Auckland to Queenstown 11 day highlights ________________________________________ Day 1 Personal, meet, greet and private transfer to your accommodation A private transfer will meet you from your flight and drive you to your Auckland accommodation. Your tour documentation pack and support On arrival into New Zealand your tour pack is hand delivered to you by our representatives. The pack contains all the documentation you will need for your tour including a printed and bound detailed version of your itinerary with driving instructions and maps for each leg, a wonderful New Zealand photo guide and atlas and the relevant voucher documents for your booked arrangements. Also inside your tour wallet you will find lots of useful guides and brochures to ensure you get the best out of your tour in New Zealand. While travelling throughout New Zealand we offer 24 hour support and help should you need it. Welcome to Auckland City Auckland City is New Zealands largest. Known as the city of sails it is situated on a narrow neck of land between two harbours, Manukau Harbour and the beautiful Waitemata Harbour which flanks the city centre. There is somewhere for every visitor to feel right at home as each suburb has its own unique style and atmosphere, from the vibrant and trendy fashion and cuisine found along Ponsonby Road to the breath-taking native bush and beaches of the West Coast. Spend the day exploring the city or relaxing before your adventure begins. SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Harbour Dinner Cruise Sailing Experience An on water dining experience is not to be missed in any harbour city especially in Auckland, the ‘City of Sails’ Enjoy great sailing and as the sun sets watch the night lights of this photogenic city come alive. Your experienced crew talk about Auckland’s unique features and there is plenty of opportunity to participate in the sailing or sit back and enjoy the sights. At our sheltered mooring you will be served delicious New Zealand fare, you can choose from the sumptuous 3 course menu catered for by Snapdragon Restaurant, a top Viaduct Restaurant. Your accommodation: Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour is located in the heart of Auckland on the unique and vibrant Viaduct Harbour and close to the new Wynyard Quarter. ________________________________________ Day 2 Collect your rental car This tour can be priced with any of the rental cars available in our fantastic range, from economy hatchbacks to prestige saloons and SUVs. GPS navigation system Use the latest GPS technology as you tour New Zealand. Your portable GPS features a simple touch screen interface, with automatic route calculation and turn-by-turn voice-prompted directions, which announces street names. The automotive-grade GPS unit is easy to use and has multiple language options. Auckland to Rotorua The drive south from Auckland on State Highway 1 quickly takes you past the Bombay Hills into rolling green farmland and the rich dairy pastures of the Waikato. Heading east you enter hobbit country as the route takes you through the town of Matamata where you can visit the Hobbit Village film location made famous in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies. Just south of Matamata is the township of Tirau, home to giant metal sheep and sheepdog sculptures. Tirau also offers a surprising number of antique and craft stores as well as great cafes for a refreshment break. Arriving into the city of Rotorua the region’s geothermal activity quickly becomes evident as you see steam rising from the roadside and surrounding hills. Considered the cultural centre for the Maori people, Rotorua is the ideal place to gain an insight into this unique culture. The Rotorua Museum located in the Government Gardens houses fascinating displays focused on the history of the local Maori tribes. Here you will learn of the devastating volcanic eruption of Mt. Tarawera in 1886, you can also visit the Buried Village to see first-hand the impact of this event. Ohinemutu Village on the shores of Lake Rotorua is the original site of the first Maori settlers in the area. Despite the modern buildings you can still gain a sense of what the original village was like while you explore the magnificent meeting house and historic carvings. One of the most popular introductions to the Maori Culture is through an evening at Mitai Maori Village where you can enjoy performances and demonstrations followed by a traditionally cooked hangi meal. Of course Rotorua is also a great place to enjoy many other activities including, fishing, 4WD trips, relaxing spa treatments, biking and a whole host of adventure activities. SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Discover the real Middle-earth on the most