| Day by Day Itinerary: |
|
|
 |
 |
| Day 1 Arrive Christchurch |
|
Day 6 Queenstown 'Free Time' |
|
|
 Transfer from the airport to your hotel. Check in, then explore Christchurch for yourself. An evening welcome drink offers the chance to meet your Tour Director.
Hotel: Rendezvous Hotel
|
|
Explore Queenstown your way. Go wild with jetboat rides or white water rafting. For the less adventurous there are wine and garden tours. For dinner we'll cruise across Lake Wakatipu and back on the TSS Earnslaw, New Zealand oldest steam ship, to Walter Peak Sheep Station for a carvery meal and sheep shearing demonstration. B HD
|
|
| Day 2 Mount Cook |
|
Day 7 Queenstown - Franz Josef |
|
|
 You are invited to enjoy a taste of country life at a barbecue lunch on Morelea Farm, a typical working sheep farm.  See Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki, visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and soak up the spectacular alpine scenery of Mt. Cook National Park.
Hotel: Heritage Gateway, Omarama. B L D
|
|
The historic gold mining town of Arrowtown is our first stop today. The second stop is Cromwell and its sensational stone fruit. We'll see a trio of lakes - Wanaka, Hawea and Dunstan. Travel over the Haast Pass, view the amazing Thunder Creek Falls, take a small rainforest walk, then it's on to the spectacular Franz Josef Glacier - the world's most accessible glacier.
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier. B D
|
|
| Day 3 Dunedin |
|
Day 8 Franz Josef - Punakaiki |
|
|
 On our way to Dunedin, we see the Waitaki Hydro Power Scheme, Benmore Dam and the famous white limestone buildings of Oamaru. At Dunedin we tour the city, then you've got the afternoon to yourself - take a Wildlife Cruise, visit the Cadbury Chocolate Factory or ride the Taieri Gorge Railway, it's your choice.
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Dunedin City. B D
|
|
 Explore Franz Josef Glacier - take an optional flight (weather permitting) or a glacier hike! Then we depart for Hokitika, home of the native greenstone (jade) for a factory visit and jewellery demonstration. It's on to Punakaiki where we'll view the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. We overnight at our exclusive eco-friendly resort right on the waterfront.
Hotel: Punakaiki Resort. B D
|
|
| Day 4 Dunedin - Te Anau |
|
Day 9 TranzAlpine - Christchurch |
|
|
 A guided tour of New Zealand's only castle - Larnach Castle and its gardens starts the day with your own time in town. Then we head to Te Anau across fertile farming land to the shores of Lake Te Anau, the largest lake in the South Island. Tonight, if you choose to, you can see the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves.
Hotel: Distinction Hotel, Te Anau. B D
|
|
 Enjoy time at leisure before travelling via Greymouth to Arthur's Pass where we'll board one of the top 6 train journeys in the world, the TranzAlpine, which travels through the Southern Alps to Christchurch.
Join your Tour Director and new-found friends this evening for a Farewell Dinner.
Hotel: Rendezvous Hotel B FD
|
|
| Day 5 Milford Sound |
|
Day 10 Depart Christchurch |
|
|
 Today is a feast for the senses. Be wowed and awe-struck by the beauty of the World Heritage Fiordland National Park, New Zealand's largest. Keep your camera close by as you'll see Mirror Lakes, Pop's Lookout, Cleddau Valley, the Chasm, the hand-made Homer Tunnel, Mitre Peak, Bowen Falls and stunningly photogenic Milford Sound, where you will cruise on the waters of this natural wonder. The Devil's Staircase and Lake Wakatipu pass you by. Arrive at Queenstown for an orientation tour.
Hotel: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown,
2 nights. B
|
|
Your tour concludes after breakfast. It's your last chance to experience New Zealand before we transfer you to Christchurch Airport for your onward flight. B
|
|
|
(B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner (HD) Highlight Dinner
|
|
|
|
;)
