South Island Eco Self Drive - Extended Itinerary 01 April 2011-31 March 2012 Day 1 - ARRIVE CHRISTCHURCH (D) On arrival at Christchurch Airport you will be met and assisted with your luggage and rental car collection. Travel westward across the Canterbury Plains towards the Southern Alps. Pass through small country towns as the road gradually ascends into the foothills of the Alps that run down the centre of the island. Climb up through a landscape of beech forests, steep scree slopes and gorges to the mountain village of Arthur's Pass. Several kilometres down the road is the pass itself which was originally built by pick and shovel and completed in 1866. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure before joining your fellow travellers for dinner this evening. Accommodation: Wilderness Lodge Arthur's Pass 2 nights in an Alpine Lodge room including dinner and breakfast Wilderness Lodge Arthur's Pass is nestled in mountain beech forest, midway between Greymouth and Christchurch. Discover wild nature in our spectacular mountain setting and experience life on our 2,400 hectare nature reserve and high country merino sheep station. Walk from your room into a natural paradise of beech forest, tussock clearings, moss-lined streams and lakes. The highlight of the Lodge is a daily programme of nature discovery activities. Day 2 - ARTHURS PASS (B, D) Following breakfast enjoy the day at leisure. Weather & local conditions allowing there are numerous short or long self guided walks that you can take around the Lodge. The lodge track network covers 30km (20 miles) and provides a fascinating introduction to the mountains. Optional extra activities are also available, including, canoeing on a nearby lake, guided nature walks on the estate, farm tours and guided excursions into the Arthur's Pass National Park. On clear nights star gazing is a popular way to end the day. Page 1 of 5
Day 3 - ARTHURS PASS TO FRANZ JOSEF (B, D) Leave Arthurs Pass behind this morning and descend through luxuriant rainforest and the precipitous Otira Gorge to the West Coast. Travel south along the coast and through the former gold mining town of Hokitika. From Hokitika, the road dips in and out of dense bush for many miles, crossing beautiful stretches of countryside scattered with small farming settlements to Franz Josef, the first of the West Coast's two wellknown Glacier settlements. Accommodation: Te Waonui Rainforest Retreat 1 night in a Run of house room including dinner and breakfast At one with nature, Te Waonui Forest Retreat is the ultimate coming together of luxury escape and environmental awareness. Great care has been taken to ensure this exceptional forest retreat steps lightly upon the earth, from the organic cotton bedspreads to its recycled local building materials. Discerning travellers will appreciate the hotel's attention to detail, which starts with attentive personal service upon arrival, and continues throughout all the hotel facilities and every aspect of your stay. Day 4 - FRANZ JOSEF TO LAKE MOERAKI (B, D) Guided Glacier Heli-Hike Take to the sky on a short scenic flight up the glacier formed valley to land high up on the Franz Josef Glacier. Your landing site on the ice is a remote and exceptionally beautiful part of the glacier. At this stage, your guide outfits you with crampons, specially designed for these ice conditions and you follow the ice steps cut by your guide as you explore the amazing formations and ice caves which are only seen here. Each departure is a true voyage of exploration. There are so many changing features that the guides always find something new. Weather permitting; ice time is about 2.5 hours. Depart Franz Josef this afternoon and travel through a former sawmilling area to Fox Glacier. Continue on through the forests of red and white pine to Bruce Bay, an old gold mining settlement. Pass through attractive bush scenery and see tranquil Lakes Paringa and Moeraki, the haunt of the fabulous white heron. Accommodation: Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki 2 nights in a Riverview Room including dinner and breakfast Page 2 of 5
Spectacular beaches that are home to fur seals and crested penguins, untouched lowland rainforests spread between pristine lakes and rivers which drain the snow capped Southern Alps. Few places on earth can match the unique natural setting of the Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki in the heart of the 2.7 million hectares South West New Zealand World Heritage Area, Te Wahi Pounamu (Maori translation: the place of greenstone jade). Day 5 - LAKE MOERAKI (B, D) Enjoy a day at leisure in this wilderness paradise. Radiating from the Lodge is a network of rainforest and Tasman seacoast walks. In front of the Lodge there is a fleet of canoes for you to explore the Moeraki River and you can paddle the short distance up the river to the