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!!! EARLYBIRD SPECIAL !!!
Book before 20 June 2011 and save NZ$1,500 per person off the brochured price.
All bookings must be paid in full by 25 June 2011.
Standard terms & conditions apply and special is subject to availability. |
Download Trip Brochure
Departure Dates
| 2011 |
|
May:
June:
July:
August:
September:
October:
November:
December:
|
15
12
10
07, 21
N/A
16*, 23*, 30
06, 13, 20, 27
04, 11, 18
Tours marked * operate in the reverse direction |
| 2012 |
|
January:
February:
March:
April: |
01, 08, 11, 15, 22, 29
01, 05, 08, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26
04, 11, 14, 18
01, 08, 15, 22 |
Tour Prices
(Per Person in NZ$)
Share Twin/Double
01 May 11 to 30 Sep 11
01 Oct 11 to 30 Apr 12
|
NZ$6,885
NZ$8,099
|
Single Traveller
01 May 11 to 30 Sep 11
01 Oct 11 to 30 Apr 12 |
NZ$8,999
NZ$10,599 |
 |
| Day 1 - Arrive Auckland |
On arrival at Auckland airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your city hotel. The 'City of Sails' is New Zealand's largest and most vibrant, offering an exciting array of cosmopolitan experiences.
Stay: Heritage Hotel Auckland for 1 night |
| Day 2 - Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula (B) |
This morning you meet your Tour Host and travel south to the Coromandel Peninsula, a beautiful rugged area fringed with dozens of excellent beaches that separate the Pacific Ocean from the Hauraki Gulf. It is a place where many kiwis choose to escape the hustle & hype of city life. At the quaint township of Coromandel, we ride the Driving Creek narrow gauge railway to a fascinating artist colony.
Stay: Grand Mercure Puka Park Resort for 1 night |
| Day 3 - Coromandel, Rotorua (B,D) |
Today you travel along the Bay of Plenty coastline to Tauranga & Mt Maunganui. Then, head inland across the volcanic plateau to the geothermal city of Rotorua, an area that has enchanted visitors from around the world for more than 160 years. On arrival, enjoy a twilight cruise across Lake Rotoiti to the natural mineral springs of Manupirua Pools before enjoying a lakeside BBQ dinner at your resort.
Stay: Duxton Hotel Okawa Bay for 2 nights |
| Day 4 - Lake Tarawera Cruise & Te Wairoa Buried Village (B,L) |
| The days highlight is an exclusive cruise across the pristine, clear waters of Lake Tarawera at the base of a gigantic dormant volcano. Your skipper will explain the early Maori and volcanic history of the area and talk about the 1886 eruption. You’ll also have the opportunity to soak in the thermal waters of Hot Water Beach and experience some of the country’s best trout fishing before enjoying a gourmet picnic lunch. This afternoon, visit the Blue & Green Lakes and then wander around the famous buried village of Te Wairoa. |
| Day 5 - Lake Taupo, Napier (B) |
This morning, visit Wai-O-Tapu, a wonderland of geothermal activity. Walk at your own pace and marvel at the reserve’s unique features that include the world famous Champagne Pool, geysers, bubbling mud, steaming ground, expansive vistas, huge volcanic craters and sinter terrace formations. Stop at the mighty Huka Falls & Wairakei Geothermal project, then wander around the popular lakeside resort of Taupo. Continue on to Napier, one of the world’s finest Art Deco cities. Your local guide will bring this fascinating architecture to life on your walk around the town this afternoon.
Stay: Scenic Circle Te Pania Hotel for 2 nights |
|
Day 6 - Leisure Day (B) |
| Widely regarded as the 'Tuscany of the South Pacific', the region boasts some of New Zealand's best and oldest wineries. You can enjoy a guided wine trail & taste some of the great wines produced locally, visit the world's largest mainland Gannet Colony, play a challenging round of golf at Cape Kidnappers, take to the skies on an early balloon ride over vineyards, olive groves & orchards or simply relax & enjoy your surroundings. |
| Day 7 - Wairarapa, Mt Bruce & Wellington (B) |
Travel through the rural heartland of the Wairarapa region to Pukaha Mount Bruce, New Zealand’s National Wildlife Centre. In this beautiful setting of native forest you will see the finest collection of New Zealand native birds to be found anywhere. Later, continue on to Wellington, the nation’s capital, where you enjoy a brief sightseeing and orientation tour before checking into your accommodation.
Stay: James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor for 1 night |
| Day 8 - Picton & the Marlborough Sounds (B) |
There is free time this morning to enjoy the delights of Wellington and a visit to Te Papa Museum is recommended. Later travel across Cook Strait, the stretch of water that separates the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The journey across Cook Strait has a dramatic beauty all of its own. On arrival in Picton, join your water taxi transfer to your accommodation.
