3/126 Albert Road, Warragul VIC 3820 Australia Phone: (03) 5623 5151 Email us EMERGENCY NUMBER +61 (0)419 213 274
3/126 Albert Road, Warragul VIC 3820 Australia Phone: (03) 5623 5151 Email us EMERGENCY NUMBER +61 (0)419 213 274
Ultimate Rail & Cruise New Zealand Experience
Rail – Cruise – Luxury Coach
October 2021
Experience the ultimate tour combining rail, coach and magical Doubtful Sound overnight cruise on a
19 Day Ultimate Rail & Coach Experience
Personally escorted from Warragul by Jacinta Anderson
This is a sample itinerary and is to be used as a guide only
MAORI CULTURE Explore the rich and diverse New Zealand Maori culture. From their mythical Polynesian homeland of Hawaiki, the Maori shape New Zealand's culture
TOUR LEADER
THE ULTIMATE COACH
Be dazzled by this state of the art full size coach (13.5 metres long) which would normally house 48 seats and has been configured with only 20 luxury leather seats complete with incredible amenities. Onboard the coach, the luxuries extend through a wide range of features including:
4.5 STAR HOTEL ACCOMMODATION Carefully handpicked a collection of stylish hotels are part of this luxurious experience. You will be treated to a very high standard in each location. Each of the hotels used offer a premium level of comfort, extensive guest facilities and excellent location. YOUR TOUR INCLUDES:
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Stunning Scenery Towering mountains, beautiful villages, thundering sea. To call New Zealand “picturesque” would be an understatement
Tour Itinerary
Our coach will depart Warragul in the late afternoon to travel to the PARK ROYAL HOTEL at Melbourne Airport for an overnight stay.
We shall meet and walk across to the airport terminal for our early morning flight to Auckland. We arrive in Auckland in the afternoon and will be met and transferred to our hotel, the CROWNE PLAZA AUCKLAND, for an overnight stay. Tonight, we will get together for a complimentary pre-dinner drink before dinner.
This morning board our coach to travel to the Parry Kauri Park to see a magnificent example of a Kauri Tree. We shall enjoy a visit and informative talk at the Kauri Museum in Matakohe, then travel via Whangarei to Paihia, situated in the heart of the beautiful Bay of Islands. We shall have a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the location of the signing of the treaty between the Maori tribes and the British. On arrival at the Bay of Islands we shall check into the SCENIC HOTEL BAY OF ISLANDS for a two-night stay.
Today we have a tour of Cape Reinga via Ninety Mile Beach and will spend time enjoying the magnificent natural wonders of the North. You will be over-awed by the grandeur of the mighty Kauri trees, the expanse of Ninety Mile Beach and the mystique of Cape Reinga. This evening is at your leisure.
This morning travel aboard a luxury catamaran to Cape Brett and the famous Hole in the Rock. We shall keep an eye out for bottlenose and common dolphins before we return to Paihia then travel south via Whangarei to Auckland. We shall check into the CROWNE PLAZA AUCKLAND, for an overnight stay.
This morning we enjoy a city sights tour of Auckland before travelling to Glenbrook Vintage Railway for a nostalgic 15 kilometre trip back in time on a beautifully restored vintage steam train. We visit the restoration workshop and on return to Glenbrook Station, morning tea will be served. We depart Glenbrook and travel through magnificent countryside of rolling hills and green pastures famous for dairying. Continue to Rainbow Springs, spanning 22 acres of native trees. A highlight will be the Kiwi Encounter experience which offers a unique behind-the-scenes tour of a working kiwi nursery and hatchery. On arrival, we shall check into the REGENT OF ROTORUA for a two night stay and have dinner at the hotel.
Today begins with a gondola ride at the Skyline Rotorua for breakfast with champagne, spectacular views and also time for a thrilling luge ride! Next stop is the Agrodome for an action-packed hour of farming entertainment and education that’s unlike anything you’ve seen before. This afternoon we board the Rotorua Duck for a Rotorua City and Lakes tour before travelling to Te Puia to see the boiling mud pools and awesome geysers that Rotorua is famous for. This evening experience an entertaining Maori Hangi and Concert.
We travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to the spectacular Huka Falls and then continue to Lake Taupo for some free time to enjoy this scenic lakeside town. We then drive on via the Tongariro National Park and continue south to the capital city of Wellington where we will check in to the INTERCONTINENTAL WELLINGTON for a two-night stay.
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 were there. We re-board the coach for an extensive city tour which showcases the history and culture on show. There is free time this afternoon for you to explore or rest and this evening is also free to choose your own dining arrangements.
