CHRISTCHURCH,
QUEENSTOWN
SOUTH
ISLAND SPECTACULAR
11 DAYS FROM $2,119 US
Details below or
click here for more information INQUIRY FORM
Phone: 1-888-682-6449/1-303-670-5640
Fax: (425) 984-7676
Discover the scenic beauty of New
Zealand during this enchanting Regional Discovery vacation. Begin in
Christchurch, the famed “Garden City.” Here you’ll board your train for
a spectacular rail journey through the Southern Alps. See the Franz
Josef Glacier, then travel along the coast to Haast for a river safari
through breathtaking natural splendor. Continue to Queenstown for
sightseeing and a selection of activities. Enter into Fiordland
National Park and cruise through magnificent Milford Sound. On to
Dunedin, the “Edinburgh of the South,” for your choice of activities.
Journey north to Mount Cook National Park with a stop en route at
unusual Moeraki Beach. From the High Country, travel through the
Canterbury Plains and return to Christchurch, the perfect finale to
your South Island adventure.
Days
1-2 Fly to New Zealand
Board your transpacific flight
and skip a day as you cross the International Date Line.
Day 3 Arrival in
Christchurch
Haere Mai—welcome to New
Zealand! This afternoon is free for you to explore the pretty garden
city of Christchurch.
Day 4
Christchurch–TranzAlpine Train–Franz Josef
This morning, board the TRANZ
ALPINE TRAIN for one of the most spectacular rail journeys in the
world. Enjoy stunning scenery as we journey through spectacular gorges,
river valleys, and across the country’s greatest mountain range, the
magnificent Southern Alps. Disembark at Arthur’s Pass and continue to
Hokitika by motorcoach. Here, take the opportunity to see Pounamu
(jade) being carved into beautiful jewelery. Continue along the
dramatic West Coast and enter the World Heritage-listed area of Te
Wahipounamu— South West New Zealand. View the magnificent Franz Josef
Glacier. Nowhere in the world’s temperate zones are glaciers as
accessible as here. There may be the opportunity to enjoy an optional
scenic flight over this incredible region, weather permitting. (B,D)
Day 5 Franz
Josef–Queenstown
Enjoy a day of incredible
scenery as we travel along the West Coast, through a world of mountains
and glaciers, limestone landscapes, tranquil lakes, raging rivers, and
rare bird and plant life. At Haast, experience a unique RIVER SAFARI
with breathtaking views of the massive glacier-formed Haast River
Valley, flanked by towering peaks, cascading waterfalls, and dense
temperate rainforest. Follow the shores of Lakes Wanaka and Hawea to
the action-packed alpine resort of Queenstown. Tonight, choose from one
of four restaurants for dinner. (B,D)
Day 6 Queenstown
Queenstown is an exhilarating,
year-round alpine resort, perfect for adventurers and leisure-seekers
alike. Today we have a selection of activities for you to choose from.
A Queenstown “Double Decker Explorer” tour, an “Original Wine Tour” of
some of the local and awardwinning wineries, an exhilarating jetboat
ride on the Shotover River, or a relaxing garden tour might be for you.
Perhaps the “Safari of the Scenes” tour, a 4WD adventure into Skippers
Canyon, might appeal, or a leisurely walk around Lake Wakatipu on a
“Lakeshore Forest and Bird Walk.” (B)
Day 7
Queenstown–Milford Sound–Te Anau
More beautiful scenery today
as you travel into FIORDLAND NATIONAL PARK through the Homer Tunnel to
Milford Sound. Boasting some of the most breathtaking scenery in the
world, this region of New Zealand has the elite status of belonging to
UNESCO’s World Heritage Parks. CRUISE on the fiord with sheer rock
walls rising thousands of feet from the water’s great depths. This
afternoon we have a relaxing drive to the tranquil settlement of Te
Anau. (B,D)
Day 8 Te Anau–Dunedin
Travel across the South Island
through small farming communities to Dunedin. The city was settled by
the Scottish in 1848 and is now known as the “Edinburgh of the South.”
Dunedin is also the old Gaelic name for Edinburgh. This afternoon,
choose what activity you want to participate in. Consider a tour of the
Speights Brewery and Heritage Centre where they brew popular Speights
Ale; maybe visit Otago Peninsula to see the Royal Albatross Colony or
explore Penguin Place to spot “Hoiho,” rare yellow-eyed penguins; or
perhaps explore Larnach Castle, New Zealand’s only castle and its
beautiful gardens. (B,D)
Day 9
Dunedin–Oamaru–Mount Cook
Departing Dunedin we journey
north to Moeraki Beach with its unusual boulders. Stop at Oamaru, a
historic town renowned for its distinct cream limestone buildings, then
continue inland past beautiful glacier-fed lakes of incredible color.
We continue our journey into New Zealand’s highland and MOUNT COOK
NATIONAL PARK. View Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain at 3,754
meters above sea level. You may wish to take an optional scenic flight
over this awe-inspiring alpine region, weather permitting. (B,D)
Day 10 Mount
Cook–Christchurch
This morning we stop at the
beautiful Lake Tekapo, once an ancient glacier, and visit the
picturesque stone Church of the Good Shepherd. Leaving the High Country
we cross the braided Rakaia River and travel through the mixed cropping
and sheep grazing holdings of the vast Canterbury Plains to
Christchurch. (B,D)
Day 11
Christchurch–Departure
This morning, choose from a
range of exciting activities. Enjoy a sightseeing tour including the
Antarctic Centre, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, Christchurch Tram, and
Christchurch Gondola; take a leisurely trip on the Avon River or a bike
ride around Christchurch City; or maybe wander through some of
Christchurch’s local gardens. Later, transfer to the airport for
departure. Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)
INCLUDED FEATURES
CHRISTCHURCH: TranzAlpine train
journey; choice of sightseeing
HAAST: River safari
QUEENSTOWN: Visit Fiordland
National Park; cruise on Milford Sound; choice of sightseeing
DUNEDIN: Choice of sightseeing
MOUNT COOK: Sightseeing in Mount
Cook National Park
INSIDE VISITS
Inside visits and special
features are shown in the description, including admission charges when
applicable.
MEALS
American breakfast daily (B)
and 6 dinners (D).
SUPERIOR HOTELS
CHRISTCHURCH Copthorne Central
Hotel (F), FRANZ JOSEF Franz Josef Glacier Hotel (MF), QUEENSTOWN
Novotel Gardens Hotel (F), TE ANAU Village Inn (MF), DUNEDIN Scenic
Circle Dunedin City Hotel (F), MOUNT COOK The Hermitage Hotel (MF)
DEPARTURE
DATES
April - December
PRICES
From approx $2,119
US
per person double occupancy