Scenic New Zealand

On arrival Christchurch you will be welcomed and transferred to hotel Rendezvous.

After breakfast we leave for City tour of Christ Church. The tour commences by covering the central city highlights including the botanical gardens, Museum and Art Centre, the Avon River, Bridge of Remembrance, the cities new pop up container mall and many other Christchurch inner city highlights. Then the tour travels to Mona Vale, an historic homestead and gardens, goes up to the Sign of the Takahe, an historic building providing spectacular view over the city, Canterbury Plains and the southern Alps, then continue to travel over the Port Hills to the Port of Lyttleton, through the harbour tunnel to the seaside suburb of Sumner and cave rock .In the evening encounter with a variety of birds and animals during a guided tour of the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, followed by an entertaining evening with the Ko Tane Maori cultural performance plus a buffet dinner. Willowbank is the home to Ko Tane – an authentic Maori cultural experience, that will leave you more knowledgeable, moved and laughing.

You travel through the fertile farmland of the Canterbury Plains to the shores of the stunning, glacier-fed Lake Tekapo, where you can view the solitary Church of the Good Shepherd and take in the sights of the spectacular Southern Alps. You then continue to the location of New Zealand’s tallest mountain, Aoraki / Mount Cook, situated in a national park and UNESCO World Heritage site. Rising to 3,754 metres high, Aoraki certainly lives up to its name, which in M ori can be translated as ‘cloud piercer’. Legend tells of a young boy named Aoraki who was stranded with his brothers when their canoe struck a reef. As it tilted, the brothers climbed to the high side, where they were frozen by the south wind and turned into stone. Aoraki and his brothers now form the Southern Alps. After lunch you’ll have time to explore the village and soak up the view. The tour continues south, past Lake Pukaki and through the tawny tussock of the Mackenzie Country. Your tour concludes in the evening upon reaching Queenstown.On arrival check in at hotel Hilton Queenstown.

Travel along the edge of Lake Wakatipu beneath the rugged Remarkables to Te Anau, the ‘Gateway to Fiordland’. Here we will enter the Fiordland National Park so prepare to be mesmerised by the rugged grandeur of this region. As we pass through the Egligton Valley you will see ancient alpine beech forest, stunning waterfalls, and the famous Mirror Lakes where we will make a photo stop. From here we will progress through the Upper Hollyford Valley past the stunning Christie Falls and enter the 1.2km Homer Tunnel. Prepare yourself for the breathtaking impact of the Cleddau Valley and the descent into Milford Sound. Here you will take an unforgettable Red Boat buffet lunch cruise from which you will see the wonders of Mitre Peak, rock walls scarred by glaciers that rise 1,200 meters vertically from the sea, and waterfalls from hanging valleys tumbling into the sound.

Explore a mysterious underground world of rushing water before drifting in silent darkness beneath the luminous shimmer of thousands of glow worms.Hidden beneath the mountains is an underground network of caves lit by thousands of glowworms. The crew will share stories about the natural history and early pioneers of the region. On arrival, join the specialist Nature Guide for the Te Anau Glowworm Caves experience. Then below ground witness a twisting network of limestone passages and the roaring whirlpools and waterfalls of the Tunnel Burn Stream. By geological standards the caves are very young and are still being carved out by the force of this river. Follow the path deep underground before transferring into small boats to drift silently along the river below a display of glittering glowworms in the glowworm grotto. In the subterranean darkness, they produce a sparkling display that is nothing short of extraordinary.

Free to explore Queenstown on your own.

After breakfast we leave for Franz Josef, breathe in the deep, earthy scents of a West Coast rainforest, listen to the calls of native birds, and feast on the sights of nature in all its abundance. This tour will take you past breathtaking sights, from high mountain peaks to the blue lakes of Wakatipu, Dunston, Wanaka and Hawea. You will stop at Wanaka, the place blessed with an incomparable alpine panorama, Makarora with the lush rainforest and majestic mountains of the Southern Alps. On arrival Franz Josef check in at hotel Glen villas.

Departing Franz Josef township, travel northwards through magnificent bush scenery and past the beautiful Lakes Mapourika and Ianthe, and lush green farmland, to the township of Hokitika famous for its Greenstone (Jade) factory. From Hokitika travel alongside the Tasman sea for magnificent coastal views before arriving at Greymouth, the largest city on the West Coast. From Greymouth, journey over the Southern Alps, through Arthur’s Pass and onto Christchurch by the famous TranzAlpine Express. This journey is renowned as one of the top ten train journeys in the world. On arrival check in at hotel Rendezvous.

