15 days/14 Nights. Scheduled departures guaranteed for a minimum of 2 people commence Auckland Sundays
2012: March 25, April 29, May 13, June 24.
Maximum 16 passengers on any tour

Please note: This tour can depart any day for a minimum of 4 passengers at the same price subject to availability of vehicle and driver - any day for a minimum of 2 on your own exclusive tour for an additional $1,000 per person - 3 persons additional $750 per person.
Usually we will use one vehicle and driver throughout the North and South Islands.

AUCKLAND - KAURI MUSEUM AND FOREST - HOKIANGA HARBOUR - BAY OF ISLANDS CRUISE - KERI KERI - CAPE REINGA - RUSSELL - WHANGAREI - AUCKLAND - WAITOMO CAVES - ROTORUA - TAUPO - WELLINGTON - PICTON - KAIKOURA - CHRISTCHURCH - LAKE TEKAPO - MT COOK - ARROWTOWN - QUEENSTOWN - LAKE TE ANAU - MILFORD SOUND CRUISE - (DOUBTFUL SOUND OPTION) - LAKE WANAKA - LAKE MATHESON - FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER - PUNAKAIKI PANCAKE ROCKS - ("TRANZ ALPINE TRAIN" option) - CHRISTCHURCH

PART TOUR OPTIONS:

BEST OF THE NORTH ISLAND 9 days - Guaranteed departures commence Auckland Sundays as above. End in Wellington following sunday Days 1-8.
Tour cost per person:
2 per room $2,680. Single room $3,660

BEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND 8 days - Guaranteed departures commence Christchurch city one week after Auckland. Days 8-15
Tour cost per person:
2 per room $2,600. Single room $3,200.

BEAUTIFUL NEW ZEALAND 12 days - Guaranteed departures commence Auckland wednesdays in 2011 December 7 plus February 8 and March 7 2012. Excludes Bay of Islands and Cape Reinga
* Special Follow the Wallabies tour. Travels as per itinerary to Queenstown then to Milford Sound wednesday, Franz Josef Glacier thursday, Nelson friday for 3 nights and ending in Wellington Monday 3rd October. Additional cost $500 per person. Accommodation in Wellington and Nelson may be in home stays.

This tour links to and from our best of Australia, Australia mini tour, and Best of the South Pacific tours.

Day 1. Sunday. AUCKLAND ARRIVE
Arrive Auckland and you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Arrivals before 4pm receive a complimentary 1 hours tour of the city en route to your hotel including the summit of Mt Eden for a panoramic view over the city, Domain and Rose gardens, Tamaki Waterfront Drive, Mission Bay, City and University areas, and Albert Park. Accommodation at
Standard: President Hotel
First Class: Mercure Auckland or similar

WHY NOT ARRIVE AUCKLAND EARLIER AND ENJOY MORE TIME IN NEW ZEALAND'S LARGEST AND MOST VIBRANT CITY. You will still receive your city tour on arrival (for arrivals before 4pm) and have a free day to enjoy the city, take a harbour cruise, or explore the spectacular west coast rainforest and beaches.Extra cost per person per night:
2 per room $110. Single room $190

Day 2. Monday. AUCKLAND - KAURI FORESTS - HOKIANGA - BAY OF ISLANDS (B)
Depart Auckland 8am and drive north over the Harbour Bridge, through the Hibiscus Coast, and on to the Otamatea Kauri and Early Settlers Museum - the best little museum in New Zealand!. See the amazing displays of kauri gum before continuing through Dargaville to the Waipoua forest. Visit "Tane Mahuta" giant kauri tree - some 2,000 years old and enjoy the views of the Hokianga Harbour and sand dunes before arriving in the Bay of Islands. Visit the Waitangi Treaty House where the Treaty of Friendship between Maori and the British Government was signed in 1840 and see the great war canoe. Accommodation in Paihia at
Standard: Bay of Islands Hotel
First Class: Scenic Circle Bay of Islands Hotel, or similar.

Day 3. Tuesday. CAPE REINGA EXCURSION (BL)
Travel by special coach to the Puketi Kauri Forest, then on to Ninety Mile Beach for a drive on the sands and see the amazing Te Paki sand dunes and quicksand. Visit Cape Reinga lighthouse and see the meeting of the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean. Return to Paihia early evening. A picnic lunch is included today.

