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Tour Details . . .
Auckland to Christchurch
Tour available in reverse
Departs Daily
16 Days from
$NZ 4235
See
Costs below
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Highlights . . .
Waitomo Caves tour
Rotorua sightseeing
Hawkes Bay wine tour
Martinborough wine tour
Wellington city tour
Marlborough wine tour
Nelson wine tour
Canterbury wine tour
Milford Sound excursion
Otago wine excursion
Milford Sound Cruise
Bobs Peak Gondola ride
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Day 1 Auckland - Waitomo Caves - Rotorua
Journey south and follow the Waikato
River, New Zealand's longest, to Hamilton before continuing on to
the Waitomo Caves. Visit the Glow Worm Caves with their millions
of fairy lights (Included). Re-boarding the coach traverse the Mamaku
Ranges before descending to Lake Rotorua and the City.
Overnight Royal Lakeside Novotel
Day 2 Rotorua - Napier
Your morning tour first visits the
regions geo-thermal attractions. Excitement continues at the Agrodome
where the stars of the show are nearly all sheep. After the farm
show relax amongst the native bush and crystal clear pools teaming
with Brown and Rainbow trout. This afternoon travel south through
the Kaiangoroa forest to Taupo. Traverse the rugged Kaimanawa Ranges
to reach the Hawkes Bay and Napier - famous for its high quality
vineyards & orchards and Art Deco buildings built after the
1931 earthquake.
Overnight Te Pania Hotel
Day 3 Hawkes Bay Vineyards
The Hawkes Bay is one of New Zealand's
foremost wine producing regions and site of the country's oldest
winery. The region boasts over 40 wineries, many have won national
and international acclaim. With high sunshine hours, warm dry summers
and mild winters the preferred varieties include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
and Sauvignon Blanc. Join Liberty Tours for a full day personalized
tour of the region's vineyards.
Overnight Te Pania Hotel
Day 4 Napier - Martinborough
The morning will be free. Departing
Napier cross the Takapau Plains before reaching the town of Dannevirke,
originally settled by Scandinavians. Continue past Mount Bruce home
of the National Wildlife Centre with its collection in rare New
Zealand birds. Pass through the community of Masterton and the market
garden towns of Greytown to Featherston where you will be transferred
to your accommodation.
Overnight Martinborough Hotel
Day 5 Martinborough
The Martinborough region is famous
for its dry free-draining soils. These soil conditions and a dry
climate are ideal for the growth of some of the World's best grapes
and olives. Martinborough wine is now internationally acclaimed,
particularly its Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. Today your local
guide will introduce you to the Martinborough Vineyards.
Overnight Martinborough Hotel
Day 6 Martinborough - Wellington
Travel by train beneath the rugged
Rimutaka Ranges to arrive in Wellington, the Nation's Capital. This
afternoon join Hammonds City Sightseeing for a city tour. Highlights
will include the Beehive, Parliament Buildings, the Cable Car, Mt.
Victoria, Te Papa Museum of New Zealand and the southern coastline.
Overnight Capital Novotel
Day 7 Wellington - Blenheim - Marlborough
Vineyards
Cross Cook Strait on the Lynx Ferry.
On arrival in Picton you will be greeted by Marlborough Travel for
your exploration of one of the New World's finest wine producing
regions. The region has an international reputation for producing
the World's best Sauvignon Blanc plus very good Chardonnay and Riesling.
Today you will have the opportunity to meet with a number of the
regions leading wine makers.
Spend the evening staying at Black
Birch Vineyards. Your hosts have had a long association with the
New Zealand wine industry and will be delighted to share their passion
for wine with you.
Overnight Black Birch Lodge
Meals Included dinner ( with wine ) and breakfast
Day 8 Blenheim - Christchurch
Rejoining the coast, hug the rugged
seashore to Kaikoura, renowned for its lobster fishing and whale
watching. Skirt the Hundalee Hills to reach the Mountford Estate
in the heart of the Waipara Valley. Spend the evening enjoying the
Estate's fine wine and food.
Overnight Mountford Estate
Meals Included dinner ( with wine ) and breakfast
Day 9 North Canterbury Vineyards -
Christchurch
The Waipara Valley ( 45 minutes north
of Christchurch) and is regarded as one of the fastest wine growing
regions in New Zealand. It currently boasts 9 wineries, and is an
ideal cool climate grape growing area with Riesling, Pinot Noir,
Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominating local plantings. Canterbury
Vin de Pay will delight in introducing you to the regions vineyards.
Overnight Hotel Grand Chancellor
Day 10 Christchurch - Queenstown
Cross the Canterbury Plains and over
numerous snow fed rivers. Follow the base of the Southern Alps before
ascending Burkes Pass. Pass Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki. Arriving at
Mt. Cook time allows for an optional scenic flight. Cross the Mackenzie
Country with its expansive tussock and snow capped Southern Alps.
Traverse Lindis Pass and hug the banks of the Kawarau Gorge to arrive
Queenstown.
Overnight St Mortiz Grand Mercure
Day 11 Otago Wine Excursion
Central Otago is New Zealand's most
scenic wine region and the World's furthest
south. Soil structures are very different to those of New Zealand's
other regions with heavy mineral deposits in silt loams. These conditions
combined with hot dry summers and cold crisp winters are ideal for
producing high quality Pinot Noir and Riesling grapes. Discover
what makes the region so special with the knowledgeable guides of
Queenstown Wine Tours.
Overnight St Mortiz Grand Mercure
Day 12 Milford Day Excursion
Round Lake Wakatipu and cross northern
Southland to Te Anau. Drive through the Eglinton Valley with its
hanging glacier valleys, pristine temperate rainforest and towering
peaks. Exiting the Homer Tunnel arrive at Milford Sound. Cruise
on the Sound and inspect up close the cascading waterfalls, sea
life and towering rock faces. Leaving Milford retrace your travels
to Queenstown.
Overnight St Mortiz Grand Mercure
Day 13 Queenstown
A free day to explore this premier
resort with its extensive range of attractions. Included is the
Bob's Peak gondola ride with it's magnificent alpine views.
Overnight St Mortiz Grand Mercure
Day 14 Queenstown - Glaciers
Journey past Lakes Dunstan, Hawea and
Wanaka. Enter the West Coast Rain Forest as you climb over Haast
Pass. Wind your way down through towering mountains with their cascading
waterfalls to the coast. Cross the Haast River, pass tranquil lakes
encircled with forest, to reach the Glaciers.
Overnight Franz Josef Hotel
Day 15 Glaciers
The day is free for activities. Popular
are glacier and bush walks or a scenic flight with an on snow landing.
Alternatively just sit back and enjoy the delightful alpine scenery.
Overnight Franz Josef Hotel
Day 16 Glaciers - Christchurch
Travel through dense Westland forests
to arrive Greymouth. Board the TranzAlpine train for what is rated
as one of the World's premier rail trips. Pass Lake Brunner and
through dense bush to arrive at Otira. Exiting the tunnel at Arthur's
Pass the railway hugs the banks of the Waimakariri River before
reaching the plains and Christchurch.
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