Sorry, this tour package is no longer available

19 Day Classic Rail, Cruise And Coach

This tour includes return international airfares. See the Fine Print section for further details.

Airfares
Included

This tour is fully escorted by a dedicated tour leader who will accompany you throughout the tour. If your trip includes multiple countries, you will be met by a new tour leader in each country and any internal flights included will be unescorted.

Escorted Type
Fully Escorted
Train
TranzAlpine
Train
Coastal Pacific

This tour is categorised as 1 out of 5

 

Explore at your own pace: Discover your destination at your own pace with our self-guided itinerary. Options include driving, rail, or cruising (excluding expeditions). Enjoy included guided day trips for sightseeing as outlined in your itinerary.

 

 

As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.

Pace
Leisurely
784 people have travelled to this destination

✓ Return Flights included
✓ Travel with Grand Pacific Tours
✓ Return airport transfers in New Zealand with a personalised meet and greet on arrival
✓ Fully escorted by professional coach captain plus tour leader
✓ 17 nights 4 star accommodation including hotel poterage
✓ 1 night Milford Sound Overnight Cruise
✓ 6 x two night stays for a more leisurely paced holiday
✓ 2 classic rail journeys
✓ 4 stunning cruises
✓ All sightseeing and prepaid attractions plus extensive optional activities
✓ 18 cooked breakfasts including a specialty breakfast: Stratosfare Restaurant, Rotorua
✓ 14 sumptuous dinners including 3 specialty dinners: Mãori Hãngi and Concert, Rotorua; Walter Peak Homestead, Queenstown; Haggis Ceremony, Dunedin
✓ 2 delicious morning teas
✓ Enjoy GPT Hotel Wine Time (discounted drink specials)
✓ Classic Documentation Pack

Grand Pacific Tours badge
What we love about this tour

Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.

Itinerary

Hotel
SkyCity Hotel or Similar
Meals
Dinner

On arrival into Auckland, you will be met by a Grand Pacific Tours representative and transferred to your hotel.

This evening meet your Tour Leader and travelling companions for dinner.

Hotel
Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner

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 heart of the beautiful Bay of Islands. Enjoy a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the location of the signing of the treaty between the Mãori tribes and the British.

Hotel
Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands or Similar
Meals
Breakfast

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).

Hotel
SkyCity Hotel or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner

This morning you will explore the scenic beauty of the Bay of Islands 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. Upon return to Paihia, travel south via Whangarei, call into the Parry Kauri Park to see a magnificent example of a Kauri Tree before returning to Auckland.

Hotel
Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua (Superior Plus Room) or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner

This morning travel to Glenbrook Vintage Railway for a nostalgic 15 kilometre trip back in time on a beautifully restored vintage steam train.

Visit the restoration workshop and on return to Glenbrook Station, morning tea will be served. Depart Glenbrook and travel through magnificent countryside of rolling hills and green pastures famous for dairying.

Continue to Rotorua to visit Paradise Valley Springs, a superb wildlife park where you can hand-feed rainbow trout.

Hotel
Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua (Superior Plus Room) or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner

Today begins with a gondola ride and breakfast at Skyline Rotorua. There is also time for a thrilling luge ride!

Next stop is the Agrodome for an action-packed hour of farming entertainment and education that is unlike anything you’ve seen before.

Enjoy some free time this afternoon before travelling to Te Puia to see the boiling mud pools and awesome geysers that Rotorua is famous for.

This evening experience an entertaining Mãori Hãngi and Concert.

Hotel
James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor (Executive Room) or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner

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 New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington.

Hotel
James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor (Executive Room) or Similar
Meals
Breakfast

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 coach for an extensive city tour. Enjoy time at leisure this afternoon and this evening is also free to explore Wellington’s lively food scene.

Hotel
Distinction Christchurch Hotel or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner

This morning board the Interislander Ferry, cross Cook Strait and travel through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton.

Join the Coastal Pacific, a truly spectacular rail journey that showcases the Kaikōura mountain ranges on one side and the rugged scenic coastline on the other travelling through numerous tunnels and across several bridges.

Enjoy a two-night stay in the garden city of Christchurch.

Hotel
Distinction Christchurch Hotel or Similar
Meals
Breakfast

Today visit the International Antarctic Centre, designed to provide an informative account of life in Antarctica.

This is followed by a city tour of Christchurch. This afternoon includes a journey on board the Christchurch Tram at leisure, one of Christchurch’s leading attractions.

This evening is free to explore the local cuisine.

Hotel
Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier (Douglas Wing) or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner

This morning board the TranzAlpine, 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 coach and travel to Hokitika, famous for its Greenstone before arriving at the township of Franz Josef where time is available to experience a scenic flight (optional, weather permitting) over the spectacular glaciers.

