NEW ZEALANDBY RAIL, SEA & LAND• 18 DAYS • OCTOBER 7 - 2468.New Zealand is a country known for itsincredible scenery, hospital people andexceptional quality of life. What better wayto see this magnificent country than by acombination of stunning rail journeys,exciting cruises and scenic coach touring.On this unique tour we will enjoy thegeological wonders, picturesque beachesand traditional Maori culture that defines theNorth Island; and revel at the rugged peaks,deep fjords and rural atmosphere of theSouth Island.On the North Island we will travel aboard theOverlander Train, enabling us to view thesnowcapped peaks, plummeting gorges,sprawling plains and the famous RaurimuSpiral (an engineering masterpiece).On the South Island, the TranzCostal train isconsidered one of the world’s most scenictrain journeys as it snakes through 22tunnels and over 175 bridges. We will crossthe great Canterbury plains on theTranzAlpine and follow the WaimakaririRiver into the magnificent Southern Alps.Dunedin’s prestige tourist train, the TaieriGorge Rail, will take us on a spellbindingjourney across wrought iron viaducts andthrough tunnels carved by hand more than100 years ago. Our final train route isaboard the historic Seasider from Dunedinto Palmerston, with stunning views of thePacific Ocean and the high cliffs of thecoastal Otago.This tour will also include some wonderfuladventures on the sea. In the Bay of Islandswe will cruise crystal waters to Cape BrettLighthouse and the famous “Hole in theRock”. From Wellington, the inter-island ferrywill take us through the picturesqueMarlborough and Queen Charlotte Sounds tothe South Island. An evening steamship rideon the TSS Earnslaw across Lake Wakatipuwill take us to a special farm house dinner andwine tasting. One of the most scenic cruiseswill be on Milford Sound in Fjordland NationalPark, an opportunity to view Bowen Falls andtowering Mitre Peak.So join us on this unique tour of one of themost beautiful countries in the world.HOLIDAY INCLUSIONS• Flights with Air New Zealand• Superior and First Class accommodation• Full breakfast daily, 13 dinners & 2 lunches• PLUS ALL TOUR INCLUSIONS on Page 1COSTSper person, double occupancy, from Toronto,Winnipeg, Montreal or Ottawa ... $8397Single Supplement - $1290From Halifax add $150From Calgary or Edmonton deduct $250From Vancouver deduct $500
TENTATIVE ITINERARY FOR NEW ZEALANDDAY 1DAY 2DAY 3DAY 4DAY 5DAY 6DAY 7DAY 8DAY 9DAY 10DAY 11DEPARTURE. We depart for Auckland, with achange of planes in Vancouver.Crossing the International Date Line.AUCKLAND. We arrive in Auckland and transfer toour hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure until ourWelcome Dinner this evening.BAY OF ISLANDS We travel north to see the KauriTree - one of the world’s tallest at 50 metres, andto visit the Kauri Museum - an interactive culturalexperience. We then visit the historic WaitangiTreaty Grounds, home to New Zealand’s foundingdocument as a nation. We proceed to the beautifulBay of Islands for a 2-night stay.BAY OF ISLANDS. This morning we cruisethrough the scenic waters of the Bay of Islands toCape Brett Lighthouse and through the famous‘Hole in the Rock’ (weather permitting). The rest ofthe day is free to explore this beautiful area.AUCKLAND. Enjoy the scenery as we travel bycoach back to Auckland where we will have a citytour, including the must-see Kelly Tarlton’sUnderwater World. We overnight in Auckland.ROTORUA. We head south through some of NewZealand’s most fertile farmland to Matamata,where we visit the remnants of the originalHobbiton Movie Set from “Lord of the Rings”. Wethen visit an authentic sheep and dairy farm, andindulge in a traditional kiwi barbecue lunch beforeproceeding to Rotorua - heartland of Maori culture.ROTORUA. We begin with a gondola ride toSkyrides Restaurant for a buffet breakfast andspectacular views. We then visit Rainbow SpringsNature Park, a native wildlife park