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Trip Type: Group Coach Tour
Tour Duration: Ten Days
Start From: Christchurch
End At: Christchurch
Tour price per person:
01 May 2012 - 30 Sep 2012 NZ$2,740
01 Oct 2012 - 30 Apr 2013 NZ$3,075
Single room supplement
01 May - 30 Sep 2012 NZ$760 per person
01 Oct 2012 - 30 Apr 2013 NZ$780 per person
TranzAlpine Train add
01 May - 30 Sep 2012 NZ$180 per person
01 Oct 2012 - 30 Apr 2013 NZ$190 per person
Included: Coach travel, airport transfers, 9 nights accommodation (3 star hotels), dining inclusions - 9 breakfast, 8 dinners and some activities such as:
Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine centre, Scottish Haggis Ceremony, Larnach Castle, Milford Sound Cruise, Cruise to Walter Peak High Country Fram & Dinner.
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 | |
- Itinerary
- Departure Dates
- Terms and Conditions
Welcome to New Zealand! You will be greeted at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
Please note dinner is at your own arrangements for this evening.
Accommodation: Sudima Hotel (1 night)
Day 2 - Christchurch/Mt Cook/Omarama
Cross the Canterbury Plains, with the Southern Alps to the west. Enter the foothills near Geraldine and ascend Burkes Pass into the MacKenzie Country. View the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Collie Dog memorial, overlooking the milky blue waters of Lake Tekapo. Time for a flight over the Southern Alps, lakes and glaciers with Air Safaris (optional). Visit Mt Cook National Park, with a visit to the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre before travelling to Twizel and 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 a choice of excellent optional activities. Combine a Monarch harbour cruise or Newton's Citibus tour to see the penguins, albatross and seals, enjoy the historic Taieri Gorge train or explore the city only a few minutes walk away. This evening prior to Dinner you will be treated to a traditional Scottish Haggis Ceremony, complete with piper, address to the Haggis and gift.
Accommodation: Cargills Hotel (1 night)
Day 4 - Dunedin/Te Anau
This morning visit the historic Larnach Castle located on the Otago Peninsula looking back over Dunedin. From here it is back to reality as you travel south west over rich fertile farmlands, through the agricultural service towns of Balclutha, Gore and other small villages. Between Clinton and Gore journey on the aptly named Presidential Highway.
As you proceed inland you will view the unusual combination of wind turbines and deer farms in the Mossburn area. If weather and time permits, visit the mysterious Lake Manapouri, (the Lake of many Islands), continue to Lake Te Anau the Gateway to Fiordland. To the west of Lake Te Anau view the Murchison Mountains, where Kirra Tours supports a programme that aims to ensure New Zealand's iconic bird - the Kiwi, is able to flourish in its natural habitat.
Accommodation: Distinction Luxmore Hotel (2 nights)
A highlight of any tour. Follow the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys, where the beech forests reach to the roads edge and snow capped peaks tower above. Descend into the Cleddau Canyon to Milford Sound, dominated by Mitre Peak. A launch cruise takes you to the open sea and to Bowen and Stirling Falls. Time to take a walk into the rainforest to visit The Chasm, a spectacular waterfall, or to the entrance of Homer Tunnel. If conditions permit, your Coach Captain may make a short drive into the Hollyford Valley. Return to Te Anau late afternoon.
This morning we drive north to Kingston and around the shores of Lake Wakatipu to picturesque Queenstown. This evening, cruise across the lake aboard the steamship TSS Earnslaw for dinner in the Colonel's Homestead at Walter Peak High Country Farm.
Accommodation: Rydges Hotel (2 nights)
A day to explore the delights of this alpine resort at leisure. Your Coach Captain will happily advise on the many optional activities available. We recommend the world famous Shotover Jet Boat ride, take a Gondola to the Skyline high above the resort, a tour to the gold mining area of Skippers Canyon, white water rafting or browse in the many shops and galleries.
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 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). Both these options are at your own expense and are very weather dependant.
Accommodation: Heartland Hotel Fox Glacier (1 night)
Time for an optional helicopter flight over the glaciers, then on to Greymouth to a Greenstone (Jade) factory to see craftsmen cutting and polishing giant boulders to create fine jewellery. From Greymouth leave behind the lush beech rain forests through undulating farmlands, hugging the Taramakau River as it descends the valley. Travel over the Otira viaduct and into Arthurs Pass, traversing the main divide. As you leave Arthurs Pass follow the Waimakariri River, note it flows the opposite direction to the Taramakau as you have crossed the main divide, and the majestic Southern Alps. Head east through New Zealand's wheat belt and the Canterbury plains into Christchurch.
Accommodation: Sudima Hotel (1 night)
Day 10 - Christchurch/Home
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.
