New Zealand
Described as having & rolling green hills, majestic mountains, breathtaking fjords, and amazing diversity of landscape from one island to the next, & New Zealand beat out the likes of Italy, Iceland and South Africa in the affections of voters.
See the top sights of the spectacular South Island on a 7 Night guided coach tour, round-trip from Christchurch. Stop at Mt. Cook, New Zealand’s tallest mountain; explore the adventure
capital of Queenstown by taking a Gondola ride, take a boat cruise on Milford Sound, view
Fox and Franz Josef glaciers; and travel by rail through the Southern Alps aboard the scenic
Trans-Alpine Express.
Day 1 - Wed - Arrive Auckland, New Zealand. Meet and Assist. Transfer to Hotel
Remainder of the day at leisure Dinner and Overnight Auckland
Evening Accommodation - Heritage Hotel ( D )
Day 2 - Thur- ( B,L ) Day Trip from Auckland to Rotorua and Waitomo Caves
This full day tour from Auckland provides the opportunity to marvel at the shimmering
lights of thousands of tiny glow-worms during a magical subterranean experience, take
in Rotorua’s impressive geysers, bubbling mud pools, stirring Maori performances and a
trip to a working New Zealand farm.
Your first stop is at the mystical world of Waitomo, home to the Waitomo Glow worm
Caves where the local guides explain their history, features and legends of these world
famous caves. View cave formations, stalactites, stalagmites by drifting silently in a boat
through a Glowworm Cavern lit up with thousands of tiny glow worm lights. Enjoy a
delicious picnic lunch whilst traveling through the heart of the Central North Island to
Rotorua where the Geysers, bubbling mud pools and Maori culture await. Arriving at the
Agrodome you can feed the animals see live sheep shearing demonstration and a
sheep dog trial. Explore Rotorua’s lakefront and landscaped Government Gardens
followed by the moving Maori Cultural Performance inside Te Puia Marae you will be
treated to the perfect harmonies, the Poi and Haka. At the Whakarewarewa Thermal
Reserve and Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. See the thermal valley surrounded by
boiling mud pools and geysers. Late afternoon depart for Auckland by road.
Tour commences 07.30 am Tour returns 8.00 pm Tour Duration 12.5 hours
Day 3 - Fri - ( B,D ) Enjoy a Half day City Tour of Auckland
Spend your morning exploring the attractions that New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, has to offer.
Experience for yourself why the city consistently earns top five rankings in international lifestyle surveys.
Auckland is a melting pot of 190 different ethnicities and is the world’s biggest Polynesian city. Over half
of the population is European and there are high percentages of indigenous Maori, as well as Pacific
Island and Asian people. This diversity is reflected in a lively arts and culture scene, a wide range of food
and craft markets, vineyards, a hip cafe culture, superb coffee and outstanding restaurants.
The city extends over a narrow isthmus between the Waitemata Harbour on the Pacific Ocean, and the
Manukau Harbour on the Tasman Sea. Auckland has spectacular natural features, including 49 dormant
volcanoes, all located within 20km of the city centre. It boasts some of the best beaches in the world.
The dozens of islands of the Hauraki Gulf form a distinctive aspect of the Auckland landscape and
provide a magnet for boaties, fishing enthusiasts and hikers. Auckland is also located within easy access
to the beaches and rainforests of Northland and the Hokianga.
Highlights
* University * Harbour Bridge * Wynyard Quarter * Domain Parks & Gardens *
Auckland War Memorial Museum * Paratai Drive * Tamaki Waterfront
Dinner and Overnight Auckland
Day 4 – Saturday: Christchurch:
( B,D ) Arrive Christchurch, meet and greet and transferred to your
evenings Christchurch accommodation. Day includes an entertaining and informative afternoon
sightseeing tour of Christchurch including the central city with its earthquake history and rebuild, the Port
Hills, Lyttelton and Sumner. This evening enjoy a welcome drink at the hotel bar. Dinner at hotel.
Evening Accommodation: Pavilions Hotel Christchurch or similar
Day 5: Sunday ( B,L,D): Christchurch – Mount Cook – Queenstown:
Breakfast at hotel. Departing Christchurch and travel south through the Canterbury Plains and the
MacKenzie Country to Lake Tekapo, with its church of the Good Shepherd on the Lakes Shore and Lake
Pukaki, prior to arriving in Mount Cook National Park. Enjoy lunch in the park. Time to explore this area
prior to proceeding onto Queenstown, traveling via the Lindis Pass, Lake Dunstan, Cromwell and the
Kawarau Gorge. This evening dinner will be at the hotel.
Evening Accommodation: Mercure Resort, Queenstown or similar
Day 6 Monday ( B, D): Queenstown:
Following breakfast at hotel today includes local sightseeing including Arrowtown, together with
admission to the Skyline Gondola and a cruise on Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw. This evening
dinner will be in the township.
Evening Accommodation: Mecure Resort, Queenstown or similar
Day 7: Tuesday (B,L,D): Queenstown – Milford Sound – Te Anau:
Following Breakfast at hotel depart Queenstown for Milford, initially traveling along the shores of Lake
Wakatipu and then onto Te Anau prior to entering the Fiordland National Park. From the Homer Tunnel
emerge into the Cleddau Valley and slowly wind your way down to the floor of the Fiord. Here you will
enjoy a 2 hour scenic cruise, with an on board picnic lunch. From Milford you will retrace your steps to Te
Anau. This evening dinner will be at the hotel.
Evening Accommodation Distinction Hotel Te Anau or similar
Day 8: Wednesday ( B,D): Te Anau – Wanaka:
Breakfast at hotel, enjoy a leisurely morning prior to heading to Wanaka, via the Crown Range with a
special stop on route at the iconic Cardrona Hotel. Dinner this evening will be at the hotel.
Evening Accommodation Edgewater Resort Hotel Wanaka, or similar
Day 9: Thursday ( B,D): Wanaka – Haast – Fox Glacier – Franz Josef:
Breakfast at hotel. Today travel along the shores of Lakes Wanaka and Hawea to the Haast Pass,
gateway to World Heritage Westland National Park, then continue up the West Coast past spectacular
mountain ranges, native forests and lakes to Fox and Franz Josef Glacier, with the opportunity to visit
both. Dinner this evening will be at your hotel.
Evening Accommodation Scenic Circle Hotel, Franz Josef or similar
Day 10: Friday ( B,D): Franz Josef – Greymouth – TranzAlpine Train – Christchurch:
Breakfast at hotel prior to continuing along the rugged West Coast to Greymouth, here join the Tranz
Alpine Train to travel across the Southern Alps to Christchurch, this train journey is renown as one of the
top 10 train journeys in the world. This evening enjoy a farewell restaurant dinner.
Evening Accommodation: Pavilions Hotel Christchurch or similar
Day 11: Saturday ( B ): Breakfast at hotel.
Post breakfast, Check out - Fly to Next Destination
You may want to add 8 Night trip to Australia as an Option
Auckland - Heritage Hotel - 3 nights ( North Island ) - Half Board
https://www.heritagehotels.co.nz/heritage-auckland
Guided Tour of South Island - 7 nights - Half Board ( Hotels and Tour as per Itinerary )
Land only
