Experience New Zealand Travel Ltd Wellington, New Zealand Phone +64 (4) 473 4470 www.experiencenz.com travel@experiencenz.com New Zealand Guided Tours Southern Spirit Operator: AAT Kings Best Buys Days: 14 Start: Christchurch Finish: Wellington 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, sightseeing inclusions, cultural highlights, exclusive experiences and more free time to see the sights you want to see. Tour Overview Take a wander through the city of Christchurch and stop for a photo at the world s only Cathedral built entirely of cardboard. Enjoy dinner with a spectacular view in Queenstown. Stay in the pretty seaside village of Picton then travel across the Cook Strait to the cosmopolitan capital city of Wellington. Inclusions Highlights Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd on the shores of Lake Tekapo Spend the night cruising on magical Milford Sound Explore the Glowworm caves at Te Anau by boat Let loose in the adventure capital, Queenstown Gondola ride and dinner at Skyline Restaurant on Bob s peak See awe-inspiring Franz Josef Glacier Watch artisans carving greenstone (jade) in Hokitika Punakaiki, home to Pancake Rocks and Blowholes Set sail on Queen Charlotte Sound Explore Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand Discover New Zealand s capital Wellington on a city tour Tour through Christchurch to witness the incredible rebuild of the city
Experience New Zealand Travel Ltd Wellington, New Zealand Phone +64 (4) 473 4470 www.experiencenz.com travel@experiencenz.com 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 Full Buffet Breakfasts (13) Hotel Dinners (9) Highlight Dinners (1) Plus Welcome Drink Travel wallet and map Airport transfers Transfer Information Flights to arrive at Christchurch Airport prior to 4.00pm on Day 1 and depart from Wellington Airport anytime on Day 14. Tour itinerary B = Breakfast D = Dinner HD = Highlight Dinner Day 1: Christchurch On arrival at Christchurch Airport you ll be transferred to your hotel. This evening meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a welcome reception and dinner. Hotel: Ibis Hotel, Christchurch. D Day 2: Christchurch Omarama Board your coach to see the extensive work carried out to rebuild the city after the devastating earthquake of February 2011. Later, travelling over the patchwork countryside of the Canterbury Plains, the spectacular sightseeing begins. Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki are first up. Next you ll visit the Church of the Good Shepherd before soaking up the sensational alpine landscape of Mt. Cook National Park a scenic highlight! You may choose to take an optional scenic flight over Mt. Cook (weather permitting). Hotel: Heritage Gateway Hotel, Omarama. B D Day 3: Omarama Dunedin Your day starts along the Waitaki River with the Waitaki Hydro Power Scheme and Benmore Dam. Travel through Oamaru with its famous white limestone buildings to Dunedin, for a sightseeing tour of the city. There s the opportunity to visit New Zealand s only castle, Larnach Castle and its stunning gardens. Hotel: Kingsgate Hotel, Dunedin. B D
Day 4: Dunedin Milford Sound Travel along the Devil s Staircase and the shores of Lake Wakatipu to Te Anau. You ll be awestruck by the great sights of Fiordland National Park, New Zealand s largest. Drive through the hand-hewn Homer Tunnel to the abundant photo opportunities afforded by the Mirror Lake, Pop s Lookout, Cleddau Valley and the Chasm, before arriving in Milford Sound for your magical overnight cruise. (Milford Mariner does not operate 21 May- 15 September. During this period there will be a day cruise on Milford Sound and accommodation in Queenstown). Cruise: Overnight Milford Sound Cruise. B D Day 5: Milford Sound - Queenstown This morning depart for Te Anau, on the shores of Lake Te Anau, the largest lake on the South Island. Here you ll explore the Te Anau Glowworm Caves by boat with a local guide, before continuing to Queenstown, the adventure-capital, for your 3 night stay. Hotel: Copthorne Hotel and Resort, 3 nights. B D Day 6: Queenstown Free Time Explore exciting Queenstown your way. You may like to consider taking one of our optional experiences. You could ride the Shotover Jet boat, tempt your tastebuds on a tour of the region s popular wineries, play a round of golf, take a 4WD minibus excursion through Skippers Canyon, or just explore Queenstown on your own. This evening why not consider a cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard New Zealand s oldest steamship, the TSS Earnslaw, to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue dinner at the Colonel s Homestead? An entertaining after-dinner farm show provides a glimpse into highcountry farm life. On the cruise back to Queenstown, join in a sing-along or a dance across the polished wooden floors of the Earnslaw. B Day 7: Queenstown Free Time You have another day to relax and enjoy the many scenic delights of Queenstown. Tonight you ll ride the gondola to spectacular Bob s Peak for a highlight dinner at the Skyline Restaurant. B HD Day 8: Queenstown Franz Josef Visit the historic gold mining village of Arrowtown on the Arrow River, previously one of the world s richest rivers. Second stop is Cromwell and its sensational stone fruit. Then it s a trio of lakes Lake Dunstan, Lake Hawea, Lake Wanaka. Through the Haast Pass, view Thunder Creek Falls and enjoy a rainforest walk. Final stop, majestic Franz Josef Glacier. Hotel: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier (Graham Wing), Franz Josef. B D Day 9: Franz Josef Punakaiki You can see Franz Josef Glacier from the air or take a glacier hike (both optional). Depart for Hokitika, home of the native greenstone (jade), for a factory visit and demonstration. Later travel to Punakaiki to view the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. You ll stay in an eco-friendly resort right on the waterfront. Enjoy dinner while watching the thundering surf at your doorstep! Hotel: Punakaiki Resort, Punakaiki. B D
Day 10: Punakaiki Nelson Soak up the scenic wilderness of the Heritage Highway through the impressive Buller Gorge and the Kahurangi National Park before arriving in Nelson. This afternoon you ll visit the World of Wearable Arts and Classic Cars. Hotel: Grand Mercure Monaco Resort, Nelson (2 nights). B D Day 11: Nelson Free Time You ll have the option to journey to the top of the South Island and enjoy a relaxing cruise in the Abel Tasman National Park. Or perhaps take a short bush walk, relax in sunny Nelson or explore the many arts and craft galleries. B Day 12: Nelson Wellington Visit the seaside village of Picton and cruise on tranquil Queen Charlotte Sound before heading across Cook Strait to Wellington, New Zealand s capital. Enjoy a city sights tour before a guided tour of Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand, where you ll explore New Zealand s nature, art, history and cultural heritage. Hotel: Travelodge, Wellington (2 nights). B D Day 13: Wellington Free Time You have a day at leisure to see the sights of your choice. Perhaps take a tour of Parliament, one of the Lord of the Rings movie tours or even a cruise to Somes Island in Wellington Harbour. Ask your Travel Director for details. B Day 14: Depart Wellington Your holiday concludes this morning after breakfast, you ll be transferred to Wellington Airport for your onward flight. B
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: 45 or more Days Notice - Loss of Deposit 44-22 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 2017 30 September 2018. Click here to return to the Experience New Zealand website.