King Kiwi 17/ Day National Chinese Guided Tour. North & South Islands, New Zealand. King Kiwi Itinerary. Auckland to Rotorua

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1 King Kiwi 17/18 12 Day National Chinese Guided Tour North & South Islands, New Zealand King Kiwi Itinerary Start: Auckland Finish: Christchurch Duration: 12 days/11 nights Departures: 2017 Tuesdays: 21 Nov / 5 & 19 Dec 2018 Tuesdays: 2, 16 & 30 Jan / 13 & 27 Feb / 13 & 27 Mar / 17 April Standard Twin Pricing: $2599 NZD, Single room upgrade $990 NZD (exclude Blue Duck Station) Pick Up Location: 8.30am :Corner of Queens and Victoria Street (Outside ANZ Bank) 8.35am :Sky Tower (Victoria St) 8.40am :YHA City (Queens St bus stop) Day 1: Auckland to Rotorua Haere mai (welcome)! Your Stray tour kicks off in New Zealand s largest city, Auckland. From here we head south to Rotorua for free time to discover a city well-known for its Maori heritage, adventure and geothermal activity. In the afternoon, the group will venture out for an exhilarating mountain bike tour with a local Maori guide through the towering California Redwood trees of Whakawerawera Forest. In the evening, you have the option to visit Tamaki Maori Village or the Polynesian Spa. At the award-winning Tamaki Maori Village, you learn about Maori art, ancient rituals and traditions and experience a delicious hangi meal and interactive cultural performance. Alternatively, a relaxing soak in one of the many geothermal pools at the Polynesian Spa is a wonderful way to finish a busy day of adventure. Accommodation included: Comfortable central motel (3 star) Activities included: Guided mountain bike tour through Whakawerawera Forest Stray Limited 1

2 Optional paid activities: Tamaki Maori Village, Polynesian Spa Day 2: Rotorua to Taupo We start the day with the option to experience the place where the real Middle Earth story began, the Hobbiton Movie Set. Explore the hills, gardens and houses that were home to Frodo and Bilbo in Peter Jackson s epic trilogies. Those not interested in Hobbiton will have free time for activities in Rotorua, with the option to experience the world s one and only human powered suspended aerodynamic racing pod, the Shweeb. Before we leave Rotorua, we ll visit one of the mud pools at Waiotapu Thermal Park for an example of Rotorua s spectacular natural wonders. We will also stop at a secret spot in the native bush for a chance to swim in an all-natural geothermally heated creek. Carrying on to Taupo, we will stop at the thundering Huka Falls, NZ s most photographed natural attraction, on the way into town. Next, we head to the town centre on the shores of Australasia s largest freshwater lake, the Great Lake Taupo. You have the rest of the afternoon free for activities. The most popular activity here is to jump out of a plane and skydive over the lake, but you can also test your bravery with a bungy jump or go sailing on the lake. Accommodation included: Comfortable motel in town (4 star) Activities included: Visit Waiotapu mud pool, swim in Kerosene Creek, visit Huka Falls Optional activities: Hobbiton, Agroventures, skydiving, bungy jumping, sailing Day 3: Taupo to Blue Duck Station This morning we depart early driving through to the UNESCO Dual World Heritage Site of Tongariro National Park. There s time for a break to capture National Park s dramatic volcanic scenery and to enjoy a short 20min return walk to Tawhai Falls, better known as Gollum s Pool from The Lord of Rings films. Our destination today is regularly ranked by passengers as one of Stray s #1 overnight stops and you ll soon see why. Located in one of the most remote parts of the North Island, Blue Duck Station is a sprawling 7,200 acre high country farm that is both a working station and an environmental conservation leader. Once you arrive, the hosts will provide an educational talk about life and the mission of Blue Duck Station, followed by a working dog demonstration and farm tour of this amazing property. Dinner and dessert are included tonight. NOTE: Accommodation at Blue Duck Station is available in Quad Share. Single/Private upgrades do not apply at Blue Duck Lodge; however these may be purchased on the day subject to availability. Accommodation Included: Remote country station lodge (Quad-share) Activities included: Lake Taupo lookout, Tawhai Falls (Gollum s Pool) walk, Blue Duck Station educational presentation, working dog demonstration and farm tour, Dinner Optional paid activities: Horse trek, clay bird shooting, kayaking, jet boating Day 4: Blue Duck Station to Raglan (Via Waitomo) Today, we head north west for the coast. Our first stop is Waitomo, a small rural town where the main attraction is in fact underground. Don t miss out on the opportunity for a seriously cool caving Stray Limited 2

