Upon arrival at airport in New Zealand, you will be warmly met by a representative, who will provide assistance and transfer to your accommodation to check-in.

(If early morning arrival the hotel room may not be available for immediate occupancy)

Activities:

• The day is free to rest and explore The City of Sails, independently.

Overnight: Auckland – (B)

Activities:

• Morning sightseeing tour of Auckland by coach features the Auckland central business district, the University, yacht harbour, Auckland Harbour Bridge, the views from Mt Eden, which is the tallest of the many extinct volcanic cones around which Auckland is sited, and the popular the Domain Gardens.
• Also see quaint Parnell Village and the Rose Gardens and drive around the waterfront to Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World and Antarctic Encounter. There is a variety of sea life here including sharks, stingrays and Antarctic Penguins in a special sub zero enclosure.
• Afternoon at leisure.

Overnight: Auckland – (B)

Activities:

• Depart Auckland on a full day tour by coach travelling south over the Bombay hills and through the Waikato Valley, which is an important dairying region.
• On arrival at Waitomo take a guided tour of the famous limestone cave including the Glow-worm Grotto.
• Lunch at an orchard and in the afternoon drive on across picturesque farming country and over the bush clad Mamaku Ranges and into Rotorua.

Overnight: Rotorua – (B, L)

Activities:

• Morning sightseeing tour of Rotorua by coach includes a guided tour of Te Puia – the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve to see the geysers and other weird thermal activity, and the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute where young Maori are being taught traditional carving and weaving skills.
• Also features a visit to lovely Rainbow Springs to see the trout and rare kiwis, and the popular Agrodome farm show.
• Afternoon at leisure.
• In the evening enjoy a hangi dinner and concert of Maori song and dance at the hotel.

Overnight: Rotorua – (B, D)

Activities:

• Full day tour by coach to Wellington travelling south through forests and farmlands to Wairakei and Taupo.
• Continue around Lake Taupo, which is New Zealand’s largest lake and a world-renowned trout fishery. Cross the Desert Road past the mountains of Tongariro National Park including volcanic Mt Ruapehu, which erupted spectacularly in 1995 and again in 1996. Some of the scenes from the award winning Lord of the Rings film trilogy were filmed here.
• Descend through Waiouru and Taihape and cross the Manawatu Plains to the Kapiti Coast and Wellington.
• The evening is free to explore New Zealand’s capital city. Suggest take the cable car to Kelburn and walk down through the Botanic Gardens to Parliament Buildings and around the waterfront to Te Papa – the National Museum of New Zealand.

Overnight: Wellington – (B)

Activities:

• This morning transfer to the Ferry Terminal and cruise across Cook Strait on the Inter Islander ferry to Picton on the South Island. The last part of the cruise through the Marlborough Sounds is especially scenic.
• In the afternoon travel on to Christchurch on the Tranz Coastal train travelling via Blenheim in the heart of the Marlborough wine region; and south down the Pacific Coast through Kaikoura, which is a popular whale watching area. Cross the sheep and cropping farmlands of the northern Canterbury Plains into Christchurch.

Overnight: Christchurch – (B)

Activities:

• Full day tour by coach travelling south across the sheep and cropping farmlands if the Canterbury Plains and inland through Fairlie and Burkes Pass.
• See the quaint Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo and continue around glacially formed Lake Pukaki into Mt Cook. There are 17 peaks over 10,000 ft asl in Mt Cook National Park including Mt Cook – New Zealand’s highest peak (12,349 ft).
• In the afternoon drive down from Mt Cook past Lake Pukaki and across the MacKenzie Basin.
• Cross the Lindis Pass and descend to the Central Otago sheep and cattle raising country.
• Drive around Lake Dunstan and past the Cromwell fruit and grape growing area and continue through the rugged but scenic Kawarau Gorge into Queenstown.

Optional Activities:  Opportunities for optional ski plane rides with glacier landings (extra cost).

Overnight: Queenstown – (B)

Activities:

• Free day for your own choice of sightseeing in this wonderful alpine resort. Suggest take the Skyline Gondola to Bob’s Peak for panoramic views across Queenstown to the surrounding mountains. Other options are a tour out to Arrowtown, which was the site of a major 1860s gold rush, a thrilling excursion on the Shotover Jet, a half or full day tour of the Central Otago wineries or a lake cruise on the vintage lake steamer TSS Earnslaw.

Overnight: Queenstown – (B)

Activities:

• Full day tour by coach travelling around Lake Wakatipu and through Te Anau and Fiordland National Park. The scenery is stunning with high mountains and deep valleys carved out by ice age glaciers. There are clear rushing streams and leaping waterfalls set in magnificent native rainforest.
• At Milford Sound take a cruise down the fiord past the Bowen Falls, Mitre Peak and Pembroke Glacier to the open sea. Seals, penguins and dolphins are often seen.
• Buffet lunch served aboard.
• The boat berths mid afternoon.
• Return to Queenstown travelling via the Cleddau Gorge, Homer Tunnel and the lovely Eglinton Valley.

Overnight: Queenstown – (B, L)

Activities:

• Full day tour by coach travelling through the Kawarau Gorge to Cromwell and on past Lake Dunstan to Wanaka. Wanaka is a popular lakeside resort with a wide choice of outdoors activities available.
• From Wanaka drive around glacial Lakes Wanaka and Hawea and cross the Haast Pass through the Southern Alps ­the scenery is stunning with high snow topped mountains all around.
• Descend following the Haast River towards the coast and drive north through magnificent native rainforest and past pretty bush fringed lakes then pass through the Fox Township. Franz Josef is 23 kms further on.

Overnight: Franz Josef – (B)

Activities:

• Free day. The Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers are massive river of glacial ice flowing from snowfields high in the Southern Alps almost to sea level – quite an unusual feature in a temperate climatic zone. There are half and full day tours onto the ice available; also a choice of scenic flights of varying duration (no paid sights included today).

Overnight: Franz Josef – (B)

Activities:

• This morning travel north by coach through forests and farmlands with the Southern Alps rising sharply to the east and vistas of the Tasman Sea to the west.
• Time to visit a greenstone factory at Hokitika, where a local jade stone is crafted into jewellery and ornaments of both modern and traditional design.
• In the afternoon cross the mighty Southern Alps through Arthur’s Pass and travel down the Waimakiriri Valley and across the Canterbury Plains into Christchurch.

Overnight: Christchurch – (B)

Activities:

• Morning sightseeing tour of Christchurch by coach features the City Centre, the Canterbury Arts Centre, Botanic Gardens, the University of Canterbury and some of Christchurch’s nicest residential areas.

Departure: In the afternoon transfer to Christchurch International Airport and check in for your departure flight. – (B)