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Auckland to Christchurch 12 Days / 11 Nights from $2720 Email this Page to a Friend!   Duration: 12 days, 11 nights Accommodations: Superior Tour Code: NCH12 Style: Escorted Motor Coach Touring Highlights: Auckland, Waitomo, Rotorua, Wellington, Blenheim, Kaikoura, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Christchurch   Description Starting in the North Island city of Auckland, you'll journey to Rotorua, a region rich in traditional Maori culture and home to New Zealand's spectacular geothermal activity. From there, via Wairakei Steam Valley, Huka Falls and World Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park, it's to Wellington, the nation's capital. The adventure continues as you cruise the Cook Strait, through breathtaking Marlborough Sounds, to the quaint seaside resort of Picton on the South Island. With four days escorted touring and three independent, you'll discover all the sights, sounds and tastes New Zealand's South Island has to offer. Cross the Southern Alps on an incredible journey aboard the TranzAlpine train, cruise the full length of Milford Sound in picturesque Fiordland National Park, take a river safari through glacier formed Haast River Valley and enjoy three nights in the alpine resort of Queenstown.     Itinerary   Day 1 - Arrive Auckland, Exclusive Experiences On arrival be met and transferred to your hotel. This afternoon you choose the activity, perhaps venture to the top of the Sky Tower or relax with a Bliss Reflexology treatment. Stay: Auckland, Skycity Hotel.   Day 2 - Auckland, Waitomo, Rotorua Theme Dinner Journey to the crest of Mt Eden for panoramic views of the city and its harbours, before we travel to Waitomo Caves for an underground tour of the limestone caverns. Continue to Rotorua, a geothermal city and an important centre for Maori culture. Tonight enjoy a Maori Hangi (feast). Two Night Stay: Rotorua, Park Heritage Hotel.   Day 3 - Rotorua, Exclusive Experiences Today in Rotorua you choose the activity. Perhaps experience Rotorua's "Must See Three" activities - Te Puia Thermal Reserve; Rainbow Springs Nature Park and the Agrodome. Choose to stay in a Country Homestay tonight!   Day 4 - Rotorua, Wellington Journey to the heart of the North Island. View Wairakei Steam Valley and its geothermal power plant. See Huka Falls at the mouth of the Waikato River then cross the volcanic plateau of World Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park. Continue to Wellington and take in the stunning panorama atop Mt Victoria. Stay: Wellington, James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor.   Day 5 - Wellington, Blenheim Take a city tour before visiting Te Papa - the National Museum of New Zealand. Later cruise Cook Strait to the South Island, through Wellington Harbour and the breathtaking natural beauty of Marlborough Sounds to Picton. Rejoin our coach and travel to Blenheim. Stay: Blenheim, Blenheim Country Hotel.   Day 6 - Blenheim, Kaikoura, Christchurch Today travel through the internationally acclaimed wine region of Marlborough to the seaside settlement of Kaikoura. Journey between the Pacific Ocean and the Kaikoura Ranges to Christchurch, where we take a city tour before an afternoon free for your leisure. Stay: Christchurch, Copthorne Central Hotel.   Day 7 - TranzAlpine Train, Franz Josef Board the award winning TranzAlpine train and cross the patchwork farmlands of the Canterbury Plains, before climbing into the Main Divide. Cross the Southern Alps, then disembark at Arthurs Pass and continue to Hokitika. See Pounamu (jade) being carved into jewelry. Continue along the coast and view Franz Josef Glacier. Join a scenic flight (own expense, weather permitting). Stay: Franz Josef, Franz Josef Glacier Hotel.   Day 8 - Franz Josef, Queenstown Dining Options Enjoy incredible scenery as we travel to Haast where we join a river safari, taking in the glacier formed Haast River Valley. Follow the shores of Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea to Queenstown, where for dinner you will choose from four restaurants. Three Night Stay: Queenstown, Gardens Hotel.   Day 9 - Queenstown, Exclusive Experiences Today choose your own activity. Perhaps join the double-decker Explorer, tour some of the local wineries or go jetboating on the Shotover River.   Day 10 - Milford Sound, Queenstown Leave your escorted tour for independent touring to Milford Sound. Following the Remarkable's Mountain Range and trace the shore of Lake Wakatipu to Fiordland National Park. On arrival, cruise the length of Milford Sound before returning to Queenstown.   Day 11 - Queenstown, Christchurch Travel to Otago and visit Mount Cook Village and the base of Mount Cook. Join an optional scenic helicopter or skiplane flight with a snow landing (own expense, weather permitting). Stop at the Church of the Good Shepherd on the shores of Lake Tekapo. Stay: Christchurch, Copthorne Central Hotel.   Day 12 - Depart Christchurch Transfer to the airport for your departing flight.     Departure Dates:   2008 Jun.  17 Aug.  5, 26 Sept. 16, 23, 30 Oct.  11, 18, 21, 25, 28 Nov.  8, 11, 15, 22, 25, 29 Dec.  9, 20, 23 2009 Jan. 6, 10, 17, 20, 24, 27, 31 Feb. 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 21, 24, 26, 28 Mar. 3, 7, 10, 17, 31     Pricing per person starting from: Double Single Room Only $2720 $3670 Room with Breakfast $2880 $3830 Room with Breakfast & Dinner $3290 $4240   Price quoted for low season (April 8 - August 26, 2008) April 7, 2009 - September 8, 2009 Call for prices on other dates.

What's Included Underground tour of Limestone Caverns in Waitomo Rotorua Puia Thermal Reserve, Rainbow Springs Nature Park full of New Zealand Wildlife Travel to top of Mount Victoria Cruise through Cook Straight to South Island Wine tour in Marlborough Christchurch City Tour Journey on TranzAlpine Train to Franz Josef Glacier Watch demonstration of Jade being craved into jewelry Optional scenic flight of glacier at own expense River safari through Haast River Valley Many opportunites for self exploration Travel to base of Mt Cook and take the optional helicopter ride or skiplane adventure with snow landing (own expense)