picturesque private farmland, where you can visit the Hobbiton Movie Set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films in a fascinating 2 hour guided tour. Your tour starts with a drive through the picturesque 1,250 acre sheep farm with spectacular views across to the Kaimai Ranges. Your guide will escort you through the twelve acre site recounting fascinating details of how the Hobbiton Movie set was created. The Hobbit holes, Green Dragon Inn, Mill and other structures created for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films can be viewed and you will see how this beautiful piece of Waikato farmland was transformed into The Shire from Middle-Earth. Your accommodation: Millennium Hotel Rotorua Rotoruas largest 4 star deluxe hotel is perfectly situated in the heart of the city overlooking Lake Rotorua. Five levels of accommodation offer guests a wide variety of scenic views. Meals included: Breakfast Driving distance and time (approximate) for this driving leg is: 223 kms / 138 miles : 3.0 hours ________________________________________ Day 3 Explore Rotorua Rotorua sits right in the centre of the worlds most volcanically active region and this is highly evident through the smell of sulphur. No visit to Rotorua would be complete without visiting one of the many geothermal parks. Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is around 30 minutes from Rotorua and here a network of paths will take you past bubbling pools, sulphur ponds, geysers and waterfalls. For a more relaxing thermal experience, you cant go past the Polynesian Spa, either soak in their mineral pools or experience a unique mud massage. White Island sits around 40 kilometres off the Bay of Plenty coast and is still one the most active volcanoes in the world. Volcanic Air Safaris offer scenic flights to the island and the opportunity to land and explore the original sulphur mines. They also offer scenic flights over Mt. Tarawera and float plane flights to Orakei Korako Hidden Valley. Rotorua is also the heartland of Maori culture in New Zealand and Mitai Maori Village lets you experience the stories, singing and traditional Maori kai (food) cooked in a hangi. For a deeper understanding of Maori arts and crafts, visit Te Puia the premier Maori Arts and Cultural centre. As well as the lake which is teeming with trout for the anglers amongst you, there are opportunities to get up close to our national animal the sheep at Agrodome and the kiwi at Rainbow Springs. For those looking to enjoy some of the adrenalin packed adventures New Zealand is renowned for youll be pleased to know Rotorua rivals Queenstown for adventure, so whether you are zorbing, rafting or flying through the forest canopy youll have a blast. Te Puia - Steambox Interactive Maori Experience and Lunch and Cultural Performance You will begin your Te Puia experience with a cultural performance in the beautifully carved marae (meeting place). Visitors are treated to harmonies, the seductive poi dance, the ferocious haka (war challenge), and the complex tititorea (stick games). Next you get to choose what you would like for your unique Steambox lunch. Steambox utilises the steam and hot water naturally available within the thermally active landscape. Since earliest settlement within Te Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley, the local Maori people have cooked their food this way and you will have your lunch cooked in a favourite Ngā Whā (Steam vent), which is located in the geothermal area near the famous Pohutu Geyser. After choosing your lunch, head off on a special guided tour of Te Puia. This begins with an interactive session where you learn to weave flax, then a tour of the prestigious carving and weaving schools. Next explore the geothermal valley, the Kiwi house, mud pools and hot springs. You will then see your lunch lifted from the steaming Ngā Whā, before you sit down for a delicious picnic lunch on the geyser terrace. The distinctive flavours imparted by this cooking method will surprise and delight you. SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Rainbow Springs and Behind the Scenes Kiwi Encounter Rainbow Springs offers the chance to see some of New Zealand’s native flora and fauna in magnificent surrounds. Take in the native bush, ferns, trees and plants that grow and flower all around you as you wander through the tree lined park. A spring fed pool is stocked with large rainbow, brown and tiger trout and many native birds also make the streams and ponds home. In the aviaries you will find kea, kaka, tui, keruru and kiwi plus many more. The Tuatara, New Zealand’s living dinosaur can also be seen here. You will also find the Kiwi Encounter, the only purpose-built kiwi conservation centre open to the public in the