NEW ZEALAND HOSTED RAIL TOUR.
17 Days/16 Nights including arrival transfer and 1 night 4 star hotel with breakfast. Commence Auckland 04 May, 2025
16 days/ 15 nights. Departs Auckland monday 05 May.
Please Note: The Coastal Pacific is now finishing its summer season 27 April. We will be using a mini bus for travel Picton-Blenheim-Kaikoura-Christchurch. The road runs alongside the sea for some 40 km of the Kaikoura Coast and we will have photo stop opportunities and visit a seal colony and a Waipara Valley winery.
Features 2 night Doubtful Sound Cruise.
Includes: Northern Explorer", Wellington (2 nights), Picton (1 night) , Kaikoura (1 night), Christchurch (2 nights), (7 day tour ends) "Tranz Alpine", Shantytown, Reefton, Denniston, Nile River Railway, Punakaiki (2 nights), Christchurch (1 night) (10 day tour ends), Extension to Mt Cook, Doubtful Sound 2 night cruise cruise, "Kingston Flyer" Queenstown (2 nights)
Optional extension to Invercargill (Stewart Island option) Catlins, Dunedin, Taieri Gorge and Seasider trains.
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ITINERARY -
Passengers taking the 17 day package will be met off any flight or cruise ship on Sunday 04 May and transferred to a 4 star hotel in the central city. Transfer to the "Northern Explorer" monday included.
Day 1. Monday. May 05. AUCKLAND - WELLINGTON
Complimentary transfer from home to the nearest railway station provided from Auckland (south of Orewa), Waikato, and Bay of Plenty.
7.45am. Depart Auckland Strand Railway Station aboard the "Northern Explorer". Depart Papakura 8.40am, Hamilton 10.15am, and Otorohanga 10.54am.
Sit back and relax and enjoy the scenes of suburban Auckland and rural Waikato dairy farmland and travel south through the central North Island including the famed Raurimu Spiral, a major engineering feat, and through the Tongariro National Park with magnificent views of the central North Island volcanoes in fine weather. Arrive Wellington 6.25pm. Transfer to your hotel in the central city.
Day 2. Tuesday. May 06. WELLINGTON. (B)
Explore the capital city on our included tour. Visit Oriental Bay and enjoy part of the beautiful Marine Drive. Enjoy a guided tour of Weta Workshop and visit Seatoun and Mt Victoria for a panoramic view over the city, guided tour of Government House (subject to approval at the time). the Botanical Gardens (optional cable car ride - extra expense). Optional visit to Zealandia Eco reserve, a guided tour of Parliament Buildings, and/or Te Papa. (Tour ends at Parliament Building. Guided tours of Parliament are available but should be prebooked. If you do not wish to enjoy the tour of Parliament our vehicle can drop you off at, Zealandia, your hotel, or Te Papa). Optional visit to Kapiti Island or Southwards Museum instead of local sightseeing.
Day 3. Wednesday. May 07. WELLINGTON - PICTON. (BL)
Free morning to explore at your leisure.
12pm. Transfer to the Interislander terminal and depart at 1pm for the 3 hour 30 minute cruise across Cook Strait and through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton arriving 4.30pm aboard the Kaiarahi. We travel lounge class and a meal is included. Overnight Picton Yacht Club, or Scenic Marlborough hotels.
Day 4. Thursday. May 08. BLENHEIM - KAIKOURA (BD)
This morning visit the "Edwin Fox" ship restoration project, the Marlborough Museum, Peter Jackson's Aviation Heritage Museum, and a winery for some wine tasting. this afternoon we take a scenic drive down the Kaikoura Coast to Kaikoura. Transfer to our accommodation. Seafood dinner tonight.
Day 5. Friday. May 09. KAIKOURA - CHRISTCHURCH. (B)
Free morning to explore and enjoy Kaikoura and visit the seal colony. Optional whale watch cruise or flight or Dolphin cruise. This afternoon we continue our road journey south to Christchurch with a visit to a Waipara Valley winery en route. Accommodation at the Distinction Hotel in Cathedral Square.
Day 6. Saturday. May 10. CHRISTCHURCH. (BD)
We have left today free for your own activities. Optional tours are available of the city, Port Hills, Hanmer Springs, Akaroa, etc. We recommend a visit to the Orana Wildlife Park and Antarctic Centre. Optional visit to Ferrymead's collection of trams and trains.
We recommend the Tramcar dinner tonight - not included.
