New Zealand Guided Tours

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1 Experience New Zealand Travel Ltd Wellington, New Zealand Phone +64 (4) New Zealand Guided Tours New Zealand Splendour Operator: AAT Kings Days: 15 Start: Auckland Finish: Christchurch AAT Kings is a multi-award winning company with over 80 years experience in the coach tour industry. It s one thing to have the best coaches and itineraries, but entirely another when it comes running a professional tour and that s where AAT Kings staff excel. AAT Kings tours are packed with loads of inclusions so that you get real value for money. They offer comfortable accommodation, more sightseeing inclusions, cultural highlights, exclusive experiences and more free time to see the sights you want to see. Tour Overview So many adventures to be had from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South. Venture down into the depths of a glowworm grotto, experience the fun and frivolity of a sing-along on a cruise in Queenstown, then fall asleep to the sound of waves crashing on the beach outside your hotel in Punakaiki. Inclusions Attractions Discover Waitomo s famous Glowworm Grotto By My Guest at Shenandoah for an afternoon tea experience Wellington s city sights and Mt. Victoria Sail the Cook Strait to Queen Charlotte Sound Enjoy in a 5 course degustation dinner in Blenheim Savour a delicious Kiwi BBQ at Morelea Farm Marvel at the clear waters of Lake Tekapo & Lake Pukaki Discover truly spectacular Milford Sound on a cruise Taste Central Otago stone fruit at a local orchard Discover Franz Josef Glacier Visit a jade factory and marvel at artists at work Explore Punakaiki Rocks Journey over the Southern Alps on the TranzAlpine Train Included Choice experiences in Rotorua & Queenstown Private car airport transfers on arrival and departure Enjoy New Zealand wines with all hotel dinners

2 Experience New Zealand Travel Ltd Wellington, New Zealand Phone +64 (4) New Zealand Guided Tours Transportation Tour by luxury air-conditioned coach with 2-door access, restroom, seatbelts, reclining seats, panoramic windows, charging points and free Wifi. Professionally Escorted Tour with an experienced, professional Tour Director and Tour Driver Dining Inclusions Breakfast of Choice (4) Full Buffet Breakfasts (10) Be my guest Lunch (1) Be my guest Afternoon Tea (1) Highlight Dinners (4) Dinners with wine (6) Farewell Dinner (1) Plus Welcome Reception Travel wallet and map Airport transfers Transfer Information Flights must arrive into Auckland Airport prior to 4.00pm on Day 1. You can depart from Christchurch at anytime on Day 15. Tour itinerary B = Full Buffet Breakfast BC = Breakfast of Choice L = Your Invited Lunch DW = Hotel Dinner HD = Highlight Dinner L/A = Be My Guest Lunch/Afternoon Tea FD = Farewell Dinner Day 1: Auckland On arrival at Auckland Airport you ll be met and transferred by private car to your hotel. The afternoon is at leisure for you to explore Auckland. This evening meet your Travel Director for a welcome reception and highlight dinner at The Langham. Your indulgent degustation is prepared for you from the freshest, quality ingredients, including mouthwatering seafood and delicious desserts. Hotel: The Langham, Auckland. HD Day 2: Auckland - Rotorua After a tour of Auckland, trace the Waikato River to the Waitomo Caves to explore the fascinating Glowworm Grotto. From Waitomo to Rotorua you ll venture through the King Country. On arrival in Rotorua an orientation tour takes in views of Lake Rotorua. Tonight enjoy a Maori Hangi feast highlight dinner and concert for an insight into Maori culture at the Tamaki Maori Village. Hotel: Millennium Hotel, Rotorua, 2 nights. B HD

