Day 1 Departure from London Heathrow
Your adventure starts at Heathrow. Here you meet your Tour Manager and companions before a non-stop flight to Singapore. Smiling attendants, a superb entertainment system with your personal seatback screen, excellent food and complimentary drinks show why Singapore Airlines is often considered the world’s best.
Meals: Inflight
Day 2 Arrival into Singapore
Arrive Singapore this morning and then the remainder of your day is at leisure. Meet for welcome drinks later this evening.
Meals: Inflight
Hotel: Meritus Mandarin
Day 3 Singapore
Today you tour Singapore. Spectacular modern buildings contrast with traditional sights like Thian Hock Keng Temple, Little India and Geylang Serai, the Malay area. You see the Orchid Gardens then return to the hotel to relax.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Meritus Mandarin
Day 4 Singapore to Auckland
A day at leisure before your Singapore Airlines flight to Auckland. Why not check out your cookery skills with our Exclusive Raffles of Singapore Culinary Academy. A fantastic opportunity to learn how to cook wonderful Asian dishes with a Raffles executive chef!
Meals: Breakfast, Inflight
Day 5 Arrival into Auckland
Auckland is named the ‘City of Sails’. Your day is at leisure - take a stoll down Queen Street or maybe enjoy a glass of wine in the Viaduct overlooking Auckland’s harbour.
Meals: Inflight
Hotel: Sky City Grand
Day 6 Auckland
Today you enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city. Your afternoon is then free to relax. This evening you dine at the Orbit Restaurant atop of the Auckland Sky Tower - amazing views!
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Sky City Grand
Day 7 Auckland to Bay of Islands
Depart Auckland and travel via Matakohe (including a visit to the Kauri Museum) then via Waipoua Forest before reaching Bay of Islands.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Copthorne Bay of Islands
Day 8 Bay of Islands
Today we take a cruise around the Bay of Islands taking us via Red Head Passage to Cape Brett and Piercy Island where we cruise to the famous ‘Hole in the Rock’. In these world famous deep-sea fishing grounds, porpoise and school of fish are frequently seen. The return trip visits historic Russell, once known as “the Hell Hole of the Pacific” but now a peaceful and picturesque township.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Copthorne Bay of Islands
Day 9 Bay of Islands
A full day to enjoy this picturesque part of New Zealand. This evening why not meet Hone Mihaka, chief of the Ngaphi tribe who will escort you in his Waka (Maori canoe) along the Waitangi River whilst teaching you Maori chants. A wonderful and unique experience.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Copthorne Bay of Islands
Day 10 Bay of Islands to Rotorua
This morning we travel south via the sparkling beaches of the Pacific Ocean along New Zealand’s fragrant Hibiscus Coast. Later in the afternoon we arrive at the world famous thermal region at Rotorua. This evening, following dinner, we enjoy an entertaining Maori concert.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Millennium
Day 11 Rotorua
This morning there’s a sightseeing tour of Rotorua including the famous Rotorua bath house and a visit to Te Puia including the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve with its boiling mudpools and spurting geysers.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Millennium
Day 12 Rotorua to Queenstown
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Queenstown. There’s a tour of this picturesque resort before going to see Arrowtown’s picturesque tree lined streets and miners’ cottages just as they were in the 19th century gold rush. In the evening, you cruise the lake on 98- year old steamer ‘Earnslaw’ with dinner at Walter Peak Homestead.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Millennium
Day 13 Queenstown
A free day ~ and so much choice. Horse riding, a four wheel drive safari over old mining tracks ~ even a jet boat ride. For an easier day try a garden tour or maybe ride a gondola to the top of Bob’s Peak ~ a breathtaking view of the town and lake.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Millennium
Day 14 Queenstown
A scenic drive takes you to Milford Sound where you board your cruise. Only out on Milford Sound itself can the dramatic scenery be fully appreciated. Sheer peaks rise all around and spectacular waterfalls plunge into the calm water. The cruise takes in the impressive Mitre Peak and Bowen Falls, and seals and dolphins are often found playing in the waters.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Millennium
Day 15 Queenstown to Franz Josef
Today you travel by the shores of Lakes Hawea and Wanaka (one of the most enchanting routes you can imagine) before entering Westland National Park with its snow-capped mountains, glaciers, forests, grasslands, lakes, rivers and wetlands.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Te Waonui Forest Retreat
Day 16 Franz Josef
A day of grandeur and beauty. If you wish we’ll drive you to the Franz Josef Glacier terminal to walk to the glacier face. Weather permitting you can take an optional scenic flight (at an extra cost) over the awe-inspiring Alpine region.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Te Waonui Forest Retreat
Day 17 Franz Josef to Christchurch
Today you travel via Hokitika to Arthurs Pass. There you join the Trans Alpine Express for a scenic train journey through the Southern Alps to Christchurch.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Crowne Plaza
Day 18 Christchurch
A day to enjoy Christchurch and its surroundings. Go up Mount Cavendish by cable car ~ there’s a wonderful view. You could punt on the river or visit Kaikoura to see whales and dolphins. Tonight join your travelling companions for a Farewell Dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Crowne Plaza
Day 19 Christhurch
A final day is at leisure until you transfer to the airport for your Singapore Airlines flight via Singapore to London Heathrow.
Meals: Breakfast, Inflight
Day 20 Arrival into London Heathrow
You arrive at London Heathrow... with new friends made and splendid memories to take home with you.