RAIL TOUR New Zealand
Active pace with longer touring days. Expect intermittent walking at a moderate pace for 2–3 hours over a variety of terrain, including cobblestones, hills and uneven pavements. Must be able to negotiate stairs of varying heights, sometimes without handrails. Can tolerate periods of standing during guided tours and be able to climb in/out of various modes of transportation. Some days may include 5–7 km of walking over the course of the day.
We fly to Dunedin, New Zealand via Vancouver and Auckland.
Transfer to our hotel, with free time until our Welcome Dinner—a Scottish feast with a special haggis ceremony!
This morning we visit Larnach Castle, known for its architecture and fascinating(and scandalous!) history. Then it’s time for a wildlife cruise along the Otago Peninsula, the world’s only mainland nesting ground for the Northern Royal Albatross. Dinner is at Speight's Brewery, home of the South Island’s legendary beer!
After driving to Queenstown, we start the day on the Skyline Gondola, the steepest cable car in the Southern Hemisphere! Enjoy spectacular views of Coronet Peak, the Remarkables, Lake Wakatipu and Cecil Peak. The rest of the day is at leisure.
After a tour of Queenstown, we’ll board a vintage steamship and cruise Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station. We will then tour a local farm, see a sheep shearing demonstration, and enjoy a gourmet BBQ lunch before returning to Queenstown.
Today we cruise through breathtaking Fjordland National Park to Milford Sound, past spectacular Bowen Falls and Mitre Peak, with buffet lunch on board.
We travel by coach to the glacier town of Franz Joseph, passing through sub-tropical rainforest and the wild western coast, with a stop to taste delicious stone fruit at a local orchard.
Today we board TranzAlpine Rail for a spectacular journey through the Canterbury Plains and along scenic river valleys, with views of the majestic Southern Alps. We arrive in Christchurch for a 2-night stay.
We take a tour of “the most English city outside of England,” with the afternoon at leisure and dinner at a local restaurant.
We board the Coastal Pacific train to Picton, travelling past rugged coastlines and remote beaches between mountains and sea. Upon arrival in Picton, we board the ferry to Wellington.
This morning is our visit to Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum, and our tour of the “best little capital city in the world.” The afternoon is at leisure to explore friendly Wellington.
We board the Northern Explorer Train and travel through Tongariro National Park, with its snow-capped peaks, deep gorges and sprawling plains. We continue by coach along the Thermal Explorer Highway to the spa town of Rotorua.
Today we enjoy a sightseeing tour, visit a Kiwi hatchery, take in a world-famous farm show at the Agrodome, and visit Te Puia Thermal Village. Dinner tonight is a hangi —a traditional Maori feast prepared in pits, with Maori music included in the fun.
We head north through New Zealand’s fertile farmland, stopping for lunch at a local vineyard before proceeding to Paihia, the main town in the beautiful Bay of Islands.
This morning we cruise the Bay’s scenic waters to Cape Brett Lighthouse and, weather permitting, through the famous Hole in the Rock. Then we visit the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds, home to New Zealand’s founding document.
Morning at leisure. We drive to Auckland in the afternoon, stopping in Whangarei, New Zealand’s northernmost city, and travelling through the scenic Rodney District. Afternoon at leisure. Tonight, we have our Farewell Dinner.
This morning we embark on an incredible whale and dolphin safari, seeing marine mammals and rare birds in their natural habitat. Afternoon is at leisure before our flight home.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (90 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
