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DAY 1
LAX/TAHITI/BORA BORA |
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You are met by our reps at Papeete Airport, who will answer
your questions, provide additional contact information, counsel with you
about your Tahiti stay and make sure that you make your connecting flight.
Take a 45 minute flight to Bora Bora, where your hotel has arranged your
transfer to their property. The island of Bora Bora is widely considered
to be the most beautiful of the Tahitian islands and one of the most beautiful
things to see on earth. It is the “.. (preferred vacation spot) for
numerous movie stars, European royalty, sheiks, maharajas, and international
jet setters.” You can explore Bora Bora this afternoon at your leisure.
Enjoy the pristine white beaches, aquamarine water, fabulous coral reef,
tropical flowers and fauna. You can explore the lagoon by boat excursion
or rented boat, go fishing (coastal or deep sea) or horseback riding, rent
a Moped or car, play tennis, scuba dive or snorkel, bike, hike, or enjoy
Bora Bora’s natural wonders in a thousand other ways. And of course
you may choose to simply relax at your hotel. In certain of the overwater
bungalows you can watch the marine life swim under the large glass insert
in the floor of your room.
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DAY 2
BORA BORA EXCURSION |
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In addition to the options listed for Day 1, you can choose a mountain
safari in a 4X4 LandRover or Jeep, which provides the most majestic views
of the area, or you can take a Circle Island (boat) Tour, during which
you will walk on living coral reef, search for manta rays, kiss Sting
rays, dive for Giant Mussels, and snorkel amid exotic fish and coral in
the Natural Aquarium . With either tour, your English-speaking guide will
cause you to become more informed about the people, history, and attractions
of Bora Bora. In the late afternoon, ask the concierge to direct you to
the best location for listening to the Tahitians playing guitars and ukuleles
while singing traditional Polynesian songs as you watch the magnificent
sunset. Tonight, a dinner show with traditional Tahitian dance, music
and song.
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| DAY 3
BORA BORA/ TAHITI (WITH OPTIONAL SIDE TRIP TO MOOREA)
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You checkout at 9 AM and are transferred by the hotel
to the Bora Bora airport to catch your flight to Papeete, where you are
greeted by our representative. The island of Tahiti is yours to explore
for the day (our rep will help you plan your day), but get to bed early
because you must be at the Papeete airport by 4:30 AM for your flight to
New Zealand. Tahiti is very beautiful, but not as magnificent as Bora Bora
or Moorea. As Moorea is but a 10 minute flight or 40 minute ferry ride from
Papeete, you should consider dropping your luggage at the hotel and spending
the afternoon exploring the beauty of Moorea.
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DAY 4 & 5
PAPATEE/ AUCKLAND |
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| Don’t forget that you have crossed
the International Date Line and have lost a day. Your roughly 6 hour flight
to Auckland departs Papeete in the early morning, possibly as early as 5:40
AM. You arrive in Auckland mid to late afternoon “tomorrow”.
Greeted at the airport by our reps, who will answer your questions, counsel
about your trip and transfer you to your hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour
of City, features the views from Mt Eden, one of several extinct volcanoes in the region then wander through the boutique and specialty shops of Parnell Village, visit the Auckland Domain and Auckland War Memorial Museum and drive along the Waterfront to Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World and Antarctic Encounter. Here you will view marine life from a diver’s perspective through the perspex tunnel and take a trip to the ‘South Pole’ to see the live penguin display and a replica of Scott’s Hut as it is today on the frozen continent. |
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DAY 6
AUCKLAND / WAITOMO / ROTORUA |
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Following breakfast this morning, collect a Mitsubishi Lancer or similar automatic vehicle and drive south over the Bombay Hills through the fertile farmlands of the Waikato Valley to Waitomo in the King Country.
