EARLY BIRD SPECIAL BOOK EARLY & SAVE! Merinos near Tekapo Southern Lakes and Canterbury High Country 6-14 April 2018
Itinerary Day 1: Friday 6 April -Travelling to Queenstown An early start from all destinations this morning as we are transferred to Wellington Airport where our adventure begins with a morning flight to Queenstown. Flying into Frankton airport is an incredible experience as the aircraft drops in over the tops of Coronet Peak and the craggy Remarkable Ranges. Our coach and driver await us at the airport to whisk us off to Arrowtown where we can find a bite of lunch (at own cost). The remainder of the afternoon will see us enjoying an orientation tour of Queenstown and surrounds, before checking in to our hotel, with time to relax before dinner in house. Day 2: Saturday 7 April Mavora Lakes High Country Tour A memorable excursion awaits us today, as we join Nomad Safaris, for their unique Mavora Lakes High Country tour. Our day starts with a journey across Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw. Known as the lady of the lake, the Earnslaw has been plying these waters since 1912. Disembarking at Walter Peak Station, we meet the Nomad crew and board their vehicles. Taking a scenic back country road through Mount Nicholas and Walter Peak Stations, our guides will acquaint us with the history of the pioneering high country farming of this tussock covered landscape. The scenery changes as we near Mavora Lakes where we stop to enjoy a picnic lunch (included) and have time to take a walk in the surrounding beech forest. Returning to Walter Peak, we enjoy afternoon tea at Walter Peak Homestead, followed by a farming demonstration. Finally we board the Earnslaw for the return journey across the lake, returning to our hotel, where we dine in again tonight after today s big adventure. Day 3: Sunday 8 April Queenstown to Hawea and Wanaka A leisurely start today, as we travel down through the scenic Kawarau Gorge on our way to a property on the shores of Lake Hawea. Glen Dene Station is owned by Jerry and Lesley Burdon, and is flanked by Lake Hawea on its eastern boundary and Lake Wanaka on its western side. With magnificent views of mountain and lake, we enjoy lunch here and an introduction to station life, learning about the diversification this property has undergone. This afternoon we make our way to Lake Wanaka, taking a drive around to Glendhu Bay, where the vibrant colours of autumn will be starting to make their mark. Returning to the village, there will be a little free time to wander and explore, before we make our way to our Wanaka accommodation, located just a stone s throw from the lake edge. We dine in the hotel restaurant this evening.
Day 4: Monday 9 April - Wanaka to Lake Ohau Our meandering travels today take us over the Lindis Pass and into the vast Mackenzie Basin. A stop at Tarras will allow us to view the tiny museum dedicated to Shrek the celebrity merino, and to browse the merino wool and gift shops. Our destination today is Lake Ohau Lodge in the heart of the Mackenzie. Cradled between the Ohau Range to the west and the Ben Ohau Range to the east, Ohau Lodge boasts great food, a cosy atmosphere and generous windows allowing panoramic views of Lake Ohau. We enjoy lunch here and settle in, and then this afternoon, our hosts will take us up into the Mackenzie High Country on a tour of Ohau Ski Field. Here we will learn about the operation of this small privately owned field located in a high basin on the Ohau Range, and experience unsurpassed views of Lake Ohau, the surrounding ranges, and the vast and sprawling Mackenzie Country below. We return to our Lodge to enjoy dinner and the welcoming ambiance of a roaring fire.
Itinerary Day 5: Tuesday 10 April Ohau to Methven After a leisurely breakfast this morning, our travels take us via another cluster of Southern Lakes, as we skirt the shores of Lake Pukaki and stop to visit Lake Alexandrina, the smaller and little known neighbour of the majestic Lake Tekapo. What it lacks in size it makes up for in beauty and tranquility, and Lake Alexandrina makes a perfect off-the-beaten-track detour. Our lunch stop today is at Tekapo Village (own choice and cost). This afternoon our journey takes us over a lesser used stretch of road and historic droving route, the Mackenzie Pass. Scotsman James Mackenzie passed this way in 1855, on his route through the Mackenzie Basin with his dog Friday and a thousand sheep he d stolen from the Rhodes brothers Levels station, near Timaru. As we cross over the pass the terrain changes to typically rolling, and much lusher South Canterbury countryside. Our destination today is Methven where we check in to our accommodation, with time to mingle in the guest lounge before we dine in tonight. Day 6: Wednesday 11 April Mesopotamia Station We make our way up into the headwaters of the Rangitata River today to an iconic South Island High Country property, Mesopotamia Station. Nestled amongst the Southern Alps, Mesopotamia was named by Samuel Butler in 1860, who, made famous for his novel Erewhon, also farmed on Mesopotamia. Today it is run by the Prouting family, a 25,000 acre traditionally farmed, merino, deer and cattle farm surrounded by the majestic Two Thumbs mountain range and the huge braided Rangitata River. There is much to see in this area; on our way up this scenic valley we stop at Peel Forest where we take a short walk into Mills Bush through a fine Totara stand, one almost three metres across, and thought to be about 1,000 years old. We enjoy our morning cup of tea here before continuing up the gorge, stopping again to view the tiny Mt Peel Church built out of greywacke stone from the Rangitata River. As we approach Mesopotamia this huge river valley opens out before us. Four wheel drive vehicles will meet us at the station to take us on a tour over part of the property, including the game park where you are likely to see Himalayan tahr, chamois and red deer, while lunch today will be in the shearers quarters and catered locally (included). We will also see the little Mesopotamia School closed in 2000 - and the historic station graveyard. Making our way back to our Methven Hotel we dine in again this evening.
