Hosted by Peter Hillary
Peter travels with the group from start to finish, adding personal stories, daily commentary and nightly twilight briefings throughout the journey.
Small Group · 5-Star Luxury Tour
15-Day Pinnacle Tour 2027
The South Island's flagship rail journey, hosted in person by Peter Hillary. One small group travels from Christchurch to Auckland by premier rail, luxury coach, vintage steam, boat, helicopter and air.
Peter Hillary travels with the group for the full journey
World Travel AwardsNZ's Leading Tour Operator 2025
RouteChristchurch → AucklandSouth Island journey + final flight
Duration15 days15 nights
Departure14 Jan 2027One departure only
Deposit20%Secure your place
Introducing your host
Peter Hillary, with you for all fifteen days.
Son of Sir Edmund Hillary and an accomplished mountaineer in his own right, Peter brings daily commentary, nightly twilight briefings and stories from more than 50 expeditions around the world.
- Peter Hillary accompanies the group throughout
- Daily commentary and evening briefings
- Small-group access to guest speakers and experts
What sets this tour apart
Our most extraordinary journey — once a year, with Peter Hillary.
The Pinnacle combines premium rail, private experiences, 5-star hotels, helicopters, steam, lake travel and extraordinary access to people and places — all within one intimate small-group journey.
The PinnacleOne small group. One departure. Fifteen exceptional days.
Peter HillaryScenic Plus railMilford by helicopterTasman Glacier5-star stays
5-star, small-group touring
Premium accommodation includes The Hermitage at Aoraki Mt Cook, Queenstown Park Boutique, Chateau Marlborough and other high-quality properties, supported by one luxury business-class coach.
Milford Sound by helicopter
Fly over Fiordland for a premium Milford Sound cruise, then return to Queenstown by helicopter — one of the standout days of the entire journey.
Every way to travel
Premier Scenic Plus rail, vintage steam, TSS Earnslaw, Haast jet boat, helicopters, ski plane and a final flight to Auckland are woven through the itinerary.
One departure a year
The 2027 Pinnacle departs Christchurch on 14 January. A 20% deposit secures your place.
The “Famous 4”
Four iconic rail journeys, elevated for the Pinnacle.
The TranzAlpine and Coastal Pacific are travelled in premier Scenic Plus, joined by heritage steam on the Kingston Flyer and the remote engineering drama of the Taieri Gorge.
Day 2 · Scenic Plus
TranzAlpine
Christchurch to Greymouth across Arthur's Pass, with premium onboard dining and panoramic alpine scenery.
Day 8
Kingston Flyer
A heritage steam journey between Kingston and Fairlight at the southern end of Lake Wakatipu.
Day 9
Taieri Gorge
Remote river gorges, historic tunnels and the Wingatui Viaduct — one of New Zealand's great rail engineering landmarks.
Days 14 & 15 · Scenic Plus
Coastal Pacific
Two days beside the Pacific, from Christchurch to Kaikōura and on through the Marlborough winelands.
Free tour brochure
Take the full Pinnacle Tour away with you.
View the complete itinerary, hotels, Famous 4 rail adventures, premium experiences, inclusions and 2027 pricing before deciding if this once-a-year departure is for you.
- Complete 15-day itinerary
- 5-star hotel and dining details
- Peter Hillary hosting and guest speakers
- Famous 4 rail and premium flight experiences
Live availability
Reserve the 2027 Pinnacle.
The Pinnacle has one small-group departure in January 2027. Live availability, pricing and booking are shown below from the secure Pounamu Tourism Group booking system.
14 January 2027
From NZ$25,995 twin share
Hosted by Peter Hillary
What's included
A genuinely premium tour, from start to finish.
The Pinnacle isn't simply a longer itinerary. It adds premium seating, private access, flights, specialist hosts, exceptional dining and a level of detail designed around one small group.
Luxury coach throughout
A single business-class coach shadows the journey for seamless transfers between rail sectors, hotels and included experiences.
Hosted by Peter Hillary
Peter travels with the group throughout, supported by an experienced tour guide who handles the day-to-day detail.
Meals included
15 cooked breakfasts with barista coffee, 13 dinners and 11 lunches, including Walter Peak and dinner at Nest at Kamana Lakehouse.
