MAORI CULTURE

Explore the rich and diverse New Zealand Maori culture. From their mythical Polynesian homeland of Hawaiki, the Maori shape New Zealand's culture

TOUR LEADER

Jacinta has worked in the Travel Industry since 1994 dealing with both leisure & corporate travellers. Having visited many destinations extensively, her favourite destinations are Egypt, Turkey, South Korea and more recently Bhutan, China and Patagonia. Jacinta has travelled on the North Island of New Zealand exploring Auckland, The Bay of Islands and Wellington. “I am looking forward to experiencing all the South Island has to offer and sharing this experience and many others with you all. I am sure we will take home some wonderful memories.”

THE ULTIMATE COACH

Be dazzled by this state of the art full size coach (13.5 metres long) which would normally house 48 seats and has been configured with only 20 luxury leather seats complete with incredible amenities. Onboard the coach, the luxuries extend through a wide range of features including:

• 20 luxury leather fully reclining seats with extra-width with adjustable headrest and calf support for added comfort
• Panoramic viewing, air conditioning and seat belts.
• Wood grain timber tray table with built in cup holder.
• Seat side personal storage area providing easy access to your travel bag.
• Personal audio control unit with multiple music channels and a complimentary set of headphones.
• Individual USB point for charging your camera, mobile phone, iPod and iPad.
• Stylish centre galley area equipped with refrigerated drinking fountain and fridge units.
• Complimentary daily on board Wi-Fi allowance.
• Onboard restroom.

4.5 STAR HOTEL ACCOMMODATION

Carefully handpicked a collection of stylish hotels are part of this luxurious experience. You will be treated to a very high standard in each location. Each of the hotels used offer a premium level of comfort, extensive guest facilities and excellent location.

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES:

• Waitangi Treaty Grounds*
• Dolphin / Hole in the Rock Cruise
• Kauri Museum*
• Glenbrook Vintage Railway
• Kiwi Encounter* • Rainbow Springs*
• Skyline Rotorua Gondola & Luge Rid
• Agrodome
• Thermal mud pools & geysers*
• Te Puia traditional Maori Hangi & Concert
• Te Papa, NZ’s National Museum
• Cruise on the Interislander Ferry
• International Antarctic Centre
• Christchurch Tram
• TranzAlpine Rail Journey
• Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw
• Lakes District Museum
• HIGHLIGHT Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise
• Cruise Lake Te Anau, visit Glow Worm Caves
• Silver Fern Seasider Rail Journey
• Larnach Castle*
• Olveston House*
• City sights tour of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch & Dunedin
• Return economy airfares and taxes – Melbourne to Auckland and Christchurch to Melbourne.
• Coach transfer from Warragul to Melbourne airport and return.
• Throughout New Zealand, Ultimate Small Group Tour Coach with 20 luxury leather reclining seats on a full size vehicle, 2 door access and panoramic windows
• Professional Coach Captain
• Personalised Meet & Greet on arrival
• Personally escorted throughout entire tour.
• Waterproof Touring Jacket (valued at $69)
• All airport transfers throughout tour
• Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise
• 17 nights 4.5 star hotel accommodation
• 6 two night stays
• Hotel porterage
• 3 rail journeys
• 5 cruises
• All sightseeing and pre paid attractions
• 18 cooked breakfasts including a specialty breakfast: Skyline Restaurant, Rotorua
• 14 sumptuous dinners including 3 specialty dinners: Maori Hangi & Concert, Rotorua; Walter Peak Homestead, Queenstown; Farewell Dinner, selected beverages, Christchurch

Departs Melbourne: 11th October 2018 Concludes: 30th October 2018 MEALS INCLUDED Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Stunning Scenery

Towering mountains, beautiful villages, thundering sea. To call New Zealand “picturesque” would be an understatement

Tour Itinerary

THURSDAY 11 OCTOBER

MELBOURNE

Our coach will depart Warragul in the late afternoon to travel to the PARK ROYAL HOTEL at Melbourne Airport for an overnight stay.

FRIDAY 12 OCTOBER

MELBOURNE – AUCKLAND

We shall meet and walk across to the airport terminal for our early morning flight to Auckland. We arrive in Auckland in the afternoon and will be met and transferred to our hotel, the CROWNE PLAZA AUCKLAND, for an overnight stay. Tonight, we will get together for a complimentary pre-dinner drink before dinner.

