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Day 1
Christchurch/Mt Cook/Omarama
Your tour departs from the Pavilions Hotel, 42
Papanui Road at 8.00am. A city sights tour will
highlight the main attractions of Christchurch
before travelling across the Canterbury Plains into
MacKenzie Country. View the Church of the Good
Shepherd and the Collie Dog statue at Lake Tekapo.
Opportunity to fly over the Southern
Alps with Air Safaris (optional), before continuing
to Mt Cook National Park. Admire the majesty of Mt
Cook before travelling 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
and scenic 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 (1 night)
Day 4
Te Anau/Milford Sound/Queenstown
Follow the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys, pass
through the Homer Tunnel and descend into the
Cleddau Canyon to reach majestic Milford Sound,
dominated by Mitre Peak. A launch cruise takes you
to the open sea and the Bowen and Stirling Falls.
Return to Te Anau and on to Mossburn, then skirt the
shores of Lake Wakatipu to reach Queenstown. Dinner
tonight is at the Skyline Restaurant, where both the
dining and the views are unsurpassed.
Rydges Hotel (2 nights) |
Day 5
Queenstown
A day to explore the many delights of this alpine
resort. Try the famous Shotover Jet, an excursion to
Skippers Canyon or a steamer cruise aboard the
historic Earnslaw.
Alternatively, explore Queenstown’s many boutiques
and galleries – your Coach Captain will be pleased
to advise.
Day 6
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 Hawea and the upper reaches
of Lake Wanaka to Makarora, cross the Haast Pass
into the Mt Aspiring and Westland National Parks.
Drive north along the coast to the magnificent
Glacier region and visit the National Park
Headquarters or take the optional guided walk to the
glacier’s terminal face.
Fox Glacier Hotel (1 night)
Day 7
Fox Glacier/Greymouth/Christchurch
Time for an optional helicopter flight over the
glacier then on to Franz Josef. Snowcapped Southern
Alps dominate the skyline as you pass dense bush,
tiny landlocked lakes and small pockets of farmland.
Visit a Greenstone (Jade) factory where craftsmen
cut and polish giant boulders to create fine
jewellery. Join the Tranz Alpine train for one of
the most spectacular rail journeys in the world.
Through rainforests to Otira, snowcapped peaks of
the Southern Alps, the rugged Gorges of the
Waimakariri river and
across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. Your
tour concludes on arrival in Christchurch which is
scheduled for 6.05pm. |
