11-Day Spring/Summer Tour 2026/27

All five of the Big 5 rail adventures: the TranzAlpine across the Southern Alps, the Kingston Flyer steam train, The Mainlander (two southern sectors — Invercargill to Dunedin, and Dunedin to Oamaru), and the Taieri Gorge journey with Dunedin Railways.

You can see exactly where each journey falls in the day-by-day itinerary above.

New Zealand's stunning, rugged terrain means that some of the most spectacular hidden gems are only accessible by road. Because of this, high-quality coach travel is a key part of our journey on some travel days. We include frequent comfort stops during coach travel and can stop in unique places that often rail cannot.

We have incorporated as much rail as possible within your itinerary. Please note that as New Zealand does not have sleeper trains, all overnight stays are in comfortable hotel accommodation.

Arrival & departure flights: your guided experience begins once you arrive — flights to and from the tour start and end points are not included.

Optional extra excursions: these are available to book prior to your tour departure. If you wish to add an excursion once on tour, speak with your Tour Guide — we will always do our best to assist where availability allows.

Personal expenses: visas, travel insurance, taxi fares, and personal spending money for non-included meals or items.

Pre- and post-tour accommodation is optional and can be booked through our Customer Care team or your travel agent, subject to availability.

Optional extras available to book pre-tour include the Franz Josef glacier helicopter flight, the glow worm tour, the jet boat experience, a Doubtful Sound upgrade, Larnach Castle high tea and garden tour, Fort Taiaroa beneath the Royal Albatross colony, the glacier explorer cruise, a scenic ski plane flight, and the Planetarium Show.

A Personal Details Form will be sent to you prior to departure, and this is where optional excursions can be requested. Some have limited spaces. If weather or safety conditions prevent a prepaid optional excursion from operating, it is refunded in full.

Absolutely. Many guests travel with us solo and our tours are designed to be welcoming and social without being overwhelming. Throughout the journey there are plenty of opportunities to meet and connect with other guests — including fellow solo travellers — during rail journeys, sightseeing, included meals and free time. Our Tour Guides will help ensure solo travellers feel comfortable and included as part of the group.

A single supplement of NZ$1,495 applies for guests requesting their own private room. Availability of solo rooms may be limited on some departures.

For your enjoyment and safety during the tour, you will need to be able to climb and descend two flights of stairs, walk unassisted comfortably for 500 metres over uneven surfaces, manage your own bags at times, and be able to look after yourself unassisted for an extended period if required.

Some hotels on the tour do not have walk-in showers (there are showers over baths). Please advise us in advance if you need a walk-in shower — they are limited, so not all requests can be fulfilled. If bringing a walker or a fully collapsible zimmer frame, you would need to travel with an able-bodied companion to assist you during the tour as needed.

A 20% deposit secures your booking; 40% is due six months prior to the tour departure; and the balance is due the month before your tour departs.

You can pay by bank transfer into a NZ$, AU$ or US$ currency account — request an invoice from info@pounamutourismgroup.com. Payments by Wise or PayPal are also accepted.

If cancellation is made more than 6 months prior to the tour departure, a full refund applies with no cancellation fee. 60 days or more prior to departure, a fee of 20% of the tour package price applies; between 30 and 59 days prior, 50%; and less than 30 days prior to departure, 100% of the tour package price applies.

In the event that Pounamu Tourism Group cancels a tour, a 100% refund applies. Full details are in the booking Terms & Conditions.

We strongly recommend that all passengers take out comprehensive travel insurance and review their health insurance coverage prior to travel.