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DAY ONE - CHRISTCHURCH
Time for sightseeing around the City of Christchurch. Spend a day or afternoon in Christchurch and enjoy great shopping or take a tram and see some of the
sights such as the Museum, Arts Centre and Art
Gallery, Cathedral and Avon River or take a stroll through the Botanical Gardens, you decide as a group.
Overnight Stay in Christchurch
DAY TWO - CHRISTCHURCH-PICTON-NELSON
Depart early for Kaikoura stopping briefly at Cheviot if required. Against the spectacular backdrop of the Inland Kaikoura Mountain Range, a boat cruise will take you out to an area where Sperm Whales inhabit. (Note: If sea conditions are not suitable, Whalewatch Air may fly you (the same cost) to view these magnificent mammals of the deep. After lunch continue up the
rugged coast viewing New Zealand fur seals then inland over rolling farmland through Blenheim, a wine growing region to Picton, where a passenger, vehicle and rail Ferry connects with the North Island. Passengers Ex Wellington may require lunch in Picton before departing for Havlock, a fishing and pleasure boat haven. On to the Pelorus Bridge for a break. Onward through the Rai Valley to Nelson.
Overnight Stay in Nelson
DAY THREE - NELSON-KAITERITERI-NELSON
Depart 7.30, a one hour drive to Kaiteriteri, time to obtain lunch before a boat cruise into the Abel Tasman National Park. Walk the track between Bark Bay and Torrent Bay where spectacular native bush and sea views abound. Boat picks you up from the beach returning you to Kaiteriteri for the coach trip back to Nelson.
Overnight Stay in Nelson.
DAY FOUR - NELSON-GREYMOUTH
Early departure travelling West through Golden Downs Forest. Follow the Owen then Buller River with a break at Murchison. Further West through Inangahua an earthquake region covered in native bush to Hawks
Crag, a photo stop by the Buller River. Continue to the Tasman Sea at Cape
Foulwind where the Weka, a flightless bird similar to a kiwi, but a third in size abounds. Southward to Punakaiki and the Pancake Rocks for lunch continuing to Greymouth.
Overnight Stay in Greymouth
DAY FIVE - GREYMOUTH-FRANZ JOSEF
Travel South to Shanty Town, option of a steam train ride or try your hand at gold panning. Continuing to Hokitika (once a large port) see Jade/Greenstone and glass blowing craft. Take an excursion off the main road and the dense native bush leading to a hidden Lake Mahinapua, via Ross, a small town with a large open cast gold mine. Call in to the Bushmans Centre to see deer/pigs and a wide range of crafts. For under NZ$5 take a tour to see a live
Opossum/long finned eels/Kune-kune pig and learn much more about this area including live deer recovery.
Photostop at Lake Ianthe through to the sawmilling town of Hari Hari, Whataroa where White Herons nest at the lagoon. Lake
Mapourika to Franz Josef Township. (Weather permitting)a short drive and walk to view the magnificent Franz Josef Glacier, optional sightseeing flight with snow landing (weather dependent).
Overnight Stay in Franz Josef
DAY SIX - FRANZ JOSEF-VIA HAAST PASS-WANAKA
Depart Franz Josef via Haast Pass for Wanaka (Optional flightseeing from Franz Josef to Fox (Weather permitting). Travel South twisting around Native bush clad foothills of the Southern Alps to Fox Township. Many short walks are available to choose from today and depending on weather, your driver/guide will ensure the very best walks will be enjoyed. On a crisp clear calm day, the perimeter walkway around Lake
Matheson where impressive reflections of Mt Cook may be viewed. Bruce Bay, a walk on the beach. Lake Paringa Salmon Farm, Lake Moeraki. Knights Point, a spot many Calendar Photo Shots are taken from. Across the Haast River and the longest one way bridge in New Zealand to the township/Visitors Centre. Heading towards the Haast Pass, short walks to waterfalls abound, Thunder Creek falls
(30mtrs) Fantail Falls etc. Gates of Haast up and over the summit down to the Blue Pools (50 min walk).
Onto Makarora, a saw milling town of old to the shores of Lake Wanaka, a lake carved out by a glacier. Its depth below sea level, through "the neck" to another similar lake (Hawea). On to the tranquil town of Wanaka nestled on the lakes
shore where we stay the night.
Overnight stay in Wanaka
DAY SEVEN - WANAKA-QUEENSTOWN
A short drive today through Cromwell with an opportunity to purchase fruit grown in this area. Travel through the old goldmining Kawarau Gorge to the world famous original Bungy Site. An optional Jet Boat ride on either the Kawarau or the more exciting Shotover River will get the
adrenalin pumping. "Born of Gold" Arrowtown looks stunning with its backdrop of Popular trees at its very best in Autumn. If Lake Hayes is calm, its a must stop for a photo and onto Queenstown, surrounded by mountains 2000 plus
meters high with ski areas, Lake Wakatipu at its feet, words to not do this place justice.
