New Zealand Highlights
For SINGLE TRAVELLERS 50 Yrs & Over
Thursday 25 October - Friday 9 November 2012 (16 days)
Itinerary
PRE PAID ATTRACTIONS *Denotes guided tour is included with 1 guide per 24 travellers. FELLOW TRAVELLERS DAY 1: Homeport - Christchurch (SD) Hotel Sudima Hotel Christchurch Airport DAY 2: Christchurch - Omarama (B,D) Hotel Heritage Gateway Hotel DAY 3: Omarama - Dunedin (B,SD) Hotel Mercure Leisure Lodge DAY 4: Dunedin - Te Anau (B,D) Farewell Dunedin and travel through Balclutha and Gore to Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland and your overnight stay. Tonight you may like to visit the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves (optional). Hotel Distinction Luxmore Hotel (Superior Rooms) DAY 5: Te Anau - Milford Sound - Queenstown (B,L) Falls and towering Mitre Peak as you enjoy a picnic lunch. This afternoon travel to Queenstown, overlooking magical Lake Wakatipu. Spend the next two nights at this year round resort which offers a wide range of activities and attractions. This evening is free and you may choose to dine at one of the many fine restaurants. Hotel Mercure Queenstown Resort (2 nights) DAY 6: Queenstown (Free Day) (B,SD) DAY 7: Queenstown - Arrowtown - Fox Glacier (B,D) Hotel Heartland Hotel Glacier Country DAY 8: Fox Glacier - Arthur's Pass - Christchurch (B,D) Hotel Sudima Hotel Christchurch Airport DAY 9: Christchurch - Picton - Wellington (B,D) Hotel Ibis Wellington (2 nights)
This trip is exclusively for the single/solo traveller. The total coach capacity is 48 travellers. It's more regular that group sizes are 24 to 36 people.
ITINERARY:
(B) Breakfast. (L) Lunch. (D) Dinner. (SD) Specialty Dinner.
Fly from your homeport to Christchurch where you will be met by a Grand Pacific Tours representative and transferred to your hotel. This evening meet your tour guide and fellow travellers for a pre dinner drink followed by a welcome dinner.
After an introductory city sights tour depart Christchurch and 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 Omarama.
Depart Omarama and see Lake Benmore, before following the Waitaki River to Oamaru, famous for its limestone. After a true Victorian welcome, enjoy an informative update on this unique Precinct where several amazing buildings and shops are on show. Continue south to Dunedin and enjoy a city sights tour followed by some free time. Tonight a Scottish evening will be presented comprised of bagpipes, great food, special Haggis Ceremony and gift.
This morning travel out along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle where you 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.
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
Today is a free day for you to explore Queenstown at leisure. Your Coach Captain is available to assist with the many sightseeing options available, whether it be the thrill of a jet boat ride, a heritage tour to Skippers Canyon or the helicopter ride of a lifetime. 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.
Travel to Arrowtown, an old gold mining village and visit the Lakes District Museum. Continue via the Haast Pass to the mighty West Coast, an area of stunning beauty. See the snow capped peaks of the Southern Alps as you travel to Fox Glacier. Time is available to experience a scenic flight (optional, weather permitting) over the spectacular glaciers.
Travel to Hokitika and visit the Greenstone Factory. Continue into Arthur's Pass and board The TranzAlpine, renowned as one of the great train journeys of the world. View rivers and valleys as you travel through the Waimakariri Basin, over massive viaducts and through the patchwork farmlands of the Canterbury Plains to the elegant city of Christchurch. On arrival your coach will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.
Travel along the East Coast to the seaside village of Kaikoura. Enjoy the spectacular scenery as you travel through Marlborough Country, famous for its food and wine. Continue to Picton, where you board the Interislander Ferry for your journey through the Marlborough Sounds and across Cook Strait to Wellington.
DAY 10: Wellington (B) This evening is also free and you may choose to dine at one of the many fine restaurants.
Today explore this exciting region and enjoy an extensive city tour which explains the history and culture on show in New Zealand's capital, Wellington. A highlight will be a guided tour of Te Papa, New Zealand's National Museum, with exhibits that embrace both Maori and European views of the land, environment and people. Enjoy some free time to explore at leisure this afternoon.
DAY 11: Wellington - Taupo - Rotorua (B,D)
Depart Wellington and view the snow capped peaks of Mt Ruapehu and Mt Tongariro as you travel to Lake Taupo. Visit the spectacular Huka Falls then travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua.
Hotel Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua (2 nights)
DAY 12: Rotorua (B,SD)
Today begins with a Gondola ride to Cableway 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. Next visit Paradise Valley Springs, a superb wildlife park where you can hand feed rainbow trout. Some free time is available before travelling to Te Puia to see the boiling mud pools and awesome Geysers for which Rotorua is famous. This evening experience an entertaining Maori Hangi and Concert.
DAY 13: Rotorua - Auckland - Bay of Islands (B,D)
Depart Rotorua and travel via Auckland to the Parry Kauri Park to see a magnificent example of a Kauri Tree. Continue to Paihia, situated in the heart of the beautiful Bay of Islands. Enjoy an introduction to the Bay of Islands, location of the signing of the treaty between the Maori tribes and the British. This evening enjoy a moving cultural experience at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds presented by Culture North.
Hotel Kingsgate Hotel Autolodge (2 nights)
DAY 14: Bay of Islands (B)
Today cruise through the beautiful Bay of Islands on board a luxury catamaran to Cape Brett and the famous Hole in the Rock. Keep an eye out for bottlenose and common dolphins before returning via Russell to Paihia for a free afternoon where a range of optional activities are available. This evening is also free and you may choose to dine at one of the many fine restaurants.
DAY 15: Bay of Islands - Auckland (B,SD)
Depart the Bay of Islands this morning and travel via Whangarei and Dargaville to Matakohe. Enjoy a visit and informative talk at the Kauri Museum before continuing to Auckland for a city sights tour. This evening you will be treated to a farewell dinner with your new found friends.
Hotel Copthorne Hotel Auckland City
DAY 16: Auckland - Homeport (B)
Time to say goodbye. You'll be transferred to the airport for your flight home after a memorable New Zealand holiday.
© arendezvous travel & leisure
2012