 |
|
|
|
|
Special Interest Tours >
Independent Intrepid Holidays >Culture & Heritage
 |
| Itinerary: |
|
| Day 1 - Arrive Auckland |
|
- Arrive in to Auckland, collect late model, automatic mid-sized rental vehicle and drive to hotel
- Use the time you have following arrival to become familiar with Auckland’s vibrant inner city area
- No visit to Auckland is complete without experiencing panoramic 360° views from the incredible Auckland Sky Tower
- Accommodation at the beautifully appointed Hyatt Regency Auckland or similar
|
| Day 2 - Auckland |
|
- Today you will make your way out to the Howick Historical Village for an encounter with this remarkable early settlement replica village
- Explore one of the most extensive collections of early colonial buildings in New Zealand including raupo cottages (replica Maori huts)
- Delight in the well established Heritage Gardens
- Following your time at the Village enjoy the sights of Auckland
- Perhaps a trip over to the charming little island community of Waiheke Island or a harbour cruise is in order
|
| Day 3 - Auckland to Rotorua |
|
- Today you will take the scenic drive from Auckland to Rotorua (approx 3.5 hours driving time). Highlights include:
- Lush dairy farming district of Waikato
- Rangariri Battle Site Heritage Centre
- Follow the Waikato River – New Zealand’s longest
- Lake Karapiro
- Fitzgerald Glade - native bush reserve on the Mamaku Ranges
- Views of Lake Rotorua
- Arrive Rotorua and take some time to explore the wonders of the geothermal marvel
- Accommodation at the comfortable, well located Sudima Hotel or similar
|
| Day 4 - Rotorua |
|
- Full Day Cultural Eco Thermal Tour
- Wai-O-Tapu
- Lady Knox Geyser
- Waimangu Volcanic Valley
- Boiling Mud Pools
- Te Puia
- Rotorua Lakefront - Ohinemutu
- Kuirau Park
- Government Gardens - Sulphur Bay
- Blue and Green Lakes
- Lake Tarawera - Lake Okareka
|
| Day 5 - Rotorua to Wellington |
|
- Today you will take the drive through the central north island to New Zealand’s vibrant capital city of Wellington (approx 6.5 hours driving time). Highlights include:
- Orakei Korako, hidden thermal valley
- Wairakei Geothermal Power Station
- Huka Falls - The thundering Huka Falls provides a fantastic photo opportunity as more than 220,000 litres of water tumble over the cliff face per second
- Aratiatia Dam and rapids
- Crater of the Rim walk –the highlights of this one-hour walk are the active thermal areas with lots of mud pools, hot pools and steam
- On arrival in Wellington, take some time to explore the Wellington waterfront adjacent to where your hotel is located
- Accommodation at the iconic Museum Hotel or similar
|
| Day 6 - Wellington |
|
- Full Day Wellington Capital Arts Tour including lunch
- Visit private studios to see New Zealand artists at work
- Tour Wellington’s intriguing early suburbs
- Experience Old St. Paul’s Cathedral or the Victorian birthplace of famous write Katherine Mansfield
- Explore the collections at some of New Zealand’s leading art galleries
- Absorb Wellington’s café culture as you enjoy lunch
- Take in many more aspects of this city’s rich cultural and artistic character
|
| Day 7 - Wellington |
|
- Drive to either the Wellington Airport or the ferry terminal where you will drop off your rental vehicle prior to departure
|
| Package Includes: |
|
- 2 nights accommodation at Auckland’s excellent Hyatt Regency Hotel in a Regency View Room
- Admission to the fascinating Howick Historical Village
- 2 nights at Rotorua’s comfortable Sudima Hotel in a Lakeview Room
- Full Day Cultural Eco Tour of Rotorua
- Wonderful evening Hangi and Concert experience in Rotorua including dinner
- 2 nights at Wellington’s renowned Museum Hotel in a Harbour Room
- Outstanding full day Capital Arts Tour of Wellington including lunch
- Rental vehicle for duration of time in the North Island
|
|
| Price: |
|
NZD$1,739.00 per person
|
|
Please note that our packages are land only and do not include airfares.
|
|
| Important Notes: |
|
COST PER PERSON PRICES ARE BASED ON TWIN / SHARE ROOM OCCUPANCY. IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING AS A SINGLE, PLEASE LET US KNOW AND WE WILL ADVISE SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENTS UPON REQUEST. ALTERNATIVELY, IF YOU’D LIKE AN ITINERARY DESIGNED FOR YOUR FAMILY GROUP, PLEASE LET US KNOW
PRICES ARE INDICATIVE AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
LAND ARRANGEMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY
BOOKINGS CAN BE MADE USING VISA, MASTERCARD OR CASHIERS CHECK AT NO EXTRA CHARGE
ALL ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE CHARGED IN NEW ZEALAND DOLLARS
PRICES NOT APPLICABLE DURING BLACK-OUT PERIODS
|
|
| Itinerary: |
|
| Day 1 - Arrive Christchurch |
|
- Arrive in to Christchurch, collect late model, automatic mid-sized rental vehicle and drive to hotel
- Use the time you have following arrival to become familiar with Christchurch’s pretty inner city
- Take the city circuit route on the lovingly restored Christchurch Tramway and become familiar with the city’s picturesque cityscape including the Avon River, the Arts Centre, the beautiful Christchurch Cathedral and delightful New Regent Street
- Accommodation at comfortable Kingsgate Hotel Brydone or similar
|
| Day 2 - Christchurch |
|
- Full Day Akaroa including harbour cruise and lunch
- Travel over the Port Hills, via Sign of the Kiwi, through Gebbies Pass, alongside Lake Forsyth, through Little River, and along the Akaroa summit road
- Experience this charming, historic French settled village
- On your harbour cruise, view majestic scenery and wildlife including the rare, native dolphin - the Hector's Dolphin and hear about Akaroa's fascinating past.
