Day 1 Arrival into Christchurch (D)

“Kia Ora” and Welcome to New Zealand! After Immigration and Customs formalities, you will be met and assisted with your private transfer to your exclusive accommodation. . Christchurch, “The Garden City”, has many well-tended parks, reserves and squares but the civic love of beauty is often more apparent in the fresh lawns and burgeoning gardens of the suburban streets. The pioneering folk of an earlier era had a thought for the future when they planted seedlings which have grown into mighty oaks and elms, soaring poplars and graceful willows, now seen in every part of the city. Much of the charm of this city starts and finishes with the beautiful Avon River that runs through the suburbs and the city, providing an almost rural atmosphere in the heart of the city. Your first night’s dinner will be served in your luxury lodge.

Accommodation: The Charlotte Jane or Huntley House Lodge

Day 2 Christchurch – Kaikoura (B/L/D)

This morning you will be picked up in your European luxury mini-van and depart Christchurch travelling north to the township of Kaikoura via the Waipara wine district. The Waipara Valley in north Canterbury is one of the fastest growing wine producing regions in New Zealand, currently boasting over 80 vineyards and wineries. The region is an ideal cool-climate grape growing area, with Pinot Noir, Riesling, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominating local plantings. Recent investment in the region by some of New Zealand’s larger wine producers, including Montana Wines, mean that Waipara is set to become a major player in New Zealand wine industry. In the Waipara Valley you will visit award winning wineries such as Waipara Springs, Danny Schuster, Torlesse, Mt Cass, Muddy Water, Sherwood and Canterbury House, followed by lunch at Pegasus Bay vineyard.After lunch you will continue North to today’s destination town of Kaikoura. Kaikoura: The seaside settlement of Kaikoura, situated midway between Christchurch and Picton on the rugged east coast of New Zealand’s South Island, is overlooked by majestic mountains, which are snow-capped for many months of the year. This unique combination of ocean and mountains offers stunning coastal alpine scenery and a host of eco-tourism oriented activities including Whale watching, Dolphin swimming, walks & much more! Upon arrival in Kaikoura you will be taken directly to your accommodationfor the night. Dinner will be served at the Lodge.

Accommodation: Hapuku Lodge

Day 3 Kaikoura – Blenheim – Havelock – Marlborough Sounds (B/L/D)

Upon waking you have the choice of a full continental or cooked buffet breakfast at the lodge restaurant. After breakfast you will be transferred to the local “Whale-way Station”, where you will check-in for their world renowned Whale Watch cruise. Upon completion of the Whale Watch experience you will depart Kaikoura and travel north to the Winery district of Marlborough. On arrival into Wairau Valley you will be taken to the Alan Scott’s vineyard here you will enjoy wine tasting, followed by a sumptuous 2 course set luncheon. Allan Scott Wines & Estates Ltd is a family owned and operated vineyardand winery group. The company was founded in 1990 although the family’s history in winegrowing began in 1975 when they planted their first vineyard as a contract grower. The winery facility was architecturally designed and built in 1990, from rammed earth and rough sawn timber for a sophisticated yet rustic appearance. Subsequent additions including the bottling hall, barrel room, and the administration area, as well as the storage warehouse used more traditional building materials. The winery is now firmly nestled amongst the prime vineyards in Jackson’s Road surrounded by mature trees and manicured gardens where the Cellar Door shop and Twelve Trees Restaurant completes the facilities available. An ongoing desire to create aromatic estate grown and produced wines is reflected in the expansive range of wines produced at the winery. This international reputation and is consistently regarded as one of the region's finest. After lunch you will continue North travelling through the town of Blenheim and Okaramio to Havelock, where you will board your private water taxi for transfer across the Kenepuru Sound to your accommodation. Kenepuru Sound is the third largest of the four Sounds that make up the Marlborough Sounds at the top of the South Island. The others are the Queen Charlotte, Pelorus and Mahau Sounds. The Sounds are a series of drowned valleys formed millions of years ago. There are islands, big bays and tiny inlets, narrow points of land, steep hill sides, and some flat areas.Mt Stokes is the highest peak at 1203m (3948 feet) and is the only subalpine area within the Sounds. There is pproximately 1200km of coastline within an area covering approximately 1000 sq km. Dinner will be served at your lodge this evening.

