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Enjoy the services of a professional tour manager who accompanies you throughout your trip. Meals 16 Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(s), 10 Dinner(s) Hotel Accommodations: Listed below or equivalent. Rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips, and service chargesAUCKLANDDuxton or Mercure Hotel ROTORUANew Zealand Family Home or Rydges WELLINGTONDuxton Hotel CHRISTCHURCHRydges FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER REGIONFranz Josef Hotel QUEENSTOWNA-Line Hotel or Rydges Lakeland TE ANAUTe Anau Hotel & Villas DUNEDINDunedin City Hotel MT COOKThe Hermitage Complimentary hotel-to-hotel baggage handling. Sightseeing Private transportation via a deluxe, climate-controlled motorcoach
Day 1 and Day 2
Depart from Home Today you board your flight and begin your New Zealand adventure. En route to New Zealand, you cross the International Dateline, losing a full day. Day 3 Auckland, New Zealand - Tour Begins Your tour begins in the “City of Sails,” Auckland. Rated one of the best places in the world to live, Auckland fuses Polynesian culture with gleaming harbours and a modern city feel. This evening enjoy the perfect introduction to New Zealand with a visit to Kelly Tarlton''s Underwater World. Take part in a "behind the scenes" guided tour of Stingray Bay with a feeding, followed by a delightful dinner overlooking the bay. Day 4 Auckland - Bay of Islands See America’s Cup Village, vibrant Queen Street, the Auckland Harbour Bridge, and spectacular views from the top of Mt. Eden, a dormant volcano, during your panoramic city tour. Later, travel north to the Bay of Islands, a beautiful maritime region with more than 144 islands and bays, and famous for its big-game fishing. Day 5 Bay of Islands Begin your day with a cruise through the famous Hole in the Rock and view the Cape Brett Lighthouse. This afternoon, visit the Waitangi Treaty House where Maori and British leaders signed a treaty in 1844 that resulted in New Zealand’s nationhood. The remainder of the day is yours to explore this area at leisure. Day 6 Bay of Islands - Rotorua Depart for Rotorua, the center of Maori civilization and home to numerous geothermal springs. The Maori people are the indigenous people of New Zealand, arriving here more than 1,000 years ago. Tonight you''ll enjoy a home stay* and dinner with a New Zealand family. Hear about the customs and traditions of the people in this area while building a friendship you are sure to remember. Day 7 Rotorua Begin the day at the impressive Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve where you’ll see amazing geysers, hot springs, hot mud pools and the Kiwi bird! See craftsmen at work in a typical Maori village, and take part in an interactive demonstration about the Maori dress and weaving process. You may want to practice saying "Kia ora" (or "hello" in Maori), since both Maori and New Zealanders are delighted by visitors attempting the Maori language. You will also enjoy a sheepshearing demonstration at the Agrodome and meet jade carvers at a local jade factory. Day 8 Rotorua - Wellington Travel south through the rolling countryside of the North Island to New Zealand''s capital city, Wellington. Day 9 Wellington Enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour of Wellington viewing the Beehive, New Zealand’s Parliament, historic St. Paul’s Church, and the government building which is the largest wooden building in the Southern Hemisphere. Following the tour you will visit the Te Papa Tongawera Museum which is dedicated to art, history and the Maori culture. Day 10 Wellington - Picton - Christchurch Travel by ferry to Picton, on New Zealand’s South Island, and experience the beauty of the eastern coastline. Enjoy a tour of a local winery during which you will learn what makes the Marlborough region one of the world''s best for wine production. Later, you arrive in the picturesque city of Christchurch. Located on the Avon River, this charming city is considered “the most English city outside of England.” A sightseeing tour features the Neo-Gothic Cathedral, the downtown park district, and stunning Victorian-style buildings. Day 11 Christchurch - Franz Josef Glacier Region Journey into the heart of New Zealand’s South Island aboard the Tranz Alpine train. Marvel at the rugged snowcapped peaks and deep river gorges as you wind your way to New Zealand’s spectacular west coast on this fantastic cross-country voyage. Arrive in the breathtaking Franz Josef Glacier Region this evening. This region is unique because there is nowhere else in the world where you will find glaciers in such close proximity to temperate climates. Day 12 Franz Josef - Queenstown Enjoy a picture stop of the famous Franz Josef glacier before leaving the South Island’s lush west coast. Take in the stunning scenery as you pass through rainforest surrounded by the Southern Alps. You’ll enjoy beautiful ocean views as you travel the twisting coastline. This is a picturesque area of one lane bridges, green glacial