Lake. As well as exploring on your own and joining in with the complementary activities you can also join in a number of optional longer guided wilderness adventures. On safe, well-planned adventures you will get close to wildlife, learn about the forest, experience amazing scenery and friendly company. Day 6 - LAKE MOERAKI TO QUEENSTOWN (B) During today's drive you will pass through dense temperate rain forests and alongside the rugged coastline. Eventually you turn inland at the Haast River. Follow the river up through the mountains to Haast Pass, where the road follows the path of a trail originally used by Maori traveling to the West Coast in search of pounamu (greenstone). Emerge into an open valley and descend to skirt the shores of Lake Wanaka. Pass over The Neck, a thin strip of land separating Lake Wanaka from the vivid blue Lake Hawea. Continue down the western shoreline of Lake Hawea and drive over the gently undulating countryside to Cromwell. Continue through the various vineyards of the Central Otago Wine region and the Kawarau Gorge to arrive in New Zealand's premier resort town, Queenstown. Accommodation: Azur Lodge 3 nights in a luxury Villa including daily full breakfast and evening pre-dinner drinks and canapés It would be hard to imagine a more perfect view than the one from Azur Lodge, this luxury accommodation offers amazing uninterrupted views of Lake Wakatipu & the surrounding mountains. Azur offers nine identical free standing villas and a main lodge that houses the lobby, breakfast dining room & stunning guest lounge. Page 3 of 5
Azur is located on a hilltop in a private & secluded part of Queenstown offering complete privacy & isolation, yet it is only 5 minutes by complementary transfer from Downtown & 15 minutes from Queenstown Airport. Day 7 - QUEENSTOWN (B) Milford Sound Scenic Flight and Cruise On your flight into Milford enjoy panoramic views of spectacular alpine scenery, lush rainforest and finally Milford Sound. Once on the ground at Milford Airport you will be transferred by coach to Milford wharf where you will step aboard your luxury vessel to cruise the full length of Milford Sound to the Tasman Sea. The vessel provides excellent viewing and there is plenty of time to enjoy the waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife. A comprehensive commentary is provided throughout the cruise. Complimentary tea and coffee are available onboard. On returning to Milford Wharf you will be transferred back to Milford Airport for your scenic flight back to Queenstown. Remote, mysterious and uniquely New Zealand, Milford Sound is a spectacular reminder of the forces of nature that shaped this land. Formed thousands of years ago during the ice ages, Milford Sound is the northernmost fiord in Fiordland National Park and is, without doubt, the most dramatic. Here in this place of unparalleled beauty, you will find cascading waterfalls, luxuriant forests and the towering pinnacle of Mitre Peak, rising one full mile to the sky. No matter what the fiord's mood, shrouded in mist or with sun glistening on deep waters, it will inspire you. The afternoon is at leisure. Day 8 - QUEENSTOWN (B) Relax and enjoy a day at leisure in New Zealand's premier four season lake and alpine resort. Queenstown has a well deserved reputation for adrenalin style activities such as Bungy Jumping, Jet Boating, Sky diving and white water rafting to name just some of the activities available. However, there are also relaxing lake cruises on a vintage steamer, beautiful bush and lakeside walks, wine trails, world class day spa's, excellent golf courses and great shopping. Queenstown offers something for everyone. Page 4 of 5
Day 9 - DEPART QUEENSTOWN (B) Enjoy the morning at leisure before making your way out to Queenstown Airport in time to join your onward flights. End of arrangements. Itinerary Includes: Christchurch Airport Meet & Greet and assistance with rental car collection. Accommodation for 2 nights at Wilderness Lodge Arthur's Pass in an Alpine Lodge Room and including full breakfast & dinner (or Grassmere Lodge during winter months). Budget Rentals - Intermediate Sized Automatic, 10 days including fully comprehensive insurance. GPS on request. Accommodation for 1 night at Te Waonui Rainforest Retreat, run of house room including dinner & breakfast. Accommodation for 2 nights at Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki in a Riverview room including dinner & breakfast. Franz Josef Glacier guided Heli-hike. Accommodation for 3 nights at Azur Lodge, lake view luxury Villa and including daily full breakfast and evening pre-dinner drinks and canapés. Milford Sound scenic flight and cruise ex Queenstown. Government Tax - GST (15%) Itinerary Excludes: International or domestic airfares. Gratuities. Items of a personal nature e.g. telephone calls, internet access, laundry. Page 5 of 5