Add air fare from: SYD,MEL,BNE for only $199rt
Day 1 Arrive Auckland
On arrival in Auckland you will be transferred to your hotel. Afternoon at leisure. In the evening get together and enjoy a welcome drink with your tour guide.
Accommodation: Auckland City Hotel. Auckland.
Day 2 Auckland/Bay of Islands (walking 2-3 hours)
Depart Auckland and travel north along Twin Coast Discovery Highway stop at the Kauri Museum. We visit the Waipoua Forest to see Tane Mahuta – the world’s largest kauri tree, before arriving to the beautiful Bay of Islands. On arrival visit the Waitangi Treaty Reserve. The remainder of the day is at leisure for you to explore.
Accommodation: Hotel Paihia,Bay of Islands, 2 nights. (B)
Day 3 Bay of Islands (walking 5-6 hours)
Urupukapuka Island, one of the most beautiful in the Marine Park. There are several stunning small bays with white sandy beaches, clear water and safe swimming plus island walks. Urupukapuka Island Archaeological Walk. The complete Urupukapuka Island Archaeological Walk (5 hr) is designed in a clockwise direction, and may be joined at most of the larger bays. This track generally follows the outer edge of the island passing various archaeological features. The southern loop covers more sites and overlooks calm, sheltered bays. The northern loop visits fewer sites, but includes some interesting sites and offers dramatic views from high, rugged cliffs. The route can be divided into shorter walks of 2.5 hours each. Or you can take one of the smaller tracks in the area or enjoy a full day at leisure in the Bay of Islands. (B)
Day 4 Bay of Islands/ Auckland (walking 1-2 hours)
This morning cruise to Cape Brett. Weather permitting, travel through the famous ‘Hole in the Rock’. In the afternoon return to Auckland via Whangarei along the scenic Hibiscus Coast. A short city tour including a drive to Mt Eden an ancient volcano to take in the spectacular views of the city of Auckland.
Accommodation: Auckland City Hotel. Auckland. (B)
Day 5 Waitomo Caves/ Rotorua (walking 2-3 hours)
Drive south through the Waikato district to Waitomo. At the Waitomo Caves experience a guided tour and boat ride of the incredible Glow-worm Grotto lit by thousands of tiny glowworms. In the afternoon stop at the famous Big Apple Restaurant for lunch, before traveling to Rotorua for a leisurely walk through the Red Forest where you see giant sequoias. An evening with traditional Maori culture and entertainment. Enjoy a sumptuous buffet dinner, followed by a performance by Maori dancers.
Accommodation: Ventura Inn Suites, Rotorua, 2 nights. (B)
Day 6 Rotorua (walking 3-5 hours)
Visit Te Puia and soak up the Maori culture, see the elusive kiwi. Drive to the Mt Maunganui Summit Track for a hike to the summit, some 232 metres. The view at the top is superb, offering awesome scenes of surrounding islands and the Mount beaches and harbour. Enjoy a rewarding swim in the hot saltwater pools. (B)
Day 7 Rotorua/ Tongariro (walking 2-3 hours)
Early morning start to the Wai–O-Tapu Geothermal Wonderland. Enjoy the different thermal activities, the bubbling mud, champagne pools, steaming ground and the Lady Knox Geyser erupting daily at 10.15am. Travelling south we stop to view the mighty Huka Falls. The next stop will take your breath away with incredible of Lake Taupo – New Zealand’s largest freshwater lake with Mt Ruapehu in the background. We travel south along the lake and on to Desert Road through the volcanic plateau of the World Heritage listed Tongariro National Park.
Accomodation : Taihope (B)
Day 8 Tongariro – Wellington (walking 7-9 hours)
The Tongariro Crossing is a challenging walk taking 7-8 hours, covering a distance of 17 km. It`s often described as the best one day walk in New Zealand. The Tongariro Crossing provides an opportunity to experience some of the most scenic volcanically active areas of the park. After this beautiful walk we continue our journey towards Wellington. Continue along the Capiti Coast and into the capital city of Wellington.
Accommodation: Comfort Inn, Wellington. (B)
Day 9 Wellington/Christchurch (walking 1-2 hours)
To day our city tour will include drive up to MT Victoria for a spectacular view of the city, visit to Te Papa National Museum. In afternoon we fly to the beautiful city of Christchurch. A city tour will include the Botanical Gardens. Accommodation: The Garden Hotel, Christchurch. (B)
Day 10 Christchurch – Mt. Cook (walking 3-4 hours)
After breakfast travel south over the Canterbury Plains. Stop at Lake Tekapo and take in the breathtaking view from the Church of the Good Shepherd. Continue towards the Mt. Cook National Park, home to New Zealand’s highest mountain. The Aoraki Mount Cook region is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in the world; it also has some of the best walks in the world. Enjoy a stunning 4km (2.5 mile) trek along the well maintained track to the terminal lake of the Hooker Glacier. You will pass over the turbulent Hooker River by a swingbridge, to unsurpassed views of Aoraki Mount Cook’s south face and the surrounding glaciers. Enjoy lunch in the shadow of New Zealand’s highest peak, standing at 3,754 metres with an opportunity take an optional scenic flight over Mt Cook Mountain (weather permitting).
