Itinerary

Day One    Arrive Christchurch
On arrival at Christchurch Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Christchurch, "The Garden City" has many well-tended parks, reserves and squares but the civic love of beauty is often more apparent in the fresh lawns and burgeoning gardens of the suburban streets which are seen in every part of the city.  Much of the charm of this city starts and finishes with the Avon River.  It runs through the suburbs and the city and provides an almost rural atmosphere in the heart of the town.
Accommodation for 3 nights:
The Heritage (Executive Room)
Huntley House (B&B)

Day Two    Christchurch & the TranzAlpine Train
The tour travels by road through the Canterbury Plains to the Waimakariri Canyon in the foot hills of the rugged Southern Alps.   Travel by jet boat upstream into the canyon to areas otherwise inaccessible, past 100 metre high train viaducts, waterfalls and thick beech forest. Rendezvous with the Unimog at Deer Point Cove. Travel in this unique 4WD vehicle across Torlesse Station while viewing the spectacular alpine scenery.

Following lunch at Te Kowhai Cafe, travel on the historic SH73 to Arthur’s Pass National Park where you join the TranzAlpine train for the return journey to Christchurch. The TranzAlpine is renowned as one of the top ten train journeys in the world

Day Three  Christchurch & Akaroa
This morning you will be collected from you accommodation and transferred to Akaroa - the beautiful unspoilt old French whaling depot. Lunch will be taken at Bully Hayes a popular restaurant on the waterfront in the heart of Akaroa with a wide choice of New Zealand food available (own expense).  Following lunch, enjoy a two hour cruise on the Canterbury Cat exploring the delights of Akaroa Harbour and sighting dolphins, penguins and seals.

On the return journey to Christchurch a stop will be made at Birdling Flat on the Kaitorete Spit. This stony beach at the entrance to Lake Forsyth provides a commanding view of the southern facing cliffs of Banks Peninsula. An interesting selection of pebbles and semi-precious stones can be found on the beach.  Return to your hotel.

Day Four    Christchurch – Kaikoura
Collect your full sized automatic rental car this morning and depart Christchurch. Travel into the rolling patch worked countryside of North Canterbury, noted for sheep and cattle farming. Pass through the sleepy Waipara Valley and cross the Hundalee Hills to the Kaikoura Coast and Pacific Ocean. There are panoramic sea views all along the coast to the seaside settlement of Kaikoura that received its name from an early Maori explorer and translates as kai (to eat) and koura (crayfish).
Accommodation: 1 night:
Hapuka Lodge (Lodge Room)
Hapuka Lodge (Tree House B&B)

Day Five    Kaikoura – Marlborough
This morning enjoy a whale watching flight over the Kaikoura coastline. The ocean’s continental shelf is very close to shore with an abundance of over two hundred species of marine life. The sights are truly unique - hundreds of fur seals sunbathing on the rocky shore, spectacular leaping dolphins and the most awesome of mammals, the sperm whale.

Following your flight, continue on your journey to Marlborough. Head northward along the coastline before turning inland to the hilly sheep country around Blenheim.

On arrival you will join an afternoon wine tour visiting a choice of leading vineyards in the region.
Accommodation: 1 night:
Hotel D’Urville (Run of House Room)
The Peppertree (B&B)

Day Six      Marlborough – Nelson
Depart Blenheim  and drive over the Rai Saddle to Nelson.'Sunny' Nelson lives up to its name with one of the highest sunshine hours in the country.  The province has interesting topographical contrasts - from rugged mountains to extensive alluvial flats, from rough grazing land to intensive close backed farming, from desolation to virgin forest.
Accommodation: 2 nights:
Monaco Hotel & Resort (Luxury Spa Room)
Kershaw House (B&B)

Day Seven  Nelson
Today explore the Abel Tasman National Park on a guided kayaking day-tour. Cruise the azure waters, skimming close to granite cliffs studded with protected bays fringed by native forest reaching down to golden sand. Visit the fascinating Tonga Island Seal Colony along the way.

Day Eight   Nelson – Punakaiki
Today leave sunny Nelson and journey into the fertile farmlands of the pine forested hills around Murchison.  Pass through the mighty Buller Gorge which is the gateway to the West Coast and from there it is on to the incredible drive down the coast to Punakaiki, the location of the famous Pancake Rocks.
Accommodation: 1 night
Punakaiki Rocks Hotel
Breakers Seaside Lodge B&B

Day Nine    Punakaiki – Franz Josef
Depart Punakaiki and pass through the towns of Greymouth and Hokitika  before entering the World Heritage Westland National Park.

On arrival at Franz Josef you will explore the best observed and recorded of all the country's many glaciers on a half day guided hike this afternoon.  Your guide will take you up through bush alongside the glacier. Next you will be outfitted with crampons and following the steps cut into the ice by your guide, make your way out onto the glacier itself.
Accommodation: 1 night:
Scenic Circle Franz Josef Glacier Hotel (Douglas Room)
Franz Josef Glacier Country Retreat (B&B)

Day Ten     Franz Josef – Queenstown
Depart Franz Josef and travel through a former saw milling area to Fox Glacier.  On through the forests of red and white pine to Bruce Bay, an old gold mining settlement. Pass through attractive bush scenery and see tranquil Lakes Paringa and Moeraki, the haunt of the fabulous white heron, to the township of Haast.  Drive through the Haast Pass Highway and emerge onto the east coast of the South Island travelling by Lakes Hawera and Wanaka and the Kawarau Gorge as you approach Queenstown.
Accommodation    3 nights:
Heritage Hotel (Deluxe Lakeview Room)
Remarkables Lodge (D,B&B)

Day 11               Queenstown & Arrowtown
This morning you will join a tour of Queenstown and the surrounding areas. The first stop will be to a look out on Coronet Peak road for great views. Next you will pay a visit to the historic gold mining village of Arrowtown, followed by wine tasting at the Gibbston Valley winery & cheesery, the areas most established winery. Move on to the Kawarau Bridge, the home of bungy jumping before driving around Lake Wakatipu to Glenorchy for lunch.  This is followed by a thrilling jet boat ride along the Dart River and hear about the area’s history on a short bush walk before you are returned to your hotel.

Day 12               Queenstown & Doubtful Sound
This morning you will be collected from your accommodation and transferred by luxury coach along the shores of Lake Wakatipu and through the rolling countryside to Pearl Harbour, Manapouri. On arrival at Pearl Harbour, board your vessel and cruise across Lake Manapouri to West Arm.   You will then travel by coach over Wilmot Pass through dense rainforest.

Once at Doubtful Sound board the catamaran (Commander Peak) for a three hour cruise of beautiful Doubtful Sound to the Tasman Sea during which you will have the opportunity of viewing waterfalls, and the varied sea life of the fiord including possible sightings of seals dolphins and penguins.  You will then retrace your journey back to Manapouri, where you will rejoin your coach and transfer back to Queenstown.

Day 13       Depart Queenstown
Return your rental car to the airport before checking in for your departure flight.

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