3 adventure that will have you wading, climbing, abseiling and tubing through Waitomo s magnificent cave network. If you want something a little more relaxing, there is a gentler guided tour option to view the twinkling glow-worms in their underground habitat. Our overnight destination tonight is the world-renowned surf town of Raglan, famous for its perfect surf breaks and stunning black sand beaches. We arrive in time to catch a private sunset cruise around Raglan Harbour and witness the incredible West Coast sunset. On board our boat, we ll enjoy a classic Kiwi dinner of fresh fish and chips as we watch the sun melt into the Tasman Sea (included). Accommodation included: Comfortable central motel (3 star) Activities included: Sunset boat cruise, with fresh fish and chips for dinner, Dinner Free activities: Walk around Ruakuri Reserve, Waitomo Valley Caves walk Optional paid activities: Waitomo must-do caving options or an underground glow-worm tour Day 5: Raglan to Auckland Fly to Christchurch There s no better place to learn to surf than Raglan, and you have the option to take a beginner s surf lesson with the local experts. If you don t fancy a splash in the waves, the morning is yours to relax and enjoy the beach. After we leave Raglan we will go on a little adventure to Bridal Veil Falls, where a short walk through beautiful native bush leads to an impressive cascading waterfall. On the way north, there s time to stop for ice cream before we arrive in Auckland in the afternoon. We will stop to drop you off at the Auckland Airport to catch your flight to Christchurch. Your airport shuttle transfer to the accommodation and tonight s accommodation is included. Christchurch is the South Island s largest city and is also known as the Garden City for its many public parks and gardens. Accommodation included: Contemporary central hotel (3 star) Activities included: Visit Bridal Veil Falls, Pokeno ice cream stop, flight from Auckland to Christchurch, transfer from airport to Christchurch accommodation Optional paid activities: Learn to surf, Ice cream Day 6: Christchurch to Mt Cook Get ready for your South Island adventure! Pickups start in the city centre at 9:30am, followed by pickups from the Christchurch International Airport at 10:00am. We ll head south across the Canterbury Plains and venture deep into the beautiful Mackenzie region, known for its unbelievably blue lakes and snow-capped mountain landscape. At the iconic township of Lake Tekapo, famous for its turquoise glacial waters, we ll stop to stretch our legs and explore some historic sites including the Church of the Good Sheppard. From Tekapo, we continue past picturesque Lake Pukaki on route to our destination at the base of New Zealand s highest mountain, Aoraki/Mt Cook. Aoraki is the mountain s Maori name, meaning Cloud Piercer. You have an option to do a scenic flight to enjoy the stunning views of New Zealand s highest peaks and spectacular alpine scenery. As one of the few designated International Dark Sky Reserves in the world, this is one of the very best places in New Zealand to join a stargazing tour and be mesmerized by the night sky above. Lupin flowers: Between November and December the beautiful purple lupin flower blossoms all across the Stray Limited 3