Accommodation: Twizel. (B)
Day 11 Mt. Cook/ Dunedin (walking 4-5hours)
A morning stop at a salmon farm to taste some of the world’s best smoked salmon then follow the Waitaki Valley, passing hydroelectric dams at Waitaki and Aviemore. Travel through Oamaru and the East Coast to Moreaki here we stop to see strange spherical boulders strewn on the beach. Continue south to Dunedin, the most Scottish NZ town.
The Pineapple Track is a walk along Dunedin’s skyline with magnificent views of the city and Taieri Plains. It passes through the tussock country above the tree line of Flagstaff Hill.
Accommodation: Bentley’s Hotel, Dunedin. (B)
Day 12 Dunedin – Te Anau (walking 1-2 hours)
Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Dunedin and a visit to historic Larnach Castle. Travel south through Balclutha and the farming town of Gore. Cross the rich fertile country of South Otago and continue to Te Anau, the gateway to the Fiordland National Park.
Accommodation: Quality Hotel, Te Anau. (B)
Day 13 Milford Sound – Queenstown (walking 3-4 hours)
Travel south towards Fiordland, with scenic stops at the Eglinton Valley and the Mirror Lakes, through the Homer Tunnel and to the Chasm for a short walk through the Temperate Rain Forrest before arriving at Milford Sound. Enjoy a 1.5hour cruise on the waters of this wonderful fiord, which flows, right to the Tasman Sea, with views to Mitre Peak and Bowen Falls. Drive to the beautiful town of Queenstown. Take the Queenstown Hill Time Walk, as the name indicates, the 1.5km long Queenstown Hill Time Walk is built to show the past, present and future of Queenstown and the area around Lake Wakatipu. After the 500 metre climb you are rewarded with a 360 view of some of the main landmarks of the Queenstown area. You will see The Remarkables, Cecil Peak, parts of Lake Wakatipu and the Kawarau River.
Accommodation: GoldenRidge, Queenstown, 2 nights. (B)
Day 14 Queenstown
A day at leisure for you to enjoy the many attractions of Queenstown. You could try the famous Shotover Jets; take a trip across Lake Wakatipu. Ride the Skyline Gondola to Bob’s Peak for magnificent views. Or just simply relax and enjoy scenery. (B) (HD)
Day 15 Fri: Queenstown/Fox Glacier (walking 1-2 hours)
A visit to Arrowtown, a colorful township that used to be gold mining town, then onto the famous Kawarau River where you can try bungy jumping. A quick stop at lakeside town of Wanaka before climbing over the Haast Pass, through the Mount Aspiring National Park view the wild mountain and forest scenery. We reach Tasman Sea and continue north along the coastal road to Fox Glacier for a walk to the terminal face.
Accommodation: Fox Glacier Hotel, Fox Glacier. (B)
Day 16 Punakaiki/ Christchurch (walking 2-4 hours)
After breakfast we take the Lake Matheson walk. Famous for mirror views of Mounts Aoraki/Cook, Tasman and LaPerous. Lake Matheson is nestled in ancient forest, five kilometres west of the Fox Glacier township in the Westland Tai Pountini National Park and the The Wahipounamu South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. After the walk why not take a helicopter flight with a glacier landing (weather permitting). Later continue north along the rugged coast to Hokitika and Punakaiki to see the Pancake Rocks. Across the Southern Alps through Arthur`s Pass to Glenthorne Station, which is a 14,000 hectare working station farming fine wool sheep, beef cattle and red deer. It has many interesting historical and geological features, accessed by many kilometres of farm tracks. These tracks and the surrounding environment make Glenthorne Station one big “adventure playground” for guests to enjoy in many ways. Farm staff are happy to show you where to go for your mountain biking and walking adventures. Many excellent fishing lakes and rivers can also be accessed throughout, and adjacent to, the station.
Day 17 Depart Christchurch
Drive to Christchurch. Short city tour, transfer to Christchurch Airport to connect with your flight (B)
Price; $2990 for twin share, single supplement $960
Dates: 20Jun2011, 10AUG 2011, 10SEP 2011, 10OCT, 25OCT2011
10NOV, 25NOV2011, 10DEC2011, 6JAN20112, 25JAN2012, 5FEB2012
Included:
*Waitangi Treaty House
*Beautiful Bay of Island
* Urupukapuka Island Archaeological Walk.
*Kauri forest and museum
*Waitomo Glow-worm Grotto tour
* Red Forest walk
* Maori Hungi Dinner and Show
*Wai–O-Tapu Geothermal Wonderland
* Maunganui Summit Track
*Tour of Te Papa
*Inter-Island Cruise across Cook Strait
* Salmon tasting
* The Pineapple Track
*Larnach Castle tour
* Milford Sound Cruise
*Queenstown Hill Time Walk
* Lake Matheson Walk
* Punakaiki Pancake Rocks
* Fox Glacier Walk
* 16 Breakfasts
* Twin share accommodation
*1 night on a working farm
Not included:
*air fare from Australia. We can provide retourn flight for $199 + dep tax from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane. From other destintions please check with us.
*insurance
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