Welcome to New Zealand! Make your way from the airport to your hotel via a private transfer, then head out to explore the city. (Overnight Auckland) B

This morning enjoy a half-day tour of Auckland City. This tour is designed to explore the history and sights as well as see how Aucklanders live and play. You will cross the Harbor Bridge, enjoy a stroll on a beach and coffee in Devonport, and enjoy the stunning panoramic views from Mt Victoria. Visit Westhaven Marina, one of the largest marinas in the Southern Hemisphere followed by the Auckland Fish Market and the Viaduct Harbour. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (Overnight Auckland) B

This morning you are transferred to the train station and depart Auckland on the Northern Explorer Train.* Enjoy a full day of travel through the rolling countryside of the Central North Island, over the Raurimu Spiral (an engineering feat of its time), past the three volcanic mountains of the Tongariro National Park, and across the Central Plateau then through the farmlands of the Manawatu Region and on to Wellington, the capital city and Seat of Parliament. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel, then head out to enjoy your evening. (Overnight Wellington) B **Please note that the Northern Explorer only operates on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Enjoy a 1 hour guided tour of Te Papa - New Zealand's National Museum viewing the highlights related to New Zealand's history and natural environment, including the colossal squid. Then enjoy your day exploring this historic city. You may wish to ride the Cable Car to Kelburn then stroll through the Botanical Gardens and Lady Norwood Rose Garden, join a walking tour that takes you to some of the best cafés and coffee houses the city has to offer, visit Katherine Mansfield's birthplace, take a tour of Parliament Buildings. There are also guided tours to places of interest and history, the Seal Colony or Lord of the Rings sites used in the movie trilogy. (Overnight Wellington) B

Following breakfast, you are transferred to the ferry terminal for one of the most beautiful boat journeys in the world. The Interislander crossing from Wellington to Picton on the South Island navigates the Cook Strait and the scenic Queen Charlotte Sound in roughly 3.5 hours. On arrival, there is plenty of time to board the famous Coastal Pacific Train* south. The tracks run along a thin ledge of land pinned between the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and the rugged ranges to Kaikoura, where the mountains meet the sea then travel across the farmlands of the North Canterbury Plains and the Waipara wine district, where the microclimate of the area makes it ideal for growing grapes. On arrival, you will be taken from the station to your hotel by shared transfer to enjoy your evening. (Overnight Christchurch) B **The Coastal Pacific is a seasonal train from Spring (October) to Autumn (April). Between April-October, the rail service will be replaced by coach

After breakfast, you are transferred to the station from where you will depart onboard the TranzAlpine train for a scenic rail journey through the splendor of the Southern Alps to the West Coast. Travel over gorges on viaducts that were an engineering feat of their time then after a short stop at Arthur's Pass, pass through the 8kms Otira Tunnel continuing to the gold and coal mining town of Greymouth. Here, you change onto a scheduled coach service to Franz Josef. The journey takes you along the Tasman coastline to the west and the Southern Alps rising to the east. The landscape is dominated by the national park's two largest glaciers, Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier, the only glaciers in the world that descend into lowland rainforests. (Overnight Franz Josef) B

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before departing Franz Josef by public scheduled coach service to Queenstown. Travel south through the dense South Westland forests crossing fast-running streams and pretty bush-fringed lakes. At Haast, the road turns inland crossing the Southern Alps via the Haast Pass and skirts glacial Lake Wanaka then Lake Hawea. On a clear day, there are splendid views across the lake to Mt Aspiring. Travel through the Central Otago sheep, cattle, and fruit growing area, and the scene of a major gold rush last century. Continue through the rock-hewn Kawarau Gorge to the resort town of Queenstown. On arrival transfer to your hotel to settle in, then enjoy the evening exploring. (Overnight Queenstown) B

Today depart on a Queenstown Highlights small group tour of Queenstown, which takes you up Queenstown Hill to enjoy the panoramic views, out to the Kawarau Bridge where you can see the daring bungy jump off the bridge towards the river below then enjoy wine tasting at Gibbston Valley, one of the most southern wineries in the world and lastly visit quaint Arrowtown, which was a bustling town in the 1860's gold-rush era. Take the remainder of the day at leisure to enjoy the many activities and attractions available in the area. You may wish to experience a thrilling ride on a jetboat, drive out to quaint Arrowtown which was a rip-roaring town in the 1860s gold rush, cruise the lake on the vintage steamer, parasail on the lake, join a 4WD tour onto a rural property with panoramic views across the valley, or a guided bush walk. (Overnight Queenstown) B

It's an early start today, but so very worth it. You will be collected from the hotel for a full-day tour by coach traveling around the eastern shores of Lake Wakatipu and across the picturesque Southland countryside to Te Anau, then into the dramatic landscape of the Fiordland National Park to Milford Sound. Stop at the Mirror Lakes to see the near-perfect reflections of the mountains in the calm waters then take a short walk to the Chasm and see where the waters disappear into the rocks before arriving in Milford Sound. Cruise the fiord past Mitre Peak to the Tasman Sea enjoying the stunning scenery of cascading waterfalls, dense rainforest, cliff faces, and marine life that inhabits these waters. A picnic box lunch is included, and your nature guide will give a commentary on the interesting features of the area. Return to Queenstown in time for dinner. (Overnight Queenstown) B,L

Have breakfast at your hotel before being driven to the airport to continue your travels elsewhere. B