where you canhand feed the trout and have a “Kiwi Encounter”.We continue to see the bubbling mud pools andthermal geyser and meet the local Maori people atthe Te Puia Thermal Village. The afternoon is freeto either soak in the thermal hot springs or exploremore of Rotorua. This evening we enjoy a hangi, atraditional Maori feast prepared in pits the way theirforefathers did centuries ago. Traditional Maorimusic and war dances are part of the fun!OVERLANDER RAIL / WELLINGTON. We travelalong the Thermal Explorer Highway to spectacularHuka Falls. Continue to Lake Taupo for some freetime to enjoy this scenic lakeside town. Later weboard the Overlander Train and travel throughTongariro National Park, where we seesnowcapped peaks, traversing gorges, sprawlingplains and the world famous Raurimu Spiral, beforearriving in Wellington, New Zealand’s capital.WELLINGTON. This morning we visit Te Papa,New Zealand’s national museum, and enjoy a tourof the “best little capital city in the world”. Afternoonat leisure to explore friendly Wellington.FERRY TO SOUTH ISLAND / TRANZCOASTALRAIL / CHRISTCHURCH. We cruise throughpicturesque Marlborough and Queen CharlotteDAY 12DAY 13DAY 14DAY 15DAY 16DAY 17DAY 18Sounds on the inter-island ferry to the South Island.Here we board one of the world's most scenic trainjourneys, the TranzCoastal, and journey through 22tunnels and cross 175 bridges. We travel along thePacific Ocean, through some of New Zealand’sfinest horticultural and farmland areas, and seeamazing wildlife such as dolphins, seals andpenguins from the comfort of our train carriage. Wedisembark and continue by coach to Christchurch.TRANZALPINE RAIL / FRANZ JOSEF. Today’sunforgettable journey is aboard the TranzAlpinerail, a spectacular trip through the fields andfarmlands of the Canterbury Plains, and along theriver valleys of the Waimakariri River into themajestic Southern Alps. We disembark andcontinue to the impressive Franz Josef Glacier foran opportunity to take a scenic helicopter flight withsnow landing (optional / weather permitting).QUEENSTOWN. We travel through sub-tropicalrainforest to view the spectacular Thunder CreekFalls and continue to the small mountain town ofWanaka. We arrive in picturesque Queenstownand our hotel overlooking Lake Wakatipu.QUEENSTOWN. A day at leisure in Queenstown.There are many activities available. This eveningwe board the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw andcruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter PeakStation, where we are treated to the best of NewZealand’s high country cuisine and a wine tasting.After dinner we enjoy a short farm tour beforecruising back to Queenstown.MILFORD SOUND CRUISE / TE ANAU. Today wejourney through breathtaking Fjordland NationalPark to Milford Sound for an unforgettable cruise.We see the spectacular Bowen Falls, toweringMitre Peak and enjoy a scrumptious buffet lunch onboard. We overnight in lakeside Te Anau.TAIERI GORGE RAIL / DUNEDIN. This morningwe board Dunedin's prestige tourist train, TaieriGorge Rail, for a journey through the rugged andspectacular Taieri River Gorge, across wrought ironviaducts and through tunnels carved by hand morethan 100 years ago. We arrive at Dunedin and visitLarnach Castle, with its unique architecture andfascinating (and sometimes scandalous!) history.This evening we walk to Speights Brewery fordinner, home of the South Island’s legendary beer.SEASIDER RAILWAY / DUNEDIN. At historicDunedin Station we board the incredibly sceniccoastal Seasider Rail. The views of the PacificOcean are stunning as we travel along the highcliffs of coastal Otago and see the Mihiwaka Tunnelbefore arriving in Palmerston. We continue bycoach to the intriguing Moeraki Boulders andreturn to Dunedin for a Scottish evening with aspecial Haggis Ceremony.HOME. We transfer to the airport for our flighthome, via Vancouver69.
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