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This is Gullivers' 10th Lions Tour, and we have over 30 years' experience of taking Lions supporters around the globe, creating a real rugby experience for real rugby people. You can book with confidence, safe in the knowledge you will be well looked after by our dedicated and experienced team.
As an Official Sub-Agent for The British & Irish Lions New Zealand 2017 Travel Programme, our packages include the all-important guaranteed official match tickets to six of the provincial games. Please note - no test match tickets are included in this package.
Find out more about your match tickets
Follow the The British & Irish Lions around New Zealand before the test matches start with 19 nights' hotel accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. This tour packages includes stays in Bay of Islands, Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown, Rotorua, Tauranga, Hamilton before flying out of Auckland.
Find out more about your hotels
Return international flights from London Heathrow to Auckland are included. All airlines will stop en route to/from New Zealand. Premium Economy upgrade supplement cost £1599pp; Business Class upgrade supplement cost £4299pp - subject to airline and availability when flights come into range. Please note, if you choose to upgrade, an additional deposit of £1000pp for business class and £500pp for premium economy is required at the time your flights are confirmed.
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Coach transfers to and from the airports, matches (where required), sightseeing and functions are all included in your package.
Throughout your tour, we have included sightseeing excursions for you to experience some of the cultural and scenic highlights of this majestic country. In Rotorua visit the mud pools, hot springs and geysers at the Te Puia Geothermal Park. The visit concludes with a Maori cultural performance. In Queenstown take a trip up the Gondola and enjoy a meal with a view whilst in Christchurch we will visit the beautiful bays and harbour of Akaroa on a day trip.
Find out more about your excursions
To ensure you have the best possible experience on tour, you will have a dedicated Gullivers Tour Manager with your group every step of the way.
Make your way to London Heathrow to check in for your flight to Auckland. Please note the flight will be via a stopover point where you will change planes for your onward flight to Auckland.
Flights will be confirmed when they come into range eleven months prior to departure.
Arrive into Auckland this morning. You will be met and transferred to the Bay of Islands for a three night stay in Paihia at the Scenic Hotel on a bed and breakfast basis. The journey will take approximately four hours by coach.
Enjoy a day at leisure settling in to your hotel and recovering from the flight. Paihia is the main tourist town in the Bay of Islands in the far north of the North Island. It is located close to the historic towns of Russell and Kerikeri, 70 kilometres north of Whangarei and has some beautiful bays and coves.
The hotel is situated just off the main street along the ocean/beachfront, a short walk from shops, restaurants and the beach.
Spend the afternoon at leisure before meeting up with the rest of the group in the hotel bar for Welcome Drinks.
Meet up with the rest of the group in the bar for welcome drinks this evening.
Transfer today to Whangerei for the first of the Lions' ten matches against a Provincial Union XV side.
Day at leisure to enjoy Paihia. From the wharf you can arrange a trip to the outer islands, go on a fishing expedition or catch a ferry to Russell.
Popular excursions include cruising to the ‘hole in the rock’ at the tip of Cape Brett, finding dolphins (and even swimming with them) and sea kayak tours. Paihia is also just down the road from the historic Treaty House at Waitangi Treaty Grounds, which marks the beginning of New Zealand as a nation. Just west of Paihia is Haruru, where you’ll find an impressive waterfall and a boardwalk.
Spend the day sightseeing or simply relaxing at the hotel.
Check out of your hotel this morning and transfer south to Auckland. Journey time will be approximately four hours.
On arrival check in to the Sky City Hotel for three nights on a bed and breakfast basis.
The rest of the day is at leisure, giving you the perfect opportunity to get to know Auckland. Why not head down to Viaduct Harbour - this waterside area is home to some of Auckland's finest restaurants and bars, you can also take a harbour cruise from here, or visit the Voyager Maritime Museum.
Day at leisure in Auckland.
Take a trip up the Sky Tower for fantastic views of the city skyline or head down to the Viaduct where there are plenty of good restaurants, bars and cafes.
A nice idea is to take a ferry across to Devonport, only a 12 minute journey. One of the city's oldest suburbs, the marine village of Devonport is well worth a visit with its picturesque Victorian villas, beaches and stylish shops - it's a great place to spend a day or afternoon away from the bustle of the city. Explore its naval history, walk up its volcanic cones for spectacular views, or take in the history and sights of Devonport with a guided mini bus tour.
