Majestic New Zealand – Economy Coach Tour

Package Overview

We are going to take you on a blissful sweeping tour of New Zealand from Auckland in the North Island, through Rotorua, to the capital Wellington down to the garden city of the south, Christchurch, and on to the far south playground of Queenstown and the Milford Sound.

Once you have delighted in all these, and other places on the way, have to offer, we will wisk you off to the West Coast, where you will view stunning natural forests and rivers on your way to the peaceful slow winding Fox or Franz Joseph glaciers journey to the sea.
Then while you are reminiscing on all the special experiences you have had we wil take for one last joyride on the famous Tranzalpine Express from the West Coast to the lovely serene Christchurch.

During your trip you will see and experience Maori traditional ceremonies, Glow worm caves, hand feed trout, watch sheep being shawn, cruise the Milford Sound, ride on the Queenstown Gondola, view the Glaciers up close and any other options, such as scenic flights and water jet rides, that you may want to indulge in.

Hop on board for the some of the best rides, walks, and sightseeing you could wish for in New Zealand.

Other Information

Duration

​9 day(s) 8 nights
Departure

​Reporting time 7.30 am at the Sky City Coach Terminal. Departs at 8.00 am EVERY DAY.
Additional Nights – Available to any destination of your choosing. You can add an extra night for a competitive rate. If you would like to extend your tour, please advise your consultant when making your booking. We definitely recommend that you spend extra nights prior to and after your tour to explore the gateway destinations, as these provide many unique attractions worth going the extra mile for.

Flexible Itineraries
All our New Zealand coach tours can be adapted to your individual specifications. If a tour does not entirely suit you, we can provide a personalised coach touring holiday that fits you like a glove. All you need to do is let us know what you want to do, and we will organise it for you.

Transfers Included
Transfers are included between your accommodation and transport on the Tour. If you need to we can book your pre-tour arrangements or you can make your own way to the Tour departure location.

Daily Departures
The tours operate every day and use routine train, ferry and motor coach services. All hotel, motel accommodation, transportation and essential sightseeing are pre-arranged for you.

Day wise Itinerary

• Day 1 : Auckland - Waitomo - Rotorua

  Board the Great Sights coach for an exciting tour to the magnificent Waitomo Caves and the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua. Travel south along the Auckland motorway to the Bombay Hills, and head into the farming province of Waikato. Your coach follows the Waikato River, New Zealand’s longest river, through Hamilton and Otorohanga to Waitomo.
  Arrive at Waitomo for a guided tour through the spectacular Waitomo Caves and an underground boat ride through the famous ‘Glowworm Grotto’ (admission included). Please note, rain can affect water levels in the cave which may result in a shortened tour.
  
  Leaving the caves, your journey continues through the lush Waikato Plains and on to Fitzgerald Glade – a section of highway where the native bush and trees form a canopy overhead. A traverse of the forest clad Mamaku Hills proceeds until the delicate wafts of sulphur lure you into fiery Rotorua.
• Day 2 : At Rotorua

  In the morning you will be met by a representative from Great Sights Coachlines for your morning city tour of Rotorua’s leading attractions.
  
  Highlights include:
  
  Te Puia 60 Minute Guided Tour:
  Te Puia is New Zealand’s leading and longest running cultural tourism attraction, offering visitors an insight into Maori history and culture, as well as an opportunity to view the spectacular Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley.
  
  Rainbow Springs Admission
  Breathe deeply, and take in the native bush, ferns, trees and plants that grow and flower all around you as you wander through the tree lined pathways at Rainbow Springs Nature Park. Enjoy the tranquillity of the crystal clear mineral water that flows tirelessly from the subterranean springs throughout the park, and marvel at the silent grace of the magnificent specimens of Rainbow, Brown and Tiger trout and feed them as they cruise the fern-fringed pools. Hear the bustling bush wildlife, and meet the curious species of native birds on display.
  
