^MagnificentNew Zealand

28 Days from only £3,995

Day 1

We will assemble at London Heathrow,Terminal 3, for our non-stop Singapore Airlines flight to Singapore. Flight SQ 317 is scheduled to depart at 11.00 hours and shortly after take-off lunch will be served. (Passengers who would prefer to fly direct from Manchester to Singapore can take SQ 327, departing at 10.00 hours.This is available at no extra cost but passengers will not be with a Tour Manager during the flight). Enjoy your in-flight entertainment system on your personal seatback screen. Beverages with the compliments of Singapore Airlines.
(Meals: Lunch, Refreshments).

Day 2, Singapore - 2 nights

Before landing into Singapore breakfast is served. Our arrival is scheduled for 07.45 hours local time, (07.00 for those from Manchester) and after customs clearance our waiting coaches will transfer us to the deluxe Pan Pacific Hotel, situated in the heart of Marina Square.Your day has been left at leisure until early evening when we gather for drinks so we may become better acquainted for our forthcoming travels together.
(Meals: Breakfast).

Day 3

After breakfast we shall take a city tour of Singapore, with its wealth of different cultures, races and religions. Sights include the Chinese Temple and the Orchid Gardens within Singapore's botanical gardens.We return to the hotel early afternoon and the rest of your day is at leisure.
(Meals: Breakfast).

Day 4

A day at leisure prior to our departure for the airport. Perhaps take a river cruise, or maybe visit the Chinese and Japanese Gardens.All our rooms have been booked until 4 o'clock this evening, enabling us to freshen up before our departure. Flight SQ 297 to Christchurch is scheduled to depart at 19.45 and shortly after take off, dinner will be served.
(Meals: Breakfast, Dinner).

Day 5, Christchurch - 2 nights

Breakfast is served before our arrival into Christchurch. Our arrival is estimated at 10.40 hours local time and after the normal immigration procedures we shall transfer to the Millennium Christchurch centrally located in Cathedral Square, in the heart of the city, where we spend our next two nights.
(Meals: Breakfast).

Day 6

Today has been left completely free to enjoy the most English of New Zealand’s cities, renowned for its beautiful parks and gardens. Take the cable car up Mount Cavendish for a panoramic view, or enjoy a tour by restored antique tramcar. you may wish to travel further afield to the original French settlement of Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula, or travel north to Kaikoura for the chance of spotting the mightly sperm whales? (Meals: Breakfast)

Day 7, Dunedin 2 nights

Today we head South through the Canterbury Plains. Passing through Ashburton and Temuka we reach Timaru and the estuary of the Waitaki River. A little further South we reach Moeraki’s Hampden Beach where we stop to view the geological curiosities which are known simply as the Moeraki Boulders. Each weighing several tonnes and up to four metres in circumference, the boulders were formed around 60 million years ago and their shape is caused by chemistry rather than wave action. Our travels continue to Dunedin where we spend the next two nights at the first class Southern Cross Hotel, situated just a short walk from the Octagon. Evening at leisure
(Meals: Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 8,

Dunedin is known as the ‘Edinburgh of the South’, and this morning we shall take you on a city tour. Included is the University of Otago, the country's first; Signal Hill Lookout and Olverston House, a Jacobean-styled home bequeathed tothe people of Dunedin in 1966. Your afternoon is left at leisure for you to explore further. Consider a trip on the Taieri Gorge train, visit the botanical gardens or perhaps take a lookat the Early Settler’s Museum. Evening at leisure.
(Meals: Breakfast, Dinner).

Day 9, Invercargill - 2 nights

A morning drive takes us via Balclutha where we leave the main road through an rea rarely visited by tour coaches. Here we join the coast road climbing over hills of lush grass, which encroach on the primeval Catlins Hills dressed in the native woods of Crimson Rata, Kahikatea and Rimu. Further down the coast the transition from virgin bush to well-cultivated farms, in the space of only a few kilometres, is startling. Our drive continues along the Chaslands Coast and later in the day we arrive at new Zealand’s most southernmost city, Invercargill, and our home for the next two nights, the Ascot Park Hotel.
(Meals: Breakfast, Dinner).

Day 10,

Today we travel to Bluff on South Island's tip, where we board a ferry which will take us across the Foveaux Strait to the third and most southerly of New Zealand's main islands.With approximately 1,600 kilometres of coastline, Stewart Island has barely 20 kilometres of road, and a permanent population of less than 350 people. Upon arrival our waiting mini-buses will take us on a tour of the island's only roads.We shall pass a number of delightful beaches, visit Observation Point and a house moved to Halfmoon Bay from the Norwegian whaling base at Price's Inlet. After lunch you will have plenty of time to wander around the town of Halfmoon Bay prior to our journey back via Bluff to Invercargill.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch).

Day 11, Milford Sound - Overnight

A short journey this morning takes us to picturesque Riverton, before passing through one of the most splendid routes in Southland. Upon reaching Te Waewae Bay we turn inland and make our way to Te Anau, gateway to the Fiordland National Park. From here we make our way to Milford Sound, New Zealand's number one natural tourist attraction. In the height of summer Milford Sound attracts thousands of tourists each day. But when the day visitors depart a silence descends.We have included an overnight cruise along Milford Sound, undoubtedly a once in a lifetime experience. On board the wonderful 'Milford Mariner' we cruise the full length of New Zealand's most spectacular fiord to the Tasman Sea before anchoring for the night in sheltered Harrison Cove. With nature guides to assist, go exploring in the tender craft or simply relax on deck. After the day's activities, enjoy a sumptuous evening buffet in the spacious dining saloon before retiring to your private cabin with ensuite facilities.
(Meals: Breakfast, Dinner).

