Optional pre-tour accommodation is available at The Commodore Hotel, Christchurch. Registration to meet your fellow travellers and tour guides is from 8:15am at Christchurch Railway Station in Addington. Your journey begins on The Mainlander when the train departs at 9:10am on the 368 kilometre rail journey.

Experience the romance of the rail as you journey between Christchurch and Dunedin on the legendary Main South Line. This sweeping seven-hour voyage carries you across the patchwork tapestries of the Canterbury Plains before meeting the dramatic edge of the South Pacific. You’ll glide past the turquoise braided waters of the Rakaia River, hug the rugged cliffs of Timaru, and pass through the ornate limestone streetscapes of Oamaru. From the comfort of your window, watch the landscape shift from vast agricultural heartlands to the rolling coastal hills of Otago, culminating in a grand arrival at the world-renowned Dunedin Railway Station — a masterpiece of Victorian architecture and the perfect gateway to your southern adventure.

Welcome Dinner and Tour Briefing will be held at the hotel restaurant in Dunedin at 6:30pm.

Tour guests stay at the Dunedin Leisure Lodge, A Distinction Hotel.

Step aboard The Mainlander for a quintessential southern rail odyssey that connects the historic charm of Dunedin to the vast horizons of Invercargill. Exclusively available on The Mainlander, this five-hour journey whisks you along the legendary Main South Line, trading the city’s Victorian architecture for the shimmering waters of Lake Waihola and the mighty Clutha River. As you relax in modern air-conditioned carriages, the landscape transforms from rolling Otago hills into the golden, productive heartland of Southland, pausing at iconic towns like Gore along the way. With an onboard café serving local treats and engaging commentary detailing the rich heritage of the rails, it is more than just a transit — it is a nostalgic celebration of New Zealand’s breathtaking southern scenery. On arrival in Invercargill, a visit to Bill Richardson Transport World is made.

Tour guests stay at the new Distinction Invercargill Hotel.

Embark on a captivating full-day coach journey from Invercargill into the heart of The Catlins, where the untamed Southern Scenic Route reveals a world of ancient forests and rugged coastlines. Your adventure begins with a drive through rolling Southland plains before reaching the wild Pacific edge, where you’ll visit the historic Waipapa Point Lighthouse and the windswept southern tip of New Zealand.

Tour guests stay at the new Distinction Invercargill Hotel.

Imagine leaving the art deco charm of Invercargill behind as you trade the rugged South Coast for the towering spires of Fiordland. The coach journey to Te Anau transports you from the pastoral heart of Southland into the wild, prehistoric soul of New Zealand. During the day, you get to visit Te Hikoi Museum and the Takahe Sanctuary.

Tour guests stay at the Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas.

A day tour to Doubtful Sound offers some of the most spectacular natural scenery to be viewed anywhere in the world. The journey from Te Anau to Doubtful Sound is a multi-stage adventure that begins with a scenic coach ride to the lakeside village of Manapouri and, since the sound has no road access, you then board a catamaran for a one-hour cruise across Lake Manapouri to West Arm. From there a second coach takes you over the dramatic Wilmot Pass, ascending 671 metres through dense rainforest for a breathtaking panoramic view of the fiord before descending into Deep Cove. Finally, you board your cruise vessel to explore the vast, pristine wilderness of the “Sound of Silence,” a remote and tranquil experience that often includes an abundance of wildlife. A one-day itinerary is enough to see all the beautiful views along the way and get back to Te Anau in time for dinner.

Tour guests stay again at the Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas.

The adventure playground of Queenstown awaits! On the way, our journey 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.

Cap off a special day as we arrive in Queenstown — take in The Remarkables Mountain Range and the view of Lake Wakatipu from the hotel. Join a lake cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet dinner.

Tour guests stay at Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown Lakefront.

Departing Queenstown, we continue to Wanaka then Twizel by coach, via the spectacular Lindis Pass and onwards towards the majestic Mackenzie District. Here we find the home of the tallest mountain in New Zealand, which helped Sir Edmund Hillary 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 breathtaking environment of glaciers, terminal lakes, turbulent rivers and Australasia’s tallest peak, the mighty Aoraki / Mt Cook soaring above at 3,724 metres.

Overlooking Lake Pūkaki and Aoraki / Mount Cook we stop at Mt Cook Alpine Salmon to taste the highly acclaimed freshwater King Salmon and take in the famous panoramic views.

Tour guests stay at Distinction Mackenzie Country Hotel Twizel.

Surrounded by the silent splendour of the Southern Alps, we journey back to the coast via Tekapo, along the way taking in Pūkaki lookout (of Mount Cook), Tekapo historic church, then on to Geraldine and Rakaia on the way to Christchurch. On arrival in Christchurch, your journey concludes.

There is the option for post-tour accommodation at The Commodore Hotel, Christchurch.