NEW ZEALAND GRAND RAIL TOUR -. Departs Auckland Mondays
2022: January 10, March 07,
Includes “Northern Explorer”, Interislander, “Coastal Pacific”, “Tranz Alpine”.
8 days/7 nights - includes return Tranz Alpine excursion sunday, day 7, with 1 night in Christchurch ending monday. Why not join our MOUNTAIN MAGIC, or SOUTH AND STEWART ISLAND GRAND TOUR? Cost per person $2,490 2 per room, $3,100 single room
9 days/8 nights - includes 1 night in Hokitika returning from Greymouth monday for 1 night Christchurch and depart tuesday - or continue on our BEST OF THE WEST COAST or TOP OF THE SOUTH ISLAND TOURS. Cost per person 9 days $2,880 2 per rom, $3,700 single room.
6 days/5 nights - depart Wellington Interislander terminal 9am thursday mornings - ends Christchurch tuesdays. Includes 1 night Hokitika $1,990 per person share twin. $2,450 single room..
ITINERARY
Day 1. Monday AUCKLAND - WELLINGTON
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. Dinner included at the hotel tonight.
Day 2. Tuesday. WELLINGTON (B)
Morning sightseeing includes Wellington's most famous sights including Mt Victoria, Guided tour of Parliament Buildings, Botanical Gardens, Cable car, Weta workshop tour, part of the Marine Drive, and Mt Victoria. Free time this afternoon to explore at your leisure including Te Papa.
Day 3. Wednesday. WELLINGTON (B)
Free day to explore at your leisure. Spend the time at Te Papa, Zealandia, or any of the many museums, arts and crafts, and restaurants.
Day 4. Thursday. WELLINGTON- PICTON (B)
Transfer to the Interislander terminal for the 3 hour 30 minute cruise across Cook Strait and through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton. This afternoon visit the "Edwin Fox" ship restoration project and Picton Museum. Optional afternoon mail cruise visiting numerous bays and coves but with limited landing time. One night in Picton at Picton Yacht Club.. .
Day 5. Friday. MARLBOROUGH - CHRISTCHURCH (B)
Enjoy a tour of Marlborough including Marlborough Museum to discover Marlborough's 700 year old history and visit a winery. Also visit Omaka and Peter Jackson's KNIGHTS OF THE SKY World War 1 and DANGEROUS SKIES World War 2 exhibitions and the Classic cars museum before joining the "Coastal Pacific" train departing Blenheim 2pm for the scenic ride down the Kaikoura Coast to Christchurch arriving 6.45pm. You will be met and transferred to your accommodation.
Day 6. Saturday. CHRISTCHURCH (B)
We have left today free for your own activities. Your hotel is in the centre of the city. 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.
Day 7. Sunday. CHRISTCHURCH - GREYMOUTH - TRANZ ALPINE RETURN. (BD)
Transfer to the railway station and depart at 8.15am 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 have an hour to explore Greymouth before rejoining the "Tranz Alpine' for the return journey to Christchurch arriving 6.30pm. You will be transferred back to your hotel.
Day 8. Monday. CHRISTCHURCH DEPART.
You will be transferred to the airport for departure. (air fares not included)
Tour cost per person -
8 days 2 per room $2,490 Single room $3,100.
9 days 2 per room $2,880 Single room $3,700
GREAT EXTENSIONS - all tours require minimum of 2 passengers.
HOKITIKA 2 days/1 night
Sunday. You will be met by our local guide in Greymouth., Visit Shantytown to recapture the atmosphere of the gold rush era. Ride the train and pan for gold. Continue south to Hokitika for the night. Accommodation and breakfast is usually at the Beachfront Hotel - we do not have an allocation so book early.
Monday. Free time to enjoy Hokitika before departing 11am for Treetops and walk high above the forest canopy with fabulous views in fine weather. Transfer to Greymouth and depart at 2.05pm aboard the "Tranz Alpine" arriving Christchurch 6.30pm. Transfer back to your hotel for 1 night.
Extra cost per person $390. Includes all transfers, admissions to Shantytown and Treetops, 1 night hotel and breakfast.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BEST OF THE WEST COAST - see separate web page.
Commences Christchurch Nov 13, Jan 01, March 12.
Sunday. Arrive Hokitika. Visit Shantytown and 2 nights Hokitika
Monday. Hokitika Gorge, Waterways Eco Cruise, Treetops
Tuesday. Hokitika - Ross - Lake Matheson - Franz Josef Glacier
Wednesday Franz Josef - Greymouth - Punakaiki
Thursday. Punakaiki - Karamea - Westport
Friday. Westport - Denniston incline lookout - Reefton - Tranz Alpine - Christchurch
Saturday. Christchurch depart.
________________________________________________________________
MAGNIFICENT MOUNTAINS 6 days.
Departs Christchurch every Monday.
Monday. Christchurch - Mt Cook. Overnight Hermitage
Tuesday. Mount Cook - Queenstown
Wednesday. Free day. optional Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound tours
Thursday. Queenstown - Franz Josef Glacier
Friday. Franz Josef - Hokitika
Saturday. Hokitika - Punakaiki - Christchurch
Tour cost per person
Full tour 6 days 2 per room $2,590 Single room $2,990
4 days (extendable) end in Queenstown thursday 2 per room $1,390
back to Grand Rail Tour. 8-9 Days. 