Exceptional experiences
Milford helicopter flights, Tasman Glacier flights and cruise, Scenic Plus rail, TSS Earnslaw, Haast jet boat, whale watch, aviation museums and more.
Guest speakers & experts
Encounters include Jim Boult, Dunedin historian Seán Brosnahan and botanist Hugh Wilson at Hinewai Reserve.
Tour itinerary
Fifteen days, day by day.
A richly varied journey with Peter Hillary — from the West Coast and Fiordland to Aoraki Mt Cook, Akaroa, Kaikōura and the Marlborough winelands.
Day 01Christchurch — meet your host
Explore Christchurch by restored heritage tram before meeting Peter Hillary, your fellow explorers and the tour team for the welcome dinner.
Tonight: Distinction Hotel, Christchurch.
Day 02Christchurch / Greymouth / Punakaiki
Travel across the Southern Alps aboard the TranzAlpine in premier Scenic Plus, then continue to Punakaiki for the Pancake Rocks and the immersive Paparoa cultural experience.
Tonight: Scenic Hotel, Punakaiki.
Day 03Punakaiki / Ross / Franz Josef
Travel south through the West Coast, visiting the Tree Top Walkway and historic Ross before continuing to Franz Josef.
Tonight: Legacy Te Waonui, Franz Josef.
Day 04Franz Josef / Haast / Wānaka
Journey down the wild West Coast, take a jet boat safari on the Haast River, then cross Haast Pass through rainforest and alpine country to Wānaka.
Tonight: Edgewater Hotel, Wānaka.
Day 05Wānaka / Queenstown
Travel by 4WD into the Matukituki Valley and Mt Aspiring National Park to the Aspinall family homestead for an intimate high-country experience and farm lunch, then continue to Queenstown.
Tonight: Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel.
Day 06Queenstown / Milford Sound / Queenstown
Fly by helicopter over Fiordland for a premium Milford Sound cruise, then return to Queenstown for dinner at the award-winning Nest with former Queenstown mayor Jim Boult.
Tonight: Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel.
Day 07Queenstown — TSS Earnslaw & Walter Peak
Enjoy a leisurely Queenstown day before cruising Lake Wakatipu aboard the 1912 TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet BBQ dinner.
Tonight: Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel.
Day 08Queenstown / Kingston / Mandeville / Dunedin
Ride the Kingston Flyer steam train, visit the historic Rogers K92 locomotive and Croydon Aviation Museum, then continue through the deep south to Dunedin.
Tonight: Distinction Hotel, Dunedin.
Day 09Dunedin — Taieri Gorge & Taiaroa Head
Explore the Taieri Gorge by rail, then visit the Royal Albatross Colony and Fort Taiaroa before dinner with Dunedin historian Seán Brosnahan.
Tonight: Distinction Hotel, Dunedin.
Day 10Dunedin / Oamaru / Aoraki Mt Cook
Travel north via Moeraki Beach and Oamaru, with lunch at Riverstone Kitchen, before turning inland through the Waitaki Valley to Aoraki Mt Cook.
Tonight: The Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki Mt Cook.
Day 11Aoraki Mt Cook — Tasman Glacier & Hillary Centre
Experience the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, Tasman Glacier flights by helicopter and ski plane, a glacier explorer cruise and another evening of stories with Peter Hillary.
Tonight: The Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki Mt Cook.
Day 12Aoraki Mt Cook / Christchurch
Return to Christchurch via Lake Tekapo and Geraldine, then visit the International Antarctic Centre for a taste of the continent that shaped so many great explorers.
Tonight: Distinction Hotel, Christchurch.
Day 13Christchurch / Akaroa / Hinewai Reserve
Explore historic Akaroa and Banks Peninsula before a special guided visit to Hinewai Private Nature Reserve with botanist and author Hugh Wilson.
Tonight: Distinction Hotel, Christchurch.
Day 14Christchurch / Kaikōura
Travel in Scenic Plus aboard the Coastal Pacific to Kaikōura, where the mountains meet the sea, then join a whale watch cruise over the deep offshore trench.
Tonight: Sudima Hotel, Kaikōura.
Day 15Kaikōura / Blenheim — farewell in the winelands
Continue in Scenic Plus to Blenheim, explore the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, then finish with wine tasting and a farewell dinner at Allan Scott Winery. The following morning, fly to Auckland.
