New Zealand Grand Discovery
/ per person
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• Christchurch Franz Josef
• Queenstown
• Te Anau
• Dunedin
• Omarama
• Wellington
• Rotorua
• Auckland
• Picton
14Nights/15Days
Tour Plan
1
DAY 1 Fly to Auckland
Named as the 3rd most livable city in the world, Auckland is built around two large harbours and is a fascinating mix of Polynesian culture, good food and wine and sunny climate. Fly to Auckland today to begin your grand tour of New Zealand’s North and South Islands.
Fly to Auckland today to begin your tour of New Zealand. You will be personally met at the airport by a representative and transferred from the airport to your hotel.
Meet and Greet Personalized Arrival Transfer, Overnight Auckland Hotel.
2
DAY 2 Explore Auckland
A relaxing start to your day, familiarize yourself with the city and explore the sights and sounds, Auckland has 5 distinct and very different regions – central Auckland is the CBD and waterfront promenade lined with bars and cafes, Auckland north has rolling hills and wineries, Auckland south is sweeping coastlines and tranquil bays, Auckland East has dense native forests, beautiful waterfalls and walking tracks, and Auckland west has coastal gardens and sculptures. In the evening, meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers at the Welcome Reception and dinner.
Luxury Tour, Dinner, Overnight Auckland Hotel
3
DAY 3 Auckland to Rotorua
Start the day with a guided tour of Auckland, seeing the highlights before travelling alongside the Waikato River to the arrive in Waitomo. Known for their amazing Glowworm Grotto, explore the subterranean caverns of Waikomo and see firsthand these luminescent glowworms. Once your eyes adjust above ground, it is back on the road to Rotorua where you will have a guided tour around the city, and visit Lake Rotorua for breathtaking views.
Breakfast, Overnight Rotorua Hotel
4
DAY 4 Explore Rotorua
The day starts with the multi-awarding winning Agrodome Farm Show, followed by an afternoon at your leisure. The evening brings fun, laughter and insight into the traditional Maori culture, followed by a delicious Hangi Highlight Dinner at the Tamaki Maori Village.
Breakfast, Hangi Highlight Dinner, Overnight Rotorua Hotel
5
DAY 5 Rotorua to Wellington
Passing through lush, green farmland, arrive in lake Taupo and get out and stretch your legs and see the magnificent Huka Falls. Lake Taupo is approximately the same size as Singapore and formed in the basin of a collapsed volcano. The powerful currents of the river funneling through the 20m wide gorge and cascade into the blue / green pool below. Continuing on through the World Heritage listed Tongariro National Park, see the snow-capped Mt. Ruapehu, a volcano still active today, before arriving in Wellington.
Breakfast, Dinner, Overnight Wellington Hotel
6
DAY 6 Wellington to Picton
Today, travel from the north island to the south island. Start the day with a tour of Wellington, seeing the sights and visiting the Te Papa Museum of New Zealand. Cruising the Cook Strait, explore the Queen Charlotte Sound, a maze of inlets, before docking at the seaside town of Picton. See the sights of Picton, a very pretty and quaint town built in a sheltered harbour and dotted with cafés and restaurants.
Breakfast, Cruise, Dinner, Overnight Picton Hotel
7
DAY 7 Picton to Christchurch
Travelling south along the coast from Picton to Kaikoura, spend some time exploring the natural beauty of this slice of seaside paradise – where mountains meet the sea. Blessed with an abundance of wildlife and amazing seafood, you can expect to see super pods of dolphins, fur seals and the elusive sperm whales visiting this region. Back on the road, continuing the journey along the east coast, towards the next stop of the night, Christchurch.
Breakfast, Overnight Christchurch Hotel
8
DAY 8 Christchurch to Omarama
After a hearty breakfast, spend a relaxing morning exploring Christchurch at your own pace, before setting off for a day of truly magnificent scenery. Travelling into the Southern Alps region and the Mt. Cook National Park, home to New Zealand’s highest peak, Mt Cook. At 3724m high, Mt Cook was the training ground for Sir Edmund Hillary. Stop and stretch your legs in Lake Tekapo, blessed with Turquoise lakes and included in UNESCO’s Dark Sky Reserve. See the Church of the Good Shepherd, built in 1935 and still used for services today. Arriving in Omarama, meaning ‘the place of light’, relax and unwind, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, blue lakes and clay cliffs.