Stay: The Portage Resort for 2 nights |
| Day 9 - Stunning Kenepuru Sound (B) |
| A day to relax & marvel at the magic that is the Marlborough Sounds. Resort staff will share their love of the Sounds with you through the range of water and nature based experiences they put at your fingertips. The wide beach access is great for fishing, boating, sailing, swimming & sea-kayaking and there is a wealth of walks and meanderings in the immediate vicinity. There is also the opportunity to visit the vineyards & wineries that are located in the famous Marlborough wine region. |
| Day 10 - Kaikoura Coast, Christchurch (B) |
After breakfast, we return to the picturesque fishing village of Picton and reboard our coach and travel through Blenheim to Kaikoura, world renowned as the whale watching centre of New Zealand. Then continue south to the "Garden City" of Christchurch, thought of as the most English of New Zealand cities.
Stay: Heritage Hotel Christchurch for 1 night |
| Day 11 - TranzAlpine Train, Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers (B) |
Today board the TranzAlpine train for "The Great New Zealand Rail Adventure", rated as one of the most scenic train journeys in the world. The TranzAlpine winds its way up over massive viaducts, through spectacular river gorges and tracks its way up and across the spectacular Southern Alps via the alpine village of Arthur's Pass. Then travel by coach along the dramatic West Coast to the township of Fox Glacier.
Stay: Te Weheka Inn for 1 night |
| Day 12 - Haast, Wanaka, Queenstown (B) |
There is the opportunity to experience a scenic flight over this remarkable region (subject to weather conditions) before our departure this morning. Today, view incredible scenery as you travel past the untouched native forests and pristine lakes of the World Heritage Westland National Park and Haast Pass. We then travel over the magnificent Southern Alps to the Southern Lakes District. Time to wander around the popular lakeside townships of Hawea and Wanaka before travelling on to Queenstown, a beautiful alpine resort regarded as New Zealand's premier holiday destinations.
Stay: Heritage Hotel Queenstown for 4 nights |
| Days 13, 14 & 15 - Explore Queenstown & Fiordland (B) |
| Enjoy these days at leisure to experience this magnificent resort. Surrounded by majestic mountains, Queenstown boasts adventure activities in all forms, from extreme to relaxed exploration. Here you can take a thrilling jet boat ride, pan for gold, raft the white water rapids, take a wine trail, fish for trout, play golf or 4WD sheer canyons. It is also a great base from which to explore the Fiordland National Park, and optional day tours & overnight cruises to the awesome Milford & Doubtful Sounds. |
| Day 16 - Arrowtown, Mt Cook National Park (B,D) |
Set beneath the rugged Crown Range is Arrowtown, a fascinating collection of mining cottages with an atmosphere straight out of last century. Enjoy some time to stroll through this historic village located beside the Arrow River, once a haven for the gold prospectors of the 1860’s. Later, we travel up the western side of Lake Pukaki to the Mt Cook National Park, a World Heritage listed site. The park covers over 70,000 hectares of breathtaking alpine scenery. Optional Ski-plane & helicopter flights are available subject to weather conditions.
Stay: Hermitage Hotel Mt Cook for 1 night |
| Day 17 - Tasman Glacier, Lake Tekapo, Christchurch (B) |
Experience the Tasman Glacier, New Zealand’s largest, in the most unique way possible. An experienced guide will whisk you away in a stable MAC Boat to explore the Tasman Glacier. Watch and listen to the ice melting before your eyes and stop, to touch and taste 500 year old ice and, on occasion, a walk on an iceberg provides a new and exciting experience for all. Later visit beautiful Lake Tekapo and view the tiny Church of the Good Shepherd, built of local stone and oak in 1935. Leaving the High Country, cross the vast Canterbury Plains to the 'Garden City' of Christchurch.
Stay: Heritage Hotel Christchurch for 1 night |
| Day 18 - Depart Christchurch (B) |
| Sadly, your holiday is at an end and you will be transferred to Christchurch airport today for your onward flight. Here, we bid you a fond farewell to your homeland and hope you leave with many happy memories of your stay in Aotearoa, New Zealand. | |
Tour Highlights & Inclusions
- Group size won’t exceed 16 guests
- 17 nights superior hotel accommodation
- 2 night stopovers in Rotorua, Napier & Marlborough Sounds
- 4 nights in majestic Queenstown
- Accompanied throughout by professional, experienced Tour Host
- Full breakfasts daily, 1 lunch & 2 dinners
- Spectacular Coromandel Peninsula & Driving Creek Railway
- Twilight cruise across Lake Rotoiti to Manupirua Pools
- Exclusive Lake Tarawera cruise, Blue & Green Lakes and Te Wairoa Buried Village
- Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Reserve
- Huka Falls, Wairakei Geothermal region & Lake Taupo
- Guided Art Deco Walk, Napier
- Pukaha Mount Bruce, National Wildlife Centre
- Wellington, the nation’s capital & Te Papa National Museum
- Scenic Interislander cruise
- Stunning Kenepuru Sound
- World famous TranzAlpine Train through the magnificent Southern Alps
- Twin Glaciers of Franz Josef & Fox
- Historic Arrowtown and beautiful Southern Lakes District
- Optional tours & overnight cruises of Milford & Doubtful Sounds
- World-Heritage listed Mt Cook National Park
- See & touch glaciers & icebergs up-close on your Tasman Glacier Explorer expedition
- Lake Tekapo & the Church of the Good Shepherd
- Complimentary airport transfers by private vehicle
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