Day 1: Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass to Franz Josef

Your journey begins with a Meet and Greet at Christchurch Railway Station, where the iconic TranzAlpine awaits. Often regarded to be one of the world’s great train journeys for the scenery through which it passes. The journey is 223 kilometres oneway, taking almost five hours. You will see epic vistas, travel the edges of the ice-fed Waimakariri River, traverse the majestic Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps, and see miles of native beech forest. Luxury coaches await in Greymouth to transport you to your hotel in the ruggedly beautiful Franz Josef. Passengers stay at the Scenic Hotel Franz Josef.

Day 2: Franz Josef to Queenstown

Wake up to enjoy some pampering at the Franz Josef Glacier Hot Pools and options are available for helicopter tours of the glacier. Leaving Franz Josef, we travel along the West Coast through the Haast Pass, journeying through native beech forest and over the Southern Alps. This remote area has a ruggedly beautiful landscape of vast rainforests, gushing waterfalls and snow-capped mountains. After a tea break in Makarora on the border of Mount Aspiring World Heritage Park, we pass by the crystal-clear waters of Lake Dunstan, Lake Wanaka, and Lake Hawea. The adventure playground of Queenstown then awaits! Cap off a special day as we take in The Remarkables Mountain Range and the view of Lake Wakatipu from the hotel. Passengers stay at Copthorne Hotel Lakefront which is located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, within walking distance of Queenstown’s central shopping and entertainment area. The hotel offers panoramic views of Lake Wakatipu and surrounding mountain peaks.

Day 3: Queenstown

Spend a leisurely day exploring Queenstown. Later in the afternoon, we join a lake cruise on board the historic TSS Earnslaw, the 1912 Edwardian steamboat, which takes us across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm for dinner. Passengers stay at Copthorne Hotel Lakefront which is located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, within walking distance of Queenstown’s central shopping and entertainment area.

Day 4: Queenstown to Te Anau

Departing Queenstown, we call in to visit the historic and picturesque goldmining town, Arrowtown, on the banks of the Arrow River and taking in the Lakes District Museum. Continuing our journey through the Fiordland National Park district, we stop off to see the Te Anau glowworms caves. The Te Anau caves are a culturally and ecologically important system of limestone caves on the western shore of Lake Te Anau. We spend a couple of aweinspiring days experiencing the wonders of Te Anau and Milford Sound. Passengers stay at Distinction Hotel Luxmore.

Day 5: Te Anau to Milford Sound to Te Anau

Traveling along the Milford Road (between Te Anau and Milford) is one of the finest alpine drives in the world. The scenery is exceptional, ranging from broad grassy flats, dense rainforest and towering mountains through to glacial lakes and alpine herb fields. A day tour to Milford Sound offers some of the most spectacular natural scenery to be viewed anywhere in the world. Board the coach and travel through stunning scenery along the Milford Road and into Fiordland, where your cruise boat awaits you. The tour includes a cruise around the fiord so you can experience its wonders up close and see landmarks like Mitre Peak and amazing wildlife, such as dolphins and seals. Cruise the inmost reaches of Milford Sound to the open Tasman Sea and back. A one-day itinerary is enough to see all the beautiful views along the way, take a scenic cruise around the fiord, and get back to Te Anau in time for dinner. Passengers stay at Distinction Hotel Luxmore.

Day 6: Te Anau to Invercargill

As we depart Fiordland National Park district, continuing to traverse the Southern Scenic Route, our journey by coach calls in to visit the Takahe Bird Sanctuary. Takahe are the stars of the show and meeting these prehistoric-looking characters is a ‘must do’ for Fiordland visitors. The sanctuary is a large part of the success of the Takahe Recovery Programme. Then a lunch stop at Tuatapere Café, followed by a visit to the Te Hikoi Museum in Riverton, the South’s ultimate heritage attraction, just 25 minutes from Invercargill on the Southern Scenic Route. The museum features authentic life size displays, adventurous characters and engaging stories. These reveal how our Maori and European ancestors adapted to survive on nature’s edge. An experience not to be missed. Famous Bluff oysters will no doubt be on the menu this evening. Passengers will stay at The Ascot Park Hotel, adjacent to the racecourse and with a relaxed and spacious layout.

