24 Day - Panorama

‘Haere Mai’ … Welcome to New Zealand

Having cleared customs & immigration formalities, you will be met by our representative & transferred by limousine to your city hotel.

The 'City of Sails' is New Zealand's largest and most vibrant, offering an exciting array of cosmopolitan experiences. Imagine an urban environment where everyone lives within half an hour of beautiful beaches, hiking trails and a dozen enchanted holiday islands. Add a mild climate, a background rhythm of Polynesian culture and a passion for outstanding food, wine and shopping and you’re beginning to get the picture of Auckland. Also known as the City of Sails - a title gained from the view of yachts seen against the cityscape.

Sightseeing and activity options available:

Two Nights Accommodation at the Rendezvous Hotel in Auckland. Located in the very heart of cosmopolitan Auckland, a stay at Rendezvous Hotel places you within walking distance of some of the city’s finest dining, shopping and entertainment, including Queen St and the Viaduct Harbour.

Enjoy a comprehensive scenic tour this morning that will introduce you to the sights of Auckland. Commence the day with a visit to Auckland Skytower, the tallest tower in the southern hemisphere and the city’s most prominent landmark. It’s a fantastic way to see the entire city, its twin harbours and magical islands. Next we drive past Auckland University en-rote to Auckland Domain, the city’s oldest park situated on a 62,000 year old volcano. Continue on to the trendy shopping area of Parnell village with its historic old buildings transformed into boutiques, antique, craft & specialty shops. Continue along the scenic waterfront route of Tamaki Drive before returning to the downtown area where your board a 50-foot yacht for a 90-minute relaxing cruise on the magnificent Waitemata Harbour. You can sit back and watch it all happen or help the professional crew by taking the helm and trimming the sails. The rest of the day is then free for you to relax, shop or sightsee at your own pace.

This morning we travel over the Harbour Bridge and head through the northern suburbs of Auckland with the beachside homes of the Hibiscus Coast to the east and the bush-clad Waitakere Ranges to the west. Enjoy spectacular scenery of native forests and sub-tropical bush as we make our way to Paihia in the Bay of Islands, a seaside town nestled on the foreshore of this National Maritime Park. Early this afternoon we board our overnight vessel, "Ipipiri", for a unique cruise that will imerse you into the region's breathtaking beauty and its historical and cultural significance. Island walks, snorkelling and kayaking are all available before enjoying a sumptuous dinner.

One Nights Accommodation aboard the Cruise Ship "Ipipiri".

There is time for some optional activities such as fishing or swimming with the dolphins before returning to Opua and disembarking at 11am. The rest of the day is free to explore the local area and enjoy the many fantastic excursions available. Your Tour Host will be pleased to offer suggestions on what is available.

Some sightseeing and activity options available are:

One Nights Accommodation at the Copthorne Bay of Islands Resort. Enjoy the spectacular rock swimming pools, the large outdoor spa, tennis court and relaxed atmosphere of the hotel’s restaurant and bar. Apart from sitting adjacent to a scenic golf course, native bush walks and some of the best big game fishing sites in the world, this is an ideal location to explore the aquatic playground of the Bay of Islands.

Today we travel south to the geothermal city of Rotorua whose raw beauty has enchanted visitors from around the world for over 160 years. Here you can stand upon volcanoes, peer into massive craters & see boiling mud and exploding geysers whilst native forests cloak the land. It is also home to a deep-rooted Maori culture and the opportunity to experience a traditional hangi (feast) & cultural show should not be missed.

Sightseeing and activity options available:

Two Nights Accommodation at the Millennium Hotel in Rotorua. Renowned for its food and beverage outcatering facilities and second-to-none service, the Millennium Hotel Rotorua is a leading hotel for many conventions and events. The recently refurbished air conditioned rooms offer either lake or native garden views. Decor is understated with quality timber fittings.

The days highlight is an exclusive cruise across the pristine, clear waters of Lake Tarawera at the base of a gigantic dormant volcano. You’ll experience spectacular scenery & some of the country’s best trout fishing & have the opportunity to soak in the thermal waters of Hot Water Beach before enjoying a gourmet picnic lunch. This afternoon, visit the Blue & Green Lakes and then wander around the famous buried village of Te Wairoa.

An hour south of Rotorua is Lake Taupo, itself a gigantic volcanic crater following an enormous explosion in AD183. View Huka Falls & the Wairakei Geothermal project and take time to walk around this popular lakeside resort. Journey on to Napier, often referred to as the Art Deco capital of the world. On arrival we embark on a guided walking tour of the town before checking into our hotel.

Two Nights Accommodation at the Crown Hotel in Napier. Overlooking the waterfront in the village of Ahuriri, Napier, the hotel offers premier accommodation and conference facilities in a luxurious seaside setting. The hotel has 39 stylish and unique guest suites ranging from studios to two bedroom luxury apartments.

