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Pacific Escapade
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18 Days Auckland to Christchurch
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Day 1 Arrive Auckland
'Haere Mai' … welcome to New Zealand
Having cleared customs & immigration formalities, you will be met by our representative & transferred by limousine to your city hotel. The 'City of Sails' is New Zealand's largest and most vibrant, offering an exciting array of cosmopolitan experiences.
Stay Heritage Auckland Hotel
Day 2 Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula (B)
Today, travel south to the Coromandel Peninsula, a beautiful rugged area fringed with dozens of excellent beaches that separate the Pacific Ocean from the Hauraki Gulf. It is a place where many kiwis choose to escape the hustle & hype of city life and is home to many arts & crafts people who seek an alternative lifestyle. At the quaint township of Coromandel, we ride the Driving Creek narrow gauge railway to a fascinating artist colony before crossing the divide to the eastern side of the peninsula for our overnight stay.
Stay Grand Mercure Puka Park Resort
Day 3 Coromandel, Rotorua (B,D)
Journey along the Bay of Plenty coastline to Mt Maunganui & Tauranga. Then head inland across the volcanic plateau to the geothermal city of Rotorua, an area that has enchanted visitors from around the world for more than 160 years. This evening, enjoy a twilight cruise across Lake Rotoiti to the natural themal springs of Manupirua Pools before enjoying a lakeside BBQ dinner at your resort.
Stay Amora Lake Resort Okawa Bay
Day 4 Exclusive Lake Tarawera Cruise & Te Wairoa Buried Village (B,L)
The days highlight is an exclusive cruise across the pristine, clear waters of Lake Tarawera at the base of a gigantic dormant volcano. You’ll experience spectacular scenery & some of the country’s best trout fishing & have the opportunity to soak in the thermal waters of Hot Water Beach before enjoying a gourmet picnic lunch. This afternoon, visit the Blue & Green Lakes and then wander around the famous buried village of Te Wairoa.
Stay Amora Lake Resort Okawa Bay
Day 5 Lake Taupo, Napier (B)
This morning, visit Wai-O-Tapu, a wonderland of geothermal activity. Walk at your own pace and marvel at the reserve's unique features that include the world famous Champagne Pool, geysers, bubbling mud, steaming ground, expansive vistas, huge volcanic craters & sinter terrace formations. An hour south of Rotorua is Lake Taupo, itself a gigantic volcanic crater following an enormous explosion in AD183. View Huka Falls & the Wairakei Geothermal project and take time to walk around this popular lakeside resort. Journey on to Napier, widely regarded as the 'Art Deco Capital of the World', the result of a thorough rebuilding after a massive earthquake in 1931. It boasts the largest collection of Art Deco buildings outside of Miami, Florida. Nowhere else can you see as wide a variety of 1930’s-style buildings in such a concentrated area, including Striped Classical, Spanish Mission and above all, Art Deco. Your local guide will bring this fascinating architecture to life on your walk around the town this afternoon.
Stay Te Pania Hotel
Day 6 At leisure in the Hawke's Bay (B)
Widely regarded as the ‘Tuscany of the South Pacific’, this region boasts some of New Zealand’s best and oldest wineries. You can enjoy a guided wine trail and taste some of the great wines produced locally, visit the world’s largest mainland Gannet Colony, play a challenging round of golf at Cape Kidnappers, take to the skies on an early morning balloon ride over vineyards, olive groves and orchards or simply relax and enjoy your surroundings.
Stay Te Pania Hotel
Day 7 Wairarapa, Wellington (B)
Today we travel through the rural heartland of the Wairarapa to Wellington, the nation’s capital, where you enjoy a brief sightseeing and orientation tour before checking into your accommodation.
Stay James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor
Day 8 Picton & the Marlborough Sounds (B)
This morning, cruise across Cook Strait by Interislander ferry to the picturesque fishing village of Picton. Here, we transfer by floatplane to your remote resort located in the stunning Kenepuru Sound (a scenic mussel cruise to the lodge is available for those who prefer to travel by boat).
Stay Raetihi Lodge
Day 9 Stunning Kenepuru Sound (B)
A free day to relax & marvel at the magic that is the Marlborough Sounds. Resort staff will share their love of the Sounds with you through the range of water and nature based experiences they put at your fingertips.
Stay Raetihi Lodge
Day 10 Kaikoura Coast, Hanmer Springs (B)
Return by water taxi to Picton. Rejoin your coach and travel through Blenheim to Kaikoura, world-renowned as the whale-watching centre of New Zealand. Later, we travel inland to the beautiful alpine village of Hanmer Springs for our overnight stay.
