14 Day New Zealand Highlighter  from $4945*restrictions apply

Itinerary effective 9 October 2012. Tours prior follow different itinerary. Please inquire for details.

Day 1. Arrive Auckland, Freedom of Choice Touring

You will be met and transferred to your hotel. Then choose your Freedom of Choice Touring activity. Perhaps take an Auckland city sights tour or you may prefer to go cruising on Waitemata Harbour and take in views of Auckland from the water. You may wish to visit Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter & Underwater World or enjoy a massage at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Stay: Auckland, Rendezvous Hotel.

Day 2. Auckland, Waitomo, Rotorua

Leaving Auckland, travel south to the Waitomo caves for a guided tour of the underground limestone caverns, including the magnificent Cathedral Cave. Join a silent boat ride and glide through a mystical grotto, lit by millions of tiny glow worms. Then continue to Rotorua, a centre of Maori culture and famous for its geothermal activity. Sitting on the Volcanic Plateau, this region is home to spurting geysers, hot springs and boiling mud pools. Tonight, you’ll enjoy a feast that is cooked in an earth oven known as the hangi pit. You’ll also learn about ancient Maori customs and traditions watching songs and dances, and listening to their tales and legends.
Two Night Stay: Rotorua, Holiday Inn. B, FD

Day 3. Rotorua, Freedom of Choice Touring

Rotorua is New Zealand’s oldest and best-known thermal resort. Here, your Freedom of Choice Touring options include a 4WD Bush Safari, an ecothermal tour, a round of golf, a visit to Hobbiton, which was created for the movies of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, a visit to the award-winning Rotorua Museum and more. A Country Homestay option is available tonight. BD

Day 4. Rotorua, Wellington

Follow the Thermal Explorer Highway through the heart of the North Island. View Wairakei Steam Valley, where thermal energy is harnessed at the world’s second largest geothermal power plant. See spectacular Huka Falls at the mouth of the mighty Waikato River, and tranquil Lake Taupo. Then, cross the vast volcanic plateau of World Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park and continue to Wellington.
Two Night Stay: Wellington, Amora Hotel. BD

Day 5. Wellington, Freedom of Choice Touring

Today choose from a selection of Freedom of Choice activities. Take a guided tour of the city or experience New Zealand’s incredible natural history at Zealandia. Discover the secrets behind ‘The Lord of the Rings’ movies with a tour of the Wellington sets or choose from many other options. For dinner, select a restaurant from the diverse range in this fabulous city (own expense).

Day 6. Wellington, Kaikoura, Methven

Step aboard the Interislander ferry to cruise across Cook Strait and through stunning Marlborough Sounds to Picton on the South Island. Rejoin your coach and journey through the renowned vineyard region of Marlborough, admiring the picturesque vineyards as you make your way towards the fishing town of Kaikoura, famous for its whale and dolphin watching. Then, arrive in the stunningly located Methven.
Stay: Methven, Brinkley Resort. BD

Day 7. TranzAlpine Train, Franz Josef

This morning after breakfast, board the award-winning TranzAlpine train for a trip through breathtaking landscapes to Arthurs Pass. Voted one of the top train journeys in the world, the TranzAlpine is known as New Zealand’s Great Rail Adventure. Cross the vast patchwork farmlands of the Canterbury Plains before climbing up into the Main Divide. Disembark at Arthurs Pass and continue to Hokitika by coach. Here you will have the opportunity to see Pounamu (jade) being carved into beautiful jewelry and other items. You’ll also view the ancient glacial scenery and take in the rain forest surrounding Franz Josef Glacier, a sweeping shelf of ice, said to be the tears of a Maori princess pining for her lost love.
Stay: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier. BD

Day 8. Franz Josef, Queenstown, Dine Around Dinner

View magnificent scenery today as you travel along the rugged West Coast to Haast and continue to Queenstown. Tonight, enjoy a choice of four great dining options with our Dine Around Dinner.
Two Night Stay: Queenstown, Novotel Queenstown Lakeside. B, FD

Day 9. Queenstown, Freedom of Choice Touring

Queenstown is a year-round alpine resort. Today, there is a selection of activities for you to choose from, including a guided tour of local gardens or wineries, a jetboat ride on the Shotover River, a doubledecker bus tour, a lake shore forest and bird walk, a 4WD Safari of the Scenes tour and many more. B

Day 10. Milford Sound, Te Anau

Today follow the Remarkables mountain range by coach to Fiordland National Park. Journey along Milford Road, one of the world’s finest alpine drives, then cruise the full length of tranquil Milford Sound. Later this afternoon, travel to the pretty lakeside town Te Anau.
Stay: Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas. BD

Day 11. Te Anau, Dunedin, Freedom of Choice Touring

Travel across the South Island to the east coast and the city of Dunedin, founded in 1848 as a Free Church of Scotland settlement. This afternoon, you can choose from a range of activities. Journey to the Otago Peninsula for a fascinating experience of either the Royal Albatross or Yellow-eyed Penguin colonies. Other options include a visit to Speight’s Brewery or a tour of Larnach Castle, New Zealand’s only castle.
Stay: Scenic Hotel Dunedin City. BD

Day 12. Dunedin, Mt Cook, Freedom of Choice Touring

Departing Dunedin, journey north to see the unusual Moeraki Boulders that lay strewn across Koekohe Beach on the Otago coast. Stop at Oamaru, renowned for its distinctive cream limestone buildings, then continue inland passing beautiful glacier-fed lakes of incredible color. Arrive in the heart of MacKenzie Country, surrounded by majestic mountain scenery and wide open tussock grasslands. Then journey into New Zealand’s highland and Mt Cook National Park, which was awarded World Heritage status in recognition of its rare natural beauty. View Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain at 12,516 feet above sea level. On arrival, join your selected Freedom of Choice touring activity, with options including the Glacier Explorer cruise, a guided walk through the national park or stargazing with expert astronomy guides.
Stay: Mt Cook, The Hermitage. BD

Day 13. Lake Tekapo, Christchurch

Travel to Lake Tekapo and visit the picturesque Church of the Good Shepherd. Leaving the High Country, cross the Rakaia River and travel through the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.
Stay: Christchurch, The Ashley Hotel. BD

Day 14. Depart Christchurch

This morning, you have free time to explore Christchurch. Your tour concludes this afternoon with a transfer to Christchurch airport.



* Price is in USD. See Pricing & Booking tab for more information and Canadian pricing, if applicable.

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*Terms and Conditions: Flights are not included. Prices are ‘from’ per person, based on double occupancy and travel Low Season. All prices, itineraries and routing are subject to change without notice. Prices are current at the time of posting (10/26/2011). Prices may differ when you book your travel and are not guaranteed until full payment is received and processed. All prices, itineraries and routings are subject to change. Please call for our current prices. CST#2001136-50

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