Holiday Schedule
Day 01 - Auckland – Paihia Via the West Coast Day 02 - Bay of Islands Day 03 - Bay of Islands – Matakana – Mangatawhiri Valley Day 04 - Mangatawhiri Valley – Waitomo – Rotorua Day 05 - Rotorua Day 06 - Rotorua – Taupo - Napier Day 07 - Napier – Martinborough – Wellington Day 08 – Wellington – Picton - Nelson Day 09 - Nelson – Punakaiki - Fox Glacier Day 10 - Fox Glacier – Queenstown Day 11 - Queenstown Day 12 - Queenstown – Milford Sound – Queenstown Day 13 - Arrowtown – Mt Cook Day 14 - Mt Cook – Christchurch Day 15 - Depart Christchurch
Auckland - Paihia via the West Coast
Day 01
Your tour begins by travelling north from Auckland, stopping at the Art of Cheese in Puhoi, before travelling onto visit to the Kauri Museum, at Matakohe. Lunch follows at the mouth of Hokianga Harbour with a short trip onto the day’s destination; the Bay of Islands. In the evening you will enjoy a cruise to Russell and dinner in a 5 star restaurant.
Bay of Islands
Day 02
Today is an open day to experience the pleasures of the Bay of Islands. A tour of Kerikeri, a Cape Brett hole in the Rock or Dolphin Encounter cruise, golf at Kauri Cliffs or Carrington Golf courses are some of the many optional activities on offer. There are an abundance of cafés and restaurants in Pahia, Russell and Keri Keri for you to choose from.
Bay of Islands – Matakana – Mangatawhiri Valley
Day 03
Today you will travel south down the Pacific Coast highway through small towns to Warkworth and Ascension Winery in the renowned Matakana region. Wine tasting accompanies lunch before you travel onto the Mangatawhiri Valley where you will be greeted with canapés and wine at Hotel & Spa du Vin. A full dinner follows in the hotels restaurant.
Mangatawhiri Valley – Waitomo – Rotorua
Day 04
Travelling south you will encounter the remarkable Waitomo and Ruakuri Caves. Lunch today is at country home and farm. You then travel onto to the geothermal region of Rotorua, with dinner at superb Peppers on the Point.
Rotorua
Day 05
Today is at your leisure to enjoy all that Rotorua has to offer. The Kawarau Jet boat experience, farm show at the Agrodome or the Polynesian Lake Spa are just a few of many optional activities to try. This evening you will experience A unique meal and unforgettable Maori cultural evening at Te Puia.
Rotorua – Taupo - Napier
Day 06
Leaving Rotorua you travel west to view the magnificent Huka Falls before boarding your vessel for a luncheon cruise on Lake Taupo. The scenic trip to Napier in the Hawkes Bay is the ideal relaxation before the gastronomic delights of the Seleni Wine Estate to round off the day.
Napier – Martinborough – Wellington
Day 07
Napier’s art deco town centre tour starts the day, after which you travel to the picturesque Wairarapa district, for lunch, and wine tasting in Martinborough. Your day’s journey finishes in Wellington; New Zealand’s capital city where you will enjoy a meal in the striking settings of a centrally located 5 star restaurant.
Wellington - Picton - Nelson
Day 08
Today you will be transferred to the Interisland ferry terminal where you will embark on a 3 hours cruise out of Wellington Harbour and into Queen Charlotte Sound. Stay on deck as you enter the Sounds to enjoy the stunning surrounds. You will be met of the ferry and travel onto the artistic town of Nelson, where dinner will be at a well known local restaurant.
Nelson – Punakaiki - Fox Glacier
Day 09
Departing Nelson you follow the Buller River to South Island’s west coast. The scenic and ‘Wild’ west coast is one of the most scenic drives in New Zealand with such natural wonders as the ‘Pancake Rocks’ in Punakaiki where you will stop and explore, before travelling onto the township of Fox Glacier. Here you will dine in the hotel’s restaurant.
Fox Glacier – Queenstown
Day 10
This morning you have a choice of an easy going guided walk on the amazing Fox Glacier before departing and travelling through the Haast Pass. Lunch at a local café follows before the spectacular scenery of the Southern Alps makes your day as you travel onto to the famous alpine town of Queenstown. Dinner follows at a renowned local restaurant on Steamer Wharf.
Queenstown
Day 11
Today can be as adrenalin packed or relaxing as you want on this free day. The many attractions of Queenstown include the likes of Central Otago wine tasting ,Spa treatment, a round of golf at Millbrook Resort or Jacks Point, jetboating, or cruising Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw.
Queenstown – Milford Sound – Queenstown
Day 12
Unsurpassed scenery will make the drive through Fiordland National Park one to remember before boarding a luncheon cruise past the towering Mitre Peak and Stirling Falls on the Milford Sound. For the return journey the choice is yours to take a short flight over the fiords and famous Milford track or sit back and watch more scenery astound your senses on our luxury coach.
Arrowtown – Mt Cook
Day 13
Arrowtown is often described as one of the South Island’s most picturesque towns and you stop here to explore before following the Kawarau River to the township of Cromwell, then over the Lindis Pass to the Mackenzie Country stopping for lunch at the iconic ‘Wrinkly Ram’ restaurant. Afterwards you reach the shores of Lake Pukaki, and the Mt. Cook village, where you will stay for the evening. Dinner will be in the hotel’s restaurant.
Mt Cook – Christchurch
Day 14
The ‘Church of the Good Shepherd’ and bronze sheep dog on the shores of Lake Tekapo are your day’s first stop, before lunch at a well known local Lodge. You then cross the patchwork quilt Canterbury Plains to Christchurch city. Dinner this evening will be at a highly awarded local restaurant where you will say fond farewells to your fellow travellers.
Depart Christchurch
Day 15
After waking to your full breakfast your limousine awaits to transfer you to the Christchurch International Airport.