3 Day 3: Rotorua Included Choice Today choose one from a range of Included Choice sightseeing experiences. Perhaps unwind at the Polynesian Spa. Visit Te Puia and tour through the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve. Or you could take a fascinating tour of the Hobbiton movie set. Or explore Rotorua and its three lakes in an amphibious WWII era Duck. Tonight you have the option of staying at your hotel or with a nearby Kiwi family. BC The Rural Homestay must be pre-booked if you would like this included in your trip. It must be pre-booked at the time of booking the tour as it is subject to availability. A warm welcome awaits you on your New Zealand farm stay and your hosts will provide you with the wonderful Kiwi hospitality that really makes you feel at home. Enjoy dinner and breakfast, a farm tour to introduce you to the way of life and comfortable accommodation in the farm home or cottages. You may choose to meet the animals, including sheep, cows, deer and many others, or simply relax and enjoy the company of your hosts and the scenic surroundings. Day 4: Rotorua Wellington View the mighty Huka Falls and drive along the shores of Lake Taupo. Discover the alpine scenery of Mt. Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park and the dairy farms of Manawatu. This afternoon visit Shenandoah for a unique Be My Guest experience. The historic villa s owners, Simon and Claudia, will show you around their property, which includes a unique private collection of Harley Davidson motorcycles. Enjoy afternoon tea in their garden then take a short tour to see the local wildlife including friendly Highland cows. Continue along the Kapiti Coast to Wellington. Hotel: James Cook Grand Chancellor, Wellington. BC A DW Day 5: Wellington - Blenheim Why not discover more of Wellington this morning. Perhaps visit the Parliament buildings and the Beehive, home to New Zealand s politicians. Later, visit Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand. Cruise the Cook Strait into Queen Charlotte Sound. The village of Picton is next, then it s on to Blenheim for a city sightseeing tour. Tonight enjoy a 5-course highlight dinner prepared from local produce matched with wines of the Marlborough region, including selections from Villa Maria and Saint Clair wineries. Hotel: Chateau Marlborough, Blenheim. B HD Page 3 of 6

4 Day 6: Blenheim - Christchurch En route to the whale-watching haven of Kaikoura, you ll pass the Grassmere Salt Works and see New Zealand fur seals up close at Ohau Point. Travel to Christchurch and see the extensive work carried out to rebuild the city after the earthquake of February Stop in and visit the Re:Start Mall, a project designed to breathe life back into the city centre. Hotel: Novotel, Christchurch. B Day 7: Christchurch Twizel Visit Morelea Farm, a typical working sheep farm, where you ll get a taste of traditional New Zealand country life. You ll be welcomed into the home of Angie and Stan Taylor and their beautiful 240 hectare garden. You ll have the chance to see sheep shearing and farming demonstrations before enjoying a Be My Guest barbecue lunch, and wait until you try Angie s famous pavlova dessert! Listen to the family s story of growing up in rural New Zealand and their challenges of farming in the foothills of New Zealand s Southern Alps. Later, see spectacular Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki and visit the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd on your way to Twizel. Hotel: MacKenzie Country Hotel, Twizel. B L DW Day 8: Twizel Dunedin View the Waitaki Hydro Power Scheme and Benmore Dam located on the shores of New Zealand s largest man-made lake, Lake Benmore. You ll stop in at the gorgeous harbour town of Oamaru. Most well-known for its stunning 19th century white limestone architecture, Oamaru is also home to potters, painters, cheese-makers and many other artisans. And you may even spot an Oamaru Blue Penguin! On arrival in Dunedin, you may wish to take a wander around the beautiful grounds of New Zealand s first university, Otago University. Dunedin, also known as the Edinburgh of the south, has strong connections to its northern hemisphere sister city, even down to sharing many of the street names. This evening enjoy dinner with wine at your hotel. Hotel: Scenic Hotel Southern Cross, Dunedin. B DW Day 9: Dunedin Included Choice - Te Anau This morning choose one from a range of Included Choice sightseeing experiences. You have the option to tour Larnach Castle, ride the historic Taieri Gorge Railway, take the Monarch Wildlife Cruise or experience an interactive of tour Speight s Brewery. Later, travel across farming land to the village of Te Anau, on the shores of Lake Te Anau, the South Island s largest lake. Hotel: Distinction Hotel, Te Anau. B DW Day 10: Te Anau - Queenstown Be awestruck by the magnificence of the World Heritage listed Fiordland National Park. Amazing photo opportunities await you today as you see rainforest, ancient glaciers, mountain ranges and the hand-made Homer Tunnel. Pass the Mirror Lake, Pop s Lookout, Cleddau Valley and the Chasm. Your cruise on Milford Sound will take you past Bowen Falls and Mitre Peak. Afterwards, travel along the shores of Lake Wakatipu on your way to Queenstown, where an orientation tour finishes this highlight day. Hotel: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown, 2 nights. B Page 4 of 6