world! This is your opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes glimpse at kiwi conservation in action. Get a first hand insight into the efforts to stop the extinction of a species that is New Zealand’s national icon. The proceeds from your entrance ticket go directly towards this conservation work and enable the Kiwi Encounter to continue growing the numbers of kiwi eggs that are able to hatch and to be returned to the wild. SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Rotorua Forest Canopy Tours It’s high, it’s fun, it’s beautiful, it’s peaceful and you’ll remember it for the rest of your life!! Embark on a magical 3 hour adventure through untouched native New Zealand forest, mix thrills and wonders as you journey through an incredible network of trails, tree platforms, ziplines (flying fox) and swing bridges. The changing views are breath taking as you experience the buzz of flying high above the forested valleys, through tight openings in the forest sub canopy and amongst stands of giant long forgotten trees. In between the thrill of the ziplines and suspended treebridges, your guides will share their passion and knowledge for the local history, the forest and the conservation challenges to preserve it. The tour infrastructure has been built to ensure minimal environmental impact while delivering unprecedented safety and comfort for all guests. Your accommodation: Millennium Hotel Rotorua Rotoruas largest 4 star deluxe hotel is perfectly situated in the heart of the city overlooking Lake Rotorua. Five levels of accommodation offer guests a wide variety of scenic views. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch ________________________________________ Day 4 Rotorua to Wellington The drive from Rotorua to Wellington takes you via the township of Taupo and New Zealands largest lake, Lake Taupo. Just north of the town are the Huka Falls and a short detour to view is advised. An easy walking track from the car park will lead you to a viewing platform, but if you want to get even closer, the thrilling Huka Jet boat ride will do just that.Craters of the Moon is a nearby geothermal reserve with well-formed walking tracks around its many boiling pools and steaming vents. Heading into town the lake comes into view. Lake Taupo is a gigantic volcanic caldera (collapsed crater) formed during one of the world’s largest eruptions – estimated to have taken place 1800 year ago. Follow the lake shore south and you pass Turangi, a mecca for fly fishing. You then ascend onto the central plateau into the high country Rangipo Desert. Skirting Tongariro National Park, one of New Zealand’s three world heritage sites you may be lucky enough to see the peaks of the still volcanically active Mt. Ruapehu and Mt. Tongariro. The third visible peak is Mt Ngauruhoe and it may look familiar to you, as it was used to depict Mt. Doom in the Lord of the Rings movies. A little further along this vast landscape you’ll reach the military town of Waiouru, the Army Museum here holds an incredible collection of New Zealand military memorabilia and history on its servicemen. Descending from the mountain region you pass through rich farmland and the rural towns of Taihape, Mangaweka and Bulls before arriving on the Kapiti Coast. The coastal seaside towns of Paraparaumu, Paekakariki and Plimmerton are worth a short detour before arriving into the capital city of Wellington. Plan to take most of the day for this drive. Wellington City is New Zealands capital. It sits on a wonderful deep natural harbour and is surrounded by bush clad hills. The city centre itself is quite compact (approximately 2 square kilometres) so exploring on foot is relatively easy. From your city centre accommodation you can easily stroll the cafes and restaurants around Courtenay Place and if you arrive early enough New Zealands national museum, Te Papa, is also close by. Zealandia wildlife sanctuary night tour A night tour at Zealandia is a unique experience you will never forget. Zealandia was the world’s first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary – a conservation success and safe haven for some of New Zealand’s rarest native animals. Remarkable species of birds, reptiles, insects and more are living wild within a beautiful 225ha (one square mile) valley – just 10 minutes from central Wellington. Lonely Planet described Zealandia’s night tour as a life-changing experience in its Best in Travel Guide 2011. Your tour begins with a guided tour of the interactive exhibition, before you walk through the gates of Zealandias predator-exclusion fence to the sanctuary where you will hear evening birdsong that was absent on the mainland for more than a century. Your guide will then lead you on a torch-light walk through