AAT Kings - New Zealand Uncovered Itinerary

‘Haere Mai’ … Welcome to New Zealand

Relax you are now officially on holiday and everything has been taken care of! We will meet you at the airport and drive you directly to your hotel to freshen up and unwind. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Reception and dinner with your Travel Director. 

Meals: Dinner with wine

Accommodation:  Auckland - 2 Nights

A little bit of leisure, a little bit of culture – today is one of those days. Sleep in before a peek behind the scenes of racing history on the New Zealand Maritime Museum’s America’s Cup Tour, highlighting Auckland’s heritage of boat-building, and offering a glimpse of one of the world’s only replicas of the America’s Cup. Your Auckland tour guide then takes you around the city, pausing at Bastion Point and the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial for epic photo opportunities over the city’s dual harbour. By now you should have a few ideas for how to spend your afternoon exploring, but if not, ask us for recommendations. We have a little black book full of contacts. 

Some Activities and sightseeing options if you have time:

Meals: Breakfast

You’re invited to a Be My Guest lunch at the Red Barn on the Waikato farm of Lance and Bridgette O’Sullivan, New Zealand horse racing royalty.

Later, travel to Tauranga, in the Bay of Plenty. 

The Bay of Plenty aptly named by Captain James Cook for its abundance in food, lush soils, sheltered harbours and beauty. 'The Mount' rises abruptly at the entrance to Tauranga Harbour. It is an extinct volcanic cone that towers over the idyllic Ocean Beach, a summer mecca for thousands of sun, sea, surf and sand worshippers. Mt Maunganui is synonymous with New Zealand's love of long summer days and balmy evenings on beaches and barbecue areas. 

Meals: Breakfast, Be My Guest Lunch & Dinner with wine

Accommodation: Tauranga - 1 Night

Travel through Te Puke to visit Kiwifruit Country, then after reaching Rotorua, we visit Te Puia, the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, where students carry on age-old traditions of wood carving and weaving. A tour of Rotorua’s active geothermal fields follows.

After enjoying great views of Lake Rotorua settle down to enjoy a traditional Maori 'Hangi' Feast and Concert at the Tamaki Family Marae.

Meals: Breakfast & Highlight Dinner

Accommodation: Rotorua - 2 Nights

Embark on one of your Included Choice sightseeing experiences. Glide through the Waitomo Glowworm Grotto, take an ancient forest zipline adventure with Canopy Tours, visit the Hobbiton Movie Set, or explore Rotorua and its lakes in an Amphibious WWll-era Duck.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Say haere ra (goodbye) to Rotorua and hello to an immense amount of water. First stop is the raging rapids of Huka Falls, where 220,000 litres of water barrel over an 11-metre-high waterfall every second. You’ll hear them (and perhaps feel the mist on your face) before you see them. Your outlook then unfolds into the dreamy landscape of Lake Taupo, the largest of its kind in the country and with a twinkling, blue-eyed-boy charm. Your Lake Taupo tour sees you traverse the volcanic Central Plateau to NZ’s cool little capital of Wellington, set on a pretty harbour that beckons with too many good restaurants to choose from. Ask us for recommendations, or explore at your leisure. Because every NZ holiday needs a little down-time.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Wellington - 1 Night

Savor a morning to yourself - take a look around Wellington or just relax. A visit to the National Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa, offers wonderful insights into the nation’s colourful history and there are some truly world-class collections on display. Waving goodbye to the North Island, we board the ferry for the crossing of Cook Straight. Tranquility and beauty define the cruise into Queen Charlotte Sound and the gorgeous seaside town of Picton, where we first set foot on South Island soil. We stop in Blenheim for a tour of the city before arriving at our destination - the premier wine region of Marlborough. 

Dinner: This evening we savor a tasting of some remarkable local wines and enjoy a  3 course dinner, Sauvignon Blanc is the specialty.

 Meals: Breakfast & Highlight dinner

Accommodation: Blenheim - 1 Night

Today we venture inland through the Wairau Valley, home to some of the Marlborough region’s most well-known wineries & world-famous Sauvignon Blancs. Travel to Kaikoura, where sperm whales can often be seen not far from shore before travelling over the Lewis Pass and Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Christchurch - 1 night

After joining our Sustainable Tourism Commitment by planting a native tree in the Port Hills of Christchurch, an area recovering from wildfire, we travel over the patchwork countryside of the Canterbury Plains to soak up some spectacular sightseeing. Get a taste of famous kiwi hospitality during our special barbecue lunch at Morelea Farm. Our hosts, Angie and Stan, welcome us into their home and share their wonderful 240-hectare garden, overflowing with colour, charm and native bird song. Later on, we visit Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo where a magical scene of turquoise blue water contrasts with a stunning backdrop of mountains cloaked in a veil of golden tussock grass. Adding to the superb photo opportunities,

Later, view the little stone-hewn Church of the Good Shepherd on your way to Twizel.

Meals: Breakfast, Be My Guest afternoon tea & Dinner with wine

Accommodation: Tekapo - 1 Night

This morning, we stop to marvel at the Benmore Dam while en route to Oamaru, where the town centre is graced by some of New Zealand's best 19th century architecture. Our journey continues to our final destination of the day Dunedin. 