5 Day 11: Queenstown Included Choice Today choose one from a range of Included Choice sightseeing experiences. You have the option to ride the Shotover Jet, take a gondola to Bob s Peak for thrilling luge rides, or visit the Skyline Restaurant for dinner. Or take a 4WD minibus tour through spectacular Skippers Canyon. Perhaps visit Kiwi Birdlife Park or journey deep into the mountains to Mt. Nicholas High Country Farm for lunch. This evening cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue highlight dinner at the Colonel s Homestead. An entertaining farm show provides a glimpse into high-country farm life. Why not join in a sing-a-long on your way back to Queenstown? BC HD Day 12: Queenstown - Franz Josef Visit the historic gold mining village of Arrowtown then enjoy the tastes of delicious stone fruit at Cromwell. See lakes Dunstan, Hawea and Wanaka. Travel over the Haast Pass and view Thunder Creek Falls. Your final destination for today is the extraordinary Franz Josef Glacier. You may want to view the glacier on a helicopter flight (own expense). This evening enjoy dinner with wine at your hotel. Hotel: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier (Douglas Wing), Franz Josef. BC DW Day 13: Franz Josef - Punakaiki It s time for an adventure amongst temperate rainforest giants on the West Coast Treetop Walkway. Explore Franz Josef Glacier take a scenic flight or a glacier hike (both own expense). Then depart for Hokitika, home of the native greenstone (jade) for a factory visit and jewellery demonstration. Later, travel to coastal Punakaiki to view the Pancake Rocks. You ll spend the night in an eco-friendly resort, right on the waterfront. This evening enjoy dinner with wine at your hotel, while watching the surf thundering at your doorstep! Hotel: Punakaiki Resort, Punakaiki. B DW Day 14: Punakaiki- Christchurch Travel to the alpine village of Arthur s Pass and board the TranzAlpine. This spectacular train journey dates back to 1914, and is rated as one of the word s most scenic train trips. The train forges through tunnels and over viaducts with panoramic views of snowcapped peaks, icy rivers, beech forests, gorges and river valleys. Join your Travel Director this evening for a farewell dinner with wine. Hotel: Novotel, Christchurch. B FD Day 15: Depart Christchurch Your holiday concludes this morning after breakfast. You ll be transferred by private car to Christchurch Airport for your onward flight. B Page 5 of 6

6 Booking Terms and Conditions Booking and Payment To confirm your reservation, a non-refundable deposit of $200 per person per tour is required. Reservations will be held for 7 days only without deposit. Once your deposit has been received, AAT Kings will send us confirmation of the details of the booking. Balance of payment for your holiday is to be paid 50 days prior to departure or within of 72 hours of booking if less than 50 days but more than 8 days prior to departure, or at the time of booking if than less than 7 days prior to departure. Cancellations and Amendments Cancellation fees will be levied relative to the amount of notice given: 50 or more Days Notice - Loss of Deposit Days Notice 27.5% of holiday price 21-8 Days Notice 33% of holiday price 7-1 Days Notice 55% of holiday price Day of Departure 100% of holiday price Any cancellation of additional services booked prior to and after your tour booking, such as pre/post accommodation, that are cancelled within 14 days of the tour departure incur a 100% cancellation fee. A fee of NZ$55.00 per person will be charged for any changes made to a reservation after the booking has been confirmed unless the change increases the value of the booking. A change of tour date and/or itinerary within 45 days of the tour departure will be treated as a cancellation and normal cancellation fees will apply, except when the change is to an earlier departure date of equivalent or greater value in which case the amendment fee will be charged. Brochure valid: 01 October September Click here to return to the Experience New Zealand website. Page 6 of 6