New Zealand Grand Tour
For SINGLE TRAVELLERS 50 Years & Over
Thursday 24 February - Monday 14 March 2011 (19 days)
Itinerary
PRE PAID ATTRACTIONS *Denotes a guided tour is included. MEALS Note: Dinner on Day 1 is not included for anyone arriving to the hotel after 8pm FELLOW TRAVELLERS
DAY 1: Homeport - Auckland (D) Hotel Hyatt Regency Auckland 5 star DAY 2: Auckland - Bay of Islands (B,D) Hotel Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands (2 nights) 4star plus DAY 3: Bay of Islands (Free Day) (B,D) DAY 4: Bay of Islands - Auckland (B,D) Hotel Hyatt Regency Auckland DAY 5: Auckland - Rotorua (B,L,D) Hotel Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua (Superior Rooms. 2 nights) 4 star DAY 6: Rotorua (B,SD) DAY 7: Rotorua - Napier - Masterton (B,SD) Hotel Copthorne Hotel and Resort Solway Park 4 star plus DAY 8: Masterton - Greytown - Wellington (B,D) Hotel James Cook Grand Chancellor 4 star DAY 9: Wellington - Picton - Blenheim (B,D) Hotel Heartland Hotel Marlborough 3 star plus DAY 10: Blenheim - Kaikoura - Christchurch (B,D)\ Hotel Copthorne Durham Street or Copthorne Central Christchurch DAY 11: Christchurch - Twizel (B,D) Hotel MacKenzie Country Inn 3.5 star DAY 12: Twizel - Dunedin (B,SD) Hotel Mercure Leisure Lodge 4 star DAY 13: Dunedin - Te Anau (B,D) Hotel Distinction Luxmore Hotel 4 star DAY 14: Te Anau - Milford Sound - Te Anau (B,L,D) DAY 15: Te Anau - Queenstown (B,SD) Hotel Mercure Queenstown Resort (Lakeview Rooms. 2 nights) 4 star plus DAY 16: Queenstown (Free Day) (B) DAY 17: Queenstown - Fox Glacier - Franz Josef (B,D) Hotel Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier, 3 star DAY 18: Franz Josef - Arthur's Pass - Christchurch (B,SD) Hotel Copthorne Durham Street 4 star or Copthorne Central Christchurch DAY 19: Christchurch - Homeport (B)
Luggage Limits:
This trip is exclusively for the single/solo traveller.
THE LUXURY COACH:
Grand Pacific Tours utilise modern, luxury touring coaches. All coaches feature air conditioning, reclining cloth trim seats, panoramic windows, CD and DVD player, entertainment system, lowering devices, air bag suspension, restroom, two door access and cold water storage. Traveller comments on the vehicles utilised by Grand Pacific tours can be described in one word - "Excellent".
ITINERARY:
Fly from your homeport to Auckland where you will be met by a Grand Pacific Tours representative and transferred to your hotel. This evening meet your tour export and fellow travellers for a pre dinner drink followed by a welcome dinner.
Depart Auckland and travel to the Parry Kauri Park to see a magnificent example of a Kauri Tree. Enjoy a visit and informative talk at the Kauri Museum in Matakohe, then travel via Whangarei to Paihia, situated in the heart of the beautiful Bay of Islands. Enjoy a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the location of the signing of the treaty between the Maori tribes and the British.
Today is a free day. Choose from the many optional activities available, including the Cape Reinga coach trip via Ninety Mile Beach, a day trip to Kerikeri or a spectacular scenic flight. The choice is yours and your Coach Captain will be available to assist.
This morning travel aboard a luxury catamaran to Cape Brett and the famous Hole in the Rock. Keep an eye out for bottlenose and common dolphins before returning to Paihia. Travel south via Whangarei to Auckland.
This morning enjoy a city sights tour including a visit to Sky Tower, one of New Zealands' most spectacular attractions. Continue to Longlands Dairy Farm where a short farm talk is followed by a delicious home cooked lunch. Travel to Rotorua, visit Paradise Valley Springs, a wildlife park where you can hand feed rainbow trout.