4 Central Otago region. When in season, we ll make stops to admire beautiful fields of these flowers. Accommodation included: Alpine lodge in the national park (3 star) Optional paid activities: Mt Cook Alpine Scenic Flight, Big Sky Stargazing tour Day 7: Mt Cook to Wanaka Start your morning early with an invigorating hike through the Hooker Valley surrounded by the native alpine bush and the dramatic Southern Alps mountain range. We ll leave Mt Cook Village midmorning to continue south, stopping in Omarama for lunch. Time permitting, we might catch a sheep shearing demonstration, where an educational 30min show teaches about the importance of the wool industry in New Zealand. From here it s over the Lindis Pass, and into the popular lakeside holiday township of Wanaka. You ll have the remainder of the afternoon to sign up for one of the many activities on offer, whether it s mountain biking around the lake, exploring the weird yet wonderful Puzzling World, skydiving, or learning to fly your very own stunt plane. Accommodation included: Hotel in town with views of the mountains (3 star) Activities included: Hooker Valley walk Optional paid activities: Mountain biking, skydive, Learn to Fly, Puzzling World, Wrinkly Ram sheep shearing demonstration Day 8: Wanaka to Queenstown We have a big day planned with lots of activities to look forward to as we make our way towards Queenstown. On route, we ll stop in Cromwell, famous for its fresh fruit and nut produce. Next up is a visit to AJ Hackett s Bungy Bridge, where this sporting phenomenon originally began. If there was ever a time to try a bungy, today is the day. Even if it s not your thing, you ll still enjoy watching others take the leap of faith! After all that excitement, we ll soothe the nerves by visiting Gibbston Valley Winery to sample some Pinot Noir, the region s specialty, with the option to pair it with fine Patagonia chocolates. We ll spend time exploring the historical township of Arrowtown, where you can experience first-hand a settlement of gold mining huts built by Chinese immigrants during the Otago Gold Rush of the 1860s. At the end of the day we will arrive into Queenstown, known in New Zealand as the Adventure Capital of the World! Your guide will take you around the city centre, pointing out all the important places you need to know to ensure you make the most of your free day tomorrow. Queenstown has a lively nightlife with plenty of excellent restaurants, pubs and live music to check out. Accommodation included: Comfortable motel not far from the city centre (3 star) Activities included: AJ Hackett Bungy Centre at Kawarau Bridge, visit Gibbston Valley Winery, tour of Arrowtown s historic settlement, Queenstown city tour, real fruit ice cream Optional paid activities: Bungy jump, wine & chocolate sampling Stray Limited 4

5 Day 9: Free day in Queenstown You have a full free day to explore everything Queenstown has to offer. No matter what your pasttime of choice is there is an activity for you! Options include: bungy jumping, zipline tours, canyoning, Shotover River jet boating, skydiving, a walk up to Ben Lomond mountain for unbeatable views, stroll the city gardens or simply soak up the stunning scenery and quality eateries in town. Optional activities on this day are at your own expense. Accommodation included: Comfortable motel not far from the city centre (3 star) Optional paid activities: Shotover Jet, Nevis Bungy, Skyline Gondola & Luge, zipline, skydiving Day 10: Queenstown via Milford Sound to Te Anau It s another early start as we depart for the natural wonder of Fiordland National Park. Sit back and take in one of the most spectacular drives on the South Island as we travel around the edge of Lake Wakatipu and watch the landscape morph from rolling farmland to mountains and dramatic fiords. Our destination is New Zealand s most famous attraction, Milford Sound, sometimes called the Eighth Wonder of the World. This afternoon we will board a scenic boat cruise and navigate through the deep green waters, surrounded by sheer mountains, dewy rainforest and tumbling waterfalls. Keep your eyes open for the fur seals, dolphins and penguins that are often spotted in the fiord. After our Milford cruise, we will return to our accommodation situated right on Lake Te Anau, the South Island s largest lake. Accommodation included: Cosy motel with excellent lakeside views (4 star) Activities included: Milford Sound cruise Day 11: Te Anau to Dunedin We depart Te Anau this morning to make our way back to the east coast. Today s destination is Dunedin, a prominent university city known for its Scottish heritage, Victorian architecture, breweries and white sand beaches that are home to fur seals, sea lions, penguins and the only mainland breeding colony of royal albatross in the world. We will arrive in time to join an afternoon Peninsula Wildlife Tour. Alternatively, you have free time to explore the city on foot, marvel at the classical architecture, stroll the Chinese Garden or Botanic Garden, take a guided tour of the Speight s Brewery or visit the historic Larnach Castle. Accommodation included: Comfortable motel not far from the city centre (3 star) Activities included: Dunedin City Tour Optional paid activities: Wildlife tour, Dunedin Chinese Garden, Speight s Brewery Tour, Larnach Castle High Tea Day 12: Dunedin to Christchurch On our way out of town this morning we ll stop to visit Dunedin s Baldwin Street, the steepest street in the world. From here, we drive north up the coast to the Moeraki Boulders, one of the South Stray Limited 5