Day 12, Queenstown - 3 nights

After an unforgettable experience as well as a hot breakfast, it's time to make our way back to the jetty ready for the next part of our journey. A morning drive takes us back to Te Anau in time for a leisurely lunch. Afterwards, continue to cosmopolitan Queenstown, and a short while later, Arrowtown, with its picturesque tree lined streets and miners cottages preserved as they were during the 19th century gold rush era. Later in the afternoon we arrive into Queenstown where we check in at the first class Heritage Hotel overlooking Lake Wakatipu where we spend our next two nights. (Meals: Breakfast).

Day 13, Queenstown

A free day to enjoy as you please. There are many activities available in Queenstown. Maybe go horse riding, white water rafting or take a four wheel drive safari over old mining tracks. For those requiring an easier day a garden tour could be more suitable or perhaps just stroll arounf this lovely township. This evening we relive a bygone era cruising on Lake Wakatipu aboard the vintage steamer ‘Earnslaw’. We cruise to Walter Peak Homestead where we enjoy our evening meal before returning back to Queenstown aboard Earnslaw.
(Meals: Breakfast, Dinner).

Day 14

Your final day in Queentown has again been left free to spend as you please. Stroll by the lakeside or take a gondola ride to the top of Bob’s Peak for a magnificent panoramic view of Queenstown.
(Meals: Breakfast)

Day 15, Franz Josef - 2 nights

After breakfast we travel north via the shores of Lake Hawea and Wanaka, and enjoy magnificent scenery as we travel along one of the most exciting scenic roads ever built. Our route takes us alongside striking wild scree-scarred terrain with forests of Crimson Rata and Kahikatea. Later in the day we enter New Zealand's Westland National Park. We arrive at the township of Franz Josef where we spend the next two nights at the Franz Josef Hotel.
(Meals: Breakfast, Dinner).

Day 16

Today is left completely free to absorb the beauty of Franz Josef. For those that so wish we shall drive to the Franz Josef Glacier terminal where you will have the opportunity to walk to the glacier face.Weather permitting you may also take an optional scenic flight (at an additional cost) over the awe-inspiring Alpine region.
(Meals: Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 17, Nelson - 2 nights

After breakfast we continue our journey north via Hari Hari and Hokitika. Visit Punakaki (Pancake Rocks), an incredible maze of limestone rocks with booming blowholes stacked high above the sea. Leaving the west coast behind us we follow the Heritage Highway, through the Buller Gorge, to Nelson Province and then the city of Nelson on the Tasman Bay coast. Our home for the next two nights is the first class Rutherford Hotel.
(Meals: Breakfast, Dinner).

Day 18

Nelson is a delight for explorers on foot. Scattered throughout the city are art galleries and workshops, historic buildings and street cafes.Today is left completely free to enjoy all Nelson has to offer.
(Meals: Breakfast, Dinner).

Day 19, Wellington - 2 nights

This morning we make our way to Picton for our inter-island cruise to North Island. During the cruise we will enjoy spectacular views as we leave Queen Charlotte Sound. With the possibility of birds and dolphins following, we make our way across the Cook Straight to Wellington, New Zealand's capital. Upon arrival we transfer to the deluxe Intercontinental Wellington where your evening is free to enjoy dinner in one of the capital's fine restaurants.
(Meals: Breakfast).

Day 20

Wellington is a vital, vibrant, surprising place. It plays a key role in the cultural and commercial life of the nation, and we have left your day free so you can explore at your own pace.Wellington holds something for everyone, and well worth a visit are Oriental Parade, Queen's Wharf and Lambton Quay.
(Meals: Breakfast).

Day 21, Rotorua - 2 nights

This morning our journey continues north as we make our way inland. As we drive along the Desert Road we cross the vast volcanic plateau of the Tongariro National Park, home to three snow-capped active volcanoes, including Mt. Ruapehu (2,796m) which erupted as recently as 1996! We continue via Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake and along the Thermal Explorer Highway to Rotorua where we spend two nights at the Lakeside Hotel, Rotorua.
(Meals: Breakfast, Dinner).

Day 22

Sightseeing today includes Rotorua's famous bath house and it's adjacent steam vents.We continue to Te Puia including the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve with its boiling mudpools and spurting geysers, before returning to our hotel, where your afternoon is at leisure.This evening our dinner is followed by an entertaining Maori concert.
(Meals: Breakfast, Dinner).

Day 23, Bay of Islands - 3 nights

Our travels today take us past dairy farms and rolling hills as we continue our travels north.We pass through Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, and continue via the shores of the Pacific Ocean to the magnificent Bay of Islands where we spend our final three nights in New Zealand at the popular Copthorne Bay of Islands Resort, situated right on the waterfront. Evening at leisure.
(Meals: Breakfast, Dinner).

Day 24

This morning 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 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).

Day 25

A day left totally at leisure. Maybe take a trip to the top of the land - Cape Reinga, or take a ferry ride across the bay to Russell, once New Zealand's capital.
(Meals: Breakfast, Dinner).

Day 26 Auckland - Overnight

Today we return to Auckland for our overnight stay at the first class Heritage Auckland, situated just a short stroll from Queen Street, Auckland’s main shopping area.
(Meals: Breakfast, Dinner).

Day 27

Mid-morning we shall leave for Auckland airport in time to catch this afternoon's flights via Singapore to London Heathrow and to Manchester. The estimated departure time is 13.25 hours and during our flights meals will be served and all drinks are with the compliments of Singapore Airlines. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Refreshments).