THE WONDERS OF NEW ZEALAND
12 DAYS

A perfectly paced journey through the beauty of New Zealand.
small group day excursions and excellent local guides. This trip can be further customized to reduce or add days/nights, New Zealand destinations or Australia extension.


Highlights include:
Personal guided tour of Auckland
Black sand beaches excursion
Coach sighting day trip to Rotorua
Waitomo Caves
Thermal regions
Maori cultural tour and hangi
Wellington sights
Te Papa Museum
Queenstown
Lake Wakitipu cruise
New Zealand high country farm visit
Doubtful or Milford Sound cruise
Wilderness jetboating
Mt.Cook glacier cruise
Christchurch city tour
Small group day excursions    

Depart ANY DAY. This is an independent tour that includes transfers, accommodations, touring and sightseeing.

Day 1 DEPART HOMETOWN any day.
Day 2 Cross International Dateline

Day 3 ARRIVE AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND TAHUTI MAI! 

 Breakfast inflight before you touch down at sunrise at Auckland. You are met on arrival outside of Customs and transferred to your hotel.

 10am: you have a private 2-hour tour of Auckland sights with an excellent local guide. 

 Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, is known as the City of Sails. Sprawling between two harbours (the Waitemata and the Manukau) and nestling around the beautiful island-dotted Hauraki Golf, Auckland provides residents and visitors with one of the most beautiful aquatic playgrounds in the world. Auckland contains nearly a quarter of the country’s population and is the largest Polynesian city in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the country’s business and industrial centre.

 A quick bite of lunch before you set off to the magnificent Black Sand beaches of Waitakere with a guide. Forest and beach walks, a study of some of the flora and fauna, afternoon tea...and back to your hotel well deserving of a light supper and early to bed, pleasantly tired yet rejuvenated.

Day 4 AUCKLAND/ROTORUA (B/box lunch)

 Sunrise over the Pacific as you breakfast at the hotel.

This morning, you are collected from the front of your hotel by your coach driver and set off on a scenic drive south out of the city, into rich farmlands and through cottage vineyards, arriving into Waitomo mid morning. Join a ranger-guided tour into the famous caves to see the glowworm grotto, millions of tiny glowworms lighting up a deep cavern. Return “topside” and continue on to Rotorua, enjoying a box lunch on the way with your fellow travelers. Rotorua - heart of Maori culture and a magnificent thermal region.

Settle into your hotel overlooking the lake. 

 The evening is free - you might relax in the warm thermal waters at the nearby Polynesian Pools. A spa treatment is a wonderful way to appreciate the healing waters and geothermal muds of this famous region (we can make arrangements) particularly after a full day of travel.

Day 5  Rotorua, cruise and Maori culture (B/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
This morning you cruise aboard a luxury yacht On the beautiful fresh waters of Lake Rotoiti, exploring the secluded coves and native shoreline.
You can take the helm, hoist the sails and grind the winches, try your hand at trout fishing, have a swim in the fresh water or soak in the Manupirua natural mineral hot pools that are only accessible by boat. Or, sit back and let the crew set the sails while you relax and enjoy some refreshments. 
Your skipper will point out the many historic and culturally significant sites of Lake Rotoiti.
Transfer provided to the Maori cultural thermal area for a guided tour with a local Maori guide. There is also an outdoor cafe here for a leisurely lunch. 

Taxi (own expense) back to the hotel at your leisure. 

5.45pm You are collected from your accommodation for an interactive evening at a Maori hangi and concert.

Day 6 Wellington (B) city sights and Te Papa

 Breakfast at the hotel before an early transfer to the airport for your flight to Wellington.

Today, tour the sights of Wellington, capital city of New Zealand, set on a beautiful harbour. 
This afternoon, you have a guided tour of Te Papa, the country's famous museum of history, nature and culture.

 Overnight Wellington. 

Day 7 to QUEENSTOWN (B) 

 Breakfast at the hotel before being transferred to the airport for a morning flight to Queenstown, the “Aspen of New Zealand”. Transfer to your accommodation.

 Enjoy lunch and a cold drink in one of the pubs or cafes, stroll through the shops and people watch along the waterfront.

