Ultimate Rail, Cruise & Coach

Overview

Experience the romance of rail travel, the majesty of cruising and the luxury of Business Class coach travel on this activity-packed 19-day tour. Visit the "best of attractions" in New Zealand including scenic rail journeys onboard the Glenbrook Vintage Railway, Coastal Pacific Rail Journey and the world-renowned TranzAlpine Rail Journey.

Relax on 4 cruises featuring an overnight cruise on the beautiful Doubtful Sound. The tour includes 2-night stays in the Bay of Islands, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown and Dunedin.

Ultimate Small Group Touring: Be dazzled by the purpose-built Ultimate Coach featuring 20 luxury leather seats, panoramic viewing, and a level of comfort unparalleled by any other vehicle. The design is state of the art and complete with extensive on-board features including the latest finishes and technology.

Tour Highlight: Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise

The Fiordland Navigator

Doubtful Sound is unspoiled, unmatched and unforgettable. You will create some lifelong memories as the Fiordland Navigator takes you through the ultimate Doubtful Sound experience. As you cruise through some of NZ’s most stunning scenery, knowledgeable nature guides will provide commentary. There are opportunities to explore the shoreline by kayak or tender boat (swimwear required) - or to simply relax on board. As evening falls, you will enjoy a delicious buffet dinner prepared by the onboard chef and served in the dining saloon. Mingle with fellow travellers, savour some of the fine wines and if the skies are clear, enjoy some stargazing. The next day explore other parts of the fiord.

Inclusions

Experience

• Return airfares from Adelaide*
• Personalised Meet and Greet on arrival
• Return airport transfers in New Zealand
• Professional Coach Captain
• 17 nights 4.5 star accommodation
• Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise
• 6 two night stays
• Hotel porterage
• 4 rail journeys
• 4 cruises
• All sightseeing and prepaid attractions
• Extensive Optional Activities
• Ultimate Documentation Pack

Meals

• 18 cooked breakfasts including a specialty breakfast: Stratosfare Restaurant, Rotorua
• 13 sumptuous dinners including complimentary pre-dinner drink at the Welcome Dinner and 3 specialty dinners: Māori Hāngi and Concert, Rotorua; Walter Peak Homestead, Queenstown; Intimate Farewell Dinner, selected beverages, Christchurch
• 2 lunches: Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise; Pleasant Point Museum and Railway
• 2 delicious morning teas including an Ultimate High Tea: Larnach Castle
• Enjoy GPT Hotel Wine Time (discounted drinks)

*Day 1: Dinner not included for anyone arriving later than 8pm.

Prepaid Attractions

• Kauri Museum
• Waitangi Treaty Grounds
• Hole in the Rock Dolphin Cruise
• Glenbrook Vintage Railway
• National Kiwi Hatchery Tour
• Skyline Rotorua Gondola and Luge Ride
• Thermal mud pools and geysers
• Te Puia traditional Māori Hāngi and Concert
• Te Papa, NZ's National Museum
• Wellington Cable Car
• Cruise on the Interislander Ferry, Premium Lounge
• Coastal Pacific Rail Journey
• International Antarctic Centre
• Christchurch Tram
• TranzAlpine Rail Journey
• Lakes District Museum
• Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw
• HIGHLIGHT - Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise
• Larnach Castle and Ultimate High Tea
• Pleasant Point Museum and Railway
• Auckland City Sights Tour
• Wellington City Sights Tour
• Christchurch City Sights Tour
• Dunedin City Sights Tour

Coach Features

• 20 Business Class seats on a full-size coach
• 2 door access; dedicated seat side storage with tray table; cup holder
• Restroom; daily onboard Wi-Fi allowance

Itinerary

Day-by-day Itinerary

(B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (SL) Specialty Lunch (D) Dinner (SD) Specialty Dinner

Day 1 - Arrive Auckland (D)

On arrival into Auckland you will be met by a Grand Pacific Tours representative and transferred to your hotel. This evening enjoy a complimentary pre-dinner drink as you meet your travelling companions.

Stay: Hotel Crowne Plaza Auckland

Day 2 - Auckland - Bay of Islands (B,D)

Board the luxurious Ultimate Coach and enjoy a city tour of Auckland, dubbed the ‘City of Sails’, before travelling to Matakohe to enjoy a visit and informative talk at the Kauri Museum. Travel via Whangarei to Paihia, situated in the beautiful Bay of Islands. Enjoy a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the location of the signing of the treaty between the Māori tribes and the British.

Stay: Hotel Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands (2 nights)

Day 3 - Bay of Islands (Free Day) (B)

Today is a free day. Choose from the many optional activities available, including the Cape Reinga coach trip via Ninety Mile Beach or a spectacular scenic flight. This evening is also free, you may like to enjoy a relaxing dinner cruise (optional).

Stay: Hotel Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands

Day 4 - Bay of Islands - Auckland (B)

This morning you will explore the scenic beauty of the Bay of Islands including an island visit aboard a luxury catamaran. Cruise to Cape Brett and the famous ‘Hole in the Rock’, keep an eye out for dolphins and other marine life. On return to Paihia, travel south, returning to Auckland. This evening is free to dine at leisure.

Stay: Hotel Crowne Plaza Auckland

Day 5 - Auckland - Rotorua (B,D)

This morning travel to Glenbrook Vintage Railway for a nostalgic 15 kilometre trip back in time on a beautifully restored vintage steam train including a delightful morning tea. Depart Glenbrook and travel through magnificent countryside of rolling hills and green pastures famous for dairying. Continue to Rotorua to visit the National Kiwi Hatchery, for a unique behind the scenes tour of the world’s largest kiwi hatchery.