- On the trip back to Christchurch enjoy opportunities to make some photo stops and simply take in the scenery from Banks Peninsula
|
| Day 3 - Christchurch to Oamaru |
|
- - Today you will take the drive down the southern East Coast to the town of Oamaru (approx 4.0 hours driving time). Highlights include:
- The patchwork farmland of the Canterbury Plains
- Timaru on the shores of Caroline Bay
- The Waitaki River – supplier of water for numerous Hydro Electric dams
- This evening you’ll experience a night of historical richness and flawless theater in the Living History performance and dinner at the excellent Star and Garter Restaurant
|
| Day 4 - Oamaru to Dunedin |
|
- Today you will take the drive further down the southern East Coast to beautiful city of Dunedin (approx 2.0 hours driving time). Highlights include:
- Your journey south is flavoured with history. First up is Totara Estate Centennial Park, where you can see restored 1860s farm buildings
- Clarks Mill is next - a limestone flourmill built in 1866. You could pick up some interesting, ancient stones on the beach at Hampden before visiting the mysterious spherical boulders at Moeraki. The town of Palmerston has a museum devoted to the region’s Scottish past
- On arrival in Dunedin, enjoy a walk down the main street and take in the energetic atmosphere of this bustling student city – the home of New Zealand’s prestigious Otago University
- Accommodation at the well-appointed Dunedin City Hotel or similar
|
| Day 5 - Dunedin to Queenstown |
|
- Prior to departing Dunedin today you will experience the a Double Decker bus tour of this charming city
- Among other sights, your tour includes a visit to historic Olveston, the historic home of an affluent Dunedin family in the early years of the 20th century
- Following your tour, you will take the scenic drive through beautiful Central Otago to the resort of Queenstown (approx 4.0 hours driving time). Highlights include:
- Your trip takes you in a north westerly direction along the beautiful fruit route and through the charming small settlements of Roxburgh, Alexandra, Clyde and Cromwell.
- Between Cromwell and Queenstown, you’ll make a stop at the Goldfields Centre for a fascinating encounter with Central Otago’s rich gold mining legacy. Your time at the Centre includes a tour of the historic reserve along with an exhilarating jet boat trip along the Kawarau River in the heart of the this legendary gold mining region.
- On arrival in Queenstown, enjoy exploring the centrally located Mall with views over the magnificent Lake Wakatipu
- Accommodation at Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown, Lakefront
|
| Day 6 - Queenstown |
|
- This morning you will be collected from your accommodation for the fantastic experience that is your Skippers Canyon 4WD excursion
- Skippers Canyon is a real 4WD adventure exploring the gold mining history in splendid New Zealand high country
- Skippers Canyon Road was hacked by hand into the sheer cliff sides of the Shotover River Valley, following the discovery of gold in the Queenstown area in 1862
- You’ll follow Skippers Road, with every hairpin bend, across the historic suspension bridge, opened in 1901, to the old gold mining township of Skippers
- This tour offers spectacular mountain scenery, rugged canyons, gold panning to gain a taste of NZ's pioneer gold mining history, and the excitement of the 4WD in a safe environment
- Following this morning’s tour, this afternoon is yours to spend at leisure
- Activities available for your participation include the following:
- Wine Tasting & Vineyard tour
- Skyline gondola, restaurant and luge – spectacular views. Try their buffet lunch or dinner.
- Historic and beautiful Arrowtown, a gold mining town. The shops on the main street are a replica of the shops in the 1800’s. Stunning autumn leaves to be seen in Autumn
- TSS Earnslaw lake cruise – a vintage steamship. Cruise to Walter Peak farm and enjoy morning tea and a farm visit or try the dinner cruise
|
| Day 7 - Depart Queenstown |
|
- This morning you will drive to the Queenstown Airport where you will drop off your rental vehicle prior to departure
|
| Package Includes: |
|
- 2 nights accommodation at Christchurch’s well-appointed Latimer Hotel in an executive room
- Full day tour to the French settled town of Akaroa including Akaroa Harbour Cruise and lunch
- 1 night at the Kingsgate Hotel in Oamaru in a standard room
- Unique evening of New Zealand history, entertainment and dining at the Living History show
- 1 night at the excellent Dunedin City Hotel in a superior room
- Dunedin City morning history and culture tour
- Admission and tour of the historic Goldfields Mining Centre in Central Otago
- 2 nights at Queenstown’s comfortable Copthorne Hotel & Resort in a Lakeview Room
- Exciting 4WD excursion to the fascinating ghost town of Skippers Village high in the backcountry
- Rental vehicle for duration of time in the South Island
|
|
| Price: |
|
NZD$1,610.00 per person
|
|
Please note that our packages are land only and do not include airfares.
|
|
| Important Notes: |
|
COST PER PERSON PRICES ARE BASED ON TWIN / SHARE ROOM OCCUPANCY. IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING AS A SINGLE, PLEASE LET US KNOW AND WE WILL ADVISE SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENTS UPON REQUEST. ALTERNATIVELY, IF YOU’D LIKE AN ITINERARY DESIGNED FOR YOUR FAMILY GROUP, PLEASE LET US KNOW
PRICES ARE INDICATIVE AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
LAND ARRANGEMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY
BOOKINGS CAN BE MADE USING VISA, MASTERCARD OR CASHIERS CHECK AT NO EXTRA CHARGE
ALL ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE CHARGED IN NEW ZEALAND DOLLARS
PRICES NOT APPLICABLE DURING BLACK-OUT PERIODS
|
|
|
|
|
))
))
