1
Welcome to Christchurch
‘Haere Mai’ … welcome to New Zealand. Now you can relax - you are officially on holiday.
Welcome to Christchurch, New Zealand’s Garden City. Flights can arrive any time prior to 4.00pm. After you check-in, you can head out and explore Christchurch. This evening meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a welcome reception.
Some suggested activities around Christchurch
Meals: Welcome Reception
Accommodation: Christchurch - 1 night
2
Christchurch - Omarama
Step out with your guide for a deeper dive into ‘The City of Gardens’ before traversing the colourful Canterbury Plains: the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo and snow-capped mountains. Your Indoor Dark Sky Astronomy Experience at Tekapo, hosted by passionate guides, will forever change the way you see the night sky. You'll see for yourself it may be one of the quietest spots on the planet, yet it has one of the busiest skies in the universe.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Omarama - 1 night
3
Omarama - Dunedin
Your day starts down the beautiful Waitaki Valley to visit Oamaru. While its façade is strictly of the Victorian era with ornately decorated grand white stone buildings that once housed upstanding banks, hotels and restaurants - the localsare bohemians artisans, creative’s and antiquarians who run ‘out-there’ galleries, museums, shops and venues – it has to be seen to be believed and you'll love it.
Architectural drama awaits in Dunedin. While away the afternoon in atmospheric art-lined alleys or sipping a lager or two in Speight’s Brewery (a national institution).
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Dunedin - 1 night
4
Dunedin - Invercargill
If you’ve got an odd urge to hear Slim Dusty while traversing rolling green pastures en route to Gore, you’re not alone, it's the country music capital of NZ. Invercargill is obsessed with something else: motor vehicles. Tributes to speed legends colour the city. So it's only fitting that you visit Classic Motorcycle Mecca for a tour and Highlight Dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Highlight Dinner
Accommodation Invercargill - 2 nights
5
Stewart Island
The ferry ride to Stewart Island is wild and wonderful. When you arrive, you’re welcomed by the country’s southernmost community. It’s largely untouched, which means endemic flora and fauna thrive here. But don’t take our word for it. Meet the locals on a Village & Bays tour.
Meals: Breakfast
6
Queenstown
You’ve probably already noticed that there’s a lot of farmland here in New Zealand. It’s fitting, then, that you meet southern girl Laura, who will introduce you to the sheep farm where she was born and raised. The Real Country Farm Show, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, offers an authentic taste of what rural New Zealand is like. For every guest, we donate funds to The Fairlight Foundation, Advancing Women in Agriculture. Continue to Queenstown and take the afternoon at your own pace.
Recommended excursions around Queenstown:
Routeburn Day Walk | Highest Bungey Jump | Explore Arrowtown |
Biking Skippers Canyon | Round at Millbrook Golf Resort | |
Earnslaw Steamboat Cruise | Dart River Jetboat Safari |
Meals: Breakfasts
Accommodation: Queenstown - 2 nights
8
Glacier Country
For a slice of paradise we drive past a trio of fantastic lakes including Lake Dunstan, Hawea and Wanaka before traversing the Haast Pass where the Thunder Creek Falls make for some more great photos. A short stroll amongst emerald rainforest refreshes us prior to our arrival at Franz Josef - the world's most accessible glacier.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Franz Josef - 1 night
9
Jade and Pancake Rocks
Take the opportunity this morning to experience an optional scenic flight over this remarkable region - see the twin glaciers Franz Josef and Fox (subject to weather conditions).
Heading up the coast we visit the small town of Hokitika, famous for Pounamu (also known as Greenstone or Jade) and is considered a treasure in Maori culture - a sign of status and power. In ancient times Maori travelled from all over New Zealand to the West Coast to find this precious stone and many of the roads we travel today are following these old trails.
Nowhere has the effects of Tasman Seas heaving swells had such a dramatic effect on the West Coast landscape than at the beautiful seaside village of Punakaiki. These rocks are a truly remarkable piece of natural sculpture that have been created when a series of stratified limestone stacks have been eroded over thousands of years to give the effect of large piles of Stacked Pancakes. Another prominent feature are the blowholes that at high tide force columns of spray high out of these holes with a bone shaking roar.
Punakaiki is small community that is scattered over a 3 kilometers (2 mile) stretch of coastal flats with many local dwellings hidden in the dense bush or down on the waters edge, many house colourful local crafts people like potters, carvers, painters and jewelers selling their wares from their homes. For an insight into the locals (coasters) pop into the friendly Punakaiki Pub.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Punakaiki - 1 night
10
Lake District to Nelson
Following the beautiful Buller River heading inland to the quaint quintessentially kiwi town Murchison - its like travelling back in time 50 years. We then pass through the beautiful Nelson Lakes and forest, home of the 'Blue Lake' with the clearest recorded fresh water in the World.
