Discover the Best of New Zealand

Escorted small group tours - minimum 2 - maximum 16 passengers

15 days/14 Nights

COMMENCE AUCKLAND EVERY SUNDAY YEAR ROUND

Please note: Departures are guaranteed year round for a minimum of 2 passengers. Where 4 or more passengers are travelling you will be in the care of our driver/guides throughout (apart from Cape Reinga excursion, and Wellington to Christchurch). For 2 or 3 passengers travel will be by a combination of our driver/guide and vehicle and a selection of the best day tours where they operate on the same route. On these occasions travel may be in a 'big bus'.

AUCKLAND - KAURI MUSEUM AND FOREST - HOKIANGA HARBOUR - BAY OF ISLANDS CRUISE - KERI KERI - CAPE REINGA - AUCKLAND - WAITOMO CAVES - ROTORUA - TAUPO - TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK - WELLINGTON - PICTON - CHRISTCHURCH - LAKE TEKAPO - MT COOK - WAITAKI VALLEY -OAMARU - MOERAKI BOULDERS - DUNEDIN - "TAIERI GORGE RAILWAY" - QUEENSTOWN - LAKE TE ANAU - MILFORD SOUND CRUISE - (DOUBTFUL SOUND OPTION) - LAKE WANAKA - LAKE MATHESON - FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER - PUNAKAIKI PANCAKE ROCKS - ("TRANZ ALPINE TRAIN" option) - CHRISTCHURCH

PART TOUR OPTIONS
BEST OF THE NORTH ISLAND 8 days Commence Auckland every Sunday. End in Wellington following sunday. Days 1-8
Tour cost per person: 2 per room $1,900. Single room $2,600
BEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND 8 days Commence Christchurch every sunday Days 8-15
Tour cost per person: 2 per room $2,490. Single Room $2,960
BEAUTIFUL NEW ZEALAND 12 days Commence Auckland every Wednesday. Days 4-15

THIS TOUR LINKS TO AND FROM OUR BEST OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA MINI TOUR, AND BEST OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC TOURS.

Day 1. Sunday AUCKLAND ARRIVE
Arrive Auckland and you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Arrivals before 4pm receive a complimentary 1 hours tour of the city en route to your hotel including the summit of Mt Eden for a panoramic view over the city, Domain and Rose gardens, Tamaki Waterfront Drive, Mission Bay, City and University areas, and Albert Park. Accommodation at Copthorne Harbourside or similar hotel.

WHY NOT ARRIVE AUCKLAND SATURDAY AND ENJOY MORE TIME IN NEW ZEALAND'S LARGEST AND MOST VIBRANT CITY. You will still receive your city tour saturday (for arrivals before 4pm) and have a free day sunday to enjoythe city, take a harbour cruise, or explore the spectacular west coast rainforest and beaches.Extra cost per person per night: 2 per room $110. Single room $190

Day 2. Monday AUCKLAND - KAURI FORESTS - HOKIANGA - BAY OF ISLANDS (B)
Depart Auckland 8am and drive north over the Harbour Bridge, through the Hibiscus Coast, and on to the Otamatea Kauri and Early Settlers Museum - the best little museum in New Zealand!. See the amazing displays of kauri gum before continuing through Dargaville to the Waipoua forest. Visit "Tane Mahuta" giant kauri tree - some 2,000 years old and enjoy the views of the Hokianga Harbour and sand dunes before arriving in the Bay of Islands. Visit the Waitangi Treaty House where the Treaty of Friendship between Maori and the British Government was signed in 1840 and see the great war canoe. Accommodation in Paihia at Kingsgate Autolodge or Scenic Circle Bay of islands Hotel, or similar.

Day 3. Tuesday CAPE REINGA EXCURSION (BL)
Travel by special coach to the Puketi Kauri Forest, then on to Ninety Mile Beach for a drive on the sands and see the amazing Te Paki sand dunes and quicksand. Visit Cape Reinga lighthouse and see the meeting of the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean. Return to Paihia early evening. A picnic lunch is included today.

Day 4. Wednesday BAY OF ISLANDS - AUCKLAND (B)
Enjoy a cruise around the beautiful Bay of Islands this morning to Cape Brett and pass through the 'hole in the rock' - weather permitting. Cruise past the islands and into secluded bays and enjoy a stopover on Urupukapuka Island - once home to author Zane Grey. Usually dolphins are to be seen during this cruise. Disembark in historic Russell for a tour of the town including a visit to Flagstaff Hill and the oldest church in New Zealand. Return to Auckland late afternoon for accommodation at Copthorne Harbourside or similar again.