Stay: Hotel Regent of Rotorua (2 nights)

Day 6 - Rotorua (B,SD)

Today begins with a gondola ride and breakfast at Skyline Rotorua where spectacular views are on offer. There is also time for a thrilling luge ride! Enjoy some leisure time in the geothermal capital before travelling to Te Puia to see the boiling mud pools and awesome geysers that Rotorua is famous for. This evening experience an entertaining Māori Hāngi and Concert.

Stay: Hotel Regent of Rotorua

Day 7 - Rotorua - Wellington (B,D)

Travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to the spectacular Huka Falls. Continue to Lake Taupo for some free time to enjoy this scenic lakeside town. Travel via the Tongariro National Park and then continue south to NZ’s capital city, Wellington.

Stay: Hotel InterContinental Wellington (2 nights)

Day 8 - Wellington (B)

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 found themselves in extraordinary circumstances. Reboard your Ultimate Coach for an extensive city tour. This afternoon ride the Wellington Cable Car to Kelburn Station where you can explore the Cable Car Museum or stroll through the Botanic Gardens. This evening is at leisure. 

Stay: Hotel InterContinental Wellington

Day 9 - Wellington - Kaikōura - Christchurch (B,D)

This morning board the Interislander Ferry and experience the comfort and intimate setting of the Premium Lounge. Enjoy breakfast as you travel through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton. Join the Coastal Pacific, a truly spectacular rail journey that follows a thin wedge of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Kaikōura Ranges. Meet your Ultimate Coach in the fishing village of Kaikōura for the journey to the garden city of Christchurch.

Stay: Hotel The George (2 nights)

Day 10 - Christchurch (B)

Today 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. This evening is free to enjoy one of the many eateries near your hotel.

Stay: Hotel The George

Day 11 - Christchurch - Arthur’s Pass - Fox Glacier (B,D)

This morning board the TranzAlpine, renowned as one of the great train journeys of the world. Travel over massive viaducts, river valleys and spectacular gorges as you ascend to Arthur’s Pass located in the centre of the Southern Alps. Board your Ultimate Coach and travel to Hokitika, famous for its Greenstone before continuing via Franz Josef to the township of Fox Glacier where time is available to experience a scenic flight (optional, weather permitting) over the spectacular glaciers.

Stay: Hotel Te Weheka Retreat

Day 12 - Fox Glacier - Queenstown (B)

See the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps as you travel south along the West Coast. Continue via the Haast Pass, an area of stunning beauty before arriving into Arrowtown to visit the Lakes District Museum. Continue to picturesque Queenstown, a year-round resort situated on the shores of magical Lake Wakatipu. This evening is free and you may choose to dine out at one of the many fine restaurants.

Stay: Hotel Heritage Queenstown (2 nights)

Day 13 - Queenstown (Free Day) (B,SD)

Today is a free day for you to explore Queenstown with many optional activities available. This evening board the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw and cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station. Sit back, relax and enjoy a delicious gourmet barbecue dinner featuring a menu of seasonal, fresh and locally sourced food at the Colonel’s Homestead. After dinner enjoy a short farm tour then reboard the TSS Earnslaw for a sing along by the piano as you cruise back to Queenstown.

Stay: Hotel Heritage Queenstown

Day 14 - Queenstown - Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise (B,L,D)

Today travel via Te Anau to Manapouri. Enjoy lunch as you cruise across this glacial lake. A short ride over the Wilmot Pass brings you to the boarding point to join the Fiordland Navigator for an amazing overnight experience. As you cruise through the pristine beauty of Doubtful Sound, naturalist guides will provide commentary and point out the resident wildlife. There are opportunities to explore the shoreline by tender boat or kayak (swimwear required) - or to simply relax on board. When evening falls enjoy a delicious carvery buffet prepared by the onboard chef.

Stay: Overnight Fiordland Navigator

Day 15 - Doubtful Sound - Te Anau (B,D)

Start the day with a hearty breakfast before heading back to Deep Cove for the trip to Manapouri. Return to the wharf and meet your Ultimate Coach for the journey to Te Anau where you will enjoy an afternoon at leisure. You may like to visit the Te Anau Glowworm Caves (optional).

Stay: Hotel Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas

Day 16 - Te Anau - Dunedin (B,D)

Travel via Gore and Balclutha to Dunedin, famous for its stunning Edwardian and Victorian architecture dating back to the gold rush of the 1800s. Enjoy a city tour of New Zealand’s oldest university city.

Stay: Hotel Distinction Dunedin Hotel (2 nights)

Day 17 - Dunedin (B,D)

Travel along the picturesque Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle. On a guided tour you will hear the tragic and scandalous tales which make up the castle’s history. There is time to explore this Garden of International Significance followed by an Ultimate High Tea served in the Grand Ballroom. Return to Dunedin for some free time. Optional activities to consider include a wildlife excursion to observe animals in their natural habitat or a guided tour of Olveston Historic Home, containing a wealth of treasures of a bygone era.

Stay: Hotel Distinction Dunedin Hotel

Day 18 - Dunedin - Christchurch (B,L,SD)

This morning travel to the city of Oamaru, famous for its limestone. Continue north to Pleasant Point Museum and Railway for a short rail experience followed by lunch and time to explore the preserved heritage of the South Canterbury railway. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner with selected beverages and your newfound friends.

Stay: Hotel The George or similar

Day 19 - Depart Christchurch (B)

Time to say goodbye. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home after a memorable New Zealand holiday.

Dates/Prices

More departures available, enquire within your nearest Phil Hoffmann Travel store. Click here for more information.

*Advertised prices are based on per person, twin share ex Adelaide departing Sep 2025 & May 2026. ^$200 Festive Season Surcharge applies to 18 December 2025 departure. Prices correct as of 18 September 2024.