Spend the morning at leisure before heading out to Eden Park for the Lions' second match against the Auckland Blues.
After breakfast check out and you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Christchurch.
On arrival transfer to the Rendezvous Hotel for three nights on a bed and breakfast basis.
The rest of the day is at leisure to explore Christchurch.
Today you will have a vastly experienced guide take you on a fully escorted tour of Akaroa, and the wider Banks Peninsula area, to discover some of the dramatic scenery and fascinating history of this very special part of New Zealand.
Lunch will be included.
Today, the Lions play at the newly built AMI Stadium. The old Jade Stadium was severely affected by the earthquake and is no longer used for events so today the Lions play at AMI stadium for their first game against South Island opposition. Fiercely proud of their rugby pedigree, the South Island crowd will be anxious to cheer on the Crusaders against the Lions.
After the game, return to the hotel for post-match celebrations or commiserations.
This morning, check out of the hotel and head overland to Queenstown, the jewel in the South Island's crown and a must see destination for anyone visiting New Zealand. The journey will take most of the day (up to eight hours) and is one of the world's greatest drives. On the way, you will pass through the Canterbury Plains, cross river gorges and see spectacular lakes before heading towards the Southern Alps. Stops will be incorporated on the way and you will arrive mid-afternoon into the picturesque town of Queenstown, situated on the shore of Lake Wakatipu, with the Southern Alps as your backdrop.
On arrival, check in to the Novotel Lakeside for four nights on a bed and breakfast basis.
Rest of the day/evening free to settle in and explore the pretty town of Queenstown.
Day free in Queenstown.
Dubbed the Adventure Capital of the World, there are so many heart stopping and hair raising activities on offer that the choice is endless. From bungy jumping, sky diving and jet boating in some of the most scenic locations in the world, to fine dining in some of New Zealand’s most prestigious restaurants. Queenstown has something for everyone and caters to all interests.
A more relaxing activity is to take a cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard the iconic steamship the TSS Earnslaw. This is undoubtedly one of the best ways to experience Queenstown’s famed scenic beauty. Or, if you fancy something even quieter, hire a local fisherman to take you out on to the still and tranquil water for a few hours' fishing.
This evening enjoy dinner in one of the lakeside restaurants.
Today, transfer to Dunedin to see the Lions take on the Highlanders in one of the most passionate rugby cities in NZ.
The journey will take over four hours and on arrival you will feel the buzz in the city as Dunedin prepares itself for the influx of Lions fans. Dunedin is a small, charming city, known for its Scottish and Maori heritage, Victorian and Edwardian architecture and a large student population. Sit back and enjoy the rugby banter in one of the local bars before heading across to the Forsyth Barr Stadium for the game.
Return to Queenstown after the game.
This morning after a late breakfast, take the Skyline Queenstown cable car up to the top of Bob's Peak for awe-inspiring views of the region.
Lunch is included at the scenic Stratosfare Restaurant and Bar. After lunch there is some free time to explore and take in the breathtaking views from the viewing deck. The more adventurous may like to try the downhill luge ride (additional cost) before making your way back down to Queenstown in the cable car.
Rest of the day free to enjoy the splendid scenery and charm of Queenstown.
After breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport for your flight to Rotorua.
On arrival, you will be transferred to the Jet Park Hotel for a three night stay on a bed and breakfast basis. Known for bubbling mud pools, shooting geysers and natural hot springs, as well as showcasing Maori culture, Rotorua is a compact city with plenty of sights and places to visit.
The rest of the day at leisure. For something different this afternoon/evening, visit the award winning Polynesian Spa for hot mineral bathing, private pools, deluxe massage and body therapies. A really relaxing way to ease yourself into your stay in Rotorua.
Today, depart on an excursion to visit Te Puia, New Zealand's living Maori cultural centre, located just five minutes from central Rotorua. Situated in the Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley, Te Puia’s 60 hectare site is home to the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, a live kiwi enclosure where you can get close to the rare New Zealand bird, the world-famous Pohutu Geyser, and more than 500 geothermal wonders. Take your time exploring the geothermal valley to see the geysers, springs, mud holes & terraces synonymous with this part of the world as well as the vivid green vegetation to include the famous New Zealand ferns.
Your visit concludes with a traditional 45-minute Maori cultural performance (Kapa Haka) which includes a spine-tingling ceremonial welcoming performance, traditional ancestral storytelling, song and dance and the ferocious Haka.