SATURDAY 13 OCTOBER

AUCKLAND – BAY OF ISLANDS

This morning board our coach to travel to the Parry Kauri Park to see a magnificent example of a Kauri Tree. We shall enjoy a visit and informative talk at the Kauri Museum in Matakohe, then travel via Whangarei to Paihia, situated in the heart of the beautiful Bay of Islands. We shall have a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the location of the signing of the treaty between the Maori tribes and the British. On arrival at the Bay of Islands we shall check into the SCENIC HOTEL BAY OF ISLANDS for a two-night stay.

SUNDAY 14 OCTOBER

BAY OF ISLANDS

Today we have a tour of Cape Reinga via Ninety Mile Beach and will spend time enjoying the magnificent natural wonders of the North. You will be over-awed by the grandeur of the mighty Kauri trees, the expanse of Ninety Mile Beach and the mystique of Cape Reinga. This evening is at your leisure.

MONDAY 15 OCTOBER

BAY OF ISLANDS – AUCKLAND

This morning travel aboard a luxury catamaran to Cape Brett and the famous Hole in the Rock. We shall keep an eye out for bottlenose and common dolphins before we return to Paihia then travel south via Whangarei to Auckland. We shall check into the CROWNE PLAZA AUCKLAND, for an overnight stay. 

TUESDAY 16 OCTOBER

AUCKLAND – ROTORUA

This morning we enjoy a city sights tour of Auckland before travelling to Glenbrook Vintage Railway for a nostalgic 15 kilometre trip back in time on a beautifully restored vintage steam train. We visit the restoration workshop and on return to Glenbrook Station, morning tea will be served. We depart Glenbrook and travel through magnificent countryside of rolling hills and green pastures famous for dairying. Continue to Rainbow Springs, spanning 22 acres of native trees. A highlight will be the Kiwi Encounter experience which offers a unique behind-the-scenes tour of a working kiwi nursery and hatchery. On arrival, we shall check into the REGENT OF ROTORUA for a two night stay and have dinner at the hotel.

WEDNESDAY 17 OCTOBER

ROTORUA

Today begins with a gondola ride at the Skyline Rotorua for breakfast with champagne, spectacular views and also time for a thrilling luge ride! Next stop is the Agrodome for an action-packed hour of farming entertainment and education that’s unlike anything you’ve seen before. This afternoon we board the Rotorua Duck for a Rotorua City and Lakes tour before travelling to Te Puia to see the boiling mud pools and awesome geysers that Rotorua is famous for. This evening experience an entertaining Maori Hangi and Concert.

THURSDAY 18 OCTOBER

ROTORUA – WELLINGTON

We travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to the spectacular Huka Falls and then continue to Lake Taupo for some free time to enjoy this scenic lakeside town. We then drive on via the Tongariro National Park and continue south to the capital city of Wellington where we will check in to the INTERCONTINENTAL WELLINGTON for a two-night stay.

FRIDAY 19 OCTOBER

WELLINGTON

A highlight this morning will be time to explore Gallipoli: A Scale of War exhibition at Te Papa, New Zealand’s National Museum. Cutting edge technology brings these stories to life through the eyes of New Zealanders who were there. We re-board the coach for an extensive city tour which showcases the history and culture on show. There is free time this afternoon for you to explore or rest and this evening is also free to choose your own dining arrangements.

SATURDAY 20 OCTOBER

WELLINGTON – CHRISTCHURCH

This morning we board the Interislander Ferry to cross the Cook Strait and we will enjoy the scenery as we travel through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton. We then join the Coastal Pacific, a truly spectacular rail journey that follows a thin wedge of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Kaikoura Ranges. We shall join up with the coach in the fishing village of Kaikoura for our journey across the Northern Canterbury Plains to the garden city of Christchurch. On our arrival, we shall check into THE GEORGE, for two nights. 

SUNDAY 21 OCTOBER

CHRISTCHURCH

Today we visit the International Antarctic Centre designed to provide an informative account of life in Antarctica. This is followed by an introductory city tour of Christchurch. This afternoon includes a journey on board the Christchurch Tram at your leisure, one of Christchurch’s leading attractions. This evening is also free to enjoy one of the many eateries near our hotel.