Hotel
Millennium Hotel Queenstown or Similar
Meals
Breakfast

See the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps as you travel south via the Haast Pass, an area of stunning beauty before arriving into picturesque Queenstown, a year-round resort situated on the shores of magical Lake Wakatipu.

This evening is free to dine at one of the many fine restaurants.

Hotel
Millennium Hotel Queenstown or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner

Today is a free day to explore Queenstown. Your Coach Captain and Tour Leader will assist with the 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.

Cruise
Milford Mariner or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner

This morning travel to Arrowtown and visit the Lakes District Museum. Continue via Te Anau to Milford Sound and board the Milford Mariner for your amazing overnight cruise.

There is plenty of time to view the fiord’s spectacular waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife - you’re bound to encounter seals and if you’re lucky maybe dolphins and penguins.

As evening falls enjoy a delicious carvery buffet prepared freshly by the onboard chef.

Hotel
Distinction Luxmore Hotel Lake Te Anau (Deluxe Room) or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner

Start the day with a hearty breakfast before heading back out to the Tasman Sea (weather permitting) to explore more of the fiord. Return to the wharf to meet your coach and enjoy the scenic drive to Te Anau where you will enjoy an afternoon at leisure.

You may like to visit the Te Anau Glowworm Caves (optional).

Hotel
Scenic Hotel Southern Cross or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner

Travel via Gore and Balclutha to Dunedin, famous for its stunning Edwardian and Victorian architecture dating back to the gold rush of the 1800’s.

Today Dunedin is New Zealand’s oldest university city.

Hotel
Scenic Hotel Southern Cross or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner

This morning travel along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle where you hear of the tragic and scandalous history on a guided tour. Enjoy time to wander around this Garden of International Significance followed by a delicious Devonshire Tea. Return to Dunedin for a city tour followed by some free time. Optional activities you might be interested in including a tour of Speights Brewery or the chance to see wildlife in their natural habitat. Tonight, a Scottish evening will be presented comprising of bagpipes, great food, Haggis Ceremony and gift.

Hotel
Sudima Hotel Christchurch Airport or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner

This morning visit Olveston Historic Home, a prosperous merchants’ home from the turn of the century before travelling to Oamaru, famous for its limestone.

This evening enjoy a farewell dinner with your new found friends.

Meals
Breakfast

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

Inclusions

  • Return Flights included
  • Travel with Grand Pacific Tours
  • Return airport transfers in New Zealand with a personalised meet and greet on arrival
  • Fully escorted by professional coach captain plus tour leader
  • 17 nights 4 star accommodation
  • Milford Sound Overnight Cruise
  • 6 two night stays for a more leisurely paced holiday 
  • Hotel porterage
  • 3 classic rail journeys
  • 4 stunning cruises
  • All sightseeing and prepaid attractions plus extensive optional activities
  • 18 cooked breakfasts including a specialty breakfast at Stratosfare Restaurant, Rotorua
  • 14 sumptuous dinners including 3 specialty dinners: Mãori Hãngi and Concert, Rotorua; Walter Peak Homestead, Queenstown; Haggis Ceremony, Dunedin
  • 2 delicious morning teas
  • Enjoy GPT Hotel Wine Time (discounted drink specials)
  • Classic Documentation Pack

  • Kauri Museum
  • Waitangi Treaty Grounds
  • Hole in the Rock Dolphin Cruise
  • Glenbrook Vintage Railway
  • Paradise Valley Springs
  • Skyline Rotorua Gondola and Luge Ride
  • Agrodome
  • Thermal mud pools and geysers
  • Te Puia traditional Mãori Hãngi and Concert
  • Te Papa, NZ's National Museum
  • Cruise on the Interislander Ferry
  • Coastal Pacific Rail Journey
  • International Antarctic Centre
  • Christchurch Tram
  • TranzAlpine Rail Journey
  • Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw
  • Lakes District Museum
  • HIGHLIGHT Milford Sound Overnight Cruise
  • Larnach Castle and Devonshire Tea
  • Haggis Ceremony and Gift
  • Olveston Historic Home
  • Auckland City Sights Tour
  • Wellington City Sights Tour
  • Christchurch City Sights Tour
  • Dunedin City Sights Tour

Fine Print

We offer two payment options – the choice is yours. Our advertised price is based on our 'Pay in Full' option, which includes a discount by making full payment at the time of booking. Alternatively, choose our 'Installment Payment Plan' option for the flexibility of incremental payments, beginning with a low deposit.

Please click 'Book Now' and proceed to the payment page to select your preferred option under the heading ‘Choose how to pay’. The total due will be reflected accordingly.