A day to explore the region at your own pace. Walk along Napier's Marine Parade & visit the many attractions along the way, visit Cape Kidnappers - home of the largest & most accessible mainland gannet colony in the world, enjoy a guided wine & gourmet tour of some of New Zealand’s leading vineyards & wineries, experience an early morning hot-air balloon ride over vineyards, orchards & olive groves, play an exciting round of gold on one of the countries leading & most challenging courses, fly fish for brown & rainbow trout in the region’s many rivers … your choices are endless!

Some alternative sightseeing and activity options are:

Today we fly to Nelson (flight included), a city of charm based on a harbour that is home to the busiest fishing port in New Zealand. The Nelson region is an area of diverse beauty that enjoys a Mediterranean-type climate & boasts the greatest number of sunshine hours in New Zealand. It is home to a thriving arts & crafts colony where locals enjoy a relaxed & easy-going lifestyle.

Two Nights Accommodation at the Rutherford Heritage Hotel in Nelson. luxurious hotel accommodation with a full complement of features designed to help you achieve the most from your stay. The hotel offers a range of superior guest facilities including two restaurants, and is only a couple of minutes walk from Nelson’s main shopping district and landmark cathedral.

Today you can choose from a number of included Cruise & Walk or Cruise only options in the famous Abel Tasman National Park. Cruise into protected bays & view the fur seal colony on Tonga Island. The launch hugs the shore, travelling in close to idyllic beaches fringed by native forest. The Abel Tasman Coastal track is well formed & shaded and comes out onto protected beaches excellent for swimming. Your Tour Host will give you details of the various choices available & will be happy to guide you onto the best tour that suits your own individual needs.

Sightseeing and activity options include:

Heading east, we make our way to Blenheim on the sunny Wairau Plains. The major urban centre for the Marlborough region, Blenheim is also the centre of a thriving wine industry. Continue on to the coastal town of Kaikoura, a place for unparalleled wildlife adventures. It is a timeless place where the presence of man is ignored by seals who lounge along the rocky shoreline, dolphins play within sight of the shore and giant sperm whales feed all year round. Abundant sea life means great seafood and local restaurants offer everything from fresh fish & chips to delicious whole crayfish (lobster).

Two Nights Accommodation at the White Morph Inn in Kaikoura. A quality complex situated on the quiet beachfront of Kaikoura. It is ideally located for visitors staying in the area to go whale watching and dolphin swimming. The White Morph has on site parking and on-site restaurant and bar.

Today, enjoy the second activity featured in the Lonely Planets publication, Code Green: Experiences of a Lifetime. Every Whale Watch tour is a unique experience & sightings may vary from day to day. Giant sperm whales are the star of the show and are year-round residents. A typical Whale Watch tour may encounter fur seals, pods of Dusky dolphins & the endangered Wandering Albatross. Depending on the season, you may also see migrating Hump Back whales, Pilot whales, Blue whales & Southern Right whales. Kaikoura also attracts the largest concentration and variety of seabirds on mainland New Zealand including 13 species of Albatross, 14 varieties of Petrel & 7 types of Shearwater. This afternoon is free to pursue other activities … perhaps a Dolphin Encounter or maybe enjoy an interactive & intimate cultural exchange with local Maori.

Marine Mammal encounters available are:

Travel south along the Kaikoura Highway before skirting Christchurch, the South Islands largest city to travel across the rich pastoral farmland of the Canterbury Plains. Heading inland, travel over Burkes Pass & enjoy breathtaking views as you descend towards the stunning glacial fed lake of Tekapo. Stop to view the tiny Church of the Good Shepherd, built of local stone and oak in 1935. Travel up the western side of Lake Pukaki to the Mt Cook National Park, a World Heritage listed site. Mt Cook is Australasia's highest mountain at 3764 metres. The park covers over 70,000 hectares of breathtaking alpine scenery and is also home to the Tasman Glacier; the longest in the Southern hemisphere.

Some sightseeing and activity options available are:

Two Nights Accommodation at the Hermitage in Mt Cook Village. The Hermitage Hotel is a world renowned tourist destination and has been an icon of superior accommodation and dining since 1884. From an intrepid journey through glacial valleys to a mouthwatering culinary dining adventure, The Hermitage Hotel is the perfect ‘base camp’ to discover your Peak Experience.

This morning, you get to experience the Tasman Glacier, New Zealand’s largest, in the most unique way possible. An experienced guide will whisk you away in a stable MAC Boat to explore the melting ice-face of the Tasman Glacier where you will also get to touch & taste 400-year old icebergs that have been carved into the murky waters of the lake. This afternoon is free to enjoy local walks, sightsee or simply relax in your spectacular surroundings. Optional Ski-plane & helicopter flights are also available subject to weather conditions.

After a leisurely breakfast, journey south through the towns of Twizel & Omarama in the MacKenzie Country before beginning the ascent over the Lindis Pass into the historical gold mining region of Central Otago. Relax as you take in the spectacular scenery that changes from rugged ranges and mirror lakes to the winding Kawarau River Gorge before emerging into the lush green farmland that surrounds the beautiful alpine resort of Queenstown, regarded as New Zealand's premier destination.