Day 7: Invercargill to Dunedin

Passengers may choose to relax in Invercargill, taking in the famous Bill Richardson Transport World or take an optional scenic flight or ferry to the wonderful Stewart Island, home to amazing wildlife and stunning scenery Departing Invercargill later in the day, we introduce you to the star of the tour, the historic WW1 memorial steam locomotive Ab608 Passchendaele, (named in honour of our fallen soldiers at The Battle of Passchendaele in 1917) - the Marlborough Flyer steam train as she is more recently known. Then it is “all aboard” and onward past the edge of the Blue Mountains to the town of Gore, and then northwards to Dunedin. Passengers will stay at Scenic Hotel Southern Cross which is Dunedin’s most established hotel, nestled in the heart of the city.

Day 8: Dunedin

The morning starts with a guided tour and tasting at the new OCHO craft chocolate factory where they turn cacao into chocolate bars. OCHO moved into the new premises in January 2019 and are eager to share the OCHO experience with chocolate lovers with every part of their production process on display. We will then coach to historic Larnach Castle, is one of New Zealand’s premier visitor attractions, which is situated on the picturesque Otago Peninsula. Lovingly restored by the Barker Family, the Castle and surrounding grounds are at the heart of the Dunedin visitor experience. Passengers arrive in time for refreshing high tea in the Ballroom Café followed by a guided garden tour. Passengers will stay at Scenic Hotel Southern Cross which is Dunedin’s most established hotel, nestled in the heart of the city.

Day 9: Dunedin to Oamaru

Departing North towards Oamaru, we call in to Moeraki Boulders, a group of large spherical “stones” on Koekohe Beach near Moeraki on the Otago coast. These boulders are actually concretions that have been exposed through shoreline erosion from coastal cliffs. The boulders are one of the most fascinating and popular attractions on the South Island. We arrive in one of New Zealand’s many towns of character, Oamaru. Gourmet cheese is then on the menu as we explore the Whitestone Cheese Factory, home of some of the world’s finest cheeses and you’ll be treated on a guided tour which includes a cheese and wine pairing. The Blue Penguin Colony in Oamaru is similarly not to be outdone, has specially designed nesting boxes for your convenience as well as stadium grandstand seating for your viewing pleasure, to see the penguins arrive home in the evening. Passengers will stay at Brydone Hotel – “fine accommodation and libations since 1881”- or the North Star.

Day 10: Oamaru to Christchurch

The morning departure from Oamaru is by steam train as we set out further towards Timaru where we stop for lunch. Afternoon options on arrival in Christchurch include exploring the harbour on the historical steam tugboat (Tug Lyttelton Est. 1907) or a historical tram tour of “the garden city”. Passengers will stay at the luxurious and newly renovated Distinction Hotel in Cathedral Square, located in the heart of Christchurch.

Day 11: Christchurch to Kaikoura

Our destination is Kaikoura, home of resident whales, where the guardians of the seas – the mountains of the Southern Alps – rise majestically from the deep trenches of the Pacific Ocean. Several different species of whale can be seen off the coast of Kaikoura at different times of the year, and most of the time, the huge resident Sperm Whales can be sighted. The ocean trench just off the coast means sperm whales are often seen close to shore. There will be a leisurely Seal Colony Walk followed by optional excursions for whale, dolphin and seal watching (by boat or plane). Passengers will stay at The White Morph Hotel (or equivalent), taking in spectacular views of the Kaikoura Esplanade.

Day 12: Kaikoura to Blenheim

We continue to take in the spectacular coastal journey as we depart Kaikoura. We steam ahead for Kekerengu where we disembark for lunch overlooking the Pacific Ocean at “The Store”. We also enjoy a garden tour at the beautifully manicured Winterhome formal garden. Boarding again, we stop at Seddon and disembark for a wine tour at the award winning, Yealands Estate. Then it is “all aboard” and onward North via the Dashwood Pass and Awatere Valley into Blenheim – the famous Marlborough wine region boasting over 100 vineyards. A farewell reception is appropriately held at The Wine Station where guests can taste from a selection of 80 of the region’s finest wines and craft beers, barista coffee and gourmet platters of local produce. Passengers will stay at Scenic Hotel Marlborough, a modern and stylish property located in the heart of Marlborough’s wine country town of Blenheim.

Day 13: Blenheim to Wellington

On the final day of the tour, we coach from Blenheim to Picton, where one of the most picturesque ferry crossings in the world awaits. We cruise across the Cook Strait then weave our way through Queen Charlotte Sound to the harbour city of Wellington. Tour ends in Wellington.

Great Southern Steam Train Tour – from Christchurch

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