Breakfast, Dinner, Overnight Omarama Hotel
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DAY 9 Omarama to Dunedin
On the way to the historic town of Oamaru, stop and visit the Waitaki Hydro Power Scheme for visit and see the nearby Benmore Dam spillover. Visit the quirky town of Oamaru, known for its rich history and heritage, before arriving in Dunedin, New Zealand’s most southerly city. The afternoon is yours to explore Dunedin.
Breakfast, Dinner, Overnight Dunedin Hotel
10
DAY 10 Dunedin to Te Anau
Following breakfast, you will be taken on a guided tour of Dunedin to see the highlights, including Larnach Castle, a Scottish inspired, baronial stately home with manicured gardens, built in 1871. In the afternoon, sheep-grazing country gives way to stunning scenery as you make your way to Te Anau, known as the gateway to Fiordland National Park. Spend the evening relaxing in the lakeside town of Te Anau.
Breakfast, Dinner, Overnight Te Anau Hotel
11
DAY 11 Te Anau to Queenstown
Passing through rainforest and rugged wilderness, arrive in Milford Sound for a magnificent cruise, seeing waterfalls, iconic Mitre Peak – the most photographed mountain in New Zealand – and hanging glacial valleys. The road to Queenstown is stunningly scenic - Mirror Lake, the impressive Cleddau Valley, with winding roads with hairpin turns that stretch out along the base between 2 steep mountain ranges, and the 162m Bowen Falls. Travel along the famed Devil’s Staircase to arrive in Queenstown for a guided tour of the city’s highlights.
Breakfast, Cruise, Overnight Queenstown Hotel
12
DAY 12 Explore Queenstown
Set against the backdrop of the dramatic Southern Alps and overlooking the crystal clear waters of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is also known as New Zealand’s adventure capital. There are jet-boat rides, skiing, mountain biking to white water rafting for those wanting to get the heart racing, and wineries, boat cruises, wildlife parks and more for those who enjoy a more leisurely pace. You have the day to explore Queenstown and in the evening board the 100-year old steamship, TSS Earns haw for a relaxing cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm for an evening of entertainment and a gourmet barbecue dinner.
Breakfast, Cruise, Highlight Dinner, Overnight Queenstown Hotel
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DAY 13 Queenstown to Franz Josef
Today travel to Arrow town, once a gold mining town in its heyday, then on to Cromwell, known for growing stone fruit, where you will have the opportunity to indulge in the local produce. Travel through some of the most beautiful scenery in New Zealand, Haast Pass is a 140km stretch of winding road, passing through rainforests, glacier country, rugged coastline and is dotted with walking tracks and lookouts. Stop at Thunder Creek Falls for some fresh air and rainforest walk before travelling to the extraordinary Franz Josef Glacier for the night. Franz Josef Glacier has been recognized by UNESCO as having outstanding natural value and has listed the area as a World Heritage site.
Breakfast, Dinner, Overnight Franz Josef Hotel
14
DAY 14 Franz Josef to Christchurch
This morning, travel to Hokitika and then on to Arthur’s Pass. At an elevation of 740m above sea level, it is the highest settlement on the South Island. Board the iconic Tranz Alpine train, considered one of the great rail journeys’ of the world. Get uninterrupted views of amazing scenery from the open-air carriage, as the rocky gorges and peaks of the Southern Alps give way to green pasturelands. Arrive in Christchurch and join your host and fellow travelers for a farewell dinner, reflect on 14 amazing days touring New Zealand.
Breakfast, Tranz Alpine Train, Farewell Dinner, Overnight Christchurch Hotel
15
DAY 15 Say Goodbye to Christchurch
Time to say goodbye beautiful Christchurch, your fellow travellers and friendly hotel and tour hosts. You will be transferred from your Christchurch hotel to the airport to meet your flight home.
Breakfast, Departure Airport Transfer
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