Journey your way through New Zealand s beautiful islands. Revel in the natural grandeur of the south, where you ll experience glaciers, mountains, fiords and whales, before heading over to the north island to enjoy Maori culture and cosmopolitan cities. New Zealand is a destination that offers breathtaking sight after breathtaking sight you won t be able to help falling in love with it. Ride the TranzAlpine Express Cruise Milford Sound Stargaze at Mount Cook Spot whales at Kaikoura Experience a Maori hangi Visit Waitangi and the Bay of Islands Grand Tour of New Zealand Worldwide Tour 22 Days Comfortable Christchurch - Queenstown Kaikoura Wellington Rotorua Auckland Bay of Islands
The Grand Tour of New Zealand tour inclusions: Return international economy flights, taxes and current fuel surcharges (unless a land only option is selected) All accommodation Most meals as stated (18 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 8 dinners) All sightseeing and entrance fees All domestic transportation and transfers Touring with guides and entrance fees Specialist advice from our experienced travel consultants Safe and secure with ABTA, ATOL and IATA The only thing you may have to pay for are personal expenditure e.g. drinks, optional excursions or shows, insurance of any kind, tipping, early check in or late checkout and other items not specified on the itinerary. Worldwide Tours: With these worldwide tours you can expect exactly the same Wendy Wu Tours experience. You ll get to see the iconic sites and magnificent treasures of New Zealand on an excellent value group tour, whilst also getting to travel with like-minded people. This tour includes most meals, which gives you some freedom at lunch time and in the evenings to go out and try some restaurants of your choice. You will be accompanied by a dedicated and professional National Escort throughout, on this tour you will have two one on the South Island and one on the North Island, whose unparalleled knowledge will turn your holiday into an unforgettable experience. Comfortable Tours: Grand Tour of New Zealand is a comfortable paced tour. Although this is the easiest pace of tour Wendy Wu Tours offers it still requires a reasonable level of fitness. There will be sightseeing on foot for both short and extended periods of time There will be walking on uneven ground, climbing on and off boats and time spent on boats in the ocean Of course, our National Escort and local guides will always endeavour to provide the highest level of service and assistance; however, they cannot be expected to cater for customers who are unfit to complete the itinerary.
Itinerary Grand Tour of New Zealand Days 1-3: Christchurch Board your flight to Christchurch. Due to flight times and the time difference, you will arrive into Christchurch two days after you departed Ireland. On arrival on day three you will be met at the airport by your National Escort from Wendy Wu Tours. Together with all other group members who may be arriving at a similar time, you will transfer approximately 30 minutes to your city hotel for a one-night stay. Christchurch Considered the most English of New Zealand s cities, Christchurch is still dealing with the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 but remains a vibrant and charming city even with all of the rebuilding projects going on. It is also the gateway to the spectacular beauty of the South Island, so the perfect place to begin your New Zealand Grand Tour. Day 4: Fox Glacier (B,L,D) Transfer for 10 minutes from your hotel to Christchurch s train station to board the TranzAlpine Express. Crossing the Canterbury Plains from Christchurch, you ll run alongside the Waimakariri River before traversing the mighty mountains of the Southern Alps themselves, where the scenery is unsurpassed, to arrive in Greymouth 4 hours and 30 minutes later. Travel on to Franz Josef (approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes), stopping en route at the little town of Hokitika. View the magnificent Franz Josef Glacier, a river of ice which pours 12 kilometres down the mountainside to the valley floor before continuing on to the nearby Fox Glacier, another 30 minutes on. Fox is 13 kilometres long, and uniquely for a glacier, crawls down its gorge into an area of lush rainforest. Spend the night in Fox Glacier village. TranzAlpine Express One of the world s most scenic railways, the TranzAlpine runs daily from Christchurch on the South Island s east coast to Greymouth on the west, and back again. To do this it has to pass through the spectacular Southern Alps, as well as forest and farmland. The carriage of the train feature huge panoramic windows and there is a licensed café onboard and audio commentary at your seat. Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers You would perhaps expect to need to head high into the mountains to get up close to a glacier, but it is not so in New Zealand! Both Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers descend from the heights of the Southern Alps down to the temperate climes of sea level, where you can get right up to their colossal icy faces. Fox is the smaller of the two, but longer and faster moving, but you will get to view both.
