New Zealand’s South Island Private-Coach Adventure Tour
Christchurch to Queenstown
7 Nights
November 13 or November 20, 2010
February 12, 2011
Experience the stunning beauty and variety of the South Island, where alpine glaciers co-exist with coastal rain forests. We will be with sighted New Zealand guides for the full week, traveling by private coach along the length of the island, from lovely Christchurch to awe-inspiring Mt. Cook and ending in the resort city of Queenstown, New Zealand’s Aspen.
All tour travel is included, from Christchurch airport to Queenstown airport, as well as deluxe accommodations for seven nights, full breakfast each morning and four gourmet dinners. We will see Christchurch by tram and by river punt, cruise Akaroa Harbor, visit New Zealand’s famous Antarctic Centre and the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Centre, visit a salmon farm and pan for gold at the Kawarau Goldfields (where gold was discovered in 1861, triggering the Central Otago Gold Rush). We’ll have a hosted wine-tasting at one of New Zealand’s famous vineyards, then arrive at Queenstown, a stunning resort town on an inlet of Lake Wakatipu in the Remarkables Mountains, where our unique adventure continues.
A detailed itinerary follows.
Note that we have two sets of dates (above) and the first guests to book will set the dates for each group. Summer ‘down under’ in New Zealand is from November to February. The dollar is strong in New Zealand—this is a great value.
SPECIAL RATE:
$3,495 per person double occupancy; singles add $800. Program based on a minimum of 6 participants. Extend your stay in Queenstown: $100 double; $175 single.
SOUTH ISLAND ITINERARY
Day 1
Upon arrival you will be met at Christchurch airport by our New Zealand escort and brought to the Holiday Inn on Avon, a tranquil spot with large courtyard gardens. The hotel is nestled alongside the River Avon; a 10-minute stroll takes you to the heart of the city. The hotel has a heated pool, a sauna and a gym (www.holidayinnchristchurch.nz-hotels.com) as well as a restaurant and lounge. Christchurch City is on the edge of the vast Canterbury Plain, not far from the spectacular Southern Alps, and fronts on a seemingly endless beach. It is a stylish city of great English charm.
3:30 PM Gather in the lobby. We’ll walk to the dock and board punts (skiffs poled by hand) to see the inner city from the gentle waters of the River Avon. Then we’ll transfer to one of the beautifully restored vintage trams to continue our city tour.
6:00 Return to the hotel for dinner at the Willows on Avon Restaurant, with an extensive menu from the best of the region’s farm-fresh local produce.
Day 2
9:30 AM Gather in the lobby.
9:45 Depart by coach to Akaroa via the Port Hills. En route we’ll visit a traditional cheese-maker at Barry’s Bay.
11:30 A leisurely stroll around the historic coastal settlement of Akaroa. Free for lunch.
1:30 PM Harbor tour. We will take in the coastal sounds and smells of Akaroa Harbour as we cruise this flooded extinct volcanic crater and learn about its geologic origins and seafaring history, and its ecology and wildlife.
4:00 Return via Little River to Christchurch. Free for dinner
Day 3
8:30 AM We check out of the hotel and drive to the International Antarctic Centre outside Christchurch. Our interactive private tour will end with a ride in a tracked Hagglund ATV, the vehicles used by scientists on the Antarctic ice.
11:30 Drive south through the Canterbury Plain, stopping in the small settlement of Geraldine, where we’ll be free for lunch.
2:30 PM Continue our journey inland to Lake Tekapo and on to Mount Cook Village, deep in the Southern Alps. Here we will check into the iconic Hermitage Hotel, a world-renowned destination that offers superior accommodations and dining. It is set amid New Zealand’s highest peaks and offers a spectacular mountain holiday experience: www.hermitage.co.nz
7:00 Dinner at the Hermitage.
Day 4
9:30 AM This morning we’ll do some easy hiking in New Zealand’s unique alpine environment, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and glacial icefields. We’ll hear the boom of avalanches, explore the alpine vegetation and inhale the crispest, clearest mountain air your lungs have ever enjoyed. (This is where much of The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed.)
Noon Return to our hotel. Free for lunch
2:00 PM Visit the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Centre Museum for a private tour to learn about the Mount Cook massif, one of New Zealand’s most important spiritual, cultural and geographical regions.
5:00 Dinner at Mount Cook or our hotel.
Day 5
8:30 AM Check out and head south. Our first stop will be at an aqua-culture farm, famous for its trout, salmon and pristine waters.
10:30 Continue our scenic journey over spectacular Lindis Pass into the Central Otago district, stopping for lunch en route.
1:00 PM Visit the historic gold-mining area of the Kawarau Gorge—a chance to step back in time, roll up our sleeves, get down on hands and knees and learn how to pan for precious gold.
3:00 Drive on through the Kawarau Gorge to Gibston, where we’ll swirl, sniff, sip and savor a selection of handcrafted varietal wines from one of New Zealand’s leading wineries.
4:30 For those who are keen to try, an optional bungy jump off the bridge is available! This is where bungy-jumping began.
5:30 Arrive in Queenstown and check into the Kingsgate Hotel Terraces. Each room has a private balcony or courtyard and looks out over Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding Alps. Full restaurant, spa, pool and Internet are available. Free for dinner
Day 6
9:00 AM A wide variety of optional activities, in the mountains, on the bay, in cultural pursuits including museums, galleries and winery visits. Our escort will be available all day to help us make the most of our stay in Queenstown, New Zealand’s premier resort destination.
5:45 PM We’ll ride high above Queenstown on the cable car to the Skyline Restaurant for dinner and the Maori Culture Concert, a powerful and spiritual journey through Maori culture and customs. Experience the fearsome haka war dance and tribal history celebrated through traditional song and dance.
9:00 Return by gondola to our hotel.
Day 7
9.00 AM After breakfast we will check out of our hotel to begin the journey home. Depending on flights, there may be time for browsing or other optional activities before.
We also offer these optional add-ons:
• Swim with the dolphins—an opportunity to get close to one of the world’s rarest species, the Hector’s dolphin, found only in New Zealand.
• For the brave-hearted, bungy-jumping where it all began, off the famous Kawarau Bridge.
• The famous Shotover Jet boats—skimming past rocky outcrops at close range as you twist and turn through the narrow canyons at breath taking speeds.
• Milford Sound Scenic Flights and Tours – take a day-long excursion, cruise across glassy Milford Sound past cascading waterfalls, breathtaking fjords, dense forests, and Mitre Peak, a soaring landmark over 5,500 feet high.
• Mount Cook Ski planes & Helicopters offer the most spectacular alpine scenic flights in the world.
Tour Notes
• Except in the high mountains, New Zealand’s climate is temperate because the sea is never far away. Temperatures are mild, rainfall is generally moderate and there is abundant sunshine. Because New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere, temperatures decrease as we travel south, toward the Pole. The warmest months are December, January and February and the coldest June, July and August. Summertime temperatures generally range from 68º - 86º.
• Please bring sunscreen and a sun hat, comfortable walking shoes and a wind/rain-proof jacket. Layers of clothing are useful as even in summer the weather can change rapidly. (Our schedule may change based on weather.)
• When booking airline tickets, you may find better fares on a roundtrip from the US to Christchurch. A reasonable one-way ticket can be purchased to take you back up to Christchurch on Day 7 to make your connection.