After breakfast transfer to Christchurch airport to board your flight to Rotorua. On arrival you will be welcomed and transferred to hotel Rydges. Then in the evening we for Tamaki Maori Village. Your driver guide provides a welcome to you all on board as you head 20 minutes out of Rotorua to Pre-European Tamaki Maori Village. Observe the people of the land as they demonstrate various activities, such as carving and weaving, thatching of huts, food preparation, hunting and cooking techniques. Tamaki Cultural Group will share powerful performance of Waiata, Haka, song and dance. The traditional hangi meal has been under the earth on hot rocks for three to four hours, the meal is buffet style. After the dinner, you have time to mingle with their people and enjoy the Tribal Market Place, where you will find treasures and other items of significance to Maori, such as bone carvings and jewellery. The evening ends with the official closing ceremony, song and speeches.

Enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of Rotorua. Visit Te Puia and get an insight into Maori culture and traditions. Take a tour of workshops where master weavers and carvers are passing on their skills, then enter Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley and experience its extraordinary landscape of boiling mud and steam. A highlight is the famous Pohutu Geyser which shoots jets of vapour up to 30 metres into the air. Get close to a wide range of native and exotic wildlife at Rainbow Springs Nature Park, including New Zealand’s famous flightless bird, the kiwi. Learn about these unique endangered creatures and sneak a peek at them in the nocturnal viewing house. Then learn about rural life in New Zealand at the Agrodome, a working farm on the outskirts of the city. Learn all about our thriving agricultural industry with an entertaining show where you’ll see sheep being shorn and sheep dogs showing off their amazing skills. Travel on the Skyline Gondola up the side of Mount Ngongotaha. From 487 metres above sea level you’ll have stunning panoramic views over Rotorua’s main centre, Lake Rotorua and its environs.

Take a sightseeing day tour from Rotorua to Auckland, including a guided tour of the fascinating Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Leaving the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua in the morning, we travel through lush farmland into the King Country region. Along the way, enjoy your driver guide’s commentary on the area’s history and highlights, and enjoy spectacular sights like Fitzgerald Glade, where the trees arch overhead to form a tunnel of natural greenery. After arriving in the small town of Waitomo, you’ll be taken on a 45-minute guided tour through the world famous Glowworm Caves, which were discovered in 1887 and are now one of New Zealand’s most popular tourist destinations. Wander through subterranean caverns and learn how the stalagmites, stalactites and other spectacular limestone rock formations were formed over millions of years. To end your tour, travel through the Glowworm Grotto on a magical boat ride, surrounded by the twinkling lights of thousands of glowworms. On arrival Auckland check in at hotel at hotel Crown Plaza – Auckland.

Discover Auckland’s charms on a half-day tour of its scenic highlights. Travel through the city centre, along fascinating Karangahape Road and past fashionable Ponsonby, and over the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Visit the Viaduct Harbour and Auckland’s famous Queen Street before continuing to the Auckland Domain, the citys oldest park. Continue to Parnell Village and explore the boutique shops and specialty stores of this historic suburb during a morning tea break (own expense). Then travel along the scenic waterfront route of Tamaki Drive enroute to Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park, above Mission Bay. This tranquil park offers a panoramic outlook over Auckland city and the Waitemata Harbour. Your city sights tour ends with a trip back along the waterfront to downtown Auckland. Then the afternoon is free for your own leisure and other activities.

After breakfast, Discover the beautiful and historic Bay of Islands region and enjoy a dolphin watching cruise on a full day return tour from Auckland. Travel through Northland’s spectacular scenery of rural countryside and sub-tropical bush en route to Paihia, where you’ll board the catamaran Dolphin Seeker for a cruise around the Bay of Islands. Dolphin Seeker is licensed for dolphin and whale viewing and has large outdoor viewing decks to help you see more of this stunning part of New Zealand. Keep an eye out for common and bottlenose dolphins, whales and other marine life, and have your camera ready as our experienced local crew get you up close to the action. Cruise out through the sheltered waters of the Bay to the Cape Brett Lighthouse and see the majestic Hole in the Rock on Motukokako Island. Admire the rock walls towering above you as the skipper navigates through the narrow space (conditions permitting), before heading back towards the inner islands of the Bay. Experience a guided tour of the historical Waitangi Treaty Grounds where in 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. Uncover the history that played a significant part in shaping our nation. Rejoin your coach for the return journey to Auckland.

Coromandel Peninsulas amazing landscape consists of mountainous, forest-covered backbone, with the Pacific Ocean on the east and the sheltered bays and coves of the Hauraki Gulf on the west. Drive along the spectacular western coast line to Coromandel town. Ride the mountain railway through the rugged landscape. Drive through the pristine rainforest and stop for a quiet stroll to view old kauri trees. Continue to the east coast, stop at Hot Water Beach, its hot spring in the middle of the beach, and you can take a dip. Next stop is Cathedral Cove, Pacific Ocean washes through a natural arch onto a white sandy beach backed by white cliffs.

After breakfast the day is free to explore Auckland on your own.

Transfer to Auckland airport to board your flight to UK. Arrive home today.

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