14 Day Ultimate Panorama

14 days, Christchurch to Auckland, Hotel 4 star

How you travel: Guided tour, small group. A driver guide travels with you the whole way, in a smaller group and a smaller vehicle than a full-size coach.

From NZ$9,979 per person for two sharing on the lowest priced travel dates. International flights are not included. A 20% deposit confirms your booking.

Enjoy the best of New Zealand’s North and South Islands in a small group on the Ultimate Coach. 14 days through the North and South Islands, running Christchurch to Auckland. Along the way: Christchurch, Mount Cook, Dunedin. Every night is booked and the travelling is handled, so the itinerary below is what you actually do rather than a list of things you could arrange yourself.

Trip highlights, included in your price

• Christchurch
• Mount Cook
• Dunedin
• Te Anau
• Milford Sound
• Queenstown

Day by day

1. Day 1: On arrival into Christchurch you will be met by a representative and transferred to your hotel. Stay: 4 star hotel, named on your quote.
2. Day 2: After an introductory city sights tour depart Christchurch and travel through the southern Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo. Stay: 4 star hotel, named on your quote.
3. Day 3: Depart Mt Cook, see Lake Benmore and follow the Waitaki River to Oamaru. Stay: 4 star hotel, named on your quote.
4. Day 4: This morning travel along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle. Stay: 4 star hotel, named on your quote.
5. Day 5: Depart Te Anau for a fascinating drive to Milford Sound. Stay: 4 star hotel, named on your quote.
6. Day 6: Today is a free day for you to explore Queenstown with many optional activities available. Stay: 4 star hotel, named on your quote.
7. Day 7: Travel to Arrowtown to visit the Lakes District Museum. Stay: 4 star hotel, named on your quote.
8. Day 8: Travel to Hokitika and visit the Greenstone Factory. Stay: 4 star hotel, named on your quote.
9. Day 9: Travel along the East Coast to the seaside village of Kaikōura. Stay: 4 star hotel, named on your quote.
10. Day 10: A highlight this morning will be time to explore Gallipoli. Stay: 4 star hotel, named on your quote.
11. Day 11: Depart Wellington and view the snow-capped peaks of Mt Ruapehu and Mt Tongariro as you travel to Lake Taupo. Stay: 4 star hotel, named on your quote.
12. Day 12: Today begins with a gondola ride and breakfast at Skyline Rotorua where spectacular views are on offer. Stay: 4 star hotel, named on your quote.
13. Day 13: This morning depart Rotorua and travel through the picturesque countryside to Hobbiton. Stay: 4 star hotel, named on your quote.
14. Day 14: Time to say goodbye.

What is included

• 13 nights of accommodation, booked and confirmed before you travel
• Small group travel throughout with a driver guide
• Scenic rail sectors with seats reserved
• A detailed day by day itinerary with every booking reference
• Support from a New Zealand based specialist while you travel

What is not included

• International flights to and from New Zealand
• Travel insurance, which we recommend arranging on the day you pay your deposit
• Meals other than the 1 meal listed in the itinerary
• Personal spending, tips and anything not listed as included

This tour runs as published on set dates. Nights before or after it, and any of the optional experiences, can be added to your quote.

Where you will go

1. Christchurch: 1 night
2. Mount Cook: 1 night
3. Dunedin: 1 night
4. Te Anau: 1 night
5. Queenstown: 2 nights
6. Franz Josef: 1 night
7. Christchurch: 1 night
8. Wellington: 2 nights
9. Rotorua: 2 nights
10. Auckland: 1 night

Departures

14 Day Ultimate Panorama runs on set dates. Open departures, priced per person for two sharing:

• Wed, 9 Dec 2026: NZ$9,979, guaranteed departure
• Mon, 6 Sept 2027: NZ$11,440, guaranteed departure
• Sun, 31 Oct 2027: NZ$11,690, guaranteed departure
• Mon, 6 Dec 2027: NZ$11,690, guaranteed departure
• Sun, 16 Jan 2028: NZ$11,690, guaranteed departure
• Mon, 7 Feb 2028: NZ$11,690, guaranteed departure
• Tue, 29 Feb 2028: NZ$11,690, guaranteed departure
• Fri, 14 Apr 2028: NZ$11,690, guaranteed departure

Availability checked 26 October 2026 from the operator's own bookings. Guaranteed means the operator has confirmed the departure will run.

Explore more: Hobbiton and Lord of the Rings · Milford Sound and Fiordland · Rail and scenic trains · Tours for seniors

Asked before booking

Can this itinerary be changed?

Yes, and most guests change something. Add nights, upgrade rooms, swap activities or start from a different city: tell us what you would change and we re-quote 14 Day Ultimate Panorama at no cost and no obligation.

Who runs the tour day to day?

A professional driver-guide from our New Zealand operations team, on the ground with you throughout. Every itinerary we sell is operated by a Qualmark Gold certified New Zealand tour operator, the highest grading in the country's official quality mark.

When does this tour depart?

14 Day Ultimate Panorama runs on 8 scheduled departure dates, listed with their prices on this page. Choose one when you enquire and your quote comes back against that departure, usually within one working day.

Where will we stay?

13 nights in hotel 4 star. Every property is confirmed by name on your written quote, before you pay anything, so you can look each one up before you commit. The trip runs one way, Christchurch to Auckland, so there is no backtracking.

What do we pay, and when?

Nothing to enquire. A firm written quote arrives within one working day; if you go ahead, a 20% deposit per person (minimum NZ$250) confirms every booking and the balance is due 70 days before travel, with the exact date on your quote. Deposits can be paid by card, which keeps your card scheme's dispute protections in play.

Still deciding? Worth a read: Is the TranzAlpine worth it? A straight answer · The Cook Strait ferry, without the surprises