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DAY 1
LAX or SFO/TAHITI/MOOREA |
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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 10-minute flight to Moorea, where your hotel has arranged your transfer
to their property. Moorea is “the tropical South Sea island you expect
to find when you fly to Tahiti” and you are free today to enjoy Moorea
at your leisure or simply relax at the hotel. Activities available to you
include snorkeling or scuba diving in the coral reef, a helicopter tour
of the area, whale watching expeditions (May through October only), white
sand beaches, coral gardens, fishing (coastal or deep sea), golfing, tennis,
boating (sail, motor, row, or paddle), hiking, biking, or a variety of other
activities.
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DAY 2
MOOREA EXCURSION (optional) |
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| If you choose to take the 6-hour outrigger canoe excursion,
you will be picked up at the hotel at around 8:45. You will explore the
lagoon, feed the sharks and dolphins, go snorkeling and shelling, and have
a barbecue picnic on the motu (small island in the lagoon.) Most importantly,
you will experience the beauty of Moorea first hand. Of course, you may
forgo the tours and choose any of the activities mentioned in Day 1. 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
MOOREA/TAHITI |
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| You checkout at 9 AM and are transferred by the hotel
to the Moorea airport to catch your flight to Papeete. 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. |
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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. (Meals aloft)
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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 where you are met
by our rep and transferred to your hotel.. 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 and gardens
for which Christchurch is so well known. Take in whichever of the sights
that you missed on Day 8. Return your rental car at the airport and depart
for home. (B) |
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