  Agrodome Sheep Show
  The Agrodome Sheep Show is a one-hour performance where you will see nineteen sheep breeds introduced onto the stage, and be shown the art of sheep shearing, along with sheepdog demonstrations, cow milking, bottle feed lambs and an exciting sheep auction. Audience participation is a major part of this entertaining show, highlighting the significance of agriculture in New Zealand.
  
  The afternoon is completely at your leisure for shopping, additional sightseeing options or for relaxing in the natural spring waters which first made this area so famous for its healing properties.
• Day 3 : Rotorua - Wellington

  The start of the Waikato river signals the proximity of a huge watery crater – Lake Taupo Our drive winds along the shore of this extinct volcano before ascending the plateau to view the ominous snowclad peaks of Ruapehu, Ngaruahoe and Tongariro. Continue along the desolate and barren Desert Road to windy Waiouru before dropping down into the farming community of Taihape.
  
  Around Bulls the road levels out, soaking up the wide stretches of the Manawatu plains to Palmerston North. Market gardens abound around Levin and Otaki until the road curves its way round the coast, through Paekakariki and over the hills into Wellington, arriving in the afternoon.
• Day 4 : Wellington - Picton - Christchurch

  Ferry and Train
  Leaving Wellington on the InterIslander Ferry you will sail across Port Nicholson to Somes Island, before turning south, out through the heads, and then across Cook Strait to the narrow Tory Channel which leads to the placid waters of the Marlborough Sounds.
  
  The InterIslander offers a wide range of onboard amenities and entertainment.
  
  The Coastal Pacific train departs from Picton, so once on board sit back and relax as you travel south through Marlborough and then edge down the narrow coastal strip where the Pacific pounds the rugged Kaikoura coastline. You emerge into the dry North Canterbury sheep country which takes you on to Kaiapoi before reaching Christchurch in the early evening.
• Day 5 : Christchurch - Mt Cook - Queenstown

  Leaving Wellington on the InterIslander Ferry you will sail across Port Nicholson to Somes Island, before turning south, out through the heads, and then across Cook Strait to the narrow Tory Channel which leads to the placid waters of the Marlborough Sounds.
  
  The InterIslander offers a wide range of onboard amenities and entertainment.
  
  This morning board a Great Sights coach to Mount Cook and Queenstown. Travel through the outskirts of Christchurch to the fertile Canterbury Plains on the way to Geraldine where we stop for morning tea (at own expense), please be ready to reboard the coach at the time specified by your driver. Continue on, travelling through the tussocky Mackenzie country, settled by hardy Scottish immigrants through to Lake Tekapo to view the solitary Church of the Good Shepherd. The monument nearby serves as a memorial to the collie dog who was responsible for herding huge flocks of sheep on the steep farmland surrounding the area.
  
  Continue along the edge of the azure blue Lake Pukaki to follow the Tasman River to Mt. Cook, the highest mountain in Australasia.
  
  A break is taken in Mount Cook for you to enjoy a little leisure time in this alpine paradise. Stroll around one of the several marked walking tracks, or take the opportunity to have lunch (at own expense). A series of flight sightseeing options are available in the Mt. Cook region which covers twelve major glaciers and 200km of New Zealand’s finest alpine scenery, a truly memorable experience.
  
  Travel back down the Tasman Valley, past Glentanner Park as you head towards Twizel and onto Omarama. A short refreshment stop is made here before continuing on over the Lindis Pass to Tarras. Follow the shores of Lake Dunstan to Cromwell and into the Kawarau Gorge to arrive in Queenstown in the early evening.
• Day 6 : Queenstown - Milford Sound - Queenstown

  In the morning board your Great Sights coach to Milford Sound.
  
  Journey along the edge of Lake Wakatipu, through Kingston and Mossburn in to Te Anau, through the Eglinton Valley to the Mirror Lakes, before following the “Avenue of the Disappearing Mountain”, past Cascade Creek and Lake Gunn and on to The Divide. Proceed through the Hollyford Valley to the Homer Tunnel, a man-made tunnel cut out of the rock wall, to emerge into the Cleddau Valley, and on to Milford Sound.
  