Pay In Full Option:

  • Full payment due at the time of the booking.
  • Please select this option at the payment page prior to finalizing your booking

Deposit & Installment Payment Option:

  • Book now and secure your package with only a $99.00 deposit per person.
  • Pay a 2nd installment of $2,727.00 per person within 7 days.
  • You will then be invoiced for final payment 120 days prior to departure.

Booking Process

  • Select the purple 'Reserve Your Seat' tab to begin your booking (you must 'Sign Up' first by entering your email and creating a password)
  • Then select the purple 'Book now' tab of the tour you have selected
  • Select your Departure Date, Departure City, Number of Passengers, Room Configuration, any Upgrade Options, and enter any Special Requests
  • Click the purple ‘Proceed to Secure Checkout' tab
  • Enter your credit card or PayPal details to secure your deposit/payment. You may also pay via BPAY (not available within 70 days of departure)
  • Once your order is complete, you will be prompted to complete a Booking Form so that we can fulfill your booking
  • Your booking is confirmed once your Booking Form is submitted and you can begin the countdown to your Inspiring Vacation!

Booking On Request

  • Your Inspiring Vacations package is made up of multiple components and travel partners. Once your booking is made and passenger details form submitted, we will begin to confirm all of your arrangements. Please note, this process can take several business days to complete
  • Once all elements have been confirmed we will send you an email confirmation, if we are unable to confirm we will provide you with alternative dates or offer a full refund of your deposit or re-credit your account if a travel credit was used
  • Please DO NOT book any additional services, such as flights, until we have confirmed your Inspiring Vacations package in writing. Inspiring Vacations will not be liable for any fees or charges incurred to change or cancel components not booked by Inspiring Vacations should your selected package be unavailable

COVID-19
Due to COVID there maybe disruptions to standard operating schedules of particular components of this itinerary. Should a component be effected a substitute will be confirmed prior to departure.

Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.

As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.

Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard.

Airport Transfers
Airport transfers in New Zealand are included on the first and last day of your tour. This includes any pre or post tour accommodation directly linked with the tour hotel. Transfer vehicles will wait up to 1 hour after the flight lands in New Zealand.

Single Supplement
Single supplement is $2,430.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.

Triple Share
Not Available

Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.

We have partnered with nib to offer our customers competitive rates for their travel insurance. You can book Comprehensive or Essentials cover for your domestic, international or multi-trip journeys simply by clicking HERE.

 Note that Inspiring Vacations cannot provide advice with regards to any insurance product.

Visa & Passport Information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.

Visa's may be required.

Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://smartraveller.gov.au for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.

Tour Documentation
Final documentation including, e-tickets and hotel details, will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.

Group Size
Maximum of 48 travellers

Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.

Tour Type 
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels:

  • Fully Escorted - This tour is fully escorted by an expert English-speaking guide who will accompany you throughout the tour. 

Please refer to conditions below, which are agreed to at time of purchase. 

Can I extend my stay pre- and/or post-tour?

This depends on the package you are booking. 

Where available, extensions must be added at time of purchase and cannot be added post-purchase unless inside the 7-day cooling off period.

We can assist in arranging your airfares to accommodate an extension; however, you must also book the additional nights’ accommodation through us at time of booking (where available as an add-on):

  • At check-out, please ensure you add the numbers of extra nights you would like pre- and/or post-tour (where available as an add-on). This can only be done at time of booking and cannot be added after purchase.
  • Some packages may only offer the opportunity to book one (1) extra night pre and/or post. If you want more nights’ than what is available to book you must choose Land Only (refer below).
  • If there is no option to add additional nights’ accommodation to your booking, then extending your stay with Inspiring Vacations is not an option and you can instead choose to change your booking to Land Only so you can arrange both your airfares and additional accommodation independently. 

When adding additional nights to your booking, the cost of the extra nights’ accommodation will be reflected on your invoice and payable with the final balance. 

Airfare surcharges may apply if extending due to airfare seasonal changes and possible fare differences. These are payable at the time of selecting your desired airfare. 

The second installment of your booking must be made before airfares can be booked. 

Outside of extending your stay you must select Land Only if:

  • You would like to stopover
  • You would like to upgrade your cabin class
  • You would like a specific airline booked 
  • You would like to extend longer than what is available within the package 
  • You intend to book additional accommodation independently
  • You would like to arrive and/or depart from another city or airport or; 
  • Your preferred domestic departure city point (ie Perth, Australia) is not an option 

If you are interested in one of the above options, please select LAND ONLY at time of check-out and you will need to arrange your own airfares. Inspiring Vacations will not be accountable for flight delays or missed tour components due to late arrival or airline changes.