Stay Heritage Hotel
Day 11 Lake Tekapo, Aoraki Mt Cook National Park (B,D)
Continue your journey south and stop at beautiful Lake Tekapo to view the tiny Church of the Good Shepherd. Then travel up the western side of Lake Pukaki to the Mt Cook National Park, a World Heritage listed site. The park covers over 70,000 hectares of breathtaking alpine scenery. Optional ski-plane and helicopter flights are available subject to weather conditions..
Stay Mt Cook Hermitage Hotel
Day 12 tasman Glacier, Queenstown (B)
Experience the Tasman Glacier in the most unique way possible. An experienced guide will whisk you away in a stable MAC Boat to explore the melting ice-face of the Tasman Glacier. Get up close to touch & taste 400-year old icebergs that have been carved into the murky waters of the lake. Later, we travel through the MacKenzie Country before beginning the assent over the Lindis Pass and emerging into the lush green farmland that surrounds the spectacular alpine village of Queenstown, regarded as New Zealand’s premier holiday destination.
Stay Heritage Queenstown Hotel
Day 13 , 14 & 15 Explore Queenstown & the Fiordland National Park (B)
Enjoy three full days to experience this magnificent resort. Surrounded by majestic mountains, Queenstown boasts adventure activities in all forms, from extreme to relaxed exploration. Here you can take a thrilling jet boat ride, pan for gold, raft the white water rapids, take a wine trail, fish for trout, play golf or 4WD sheer canyons. It is also a great base from which to explore the Fiordland National Park, and optional day tours & overnight cruises to the awesome Milford & Doubtful Sounds are available. There are numerous activities from which to choose and your Tour Host will be pleased to offer advice and help you in your selection.
Stay Heritage Queenstown Hotel
Day 16 Arrowtown, Lake Wanaka, Fox Glacier (B)
Set beneath the rugged Crown Range is Arrowtown, a fascinating collection of mining cottages with an atmosphere straight out of last century. Enjoy time to stroll through this historic village located beside the Arrow River, once a haven for the gold prospectors of the 1860’s. There is time to wander around Lake Wanaka before enjoying incredible scenery as you travel past the untouched native forests and pristine lakes of the World Heritage Westland National Park and Haast Pass. On to Fox Glacier where there is the opportunity to experience an optional scenic flight over this remarkable region (subject to weather conditions).
Stay Distinction Te Weheka
Day 17 Spectacular TranzAlpine train, Christchurch (B)
Head north along the dramatic West Coast, steeped in history dating back to the gold rush era of the 1800's. This afternoon, board the TranzAlpine train for a coast to coast rail adventure through the Southern Alps, rated as one of the most scenic train journeys in the world.
Stay Copthorne Commodore Hotel or similar
Day 18 Depart Christchurch (B)
Sadly, your holiday is at an end and you will be transferred to Christchurch airport today for your onward flight. Here, we bid you ‘Haere Ra’, a fond farewell and hope you leave with many happy memories of your stay in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
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Highlights & Inclusions
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- Group size won’t exceed 16 guests
- 17 nights superior hotel accommodation
- Full breakfasts daily, 1 lunch & 2 dinners
- Accompanied throughout by professional, experienced Tour Host
- 2 night stopovers in Rotorua, Napier, Marlborough Sounds & Christchurch
- 4 night stay in majestic Queenstown
- Spectacular Coromandel Peninsula & Driving Creek Railway
- Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Reserve
- Twilight cruise across Lake Rotoiti to Manupirua Pools
- Exclusive Lake Tarawera cruise, Blue & Green Lakes and Te Wairoa Buried Village
- Huka Falls, Wairakei Geothermal region & Lake Taupo
- Guided Art Deco Walk, Napier
- Pukaha Mt Bruce, National Wildlife Centre
- Wellington, the nation’s capital & Te Papa National Museum
- Scenic Interislander cruise
- Stunning Kenepuru Sound
- World famous Tranz Alpine Train through the magnificent Southern Alps
- Twin Glaciers of Franz Josef & Fox
- Historic Arrowtown and beautiful Southern Lakes District
- Optional overnight cruises on Milford & Doubtful Sounds available
- World-Heritage listed Mt Cook National Park
- See & touch glaciers & icebergs up-close on your Tasman Glacier Explorer expedition
- Lake Tekapo & the Church of the Good Shepherd
- Complimentary airport transfers
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Departure Dates
Tour Prices
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