AAT Kings Spirit of New Zealand Itinerary

Guide explaining the geological features in New Zealand
1

Welcome to Christchurch

Community spirit is strong in Christchurch, as you’ll discover exploring its streets at your leisure. Meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers this evening for a Welcome Reception.

Flights to arrive prior to 4.00pm into Christchurch Airport

Accommodation: Christchurch - 1 Night

christchurch
This inviting and modern brand new hotel features contemporary rooms, restaurant & bar. The Hotel is very close to the famous Cathedral Square, the historic heart of the city providing easy access to local activities, outer lying attractions and the airport.
Ibis Hotel Christchurch.

2

Omarama & Tekapo Stargazing

More of Christchurch is revealed before the colours of the Canterbury Plains spread before you: the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo, snowcapped mountains and atmospheric towns. Your Indoor Dark Sky Astronomy Experience at Tekapo, hosted by passionate guides, will forever change the way you see the night sky. You'll see for yourself it may be one of the quietest spots on the planet, yet it has one of the busiest skies in the universe.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Omarama - 1 Night

Mount Cook National Park
Set amongst landscaped gardens with views of the surrounding mountains, the Heritage Gateway Hotel is a peaceful place to stay. Featuring 98 comfortably furnished guest rooms, restaurant & bar This hotel has a full restaurant and cocktail bar both offering panoramic views of the Southern Alps.
Set amongst landscaped gardens with views of the surrounding mountains, the Heritage Gateway Hotel

3

Dunedin via Oamaru

Easing through the Waitaki Valley, you’re en route toward New Zealand’s oldest public gardens. They lie in the pretty town of Oamaru, known for its stately tree-lined streets and limestone buildings. Architectural drama of a different kind awaits in Dunedin. While away the afternoon in atmospheric art-lined alleys or sipping a lager or two in Speight's Brewery (a national institution). Or venture further afield to discover Larnach Castle. Dunedin is widely known as the Edinburgh of the South. In truth, it could also be known as ‘Little Galapagos’: fur seals and penguins thrive in this part of the South Island.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Dunedin - 1 Night

Dunedin
Dunedin Leisure Lodge is nestled within two acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, located adjacent to the Dunedin Botanic Gardens and just a six-minute drive from the city centre. Take in the beautiful garden views while you relax in McGavins Bar for a relaxing pre or post dinner drink.
Leisure Lodge Auckland

4

Dunedin to Invercargill

Invercargill is obsessed with motor vehicles. Tributes to speed legends colour the city. So it's only fitting that you visit Classic Motorcycle Mecca for a self-guided tour followed by a guided tour and Highlight Dinner at Transport World, exploring classic vehicles as you are transported on a nostalgic walk back in time.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Highlight Dinner

Accommodation: Invercargill - 2 Nights

classic motorcycle mecca - worlds fastest indian
The Kelvin Hotel is situated in the city centre, only a short walk to major attractions and provides a comfortable and convenient stay for visitors to Invercargill. The hotel has an onsite restaurant and bar and a range of room types and suites.
Kelvin Hotel

5

Stewart Island Day Trip

Invercargill is the gateway to the southernmost community in the country. Welcome to Stewart Island, a wild and wonderful drop of land that is 85% national park. Naturally, it’s a magnet for endemic flora and fauna, as you’ll discover on your guided Village and Bays tour. Later you have the option to join a leisurely cruise, including a picnic lunch, around Paterson Inlet that will take you past unique places including Acker’s Cottage before docking at Ulva Island to admire the bird life and native flora.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Stewart Island

6

Farm Tour & Queenstown

Today on your New Zealand tour, get a taste of country life combined with good old fashioned southern hospitality as you meet a ‘Southern Girl’ local farmer at Real Country. Get a feel for life on the farm as you have demonstrations of Horse communication and Working sheep dog mustering. Try your hand at a Stock whip cracking lesson, and feed and interact with the friendly farm animals. Plus, for every guest, we donate funds to The Fairlight Foundation, Advancing Women in Agriculture. Continue to Queenstown and take the rest of the day at your own pace.

Included Meals: Breakfast, 

Accommodation: Queenstown - 2 Nights

Queenstown
The Copthorne Resort Lakefront in Queenstown sits on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and is within walking distance of Queenstown’s central shopping and entertainment area. Exploring panoramic views of the lake and nearby mountains, the Copthorne is the perfect venue to relax! The Copthorne Lakefront blends superior facilities and comfort with friendly service.
Copthorne Resort Queenstown

7

Queenstown at Leisure

You clearly need more than one day to appreciate Queenstown and its surrounds. And when we say surrounds, we mean Milford Sound. Today, sign up for an Optional Experience to dive deep into this yawning gorge within World Heritage-listed Fiordland National Park – it’s within easy reach of your base, and is best explored on an optional South Island tour that sees you jumping aboard boat to cruise the mirror-like waterway. Like things fast and furious? Feel the wind in your hair on the high-octane jet boat ride, perhaps, twisting and revving along Queenstown's Shotover River. There's a reason why Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of the country. Wine aficionado? Sip your way through surrounding vineyards. Tours of the South Island don't get much tastier than this. There's also the option of an afternoon cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue dinner (all own expense).