This morning we board the Interislander Ferry to cross the Cook Strait and we will enjoy the scenery as we travel through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton. We then join the Coastal Pacific, a truly spectacular rail journey that follows a thin wedge of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Kaikoura Ranges. We shall join up with the coach in the fishing village of Kaikoura for our journey across the Northern Canterbury Plains to the garden city of Christchurch. On our arrival, we shall check into THE GEORGE, for two nights.
Today we visit the International Antarctic Centre designed to provide an informative account of life in Antarctica. This is followed by an introductory city tour of Christchurch. This afternoon includes a journey on board the Christchurch Tram at your leisure, one of Christchurch’s leading attractions. This evening is also free to enjoy one of the many eateries near our hotel.
This morning we board the TranzAlpine, renowned as one of the great train journeys of the world. We will travel over massive viaducts, river valleys and spectacular gorges as we ascend to Arthur’s Pass located in the centre of the Southern Alps. We then board you Ultimate Coach and travel to Hokitika, famous for its Greenstone before continuing via Franz Josef to Fox Glacier where we will check into the DISTINCTION FOX GLACIER for an overnight stay.
OPTIONAL: Experience a scenic flight (weather permitting) over the spectacular glaciers. (not included in tour price). See additional information for costings.
We will see the snowcapped peaks of the Southern Alps as we travel south along the West Coast. We continue on via the Haast Pass, an area of stunning beauty. We will experience the untouched national beauty of Te Wahipounamu whilst travelling on a fully enclosed jet boat on our Haast River Safari. We continue on to Arrowtown to visit the Lakes District Museum and then to the picturesque Queenstown, a year-round resort situated on the shores of magical Lake Wakatipu. Our hotel for the next two nights is the MILLENNIUM HOTEL QUEENSTOWN. This evening is free and you may choose to dine out at one of the many fine restaurants close by.
This morning we will have the chance to view Queenstown and its gorgeous surrounds from the Skyline Gondola. High above the city on Bob’s Peak we will see Coronet Peak and The Remarkables Mountain range and from Lake Wakatiu to Cecil and Walter Peaks. This afternoon is free to explore Queenstown. This evening we board the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw and cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station.
Sit back, relax and enjoy a gourmet barbecue dinner which the chef will prepare in front of us at the Colonel’s Homestead. After dinner we can enjoy a short farm tour then re-board the TSS Earnslaw for a sing along by the piano on our return cruise.
Today we travel via Te Anau to Manapouri and will enjoy a picnic lunch as we cruise across this glacial lake. A short ride over the Wilmot Pass brings us to the boarding point to join the Fiordland Navigator for an amazing overnight experience. As we cruise through the pristine beauty of Doubtful Sound, naturalist guides will provide commentary and point out the resident wildlife. When evening falls, we enjoy a delicious carvery buffet prepared freshly by the onboard chef.
We start the day with a hearty breakfast before heading back to Deep Cove for the trip back to Manapouri. We return to the wharf for the journey back to Te Anau. This afternoon, we cruise across Lake Te Anau to visit the Glow Worm Caves where we will admire the incredible limestone caverns, waterfalls and mystery of the Glow Worm Grotto. Tonight we will stay at the DISTINCTION TE ANAU HOTEL & VILLAS.
After breakfast, we travel via Gore and Balclutha to Dunedin. After time for lunch, we board the Silver Fern railcar for a journey along spectacular clifftops overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Blueskin Bay. On our return to Dunedin’s historic Edwardian Railway Station, we re-board the coach for an informative city tour before arriving at your hotel, the DISTINCTION DUNDEDON for a two-night stay.
We shall travel along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle to hear the tragic and scandalous stories on a guided tour. We will have time to wander around this Garden of International Significance followed by a high tea served in the Grand Ballroom. After time for lunch we board the Taieri Gorge Railway for a journey through spectacular scenery of Central Otago Hinterland and up the rugged Coast north of Dunedin.
This morning visit Olveston House, a prestigious historic home before travelling to Oamaru, famous for its limestone. On our arrival in Christchurch we will check into THE GEORGE hotel for our final night. This evening we will enjoy our Farewell Dinner.
Time to say goodbye. We will transfer to the airport for your flight home after a memorable New Zealand holiday. On arrival in Melbourne, we will be met by our coach and transferred back to Warragul.
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Gippsland Travel Centre Pty. Ltd.
ABN 70 065 385 337
Shop 3, 126 Albert Road, Warragul, Victoria 3820
Telephone (03) 5623 5151
Emergency Number: +61 (0)419 213 274
Email: info@gippslandtravel.com.au