6 Island s most fascinating attractions. These naturally occurring giant spherical stones are embedded on a sandy beach. Each weigh several tonnes and range up to 3m wide. Next stop along the coast is the old world town of Oamaru. You ll be guided through the Victorian precinct with the option to check out Steampunk HQ, an intriguing museum dedicated to retro-futuristic sci-fi art. After lunch in Oamaru, we express back to Christchurch, arriving early evening at approximately 5:00pm. You will be dropped off at either the Christchurch International Airport or your Christchurch accommodation. Sadly, this is where your Stray journey comes to an end, but we hope you had a blast! Activities included: Moeraki Boulders, Oamaru city tour Optional paid activities: Steampunk HQ Sci-Fi Museum What s Included: + Experienced Stray Mandarin speaking tour guide + 10 nights twin-share 3-4 star accommodation (male/or female rooms) + 1 night s quad-share unique farm stay + Touring as indicated + Meals: 11 x breakfasts, 2 x dinners, 1 x ice cream, 1 x real fruit ice cream + Flight ticket from Auckland to Christchurch + Transport from Christchurch airport to the accommodation + Rotorua: Guided mountain bike tour through Whakawerawera Forest, visit Waiotapu mud pool, swim in Kerosene Creek + Taupo: Visit Huka Falls + National Park: Tawhai Falls walk (Gollum s Pool) + Blue Duck Station: Educational presentation, working dog demonstration, 4WD farm tour, dinner and dessert + Raglan: West Coast sunset boat cruise, fish and chips dinner + Waikato: Bridal Veil Falls + Auckland: Pokeno ice cream stop + Mt Cook: Hooker Valley walk + Queenstown: Visit AJ Hackett Bungy Centre at Kawarau Bridge + Queenstown: Visit Gibbston Valley Winery + Queenstown: Tour of Arrowtown s historic settlement + Queenstown: Queenstown city tour + Te Anau: Milford Sound cruise + Moeraki: Moeraki Boulders + Oamaru: Oamaru city tour Optional Paid Activities: + Rotorua: Hobbiton, Tamaki Maori Village, Polynesian Spa + Taupo: Skydiving, bungy jump, sailing + Waitomo: Caving adventure, underground glow-worm tour + Raglan: Learn to surf + Mt Cook: Alpine Scenic Flight, Big Sky Stargazing tour + Wanaka: Mountain biking, skydive, Learn to Fly, Puzzling World, Wrinkly Ram sheep shearing demonstration + Queenstown: Shotover Jet, Nevis Bungy, Skyline Gondola & Luge, zipline, skydiving + Dunedin: Wildlife tour, Dunedin Chinese Garden, Speight s Brewery Tour, Larnach Castle High Tea + Oamaru: Steampunk HQ Sci-Fi Museum Stray Limited 6

7 What to Bring: + Camera + Water bottle + Sturdy walking shoes + Bathers/towel + Hat & sunscreen + Warm layered clothing + Waterproof jacket + Toiletries + Insect repellent + Motion sickness tablets Stray Limited 7