Day 4. Wednesday. BAY OF ISLANDS - AUCKLAND (B)
Enjoy a cruise around the beautiful Bay of Islands this morning to Cape Brett and pass through the 'hole in the rock' - weather permitting. Cruise past the islands and into secluded bays and enjoy a stopover on Urupukapuka Island - once home to author Zane Grey. Usually dolphins are to be seen during this cruise. Disembark in historic Russell for a tour of the town including a visit to Flagstaff Hill and the oldest church in New Zealand. Return to Auckland late afternoon with a visit to the Whangarei town basin enroute. optional admission to Claphams amazing clock display - extra expense. Accommodation at President or Mercure or similar again.

Day 5. Thursday. AUCKLAND - WAITOMO CAVES - ROTORUA (BD)
Drive over the Bombay Hills and through Ngaruawahia, home of the Maori King. Continue through fertile Waikato Dairy farmland to the Waitomo Caves. Enjoy a tour of the main limestone cave and cruise through the glowworm grotto before continuing to Rotorua. Enjoy the Agrodome sheep show and tour the farm to meet the animals and visit the Kiwifruit orchard. Visit the lakefront and gardens before arriving at your hotel. This evening enjoy an introduction to Maori Culture and a hangi steam cooked dinner. Accommodation at
Standard: Geyserland or Ibis
First Class: Novotel Lakeside

Day 6. Friday. ROTORUA - TAUPO - WELLINGTON (B)
Visit Te Puia cultural centre and Whakarewarewa thermal area to see the boiling mud pools and steaming geysers. Continue through part of the vast Kaiangaroa pine forest to the Wairakei geothermal valley and Huka Waterfall then on into Taupo town. Continue south around the shores of Lake Taupo New Zealand's largest lake, and into the Tongariro National Park with magnificent views of the central North Island volcanoes in fine weather. including Mt Ngaruhoe (Mt Doom in Lord of the Rings). Continue to Wellington, the capital city, arriving late afternoon. Accommodation at
Standard: West Plaza Hotel
First Class: Hotel Grand Chancellor

Day 7. Saturday. WELLINGTON (B)
Our sightseeing this morning includes the summit of Mt Victoria for a panoramic view over the city, part of the spectacular Marine Drive, Weta Cave - home of the special effects for films such as the "Lord of the Rings", "Last Samurai", "King Kong" etc, Oriental Bay, a ride on the Cable Car to the botanical gardens, Parliament House and Te Papa, Museum of New Zealand. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore at your leisure.

KAIKOURA WHALE WATCH OPTION: Extra Cost $100 per person
Cruise across Cook Strait this afternoon and take a shuttle bus to the charming seaside resort of Kaikoura. Accommodation at White Morph Motor Inn this evening and optional Whale Watch cruise or flight or swim with the dolphins sunday morning before joining the train sunday afternoon to Christchurch.
Please Note: All cruises and flights are extra expense and subject to weather.

Day 8. Sunday. WELLINGTON - PICTON - CHRISTCHURCH (BD)
Transfer to the Interislander terminal for the 3 hour 10 minute cruise across Cook Strait and through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton. Travel by train or coach down the scenic Kaikoura Coast to Christchurch arriving early evening. Accommodation at
Standard: Scenic Circle Heartland Hotel or similar.
First Class: The George

Day 9. Monday. CHRISTCHURCH - MT COOK (B)
Your morning tour of Christchurch includes the Port Hills for a panoramic view over the city, Sumner Beach, Botanical gardens, Museum (when re-opened), and the city areas that are open. You will also gain an insight into the extent of the damage caused by the February 22, 2011 earthquake. Late morning we depart and drive across the Canterbury Plains and over Burkes Pass to Lake Tekapo. Visit the Sheep Dog monument and Church of the Good Shepherd and continue along the shores of beautiful Lake Pukaki to the Mount Cook National Park. You have time this afternoon or tomorrow morning for a flight over the Mt Cook National Park by ski plane or helicopter with a landing on the snows of the glacier. From October to May you will also have the opportunity to take a cruise among the icebergs in the lake at the base of the Tasman Glacier. Accommodation and dinner at the magnificent Hermitage Hotel
Standard: Superior Room
First Class
Premium Room

Day 10. Tuesday. MT COOK - ARROWTOWN - QUEENSTOWN (B)
Free time before continuing south through the McKenzie Country and over the Lindis Pass to the fruit growing region of Cromwell and on to the historic gold mining settlement of Arrowtown. Explore the town and ruins of the Chinese village before continuing to the Coronet Peak lookout for a panoramic view over the Remarkable Mountains and Lake Wakatipu and continue to Queenstown. Accommodation at
Standard: Scenic Circle Heartland Hotel (ex A Line).
First Class: Novotel Lakeside or similar