You will enjoy a guided tour of the famous Waitomo Cave
Limestone Cave, featuring a boat ride on an underground
stream into the Glowworm Grotto. Barbecue lunch is included before continuing
on through picturesque countryside and across the bush clad Mamaku Ranges
to the thermal wonderland of Rotorua. (BL)
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DAY 7
ROTORUA |
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| Morning sightseeing includes a tour of Whakarewarewa
Thermal Reserve and the Maori Arts & Craft Institute
– home of the Pohutu Geyser and the Maori Arts and Crafts Centre where young Maori are taught the carving and weaving skill of their ancestors. Also included is the popular sheep show at the Agrodome where you will learn about the sheep industry in New Zealand and see the working dogs demonstrate their skill on these animals then enjoy a walk through restful grounds of Rainbow Springs – see the Rainbow Trout swimming freely in the crystal clear pools and streams, view the Tuatara – New Zealand’s living fossil and visit the nocturnal kiwihouse to see this shy creature which is a New Zealand icon. Evening hangi dinner and concert of Maori song and
dance. (BD) |
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DAY 8
ROTORUA / CHRISTCHURCH |
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Fly to Christchurch. Afternoon is free
to explore the Garden City. New Zealand was a British colony and Christchurch
prides itself for its British heritage and appearance. Your hotel is in
the heart of Cathedral Square, which is ideal for exploring the city.
Our rep or the concierge will help plan your afternoon. Optional sightseeing
tour features some of the parks and gardens for which Christchurch is
so well known. Visit Mona Vale Gardens, Hagley Park, the Avon River, the
Cathedral, Town Hall, Canterbury Arts Center and the International Antarctic
Center. Free evening to explore the restaurants and cafes of Christchurch.
(B)
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DAY 9
CHRISTCHURCH / FRANZ JOSEF |
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Board the TranzAlpine for a fabulous train ride through
the Southern Alps. Pick up your rental car in Greymouth
and continue your journey through the town of Hokitika, well known for its greenstone (jade) studios where jewellery and ornaments of both modern and traditional design are crafted.
Continue on the South Islands scenic coastal roads and mountain highways to Franz Josef village. On arrival visit the glacier, a huge river of snow and ice
flowing from vast snowfields high in the Alps to almost sea level. (B)
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DAY 10
FRANZ JOSEF / QUEENSTOWN
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| Depart Franz Josef traveling south along the coast through beautiful
isolated country, turning inland and traveling through magnificent rainforests
across the Haast Pass. Visit awesome Mt Aspiring National Park and descend past
glacial lakes Hawea and Wanaka. Wanaka is one of the most beautiful of the
South Island's popular vacation spots. Cross the Crown range, which includes several sites used in filming the "Lord of Rings" trilogy,
or alternatively take the shorter route through Otago sheep country to Queenstown. (B) |
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DAY 11
QUEENSTOWN |
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| Free day. Our clients invariably wish that they had more time for the Queenstown area. Queenstown is a beautiful lakeside resort situated
on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and at the base of the Remarkables mountain
range. There is a wide choice of optional tours and activities such as visiting
Arrowtown, the gondola to Bob's Peak, lake cruises, jet boating, river rafting, fishing, golf,
etc. One option is the 90 minute round trip from Queenstown to Glenorchy,
which is one of the most beautiful drives on earth. (B) |
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DAY 12
MILFORD SOUND DAY EXCURSION |
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| A full day tour traveling through Fiordland National Park.
The scenery is spectacular with lofty mountains and deep valleys carved
out by Ice Age Glaciers. There are clear rushing mountain streams, waterfalls,
and dense rainforest. At Milford Sound board the MV Milford Monarch for
a cruise down the fiord. Seals and dolphins are often seen. Close up views
of Mitre Peak. Buffet lunch served aboard. Arrive back in Queenstown early
evening. (BL) |
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DAY 13
QUEENSTOWN / MT COOK / CHRISTCHURCH |
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| Travel north today through Central Otago, the Lindis Pass
and the Mackenzie Country, named after a 19th Century Scottish sheep stealer,
to Mt Cook National Park. Time for a scenic flight over the area (not included
and weather permitting). Continue on past the huge Waitaki Hydro scheme
and glacial Lakes Pukaki and Tekapo. Descend to the Canterbury Plains driving
through important sheep farming and cropping areas into Christchurch. (B)
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DAY 14
DEPART NEW ZEALAND |
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| Morning sightseeing tour features the parks gardens for
which Christchurch is so well known. Take in whichever of the sights that
you missed on Day 8. Afternoon transfer to the airport for your departure
flight. (B) |
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