Two Nights Accommodation at the Heritage Hotel in Queenstown. Brilliantly positioned overlooking the awe-inspiring vistas of Queenstown, The Heritage Queenstown is a sophisticated European-style resort hotel within easy walking distance of the Queenstown Township. Standing proud above the shores of the picturesque Lake Wakatipu, with magnificent views of the majestic Remarkables Mountain Range.

Enjoy two full days to experience this magnificent resort. Surrounded by majestic mountains, Queenstown boasts adventure activities in all forms, from extreme to relaxed exploration. Here you can take a thrilling jet boat ride, pan for gold, raft the white water rapids, take a wine trail, fish for trout, play golf or 4WD sheer canyons. It is also a great base from which to explore the Fiordland National Park, gateway to the awesome Milford & Doubtful Sounds. There are numerous activities from which to choose and your Tour Host will be pleased to offer advice and help you in your selection.

Here is a selection of the many options available:

Set beneath the rugged Crown Range is Arrowtown, a fascinating collection of mining cottages with an atmosphere straight out of last century. Enjoy time to stroll through this historic village located beside the Arrow River, once a haven for the gold prospectors of the 1860’s. A spectacular drive over the Crown Range brings us to Lake Wanaka with its breathtaking mountain & lake views.

Two Nights Accommodation at the Edgewater Resort in Wanaka. Offering you a relaxing haven away from the commotion of day-to-day life. Each of the spacious and comfortable apartments have views of the lake and alps.  Each have either a balcony or patio to allow you to enjoy direct access to the rolling lawns leading the lake edge.

An inspiring place to indulge in tranquillity, Lake Wanaka also has plenty of action-packed activities available for those who can’t keep still! We recommend some time out, soaking up the atmosphere & splendour that is Wanaka. Watch the last light fall across the still waters that reflect the snow capped peaks of Mt Aspiring National Park & reflect on life the way it should be.

Today we travel to the glaciers. The scenery is impressive all the way - Leaving Wanaka travel to the West Coast passing around beautiful lakes Wanaka and Hawea before climbing over the Haast Pass into the Westland National Park (This pass was used by the Maori to trade Poumanu (Greenstone) and food). The Haast Pass is our southern most Pass that traverses the Southern Alps linking the east coast with the west coast. The scenery changes dramatically as you bid farewell to the mountains and enter the wild, rugged, yet immensely beautiful West Coast region.

Two Nights Accommodation at Te Weheka Inn in Fox Glacier. Te Weheka offers luxury bed & breakfast accommodation nestled beneath the towering Southern Alps on the awesome West Coast of New Zealand.

At 13 kilometres in length, Fox Glacier is the largest West Coast glacier. However, its current length pales in comparison to past size where in the last ice age the glacier extended almost to the sea leaving its tell-tale moraine walls as evidence of past advances, the most recent being in the 1750's. The glacier is fed by the vast snowfields that drain the southern alps at a height of approximately 2000 metres. The abundance of snowfall occurs as the moisture laden winds that sweep across the Tasman Ocean are forced upwards to flow over the mountains they have encountered. As they rise the air cools and the moisture converted to rainfall Nearby Lake Matheson is a kettle lake formed by a decaying glacier as it retreated back to the existing valley.

Some  alternative sightseeing and activity options available are:

Journey north along the wild & rugged West Coastline to Greymouth. Here you board the award-winning Tranz Alpine for a coast-to-coast journey through the Southern Alps. This spectacular train adventure has been rated as one of the 6 most scenic journeys in the world. Having reached the alpine village of Arthur's Pass at 747 metres above sea level, the Tranz Alpine winds its way over massive viaducts, through spectacular river gorges and the stunning Waimakariri River valley before finally crossing the huge and fertile patchwork farmlands of the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.

Two Nights Accommodation at the Heritage Hotel In Christchurch. Experience Christchurch in the finest tradition at The Heritage Christchurch. Located in the heart of New Zealand's most "English" of cities, The Heritage Christchurch offers you the opportunity to stay in a magnificent Italian Renaissance building the "OGB", as it is affectionately known, has been lovingly restored from the former turn-of-the-century Old Government Building into a luxury hotel.

Christchurch is the nation’s second largest city. It is a city alive with colour, atmosphere and world class attractions. You can ride a punt down the Avon River through beautiful Hagley Park; enjoy a day excursion to the quaint seaside village of Akaroa, home to the early French settlers of the 1840’s; travel to Hanmer Springs & soak in its natural thermal waters; savour a sumptuous dinner aboard the Tramway Restaurant or maybe even try your luck at the Christchurch Casino ... the choices are numerous.

Some sightseeing and activity options available are:

At leisure today until you transferred to the airport for your flight home or onward journey to your next destination.

Here, we bid you ‘Haere Ra’, a fond farewell and hope you leave with many happy memories of your stay in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Please take the time to view our “Virtual Tour” for the 24 Day Panorama or download/print the detailed “Tour Dossier”. Both can be found on the right hand column of this page. Alternatively you can simply contact us. For a comprehensive list of all activities available in each location featured in this tour, please refer to the "Destination Guide" found at the top of this page.