| Suggested
Itinerary - ( 18 Days ) |
Day
1 |
Arrive
Auckland:
Meet and transfer from the airport
to your hotel. See Auckland your way until an
evening welcome drink with your Tour Director
and fellow travellers.
|
Day
2 |
Auckland
- Bay of Islands:
Over the Auckland Harbour Bridge
and up the scenic Hibiscus Coast. Walk among
the Kauri trees, explore Whangarei, then on to
the Bay of Islands. Enjoy a scenic cruise through
the Bay of Islands to Cape Brett and the 'Hole
in the Rock'. Explore Urupukapuka Island then
return to Paihia.
|
Day
3 |
Bay
of Islands 'Free Time':
The day is yours to explore
the Bay of Islands. Dolphin watch, catch a ferry
to Russell, drive along the Ninety Mile Beach,
sail or sea-kayak - whatever you like, then have
a night on the town.
|
Day
4 |
Bay
of Islands - Auckland:
Tour the historic Waitangi
Treaty Reserve and then return to Auckland.
|
Day
5 |
Auckland
- Rotorua:
After an Auckland City Sights Tour,
trace the Waikato River to Waitomo Caves, where
you'll see the amazing Glow Worm Grotto. The
Rotorua orientation tour takes in views of Lake
Rotorua.
Tonight experience The Realm of Tãne,
a Maori Hangi feast and concert. |
Day
6 |
Rotorua:
Sparkling wine breakfast cruise on Lake Rotorua
on board the Lakeland Queen. On to the Agrodome
Sheep Show and a sample of farm life. Visit Te
Puia and be accompanied by a local Maori guide
for a tour of the geothermal reserve. Enjoy an
afternoon of 'Free Time'.
|
Day
7 |
Rotorua
- Wellington:
From the mountains to the sea. View
the Huka Falls. Visit Taupo and drive along the
shores of its lake. Travel through the alpine scenery
of Mt. Ruapehu. Tongariro National Park. Manawatu.
The Kapiti Coast. On the Wellington city sights
tour see the city from Mt. Victoria.
|
Day
8 |
Wellington - Blenheim:
A morning to explore Wellington your way. Visit Te
Papa, the Museum of New Zealand, with time to discover
it yourself. Cruise the tranquility of Queen Charlotte
Sound. On to Picton then Blenheim for a city tour.
Tonight, enjoy a tasting, tour and dinner at Allan
Scott Wines. A family owned and run winery which
has developed its own reputation as a Marlborough
icon. |
Day
9 |
Kaikoura - Christchurch:
En route to Kaikoura, pass the Grassmere Salt Works
and see New Zealand fur seals at Ohau Point. Explore
Kaikoura, maybe take an optional scenic Whale Watching
flight. Travel to Christchurch via the Canterbury
Plains. A city tour, then it's 'Free Time'. |
Day
10 |
Mt. Cook:
A ride
on the Christchurch Tram. Then you're free to go
shopping or relax. Later you'll see Lake Tekapo and
Lake Pukaki, visit the Church of the Good Shepherd
and soak up the alpine scenery of Mt. Cook National
Park. Take an optional scenic flight over Mt. Cook. |
Day
11 |
Dunedin:
From the
Waitaki Hydro Power Scheme and Benmore Dam, travel
through Oamaru to Dunedin, tour the city and the
afternoon is yours - take a Wildlife Cruise, visit
the Cadbury Factory or ride the Taieri Gorge Railway
- it's up to you. |
Day
12 |
Dunedin - Te Anau:
A guided tour of New Zealand's only castle - Larnach
Castle - and its gardens begins the day. Across fertile
sheep-filled farming land to Te Anau, on the shores
of Lake Te Anau. A visit to the Te Anau Glow Worm
Caves is an option tonight. |
Day
13 |
Milford Sound:
In
Fiordland National Park you'll cruise on Milford
Sound. See Mirror Lakes, Claudu Valley, the Chasm,
Mitre Peak, Bowen Falls and more. Travel along Lake
Wakatipu to Queenstown for an orientation tour on
arrival. For dinner you may choose to dine at the
Skyline Restaurant on Bob's Peak. Access is via the
steepest Gondola in the Southern Hemisphere and there'll
be the Kiwi Haka Maori Show as well! |
Day
14 |
Queenstown 'Free
Time':
Explore Queenstown for yourself. Take it easy
with wine or garden tours. Or go wild with a jet
boat ride or white water rafting. Dinner is at Walter
Peak Sheep Station via New Zealand's oldest steamship,
the TSS Earnslaw. |
Day
15 |
Franz Josef:
Visit
the historic gold mining town, Arrowtown. Stop at
Cromwell with its sensational stone fruit. Then it's
a trio of lakes - Dunstan, Hawea and Wanaka, the
Haast Pass, Thunder Creek Falls. A small rainforest
walk. Then Franz Josef Glacier - the world's most
accessible glacier. |
Day
16 |
Franz Josef - Punakaiki:
Explore Franz Josef Glacier - take an optional flight
(weather permitting) or a glacier hike! Depart for
Hokitika, home of the native greenstone (jade) for
a factory visit and jewellery demonstration. It's
on to Punakaiki, where you'll view the Pancake Rocks
and Blowholes. |
Day
17 |
TranzAlpine - Christchurch:
Enjoy time at leisure before travelling via Greymouth
to Arthur's Pass where you'll board the TranzAlpine
to travel through the Southern Alps to Christchurch. |
Day
18 |
Depart Christchurch:
You will be transferred to Christchurch Airport for
your onward flight. |