the valley in search of the distinctive sights and sounds of New Zealand bush. Possible sights include Kiwi foraging on the forest floor, tuatara hunting for food, glow-worms shining, tiny Maud Island frogs in their enclosure, pateke (brown teal) ducks feeding at night, kaka (parrots) coming in to roost. Zealandia is one of the best places to see kiwi in the wild in New Zealand. Over 100 of these nocturnal birds live freely in their natural environment inside the safety of the sanctuary valley – so your chances of finding one are good and your guide will help you. Your accommodation: Bolton Hotel Wellington The Bolton Hotel is a contemporary apartment hotel in the heart of Wellingtons CBD. This hotel has 142 guest rooms and suites are furnished in a contemporary style and feature Sky Digital television, movies on demand, high-speed Internet (including WiFi), a personal bar, and air-conditioning. Meals included: Breakfast Driving distance and time (approximate) for this driving leg is: 441 kms / 273 miles : 5.5 hours ________________________________________ Day 5 Interislander ferry Wellington to Picton The 92 km journey between Wellington and Picton takes around 3 hours and has been described as one of the most beautiful ferry rides in the world. Leaving Wellington Harbour you pass many interesting points such as Pencarrow Head on top of which is New Zealands oldest lighthouse (1859). Red Rocks is home to a seal colony and Oterangi Bay is the site which recorded the countrys highest ever wind speed of 268 kph (167 mph). From the Cook Strait spectacular views of the Kaikoura Ranges on the South Island can be enjoyed and dolphins and many sea birds are often seen. Around one hour of the cruise takes you through the Marlborough Sounds. This region of bush covered mountains, small islands, crystal clear waters and secluded bays is a remarkable photographic opportunity. At the end of Queen Charlotte Sound the cruise comes to an end in the picturesque town of Picton. Collect your rental car This tour can be priced with any of the rental cars available in our fantastic range, from economy hatchbacks to prestige saloons and SUVs. Picton to Blenheim Follow the valley south towards Blenheim and wine growing region of Marlborough. The town of Blenheim sits right at the heart of the New Zealands largest wine producing region, Marlborough, and is ideally located to enjoy an afternoon sampling the local produce. A great way to do this is to take a guided wine tour with Sounds Connection Wine Tours. SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Sounds Connection half day wine tasting tour Sounds Connection tour guides take a personal pride in making sure you have a fun, relaxed and informative day. All guides are wine lovers themselves and really enjoy sharing their knowledge. Departing at 1.30pm you will immerse yourself in the heart of the vineyards. You will be collected and taken on a tour through Marlborough wine country visiting 4 - 5 wineries for tastings. Tasting fees may apply at selected wineries. Your accommodation: Chateau Marlborough Blenheim Chateau Marlborough, Marlboroughs premier boutique hotel overlooking Seymour Square Gardens, prides itself on offering guests luxury accommodation with an enviable attention to detail - and all just a short walk from Blenheims town centre. Meals included: Breakfast Driving distance and time (approximate) for this driving leg is: 28 kms / 17 miles : 0.4 hours ________________________________________ Day 6 Blenheim to Kaikoura Crossing the dry hills of the Marlborough ranges you head towards one of the most spectacular coastlines of the South Island, the Kaikoura Coast. The road hugs the shore for around 50 kilometres and offers many chances to view the native wildlife such as seabirds and New Zealand fur seals. To the east is the turquoise of the South Pacific Ocean and to the west the towering Kaikoura Ranges. Kaikoura Township is a bustling little place with many cafes, restaurants and shops but the main reason for visiting here is the wildlife. Whale Watch Kaikoura is New Zealands only marine-based whale watching company offering visitors an exciting up-close encounter with the Giant Sperm Whale at all times of the year.Kaikoura is New Zealands world famous whale watching destination. Sperm Whales can be seen here year-round while depending on the season you may also see migrating Humpback Whales, Pilot Whales, Blue Whales and Southern Right Whales. Another great Kaikoura activity is Swimming with the Seals. Donning a wet suit you have the opportunity to interact with these inquisitive creatures on their terms. Wings over Whales also offer tours from fixed wing aircraft to view the whales and other marine creatures from 500 feet in the air. Whale Watch