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Haere Mai - welcome to New Zealand
Having cleared customs & immigration formalities, you will be
met by our representative & transferred by limousine to your
city hotel. The 'City of Sails' is New Zealand's largest and most
vibrant, offering an exciting array of cosmopolitan
experiences.
Stay Duxton Hotel
Day 2 Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula (B)
Today, 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 and is home to
many arts & crafts people who seek an alternative lifestyle. At
the quaint township of Coromandel, we ride the Driving Creek narrow
gauge railway to a fascinating artist colony before crossing the
divide to the eastern side of the peninsula for our overnight stay
in Tairua.
Stay Pacific Harbour Lodge
Day 3 Coromandel, Rotorua (B,D)
Journey along the Bay of Plenty coastline before heading inland
across the volcanic plateau to the geothermal city of Rotorua,
passing many of the regions crystal clear lakes en-route. Rotorua's
raw beauty has enchanted visitors from around the world for more
than 160 years. At Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Village, you will stand
upon volcanoes, peer into massive craters, see boiling mud,
exploding geysers and marvel at the unspoiled native forests that
cloak the land. This evening, enjoy a twilight cruise across Lake
Rotoiti to the natural themal springs of Manupirua Pools before
enjoying a lakeside BBQ dinner at your resort.
Stay Duxton Hotel Okawa Bay
Day 4 Exclusive 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. You'll experience spectacular scenery & some of the
country's best trout fishing & have the opportunity to soak in
the thermal waters of Hot Water Beach before enjoying a gourmet
picnic lunch. This afternoon, visit the Blue & Green Lakes and
then wander around the famous buried village of Te Wairoa.
Stay Duxton Hotel Okawa Bay
Day 5 Lake Taupo, Napier (B)
An hour south of Rotorua is Lake Taupo, itself a gigantic volcanic
crater following an enormous explosion in AD183. View Huka Falls
& the Wairakei Geothermal project and take time to walk around
this popular lakeside resort. Journey on to Napier, widely regarded
as the 'Art Deco Capital of the World', the result of a thorough
rebuilding after a massive earthquake in 1931. It boasts the
largest collection of Art Deco buildings outside of Miami, Florida.
Nowhere else can you see as wide a variety of 1930's-style
buildings in such a concentrated area, including Striped Classical,
Spanish Mission and above all, Art Deco. Your local guide will
bring this fascinating architecture to life on your walk around the
town this afternoon.
Stay Te Pania Hotel
Day 6 At leisure in the Hawke's Bay (B)
Widely regarded as the 'Tuscany of the South Pacific', this region
boasts some of New Zealand's best and oldest wineries. You can
enjoy a guided wine trail and 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 morning balloon ride over vineyards, olive groves
and orchards or simply relax and enjoy your surroundings.
Stay Te Pania Hotel
Day 7 Village Farmers Market, Wairarapa & Wellington
(B)
This morning visit the very popular Village Farmers market
(seasonal) where local growers and crafts people sell their goods.
Visit Te Mata Peak for spectacular views over the area and enjoy
time in Havelock North, possibly the 'richest little town' in New
Zealand. You then head south into the rural heartland of the
Wairarapa and continue through the rural townships of Masterton,
Carterton and Greytown before arriving in Wellington, the nations
capital. Enjoy a brief sightseeing and orientation tour before
checking into your accommodation.
Stay Duxton Hotel
Day 8 Picton & the Marlborough Sounds (B)
This morning is at leisure to explore what Wellington has to offer.
Downtown Wellington on Lambton Quay is popular with shoppers.
Perhaps a trip on the Cable Car, which takes you from Lambton Quay
to Kelburn or a visit to the Botanic Gardens. A visit to Te Papa
National Museum is highly recommended. This afternoon, 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. Both Islands can be viewed,
including the magnificent Kaikoura ranges, and there is often the
chance to see wildlife such as seabirds, dolphins, seals, whales
and orca. On arrival in Picton, join your water taxi transfer to
Torea Bay & transfer over the saddle by resort vehicle to your
hotel.
Stay The Portage Resort
Day 9 Stunning Kenepuru Sound (B)
A free 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.
Stay The Portage Resort
Day 10 Kaikoura Coast, Christchurch (B)
Return by water taxi to Picton. Rejoin your coach and travel
through Blenheim to Kaikoura, world-renowned as the whale-watching
centre of New Zealand. Later, we continue south to the "Garden
City" of Christchurch, regarded as the most English of New Zealand
cities.
Stay Hotel Grand Chancellor
Day 11 Spectacular Tranz Alpine Train, Franz Josef & Fox
Glaciers (B)
The Tranz Alpine is described as "The Great New Zealand Rail
Adventure" and is rated as one of the top six scenic train journeys
in the world. After crossing the huge and fertile patchwork
farmlands of the Canterbury Plains, the Tranz Alpine winds its way
over massive viaducts, through spectacular river gorges and the
stunning Waimakariri River valley. It tracks its way up and across
the spectacular Southern Alps via the alpine village of Arthur's
Pass situated 737 metres above sea level. Your Tour Host will meet
you on arrival at Arthur's Pass where you will rejoin your coach
and travel along the dramatic West Coast, steeped in history dating
back to the gold rush era of the 1800's, to the township of Fox
Glacier for our overnight stay.
Stay Te Weheka Inn
Day 12 Haast, Wanaka, Queenstown (B)
There is the opportunity to experience an optional 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 to Queenstown, a beautiful
alpine resort regarded as New Zealand's premier holiday
destination.
Stay Heritage Queenstown
Day 13 , 14 & 15 Explore Queenstown & the Fiordland
National Park (B)
Enjoy three full days 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 are available.
There are numerous activities from which to choose and your Tour
Host will be pleased to offer advice and help you in your
selection.
Stay Heritage Queenstown
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 through the towns of
Omarama & Twizel before driving up the western side of Lake
Pukaki to the Mt Cook National Park, a World Heritage listed site.
Mt Cook is Australasia's highest mountain at 3764 metres. The park
covers over 70,000 hectares of breathtaking alpine scenery and is
also home to the Tasman Glacier, the longest in the Southern
hemisphere (optional Ski-plane & helicopter flights are
available subject to weather conditions).
Stay Mt Cook Hermitage - Aoraki Wing
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 melting ice-face of the Tasman
Glacier where you will also get to touch & taste 400-year old
icebergs that have been carved into the murky waters of the lake.
Later we 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 Hotel Grand Chancellor
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
'Haere Ra', a fond farewell and hope you leave with many happy
memories of your stay in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
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