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| Day 1 - Arrive Auckland |
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Day 10 - Mount Cook |
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Meet and transfer from the airport to your hotel. See Auckland your way until an evening welcome drink with your Tour Director and fellow travellers.
Hotel: Stamford Plaza, Auckland.
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 A ride on the Christchurch Tram. You are Invited - enjoy a taste of country life with a barbecue lunch on a working farm (from 1 Oct 10) Later we'll see Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki, visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and soak up the alpine scenery of Mt. Cook National Park. Take an optional scenic flight over Mt. Cook. Hotel: MacKenzie Country Inn, Deluxe Rooms, Twizel. B L D
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| Day 2 - Auckland - Bay of Islands |
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Day 11 - Dunedin |
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 Over the Auckland Harbour Bridge and up the scenic Hibiscus Coast. Walk among the Kauri trees, explore Whangarei, the northern-most city, then on to Paihia and the Bay of Islands. Enjoy a scenic cruise through the Bay of Islands to Cape Brett and the 'Hole in the Rock'. We'll explore Urupukapuka Island then return to Paihia.
Hotel: Copthorne Hotel & Resort (Water View), Bay of Islands, 2 nights. BD
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From the Waitaki Hydro Power Scheme and Benmore Dam we travel through Oamaru to Dunedin, we tour the city and the afternoon is yours - take a Wildlife Cruise, visit the Cadbury Factory or ride the Taieri Gorge Railway - it's up to you.
Hotel: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross, Dunedin. B D
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| Day 3 - Bay of Islands 'Free Time' |
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Day 12 - Dunedin - Te Anau |
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 The day is yours to explore the Bay of Islands. Dolphin watch, catch a ferry to Russell, drive along the Ninety Mile Beach, sail or sea-kayak - whatever you like, then have a night on the town. B
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A guided tour of New Zealand's only castle - Larnach Castle - and its gardens begins the day. Across fertile farming land to Te Anau, on the shores of Lake Te Anau. The Te Anau Glow Worm Caves is an option tonight. Hotel: Distinction Hotel, Te Anau. B D
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| Day 4 - Bay of Islands - Auckland |
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Day 13 - Milford Sound |
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We'll tour the historic Waitangi Treaty Reserve and then return to Auckland.
Hotel: Stamford Plaza, Auckland. BD
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 In Fiordland National Park we'll cruise on Milford Sound. We'll see Mirror Lakes, Claudu Valley, The Chasm, Mitre Peak, Bowen Falls and more. We travel along Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown for an orientation tour on arrival. For dinner you may choose to dine at the Skyline Restaurant on Bob's Peak. Access is via the steepest Gondola in the Southern Hemisphere and there'll be the Kiwi Haka Maori Show as well!
Hotel: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown, 2 nights. B
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| Day 5 - Auckland - Rotorua |
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Day 14 - Queenstown 'Free Time' |
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 After an Auckland City Sights Tour, we trace the Waikato River to Waitomo Caves, where we'll see the amazing Glow Worm Grotto. Our Rotorua orientation tour takes in views of Lake Rotorua. Tonight experience The Realm of Tãne, a Maori Hangi feast and concert.
Hotel: Millennium Hotel, Rotorua, 2 nights.
B HD
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Explore Queenstown for yourself. Take it easy with wine or garden tours. Or go wild with jet boat rides or white water rafting. Dinner is at Walter Peak Sheep Station via New Zealand's oldest steamship, the TSS Earnslaw. B HD
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| Day 6 - Rotorua |
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Day 15 - Franz Josef |
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Sparkling wine breakfast cruise on Lake Rotorua on board the Lakeland Queen. On to the Agrodome Sheep Show and a sample of farm life. Visit Te Puia and be accompanied by a local Maori guide for a tour of the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve. An afternoon of 'Free Time'. B
Farm Stay Option
Experience farm life first hand. For an extra $50 per person enjoy genuine Kiwi hospitality this evening. You may meet the farm animals or simply relax and enjoy the company of your hosts.
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First stop - historic gold mining town, Arrowtown. Second stop Cromwell and its sensational stone fruit. Then it's a trio of lakes - Dunstan, Hawea and Wanaka, the Haast Pass, Thunder Creek Falls. A small rainforest walk. Then Franz Josef Glacier - the world's most accessible glacier.
Hotel: Franz Josef Glacier Hotel/Te Waonui Forest Retreat (from 1 Oct 10), Franz Josef. B D
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| Day 7 - Rotorua - Wellington |
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Day 16 - Franz Josef - Punakaiki |
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From the mountains to the sea. View the Huka Falls. Visit Taupo and drive along the shores of its lake. Travel through the alpine scenery of Mt. Ruapehu. Tongariro National Park. Manawatu. The Kapiti Coast. On our Wellington city sights tour see the city from Mt. Victoria.
Hotel: Novotel, Wellington. B D
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 Explore Franz Josef Glacier - take an optional flight (weather permitting) or a glacier hike! 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.
Punakaiki Resort, Punakaiki. B D
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| Day 8 - Wellington - Blenheim |
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Day 17 - TranzAlpine - Christchurch |
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 A morning to explore Wellington your way. Visit Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand, with time to discover it yourself. We cruise the tranquility of Queen Charlotte Sound. On to Picton then Blenheim for a city tour. Tonight we'll enjoy a tasting, tour and dinner at Allan Scott Wines. A family owned and run winery which has developed its own reputation as a Marlborough icon.
Hotel: Chateau Marlborough, Blenheim.
B HD
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Enjoy time at leisure before travelling via Greymouth to Arthur's Pass where we'll board the TranzAlpine to travel through the Southern Alps to Christchurch.
Hotel: Novotel, Christchurch. B D
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| Day 9 - Kaikoura - Christchurch |
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Day 18 - Depart Christchurch |
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En route to Kaikoura, we pass the Grassmere Salt Works and see New Zealand fur seals at Ohau Point. Explore Kaikoura, maybe take an optional scenic Whale Watching flight. We travel to Christchurch via the Canterbury Plains. A city tour, then it's 'Free Time'.
Hotel: Novotel, Christchurch. B
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Explore Christchurch as you wish until we transfer you to Christchurch Airport. B
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(B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner (HD) Highlight Dinner
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