Day 7 Monday 5 April

Another free day, and you’ll be spoiled for choice with options such as a day trip to Whakatane with White Island cruise where you’ll have the incredible experience of exploring the inner crater of New Zealand’s only active marine volcano. Why not take the Steam Inc vintage train (diesel-hauled) as far as Hamilton. The journey takes you through Kaimai tunnel, at 8879m the country’s longest rail tunnel. We can arrange your return journey by road. The train will continue to Auckland but we can arrange return to Tauranga by road.

Included: breakfast, accommodation. Not included: Optional trip to Whakatane and White Island cruise, local sightseeing, train journey to Hamilton and road return.

Day 8 Tuesday 6 April

We leave Tauranga by coach for Hamilton where we join the Steam Incorporated vintage train for a journey south through the King Country region on the North Island Main Trunk line to Taumaranui. Hauled by 4-8-2 Ja1271, the train comprises vintage carriages, some with open balcony ends. We travel through some of the North Island’s wildest, stunningly beautiful and most unspoilt terrain. Our coach will follow the train throughout the day for photographers, and there will be plenty of opportunities to transfer between the train and the coach for maximum variety. Tonight we stay at the Bayview Chateau in Tongariro National Park, one of New Zealands premier heritage hotels in a stunning mountain setting.

Included: breakfast, Steam Inc rail excursion, photographers’ coach, transfer to hotel, dinner, accommodation. Not included: lunch, incidentals.

Day 9 Wednesday 7 April

We continue our journey with Steam Incorporated south through the central  North Island volcanic plateau alongside the World Heritage Tongariro National Park where the volcanoes of Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro dominate the landscape. There are numerous viaducts and tunnels with a further notable feature being the Raurimu Spiral, a masterly example of railway engineering where the rail track ascends over 700ft  through a series of horseshoes, tunnels, and a complete circle. We arrive in the late afternoon at the Paekakriki depot of Steam Incorporated where our train terminates and we transfer to our coach for the road journey into central Wellington and our city-centre hotel for the next two nights.

Included: breakfast, Steam Inc rail excursion, photographers’ coach, transfer to hotel, dinner, accommodation. Not included: lunch, incidentals.

Day 10 Thursday 8 April

The day is free in Wellington to explore this vibrant harbourside city, often likened to San Fransisco.  Wellington has the most extensive and widely used commuter rail network in New Zealand featuring ex British Rail Mk2 carriages and services hauled by refurbished EA electric locomotives dating from the 1968. For the non-enthusiast there’s the world-class Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa, or the hilltop botanical gardens reached by cable car from the city centre – or perhaps do some shopping. The evening is also free.  Try Courtenay Place with plenty of reastaurants to choose from. Included: breakfast, accommodation. Not included: rail travel and sightseeing, other meals, incidentals.

Day 11 Friday 9 April

This morning we transfer by coach to the Interislander ferry terminal for journey across the Cook Strait and through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton on the South Island. From there we board the diesel-hauled Tranz Coastal service  to travel south along the rugged and beautiful east coast, via Kaikoura which is famous for the sperm whale feeding grounds. On arrival at Christchurch railway station we transfer to our central-city accommodation, home for the next four nights.

Included: Breakfast, transfer to ferry terminal, Interislander ferry, Tranz Coastal train, transfer to hotel, dinner, accommodation. Not included: lunch, incidentals.

Day 12 Saturday 10 April

Another tour highlight, as we journey behind Mainline Steam’s streamlined 4-8-2 J1211 for the 80-mile return journey to Waipara in North Canterbury and a trip on the Weka Pass Railway. The WPR has only recently installed a turntable at Waipara enabling main-line locomotives to turn, so this will be one of the first opportunities to arrive at the railway on a steam-hauled service from the main line. On our arrival back in Christchurch the evening is free to choose from any number of city-centre restaurants.

Included: breakfast, MLS rail excursion, Weka Pass Railway, transfer to/from railway station, accommodation. Not included: other meals, additional sightseeing, incidentals.

Day 13 Sunday 11 April

Christchurch, "the most English city outside England", grew out of a planned Anglican settlement in the 1850's.  Ride the inner city tram circuit before taking a sightseeing tour of the city which includes a visit to Ferrymead Heritage Park - an early 1900s Edwardian township complete with homes, picture theatre, school house, church, jail and railway station, as well as a fascinating array of museum and heritage collections. In the afternoon travel through the road tunnel to the Port of Lyttelton where we board the century old Steam Tug “Lyttelton” for a 90 minute cruise on the harbour. Tonight we have an end-of-tour dinner and say farewell to those who are continuing on the optional tour extension.

Included: breakfast, tram ride, Ferrymead, Lyttleton Tug, coach transfers, dinner, accommodation. Not included: lunch, additional sightseeing, incidentals.

Day 14 Monday 12 April

Today is a completely free day in the Garden City. There are plenty of tour options available, including whalewatching in Kaikoura, a train trip on the TranzAlpine to Arthurs Pass or Greymouth, or a coach journey to the Mount Cook National Park. We can help you decide.

Included: breakfast, accommodation. Not included: tour options, sightseeing, other meals, incidentals.

Day 15 Tuesday 13 April

We have most the day in Christchurch to catch up on some last minute shopping or sightseeing. In the afternoon we take a domestic Air NZ flight from Christchurch for an 18.50 arrival in Auckland and a connection with our Air NZ flight to London, departing at 21.30…

Included: breakfast, airport transfer, airport tax,  flight, meals on flight. Not included: incidentals.

Day 16 Wednesday 14 April

…arriving London Heathrow at 11.00.

Not included: travel from airport.