Kaikoura Kaikoura is New Zealands world famous whale watching destination. Sperm Whales can be seen here year-round while 7 other whale species visit regularly.A typical Whale Watch tour may encounter New Zealand Fur Seals, pods of Dusky Dolphins and the endangered Wandering Albatross. Depending on the season you may also see migrating Humpback Whales, Pilot Whales, Blue Whales and Southern Right Whales. Whale Watch is New Zealands only marine-based whale watching company offering visitors an exciting up-close encounter with the Giant Sperm Whale at all times of the year. Whale Watch scheduled tours operate daily and have a 95% success rate in viewing whales. Your accommodation: Manakau Lodge This brand new purpose built lodge is located in the foothills of the Kaikoura ranges a few minutes drive from the township. All rooms have verandahs with either mountain or ocean views. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner Driving distance and time (approximate) for this driving leg is: 110 kms / 68 miles : 1.4 hours ________________________________________ Day 7 Kaikoura to Christchurch The drive from Kaikoura to Christchurch continues to follow the spectacular coastline before heading inland and through North Canterbury’s major wine region, the Waipara Valley. You are also introduced you to the South Island’s most numerous inhabitant, the sheep. A great detour to take is the side trip to Hanmer Springs for a relaxing dip in the thermal pools. Arriving into Christchurch City puts you close to the airport and the International Antarctic Centre and a visit is highly recommended. Here you can get as close to experiencing life on the frozen continent without actually visiting plus see New Zealand little blue penguins and ride in a Haaglund Tracked vehicle. SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Discover Christchurch Double-Decker Bus Tour Join the tour on a classic 1960’s London Open Top Double Decker buses for a fun and informative Tour of Christchurch. Learn about Christchurch’s fascinating history from the pioneering days through to modern day times and learn how Christchurch is recovering from the devastating February 22 earthquake which has now become a major event in New Zealand’s history. On Tour you will view some of the areas affected by the earthquakes, see how Christchurch is preserving some of its iconic heritage buildings and hear about the exciting vision to rebuild and restore the inner city. Your experience includes a 1 hour Tour around central Christchurch on New Zealand’s only Open Top Double Decker and a 2 hour Tour on a closed top Double Decker visiting places of interest in greater Christchurch. Youll also have the opportunity to hop off the bus at Mona Vale Gardens, Sumner Seaside Village and the Port Hills where youll have time for photos and to take in the views. Your accommodation: The George Hotel, Christchurch The George is the essence of supreme comfort. The award winning 5 star hotel is opposite Hagley Park and just a few minutes stroll from the Botanic Gardens. 2 superb award winning on site restaurants also feature. Meals included: Breakfast Driving distance and time (approximate) for this driving leg is: 170 kms / 105 miles : 2.2 hours ________________________________________ Day 8 Christchurch to Mt. Cook National Park Today you head into the heart of the South Island. Crossing the vast Canterbury Plains along the inland scenic route, Geraldine offers an ideal stop before you head into the Mackenzie Country. Ascending Burkes Pass, youll enter New Zealands high country. The picturesque town of Lake Tekapo, is the first of the large Southern Lakes on your journey. Enjoy the magnificent views from the lake shore or for an even better view take a scenic flight. On arriving at Lake Pukaki, youll be rewarded with spectacular views of Mt Cook, towering over the lake. Continue along the lake as it guides you to your destination, Mt. Cook Village. There are many ways to enjoy Mt Cook National Park, by ski plane or helicopter with a glacier landing, kayaking on a glacial lake or by walking one of the many tracks. At The Hermitage Hotel the Sir Edmund Hillary Centre is a must see. Glacier Explorers Mt. Cook An up close amazing encounter with icebergs, on a glacial terminal lake. Very few glaciers terminate into lakes and even fewer of these are accessible to the average person. The boats provide a safe way to unseen and inaccessible areas of New Zealands largest glacier. Being able to view, touch and taste 500 year old ice is a new experience for most people. Your accommodation: Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki Wing Premium The Hermitage Hotel ringed by magnificent snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps, is a world-renowned