Today indulge your adventurous side, selecting one of the 'Included Choice Sightseeing Experiences' on offer to you in Dunedin.

Choice from one of these included experiences:

1. Tour Stately Larnach Castle 
2. Historic Taieri Gorge Railway Journey
3. Interactive Tour of Speight's Brewery
4. Otago Peninsula Wildlife Cruise

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner with Wine

Accommodation Dunedin - 1 night

We head overland through lush farming country and rolling hills to the splendid lakeside town of Te Anau- the gateway to Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound. Remember to charge your camera batteries tonight.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner with Wine

Accommodation: Te Anau - 1 night
 

Welcome to one of the most scenic locations in the world. A majestic World Heritage Site, Milford Sound has been described as the '8th natural wonder of the world' and the journey along the amazing Milford Road is just as awe-inspiring as the destination. You'll enjoy plenty of photo opportunities along this spectacular highway that cuts through an unimaginable cathedral of imposing mountain peaks, mirror lakes and bottomless valleys decorated in rainforests, waterfalls and glaciers. 

At Milford Sound we embark on a cruise you will never forget. An otherworldly landscape plunges into the Tasman Sea and unique wildlife abounds in the deep waters of the fiord. Our destination for tonight is the fairytale town of Queenstown, set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. On arrival we finish our day full of highlights with an orientation tour.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Queenstown - 2 nights

Today indulge your adventurous side, selecting one of the Included Choice sightseeing experiences on offer to you in Queenstown.

Choice from one of these included experiences:

1. Central Otago Wine Tour 
2. Thrilling Shotover Jet-boat Ride
3. A 4WD Minibus tour in Skippers Canyon
4. Skyline Gondola with thrilling Luge Ride

This evening cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue ‘highlight dinner’ at the Colonel’s Homestead. An entertaining farm show provides a glimpse into high-country farm life.

Meals: Breakfast and Highlight Dinner

The adventure continues, and this morning Central Otago's rich pioneer gold rush history comes alive in the picturesque village of Arrowtown. Set beside a beautiful clear flowing river, this charming town has some great historical sites, boutique shops, and delightful cafés. Following the road to Cromwell, the fabulous scenery keeps on coming and during the stone fruit season, you can pick up bags of delicious cherries, apricots, and nectarines at any of the roadside stalls. For a slice of paradise, we drive past a trio of fantastic lakes including Lake Dunstan, Hawea and Wanaka before traversing the Haast Pass where the Thunder Creek Falls makes for some more great photos. A short stroll amongst emerald rainforest refreshes us prior to our arrival at Franz Josef - the world's most accessible glacier.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner with Wine

Accommodation: Franz Josef - 1 night

Today we lay eyes on Franz Josef Glacier, a tremendous frozen cascade of ice that tumbles down from the soaring Southern Alps towards the ocean. Then it’s time for an exhilarating adventure among temperate rainforest giants on the West Coast Treetop Walkway, followed by a visit to Hokitika, where a trip to The Jade Factory showcases the beautiful greenstone carvings for which the town is renowned. Further on, the famous limestone stacks of the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks are highlighted by thundering, geyser-like blowholes and unique rock formations etched out over thousands of years.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner with Wine

Accommodation Punakaiki - 1 night

Beer for breakfast? We’ve got you sorted on a morning tour of legendary Monteith’s Brewery. You only live once, right? The best is yet to come – all aboard for the scenic TranzAlpine train back to Christchurch. Travel through tunnels and over viaducts, with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, icy rivers, beech forests, gorges and river valleys. Your NZ tour arrives in Christchurch just in time for your Farewell Dinner. 

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, farewell dinner

Accommodation Christchurch - 1 night

"Haere rā" Goodbye! and Bon Voyage!

Today we say farewell to newfound friends. We take care of your transfer to Christchurch Airport where you will board your onward flight, taking with you the magical memories of a truly exceptional New Zealand holiday.

Some Suggested Activities If You Have Time

Meals: Breakfast

Trip Inclusions

Sightseeing Highlights

• Auckland Sky Tower
• Te Puia - Thermal Mud Pools & Geysers
• Immerse yourself in rich Maori culture with the Tamaki family over dinner
• Take your pick of a selection of included experiences in Rotorua, Dunedin, Queenstown & Bay of Islands
• Journey through the magnificent scenery of Mt. Ruapehu Tongariro National Park
• 'You're invited' to Morelea for a unique private afternoon tea experience
• Explore Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand
• Savour a delicious Kiwi BBQ at Morelea Farm
• Cruise on the TSS Earnslaw, to Walter Peak Station
• Travel past ancient glaciers, spectacular mountains and magical rainforest en route to Milford Sound
• Taste Central Otago stone fruits at a local orchard
• Discover fascinating Franz Josef Glacier
• Walk around Punakaiki Pancake Rocks
• Journey over the Southern Alps on the TranzAlpine Train

Included Meals

• • 7 Dinners with Wine • 16 Full Breakfasts • 1 Be My Guest Lunch • 3 Highlight Dinners • 1 Be My Guest Afternoon Tea • 1 Lunch • 1 Farewell Dinner

Plus

• Welcome Reception
• Travel Wallet, Luggage Tags & Map of New Zealand
• Hotel Porterage Included
• Arrival & Departure transfers