Day 11. Wednesday. QUEENSTOWN (B)
The day is free with a huge number of optional (extra expense) activities available. Maybe lunch at the Skyline restaurant high above Queenstown, take an exciting jet boat ride, a sedate cruise on the historic steamer "Earnslaw", bungy jump, visit a vineyard, visit Glenorchy and scenes where "Lord of the Rings" was filmed, or whatever you wish. Optional evening cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic steamer "Earnslaw" to the Walter Peak sheep station for farm activities and dinner at the Colonels restaurant - extra cost $110.
Please Note: This is your drivers legally required day off. He will not be available for transfers or sightseeing

Day 12. Thursday MILFORD SOUND EXCURSION (DOUBTFUL SOUND OPTION) (BL)
A day of magnificent scenery as we drive along the shores of Lake Wakatipu to Te Anau then on through the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys to Milford Sound in the heart of the Fiordland National Park with a visit to the Mirror Lakes and "Roaring Chasm" en route. Enjoy a nature cruise to the head of Milford Sound under majestic Mitre Peak and see Bowen Waterfall before returning to Queenstown. A picnic lunch is included during your cruise.

DOUBTFUL SOUND OPTION. For even more magnificent scenery our driver will take you to Lake Manapouri for your cruise across the lake, coach across Wilmot Pass, and cruise in the wilderness area of Doubtful Sound - much more extensive than Milford Sound - extra cost $180. Return to Manapouri and our driver will pick you up for the journey back to Queenstown.

Day 13. Friday QUEENSTOWN - WANAKA - LAKE MATHESON - FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER (B)
Drive to Lake Wanaka with optional (extra expense) admissions to Puzzling World then over the Haast Pass to the beautiful rainforest and spectacular Coastline of the West Coast. Visit a Salmon Farm, beautiful Lake Matheson, and the Franz Josef Glacier lookout. You have time for an optional helicopter or ski plane flight to appreciate the magnificent scenery better, and land on the snows of the glacier - extra expense and weather permitting. Accommodation at
Standard: Rainforest Retreat standard rooms
First Class: Rainforest Retreat Tree House Lodge

Day 14. Saturday FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER - PUNAKAIKI -CHRISTCHURCH (B)
Drive north to Hokitika to see jade carvers at work. Continue to Greymouth for a short tour and on to the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and blowholes in the Paparoa National Park. (Optional visit to Shantytown to pan for gold, ride the steam train, and recapture something of the atmosphere of the gold rush era INSTEAD of visiting Punakaiki - extra cost per person $20). You have time to explore the rocks and blowholes before driving across the Southern Alps, through Arthurs Pass, and back across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. (Optional ride from Greymouth to Christchurch aboard the "TRANZ ALPINE" express on one of the most scenic rail routes in the world. Extra cost including transfers $150). Accommodation at Heartland or George Hotels or similar.

Day 15. Sunday CHRISTCHURCH DEPART
You will be transferred to the airport for departure.
Passengers enjoying our BEST OF AUSTRALIA or AUSTRALIA MINI TOUR depart for Sydney. Passengers on our BEST OF THE COOK ISLANDS tour fly back to Auckland and on to Rarotonga this evening.

Why not stay longer and enjoy more of Christchurch? - extra cost per night for accommodation and breakfast $110 per person 2 per room, $210 single room including departure transfer.
Optional Tours
(A) the charming French Style settlement of AKAROA including a harbour cruise, visit to a cheese factory, and lunch at a popular restaurant on the waterfront - extra cost $150 or
(B) the picturesque and tranquil mountain thermal resort of HANMER SPRINGS including a visit to a sheep farm,Thrillseekers Canyon (optional jet boat ride), lunch at the Garden House Cafe, and a visit to Waipara Winery - extra cost $190 or

Tour cost includes (full tour):

** All travel from Auckland to christchurch by car, people mover, mini or midi bus including Interislander and train.
** 14 nights accommodation at 3 or 4 star hotels.
** 14 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 1 hangi dinner at Rotorua,
** Sightseeing admissions to Kauri museum, Waitangi Treaty House, Cape Reinga special tour, Bay of Islands cruise, Waitomo Caves, Agrodome farm show and tour, Maori concert, Te Puia Whakarewarewa thermal area, Milford Sound cruise.