Day 7: Thursday 12 April Mt Torlesse Station and Waimakariri Gorge Another high country adventure awaits us today, as we travel into country near Arthurs Pass and the Mid Canterbury foothills. Travelling to the Waimakariri Gorge, we switch modes of transport to off-road vehicles for a scenic 4-wheel-drive adventure across Mt Torlesse Station. This station is a 10,000 acre working sheep and cattle farm and you will get to experience the thrill and excitement of off-roading while taking in the spectacular alpine scenery and learning about the farm. After an interesting morning we enjoy a delicious lunch at a quaint country café, after which we board a Hamilton jet boat to take us on a spectacular river journey into the heart of the Waimakariri Gorge. Finally we reboard our coach to return to Methven where we enjoy a little bit of free time, with relaxed dining in house again this evening. Day 8: Friday 13 April Homebush Station, Travelling to St Arnaud We visit Homebush Station near Hororata this morning, where we will enjoy our last taste of South Island farming hospitality. Homebush is a working farm of 1350 acres, and has been in continuous ownership by the Deans family since it was first taken up in 1850. A cluster of heritage farm buildings remain on the property and provide a link to the earliest European settlement of the Canterbury Plains. Learn about the story of the Deans family, from pioneering days through to the present, including the devastating effects of the 2010 Christchurch earthquake. Morning tea provided by our host Louise Deans will see us on our way as we make our way back through the inland scenic route to the quaint village of Oxford where we stop for lunch (own expense). This afternoon we continue our travels north via the scenic Lewis Pass, with further stops to break up our journey before reaching our destination, the charming village of St Arnaud in the Nelson Lakes area. We dine in at our hotel. Day 9: Saturday 14 April Travelling Home A leisurely breakfast this morning is followed by a short sight-seeing tour of St Arnaud Village and tranquil Lake Rotoiti, before we motor down the Wairau Valley to Blenheim and on to Picton. Lunch today is in Picton (own choice and expense) prior to departing on our afternoon sailing returning us to Wellington. Finally we bid our fellow travellers goodbye before being transferred to our home locations.
Tour Highlights > Touring Walter Peak and Mt Nicholas Stations at the head of Lake Wakatipu > Glen Dene Station on the shores of Lake Hawea > A stay at Ohau Lodge on the shores of Lake Ohau, including a tour of Ohau Ski Field > Travelling over the historic Mackenzie Pass > Touring Mesopotamia Station in the headwaters of the Rangitikei River > Tour of Historic Homebush Station founded by the Deans family > 4WD Tour of Mt Torlesse Station including a jet boat ride on the Waimakariri River
Tour Schedule Price Per Person: Double or twin share...$3595.00 per person Single Accommodation...$4260.00 per person Early Bird Special...Save $50.00 per person!* *Applies to bookings made before 30th October 2017 only Deposit required to confirm your booking:...$395.00 (non refundable) Cost of Tour Includes: > One way flight to Queenstown > All coach travel > One way Interisland ferry transfer > Accommodation > 2 course or buffet dinners > All Breakfasts > Morning teas on most travelling days > Mavora Lakes High Country tour > Tour and lunch Glen Dene Station > Lunch Ohau Lodge > Tour of Ohau Ski Field > Tour and lunch Mesopotamia Station > Lunch, Mt Torlesse Station tour and Waimakariri River jet boat ride > Tour and morning tea Homebush Station Balance payable by...20 February 2018 To: OR: Tranzit Coachlines Wairarapa Ltd, P O Box 116 MASTERTON 5840 Phone 0800 471 227 or (06) 370 6600 Book online at www.tranzittours.co.nz Please read Terms and Conditions enclosed