Final night: Chateau Marlborough, Blenheim.
The route
The length of the South Island — and beyond.
From Christchurch across the Southern Alps to the West Coast, through Wānaka, Queenstown, Fiordland, Dunedin and Aoraki Mt Cook, then north to Akaroa, Kaikōura and the Marlborough winelands before a flight to Auckland.
ChristchurchPunakaikiFranz JosefWānakaQueenstownDunedinAoraki Mt CookAkaroaKaikōuraBlenheimAuckland
Reserve your place
Your host
Travel the South Island with Peter Hillary.
Peter's stories, commentary and personal connection to the Southern Alps are woven through every day of the Pinnacle — not added as a single guest appearance.
Explore the 15-day itineraryPhoto gallery
What the Pinnacle feels like.
Premium rail, glacier country, Fiordland, high-country stations, historic steam and some of the South Island's most extraordinary landscapes.
Common questions
Things worth knowing before you book.
The Pinnacle is a premium, once-a-year small-group journey, so it is worth understanding the inclusions and practical details before securing your place.
Ask a questionWhat does the tour price include?
The Pinnacle includes the Famous 4 rail adventures, hosting by Peter Hillary, premium accommodation including 5-star properties where available, high-quality coach travel, selected flights, cruises and excursions in the itinerary, plus 15 cooked breakfasts, 13 dinners and 11 lunches.
What makes the Pinnacle different from the other Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer tours?
It is the most premium version of the journey: one small group, one departure, Peter Hillary travelling throughout, premier Scenic Plus rail, helicopter and ski-plane experiences, upgraded accommodation, special dining and access to guest speakers and experts.
Can I join if I have mobility issues?
Guests need to be able to climb and descend two flights of stairs, walk unassisted for around 500 metres over uneven surfaces, manage their own bags at times and look after themselves independently if required. Please discuss mobility needs with the team before booking.
Can I travel solo?
Yes. Solo travellers are welcome. A single supplement of NZ$4,990 applies for a private room, subject to availability.
What are the payment terms?
A 20% deposit secures the booking, 40% is due six months before departure, and the balance is due the month before departure. Internet banking avoids the credit-card fee.
What is the cancellation policy?
More than six months before departure, a full refund applies with no cancellation fee. At 60 days or more, 20% of the package price applies; 30–59 days, 50%; and less than 30 days, 100%. If Pounamu Tourism Group cancels the tour, a 100% refund applies.
Compare the signature tours
Is the Pinnacle the right Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer for you?
Compare the once-a-year luxury Pinnacle with the 11-day and complete 14-day spring/summer journeys.
Spring / Summer 2026/27
11-Day Tour
Best for: The South Island's major highlights in a shorter, well-paced journey.
Duration11 days
FromNZ$7,495
- Big 5 rail adventures
- Milford Sound and Queenstown
- Two nights at Aoraki Mt Cook
Spring / Summer 2026/27
14-Day Tour
Best for: The complete South Island rail journey, including Kaikōura and Marlborough.
Duration14 days
FromNZ$8,995
- Complete Super 6
- Coastal Pacific and Weka Pass
- Kaikōura and Marlborough
Small group · 5-star luxury
The Pinnacle Tour 2027
Best for: A once-in-a-lifetime premium journey hosted throughout by Peter Hillary.
Duration15 days
FromNZ$25,995
- Hosted by Peter Hillary
- Premier Scenic Plus rail
- Helicopters, glacier flights and premium stays
A family connection to the South Island
Three generations of Hillarys, and landscapes they know and love.
Sir Edmund Hillary learned the skills of mountaineering in New Zealand's Southern Alps and later brought his family into the mountains and along the South Island's coasts. Peter has continued that connection with his own family.
The Pinnacle is built around sharing those landscapes in a way few tours can — with Peter there to add the stories, context and personal memories behind them.
15 dayshosted throughout by Peter Hillary
50+ expeditionsstories and insight from a lifetime of exploration
Once a yearone deliberately small 2027 departure
The 2027 Pinnacle
One departure. One small group. Peter Hillary with you all the way.
Reserve your place with a 20% deposit or speak with the Leisure Tours team before making your decision.