|
Day 1
Christchurch/Mt Cook/Omarama
Your tour departs from the Pavilions Hotel, 42
Papanui Road at 8.00am. Cross the Canterbury Plains,
with the Southern Alps to the west. Enter the
foothills near Geraldine and ascend Burkes Pass into
the MacKenzie Country. View the Church of the Good
Shepherd and the Collie Dog memorial, overlooking
the milky blue waters of Lake Tekapo. Time for a
flight over the Southern Alps, lakes and glaciers
with Air Safaris (optional). Visit Mt Cook National
Park, with New Zealand’s highest snow capped peaks,
before travelling around Lake Pukaki to Twizel and
on to Omarama.
Heritage Gateway Hotel (1 night)
Day 2
Omarama/Dunedin
Pass large hydro lakes as you travel down the
Waitaki Valley to Oamaru and Dunedin – the
“Scottish” city. An early arrival allows a choice of
excellent optional activities. Combine a Monarch
harbour cruise or Newton’s Citibus tour to see the
penguins, albatross and seals, enjoy the historic
Taieri Gorge train or explore the city only a few
minutes walk away. This evening prior to Dinner you
will be treated to a traditional Scottish Haggis
Ceremony, complete with piper, address to the Haggis
and gift.
Cargills Hotel (1 night)
Day 3
Dunedin/Lake Manapouri/Te Anau
Visit historic Olveston House, then cross rich
farmlands to the agricultural towns of Gore and
Lumsden. Visit Lake Manapouri before arriving at
Lake Te Anau.
Fiordland National Park Hotel (2 nights)
Day 4
Milford Sound Day Trip
A highlight of any tour. Follow the Eglinton and
Hollyford Valleys, where the beech forests reach to
the roads edge and snow capped peaks tower above.
Descend into the Cleddau Canyon to Milford Sound,
dominated by Mitre Peak. A launch cruise takes you
to the open sea and to Bowen and Stirling Falls.
Time to take a walk into the rainforest to visit The
Chasm, a spectacular waterfall, or to the entrance
of Homer Tunnel. If conditions permit, your Coach
Captain may make a short drive into the Hollyford
Valley. Return to Te Anau late afternoon. |
Day 5
Te Anau/Queenstown
Cruise across Lake Te Anau to explore the
underground world of rushing water and drift beneath
the luminous shimmer of thousands of glow-worms, an
unforgettable sight. This afternoon drive north to
Kingston and around the shores of Lake Wakatipu to
picturesque Queenstown. This evening, cruise across
the lake aboard the steamship Earnslaw for dinner in
the Colonel’s Homestead at Walter Peak Sheep
Station.
Rydges Hotel (2 nights)
Day 6
Queenstown
A day to explore the delights of this alpine resort
at leisure. Your Coach Captain will happily advise
on the many optional activities available. We
recommend the world famous Shotover Jet Boat ride,
take a Gondola to the Skyline high above the resort,
a tour to the gold mining area of Skippers Canyon,
white water rafting or
browse in the many shops and galleries.
Day 7
Queenstown/Haast Pass/Fox Glacier
Pass picturesque Lake Hayes on to an area steeped in
fascinating history relating to early settlement and
the gold mining era, to Lake Wanaka, a picture
postcard resort on the lakes edge with a spectacular
mountain backdrop. Pass Lake Wanaka to Makarora into
Mt Aspiring and Westland National Parks. Drive north
along the coast to the glacier region. Explore the
township or take the optional guided walk to the
glacier terminal face.
Fox Glacier Hotel (1 night)
Day 8
Fox Glacier/Christchurch
Time for an optional helicopter flight over the
glaciers, then on to Greymouth to a Greenstone
(Jade) factory to see craftsmen cutting and
polishing giant boulders to create fine jewellery.
Cross the Otira Gorge and Arthurs Pass to the
Canterbury Plains and into Christchurch. Your tour
concludes on arrival in Christchurch at
approximately 5.00pm. |
