Tour departing from Dunedin on 21st October - 26th October 2023.

Day 1   Saturday 21st October 2023

Dunedin - Oamaru - Aoraki / Mt Cook

At Dunedin Railway Station, you will board vintage carriages and be hauled north by two heritage 1950’s DA locomotives in an impressive double-header formation in their dramatic racing colours.

We to hug the coast towards Oamaru. We then detour inland by luxury coach via Omarama and Pukaki towards the spectacular Aoraki / Mt Cook. Here, we find the home of the tallest mountain in New Zealand, which helped Sir Edmund Hillary to develop his climbing skills in preparation for the conquest of Mt Everest. Recognised as part of the Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Area, the National Park is a breath-taking environment of glaciers, terminal lakes, turbulent rivers and Australasia’s tallest peak, the mighty Aoraki / Mt Cook soaring above at 3,724 metres. There is the option after dinner to enjoy star-gazing at the Planetarium, digitally immersed in what has been voted the world’s largest “International Dark Sky Reserve”.

Day 2  Sunday 22nd October 2023

Aoraki / Mt Cook

Enjoy a leisurely morning and then a visit to the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, which is a tribute to New Zealand’s global icon as well as discovering New Zealand’s colourful transport, climbing and hotel history. Followed by a scenic drive through the National Park surrounded by the silent splendour of the Southern Alps. Afternoon optional activities include a glacier helicopter tour or a scenic flight with expert pilots navigating their way over a glacial lake, passing soaring mountain tops over NZ’s longest glacier - the 600 metre thick, Tasman Glacier. Dinner that evening is with celebrity guest speaker, Peter Hillary, son of Sir Edmund Hillary.

Passengers will stay at the iconic Hermitage Hotel with majestic mountain views.

Day 3  Monday 23rd October 2023

Aoraki / Mt Cook - Timaru - Christchurch

A morning departure from the hotel leaving Aoraki/ Mt Cook by coach, we journey back to the coast via the Fairlie & Tekapo to meet the train in Timaru and continue north by rail to Christchurch. After check-in, be collected at your hotel by a privately chartered Tram for a historic tram journey around the city before dinner.

Passengers will stay at the newly renovated Commodore Hotel.

Day 4  Tuesday 24th October 2023

Christchurch - Kaikoura

A morning visit to explore modern day Antarctica at the International Antarctic Centre and experience a taste of this unique and breath-taking continent – just like the explorers before you. Departing Christchurch, 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.

Passengers will stay at the newly opened Sudima Hotel or equivalent, taking in spectacular views of the Kaikoura Esplanade.

Day 5  Wednesday 25th October 2023

Kaikoura - Blenehim/Picton

Wake up to optional excursions for whale, dolphin and seal watching (by boat or plane). We then 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.) It is “all aboard” and 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”. Then onwards north via the Dashwood Pass and Awatere Valley into Blenheim – the famous Marlborough wine region boasting over 100 vineyards.

Passengers to stay at the centrally located Scenic Hotel and equivalent or Picton Yacht Club Hotel (depending on excursion choice).

Day 6  Thursday 26th October 2023

Blenheim/Picton - Wellington

On the final day of the tour, embark o a scenic steam train trip through to Picton, where one of the most picturesque ferry crossings in the world awaits. We weave our way through the Queen Charlotte Sound and cruise across the Cook Strait to the harbour city of Wellington.

Tour ends.

There is the option for post-tour accomodation at the James Cook Grand Chancellor