to 2pm). On arrival board your coach for a tour to see how the city is slowly being rebuilt as a consequence of the devastating earthquake of February 2011. Later, continue to your alpine resort at the foot hills of the Southern Alps.

Meal(s): (Buffet Breakfast)
Hotel: Terrace Downs Resort, Darfield (D)

Day 7 TRANZALPINE - FRANZ JOSEF
Start the day with a spectacular train journey on the TranzAlpine from Darfield through the Southern Alps to Arthur’s Pass. Next travel via Graymouth, the largest town on the West Coast, to Hokitika where you'll visit a New Zealand greenstone (jade) factory for a jewelry demonstration. Finally, arrive at Franz Josef Glacier, the world’s most accessible, and still advancing, glacier. You’ll have the opportunity to see it from the air on an optional scenic flight (weather permitting).

Meal(s): (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier (MF)

Day 8 FRANZ JOSEF - QUEENSTOWN (3 NIGHTS)
Get your camera ready today as we experience some spectacular sights. Drive over the Haast Pass, past Thunder Creek Falls, Lakes Wanaka, Hawea and Dunstan. You’ll enjoy the tastes of delicious stone fruit at Cromwell – the stone fruit capital. Visit the historic gold mining village of Arrowtown on the Arrow River, previously one of the world’s richest rivers, before continuing to adventure capital Queenstown for an orientation tour on arrival.

Meal(s): (Buffet Breakfast)
Hotel: Millennium Hotel (D)

Day 9 MILFORD SOUND
Journey over the Devil's Stair Case and along the shores of Lake Wakatipu to Te Anau and its lake, the largest in the South Island. Next travel through the rainforest of World Heritage Fiordland National Park, sighting glaciers and mountain ranges. Drive through the hand-hewn Homer Tunnel to the numerous photo opportunities afforded by the Mirror Lake, Pop’s Lookout, Cleddau Valley and the Chasm, Mitre Peak and Bowen Falls before reaching mystical Milford Sound. Enjoy a Highlight Lunch as you cruise on Milford Sound.

Meal(s): (Buffet Breakfast / Highlight Lunch)

Day 10 QUEENSTOWN AT LEISURE
A full day at leisure to explore the adventure capital. Take it easy with a wine or garden tour or go wild with a jet boat ride or white water rafting.

Meal(s): (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 11 MOUNT COOK - CHRISTCHURCH
You’ll be awestruck by the sensational alpine landscape of Mt. Cook National Park. You may wish to take an optional scenic flight over Mt. Cook (weather permitting). Later in the day you'll continue on to see Lakes Pukaki and Tekapo, where you stop to view the Church of the Good Shepherd. Join us for a visit Morelea Farm, a typical working sheep farm, to discover an authentic taste of New Zealand country life. You are welcomed into the home of your hosts Angie and Stan to enjoy a Be My Guest lunch in their 750 acre garden and gain an insight into the day to day operation of farm life. Travel over the colorful patchwork that is the Canterbury Plains to Darfield.

Meal(s): (Buffet Breakfast / Be My Guest dinner / Dinner)
Hotel: Terrace Downs Resort, Darfield (D)

Day 12 CHRISTCHURCH - USA
It’s time to bid farewell to this amazing country as we transfer you to Christchurch Airport to connect with your flight home.

Meal(s): (Buffet Breakfast)

What's Included

Sightseeing Highlights
Auckland Cruise on Waitemata Harbour.
Waitomo Guided boat tour of the Glow Worm Grotto.
Rotorua Visit the Agrodome Sheep Show, Rainbow Springs plus Te Puia Thermal Reserve and a traditional Maori Hangi.
TranzAlpine Journey through the spectacular Southern Alps.
Franz Josef See the magnificent glacier.
Milford Sound Cruise on this natural wonder.

Dining Highlights
Welcome Drink with your Tour Director in Auckland.
9 buffet breakfasts.
Highlight Lunch cruising Milford Sound.
3 dinners in hotels.
Highlight Dinner in Rotorua.
Be My Guest Lunch in the Mount Cook region.

First Class Travel Highlights
Includes all First Class features.
Airport transfers will be provided on Day 3 in Auckland and Day 12 in Christchurch, only for passengers who have booked their flights on a recommended airline and advised us of their flight details.