tourist destination and has been an icon of superior accommodation and dining since 1884. Meals included: Breakfast Driving distance and time (approximate) for this driving leg is: 329 kms / 204 miles : 4.9 hours ________________________________________ Day 9 Mt. Cook National Park to Queenstown Twizel, just south of Mt. Cook was the location of many Lord of the Rings movie scenes and a little further on isOmarama, the gliding capital of New Zealand. Wrinkly Rams is a local café and also offers an informative sheep shearing demonstration. The Lindis Pass is one of New Zealand’s highest roads with the summit reaching 971 metres. The tussock covered hills offer an unusual contrast as you pass from the Mackenzie Basin and into Central Otago. The first Central Otago settlement you reach is the quaint village of Tarras, which has a number of boutique stores and a lovely café. A short drive further along is the historic and scenic Bendigo Reserve, which was one of Otago’s original gold mining settlements. Well marked paths will guide you to the remains of stone cottages and other buildings from this bygone era. Cromwell sits at the head of the Kawarau Gorge and the historic old town is well worth the visit, the buildings are now home to quaint shops and cafes. The old town buildings were relocated from the valley that now sits deep under Lake Dunstan. Continue on through the sheer cliffs of the Kawarau Gorge as they guide you towards theGibbston Valley, one of New Zealands premier wine growing regions. At the famous historic Kawarau Bridge you can take a bungy jump or sit back and enjoy the drama as visitors hurtle off the bridge. Approaching Queenstown the impressive Remarkables mountain range comes into view and then beautiful Lake Wakatipu as you head towardsQueenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand. Explore Queenstown and surrounds Queenstown offers adventure for all tastes and abilities. From some of the more well know adrenalin sports such asbungy jumping and skydiving to the more sedate such as sampling the local wines or exploring the nearby historic gold mining regions, there is something for everyone. With the town’s prime location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu there are many water based activities to enjoy. The TSS Earnslaw is a vintage steamship that still plies the placid lake waters taking visitors to Walter Peak Station daily to enjoy a high country sheep farm experience, lunch or a farmhouse dinner. The Kawarau and Shotover Rivers offer speed and white water thrills, try the popular Shotover Jet Boat Ride or Kawarau white water rafting. The Gibbston Valley is a short drive from Queenstown and home to vineyards producing some of the finest wines in New Zealand, particularly the Pinot Noir. Award winning Appellation Wine Tours offer intimate and knowledgeable tours to Gibbston and Bannockburn vineyards. For adventures further afield Nomad Safarisoffer 4WD excursions in and around Queenstown to otherwise difficult locations such as Skippers Canyon and Mace Town. Informative guides share local stories of the region, including the filming locations for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies. For more majestic Middle Earth scenery, the Dart River Wilderness Safari is by far the most scenic jet boat excursion in the country. A short walk amongst native beech forest plus a 4WD bus journey is capped off with over 1 1/2 hours and around 35 kilometres of exhilarating jet boat action as you head deep into Mt. Aspiring National Park. SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Appellation Central Boutique Wine Tour Taste wines at four of the best vineyards in the Gibbston, Bannockburn and Cromwell regions. Vineyards are selected from the following: Peregrine, Chard Farm, Carrick, Mt Difficulty, Felton Road, Akarua and Olssens vineyards. Includes a delightful gourmet platter lunch at the award winning Carrick Winery Restaurant. Scenery includes the Kawarau Gorge, Otago Goldfields, Historic Old Cromwell Town and Lake Dunstan. Your accommodation: The Rees Hotel The Rees Hotel is located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, just a short drive from the town centre, or take a complimentary shuttle. The rooms are spacious and beautifully laid out with a lounge area that opens onto a large tiled balcony. The onsite award winning restaurant, True South, holds an impressive wine cellar and is a fabulous fine dining experience. Meals included: Breakfast Driving distance and time (approximate) for this driving leg is: 256 kms / 159 miles : 3.3 hours ________________________________________ Day 10 Milford Fly-Cruise-Fly & Dart River Safari Queenstown to Milford Sound - spectacular from the air and the cruise on the Sound itself - breathtaking! Top that with an exploration of the pristine Dart River Valley on an exhilarating jet boat ride. Fly from Queenstown to magnificent Milford enjoying spectacular views of the mountains, lakes and fiords of the Fiordland National Park. Join a launch cruise which will travel the full length of Milford Sound. Return by scenic flight landing at Glenorchy to join Dart River Safaris to journey into the untouched wilderness of a World Heritage Area before a scenic coach trip back to Queenstown. (Note: may also be travelled in reverse with Dart River Safaris first then Milford Fly Cruise Fly). Includes picnic lunch. Your accommodation: The Rees Hotel The Rees Hotel is located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, just a short drive from the town centre, or take a complimentary shuttle. The rooms are spacious and beautifully laid out with a lounge area that opens onto a large tiled balcony. The onsite award winning restaurant, True South, holds an impressive wine cellar and is a fabulous fine dining experience. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch ________________________________________ Day 11 Depart Queenstown today Explore more of Queenstown before dropping your rental car at the airport depot and continuing your onward journey. Driving distance and time (approximate) for this driving leg is: 1 kms / 1 miles : 0.0 hour Auckland to Queenstown 11 day highlights This 11 day tour starts in Auckland and finishes in Queenstown. ________________________________________ Starting in Auckland, you travel south to Rotorua where you’ll enjoy a unique Maori Cultural Experience at Te Puia. Its then onto Wellington where you catch a ferry across the Cook Straight to the South Island. After a night in the wine growing region of Marlborough you continue south to Kaikoura for a whale watching cruise, then onto Christchurch. From Christchurch you cross the Canterbury Plains towards the Southern Alps and Mt. Cook where you get close to icebergs on the Tasman Glacier Lake. The alpine resort of Queenstown is your final destination where you’ll spend two nights, allowing enough time for the ultimate adventure a scenic flight to Milford where you cruise the fiord before returning to Mt Aspiring National Park for the Dart River Safari. ________________________________________ Accommodation type on this tour is: Hotel 4 star. Rental car insurance included: Fully inclusive with variable excess/deductible. Rental car inclusions: GPS navigation. unlimited kms,airport/ferry terminal fees, additional drivers. Tour pack: Includes detailed driving instructions, maps, guide books and much more. ________________________________________ This tour also features: Includes: Whale Watch Kaikoura tour Includes: Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly and Dart River combo Includes: Zealandia Wildife Sanctuary Night Tour Includes: Te Puia Steambox Interactive Lunch & Cultural Performance Includes: Interislander ferry crossing Includes: Private airport transfers Includes: All breakfasts ________________________________________ Itinerary summary for: Auckland to Queenstown 11 day highlights Day 1: Welcome to Auckland Accommodation: Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour Day 2: Drive south through the fertile farmland of the Waikato and maybe stop at Hobbiton Village on your way to Rotorua Accommodation: Millennium Hotel Rotorua Day 3: Explore Rotorua and discover the unique Maori culture at Te Puia Accommodation: Millennium Hotel Rotorua Day 4: Today is filled with fantastic scenery including Lake Taupo, the Desert Road and the Kapiti Coastline as you approach Wellington Accommodation: Bolton Hotel Wellington Day 5: Today youll cross the Cook Strait on the Interislander Ferry. Approaching Picton youll cruise through the spectacular Marlborough Sounds Accommodation: Chateau Marlborough Blenheim Day 6: Pass over the dry hills of Marlborough before reaching the Pacific Ocean which leads you to Kaikoura Accommodation: Manakau Lodge Day 7: Its a short drive south to Christchurch, if time allows maybe visit the Waipara Valley vineyards en route Accommodation: The George Hotel, Christchurch Day 8: Today youll enjoy a scenic drive through Canterbury and the MacKenzie Country to Mt. Cook National Park Accommodation: Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki Wing Premium Day 9: Follow the dry lands to Lindis Pass which leads into Central Otago, then through the Kawerau Gorge to Queenstown Accommodation: The Rees Hotel Day 10: The ultimate experience, fly to Milford Sound for a spectacular cruise, then to Glenorchy for the Dart River Safari Accommodation: The Rees Hotel Day 11: Depart Queenstown today
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 00:43:10 +0000