NEW ZEALAND GRAND RAIL TOUR.
Departs Auckland and Hamilton mondays November 10, 2025. February 23, 2026.
Free home pick up Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Waikato.
13 Days/12 Nights Auckland to Christchurch
Includes: "Northern Explorer", Wellington (2 nights), Picton (1 night) , Kaikoura (1 night), Christchurch (3 nights), "Tranz Alpine", Shantytown, Hokitika, Treetops, Franz Josef Glacier, Lake Matheson, Reefton, Denniston, Nile River Railway, Punakaiki (1 night), Christchurch (1 night) (12 day tour ends), Extension to Mt Cook, Doubtful Sound 2 night cruise cruise, "Kingston Flyer" Queenstown (2 nights) (16 day tour ends)
21 days/20 nights. Optional extension to Invercargill (Stewart Island option) Catlins, Dunedin, Taieri Gorge and Seasider trains.
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ITINERARY -
Day 1. Monday. 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 our hotel in the central city.
Day 2. Tuesday. 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. WELLINGTON - PICTON. (BD)
Free time this morning to explore at your leisure.
11.45am. 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. 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 join the "Coastal Pacific" train to Kaikoura. Transfer to our accommodation at Sudima Hotel. Seafood dinner tonight.
Day 5. Friday. KAIKOURA - WEKA VALLEY RAILWAY - CHRISTCHURCH. (B)
Free time to explore and enjoy Kaikoura and visit the seal colony. Optional whale watch cruise or flight or Dolphin cruise. This afternoon we drive south to ride the Weka Valley Railway and visit a Waipara Valley winery and continue to Christchurch. Accommodation at the Distinction Hotel in Cathedral Square.
Day 6. Saturday CHRISTCHURCH (BD)
Morning tour to the Antarctic Centre with Hoglund Ride, and Air Force Museum including the restoration centre.. We will drop you off at Ferrymead Museum if you wish.
This evening explore central Christchurch and enjoy dinner on the Tramcar restaurant.
Day 7. Sunday. CHRISTCHURCH
We have left today free for your own activities. Optional tours are available of the city, Port Hills, Hanmer Springs, Akaroa, etc.
Day 8. Monday. CHRISTCHURCH - HOKITIKA
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 (usually diesel hauled), pan for gold, and recapture something of the atmosphere of the gold rush era. On to Hokitika and catch up on Hokitika in its prime during the gold rush era.
Three nights accommodation and breakfast at the Beachfront Hotel, Hokitika. Dinner included first night only.
Day 9. Tuesday. HOKITIKA (B)
This morning we go back to nature at the Hokitika Gorge for a short walk among the breathtaking scenery. Enjoy a leisurely Eco boat cruise (Summer only) on the Lake Mahinapua waterways originally used by pioneers, gold diggers, and early explorers. Drive south to the West Coast Treetop Walkway for an exhilirating treetop adventure high in the ancient Rimu and Kamahi trees with great views (weather permitting) of Lake Mahinapua, the Southern Alps, and Tasman Sea.
Day 10. Wednesday. FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER AND LAKE MATHESON (B)
Full day excursion to Franz Josef Glacier with visit to the glacier lookout and free time for helicopter flights to land on the glacier. Visit beautiful Lake Matheson and the Ross Goldfields Museum.
Day 11. Thursday. HOKITIKA - REEFTON - DENNISTON - WESTPORT - PUNAKAIKI (B)
Drive north to Reefton. 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 Visit the Westport coal museum and Cape Foulwind seal colony before arriving at the Scenic Punakaiki Hotel.
Day 12. Friday. PUNAKAIKI - GREYMOUTH - CHRISTCHURCH. (B)
Visit the historic gold mining town of Charleston for a ride on the Nile River railway through the rainforest. 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. Passengers on the 7 day tour will be transferred back to your hotel (Accommodation at the airport Novotel for early departures Saturday. 5 day tour ends on arrival at Christchurch Railway Station.
Day 13. Saturday. CHRISTCHURCH MT COOK - QUEENSTOWN (B)
13 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 14. Sunday. MOUNT COOK - "KINGSTON FLYER" - QUEENSTOWN (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 to Kingston to join the "Kingston Flyer" steam train for a round trip. Continue to our accommodation in Queenstown..
Day 15. Monday. QUEENSTOWN. (BL)
Drive along the shores of Lake Wakatipu to beautiful Glenorchy. Enjoy the scenery and some of the scenes from the Lord of the Rings movies. We ride the Gondola to the Skyline restaurant for a buffet lunch overlooking Queenstown. This afternoon visit historic Arrowtown.
Day 16 Tuesday. QUEENSTOWN (BD)
Free day to enjoy Queenstown as you wish with many options available. Optional tours and cruises to Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound. Optional overnight cruise on either Doubtful Sound or Milford Sound.
Day 17. Wednesday. QUEENSTOWN
This evening cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the historic steamer "Earnslaw" to Walter Peak for dinner at the Colonels homestead.
Day 18. Thursday. QUEENSTOWN DEPART
Transfer to Queenstown airport provided.
Tour cost per person.
10 Days: Auckland to Christchurch: 2 per room $4,800. Single room $5,300
14 Days: Auckland to Queenstown: 2 per room $5,990. Single room $7,800
18 Days Auckland to Queenstown: 2 per room $7,450. Single room $9,790
Optional extension to Catlins and Dunedin
Day 18. Thursday - Queenstown - Riverton - Mandeville - Dunedin
Day 19. Friday May 23 - Olveston House, Larnachs Castle, Albatross Centre
Day 20. Saturday - "Inlander" and "Seasider" trains included
Day 21. Sunday. Transfer to Dunedin airport
Total cost 21 days Auckland - Dunedin 2 per room $9,990. Single room $12,600
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