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Itinerary |
DAY 1 and DAY 2
LAX or SFO/AUCKLAND |
| Don’t forget that you have crossed the International
Date Line and have lost a day during your 12-hour flying time (est) to
Auckland. Greeted at the airport by our reps, who will answer your questions,
counsel about your trip and transfer you to your hotel. Remainder of day
free to explore New Zealand's largest city. Rental car is delivered to
your hotel. Consider seeing the spectacular views from Mt Eden, one of several extinct volcanoes in the region.
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DAY 3
AUCKLAND |
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Day in Auckland for sightseeing. 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. (B)
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| DAY 4
AUCKLAND / TE AWAMUTU FARMSTAY |
Drive south across the Bombay Hills through the Waikato
Valley to Hamilton City. Visit the excellent Hamilton Gardens and take a
luncheon cruise on the Waikato River aboard the paddleboat MV Waipa Delta.
Then drive on to Te Awamutu in the centre of an important dairy farming
and horse raising area. Meet your farmstay hosts and enjoy a home cooked
meal with them. (BD)
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DAY 5
TE AWAMUTU / WAITOMO / ROTORUA |
After a farm breakfast, drive south to Waitomo for a guided tour of the famous Waitomo Limestone Cave, featuring a boat ride on an underground stream into the Glowworm Grotto. In the afternoon continue across picturesque farm country and over the bush clad Mamaku Ranges to thermal wonderland of Rotorua. Evening at liesure. Staff at accommodation can suggest several convenient dining options. (B)
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Day 6
ROTORUA |
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 7
ROTORUA / WELLINGTON |
Drive south through forests and farmlands to Taupo. Visit the spectacular
Huka Falls on the Waikato River, continue through Taupo township, a popular
holiday place for New Zealanders and trout fishermen from around the world.
Drive around Lake Taupo and along the Desert Road. Weather permitting the
mountains of Tongariro National Park, including volcanic Mt Ruapehu, can
be clearly seen. Arrive late afternoon in the capital of New Zealand, Wellington
-- a coastal city with gorgeous mountain views and beautiful downtown area
built on hillsides overlooking Cook Strait. Visit Te Papa- the super new
National Museum of New Zealand and don’t miss the Parliament Building..
(B)
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DAY 8
WELLINGTON / PICTON / BLENHEIM |
Depart Wellington on the Inter Islander ferry and cross Cook Strait
to Picton in the South Island. The last part of the cruise through the
Marlborough Sounds is especially scenic with views of snow capped mountains
most of the year. Drive from Picton into the Marlborough Wine Region.
This is New Zealand's top wine producing area, it's wines winning awards
around the world. Suggest this afternoon either spend time exploring the
lovely Marlborough Sounds or wine tasting. (B)
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DAY 9
BLENHEIM / KAIKOURA / CHRISTCHURCH |
Travel south following the Coast to Kaikoura, for a Whalewatch
tour in a boat specially built for this purpose.. There is a 95% record
of whale sightings year round and other sea life such as dolphins, Orca
and seals may also be seen. If time permits enjoy an excursion to Hamner
for a swim in the thermal pools. (B)
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DAY 10
CHRISTCHURCH
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A day exploring Christchurch, the most British of cities
and famous for its parks, gardens and picturesque little river meandering
through the center of town. 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. Suggest
walk or take the tram over to the Canterbury Arts Centre, the Robert McDougall
Art Gallery, the Museum, the Botanic Gardens and visit the International
Antarctic Centre near the airport. Other options include Mona Vale Gardens,
Hagley Park, the Avon River, the Cathedral, and Town Hall. Free evening
to explore the restaurants and cafes of Christchurch (B)
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DAY 11
CHRISTCHURCH / FRANZ JOSEF |
Travel inland across the Canterbury Plains and through
Arthur's Pass in the mighty Southern Alps. The scenery is spectacular with
high snow capped peaks all around and the trout fishing is world class.
Pass through Greymouth on the West Coast. Visit historic Shantytown, where
you can try your hand at gold panning and ride the bush railway, before
continuing south. Stop and see the Greenstone Factory at Hokitika along
a route replete with panoramic coastal views and mountain scenary. Overnight
stay near the base of the Franz Josef Glacier. (B)
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DAY 12
FRANZ JOSEF / WANAKA / QUEENSTOWN |
View the glacier, a huge river of snow and ice that flows
from vast snowfields high in the Alps almost to sea level. Your drive today
is through unbelievaby beautiful country including magnificent rainforests,
Haast Pass, and Mt. Aspiring National Park with awesome alpine scenery.
Descend past glacial Lakes Wanaka and Hawea to the most beautiful small
village, Wanaka Township, on the eastern shores of the lake. Travel past
Lake Dunstan, across Central Otago sheep country and through the Kawarau
Gorge into Queenstown. Or, if time and energy of permit, take the alternate
route through the spectacular Crown Range, which has several sites used
in the filming of the Lord of Rings trilogy. (B)
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DAY 13
QUEENSTOWN |
Free day for your own choice of tours and activities in
Queenstown, a beautiful lakeside resort situated on the shores of Lake Wakatipu
and at the base of the Remarkables mountain range. It has been said that
Queenstown is like Aspen, Colorado but not yet discovered by the world.
Suggest a cruise on the 1912 vintage lake steamer TSS Earnslaw, the thrill
of a Shotover Jetboat ride, or the world class 90 minute round trip drive
to Glenorchy (our favorite), which was also used liberally in the movies.
Dine this evening at the Skyline Restaurant from where there are panoramic
views across the lake and surrounding mountains. Access is by aerial gondola.
(BD)
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DAY 14
MILFORD SOUND |
If the skies are clear, neither words nor pictures can prepare you for
what you will see on this full day tour, travelling around Lake Wakatipu
and through Te Anau and Fiordland National Park. The scenery is stunning
with high mountains and deep valleys carved out by ice age glaciers. There
are clear rushing streams and leaping waterfalls set in magnificent native
rainforest. Cruise down Milford Sound past Mitre Peak to the open sea. Seals
and dolphins are often seen
and Milford Sound reminds us of the fjords of Norway except the mountains here are taller. Buffet lunch served aboard. Return to Queenstown
in the evening. (BL)
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DAY 15
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), which includes 14 peaks over 10,000 feet. 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 16
CHRISTCHURCH/AUCKLAND/LAX or SFO |
| 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 10. Return your rental car at the airport
and depart for home. (B) |
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