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| self drive tours > 8 Day Glacier Country Self Drive Tour | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Day 1: Arrive Christchurch
Day 2: Tranz Alpine Train, Punakaiki This morning you are transferred to Christchurch train station where you board the TranzAlpine Train, described as one of the world’s great scenic railway journeys! The TranzAlpine scenic travels between Christchurch and Greymouth, from one coast of New Zealand to the other. From your carriage you’ll see the fields of the Canterbury Plains and farmland, followed by the spectacular gorges and river valleys of the Waimakariri River. The train then climbs into the Southern Alps before descending through lush beech rain forest to the West Coast town of Greymouth. On arrival in Greymouth you collect you rental vehicle. Also included for the duration of your car hire is the KRUSE GPS Travel Guide, which as well as offering GPS navigation also provides informative commentary on the regions you pass through as well as a ‘Best of NZ’ button which showcases New Zealand’s award winning restaurants, wineries, cafes, pubs and hidden scenic gems. You then travel the short distance to Punakaiki, which is famous for its pancake rocks and booming blowholes. The pancake rock formations date back about 30 million years and were created by layers of limestone being overlaid by rock and clay. When the tide is right, the blow holes are spectacular.
Day 3: Franz Josef Glacier It’s a leisurely drive today as you travel south along the dramatic West Coast, steeped in history dating back to the gold rush era for the 1800’s, and enjoy views of the Southern Alps to the east and the Tasman Sea to the west as you make your way to the Glacier township of Franz Josef Glacier.
Day 4: Scenic Twin Glacier Helicopter Flight This morning you will fly over two of New Zealand's most famous glaciers and land at the head of either the Franz Josef Glacier or Fox Glacier. Here you can view the incredible natural phenomenon of the glacier as it winds slowly down the carved valleys from its origin in the mountains high above you. Flight duration is 30 minutes including landings. Afterwards the day is at your leisure. Perhaps take a short walk to the terminal of the glacier or travel a short distance to nearby Lake Mapourika where there are kayaks for hire. Day 5: West Coast Glaciers, Queenstown Travel further down the West Coast today, alongside braided riverbeds, native forests and roadside waterfalls before climbing up over the Haast Pass and through Mount Aspiring National Park, with its impressive mountains sculpted by glaciers during the Ice Ages. Then follow the shores of Lakes Hawea and Wanaka to the resort city of Queenstown. Perhaps the most famous of all South Island cities, Queenstown’s pulse thumps to the beat of action, adrenalin and visual wonder.
Day 6: Explore Queenstown Surrounded by majestic mountains, Queenstown boasts adventure activities in all forms, from extreme to relaxed exploration. Today is free for you to experience some of the many activities on offer. 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, gateway to Milford & Doubtful Sounds. Day 7: Dart River Wilderness Safari The ‘Wilderness Safari' is a diverse adventure exploring spectacular 'World Heritage' wilderness within Mt Aspiring National Park through a combination of exhilarating wilderness jet boating, informative guided ancient forest walk and back-country 4WD safari vehicle. Surrounded by awe-inspiring peaks and mysterious hidden valleys shrouded in native Beech forest, your specialist guides will bring to life the variety of landscapes, vegetation and wildlife within this unique area, as well the captivating stories of the original Maori and early pioneers. Day 8: Depart Queenstown Sadly your time in New Zealand comes to an end as you return your rental vehicle to the airport in time to join 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. Please note that this self drive package can be taken in reverse order and the prices remain the same. If you are interested in receiving further details about this package, please complete the enquiry form below. | |||||||||||||||||||||
Package Inclusions
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Package Prices EARLYBIRD SPECIAL Hotel B&B Boutique $2,589 $2,619 $3,273 $2,594 $2,624 $3,278 $2,667 $2,697 $3,351 $2,736 $2,766 $3,420
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| Enquire Now | |||||||||||||||||||||
| To receive more information about this package, please complete the below enquiry form. Once received, one of our specialist travel consultants will be in contact by the next working day. In addition Luxury Vacations take your privacy very seriously and you can be assured that we will never distribute, sell or rent your information to anyone else. Fields marked with a * are required. | |||||||||||||||||||||
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