Included Meals: Breakfast

Queenstown

8

Franz Josef via Arrowtown

We know you’ll want to linger in Arrowtown’s movie-set-like streets, lined with trees and character-filled boutiques and restaurants. But the Alpine country of the Southern Lakes is calling, from Lake Dunstan – where you can pause to buy juicy stone fruit picked fresh from the tree – to oh-so-blue Lake Hawea and lovely Lake Wanaka, with its Instagrammable shoreline of poplars and willows. Over the Haast Pass, the pretty town of Franz Josef/Waiau at the edge of the Westland World Heritage Park, awaits. Get some perspective on an optional scenic flight over this natural wonder – if the weather behaves, you may even get to land on it. Trips to New Zealand don’t get any cooler than this.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Franz Josef - 1 Night

Franz Josef Glacier
Situated on the very edge of the Westland World Heritage Park, Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier is only moments away from spectacular Franz Josef Glacier. The hotel comprises two wings, the Douglas and Graham wing - offering a variety of room types. The hotel's Canavans Restaurant serves breakfast and dinner using fresh, local produce. Next door, the Moa Bar offers a cozy spot to relax next to an open fireplace after a day of exploration.
Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier

9

Franz Josef to Punakaki & Pancake Rocks

There aren’t many communities on the wild West Coast, Hokitika is one, and boy does it make the most of its setting. Wander the windswept coast before discovering the town’s other beauty: pounamu (native greenstone or jade). Prepare yourself for Punakaiki’s Pancake Rocks and blowholes; they owe their existence to the thundering surf that will lull you to sleep.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Punakaiki - 1 Night

Pancake Rocks
Surrounded by the Paparoa National Park and with stunning views of the Tasman Sea, Scenic Hotel Punakaiki is in a great location. The resort is situated only 300m from the famous Punakaiki Blowholes and has been designed in harmony with the local environment.  Evenings are spent relaxing in a standard resort room with views of the sea or an Eco Suite with rainforest and distant seaviews.
Scenic Hotel Punakaiki

10

Punakaiki to Nelson

Sit back and relax – that’s all you have to do today as you ease along the Heritage Highway toward Nelson. Press your nose against the glass as your coach weaves through Buller Gorge – a deep canyon home to New Zealand’s longest swingbridge – and Kahurangi National Park, a place of wild rivers, high plateaus, alpine herb fields and coastal forests.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Nelson - 2 Nights

Nelson

The Rutherford Hotel  is an icon of the region standing next to the Cathedral steps and an easy stroll into the city of Nelson.  Nelson is a haven for art enthusiasts, and has a reputation for excellent produce, craft beer and fine wines. The Rutherford Hotel features restaurants and bars and caters for all room categories from studios, interconnecting rooms and suites.

Rutherford Hotel Nelson

11

Nelson at Leisure

Sleep in or work up a sweat – today is completely at your leisure. We have a few ideas up our sleeve, of course. Travel to the Abel Tasman National Park for the ultimate cruise and walk combination (own expense). This pocket in the north of the island inspires calm, its golden beaches framed by sculpted granite cliffs that all unite to create one of the country’s most legendary coastal tracks. 

Included Meals: Breakfast

Abel Tasman

12

Interislander Ferry to Wellington

All aboard the Interislander for a cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound, up the Tory Channel and across Cook Strait, from the South Island to the North, navigating a maze of arms and inlets into New Zealand's cool little capital of Wellington.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Wellington - 1 Night

Interislander Ferry Crossing
Accommodation:

Located300m from the waterfront, the Travelodge is just a few minutes walk from the harbour and the centre of Wellington. Main attractions such as the famous Cable Car, Botanic Garden and Te Papa all are situated within walking distance.

Travelodge Wellington

13

Wellington to Napier

Travel to Napier. Beautifully preserved 1930s architecture is Napier's special point of difference. After a massive earthquake in 1931 destroyed the commercial centre of Napier, rebuilding began almost immediately in the architectural styles of the times - Striped Classical, Spanish Mission and Art Deco.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Napier - 2 Nights

 Wellington

Styled to complement its remarkable location on the edge of the beautiful Hawke's Bay, Scenic Hotel Te Pania boasts design awards for its style and offers an unmatched level of service to leisure travellers. Enjoy the central waterfront location and the extensive sea views that all rooms share. Te Pania is just a short stroll from Napier’s main art deco style street with many shops, cafes and restaurants.

Scenic Hotel Te Pania - Napier

14

Napier

Join us on a Deco Tour for an insight into how Napier City became the Art Deco capital of the world. This comprehensive tour takes you on an historic timeline, sharing stories and showcasing the transformation and how Napier City and its people were resilient after the infamous 1931 Hawke's Bay Earthquake, rebuilding the city they love into a fabulous and stylish 'time warp' Art Deco!

