1
Welcome to Auckland
‘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
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Auckland at Leisure
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
3
Auckland – Rotorua
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. Expect country banter and farm-to-table fare prepared with a lot of love. The next hot spot – in every sense of the word – on your NZ holiday is Rotorua. Visit Te Puia to see and support Māori artisans at work, then continue your Rotorua tour at the steamy Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, a staggering valley where geysers pop and thermal springs jettison skywards.
Meals: Breakfast, Be My Guest Lunch
Accommodation: Rotorua - 2 Nights
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Rotorua
Today, choose your own adventure. We have plenty of ideas for the paths you might follow. Tonight, dive deep into Māori culture at Te Pā Tū Māori Experience, an important hub keeping tradition, art and music alive. Oh, and nurturing Māori cuisine. Enjoy a forest kai horotai (seasonal canapés) and chef choice aperitif, followed by a seasonal three-course dinner.
Meals: Breakfast & Highlight Dinner
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Rotorua - Wellington
Say goodbye to Rotorua and hello to the raging rapids of Huka Falls. Your outlook then unfolds into the dreamy landscape of Lake Taupō. Traverse the volcanic Central Plateau to NZ’s cool little capital of Wellington.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with wine
Accommodation: Wellington - 2 Nights
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Wellington
Take a city tour to discover highlights like its iconic Cable Car, parliament and Mt. Victoria. This afternoon is all yours. You could visit Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand, perhaps the wine region of Wairarapa or Zealandia’s ecosanctuary restoring 225 hectares of forest.
Meals: Breakfast
7
Wellington – Kaikoura
This morning cruise the Cook Strait to Kaikōura, a marine life haven. On arrival be treated to a biodiversity talk from Sabrina Leucht, founder of Kaikōura Wildlife Centre Trust, and learn about the work the trust is doing towards Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, at this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Tonight, dine at Hiku, which celebrates what Kaikōura is all about - kai moana and dramatic sea and mountain scapes.
Meals: Breakfast & Highlight dinner
Accommodation: Kaikoura - 1 Night
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Kaikoura – Christchurch
Enjoy a relaxed start this morning or sign up for one of several optional wildlife experiences available. Take a scenic flight for a bird’s-eye view, get up close to dolphins by boat or kayak, or sample tasty crayfish at waterside fish-and-chip shops. Follow the coast and Canterbury Plains to Christchurch, home to innovative architecture, art institutions and restaurants.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Christchurch - 1 night
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Christchurch – Twizel
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
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Twizel – Dunedin & Included Activity
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:
- Tour Stately Larnach Castle
- Historic Taieri Gorge Railway Journey
- Interactive Tour of Speight's Brewery
- Otago Peninsula Wildlife Cruise
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner with Wine
Accommodation Dunedin - 1 night
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Dunedin – Te Anau (gateway to Fiordland National Park)
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
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Cruise on the Majestic Milford Sound
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
13
Included Choice Experiences & Steamer Cruise to Farm
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:
- Central Otago Wine Tour
- Thrilling Shotover Jet-boat Ride
- A 4WD Minibus tour in Skippers Canyon
- 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
14
Franz Josef - Glacier Country
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
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Franz Josef – Punakaiki & Pancake Rocks
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
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Punakaiki to Christchurch
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
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Farewell from Christchurch
"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
Notes
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
What suzie says about this tour: If you're looking for a quintessential luxury coach tour of the whole of New Zealand, then look no further. From the working farm visits, Maori cultural experiences, geysers and glaciers, rainforests and majestic mountains this popular journey has it all. A mix of adventure and relaxation with opportunities to pick and choose your activities. A Professional Coach Director and premium accommodation give added comfort.
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