Day 7. Sunday. May 11. CHRISTCHURCH - PUNAKAIKI (BD)
7 day tour ends with checkout in Christchurch this morning. Transfer to the airport provided.
Transfer to the rail station.
8.15am. Depart Christchurch railway station aboard the "Tranz Alpine" express for one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world across the Canterbury Plains climbing through the foothills of the Southern Alps criss crossing the Waimakariri River on the way to Arthurs Pass for a brief break. Travel through the Otira tunnel and descend into the rainforest of the West Coast. Pass Lake Brunner and the Grey River and arrive Greymouth 1.05pm.
You will be met by your local guide and visit Shantytown. Ride the train, pan for gold, and recapture something of the atmosphere of the gold rush era. Two nights accommodation and breakfast at the Scenic Punakaiki Hotel. Dinner included first night only.
Day 8. Monday. May 12. PUNAKAIKI - NILE RIVER RAILWAY - WESTPORT - DENNISTON - REEFTON - PUNAKAIKI (B)
We visit the historic gold mining town of Charleston for a ride on the Nile River railway through the rainforest. Visit the Reefton Distillery Co with a little tasting and the Bearded Mining Company for a visit to a recreated miners hut and cup of billy tea. Drive to the Denniston lookout and on to Denniston to see the famous incline and discover the history of the area,. See the Banbury Drystone Arch and the historic mine workshop. Visit the Westport coal museum and Cape Foulwind seal colony before arriving back at the Scenic Punakaiki Hotel.
Day 9. Tuesday. May 13. PUNAKAIKI - GREYMOUTH - CHRISTCHURCH (B)
Explore the Punakaiki Rocks and Paparoa National Park.
Return to Greymouth for a short tour and time to explore. Rejoin the "Tranz Alpine" train departing 2.05pm to recross the Southern Alps to Christchurch where arrival is scheduled for 7pm. You will be transferred back to your accommodation.
Day 10. Wednesday. May 14. CHRISTCHURCH - LAKE TEKAPO - MOUNT COOK. (B)
10 day tour ends at checkout this morning. We will transfer you to the airport.
We drive across the Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo with time to see the sheep dog monument and church of the Good Shepherd before continuing along the shores of Lake Pukaki to the Hermitage in the heart of the Mt Cook National Park. . Accommodation at the Hermitage hotel with breakfast.
Free time for helicopter or ski plane flights, alpine walks, or a cruise among the icebergs on the lake at the base of the Tasman Glacier or the Hermitage dark sky experience. All activities extra expense.
Day 11. Thursday. May 15. MOUNT COOK TO TE ANAU (BD)
Free time to enjoy more of Mt Cook before we travel south through the McKenzie Country, over the Lindis Pass, along the shores of Lake Wakatipu and into the heart of the Fiordland National Park.Overnight Te Anau. Dinner included at the hotel tonight
Day 13. Friday May 16 - Saturday May 17 DOUBTFUL SOUND TWO NIGHT CRUISE. (BD)
Transfer to Manapouri and cruise across the bush clad Lake Manapouri to the West Arm. Drive across Wilmot Pass, and join our 2 night cruise to the head of the Sound. Anchor overnight in a quiet bay and you have the option (no charge) of exploririg more by kayak or in the ships tender. Doubtful Sound is much more extensive than Milford Sound. All meals included on board
Day 14. Sunday. May 18. DOUBTFUL SOUND - QUEENSTOWN. Includes Kingston Flyer. (BD)
Return to Manapouri midday and drive to Kingston to join the historic "Kingston Flyer' steam train for a 2 hour round trip journey and continue to Queenstown
Day 15. Monday. May 19. QUEENSTOWN. (BD)
Free day for your own activities.
This evening cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the historic steamer "Earnslaw" to Walter Peak for dinner at the Colonels homestead.
Day 16. Tuesday. May 20. QUEENSTOWN DEPART
Transfer to Queenstown airport provided.
Optional extension to Catlins and Dunedin including "Taieri Gorge Inlander" and Seasider
Tuesday May 20 - Queenstown - Riverton - Mandeville - Invercargill
Wednesday May 21 - Local sights - Stewart Island options
Thursday May 22 - Invercargil - Catlins - Dunedin
Friday May 23 - Olveston House, Larnachs Castle, Albatross Centre
Saturday May 24 - "Inlander" and "Seasider"
Sunday May 25 Transfer to Dunedin airport
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