Accommodation: Raetihi Lodge

Day 4 Marlborough Sounds – Nelson (B/L/D)

Upon waking you have the choice of a full continental or cooked buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant. This morning you will re-board the private water taxi, for the return trip to Havelock. You will then reboard your luxury mini-van and travel onwards to today’s destination Nelson. Nelson: the region, which is the sunniest in New Zealand, has for many years attracted residents who love to use their imaginations. There are more than 350 working artists and craftspeople living in Nelson, including traditional and contemporary Maori artists. Their work is often inspired by the region’s exceptionally beautiful geography – coastal, forest and valleylandscapes provide places to wander and dream. Once in Nelson you will be escorted to the renowned World of Wearable Arts & Classic Cars Museum. Here you will find a collection of eclectic outfits specifically designed for past Wearable Arts Fashion shows, as well as a collection of vintage cars that will make any enthusiast green withenvy! You will then enjoy the best of Nelson fare at the WOW café. After lunch you will enjoy a Nelson city sights tour before being transferred to your accommodation for the night. Dinner this evening will be at renowned local sea-front restaurant.

Accommodation: Bronte Lodge

Day 5 Nelson Open Day (B/D)

Upon waking you have the choice of a full continental or cooked breakfast at the hotel restaurant. Today is at your own leisure and you may wish to participate in an optional activity: Explore the Abel Tasman National Park Kayaking from Kaiterteri Golden Bay Craft Trail An Eco tour to Farewell Spit Explore Nelson’s many art galleries Dinner will be a gourmet BBQ at Bronte Lodge.

Accommodation: Bronte Lodge

Day 6 Nelson – Punakaiki – Franz Joseph (B/D)

Upon waking you have the choice of a full continental or cooked breakfast at the lodge restaurant. This morning you will depart Nelson to begin the journey to the West Coast of the South Island. You will travel the scenic coast road to Punakaiki, where the rocks take on the extraordinary appearance of a pile of pancakes. The ‘Pancake Rocks’ and their associated blowholes consist of eroded limestone. Reached by a short walk from the main road, the rocks are best visited during an incoming tide and brisk westerly, when the sea surges through the chasms. During your time at Punakaiki you may wish to visit the Punakaiki Visitor Centre, which has interesting displays and an audio-visual that runs for 15 minutes. There is a donation applicable to view the audio-visual (own expense). You will continue your journey south to Greymouth and from there over swiftly flowing rivers and through virgin stands of native forest. En route to Fox Glacier, you pass Hokitika, which is a major centre for the working of Greenstone. Hokitika is also the centre of a region that is rich in history and nearby is a wealth of native forests, lakes and rivers.You will continue onwards to your day’s destination Franz Joseph. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your accommodation for the night. Dinner will be served at your lodge this evening.

Accommodation: Franz Joseph Glacier Retreat

Day 7 Franz Joseph Glacier – Wanaka (B/L/D)

Upon waking you have the choice of a full continental or cooked breakfast at the hotel restaurant. This morning you will have an informative and leisurely trip to the dynamic face of Fox Glacier. Although you will not walk on the glacier your guide will take you to the final resting place of the ice that has travelled 13 kilometres from the base of the Southern Alps, all the way to the river valley floor. Your guide may take you closer to the ice than the unguided public (if it is safe to do so at the time) and you will have the opportunity to learn the role of the Fox Glacier in shaping its environment. This two hour trip is reasonably easy going. About one and a half hours is spent walking over gentle terrain, over a river valley floor, at a speed that almost anyone can manage. There is a strong focus on providing you with quality interpretation so you can learn about the glacier and the surrounding environment. Upon completion, depart the glacier area in your luxury coach and travel further south along the rugged West Coast to the tiny community of Haast, located on the coast where the wide Haast River meets the sea. After lunch you will embark on a Haast River Safari. Their purpose built fully enclosed river boats with front-loading access guarantee great visibility yet you will remain warm, dry and comfortable, making this a unique and safe experience suitable for anyone of any age to participate in and enjoy. Their driver/guides will provide full commentary about the physical attributes of this remarkable glacial valley, where temperate rainforest thrives. From Haast, you will turn inland and traverse State Highway 6, which offers wonderful views of the Southern Alps. The Haast Pass, linking Westland with the Southern Lakes District of Central Otago is dramatic, providing sudden contrast between the lush vegetation of the west and dry tussocked Otago landscape. Then descend to Wanaka, following the shorelines of Lakes Wanaka and Hawera. Upon arrival in Wanaka you will be taken directly to your accommodation for the night. This evening you will dine a local Wanaka restaurant.