Included Meals: Breakfast

Napier

15

Rotorua & Māori Cultural Experience

The road ahead unfolds in a broad panorama of Lake Taupo, the largest (and perhaps bluest) of its kind in the country – it feeds thundering Huka Falls, which you’ll hear well before you see. It’s a landscape almost as otherworldly as Rotorua, where mud pops and jettisons from bubbling geysers, and steam rushes skywards from cracks in the Earth. This afternoon, explore Te Puia's geothermal valley, and learn about Maori history and culture. Take a guided tour of the Maori Arts & Crafts Institute, and later enjoy a Highlight Dinner of hangi inspired cuisine and a cultural performance in a finely carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. It ends on a high at the Pohutu Geyser, where, armed with a hot chocolate you'll view one of New Zealand's geothermal wonderlands.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Highlight Dinner

Accommodation: Rotorua - 2 Nights

Maori Cultural Evening Rotorua

Set in a magnificent location on the shores of Mystical Lake Rotorua the Sudima Hotel Lake Front Rotorua enjoys a location that is second-to-none. Enjoy a swim in the geothermal heated pools or relax in the spa complex. Adjacent to the renowned, Polynesian Spa and offering beautiful vistas across the lake, this well-appointed Qualmark 4-star hotel is just a short stroll from Rotorua's vibrant CBD.

Sudima Hotel Lake Front, Rotorua

16

Rotorua at Leisure

Today is Rotorua tour day of many decisions, but with plenty of tips available from your Travel Director. Want a bit of down time? We wouldn’t blame you for simply blissing out at in the steamy thermal springs at Wai Araki Hot Springs & Spa. Hobbit fans will want to take advantage of the opportunity to tour the sights featured in The Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit movies on the Hobbiton Movie Set tour. Or board a scenic flight for a bird's-eye-view (all own expense).

Included Meals: Breakfast

Rotorua Te Puia Pohutu Geyser

17

Rotorua - Auckland

Today your sights are firmly set on New Zealand's national game: rugby. The interactive All Blacks Experience explores an introduction to the game as a part of New Zealand culture.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Auckland - 1 Night

Auckland
Accommodation:
Located in Auckland’s CBD, Adina Apartment Hotel offer modern, spacious apartments are air conditioned and offer a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. With kitchen facilities, a spacious bathroom, and a wardrobe, these apartments offer all the comforts of home. They also feature an in-room safe and a work desk.
Adina

18

Bay of Islands & Waitangi Treaty Grounds

140 – that’s how many droplets of land ringed by turquoise sea comprise the Bay of Islands, your tour destination de jour. It’s undeniably beautiful, but it also holds a special historical significance: this is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840, between Captain William Hobson and Māori chiefs. Your guide, perhaps a descendent of one of the original signatories, will explain the significance of the site, while pointing out the world’s largest ceremonial war canoe and a carved meeting house.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Paihia - 2 Nights

Bay of Islands
This four star hotel offers uninterrupted bay views surrounded by subtropical gardens and the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds. It features a lagoon style swimming pool and rock pools of cascading water. Guest rooms have individual patios or balconies from which to enjoy the water or garden views. Rooms have been designed to blend into the natural environment whilst offering a serene escape.
Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands

19

Bay of Islands at Leisure

If there’s a travel destination that inspires wanderlust, the Bay of Islands is it. Today, trip the light fantastic and head off in whatever direction you please. Perhaps travel up to Cape Reinga, the very top of New Zealand, via idyllic Ninety Mile Beach. Or glide around on an historic tall ship, cruise to the Hole in the Rock or join a tour of Russell and learn more about the settling of the Bay of Islands (all own expense).

Included Meals: Breakfast

Cape Reinga

20

Bay of Islands to Auckland

For a little more northern exposure, make your way to Whangarei, the island’s most northerly outpost and a place where waterfalls meet beaches, galleries meet museums. Explore at your leisure before the commute back to Auckland for your Farewell Dinner.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner

Accommodation: Auckland - 1 Night

Whangarei marina
Accommodation:
Located in Auckland’s CBD, Adina Apartment Hotel offer modern, spacious apartments are air conditioned and offer a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. With kitchen facilities, a spacious bathroom, and a wardrobe, these apartments offer all the comforts of home. They also feature an in-room safe and a work desk.
Adina

21

Farewell From Auckland

Haere rā and Bon Voyage!

Over three weeks, we hope you’ve packed your address book with the names of new friends and your camera with photos. But at the end of the day, it’s the memories that will fuel your flight home.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Flights to depart anytime from Auckland Airport

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Safe Flight.

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What Elizabeth says about this tour: Travelling by luxury coach with great food and quality accommodation this small group tour lets you discover some out-of-the way places. The pace is relaxed and the tour director will expertly guide your 3 week journey. I recommend this tour for folk who want to relax and enjoy kiwi culture and hospitality and of course the stunning New Zealand scenery.
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