Embark on an unforgettable train adventure from Auckland to Punakaiki. Explore Wellington, including a visit to Weta Workshop, before crossing the Cook Strait to magical Blenheim. Cruise the Marlborough Sounds and enjoy lunch at secluded Furneaux Lodge. Experience the world-class Omaka Aviation WW1 and WW2 aircraft museum and ride the Riverside rail. Hop on the Coastal Explorer to Kaikoura and a beachside hotel stay there. Enjoy Christchurch's sights and Tramcar dining before the breathtaking TranzAlpine journey to Greymouth. Admire the Pancake Rocks near your beachside hotel and delve into history at Shanty Town. Finally, cap off your adventure with a scenic flight back to Auckland via Christchurch, taking in the majestic Alps from above.
Home pick up and return within the Auckland Metropolitan area (if applicable).
Services of Travelwise Holidays Tour Leader throughout.
Quality hotel accommodation with private facilities throughout (as detailed in tour itinerary).
Daily cooked breakfasts & dinners, including a special Tramcar Dinner in Christchurch and lunch at Furneaux Lodge in the Marlborough Sounds and at Shanty Town.
KiwiRail travel aboard the ’Northern Explorer’ from Auckland/Wellington, the ‘Coastal Pacific’ Blenheim/Christchurch, and the ‘TranzAlpine’ journey Christchurch/Greymouth.
Riverside Railway – narrow gauge heritage railway, Blenheim.
Ferry travel from Wellington/Picton.
Sightseeing tours in Wellington, Blenheim, Christchurch, West Coast.
Beachside Hotel stays in Kaikoura and Punakaiki. View the Pancake rocks and visit Shanty Town.
Airfare Hokitika/Christchurch/Auckland flying Air New Zealand. On a clear day, this is a spectacular fight above the Alps.
SAT 15 MAR – AUCKLAND/WELLINGTON D
Depart Auckland on the ‘Northern Explorer’ rail service at 7.45am. Explore the rural heart of the North Island on this epic journey to Wellington. See the scenic wonders of Middle Earth, soar over towering viaducts, across the high plains of the volcanic plateau and beneath three mighty volcanoes. Arrive in Wellington at 6.25pm. Stay Ibis Hotel Wellington (2 nights).
SUN 16 MAR – WELLINGTON B,D
This morning we have a half day sightseeing tour of Wellington including Parliament, Old St Pauls and Mount Victoria. Free afternoon and dinner at the hotel.
MON 17 MAR – WELLINGTON/BLENHEIM B,D
This morning visit the fabulous Weta Workshop and in the afternoon board the ferry. Most of the journey is a scenic spectacle, with the ferry looping around Wellington Harbour and drifting through the fjord-like channels and inlets of the Marlborough Sounds. The rest of the journey is spent navigating Te Moana o Raukawakawa / Cook Strait - a seafaring adventure through a dramatic and rugged channel where two seas meet. Arrive Picton at 4.30pm. Stay Scenic Hotel Marlborough (2 nights).
TUE 18 MAR – BLENHEIM SIGHTSEEING B,L,D
Today cruise the serene native bushland of Queen Charlotte Sound and land at cosy Furneaux Lodge. Beautifully located at the head of Endeavour Inlet in the Marlborough Sounds, it is relaxing and peaceful. Furneaux Lodge is the perfect escape in paradise. Indulge in sumptuous Marlborough food while enjoying the awe-inspiring scenery and unobstructed views. Dinner is included tonight.
WED 19 MAR – BLENHEIM/KAIKOURA B, D
A half day sightseeing tour including the narrow gauge railway that meanders along the picturesque Taylor River and a guided tour of the impressive Omaka Aviation Centre and Knight of the Sky & Dangerous Skies exhibitions - ground-breaking for its rarity, scale and innovative presentation. In the afternoon embark on the ‘Coastal Pacific’ rail service departing 2.05pm. Travel along rugged coastlines, across remote beaches, between mountains and sea, on a timeless journey of breathtaking beauty. Arrive Kaikoura at 4.15pm. A village caught between the rugged seaward Kaikōura Range and the Pacific Ocean.
Stay Hotel Sudima, Kaikoura (1 night).
THU 20 MAR - KAIKOURA/CHRISTCHURCH B,D
Morning free to do optional Whale Watching, one of the world's best places to do so. You have a 95% chance of spotting giant sperm whales, as well as dusky dolphins, orcas, humpback whales and everything in between. Later board the 4.25pm train to Christchurch, arriving 7.30pm. Dinner at the hotel. Stay Fable Hotel (2 nights).
FRI 21 MAR– CHRISTCHURCH SIGHTSEEING B,D
Sightseeing including the Sign of the Takahe for a view over Christchurch, then into Mona Vale gardens before visiting the Earthquake museum. Rest of the afternoon is at leisure then the fabulous Christchurch Tramcar dining experience this evening.
SAT 22 MAR– CHRISTCHURCH/PUNAKAIKI B,D
Explore the Southern Alps aboard the TranzAlpine train - one of the world's great train journeys, covering 223 kilometres (139 miles) and taking just under 5 hours. Traveling coast-to-coast through the 'Great Divide' and the indomitable spine of mountains that partitions the South Island. Arrive in Greymouth then continue to Punakaiki and your beachside hotel. Stroll to the fabulous Pancake Rocks, just 200m away. Gaze in wonder at the pancake rocks and blowholes, where columns of water shoot skyward from rocks that resemble giant stacks of hotcakes. Nature began this work of art about 30 million years ago. Dinner at the hotel. Stay Scenic Hotel Punakaiki (1 night).
SUN 23 MAR – PUNAKAIKI/AUCKLAND B,L
We spend the morning in Greymouth visiting the Waewae Pounamu Experience and then head to Shanty Town. One of New Zealand’s premier cultural and heritage attractions. A faithfully recreated 1900s pioneer town, born out of, and stimulated by, the great West Coast gold rushes of the 1860s. Nestled amidst regenerative native rain forest provides a real sense of what it was like to live in New Zealand then and what it means to be a New Zealander now. Later we transfer to Hokitika Airport for our flight back to Auckland. We fly over the Southern Alps to Christchurch and onward to Auckland. On a clear day the flight over the Alps is spectacular!