Day 5: Wanaka (B) Leave Fox Glacier for Lake Matheson, just a five-minute drive away, where the clear waters picturesquely reflect the towering peaks of Mount Cook/Aoraki and Mount Tasman. Continue on to Wanaka, a journey that takes just over 3 hours, where the rest of the day is free. Wanaka s beautiful setting, beside a lake and backed by mountains makes it a perfect place to relax. Wanaka A popular resort in both the summer and the winter, Wanaka sits on the end of Lake Wanaka. Originally established as a gold rush town in the 19 th century, most people come here now to ski in the winter and do all sorts of outdoor activities in the summer. There are a good number of restaurants, cafes and bars, and the lake and mountain scenery is breathtaking a good place to relax! Day 6: Queenstown (B,L) Travel to Queenstown, stopping en route at the town of Cromwell, the scenic Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge and the historic gold mining settlement of Arrowtown. This journey will take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. Queenstown is a small but buzzing town sat in the shadow of the Remarkables it is also New Zealand s adventure capital! This afternoon, visit a local winery where you can enjoy a wine cave tour and a tasting. Queenstown Built on an inlet of Lake Wakatipu and backed by the Remarkables mountain range, Queenstown boasts one spectacular setting. This small town has a lot of energy it is New Zealand s adventure capital, offering a mad range of activities such as bungy jumping and white water rafting. But it is also home to a cosmopolitan, foodie nightlife and surrounded by world class vineyards perfect! Day 7: Queenstown (B,L) Today is a full day tour to the spectacular Milford Sound it is approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes by road from Queenstown so expect an early start. The most famous stretch of water in New Zealand s Fiordland, nothing can quite prepare you for the sight of the vast soaring peaks and dark, rippling water stretching as far as the eye can see. Aboard a catamaran, cruise around the Sound where you will also be joined by a nature guide, who will give an informative commentary on wildlife and geography as you cruise.
Milford Sound Cruise Aboard the Spirit of Milford cruise the whole length of the Fiord, taking 2 hours to do it, watching out for the magical variety of wildlife that call its waters home. You may see seals, dolphins and penguins, and well as being able to admire the beauty of the spectacular geological features of the Sound. There is a specialist nature guide on board who will give an informative commentary and there is plenty of comfortable indoor seating, with views through panoramic windows, and large outdoor decks. Day 8: Queenstown (B,D) Spend the day exploring Queenstown in your own time. Later, ride up the Skyline Gondola, it is about a 15-minute walk from the hotel to the gondola station, to Bob s Peak for spectacular views over the town and lake to Coronet Peak, Cecil and Walter Peaks and the Remarkables. Whilst up here, you will also tuck into a scenic dinner. Bob s Peak The Skyline Queenstown Gondola is the steepest cable car lift in the southern hemisphere, sailing you gentle upwards 450 metres to Bob s Peak. The views on the way up, and from the top are spectacular, the viewing terraces and platforms giving you the very best views. A dinner buffet will be enjoyed in the restaurant where you can dine on a range of New Zealand cuisine and international flavours whilst you gaze out at the beautiful views. Day 9: Mount Cook (B,L,D) Travel from Queenstown to Mount Cook, approximately three hours. You will arrive at the hotel in time for lunch, and have the afternoon free. Due to its location far from any large light sources, the Mount Cook area is perfect for stargazing. After an introduction to the constellations of the southern hemisphere in the hotel s Theatre Planetarium you will be driven a short distance to the perfect site to see the Milky Way and beyond. Hermitage Hotel Stargazing Located within an area classified as a IDSR (International Dark Sky Reserve), the Big Sky Stargazing begins with an introduction and orientation in the dome planetarium, before a short drive takes you to an outdoor stargazing spot. Here, using telescopes, binoculars and the naked eye, you ll examine the real southern skies. Please note that the outdoor part of the evening could be cancelled if the skies are deemed not clear enough.