How to book my flights through the flight portal:

As the travel industry moves towards providing customers with more self-service options, we are excited that our customers will have the opportunity to book their flights through our flight portal. If this option is available to you, you will be notified once flights are available to book for your selected departure date. Flights may be booked by Inspiring Vacations at any time.

Please visit our FAQ for more information.

Conditions of flights for this package bookable by Inspiring Vacations:

  • Flight Offer valid from select departure cities within the purchase path only
  • Flights will be booked with the best available airline/s with luggage included. Low-cost carriers may be booked in conjunction with a full-service airline. Depending on the carrier, entertainment and meals may not be included but payable at an extra cost on-board. We cannot specify or guarantee the airline booked. If you would like a specific airline, please select land only. 
  • Flights may not be direct and may include multiple connections
  • Due to disrupted airline schedules globally with the pandemic, stopovers/transit times may be longer than usual (up to 12 hours in duration in some circumstances).
  • Once ticketed, flights are non-refundable; any changes will be subject to the airline rules and change fees. 
  • Full names as per passport (including all middle names) are required at the time of submitting your traveller booking form. Any error in the names submitted will be subject to fees to amend with the airline or the ticket may be non-refundable with the purchase of a new ticket required. 
  • Depending on departure date and time of booking, the required booking class for airfare offer may be too far in advance to book with the appropriate airline.
  • If the required booking class is unavailable at time of booking, surcharges may apply. Total cost is final only at time of ticketing. Once issued, air tickets are subject to amendment and cancellation fees or may be non-refundable
  • Any airline schedule changes or cancellations are beyond our control and it is the responsibility of the customer to ensure they are familiar with the most up to date airline schedule prior to departure
  • After booking, the price payable may be subject to change as a result of factors beyond the control of Inspiring Vacations. Inspiring Vacations reserves the right to increase the price payable and this will be reflected on the customer's invoice. Increases may be in relation to, but not limited to, currency fluctuations, airline taxes, airfare increases and fuel surcharges.
  • Internal airfares (where applicable and included in the itinerary) will be using a local carrier and may include low-cost carriers without meals or entertainment. Checked baggage will still be included for each passenger. Any additional baggage required is payable at time of check-in. 
  • If you are travelling with another party on a separate booking, we cannot guarantee that the same flights will be booked for all parties, as this strictly depends on availability. 
  • All tickets will include 20 kilos checked baggage per person, along with 7 kilos of hand luggage to restrictions with internal flights (where applicable), as well as coach and train transportation.
  • You will be responsible for handling your luggage at all times as the services of porters are not included. If travelling over the recommended amount, you will be liable for any excess baggage fees enforced by the airline, payable directly.

Seat Selection & Frequent Flyer Points

Inspiring Vacations do not arrange seat selection. It is important to highlight that some airlines do not allow pre-selected seats or they may charge a fee to do so. We strongly suggest you contact the airline directly with seating allocation requirements and or arrive at the airport earlier to arrange your seating. While we do not add frequent flyer member details to bookings, you can do this directly with the airline once you have your flight information.

Online check-in 

Some airlines may not permit online check-in where flights have been booked by a travel company. Where unavailable to do so online, you will be required to check-in at the airport. Inspiring Vacations cannot check-in online on behalf of our customers.

You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour, adding a stopover package en-route or booking a tour extension. On this tour you can choose from the following options:

Pre and post-tour accommodation 

  • Pre-tour accommodation (Christchurch): $260 per room per night for double/twin/single
  • Post-tour accommodation (Christchurch): $260 per room per night for double/twin/single room only

Please specify in the 'Special Request' field when making your purchase your preferred travel arrangements and if you would like our team to book additional nights' accommodation. The additional cost for these land arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.

  • Visas
  • Travel insurance (compulsory)
  • Tipping
  • Optional activities
  • Personal expenses
  • Anything not mentioned in the itinerary

The TranzAlpine schedule is yet to be advised for the 2023 season, including any scheduled track maintenance days. Grand Pacific Tours has compiled the tour dates on the expected schedules and should the rail journey not operate on the day of your tour, you will be eligible for a reduction of $140 per person from your tour price.

The Coastal Pacific schedule has been released and may not operate on some tour dates.

Should your tour be affected, your train journey will be replaced by a coach journey.

Please note that your tour is operated by Grand Pacific Tours and documentation is provided via delivery to your residential address approximately 14 days prior to departure.

In order to ensure a smooth process for delivery of your documents, you will receive a phone call directly from Grand Pacific Tours leading up to the delivery dispatch date to confirm your delivery address details.

Please ensure you answer this call and provide accurate details to the supplier. In the event that an incorrect address is provided there may be additional costs to redirect the delivery to the correct address.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the above please do not hesitate to contact us.

Processing...