Day |
Programme |
|
Arrive Auckland, New Zealand’s City of Sails.
Transfer to the hotel. Check-in the hotel. In the evening, you can
head out and explore Auckland. Take a walk down Queen Street, to the
main shopping precinct or catch a 50 cent bus (leaves from outside
the hotel) down to the Viaduct Harbour and the Auckland Waterfront
region. This recently developed area of central Auckland has cafes
and restaurants galore. Take a seat in the sunshine, enjoy a glass
of one of New Zealand’s famous Sauvignon Blancs and watch the
maritime activity on Waitemata Harbour. Return to hotel. Night halt
at Auckland.
|
|
After breakfast, enjoy a morning sightseeing
tour of Auckland city including a visit to Kelly Tarlton’s Sealife
Aquarium and Antarctic Encounter. The remainder of the day is free
for relaxation. Night halt at Auckland. |
|
After breakfast, leave for Rotorua and trace
the Waikato River to the Waitomo Caves to sail through the
fascinating Glow Worm Grotto with a silent water boat ride and
discover the limestone formations. From Waitomo to Rotorua, you will
venture through the King Country. This area was at the centre of the
New Zealand Wars in the 1860s, when colonial forces invaded the
Waikato region. On arrival at Rotorua, transfer to the hotel.
Check-in the hotel. Night halt at Rotorua. |
|
After breakfast, visit Te Puia Thermal Reserve
to see boiling mudpools and roaring geysers. Following this, visit
Rainbow Springs to see New Zealand's trout, birds and wildlife
before continuing to the Agrodome for a New Zealand farm show
featuring sheep dog demonstrations, cow milking and an introduction
to the stars of our sheep industry. Afternoon will be at leisure.
Tonight enjoy a Maori Hangi feast ‘highlight dinner’ and concert for
an insight into Maori culture at the Tamaki Family Marae. Night halt
at Rotorua. |
|
After breakfast, departure to Wellington.
Heading south, you will view the Huka Falls. Visit Taupo and drive
along the shores of New Zealand’s biggest lake through the alpine
scenery of Mt. Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park and the dairy farms
of Manawatu. Continue south through lush farmland before arriving in
the 'Capital City' of Wellington. Check-in the hotel. Night halt at
Wellington. |
|
After breakfast, visit Te Papa, the Museum of
New Zealand, where you will have time to explore New Zealand’s
nature, art, history and cultural heritage. There is time for a
photo at Parliament House. Afternoon to evening will be free to
explore Capital city. Night halt at Wellington. |
|
After breakfast, start your journey across Cook
Strait, which separates the North and South Islands of New Zealand,
and into the Marlborough Sounds with its sparkling clear waters and
lush forests, before arriving in Picton. Travel south through the
town of Blenheim, before reaching Kaikoura- here you might like to
take an optional whale-watch cruise or scenic flight. Off the
Kaikoura coastline is a marine environment so rich in nutrients that
it attracts some of the most magnificent creatures with which we
share our planet. Among them are Giant Sperm Whales that can grow up
to 20 metres and weigh over 50 tons. These whales can be seen all
year round making Kaikoura one of the most popular whale watching
locations in the world (optional activities not included in the tour
price). Check-in the hotel. Night halt at Kaikoura. |
|
After breakfast, leave Kaikoura behind as you
turn inland and travel through North Canterbury to reach the 'Garden
City' of Christchurch. Check in the hotel. Night halt at
Christchurch. |
|
After breakfast, travel across the fertile
Canterbury Plains before arriving at Lake Tekapo and the Church of
the Good Shepherd before continuing on to New Zealand’s highest
mountain- Mt Cook. Depart Mt. Cook and follow the shores of Lake
Pukaki south through the historic Central Otago region to the
‘Alpine Resort’ of Queenstown. Check-in the hotel. Night halt at
Queenstown. |
|
After breakfast, drive along the shores of Lake
Wakatipu to Te Anau then through the rainforest of Fiordland
National Park. Travel through the hand-hewn Homer Tunnel to abundant
photo opportunities afforded by the Mirror Lake, Cleddau Valley and
the Chasm, on your way to Milford Sound to board your cruise. Return
to Queenstown in the afternoon. Evening will be at leisure. Night
halt at Queenstown. |
|
After breakfast, a free day to explore the
endless optional attractions. Queenstown offers bungy jumping,
jetboating, gondola rides and much more. See the Bungy Jumping
Point. Experience the unique Jet Boat Adventure in Kawarau river.
Enjoy Gondola ride to Bob Peak (Optional activities are not
included) Evening free to stroll around Queenstown's beautiful
waterfront and enjoy shopping. Night halt at Queenstown. |
|
After breakfast, depart Queenstown and travel
via Lake Wanaka and through the historic Haast Pass, gateway to the
World Heritage Westland National Park. Continue up the West Coast
past spectacular mountain ranges, native forests and lakes to the
glacier region of Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. Check-in the hotel.
Night halt at Glacier Region. |
|
After breakfast, a entire day at leisure to
explore this magnificent glacier region. Optional activities include
a scenic flight or guided walk on one of the glaciers. (Optional
activities not included). Night halt at Glacier Region. |
|
After breakfast, travel north to Greymouth and
board the world famous Tranz Alpine train (seat in coach passengers
only). Ascend through lush beech forests past the alpine village of
Arthur’s Pass before crossing the spectacular Southern Alps. Travel
over Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. Arrive Christchurch.
Check-in the hotel. Night halt at Christchurch. |
|
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and
proceed towards Christchurch Airport to board your flight to next
destination. |