Experience New Zealand Travel Ltd Wellington, New Zealand Phone +64 (4) 473 4470 www.experiencenz.com travel@experiencenz.com New Zealand Guided Tours Spirit of New Zealand Operator: AAT Kings Best Buys Days: 21 Start: Christchurch Finish: Auckland 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 Venture into parts less travelled. Indulge in a little star-gazing before retiring to your private cabin for your overnight stay on Milford Sound. Journey out to Abel Tasman National Park and take a stroll along seemingly untouched golden beaches. Hear how the coastal city of Napier rebuilt in Art Deco style after the devastating earthquake of 1931. Inclusions Highlights Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd on the shores of Lake Tekapo Spend the night cruising on magical Milford Sound Let loose in the adventure capital, Queenstown Gondola ride and dinner at Skyline Restaurant Explore the Glowworm caves at Te Anau by boat Taste Central Otago stone fruit at a local orchard See awe-inspiring Franz Josef Glacier Watch artisans carving native greenstone (jade) in Hokitika Punakaiki, home to Pancake Rocks & Blowholes Visit Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand Immerse yourself in Maori culture at a Hangi & Concert Explore the geothermal valley at Te Puia in Rotorua Relax in the Bay of Islands Visit the historic Waitangi Treaty Reserve
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 (20) Hotel Dinners (11) Highlight Dinners (2) Plus Welcome Drink Travel wallet and map Airport transfers Transfer Information You must arrive at Christchurch Airport prior to 4.00pm on Day 1, you can depart from Auckland Airport at any time on Day 21. Tour itinerary B = Breakfast D = Dinner HD = Highlight Dinner Day 1: Arrive Christchurch On arrival in Christchurch you will be transferred from the airport to your hotel. Meet your Tour 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 Travel through Oamaru, with its famous white limestone buildings, to Dunedin for a tour of the city. Then you ll have the opportunity to visit Larnach Castle. Hotel: Kingsgate Hotel, Dunedin. B D
Day 4: Dunedin Milford Sound Be awestruck by the World Heritage Fiordland National Park. You ll see rainforest, ancient glaciers and mountain ranges, and then drive through the Homer Tunnel. Pass Lake Matheson, Pop s Lookout, Cleddau Valley and the Chasm, before arriving in Milford Sound for your overnight cruise. (Cruise does not operate 21 May-15 September. During this period there will be a day cruise on Milford Sound and accommodation in Queenstown) Cruise: Cruise Overnight Milford Sound. B D Day 5: Milford Sound - Queenstown This morning depart for Te Anau, on the shores of Lake Te Anau. Explore the famous Te Anau Glowworm Caves by boat with a local guide, before travelling to the adventurecapital Queenstown. Hotel: Copthorne Hotel and Resort, Queenstown (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, join a wine tour, play a round of golf, take a 4WD minibus excursion through Skippers Canyon or 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 high-country farm life. Then join in a sing-a-long on your cruise back to Queenstown. B Day 7: Queenstown Free Time Another action-packed day or time to relax. Tonight you ll ride the gondola to Bob s Peak for a highlight dinner at the Skyline Restaurant. B HD Day 8: Queenstown Franz Josef Glacier Visit the historic gold mining village of Arrowtown, on the Arrow River. 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 amazing World of Wearable Arts and Classic Cars, where you will experience unforgettable garments from the gala award shows held each year. Hotel: Grand Mercure Monaco Resort, Nelson (2 nights). B D
Day 11: Nelson Free Time On this day at leisure, 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 you head across Cook Strait to Wellington, New Zealand s capital. Enjoy a city sights tour before you visit Maori Cultural Icon Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand, where you ll explore its nature, art, history and cultural heritage. Hotel: Travelodge, Wellington (2 nights). B D Day 13: Wellington Free Time You have a free day to see the sights of your choice. Perhaps take a tour of Parliament, a Lord of the Rings movie tour or a cruise to Somes Island in Wellington Harbour. B Day 14: Wellington Napier Travel through the vineyards of the Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay to Napier. Enjoy a city walking tour with a local guide and learn how Napier was rebuilt after the 1931 earthquake. Hotel: Scenic Hotel Te Pania, Napier. B D Day 15: Napier - Rotorua Travel to Lake Taupo, the largest in New Zealand. Visit mighty Huka Falls en route to Rotorua. Take a sightseeing tour with views of Lake Rotorua. Enjoy an evening of fun and laughter and gain an insight into traditional Maori culture followed by a delicious buffet highlight dinner at the Tamaki Maori Village. Hotel: Ibis Hotel Rotorua, (2 nights). B HD Day 16: Rotorua Sights Visit Te Puia, the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, where you ll see demonstrations of wood carving and weaving. Then tour the geothermal valley and hear about its importance to the Maori people. B Stay on a Farm Experience farm life first hand. For an extra $65 per person enjoy genuine New Zealand hospitality when you spend tonight with a local family on a nearby farm. You ll enjoy wholesome meals, comfortable accommodation a farm tour to introduce you to their way of life. Let us know if you would like to pay additional to have a farm stay (must be pre-booked at the time of booking the tour and is subject to availability)
Day 17: Rotorua - Auckland You re off to see the multi-awardwinning and highly entertaining Agrodome Farm Show, to gain an insight into agricultural life in New Zealand. You ll see the art of sheep shearing, sheepdog demonstrations, cow milking, bottle feeding of lambs and an exciting sheep auction. Later, travel through the dairy farming district of Waikato then continue to Auckland for a city sightseeing tour. Hotel: VR Queen Street Hotel and Suites, Auckland. B Day 18: Auckland Bay of Islands Depart Auckland through Orewa and the scenic Hibiscus Coast. Walk among the Kauri trees at Parry Kauri Park. Explore Whangarei, the northern-most city in New Zealand, and then it s off to Paihia in the Bay of Islands. Enjoy a scenic cruise to Cape Brett and the famous Hole in the Rock. Hotel: Copthorne Resort (Garden View) Bay of Islands, (2 nights). B D Day 19: Bay of Islands Free Time You have a free day to experience the beauty of the Bay of Islands. Perhaps go dolphinwatching, take a coach trip to Cape Reinga via idyllic 90 Mile Beach, a day of sailing on a tall ship or take a tour to historic Russell. Ask your Travel Director about optional experiences. B Day 20: Bay of Islands - Auckland Visit the historic Waitangi Treaty Reserve, where New Zealand s founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, was signed. Later, return to Auckland. Celebrate your holiday at a farewell dinner with your Travel Director and new-found friends. Hotel: VR Queen Street Hotel and Suites, Auckland. B D Day 21: Depart Auckland Your holiday concludes this morning after breakfast. You ll be transferred to Auckland 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: 50 or more Days Notice - Loss of Deposit 49-22 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.