TM 4 - NEW ZEALAND HIGHLIGHTS 13 Days / 12 Nights PACKAGE: DURATION: TM 4 - NEW ZEALAND HIGHLIGHTS 13 Days / 12 Nights Package Highlights: Helihike or Helicopter snow landing Milford sounds Cruise Whale watching Gondola ride and Luge Ride Wild Life Park & Lion Encounter Antarctic Centre Glacier Region Tranz Alpine Train Auckland City Tour Tour Plan Day 1 Arrival day Welcome to Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand. We will meet and Greet you at the International Airport, delivered documents and transferred to your accommodation. Queenstown s stunning scenery, huge range of activities and renowned warm welcome cement its Waitomo glow worm caves Rotorua Attractions All transfers to and from the activities Kelly Tarlton Sea Life Aquarium All Breakfast
reputation as New Zealand s favourite visitor destination. Surrounded by majestic mountains and set on the shores of crystal clear Lake Wakatipu, the natural beauty and the unique energy of the region create the perfect backdrop for a holiday full of adventure, exploration or relaxation. At your leisure you can visit the Gondola. Accommodation in Queenstown: Day 2 Queenstown and surrounding sightseeing We will cover the following today: Queenstown Hill views AJ Hackett Bungy Bridge Arrowtown Chinese settlement Wanaka & Puzzle world Shotover Gorge Accommodation in Queenstown Day 3 Tick off this from your bucket list Milford Sounds/cruise You will kick off with 4 hours drive to o e of the World s top tra el desti atio Milford Sounds. An area recognized as World Heritage site and covers 26,000km2 encompassing 4 National Parks and mesmerizing mountains with waterfalls reaching the lake which you will be watching from the cruise boat Most visitors cherish this experience as their memorable New Zealand visit and reminisce over it years to come. New Zealand loves sharing the natural beauty of this special place to visitors and the captain of your ship will guide you through about sounds and its history and wildlife. If you are lucky, you boat will be followed by blue nose tip dolphins in groups enjoying the cruise, a site unforgettable. The cruise offers delicious Indian lunch, freshly prepared on board by Scenic Cruise Operators own chefs. So, sit back, relax and enjoy every minute of your stay aboard the cruise this rare Milford Sound Experience. After the cruise return to Queenstown by coach.
Accommodation in Queenstown. Day 4 Free day to Explore Queenstown: Today is a free day to explore the endless optional attractions available. Queenstown offers bungy jumping, jetboating, white water rafting, parasailing, minus 5degree ice bar and much more. Accommodation in Queenstown. Day 5 Queenstown to Franz Josef Glacier Depart Queenstown by coach passing through Cromwell, Wanaka and Hawea before travelling over the magnificent Haast Pass into Westland. On arrival transfer to your accommodation. A local shuttle is available to take you to the glacier base where you can enjoy some short walks and magnificent views. Spectacular photo opportunities abound of these huge ice masses. Watch out for keas (native parrots) and their inquisitive cheeky play. Accommodation in Franz Josef
Day 6 Explore Franz Josef Glacier - Glacier Helihike or snow landing An exciting scenic flight over all three icefalls of the Franz Josef Glacier. Landing high up on the glacier, you undertake a two hour guided trip amongst some of the most beautiful terrain available. Your guide chooses the route as you go and with an eye for the most spectacular ice formations you'll soon be making your way through a wonderland of towering pinnacles and brilliantly blue ice. The panoramic views of the glacier and surrounding mountains are supreme. With plenty of opportunities for the perfect photograph and the chance to learn more about glaciers, this will almost certainly be the most memorable experience you will have while in New Zealand. With a spotless safety record, rigid assessments, and using exclusive quality equipment, your safety and enjoyment is taken care of. You will need an average fitness level. In the Evening relax at the Glacier Hot Pools Nestled in lush rainforest, the Glacier Hot Pools is a haven of natural tranquillity and the perfect way for visitors to unwind and experience a blissful state of pure relaxation after travelling along the coast or enjoying one of its many attractions. The Glacier Hot Pools are situated in a heavily wooded rainforest, beneath mature 30 metre tall trees. The temperatures of the three main pools and three secluded private pools range from 36 to 40 degrees. Massage facilities add to an atmosphere of complete indulgence. Amid this tranquil and enticing setting, the natural water features and call of native birds calm the mind and nourish the spirit. As you immerse yourself into the Glacier Hot Pools, day-to-day worries disappear as our team takes care of the finer details. Hire towels, lockers, swim clothing retail and refreshment facilities are all available on site. Accommodation in Franz Josef
Day 7 Franz Josef to Greymouth Tranz Alpine Train to Christchurch This morning travel north through the small townships of Whataroa and Harihari. Stop at the Bush a s Ce tre for refresh e ts a d a ha e to e perie e a it of West Coast hu our. Co ti ue through the township of Ross, which in the late 1800s was the centre of one of New Zealand's richest alluvial goldfields. In 1903 the largest gold nugget ever found in New Zealand was discovered at Jones Creek, not far from the town centre. It weighed 2807 grams. The New Zealand Government later purchased the nugget and presented it as a coronation gift to King George V. On arrival into Hokitika there is time to purchase lunch, walk around the town centre, to view the greenstone factories, visit the woodworking studio, or just relax and enjoy the windswept coast. Hokitika is the administrative and commercial centre for this part of Westland. The major primary industry is timber milling. Dairy and sheep farming, commercial fishing, white baiting and eel processing being the other major industries. Continue onto Greymouth Railway Station from where you catch the world famous Tranz Alpine train across the Southern Alps to Christchurch. Your accommodation in Christchurch. Day 8 Kaikoura Whale watching A life time experience, not to be missed We ill e isiti g the ari e e iro e t ith so e of the orld s largest a als the Giant Sperm Whales about 20metres long and weigh around 50 Tons i Kaikoura a out 2 ½ hour s drive from Christchurch. The specialty about Kaikoura is that the whales throng this place and can be seen all year round making Kaikoura one of the most popular whale watching locations in the world. On your Return back to the Hotel Enjoy a delicious dinner at the Hotel and rest well.
