Day 1
Depart on your scheduled flight to Hong Kong.

Day 2
On arrival transfer to your hotel for a two night stay.

Day 3
Hong Kong’s magnificent natural setting on the tip of the Chinese mainland is a natural gateway to the Orient. It is an intense, vibrant and colourful city of dramatic contrasts. Towering skyscrapers, monuments to Hong Kong’s development as a world financial centre, form the backdrop to the busy harbour, with its constant traffic of ferries, junks, sampans and sea-going vessels. Yet in the teaming alleys, festooned with red and gold signs, street markets remain untouched by western influences, and still provide an intoxicating taste of mystique and intrigue. We include a city tour.

Day 4
Transfer to the airport for your flight to New Zealand.

Day 5
Arrive in Auckland and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day free to relax. You will stay at the City Life Hotel or New President Hotel for two nights. The warm, emerald green North Island was shaped originally by the fire of volcanoes. Today you’ll find a subtropical climate, thermal springs and geysers, rich farmland, glorious national parks, luxuriant forests and stunning lakes.

Day 6
This morning a sightseeing tour of Auckland is included. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the 'City of Sails'.

Day 7
Morning departure from Auckland for your journey north to the beautiful Bay of Islands. You will travel via the Hibiscus Coast visiting the Matakohe Kauri Museum where you can learn about the early European settlement of New Zealand. In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to visit the Treaty House of Waitingi where the Maori, in 1840, accepted British sovereignty for ownership of their traditional lands. Accommodation has been arranged in Paihia for two nights at the Paihia Pacific Resort Hotel or similar.

Day 8
Full day optional excursion to Cape Reinga. This is described as ‘one of the finest scenic day tours in the world’. Highlights include a drive on Ninety Mile Beach, a negotiation of the Te Paki Quick Sand Stream and a visit to the Wagener Museum. At Cape Reinga visit the lighthouse, post a card from New Zealand’s northernmost Post Office and enjoy spectacular views including the meeting of the two oceans, the blue Pacific and the deep green Tasman Sea.

Day 9
This morning join an optional cruise to Cape Brett, to explore the spectacular Bay of Islands further. This afternoon you travel south to the picturesque Whangerei Town Basin and visit Clapham’s Clock Museum, returning in the afternoon to Auckland where overnight accommodation has been arranged at the City Life Hotel.

Day 10 
The warm, emerald green North Island was shaped originally by the fire of volcanoes, and evidence of this remains in the thermal springs surrounding Rotorua which is our destination today. Your journey will take you south through Ngaruawahia, home of the Maori Queen and Hamilton to the world-famous Waitomo Caves. Here we have included a guided tour. Continue to Rotorua, the focal point of New Zealand’s thermal springs region. Accommodation has been arranged here for two nights at the Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua.

Day 11
Morning included visit to Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve to view the extraordinary boiling mud pools and spouting geysers. Optional afternoon excursion to the Agrodome to see a display of working sheep dogs and a visit to Rainbow Springs to view the rare Kiwi Bird. During the evening there will be an opportunity to visit a Maori Hangi and concert.

Day 12
Depart Rotorua and travel south through the Wairakei Valley and then past the spectacular Huka Falls to Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest freshwater lake. You will then continue to Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. On arrival you will be taken on a  city tour. Overnight accommodation at the Bay Plaza Hotel or West Plaza Hotel.

Day 13
Today you will sail from the North Island to the South Island. The crossing takes approximately three hours and sails through the picturesque Cook Strait to Picton. Upon arrival, transfer to the Picton Beachcomber Hotel or similar for an overnight stay.

South Island is a complete contrast to the North. It’s a land of mountains, glaciers and spectacular fjords. Its sparse population of just one million people shares the island with 60 million sheep! Here amongst the grandeur of the snow-capped peaks, still fjords and rugged coastline you’ll find a warm welcome.

Day 14
Today you will drive south along the Kaikoura Coast to the delightful city of Christchurch. En route (subject to the season) you may be lucky enough to enjoy some whale watching. On arrival in Christchurch we include a city tour. Overnight accommodation at the Elms Hotel.

Day 15
Today you will take the Tranz-Alpine Express on a spectacular journey into the Southern Alps. It is the highlight of any visit to New Zealand and we’ve included it in the price. All the way from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass, the South Island’s highest railway station, you will be delighted by the snow-capped Southern Alps, majestic gorges and lush rain forest. At Arthur’s Pass you will rejoin your coach and continue south to the magnificent scenery and glaciers of the Franz Josef and Fox Glacier regions. An overnight stop will be made at the Fox Glacier Hotel or similar.

Day 16
Continue through Westland National Park along one of the most scenic roads ever built. You cross Clark Bluff and the Haast River Bridge before continuing to Queenstown. Upon arrival you will transfer to the Goldridge Hotel for a three night stay.

Day 17
An exciting full day optional excursion to beautiful Milford Sound. The tour takes you to Te Anau, the gateway to Fjordland National Park. You then continue through forests of the Eglinton Valley and the glacial canyons of the Hollyford Valley, before arriving at Milford Sound. There will be an included cruise (weather permitting) on the sound before returning by coach.

Day 18
Explore Queenstown at your leisure or take an optional excursion; ride on a jet boat, cruise on Lake Wakatipu or take a gondola ride for spectacular views over Queenstown.

Day 19
Depart Queenstown and drive into the heart of Central Otago passing through the former gold towns of Cromwell, Alexandra and Roxburgh. Continue to the charming city of Dunedin, originally planned and settled by the Church of Scotland. You will enjoy a city tour prior to transferring to your hotel for an overnight stay at the Leisure Lodge or similar.

Day 20
This morning you will depart Dunedin and travel north. A stop will be made to see the Moeraki beach boulders. You will then follow the Waitiki River inland to Mount Cook, the highest peak in New Zealand. Optional scenic flights will be available before continuing to Omarama for an overnight stop at the Heritage Gateway Hotel or similar.

Day 21 
This morning you cross Burkes Pass to Lake Tekapo. You will then continue across the Canterbury Plains and return to Christchurch. Upon arrival, transfer to the Latimer Hotel for a two night stay.

Day 22
Today will be free to explore the city and finish any last minute shopping.

Day 23
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

Day 24
Arrival in the UK.