Nelson has a large creative community of working artists that gives the town a laid-back, bohemian feel. Passionate wine makers and craft beer brewers in the area mean that sitting in the sun with the tipple of your choice is a lovely way to enjoy the town centre.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation Nelson - 2 nights
11
A Free Day in Nelson
Receiving some of the highest sunshine hours in New Zealand, the Nelson district it the perfect destination to visit year round. Located in the North-West corner of New Zealand, the Nelson region is surrounded by sheltered mountain ranges, golden beaches, national parks and boutique wineries and breweries. From Nelson, it’s easy to access any of three distinctly different National Parks.
On this day at leisure, you’ll have the option to journey to the top of the South Island and enjoy a relaxing cruise in the Abel Tasman National Park. Or perhaps take a short bush walk, relax in sunny Nelson or explore the many arts and craft galleries.
Meals: Breakfast
12
Nelson to Wellington
Board the Interisland Ferry, sit back and enjoy New Zealand hospitality on the three hour journey across Cook Strait which connects New Zealand’s North and South Islands - This is one of the most scenic in the world. The journey offers a dramatic view of both the North and South Islands. As you enter the picturesque Marlborough Sounds keep an eye out for wildlife such as seabirds, dolphins, seals, whales and orca that make the sounds home.
Enter the North Island through Wellington Harbour.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Wellington - 1 night
13
Wellington - Napier
Your morning city sights tour will end at Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand. After the opportunity to visit, travel to the Art Deco mecca, Napier.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Napier - 2 nights
14
Art Deco City - Napier
After a devastating earthquake in 1931, Napier completely rebuilt itself in just two years. The end result is architectural Nirvana, a city home to the world’s greatest concentration of Art Deco, Spanish Mission and Striped Classical buildings. This morning get the lowdown from your in-the-know local guide on a Napier tour. Your afternoon is at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
15
Napier to Rotorua
This evening, explore Te Puia's geothermal valley, and learn about Maori history and culture on this guided experience, which includes hangi-inspired cuisine and a cultural performance in a finely carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. It ends on a high at the Pohutu Geyser, where, armed with a hot chocolate you'll view one of New Zealand's geothermal wonderlands.
Meals: Breakfast, Highlight dinner
Accommodation: Rotorua - 2 nights
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Exploring Rotorua
Today is free time - you may choose to explore some of the more interesting attractions Rotorua is famous. Visit Te Puia, the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, where you can see demonstrations of wood carving and weaving, or tour the Geothermal Valley and hear about the importance of the geysers and mud pools to the Maori people. Your tour director will help you with suggestions
Meals: Breakfast
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Rotorua - Auckland
Welcome to Auckland, the ‘City of Sails’. You’ll understand how it got its moniker when you glimpse yachts gliding around its two harbours. But today your sights are firmly set on the city’s other love: rugby. The interactive All Blacks Experience explores an introduction to the game as a part of New Zealand culture.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Auckland - 1 night
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Homeward Bound - Bon Voyage!
Haere rā and Bon Voyage!
Today we say farewell to newfound friends, leaving you with the magical memories of a truly exceptional New Zealand holiday.
Some Activities and sightseeing options if you have time:
Meals: Breakfast
Inclusions
* Itinerary Variations – the provider strives to improve trip itineraries. If improvements can be made, or if circumstances beyond their control make changes necessary, the provider reserves the right to vary itineraries and to make substitutions.
Included Highlights
- Dark Sky Experience Tekapo
- Motorcycle Mecca Invercargil
- Let loose in the adventure capital, Queenstown
- Farm Experience
- See awe-inspiring Franz Josef Glacier
- Punakaiki, home to Pancake Rocks & Blowholes
- Visit Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand
- Immerse yourself in Maori culture at a Hangi & Concert
- All Blacks Experience
- Experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide
Inclusions
- Comfortable accommodation
- Travel by luxury coach
- Experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide
Dining
- 17 Full buffet breakfasts
- 4 Dinners
- 2 Highlight Dinners
What Gina says about this tour: I recommend this trip to those wanting to spend more time in the South Island, enjoying the stunning scenery of the Queenstown, Fiordland and the West Coast. There is still and excellent variety on display in the North Island with highlights being the insight in to the culture of New Zealand with Te Papa in Wellington and a cultural evening experience at Tamaki in Rotorua.
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