Day 10: Christchurch (B,D) Return to Christchurch via the picturesque Lake Tekapo. Take to the waters of the River Avon for a relaxed afternoon of punting before dinner at a local restaurant. Lake Tekapo A small town sitting on the banks of the eponymous lake, Lake Tekapo offers marvellous views towards the towering Southern Alps. The lake is a wonderful turquoise colour due to the rock-flour, ground to dust by glaciers millions of years ago, which is suspended in the still waters. Day 11: Kaikoura (B,D) Travel north to Kaikoura, about 2 hours 30 minutes, a town set on a peninsula and the perfect place to spot a wealth of wonderful wildlife. From here, head out onto the ocean for a whale watching experience. Depending on the time of year that you are visiting, there is the possibility of seeing a number of different species year round however you are most likely to encounter the giant Sperm Whale an incredible sight. Back on dry land, continue up the coast to Picton, a further 2-hour transfer. Whale Watching Aboard a modern catamaran that has been designed especially for whale watching. You can stay inside the enclosed area, where there is comfortable sitting, to watch the waves or feel the wind in your face on the spacious outdoor decks. With this tour you have the opportunity to have an up-close encounter with the magnificent Sperm Whale. Day 12: Wellington (B) Pick up the InterIslander, the ferry between Picton on the South Island and capital city Wellington on the North Island. The voyage takes 3 hours and 10 minutes across the Cook Strait it is considered one of the world s most beautiful ferry journeys. Travel into Wellington, just a couple of minutes by road. This afternoon, visit the fantastic Te Papa ( Our Place ), New Zealand s national museum, where you can learn all about the island s culture and geography and the relationship between the indigenous and non-indigenous people from innovative and interactive exhibits. Today you will also wave goodbye to your South Island National Escort and meet your North Island National Escort.
Te Papa Museum The national museum and art gallery of New Zealand, Te Papa is a fantastic museum whose full name, Te Papa Tongarewa, means box of treasures. The museum is interactive and fun, and has a big collection of Maori artefacts plus a meeting house, natural history, history and art. Day 13: Napier (B) Transfer from Wellington to the fascinating town of Napier, set on Hawke s Bay, a 4-hour journey. Destroyed by an earthquake in 1931, the town was rebuilt in the 1930s style, giving it a unique concentration of beautiful Art Deco, Spanish Missions and Stripped Classical architecture. Napier One of several charming towns on Hawkes Bay, Napier is considered one of New Zealand s most charming cities. With a palm tree lined seafront it s hard to believe the city was entirely destroyed by an earthquake, but its rebirth is what it is best known for. Napier s comprehensive collection of Art Deco architecture is the result of the rebuilding of the city in 1931 it is now considered one of the purest Art Deco cities in the world. Designed by local architect Louis Hay, who was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, there are also Maori motifs incorporated to give a unique New Zealand character. Day 14: Napier (B,L) This morning, take a walking tour of Napier, with a particular focus on the Art Deco architecture starting with a 30- minute video presentation, the walking tour will then be 1 hour and 30 minutes. Later, head to the superb Mission Estate Winery for a delicious lunch and wine tasting tour the estate is just 15 minutes drive from Napier. Mission Estate Winery Hawke s Bay is world-famous for its award-winning wines, and the Mission Estate is where it all began. Founded in 1851 by French missionaries, it is New Zealand s oldest winery, and is housed in a beautiful old seminary with sweeping views across the region. The Mission Restaurant, where you will enjoy lunch, is renowned for its great food, you ll visit the cellar, where you can taste some of the estate s best wines.
Day 15: Rotorua (B,D) Travel to Rotorua via the spectacular Lake Taupo and Huka Falls, which is approximately 3 hours of driving time. Rotorua is famous for the huge amount of thermal activity in the area we re talking geysers, bubbling mud pools and hot springs. Because of this activity Rotorua was revered by the Maori, so it is also a great place to learn more about their culture. This evening head to the Tamaki Maori Village, located in the centre of the city, for a traditional hangi and cultural performance, a 3 hour 30-minute experience. Rotorua On the shores of Lake Rotorua, the city of Rotorua, and the whole surrounding area, is best known for its geothermal activity. As well as all the hot springs, geysers and bubbling mud pools (watch out for the sulphur smell!) that have attracted tourists for hundreds of years, it is also one of the best places to experience Maori culture, with performance and experiences aplenty. Tamaki Maori Village An authentic Maori village, in Tamaki you can learn about Maori art forms, take part in old rituals and gain insight into fascinating traditions. There will be a song and dance performance and a traditional feast, a hangi, cooked underground on hot stones, served as a buffet. Day 16: Hamilton (B) Turn northwards, travelling via Te Puia, within the thermally active Te Whakarewarewa Valley. Here you can see geysers, mud pools and silica formations as well as traditional Maori crafts such as bone carving on a 90-minute guided tour. There will also be a stops at Rainbow Springs, where you will get to encounter the elusive Kiwi, and at Hobbiton, the original village created for The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, where you ll have a guided walking tour that lasts approximately 2 hours. Continue to Hamilton the whole journey will take approximately 2 hours driving. Te Puia This geothermal valley is full of geysers, hot pools and mud pools and is one of the world s most accessible geothermic sites. You ll also visit the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute to learn about some of the time-honoured traditional crafts of the Maori tribes, such as wood carving, stone and bone carving and weaving. Rainbow Springs In the native forest of Rotorua, filled with native trees, ferns and shrubs this Nature Park is the perfect introduction to New Zealand s unique wildlife. See the Kiwi Encounter in action this is a conservation project that involves raising kiwi chicks from eggs for release into the wild and meet a whole lots more of New Zealand s birds and animals including tuatara, skinks, kakas, keas and moreporks. Hobbiton Explore the movie set created for The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit with a guided walking tour. Hidden amongst lush, rolling farmland, there are 44 hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Pub, Mill and the Party Tree to see, while your guide regales you with tales of how the set was created.