Day 5 Thursday AUCKLAND - WAITOMO CAVES - ROTORUA (BD)
Depart Auckland 8am and drive south over the Bombay hills and into fertile Waikato Dairy farmland. Pass the home of the Maori King and national marae at Ngaruawahia and continue to the Waitomo Caves. Enjoy a tour of the main limestone cave and cruise through the glowworm grotto before continuing to Rotorua. Enjoy the Agrodome sheep show and tour the farm to meet the animals and visit the Kiwifruit orchard. Continue to Rainbow Springs to see the trout and also the kiwi bird breeding programme.Visit the lakefront and gardens before arriving at your accommodation at Millennium Hotel or similar. This evening enjoy an introduction to Maori Culture and a hangi steam cooked dinner.

Day 6. Friday ROTORUA - TAUPO - WELLINGTON (B)
You have some time for optional (extra expense) activities. For the adrenalin junkies try a tandem parachute jump, whitewater raft the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world, or ride the luge. Alternatively enjoy the shops or relax in the hot thermal waters at Polynesian Spa. Visit the Whakarewarewa thermal area to see the boiling mud pools and steaming geysers. Drive south through part of the vast Kaiangaroa pine forest to the Wairakei geothermal valley and Huka Waterfall then on into Taupo town for a lunch break (own expense). Continue south around the shores of Lake Taupo and across the Desert Road in the Tongariro National Park.Magnificent views of the central North Island volcanoes are seen in fine weather. Continue south through the Rangitikei and Manawatu Districts and along the Kapiti Coast arriving Wellington late afternoon.Accommodation at James Cook Grand Chancellor Hotel.

Day 7. Saturday WELLINGTON (B)
Our sightseeing this morning includes the summit of Mt Victoria for a panoramic view over the city, part of the spectacular Marine Drive, Oriental Bay, a ride on the Cable Car to the botanical gardens, and a guided tour through Parliament House. The tour ends early afternoon at Te Papa, Museum of New Zealand and the rest of the afternoon is free to explore at your leisure. The museum is within easy walking distance of your hotel, shopping areas, and the waterfront precinct.
Note: Our driver may return to Auckland late afternoon with transfer sunday provided by local operator.

Day 8. Sunday WELLINGTON - PICTON - CHRISTCHURCH (B)
Transfer to the Interislander terminal for the 3 hour cruise across Cook Strait and through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton. Transfer to the rail station to join the "TRANZ COASTAL"train for the scenic ride down the Kaikoura Coast to Christchurch arriving early evening. You will be met by your South Island driver/guide/commentator/friend and transferred to your accommodation at Latimer Hotel or similar.

Day 9. Monday CHRISTCHURCH - MT COOK - DUNEDIN (B)
Drive across the Canterbury Plains and over Burkes Pass to Lake Tekapo. See the Church of the Good Shepherd and sheep dog monument before continuing to Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain. You have time to visit the National Park headquarters and take an optional ski plane or helicopter flight over the magnificent scenery of the Mt Cook National Park with a landing on the glacier if you wish - extra expense and weather permitting. Continue down the Waitaki Valley past Benmore and other hydro electric power stations to Oamaru with its preserved Victorian Heritage Buildings and on to Dunedin. Accommodation at Scenic Circle Dunedin City Hotel or similar.

Day 10. Tuesday DUNEDIN - "TAIERI GORGE RAILWAY" - QUEENSTOWN (B)
Dunedin lays claim to New Zealand's first university, first girls high school, first chocolate factory, first newspaper and first public art gallery, and the world's steepest street! Tour the city and you have time for an optional tour of "Olveston" historic homestead OR the Cadbury's chocolate factory, or tour the Otago Peninsula with the option of visiting the Albatross OR Penguin colony OR Larnachs castle - all admissions extra. Early afternoon join the privately run "TAIERI GORGE RAILWAY" travelling through spectacular Central Otago scenery to Pukerangi where you rejoin your vehicle to drive to Queenstown. Accommodation at Copthorne Resort Hotel or similar.

Day 11. Wednesday QUEENSTOWN (B)
Your morning tour includes the historic gold mining centre of Arrowtown, Coronet Peak lookout for a panoramic view over the the Remarkable Mountains, Lake Wakatipu, and the Queenstown area. The afternoon is free with a huge number of optional (extra expense) activities available. Maybe lunch at the Skyline restaurant high above Queenstown, take an exciting jet boat ride, a sedate cruise on the historic steamer "Earnslaw", bungy jump, visit a vineyard, visit Glenorchy and scenes where "Lord of the Rings" was filmed, or whatever you wish. Optional evening cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic steamer "Earnslaw" to the Walter Peak sheep station for farm activities and dinner at the Colonels restaurant - extra cost $110.