Today, you will be transferred to the Rotorua International Stadium for the fifth match of The British & Irish Lions Tour. See the ferocious Maori All Blacks take on the Lions in what is billed to be a revenge match for the Lions following their defeat to the Maori on the 2005 tour.
Return to the hotel after the game.
This morning, transfer across to the Bay of Plenty for a two night stay by the sea in Tauranga. The journey will take just over an hour.
The Bay of Plenty is a destination where the kiwis go to holiday. Around Tauranga are hectares of orchards and gardens producing everything from kiwifruit and citrus fruit to avocados. Add to this bounty the local wines and the plentiful fresh seafood and you just know that this is a place where you will dine well.
Mount Maunganui, a short distance from Tauranga, has spectacular beaches which are a magnet for surfers all year round and voted as some of New Zealand's best.
On arrival check in to the Trinity Wharf Hotel for a two night stay on a bed and breakfast basis. The rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy the harbour location.
Day at leisure to relax and enjoy the laid back pace of life in Tauranga.
Check out of your hotel this morning and you will be transferred across the North Island to Hamilton, the main city in the Waikato region. The journey will take approximately 1.5 hours. A land of lush pastures, this region is more recently known for its casting as the Shire in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films.
On arrival, check in to the Ambassador hotel for a one night stay on a bed and breakfast basis. Centrally located and only a 12 minute walk from the rugby stadium, this is an excellent basis to explore Hamilton.
After settling in, make your way on foot to the Waikato Stadium to see the Chiefs host the tourists.
After the game return to the hotel.
This morning, check out of your hotel and you will be transferred out to Auckland airport for your return flight home. You will stop on the way to change planes and continue your journey to London.
Flights will be confirmed when they come into range eleven months prior to your tour departing.
Arrive London Heathrow and make your own onward travel arrangements.
Tour ends.
Kick-off: TBA
The opening match of The British & Irish Lions Tour 2017.
Kick-off: TBA
The second match of the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
Kick off: TBA
The first match in the South Island for The British & Irish Lions against the Crusaders.The stadium was badly damaged by the earthquake in 2011 and has been rebuilt since.
Kick off: TBA
The fourth match of The British & Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand 2017 sees the Highlanders host the Lions in Dunedin. The first time the Lions have played in the Forsyth Barr Stadium, the world's only permanently enclosed natural turf stadium.
Kick off: TBA
The sixth match of the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.
The resort style Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands is the perfect base from which to explore the beautiful and historic Bay of Islands. With beautiful landscaped grounds and light airy rooms it is only a stroll into town to the main wharf, fine dining and shopping. The entire property was recently refurbished and expanded.
Spacious and contemporary accommodation awaits you at the Novotel Queenstown Lakeside. The fresh air of the region is all around as you settle into the central location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Elements Restaurant offers seasonal cuisine and Alfresco dining in the Rose Garden from 5pm daily.
Just one block from Cathedral Square, the Rendezvous Hotel Christchurch puts you in the centre of Christchurch with everything within easy reach. Each room comes with an iPod docking station and a flat screen tv to make your stay even more comfortable. Staying in Christchurch you will see a city being revitalized and renewed.
Spacious and contemporary accommodation awaits you at the Novotel Queenstown Lakeside. The fresh air of the region is all around as you settle into the central location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Elements Restaurant offers seasonal cuisine and Alfresco dining in the Rose Garden from 5pm daily.
Just a 5 minute walk from Rotorua town centre, Jet Park is the perfect location for tourists visiting Rotorua for a few days. Restaurants, cafes and shops are all close by. Free Wifi, inclusive breakfast and a warm, welcoming environment of Kiwi hospitality are all assured.
Situated in the popular Bay of Plenty region, Trinity Wharf Tauranga is a unique hotel located on and over the water's edge. Architecturally designed across three piers, this leading Tauranga hotel offers a relaxed ambience and is only a 5 minute drive from Mount Maunganui (voted Tripadvisors top NZ beach)
The 3* Heartland Ambassador Hotel is a small and convenient hotel providing all the essentials and is located right in central Hamilton. Whilst the hotel does not have on-site evening dining or bar facilities it is a short walk from many of the town's brilliant bars and restaurants. The hotel is walking distance from the Waikato Stadium and Seddon Park.
