Trip Type: Group Coach Tour
Tour Duration: Eleven Days
Start From: Christchurch
End At: Christchurch or Wellington
Tour price per person:
01 Oct 10 - 31 Jan 11 NZ$2638
01 Feb 11 - 30 Apr 11 NZ$2699
01 May 11 - 30 Sep 11 NZ$2372
Included: Coach travel, airport transfers, accommodation (3 star hotels) and some activities such as:
Scottish Haggis Ceremony in Dunedin, Historic Olveston House, Milford Sound Cruise, Shantytown, Montana Winery Tasting & Afternoon Tea, Interislander Ferry Crossing or TranzCoastal Train Journey and Skyline Gondola Dinner in Queenstown.
Not Included: Expenses of a personal nature such as beverages, travel insurance, laundry, optional sightseeing, lunches and morning or afternoon teas are not included in the tour cost
| Optional Extras Per Person | |
| Breakfast (10) Supplement | NZ$205 |
| Dinner (8) Supplement | NZ$282 |
| Single Room Supplement | NZ$762 |
- Itinerary
- Departure Dates
- Terms and Conditions
Welcome to New Zealand! You will be greeted at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
Accommodation: Pavilions Hotel (1 night)
Day 2 - 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.
Accommodation: Heritage Gateway Hotel (1 night)
Pass large hydro lakes as you travel down the Waitaki Valley to Oamaru and Dunedin the "Scottish" city. An early arrival allows for a choice of excellent optional activities. Combine a Monarch harbour cruise or Newton's Citibus tour to see albatross, penguins and seals. Board the Taieri Gorge Railway or explore the city yourself. This evening prior to Dinner you will be treated to a traditional Scottish Haggis Ceremony, complete with piper, address to the Haggis and gift.
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. (Time & weather permitting)
Accommodation: Distinction Luxmore Hotel (1 night)
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.
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.
Pass picturesque Lake Hayes on to an area steeped in fascinating history relating to early settlement and the goldmining era, to Lake Wanaka, a picture postcard resort on the lakes edge with a spectacular mountain backdrop. Pass Lake Hawea and the upper reaches of Lake Wanaka to Makarora into Mt Aspiring and Westland National Parks. Drive north along the coast to the glacier region. (Upon arrival into Fox Glacier there is opportunity to either take an optional guided walk to the glacier's terminal face or an optional helicopter flight over the glacier)
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. Next is Shantytown, a restored gold-mining town of the 1860's where you pan for gold and ride on the steam train, all at no extra cost.
Accommodation: Hotel Ashley (1 night)
View the unusual rock formations and blowholes at Punakaiki and pass Charleston, a former goldmining township. Follow the Buller River through the Buller Gorge and on to Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park. Follow the long Wairau Valley to Blenheim. A short tour of the area includes a visit to Montana Winery. Enjoy a hosted tour of the winery, learn about and taste a range of the famous local wines (purchase if you wish) followed by afternoon tea.
Day 10 - Blenheim/Picton/Christchurch or Wellington
Explore Picton, nestled on the shores of the Marlborough Sounds. You now have the option of continuing to Wellington via the Cook Strait ferry or returning to Christchurch by Tranz Coastal train along the kaikoura coast. The Wellington option includes a city tour.
Accommodation: Bay Plaza Hotel Wellington OR
Pavilions Hotel, Christchurch (1 night)
Today is goodbye to all your new found friends before you make your homeward journey. An airport transfer is included in the tour cost if required.
For the group tours advertised on our web site, we use a very reputable New Zealand travel company known as Kirra Holidays. They have been proudly showing overseas visitors New Zealand's many scenic and cultural delights for over 40 years.
General Information about Kirra Tours:
Each tour has a Coach Captain that acts as both driver and guide. He will share with you his in-depth knowledge of New Zealand, its history, culture and lots of special anecdotes. He will also advise on optional activities and where to find a shopping bargain.
Included in the tariff is a travel kit which includes a strong travel bag, a distinctive ticket wallet containing your itinerary, hotel list, baggage labels, all necessary vouchers, maps and sightseeing information. Your travel kit will be presented to you at the beginning of your tour in New Zealand.
Kirra carry a minimum of 15, and a maximum of 48 on any one tour, using 3-3.5 star hotels.
All prices advertised are in New Zealand dollars and GST inclusive.
Single Travellers:
If travelling alone on a group tour you have the choice of paying the twin share rate and then Kirra with link you up with another single traveller (of the same sex), or pay the single supplement to guarantee yourself a single room.
Cancellation fee’s:
• After the booking has been confirmed, and up until 45 days prior a fee of NZ$150 per person will apply.
• Between 44-21 dyas prior to your travel departure date, 20% of the total price will apply.
• Between 20 and 11 days of your travel departure date, 50% of the total price will apply.
• Within 10 days of your travel departure date 100% of the total price will apply.
Pacific Travel reserves the right to alter fares, amend itineraries or to cancel tours. Pacific Travel shall not be held responsible for any loss or damage to luggage or personal effects and/or damage resulting in death or personal injury which may arise whilst on tour with Pacific Travel or its nominated suppliers.