Day 9 Morning - International Antarctic Centre At the Antarctic Attraction their aim is to re-create the atmosphere and environment of Antarctica, providing visitors with an interactive, fun and exciting experience of the "Great White South". For most people, this will be the closest they will be able to come to experiencing this continent. Afternoon Orana park Lion feeding Ora a Wildlife Park is Ne Zeala d s o l ope ra ge zoo. Orana specialises in providing unique animal encounters in an open range setting. Get up close and personal with the wonderful animals! Your lion feeding experience is booked at 2:30pm. Your accommodation in Christchurch. Day 10 Rotorua Sights: Te Puia, Rainbow Springs, Agrodome and Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley Discover three of Rotorua's best visitor attractions on this morning Rotorua sightseeing tour. Gai a i sight i to Ne Zeala d's Māori ulture at Te Puia, then experience Rotorua's famous geothermal activity with a tour of the neighbouring Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley - a place where mud pools bubble and boil and geysers shoot steam high into the air. You'll also see Te Puia's woodcarving a d ea i g s hools a d see ho these a ie t Māori art for s are ei g passed o to a new generation of master artists. Then see our agricultural industry in action at the Agrodome, a working organic farm where you can find out all about farming life in New Zealand, watch a sheep shearing display and see sheep dog trials where the hard-working farm dogs show off their amazing skills. New Zealand wildlife and natural scenery is on display at Rainbow Springs Nature Park, where you can get up close to all kinds of native flora and fauna including the famous kiwi, a flightless native
bird. Wander through native forest and discover New Zealand birds, fish and lizards (including the ancient tuatara), as well as exotic animals from around the world. Evening: Hangi & concert at Tamaki village 05:00pm to 09:00pm Coach will pick you up from your Hotel for your Experience of the Māori culture with traditional ceremonies, cultural performances and an authentic hangi dinner with an evening tour of Tamaki Māori Village o the outskirts of Rotorua. Accommodation in Rotorua. Day 11 Rotorua to Auckland via Waitomo Glow-worm caves by coach: Take a sightseeing day tour from Rotorua to Auckland, including a guided tour of the fascinating Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Leaving the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua in the morning, we travel through lush farmland into the King Country region. Along the way, enjoy your driver guide's commentary on the area's history and highlights, and enjoy spectacular sights like Fitzgerald Glade, where the trees arch overhead to form a tunnel of natural greenery. After arriving in the small town of Waitomo, you'll be taken on a 45-minute guided tour through the world famous Glowworm Caves, which were discovered in 1887 and are now one of New Zealand's most popular tourist destinations. Wander through subterranean caverns and learn how the stalagmites, stalactites and other spectacular limestone rock formations were formed over millions of years. To end your tour, travel through the Glowworm Grotto on a magical boat ride, surrounded by the twinkling lights of thousands of glowworms. After your Glowworm Caves tour you'll have leisure time at the Waitomo visitor complex. Restaurant and cafe-style meals are available at your own expense, or alternatively you can pre-book a delicious buffet lunch (optional extra). Enjoy the stunning views and learn more about the region in the discovery centre. We journey on through the beautiful Waikato region, the dairy farming capital of New Zealand, and northward toauckland, where your tour concludes on arrival in the afternoon. Accommodation in Auckland.
Day 12 Auckland City Sights and Kelly Tarlton Sea Aquarium Discover first-hand why Auckland is regarded as one of the best places in the world to live, with a half-day tour of its scenic highlights. Travel through the city centre, covering Karangahape Road, Ponsonby and over the Auckland Harbour Bridge, enjoying views of the Hauraki Gulf and city skyline. Famous Queen Street before continuing to the Auckland Domain. The Domain is the city's oldest park and, at 75 hectares, one of its largest. Developed around an extinct volcano, it features tropical gardens, duck ponds and public art, and is also home to the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Our tour will then take you along the scenic waterfront route of Tamaki Drive to Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park, above Mission Bay. Named after one of New Zealand's most revered Prime Ministers, the park, with its formal gardens and tranquil atmosphere, offers a panoramic outlook over the picturesque Eastern Bays, Auckland city and the Waitemata Harbour. The Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Ice Adventure gives you a rare opportunity to get close to New Zealand's only colony of Antarctic penguins. Come within arm's length of the 80-plus colony of King and Gentoo penguins as they waddle on the ice and play underwater. Or journey back in time to Captain Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic hut and see authentic artefacts from Scott's expeditions. Learn about their discoveries and find out what it was like living in Antarctica, the coldest place on earth! Your Auckland city tour ends with a trip back along the waterfront, finishing in downtown Auckland. Accommodation in Auckland
Day 13 Free day for shopping - Depart New Zealand Today is completely free day for shopping and you will be collected from your accommodation and a private transfer will deliver you to Auckland airport in time for your departing flight.