MONDAY 22 OCTOBER

ARTHUR’S PASS – FOX GLACIER

This morning we board the TranzAlpine, renowned as one of the great train journeys of the world. We will travel over massive viaducts, river valleys and spectacular gorges as we ascend to Arthur’s Pass located in the centre of the Southern Alps. We then board you Ultimate Coach and travel to Hokitika, famous for its Greenstone before continuing via Franz Josef to Fox Glacier where we will check into the DISTINCTION FOX GLACIER for an overnight stay.

OPTIONAL: Experience a scenic flight (weather permitting) over the spectacular glaciers. (not included in tour price). See additional information for costings. 

TUESDAY 23 OCTOBER

FOX GLACIER – QUEENSTOWN

We will see the snowcapped peaks of the Southern Alps as we travel south along the West Coast. We continue on via the Haast Pass, an area of stunning beauty. We will experience the untouched national beauty of Te Wahipounamu whilst travelling on a fully enclosed jet boat on our Haast River Safari. We continue on to Arrowtown to visit the Lakes District Museum and then to the picturesque Queenstown, a year-round resort situated on the shores of magical Lake Wakatipu. Our hotel for the next two nights is the MILLENNIUM HOTEL QUEENSTOWN.

This evening is free and you may choose to dine out at one of the many fine restaurants close by.

WEDNESDAY 24 OCTOBER

QUEENSTOWN

This morning we will have the chance to view Queenstown and its gorgeous surrounds from the Skyline Gondola. High above the city on Bob’s Peak we will see Coronet Peak and The Remarkables Mountain range and from Lake Wakatiu to Cecil and Walter Peaks.

This afternoon is free to explore Queenstown. This evening we board the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw and cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station.

Sit back, relax and enjoy a gourmet barbecue dinner which the chef will prepare in front of us at the Colonel’s Homestead. After dinner we can enjoy a short farm tour then re-board the TSS Earnslaw for a sing along by the piano on our return cruise.

THURSDAY 25 OCTOBER

DOUBTFUL SOUND OVERNIGHT CRUISE

Today we travel via Te Anau to Manapouri and will enjoy a picnic lunch as we cruise across this glacial lake. A short ride over the Wilmot Pass brings us to the boarding point to join the Fiordland Navigator for an amazing overnight experience. As we cruise through the pristine beauty of Doubtful Sound, naturalist guides will provide commentary and point out the resident wildlife. When evening falls, we enjoy a delicious carvery buffet prepared freshly by the onboard chef.

FRIDAY 26 OCTOBER

DOUBTFUL SOUND – TE ANAU

We start the day with a hearty breakfast before heading back to Deep Cove for the trip back to Manapouri. We return to the wharf for the journey back to Te Anau. This afternoon, we cruise across Lake Te Anau to visit the Glow Worm Caves where we will admire the incredible limestone caverns, waterfalls and mystery of the Glow Worm Grotto. Tonight we will stay at the DISTINCTION TE ANAU HOTEL & VILLAS.

SATURDAY 27 OCTOBER

TE ANAU – DUNEDIN

After breakfast, we travel via Gore and Balclutha to Dunedin. After time for lunch, we board the Silver Fern railcar for a journey along spectacular clifftops overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Blueskin Bay. On our return to Dunedin’s historic Edwardian Railway Station, we re-board the coach for an informative city tour before arriving at your hotel, the DISTINCTION DUNDEDON for a two-night stay. 

SUNDAY 28 OCTOBER

DUNEDIN

We shall travel along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle to hear the tragic and scandalous stories on a guided tour. We will have time to wander around this Garden of International Significance followed by a high tea served in the Grand Ballroom. After time for lunch we board the Taieri Gorge Railway for a journey through spectacular scenery of Central Otago Hinterland and up the rugged Coast north of Dunedin. 

MONDAY 29 OCTOBER

DUNEDIN – CHRISTCHURCH

This morning visit Olveston House, a prestigious historic home before travelling to Oamaru, famous for its limestone. On our arrival in Christchurch we will check into THE GEORGE hotel for our final night. This evening we will enjoy our Farewell Dinner.

TUESDAY 30 OCTOBER:

DEPART CHRISTCHURCH

Time to say goodbye. We will transfer to the airport for your flight home after a memorable New Zealand holiday. On arrival in Melbourne, we will be met by our coach and transferred back to Warragul.