10 days/9 Nights
Commence Auckland every Friday year round

AUCKLAND - WAITOMO CAVES - ROTORUA - CHRISTCHURCH - MT COOK - QUEENSTOWN - TE ANAU - MILFORD SOUND - WANAKA - GLACIERS - PUNAKAIKI - CHRISTCHURCH

Please note:
This tour is guaranteed to operate for a minimum of 2 passengers. Where 2 or 3 are travelling on any departure travel on some days may be 'big bus' with other quality tour operators.

Day 1. Friday AUCKLAND ARRIVE
Arrive Auckland International Airport to a greeting from our driver and you will be transferred to your accommodation. Arrivals before 4pm receive a complimentary tour of introduction to New Zealand's largest city including a visit to 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: Grand Chancellor

Day 2. Saturday AUCKLAND - WAITOMO CAVES - ROTORUA (BD)
Depart Auckland and drive south over the Bombay Hills and along the banks of the mighty Waikato River (New Zealand's longest river). pass through Ngaruawahia, home of the Maori King and national marae and on through fertile Waikato dairy farmland to the Waitomo Caves. Enjoy a guided tour through the main limestone cave and cruise through the glowworm grotto. Continue to Rotorua via the Arapuni Hydro Dam. Enjoy the Agrodome Farm Show and tour the farm and kiwifruit orchard. Also visit the lakefront and gardens. This evening enjoy an included Maori concert and hangi steam cooked dinner at your hotel.
Standard: Ibis or Geyserland
First Class: Novotel

Day 3. Sunday ROTORUA - CHRISTCHURCH
Visit Te Puia Maori arts and crafts centre and Whakarewarewa thermal area this morning to walk among the boiling mud pools and see the steaming geysers. During the afternoon fly south to Christchurch (either direct or return to Auckland and fly from there). You will be met and transferred to your accommodation.
Standard: Heartland Cotswald
First Class: The George.

Day 4. Monday. CHRISTCHURCH - MT COOK(BD)
Sightseeing includes the Port Hills for a panoramic view over the city, Sumner Beach, Botanical gardens, museum (when re-opened), and some of the earthquake affected areas. Late morning we drive across the Canterbury Plains and over Burkes Pass to beautiful Lake Tekapo. Visit the sheep dog monument and Church of the Good Shepherd and continue along the shores of Lake Pukaki in to the heart of the Mount Cook National Park. You have time for a scenic flight by ski plane or helicopter among the magnificent mountains (extra expense and weather permitting) and to visit the National Park headquarters. Accommodation and dinner at the Hermitage Hotel.
Standard: Superior Rooms
First Class: Premium Rooms
All rooms have a view of Mt Cook in fine weather. Admission to the Sir Edmund Hillary centre is included this evening.

Day 5. Tuesday. MOUNT COOK - QUEENSTOWN (B)
Free time for an alpine walk or an optional fabulous cruise among the icebergs on the lake at the base of the Tasman Glacier (October - May only). Continue through the Mckenzie Country and over the Lindis Pass to the fruit growing region of Cromwell and on to the historic gold mining centre of Arrowtown. Explore the town and the historic Chinese gold miners village. Continue to the Coronet Peak lookout for a panormaic view over Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkable Mountains before arriving in Queenstown. Accommodation at
Standard: Heartland A Line Hotel
First Class: Novotel Lakeside

Day 6. 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.

Day 7. 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 cruise to the head of Milford Sound under majestic Mitre Peak and see Bowen Waterfall before returning to Queenstown. A buffet 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 8. Friday QUEENSTOWN - WANAKA - LAKE MATHESON - FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER (B)
Drive to Lake Wanaka with optional (extra expense) admissions to the Fighter Pilots Museum, or 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 motel
First Class: Rainforest Retreat treehouse unit .

Day 9. Saturday FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER - PUNAKAIKI -CHRISTCHURCH (B)
Drive north to Hokitika to see jade carvers and glass blowers 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 Cotswald or The George again

Day 10. Sunday CHRISTCHURCH DEPART
You will be transferred to the airport for departure.
Passengers enjoying our BEST OF AUSTRALIA or AUSTRALIA MINI TOUR depart mid afternoon for Sydney. Passengers on our Cook Islands Highlights tour fly to Auckland and on to Rarotonga.

Why not stay longer and enjoy more of Christchurch? - extra cost per night for accommodation and breakfast
Standard: Two per room $120, Single room $200
First Class: Two per room, $160 single room $240
including departure transfer. Have a free afternoon or our driver will take you to the magnificent Antarctic Centre at the airport if you wish - admissions and transfer back to your hotel extra cost. You may substitute your morning tour with a day excursion to:

(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
(C) a day excursion to scenic KAIKOURA including a 3 hour Whale Watch cruise or 30 minute Whale Watch flight - extra cost $210

Tour cost per person	2 per room Standard $2,700. First Class $3,100	Single room: Standard $3,300. First Class $3,800

 

Tour cost includes:
** Arrival and departure transfers at each point
** All travel from Auckland to Christchurch by mini bus or coach, plus Rotorua or Auckland to Christchurch air fare
** 9 nights accommodation at first class hotels
** 9 cooked breakfasts, 1 buffet lunch during cruise, 1 hangi dinner at Rotorua,
** Sightseeing admissions to Waitomo glowworm cave, Agrodome sheep show and farm tour, Maori Concert, Whakarewarewa thermal area, Milford Sound cruise,services of our very special driver/guide/commentator/friend from Auckland to Rotorua, and Christchurch to Christchurch (subject to minimum of 4 travelling).