Accommodation: Lime Tree Lodge or Mountain Range Boutique Lodge

Day 8 Wanaka – Queenstown (B/L/D)

Upon waking you have the choice of a full continental or cooked breakfast at the hotel restaurant. This morning you will depart Wanaka and follow the Clutha River, via Mount Pisa and the shores of Lake Dunstan before entering the Kawarau Gorge, where you will embark on a wine trail of cellar door tasting at some of the most well known vineyards in Central Otago. Lunch will follow at The Winehouse & Kitchen a great venue to enjoy the region’s fantastic wine and food. With unobstructed views of the rugged Kawarau Gorge hillsides and the spectacular Bridal Veil Waterfall, the location will ensure a lasting impression. The landscaped grounds include a croquet green, secret garden, wine inspired courtyard and potager garden. After lunch you will travel into the Wakatipu Valley, stopping for a stroll through the picturesque township of Arrowtown, followed by an afternoon tea stop at Millbrook Resort before continuing onto today’s destination;Queenstown and your accommodation for the evening. Queenstown: a region of exceptional and diverse beauty, is a leading resort in the South Island, with inveterate world travellers regarding it as one of the premier scenic areas in the world. Backed by steep mountains,Queenstown lies in the curve of Lake Wakatipu at the head of its own small horse-shoe shaped bay. It is the South Island’s principal resort, drawing visitors the year round with its lake and mountain scenery, exhilarating climate, changing seasons and wide range of excursion possibilities.This evening you will take a short stroll into Queenstown. Here you will enjoy a 3 course dinner at a well known Queenstown restaurant returning to your hotel is at your own leisure.

Accommodation: The Dairy

Day 9 Queenstown – Open Day (B)

Upon waking you have the choice of a full continental or cooked breakfast at the hotel restaurant. Today is at your own leisure and you may wish to participate in an optional activity: Helicopter Line air excursion Dart River Safari Excursion including light BBQ Lunch ½ day Skippers Canyon adventure by 4WD Shotover Jet Boat Ride Golf at Millbrook – 18 holes Spa at Millbrook TSS Earnslaw Cruise & BBQ Lunch at Walter Peak Station This evening will also be at your own leisure and you may wish to dine at one of the following highly recommended restaurants: Gantley’s Historic Restaurant Boardwalk Restaurant Prime Restaurant The Cow (relaxed dining/Pizzeria)

Accommodation: The Dairy

Day 10 Queenstown – Milford or Doubtful Sound day trip (B/L/D)

Upon waking you will have continental breakfast at the hotel restaurant. A memorable day! You will depart Queenstown for a day of unsurpassed scenery. Beginning with a drive along the shores of Lake Wakatipu, through the townships of Kingston, Five Rivers, Mossburn to Manapouri. At Manapouri you will be at the doorstep to the Doubtful Sound. Your Doubtful Sound adventure begins as you cruise the crystal clear waters of Lake Manapouri – a stunning lake renowned for its numerous islands and deserted beaches. Next it’s over Wilmot Pass, on one of New Zealand’s remotest and prettiest sub-alpine roads, stopping along the way to experience some of Fiordland’s densest rainforest and to view Doubtful Sound glistening far below. On reaching Deep Cove, you will board the Patea Explorer Real Journey’s spacious catamaran, for a three hour cruise that takes in the most dramatic scenery of Doubtful Sound an unspoilt wilderness of many moods; one minute clear blue and sun-drenched, the next mysterious and mist-cloaked. You return trip will be just as memorable as you trace your steps back to Queenstown. OR Travel on through the beech forests of the Eglinton Valley before entering the Hollyford Valley, and descending through the Homer Tunnel into Milford Sound. During your journey, there is time for photo stops and short walks along the way. On arrival, you will embark on a cruise of Milford Sound, including the hidden mouth of the Sound, towering Mitre Peak and the cascading Stirling Falls. An information and interesting commentary is provided throughout the cruise with a Gourmet Picnic style lunch on board. At the end of the cruise you have the opportunity to fly out of Milford Sound on a fixed wing aircraft to Queenstown. This will be one of the most memorable experiences of your life as you fly over the Fiords and marvel at the suspended lakes and waterfalls as well as the world famous Milford Track. You will be met off your aircraft and transferred to your hotel. Dinner this evening will be your final dinner on tour and a special evening has been planned at a renowned restaurant on the steamer wharf. Return to your accommodation is at your own leisure.

Accommodation: The Dairy

Day 11 Queenstown (B)

Upon waking you have the choice of a full continental or cooked breakfast at the hotel restaurant. You will be transferred from your hotel to the Queenstown Airport, by private transport. Please check out of your hotel by the official check-out time.

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