lakes, thundering waterfalls and dramatic landscape changes. After crossing the Haast Pass, arrive in Queenstown, one of New Zealand’s prettiest towns. Dinner is included at the Skyline Restaurant overlooking Queenstown, the Remarkable Mountains, and Lake Wakatipu. Day 13 Queenstown Spend the day at leisure in this charming South Island town. A leisurely day in Queenstown offers several options to enhance your vacation. ADVANTAGE SEASON INCLUSION: Experience the beauty of the Southern Alps during the 4x4 adventure, “Safari of the Rings.” Journey through the majestic Remarkable Mountains and the breathtaking Queenstown countryside where spectacular scenery abounds! You will be immersed in what nature provided as a backdrop for the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Day 14 Queenstown - Milford Sound - Te Anau Travel through beech forest into the rugged grandeur of the Hollyford Valley via the Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound. Enjoy a leisurely cruise of this spectacular fjord and experience the breathtaking surroundings. ADVANTAGE SEASON INCLUSION: Explore the magical Te Anau Cave with its spectacular rock formations as they are lit by the shimmer of thousands of glowworms. Overnight on the southern shores of Lake Te Anau, the largest lake on the South Island. Day 15 Te Anau - Dunedin Journey through the scenic, unspoiled countryside of southern New Zealand before arriving in Dunedin, “The Edinburgh of the South.” This afternoon, visit the Royal Albatross Center where you will find the only mainland colony of albatross in the world. For centuries the albatross has been the subject of myth and superstition due in part to the fact that it regularly circumnavigates the globe, sometimes soaring for days on end. Day 16 Dunedin A morning tour of this lovely city will feature some of the best-preserved sites of Edwardian Victorian architecture in the Southern Hemisphere. View Olveston Manor and the beautiful university campus. Enjoy an evening at leisure. Day 17 Dunedin - Mt. Cook Region Board your coach this morning and journey further into the countryside, arriving at Mt. Cook National Park. Explore this landmark park while on a nature walk. For aerial views, take an optional flightseeing tour (weather permitting) affording close-up views of Mt. Cook and the glaciers. Day 18 Mt. Cook - Christchurch Travel back to Christchurch this morning. Upon arrival see the city from a different angle as you take a ''punt'' down the Avon River. Punting has its roots in England but has long since been a traditional activity in Christchurch. The remainder of the day is yours to explore this quaint city: stroll through the gardens, wander through the shops or simply relax. Tonight, celebrate the end of your tour as you dine in a restored mansion - once the homestead of the first family to settle in Christchurch. Day 19 Christchurch - Tour Ends Your tour ends today in Christchurch.
This tour includes Christchurch, Mt. Cook, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Rotorua, Auckland, and Wellington.
Get to know a local New Zealand family during a memorable authentic experience of dinner, and the choice of an overnight stay* in their home. Visit the historic Waitangi Treaty house to discover the early beginnings of the nation of New Zealand. Traverse through the heart of the Southern Alps aboard the famous Tranz Alpine train. Take part in a "behind the scenes" guided tour of Stingray Bay with a feeding, followed by a delightful dinner overlooking the bay. See America's Cup Village, Queen Street, Auckland Harbour Bridge, and Mt. Eden. Bay of Islands: cruise through the famous Hole in the Rock and view Cape Brett Lighthouse. Experience a traditional Maori welcome at a Hangi meal followed by authentic Maori entertainment. Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve where you'll see amazing geysers, hot springs, hot mud pools and the Kiwi bird. Panoramic tour of Wellington viewing Beehive, New Zealand's Parliament, historic St. Paul's Church and the government building which is the largest wooden building in the Southern Hemisphere. Tour a local winery in the Marlborough region. Mt Cook National Park 'Punt' down the Avon River. Package Notes:
Due to changes in air schedules while on tour, the order of days in the itinerary may change. Due to early arrival times into some cities, rooms may not always be available for immediate check-in. Previous clients have indicated that a small gift from your area is appropriate and appreciated the night of your home stay in New Zealand. *Your home stay will take place in the suburbs of Rotorua. Your host family will pick you up at your hotel and return you to meet up with your group the following morning. If you prefer not to stay in a private home, you may choose to stay at your Rotorua hotel with dinner included. Please make your decision known at the time of booking. |
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Note: All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and pricing.
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