Today begins with a Gondola ride to Skyrides Restaurant where a buffet breakfast and spectacular views are on offer. Travel to the Agrodome where you see performing sheep, a shearing display and sheep dog trial. Enjoy some free time this afternoon before travelling out to see the boiling mud pools and awesome Geysers that Rotorua is famous for. This evening you will experience an entertaining Maori Hangi and Concert.
Depart Rotorua and travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to Huka Falls and Lake Taupo. Continue to Napier "The Art Deco Capital Of The World", for a tour of this city that was destroyed by an earthquake in 1931. Enjoy some free time to explore the fascinating architecture before travelling through the Wairarapa, an emerging cool-climate wine region. At the hotel this evening a wine and cheese experience will be presented.
Enjoy a leisurely start to the day with time to take in the facilities of this impressive resort. Travel to Greytown to see the most complete example of original Victorian wooden architecture. Drive through Featherston before you travel through the Rimutaka Mountain Range into Wellington. Enjoy a city tour of the nation's capital which will highlight the history and culture on show here.
Enjoy free time this morning to explore Wellington at leisure. Suggested options include a visit to Te Papa, New Zealand's National Museum or a tour through the Parliament buildings. This afternoon board the Interislander Ferry, cross Cook Strait and travel through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton where you board your coach for the short journey to Blenheim.
Tour through Marlborough Country, famous for its food and wine then travel to the quaint fishing village of Kaikoura. Continue onto the garden city of Christchurch. A city sights tour will showcase the grand architecture, historic homesteads, immaculate parks and the picturesque Avon River.
Travel through the southern Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo. See the brilliant turquoise water, visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and view the Sheep Dog Statue. Marvel at the spectacular mountain ranges including Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest peak. The opportunity is available (time and weather permitting) to enjoy a scenic flight (optional) over the Southern Alps before travelling to Twizel.
Depart Twizel and see Lake Benmore, before following the Waitaki River to Oamaru, famous for its limestone. Continue south to Dunedin, a well preserved Victorian city. Enjoy an informative city tour including a visit to Olveston House, a prestigious historic home. Tonight a Scottish evening will be presented comprising of bagpipes, great food, special Haggis Ceremony and gift.
Travel along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle where you will hear of the tragic and scandalous history on a guided tour. Visit Glenfalloch Woodland Gardens and view the superb collection of flowers, followed by a delightful morning tea. Farewell Dunedin and travel through Balclutha and Gore to Te Anau, your overnight stay.
(Deluxe Rooms. 2 nights)
Depart Te Anau for a fascinating drive to Milford Sound where you board your launch for a cruise on this magnificent fiord. See the spectacular Bowen Falls and towering Mitre Peak as you enjoy a picnic lunch. This afternoon return to Te Anau where some free time is available. Tonight you may like to visit the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves (optional).
Travel to Arrowtown, an old gold mining village and visit the Lakes District Museum. Continue to Queenstown, a year round resort situated on the shores of magical Lake Wakatipu. This evening board the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw and cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station. On arrival sit back and relax, as you are treated to the best of New Zealand's high country cuisine in the Colonel's Homestead. After dinner enjoy a short farm tour then reboard the TSS Earnslaw for a sing along by the piano as you cruise back to Queenstown.
Today is a free day. There are plenty of sightseeing options and your Coach Captain is available to assist. The evening is also free. You may choose to dine out at one of the many fine restaurants.
Depart Queenstown and travel via the Haast Pass to the West Coast, an area of stunning beauty. See the snow capped peaks of the Southern Alps as you travel north to Fox Glacier. Time is available (weather permitting) to experience a scenic flight (optional) over the spectacular glaciers before continuing to Franz Josef.
Travel to Hokitika and visit the Greenstone Factory. Continue to Arthur's Pass and board The TranzAlpine, one of the great train journeys of the world. View rivers and valleys as you travel through the Waimakariri Basin and across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. This evening you will be treated to a special farewell dinner with your new friends.
Time to say goodbye. You'll be transferred to the airport for your flight home after a memorable New Zealand holiday.
The sum of the suitcases' length, width and depth MUST NOT exceed 140cm. Weight Limits also apply to luggage due to Occupational Health and Safety issues.
The maximum allowed by the airlines and most coach companies is 20kg(44lbs). Luggage over this allowance will be charged by the airline at the applicable rate per kilo.
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2012