Treasures of New Zealand

Arrive into the wonderful city of Singapore, where we meet our local guide and transfer to our hotel, The Robertson House, for the next two nights.

Known as ‘the crossroads of Asia’, Singapore is a city where east meets west; a cosmopolitan melting pot with an inspirational identity. Following a leisurely morning, we gather with our travelling companions for a city sightseeing tour. Witness the intriguing ethnic quarters where Chinese, Malay and Indian influences fuse to produce Singapore’s unique culture. Later, we explore Singapore’s iconic Merlion Park and the botanical gardens. This evening, we dine together at a local Peranakan restaurant. Bursting with flavour, this delicious cuisine is popular throughout Singapore and is renowned for its mix of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian ingredients.

A day at leisure in Singapore until it’s time to leave for our evening flight to Auckland. Perhaps explore the impressive Gardens by the Bay or enjoy a Singapore sling at the iconic Raffles hotel.

On arrival into Auckland, transfer to the centrally located Legacy Airedale Hotel Auckland or Hotel Grand Chancellor, where we spend our first two nights in New Zealand. At the hotel, we meet our local Tour Manager, who will be our guide during our time in New Zealand.

This morning, we take an orientation tour of the city. Known as the ‘City of Sails’, Auckland is New Zealand’s most populous city, with a beautiful waterside setting and a landscape dotted with volcanic hills. We drive along the stunning coastline of the famous Waitemata Harbour. In the distance we see Rangitoto Island, a dormant volcano, dominating the horizon. Our afternoon is free to spend as we please. Perhaps take a scenic boat trip in Auckland’s harbour. Later, we enjoy dinner together at our hotel.

Departing Auckland this morning we travel to the world-famous thermal region of Rotorua. On arrival, we explore Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, with its spurting geysers and boiling mud pools. Following our visit we head to the Distinction Hotel or Millennium Hotel for our overnight stay. Rotorua is also well known for being at the heart of New Zealand’s rich Maori culture and later today we also enjoy a cultural performance, featuring traditional song and dance, including the world-famous war dance – The Haka.

Departing Rotorua this morning, we first visit Wai-O Tapu, considered to be New Zealand’s most colourful and diverse geothermal wonder. Sculptured by volcanic activity and thousands of years in the making, we view spouting geysers, steaming vents, boiling lakes, bubbling mud pools and colourful sinter terraces. We continue along the Thermal Explorer Highway to Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake. Visit the impressive Huka Falls and view Lake Taupo, the largest freshwater lake in Australasia. Enjoy spectacular vistas across the lake, where the snow-capped peaks of Tongariro National Park create a breathtaking backdrop. Our destination today is the Art Deco city of Napier, located in an area dominated by orchards and vineyards. We stay for two nights at the delightful Scenic Hotel Te Pania, superbly situated on Napier’s seafront.

Napier's Art Deco streets have one of the most complete collections of Art Deco buildings in the world. This morning, we enjoy a guided walking tour of the town to learn more of Napier’s history and enjoy Napier’s seamless line of 1930s architecture. Our afternoon is at leisure to enjoy as we please. Hawkes Bay is renowned for its wineries, so perhaps enjoy a wine-tasting tour, or why not travel overland to Cape Kidnappers, famous for its 20,000 strong gannet population. Alternatively, spend more time enjoying the delights of Napier with its excellent selection of restaurants, cafes and boutique shops.

Our journey continues south via Hastings and the Kapiti Coast as we make our way to Wellington, New Zealand’s capital. Upon arrival we have a short orientation tour of Wellington, including a visit to the top of Mount Victoria for the finest view of the city and its picturesque harbour. From Mount Victoria we make our way to Wellington's James Cook Grand Chancellor for an overnight stay. Later, we dine together at our hotel.

Leaving New Zealand’s capital behind, we board our ferry for a cruise across the Cook Strait to Picton on New Zealand’s South Island. As we make our crossing, look out for sea birds and dolphins and enjoy the spectacular views as we approach Queen Charlotte Sound. Disembarking, our journey continues to Blenheim, New Zealand’s largest wine-producing region. We visit a local winery for a chance to taste Marlborough’s world-renowned Sauvignon Blanc, and enjoy lunch surrounded by the vineyards, before we travel to our hotel in Blenheim, the Scenic Hotel Marlborough.