Day 12. Thursday MILFORD SOUND EXCURSION (DOUBTFUL SOUND OPTION) (BL)
A day of magnificent scenery as we drive along the shores of Lake Wakatipu to Te Anau then on through the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys to Milford Sound in the heart of the Fiordland National Park with a visit to the Mirror Lakes and "Roaring Chasm" en route. Enjoy a cruise to the head of Milford Sound under majestic Mitre Peak and see Bowen Waterfall before returning to Queenstown. A buffet lunch is included during your cruise.

DOUBTFUL SOUND OPTION. For even more magnificent scenery our driver will take you to Lake Manapouri for your cruise across the lake, coach across Wilmot Pass, and cruise in the wilderness area of Doubtful Sound - much more extensive than Milford Sound - extra cost $180. Return to Manapouri and our driver will pick you up for the journey back to Queenstown.

Day 13. Friday QUEENSTOWN - WANAKA - LAKE MATHESON - FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER (B)
Drive to Lake Wanaka with optional (extra expense) admissions to the Fighter Pilots Museum, or Puzzling World then over the Haast Pass to the beautiful rainforest and spectacular Coastline of the West Coast. Visit a Salmon Farm, beautiful Lake Matheson, and the Franz Josef Glacier lookout. You have time for an optional helicopter or ski plane flight to appreciate the magnificent scenery better, and land on the snows of the glacier - extra expense and weather permitting. Accommodation at Scenic Circle Franz Josef Glacier Hotel

Day 14. Saturday FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER - PUNAKAIKI -CHRISTCHURCH (B)
Drive north to Hokitika to see jade carvers and glass blowers at work. Continue to Greymouth for a short tour and on to the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and blowholes in the Paparoa National Park. (Optional visit to Shantytown to pan for gold, ride the steam train, and recapture something of the atmosphere of the gold rush era INSTEAD of visiting Punakaiki - extra cost per person $20). You have time to explore the rocks and blowholes before driving across the Southern Alps, through Arthurs Pass, and back across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. (Optional ride from Greymouth to Christchurch aboard the "TRANZ ALPINE" express on one of the most scenic rail routes in the world. Extra cost including transfers $150). Accommodation at Latimer or similar hotel again.

Day 15. Sunday CHRISTCHURCH DEPART
Our morning tour of the 'garden city' includes the Port Hills, Sumner Beach, Cathedral Square, Avon River, Museum, Botanical Gardens, and the Arts Centre. The tour finishes in the city at 12.30pm or at the airport at 1pm.
Passengers enjoying our BEST OF AUSTRALIA or AUSTRALIA MINI TOUR depart mid afternoon for Sydney.

Why not stay longer and enjoy more of Christchurch? - extra cost per night for accommodation and breakfast $130 per person 2 per room, $240 single room including departure transfer. Have a free afternoon or our driver will take you to the magnificent Antarctic Centre at the airport if you wish - admissions and transfer back to your hotel extra cost. You may substitute your morning tour with a day excursion to
(A) the charming French Style settlement of AKAROA including a harbour cruise, visit to a cheese factory, and lunch at a popular restaurant on the waterfront - extra cost $150 or
(B) the picturesque and tranquil mountain thermal resort of HANMER SPRINGS including a visit to a sheep farm,Thrillseekers Canyon (optional jet boat ride), lunch at the Garden House Cafe, and a visit to Waipara Winery - extra cost $190 or
(C) a day excursion to scenic KAIKOURA including a 3 hour Whale Watch cruise or 30 minute Whale Watch flight - extra cost $210

Tour cost per person	2 per room	Single room
	$NZ4,400	$NZ5,600

Tour cost includes:
** Arrival and departure transfers at each point
** All travel from Auckland to Christchurch by mini bus or coach, Interislander, and train
** 14 nights accommodation at first class hotels
** 14 cooked breakfasts, 1 light lunch at Cape Reinga and 1 buffet lunch during cruise, 1 hangi dinner at Rotorua,
** Sightseeing admissions to Otamatea kauri museum, Bay of Islands cruise, special coach excursion to Cape Reinga, Waitomo Cave, Agrodome sheep show and farm tour,Rainbow Springs and Kiwi Encounter,Maori Concert, Whakarewarewa thermal area, Parliament House,"Taieri Gorge Railway", Milford Sound cruise, services of our very special driver/guide/commentator/friend from Auckland to Wellington, and Christchurch to Christchurch. (Subject to minimum of 4 travelling)