4pm: Gain an insight into Queenstown’s unique heritage on this afternoon excursion. Cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw accompanied by an onboard historian. As you cruise you’ll learn about the steamship’s early cargo-carrying days serving the remote farms on the shores of the lake.

Disembark at Walter Peak High Country Station for a guided tour of the Colonel’s Homestead and its beautifully presented gardens. Your guide will show you around the homestead and collection of photographs and memorabilia of the pioneering farming families.

Then relax in the idyllic rural surroundings and enjoy a central Otago wine and cheese tasting, accompanied by an antipasto platter. Afterwards, stroll around the farmyard or simply relax in the gorgeous surrounds over a glass of Sauvignon Blanc or rich Pinot Noir before cruising back to Queenstown arriving at 7pm.

Day 8 Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound (B/L)

Breakfast at the hotel.

 Today you visit either Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound (your choice) for a cruise on these magnificent fiords. Enjoy lunch on board, with a return to Queenstown at 7pm. 
Note: you may extend your trip by one day and take an overnight cruise on the sounds…amazing and beautiful! 

Day 9 Wilderness Jetboat Safari (B)

 Breakfast at the hotel.

 Today’s wilderness safari combines a 1 ½ hours jet boating, with forest and nature walks and a glorious back road journey through paradise. Take plenty of film.....

 You are picked up this morning and travel up the scenic road to Glenorchy where you board your jetboat. Travel up the magnificent Dart River on these wonderful and manipulative boats, skimming by the nearby shore, turning on a dime. Stops are made for photos and short walks, and morning tea is enjoyed along the banks of the river. The Dart River is mainly inaccessible except by jetboat, so the setting is quiet and serene and absent of people but yourselves. A beautiful morning. Return to Queenstown about 1PM.

 In summer months sunscreen, sunglasses and sunhat are essential and insect repellent is recommended. Bring very warm clothes in winter or if the weather is cool. Eyewear is essential along with warm hat and gloves, a fleece jacket and windproof outer jacket.

 Afternoon is at leisure to enjoy shopping, river rafting, horse riding, golf, or people watching. Or, take the ride to Skyline Peak on the Gondola with either an exciting fast or scenic slow return by Luge.

Day 10 to Mount Cook (B)

 Breakfast at the hotel.

 You depart Queenstown early by touring coach, traveling through unsurpassed scenery and up to Mt. Cook, highest mountain point in New Zealand.  Stunning glaciers surround you. 

 This afternoon you take a cruise on a glacial lake with some short hikes with a guide. 
Time and weather permitting, during your stay, do take advantage of a fixed wing or helicopter flight to the top of the glaciers (optional). 

Day 11 to CHRISTCHURCH (B)

 Breakfast at hotel.

The morning is at leisure at Mt. Cook for that glacier flight, morning walks in the fresh mountain air.
Depart Mt.Cook by your touring coach to Christchurch, arriving at 6pm.

Day 12 Christchurch and depart New Zealand (B)

 Breakfast at your hotel and check out.

An excellent guide will collect you at 9am for an excursion through Christchurch's sight and surrounds.
Depending on your flight time, he will return you to your hotel or transfer you directly to the airport for your exit flight. 
Depart for home, or an extension to Australia (please inquire).  

Note: OTHER DESTINATIONS WITHIN NEW ZEALAND CAN BE ADDED TO THIS TRIP BASED ON YOUR INTERESTS. Regions might include Nelson and the Abel Tasman, Wellington

Cost: Standard $2771.00 USD per person, twin share
First Class: $3591.00 USD per person, twin share

Plus applicable airfares which we can arrange for you if needed.

Deposit: $350.00 per person (non refundable)
Balance: due 42 days prior to U.S. departure

Costs are estimated and based on availability of services and fluctuation of the U.S. vs NZ dollar.

Bookings and Inquiries:
Destinations Downunder, Specialists in travel to Australia and New Zealand
Mail: 3712 N. Broadway, PMB #251
Chicago, Il. 60657 USA Ph: (773)832 1699 E: travel@koalakiwi.com

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