Departing Blenheim, we travel first via Murchison and then through the impressive Buller River Gorge to the spectacular west coast. Our destination is Punakaiki and the Paparoa National Park. Here we see the famous Pancake Rocks – steep cliffs that resemble giant stacked pancakes – carved out by the roaring surf of the Tasman Sea. We view the dramatic bursts of sea spray, before arriving at our accommodation, the Scenic Hotel Punakaiki for our overnight stay. Ideally situated by the beach, we enjoy our location before we head out to dinner at a local pub.

Following breakfast, our journey continues south along the scenic west coast. Travelling via the small towns of Greymouth and Hokitika, we see striking wild scree-scarred terrain and the forests of Crimson Rata and Kahikatea. We pass lakes Lanthe and Mapourika before entering Westland National Park, arriving at the Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier, our overnight accommodation. For those that wish, we visit the Franz Josef Glacier valley where there is an opportunity to walk through the rainforest and enjoy views of the glacier area. Weather permitting, we may also take an optional scenic flight (at an additional cost) over the glacier and the awe-inspiring alpine region.

The incredible scenery continues today as we travel across the Haast River Bridge and via Clark Bluff along one of the most exciting scenic roads ever built. Travel along the shores of Lakes Wanaka and Hawea as we enter New Zealand’s Central Otago region. We continue via Lake Dunstan, created by the mighty Clyde hydro dam in 1994. Later in the afternoon we reach beautiful, cosmopolitan Queenstown, and our home for the next two nights, the Copthorne Hotel & Resort Queenstown Lakefront or the Millennium Hotel, situated only a short walk from the centre of town.

Today has been left free to take advantage of the incredible variety of activities available in and around New Zealand’s most glamorous alpine resort. For a relaxing experience, follow Queenstown’s wine trail for an enjoyable day of wine tasting and sightseeing, or take a leisurely cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the vintage steamboat TSS Earnslaw. Or for something a little more adventurous, perhaps consider a four-wheel drive adventure along the famous Skippers Road.

Our journey this morning takes us via impressive Lake Wakatipu to the historic mining town of Arrowtown, a charmingly quirky gold rush town nestled beside the sparkling Arrow River. At its heart is Buckingham Street, a row of heritage buildings and quaint tea rooms that stretch into a tree-lined avenue of well-preserved miners’ cottages. In the afternoon we leave Central Otago, travelling the dramatic Lindis Pass, which links the region with the Mackenzie Basin. Later we arrive at the Distinction Mackenzie Country Hotel in Twizel. Our dinner tonight is at our hotel.

On leaving Twizel, we head northeast to the turquoise-tinted Lake Pukaki, which gains its colour from the melting water of the Tasman glacier. If we are lucky with the weather, we may see the Southern Alps and the mighty Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain. We also stop at the Church of the Good Shepherd on the shores of Lake Tekapo. Later, descend from the Mackenzie Country over Burkes Pass to the Canterbury Plains and travel through small townships like Geraldine and Christchurch. Enjoy a brief sightseeing tour, prior to our arrival at the centrally located Distinction Hotel Christchurch.

Our final day in New Zealand is free to spend as we please. Founded in 1863 with the planting of an English oak tree, the Christchurch Botanic Gardens are within easy walking distance of our hotel and contain an impressive array of flora. Alternatively, perhaps pay a visit to Christchurch's Arts Centre. This large collection of heritage buildings is home to galleries, museums, boutique retailers and artisan eateries and bars. As our day comes to a close, we gather together once more to enjoy dinner on board Christchurch’s historic tramway.

All good things must come to an end, and this morning we transfer to Christchurch Airport for our Singapore Airlines flight, operating via Singapore.

Breakfast is served shortly before our arrival, bringing an end to our Treasures of New Zealand tour.