We have done some of the optional activities on the outskirts of
Queenstown, so you have half a free day to indulge in others in the
heart of this town. Suggest a ride up the Gondola for a spectacular
overview of the town. At the top, panoramic views await, a restaurant, cafe, shops, even an optional
Luge ride! Return to Queenstown via sedate Gondola ride, or an optional Tandem Para-glider flight, your choice! For those
"adrenalin challenged" for under NZ$10 its one way to see the sights from a Jetboat and Helicopter from a safe seat! An afternoon boat cruise on the TSS Earnslaw and farm visit may be more your style too.
Overnight Stay in Queenstown
DAY EIGHT - QUEENSTOWN-QUEENSTOWN
A free day in Queenstown to indulge at your leisure, or more of those
optional activities that you didn't fit in yesterday afternoon.
(Driving
regulations require the driver to have a 24 Hour Break.)
Overnight Stay in Queenstown
DAY NINE - QUEENSTOWN-MILFORD SOUND-LAKE TE ANAU
Departing Queenstown at 7.00am skirting around Lake Wakatipu through Kingston, Mossburn to Te Anau (2 hour drive) where we will return and stay later. Departing Te Anau 9.45am through Glacier carved valleys, the mountain peaks over 2,500 mtrs high with many photo stops to Milford Sound, arriving for a boat cruise down the fiord to the sea while lunch is served. See waterfalls hundreds of meters high cascading down sheer sides of mountains into the sea. Depart Milford Sound retracing the route back to Te Anau. Yet another option for those who cannot get enough of nature is the Glowworm Caves on the other side of the lake. Departure point for the boat cruise to access the caves is central to town, a short walk from the hotels.
Overnight Stay in Te Anau
DAY TEN - TE ANAU-DUNEDIN
Travel across rolling hill country farming deer, sheep and dairy cows to the City of Dunedin, the "Edinburgh of the South". After lunch, a City Sights Tour reveals many historical buildings influenced by architects of the
19th Century. A drive out around the Otago Peninsula to
Taiaroa Head where the Royal Albatross has formed a breeding colony. One of the worlds largest birds with a wing span of upto 3 mtrs, they are unmistakable in flight. A 5 minute drive to "Penguin Place", the drop off point for this excursion, boarding their buses and travel through farmland over hills to the observation areas. Towards the end of the day, the yellow-eyed penguins may be seen returning to the shores and up the beach. Retracing our steps returning to the Hotel in the evening.
Overnight Stay in Dunedin
DAY ELEVEN - DUNEDIN-MT COOK
Leaving Dunedin gives us the opportunity to see the world's steepest street and the former Post Office near the foot of this street is packed with knick-knacks, t-shirts etc, so you won't forget your visit. A certificate is available to prove you walked/ran up and down the world's steepest street. University of Otago dates back to the late
19th Century, its Clock Tower picturesque as we head out of Dunedin. An hours drive up the east coast to the "Moeraki
Boulders", formed by limesalt accumulation over 60 million years has produced "boulders" 3 mtrs in circumference. After morning tea at Moeraki we travel through Oamaru, famous for its architecture built of white granular limestone. A brief stop for a photo before heading up and inland via the Waitaki Valley. This valley is known for its hydro development where photo stops at Waitaki, Aviemore and Benmore Power Stations break the journey. After
cresting the hills drop down to Omarama for lunch. Departing
Omarama across plains passing
Twizel, a town that developed in the 1960's as a construction base for 6,000 mainly single men working on the Upper Waitaki Power Development Scheme. Weather permitting our first views of Mt Cook and the Southern Alps should be possible. Several photo stop opportunities and an option for a flight with snow/glacier landing are possible prior to arriving at the Hermitage, Mt Cook. Many short walks can be taken before the evening meal.
Overnight Stay in Mt Cook
DAY TWELVE - MT COOK-CHRISTCHURCH
A sunrise flight is an option if yesterday's weather didn't permit as we depart Mt Cook region travelling alongside Lake Pukaki and the canals that connect these Hydro Lakes with Lake Tekapo. On a sunny day the colour of this lake is stunning being Glacier fed, its powder blue tinge makes a great backdrop to the Church of the Good
Shepherd, a highlight of this area. Depending on time either lunch here or travel over the rolling hill country to Geraldine for lunch. Departing Geraldine towards the east coast up the Canterbury Plains farming deer, sheep, alpaca (llama) and ostriches through the town of Ashburton and Rakaia with the longest two way bridge in New Zealand to
Christchurch.
Overnight Stay in Christchurch.
DAY THIRTEEN - TRANSFER FROM YOUR HOTEL TO CHRISTCHURCH AIRPORT
If you did not experience the sights of Christchurch on your first day, today's the day!
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