GRAND PACIFIC TOURS UNVEILS 2027/28 TOURING SEASON

Grand Pacific Tours, the New Zealand Coach Holiday Specialist, has unveiled its 2027/28 Touring Season, with more than 250 guaranteed departure dates across its full collection of New Zealand tours giving travellers more ways than ever to explore the country in comfort and style.

Spanning 9 to 19 days across both the North and South Islands, the new season reflects Grand Pacific Tours’ enduring commitment to showcasing New Zealand at its best. Carefully curated experiences, quality accommodation, and seamless touring from start to finish, led by the country’s most experienced tour leaders.

Unique to Grand Pacific Tours are two distinct styles of coach travel. Ultimate Small Group Tours showcase the absolute best of New Zealand on its exclusive Business Class style coaches limited to 20 travellers.  Alternatively, the company’s popular Signature Mid-Size Group Tours provide premium economy comfort onboard its custom designed 32-seater coaches.

NEW FOR 2027/28: 13-DAY BEST OF THE NORTH ISLAND

Joining the season, the new 13-Day Best of the North Island tour brings together the region’s most iconic destinations, landscapes and experiences in one comprehensive itinerary all at a relaxed, unhurried pace, taken in through the panoramic windows of a stylish touring coach.

Along the way, travellers will savour world-class food and wine, experience rich Māori traditions and explore the North Island’s spectacular landscapes, from its iconic highlights to lesser-known hidden gems. With limited seats available on each departure, early booking is recommended to secure preferred travel dates.

Cesar Pitto, Executive General Manager Touring at Journey Beyond, said the new itinerary is designed for unforgettable moments with the Best of the North Island itinerary set to deliver highlights at every turn.

“This tour offers genuine, meaningful encounters with Māori culture and storytelling, from the ancient kauri forests of Waipoua to the warmth of a traditional welcome at Te Pā Tū,” Mr Pitto said. “It’s a chance to truly connect with the heart of Aotearoa, and with everything taken care of, our guests can simply relax and let those moments unfold.

“Whether you’re discovering New Zealand for the first time or returning to uncover more of its hidden treasures, Grand Pacific Tours offers a truly memorable way to experience the country.”

Best of the North Island highlights include:

• A full-day Waiheke Island touring experience, with a winery and olive oil tasting and lunch
• The Footprints Waipoua experience, where local Māori guides share the cultural and ecological significance of the kauri tree
• A three night stay at the Bay of Islands, a stunning coastal region in New Zealand’s Northland, rich in Māori and European history.
• A guided tour of Hamilton Gardens, tracing 4,000 years of garden history through designs inspired by cultures and eras around the world
• Rotorua’s spectacular Redwoods Forest, including a guided eco-cave tour to view thousands of glowworms and a stroll along the iconic Redwoods Treewalk
• A traditional welcome, storytelling, cultural performance and feast at Te Pā Tū, celebrating the rich heritage of Aotearoa
• A cruise across Lake Taupō, New Zealand’s largest lake, to the Mine Bay Māori Rock Carvings, an iconic artwork accessible only by water
• An unforgettable Gannets Overland Safari at Cape Kidnappers
• A long lunch at Craggy Range Winery, showcasing Hawke’s Bay’s renowned food and award-winning wines beneath dramatic Te Mata Peak

Signature Mid-Size Group Tour from $9,560 per person
Ultimate Small Group Tour from $10,510 per person

STILL THE FAVOURITE: 19-DAY RAIL, CRUISE AND COACH

Grand Pacific Tours’ most popular itinerary returns for 2027/28, taking travellers to New Zealand’s most iconic destinations across the North and South Islands. The 19-Day Rail, Cruise and Coach itinerary combines scenic rail journeys, cruising and coach travel in one unforgettable trip, including an overnight cruise on either Milford or Doubtful Sound.

Signature Mid-Size Group Tour from $12,010 per person
Ultimate Small Group Tour from $14,510 per person

Every departure in Grand Pacific Tours 2027/28 Season is guaranteed, and includes Ultimate or Signature coach travel, 4-5 star accommodation, most meals, and sightseeing and attractions. Departures run from September 2027 to May 2028, covering New Zealand’s most sought-after travel season across both islands.

Learn more at www.gptnz.com

Images |  North Island attractions
South Island attractions