Day 17: Bay of Islands (B,D) Travel up to the Bay of Islands, in New Zealand s far north, stopping at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. It was here, in 1840, that a treaty was signed between the ruling British and Maori chiefs the founding document of Aotearoa/New Zealand. Explore the beautiful grounds that contain the Museum of Waitangi, the Treaty House, carved meeting house and ceremonial war canoe. You will enjoy a guided tour your guide may even be descended from one of the signatories of the document. Continue on to Paihia, where you will spend the night. Hamilton to Paihia takes approximately 4 hours 30 minutes by road. Waitangi Treaty Grounds It was at Waitangi that the British Colony of New Zealand was founded in 1840, when Maori chiefs and the British Crown signed the Treaty of Waitangi. This fascinating museum features the Museum of Waitangi, the Treaty House, a carved Maori meeting house and a ceremonial war canoe which will all help you get to grips with New Zealand s history. This is one of New Zealand s most important historic sites, all set in a beautiful spot overlooking the spectacular Bay of Islands. Day 18: Bay of Islands (B) Paihia is the main town of the Bay of Islands area, and offers a huge range of ways to explore this beautiful location, as well as being a relaxed town in its own right. Today is a free day to spend as you wish. Paihia The main town of the Bay of Islands, Paihia, sits on a beautiful stretch of coastline. This is the gateway to the Bay of Islands and all the activities that come with it. There are walking trails, ferry trips across to Russell, dolphin tours, sea kayaking, time to relax around the hotel pool or stroll through the town this day can be as active or relaxed as you want. Please note any activities will be at your own expense. Day 19: Auckland (B) Travel back down to Auckland stopping at Hokianga, where you can see the giant kauri trees of the Waipoua Kauri Forest and the historic harbour. The journey will take approximately 5 hours by road.
Hokianga On the northwest coast of New Zealand s north island, Hokianga is said to be the spot where the Maori explorer Kupe first landed over a thousand years ago. The harbour here is beautiful and the peaceful forest is home to two of the world s largest kauri trees it is a lovely place to spend some time. Day 20: Auckland (B,D) New Zealand s largest city, Auckland is a modern and cosmopolitan place and home to about a third of the Kiwi population. Nicknamed the City of Sails, the city is surrounded by water and is ranked one of the top cities in the world for quality of life you ll see why as you explore. Today, take a tour of the city, ending with a farewell dinner at Orbit, the 360-degree restaurant 190 metres above ground in the famous Sky Tower. Auckland New Zealand s largest city, Auckland is in a staggering beautiful setting, as referenced by its Maori name Tamaki Makaurau, the maiden sought by a hundred lovers. Auckland was actually capital from 1840 to 1865 before it was moved to Wellington. Famous sights in the city include Queen Street, the Ponsonby District, Auckland Harbour Bridge, and Viaduct Harbour, but the best part of Auckland is its wonderfully laidback and relaxed atmosphere. Sky Tower Towering to 328 metres above the Auckland skyline, the Sky Tower is part of the SkyCity casino complex. Several of the upper floors are open to the public as observation decks, whilst Level 52 is dedicated to Orbit 360 Dining. This rotating restaurant (rotating once every hour) has a kiwi-inspired menu using delicious local and seasonal produce, which you can choose off of a seasonal menu. Days 21-22: Fly to Ireland (B) Transfer from central Auckland to the airport, a journey that takes about 30 minutes and fly to Ireland, arriving home the following day.