  Join your Milford Sound Cruise to explore the wonder of this majestic fiord while your buffet lunch is served on board. Cruise past Mitre Peak one of the highest mountains in the world which rises directly from the ocean floor. View Stirling and Bowen Falls as your cruise takes you out to the mouth of the Pacific Ocean, passing the lonely lighthouse at the mouth of the sound. Spot seals and watch out for dolphins who surf the bow wave of the boat.
  
  After your cruise, re-board your coach to enjoy the scenery as you return to Queenstown.
• Day 7 : At Queenstown

  Today is completely at your leisure to enjoy the many sights of this alpine resort situated on the shores of Lake Wakatipu.
  
  Queenstown offers something for everyone – you can enjoy the quiet beauty and tranquillity of this mountain retreat and enjoy several walking trails in the town area.
  
  For sheer excitement there is white-water rafting, helicopter rides, the famous jet boats and bungy jumping to pump your adrenalin.
  
  There are cruises on the lake, visits to high country sheep stations. You can visit nearby Arrowtown where the main street has been preserved since the 1860’s gold rush days and you can try your luck and pan for gold in the adjacent Shotover River.
  
  We have included the Skyline Gondola ride in your tour package – you can take this any time during your stay in Queenstown.
• Day 8 : Queenstown - Glaciers

  Leaving Queenstown on your Intercity Coach, we follow the Frankton arm to the source of the Kawarau River. Here the road twists and coils its way through the formidable Kawarau gorge, until its union with the Clutha River at Cromwell.
  
  From Cromwell you turn north along the Clutha river valley, passing Queensbury and Luggate before reaching beautiful Lake Wanaka. Now the road crosses to the scorched flanks of Lake Hawea before returning to the eastern shores of Lake Wanaka and on into the thick beech forests around Makarora.
  This is the heart of Mt Aspiring National Park and you climb up to the Gates of Haast with spectacular views of Mt Brewster and the many rivers and waterfalls of this rocky terrain. The ancient greenstone trail then drops down to Pleasant Flat and Haast town ship. The drive takes you along the rugged and wild west coast, crossing the Karangarua and Cook rivers, and passing tranquil Lakes Paringa and Moeraki, where the graceful white heron is often seen.
  
  Magnificent Mt Tasman imposes to your right as you enter glacier country, where massive blocks of ice sweep kilometres down the valleys in their slow motion journey to the sea.
  
  Overnight at either Fox or Franz Josef Glaciers.
• Day 9 : Glaciers - Christchurch

  Glaciers to Greymouth
  Leaving the Glaciers behind the dense rain forests line the road as we travel north along the narrow coastal plain between the mountains and the sea. Picturesque lakes nestled in the bush lead to more open farmland north of Hari Hari and Ross. Hokitika was once a seaport and a city based on gold mining. Then we cross the Arahura River, the main source of New Zealand’s Greenstone (Nephrite Jade) before arriving in Greymouth.
  
  The Tranzalpine
  Leaving Greymouth we travel through the Otira tunnel to emerge at Arthurs Pass, the base for the National Park of the same name. We follow the Waimakariri river down to Cass and then travel through the Craigeburn State Forest park to rejoin the river and then on to Springfield The sheep and grain growing country of the Canterbury Plains is soon crossed to our destination, arriving Christchurchin the early evening.

Inclusions

• Hotel
• Sightseeing
• ​Transport
• 8 nights accommodation
• Transfers within journey
• Waitomo Glow-worm Caves
• Maori Hangi & Concert
• Te Puia Geothermal Experience
• Rainbow Springs
• Agrodome Sheep Show
• Interislander Ferry
• TranzCoastal Train Journey
• Mount Cook National Park
• Milford Sound Cruise including lunch
• Skyline Gondola – Queenstown
• TranzAlpine Train Journey
• Franz Josef or Fox Glacier viewing

Price & Rates

Terms & Conditions

This Tour is Offered by

• 12 Princess Street, Christchurch, New Zealand - 567
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