Itinerary
Days 1 & 2
Depart for Christchurch and cross the International Dateline.
Day 3 - Christchurch, New Zealand
Hare Mai! Arrive in Auckland and connect to Christchurch, New Zealand on picturesque South Island. Enjoy a guided tour of the "Garden City." Travel along the Cultural Precinct where city attractions such as art galleries and botanical gardens are located. See Cathedral Square and Christ Church Cathedral, and spectacular views of the Southern Alps in the distance. Return to your hotel where the rest of the evening is at your leisure.
Day 4 - Akaroa Day Excursion
Enjoy a full breakfast at your hotel this morning. Head to Akaroa to see this picturesque and restful town that offers a variety of walks, a museum and a botanical garden. Take a Harbour Cruise on the Canterbury Cat, with a chance to see one of the world's smallest and rarest dolphins, as well as the White Flippered Blue Penguin, the smallest penguin in the world. The cruise also gives you the chance to see seals, salmon farms, birds, caves, and volcanic cliffs. Return to Christchurch for dinner in the home of a "Cantabrian" family, as the locals are known.
From this point, you have the option to take a train tour in Coach, self drive, or hire a private driver.
The itinerary below is based on the train tour. Please call for details on the self drive and private driver itinerary.
Day 5 - Travel the coast to Dunedin
Journey via Ashburton and Geraldine townships across the farmlands of the Canterbury Plains to Mount Cook National Park. Enjoy views from the Hermitage Alpine Restaurant before journeying further south via Waitaki into historical Oamaru. Travel the old Mt Cargill route, following the harbour entrance to Dunedin. This "Edinburgh of the South" was the main banking centre for this very wealthy province. Today it retains may Scottish traditions and is noted for the Otago University with its distringuished medical, dental and theological facilities.
Day 6 - Dunedin/Royal Albatross Colony/Larnach Castle
This morning you are at leisure. We suggest you take in sites such as the famous Railway Station, Cadbury Chocolate Factory, Otago Settlers Museau, Olveston hourse or the Speight's Brewery Tour. This afternoon, settle back and enjoy the drive over the "high road" on your way to Otago Peninsula. Arrive at Larnach Castle where you'll be taken onto the grounds for a photo opportunity. On arrival at the Taiaroa headland, you will hear a talk and video on the life of the royal albatross, see the observatory, and take a guided tour into the tunnels of historic Fort Taiaroa.
Day 7 - Train tour to Queenstown
After a morning of leisure, join the train and coach combination tour from Denedin to Queenstown. Travel across viaducts spanning the Raieri River and through tunnels as you wind through the remote scenery of the Taieri Gorge. Continuing by coach, traverse the "real outback" looking for ostriches and deer. Orchards and vineyards thrive on the sunny northern facing slopes of Cromwell and Kawarau Gorges. This evening, enjoy time in Queenstown at St. Moritz Hotel.
Day 8 - Doubtful Sound/Te Anau/Overnight cruise
Start your day with a drive to Te Anau and Lake Manapouri. Later, when reaching Deep Cove, board the Fiordland Navigator to take in dramatic scenery of Doubtful Sound. You may wish to kayak or explore with a nature guide. Anchor for the night and enjoy a delicious evening meal in the dining saloon.
Day 9 - Return to Queenstown
The return journey today follows the same path as yesterday, which gets you back Queenstown by late afternoon. Enjoy your evening viewing the mountain ranges such as the Remarkables Range rising from Lake Wakatipu. The town features over one hundred restaurants to choose from before retiring at St. Moritz Hotel.
Day 10 - Queenstown free time
The entire day is free to explore the "adventure capital" of New Zealand. You might choose to hike the trails, ride mountain bikes, bungee jump off a bridge, go white water rafting, or take a jetboat up narrow river chasms. If you want more sedate activities, visit the Kiwi & Birdlife Park, travel up Bob's peak by Gondola, or take a lakeside stroll to Queenstown Gardens.
Day 11 - Conclude Queenstown
Your vacation comes to an end this afternoon, as you transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Travel Dates & Rates, Ask Agent
- Note: Land only rates are per person based on double occupancy for room only. Airfare is not included in the
land only price. Please inquire about our competitive rates at the time of booking. Pre/Post nights are available upon request.
Reservation deposit is $500 per person. Travel insurance is highly recommended.
Prices subject to change without notice until time of deposit. All dollar values not denoted as US or CA are in US Dollars. |