Grand Tour of New Zealand Travel Information Visas Currently Irish passport holders do not need a visa to visit New Zealand on holiday. Insurance It is a condition of booking with us that you take out suitable travel insurance. You must provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24-hour emergency contact number when you book with us or as soon as possible thereafter. These details will be available to your national escort should they be required. Wendy Wu Tours will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking. Eating in New Zealand We ve included fewer meals on this tour to give you the time and freedom to get out and have your own culinary adventures. New Zealand s food is strongly influenced by local and seasonal ingredients as well as by British and Maori foods. The Maori traditionally cooked food in earth ovens, today called a hangi, using whatever food was available from the land and sea, whilst the European settlers who arrived in the 18 th century bought foods such as pork, potatoes, wheat, mutton and sugar, which were quickly adapted. Two distinctly Maori dishes that owe much to British influence are the boil-up pork, potatoes, kumara and dumplings, and pork and puha. In the 20 th century much more worldwide influences arrived in New Zealand, particularly from the Asia-Pacific region, so the food today has become extremely cosmopolitan. Of course, lamb and pavlova are popular choices! All of this combined with the delicious local wines, and you ll eat very well in New Zealand. Accommodation Your accommodation is selected for convenience of location and comfort or character, and on this tour are mainly high standard city centre hotels. Hotels are generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note that there is no international classification system for hotels though you can expect that standards in New Zealand will be similar to those in the Ireland. All group tour hotels have private bathroom facilities, air conditioning, TV and telephone. If you experience any difficulty, please speak to your National Escort/Local Guide. Rest assure that all hotels used by Wendy Wu Tours are regularly inspected by our staff and our partners to ensure that standards meet your needs. Transport Coaches: Coaches with air conditioning are used on our group tours for city sightseeing, short excursions to the countryside and longer transfers where necessary. Roads in Australia are of a very high quality, but please bear in mind that factors such as traffic and weather conditions may extend driving times.
Optional activities A list of optional activities and approximate costs will be provided with your final documents. These can be arranged by your guide and are paid for locally. Souvenirs On this tour you have some free time that you are able to use for any souvenir shopping that you might wish to do. This time is particularly in the evenings, though you also have a free afternoon or free day dotted throughout the itinerary. Maori crafts are a particularly good souvenir to bring home, and who could resist a cuddly toy Kiwi?! Group Size Most of our groups consist of 10 travellers or more and will be accompanied by a national escort. There will usually be no more than 30 travellers in each group although you may encounter other Wendy Wu tour groups while you are travelling. All our departures are guaranteed to operate with a minimum of 8 travellers booked (unless cancelled due to factors beyond our control). However, at our discretion we may operate departures with a smaller group size as we try to operate advertised departures wherever it is viable to do so. Tipping Policy In New Zealand tipping is done to show appreciation for excellent service but is certainly not expected or obligatory. In a restaurant, you could show your appreciation with a 10% tip. In hotels, however, it is more customary so you could consider tipping $1-$2 if your bag is carried or to leave a couple of dollars for the maid service. If you feel your tour guide did a wonderful job and you wish to show your appreciation, a few dollars per day would be very much appreciated. Climate Being in the Southern Hemisphere, New Zealand has the opposite seasons to Ireland. The summer months of December to February brings subtropical heat to the far north of the North Island, whilst on the South Island the climate is cool temperate with summer temperatures in the low 20s Celsius on average. Over the winter months between June and August, New Zealand is actually milder than you might expect, with average temperatures of 10 15 Celsius on the North Island and 7 12 Celsius on the South. Snow falls in the mountains.
After your booking Once you have booked with Wendy Wu Tours, you will receive a confirmation invoice followed by deposit documentation, which includes a visa application form (if applicable), and a help sheet. Your final documentation pack will be sent to you approximately 2 weeks prior to departure. Itinerary changes It is our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, the order of events or sightseeing may change as we look to improve our tours or as local conditions dictate; in these circumstances we will make the best possible arrangements whilst maintaining the integrity of your trip. Last updated: January 2017