South Island Tours
North Island Tours
Popular Attractions
From Christchurch
From Queenstown
From Wellington
Resources
This tour also includes an option to join the famous TranzAlpine train journey from Greymouth to Christchurch. During the course of the tour you will also have free time in Dunedin, Queenstown and Fox Glacier to experience some of the unique and regional optional sightseeing activities.
Trip Type: Group Coach Tour
Tour Duration: 12 Days
Start From: Wellington
End At: Christchurch
Tour price per person:
01 May 12 - 30 Sep 12 NZ$3,255
01 Oct 2012 - 30 Apr 2013 NZ$3,700
Single Room Supplement
01 May - 30 Sep 2012 NZ$830 per person
01 Oct 2012 - 30 Apr 2013 NZ$870 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, 11 nights accommodation (3 star hotels), dining inclusions - 11 breakfast, 10 dinners and some activities such as:
Interislander Ferry Crossing, Brancott Estate Winery Tasting & Afternoon Tea, International Antarctic Centre, 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 met at Wellington Airport and transferred to your hotel.
Dinner this evening is at your own arrangements.
Accommodation: Bay Plaza Hotel (1 night)
Day 2 -Wellington/Picton/Blenheim
Join the
Interislander Ferry and cruise to the South
Island with spectacular views of the city left
behind. Sail across Cook Strait and into the
sheltered waters of Queen Charlotte Sound. In
Picton, you are welcomed by your South Island
Coach Captain. Explore Picton, before making
the short drive to Blenheim for an afternoon’s
sightseeing and a visit to the Brancott Winery
for a complimentary tasting
and afternoon tea.
Accommodation: Heartland Hotel Blenheim (1 night)
Past Lake Grassmere and follow the coastline to Kaikoura, an area noted for whale watching. Over the Hundalee Ranges and onto the Canterbury Plains to reach the Garden City of Christchurch. Visit the International Antarctic Centre before a city tour, noting the city’s strong English influence.
Accommodation: Pavilions Hotel (1 night) **
Cross the Canterbury Plains and enter the foothills near Geraldine to the barren MacKenzie Country. View the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Collie Dog memorial overlooking the milky waters of Lake Tekapo. Time for a spectacular flight over the Southern Alps, lakes and glaciers with Air Safaris (optional). Visit Mt Cook National Park, with New Zealand’s highest snowcapped peak, before travelling around Lake Pukaki 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 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.
Accommodation: Cargills Hotel (1 night)
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)
Day 9 - Queenstown
A day to explore the many delights of this stunning alpine resort. Try the world renowned Shotover Jet, an excursion to Skippers Canyon in search of gold or a steamer cruise aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak Station. You may wish to travel by Double Decker coach to quaint Arrowtown, or even a bungy jump. Alternatively, explore Queenstown's many boutiques and galleries - your Kirra Tours Coach Captain will be more than happy to assist with any optional sightseeing.
Day 10 - Queenstown/Haast Pass/Fox Glacier
Pass picturesque Lake Hayes then on to an area steeped in fascinating history relating to early settlement and the gold mining 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, cross the Haast Pass into the Mt Aspiring and Westland National Parks.
Drive north along the coast through the flourishing rainforests of the West Coast and onto the glorious Glacier region. This is an ideal opportunity for you to experience small town New Zealand in the heart of Westland. The rainforest and surrounding area is so green it will hurt your eyes. (Upon arrival into Fox Glacier there is opportunity to either take an optional guided walk to the glacier's terminal face or an optional exhilarating helicopter flight over the glacier)
Both these options are at your own expense and are very weather dependant.
Accommodation: Scenic Circle Fox Hotel (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. Cross the Otira Gorge and Arthurs Pass to the Canterbury Plains and into Christchurch.
Accommodation: Pavilions Hotel (1 night) **
Day 12 - Christchurch/Home
Today is goodbye to all your new found friends before you make your homeward journey. A transfer to Christchurch Airport is included.
** Please note on some departures the Sudima Hotel Christchurch is used instead of Pavilions. Ask at time of booking.
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.
