20 meals: 11 breakfasts (B), 9 dinners (D) (with meal plan)Country Homestay Option on Day 10 (must be pre-booked)
Note: Itinerary effective 1 Apr 2009.
Tours prior follow different itinerary. Ask for details or refer to 2008 brochure.
Day 1: Arrive Queenstown
On arrival in Queenstown you'll be met and transferred to your hotel. Days 1-2 are Independent Touring. Overnight: Queenstown, Kingsgate Hotel Queenstown for 2 nights
Day 2: Independent Touring, Queenstown, Milford Sound
Travel to awe-inspiring Milford Sound for a cruise along this incredible fiord. See cascading waterfalls, dense rainforest and towering peaks. Return to Queenstown. (B,D)
Day 3: Queenstown-Haast
Join your escorted tour. Depart Queenstown and begin the journey up the West Coast through Haast Pass to Haast. Overnight: Haast, World Heritage Hotel (B,D)
Day 4: Haast-Greymouth
Enjoy the incredible West Coast scenery of mountains, glaciers, raging rivers and rare bird and plant life. Continue on to World Heritage-listed Westland National Park, where you have an opportunity to take a scenic flight (own expense, weather permitting). Journey to Hokitika and see Pounamu (jade) being carved into jewelry. Overnight: Greymouth, Kingsgate Hotel (B,D)
Day 5: TranzAlpine Train-Christchurch
Visit Shantytown, a recreated 1900s pioneer town, then follow the coastline to Punakaiki to view the fascinating pancake rock formations and blowholes. Later board the award-winning TranzAlpine Train for a spectacular journey through gorges, river valleys and across the Southern Alps to Christchurch. Overnight: Christchurch, Holiday Inn on Avon (B,D)
Day 6: Christchurch-Picton
Journey to Kaikoura, a town famous for its whale, seal and dolphin watching. Then continue on to Blenheim where you will visit renowned Montana Brancott Winery and enjoy a wine tour and tasting of their signature wine, Sauvignon Blanc, before continuing to Picton. Overnight: Picton, Beachcomber Inn (B,D)
Day 7: Picton-Wellington
Cruise across Cook Strait to Wellington. Enjoy a city sightseeing tour then visit Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand. Overnight: Wellington, Kingsgate Portland Hotel (B,D)
Day 8: Wellington-Napier
Cross the Rimutaka Ranges into the farming district of Wairarapa. Travel through Hawkes Bay to Napier. Overnight: Napier, The Nautilus Hotel (B,D)
Day 9: Napier-Rotorua
Take a walking tour of Napier, viewing its famous Art Deco architecture. Travel to Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake, then continue to Rotorua via mighty Huka Falls and Wairakei Park. Tonight enjoy a Maori Hangi (feast) and cultural performance of song and dance. Overnight: Rotorua, Ibis Rotorua for 2 nights (B,D)
Day 10: Rotorua Sightseeing
Visit Te Puia thermal reserve, home to hot springs, boiling mud pools and geysers. Enjoy a tour of the Maori Arts & Crafts Institute where our guide will explain Maori history. At the Agrodome enjoy a sheep and farm show. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. (B)
Country Homestay option is available tonight
Day 11: Rotorua-Auckland
En route to Auckland visit Waitomo caves. Here join a guided tour of the underground limestone caverns which are lit by thousands of tiny glow worms. This afternoon arrive in Auckland. Overnight: Auckland, Kingsgate Hotel Parnell (B,D)
Day 12: Depart Auckland
Enjoy a leisurely morning before your airport transfer to meet your onward flight. (B)
Departure Dates:
2009: Apr 19, 26; May 17; Sep 6, 13, 20; Oct 4, 11, 18, 25; Nov 8, 15, 22, 29; Dec 6, 13
2010: Jan 10, 17, 24, 31; Feb 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 28; Mar 7, 14, 19, 21, 28
