66
Mount Cook
New Zealand Splendour
15 DAYS
AUCKLAND
CHRISTCHURCH ZAAC
Auckland Waitomo Rotorua Taupo Wellington Blenheim Twizel Dunedin Te Anau
Queenstown Franz Josef Glacier Punakaiki Arthur’s Pass Christchurch
From Auckland in the North Island to Dunedin in the South Island, this vacation offers a wealth of wonderful
experiences. Cruise glorious Milford Sound, journey through towering pine forests and verdant pastureland,
and fall asleep to the sound of waves crashing on the beach outside your hotel in rugged Punakaiki.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Discover Waitomo’s famous Glowworm Grotto
• Wellington’s city sights & Mt. Victoria
• Sail the Cook Strait to Queen Charlotte Sound
• Enjoy dinner with matching wine in Blenheim
• Savor a delicious BBQ at Morelea
• Marvel at the clear waters of
Lake Tekapo & Lake Pukaki
Day 1 Welcome to Auckland
After arrival in Auckland, the afternoon
is at leisure for you to explore this
vibrant, multicultural city. You might
like to amble down Queen Street to
the main shopping precinct, or on to
Viaduct Harbour. This evening, meet
your Travel Director for a Welcome
Reception and Highlight Dinner at your
hotel. Hotel: The Cordis, Auckland. HD
Day 2 Auckland – Rotorua
• Visit a jade factory & see artists at work After a tour of Auckland this morning,
you’ll visit the Waitomo Caves to explore
the mesmerising Glowworm Grotto
with a local guide. Then cross the
rolling hills of King Country to Rotorua,
where your orientation tour takes in
spectacular views of Lake Rotorua. Hotel:
Millennium Hotel, Rotorua, 2 nights. B
• Explore Punakaiki Pancake Rocks Day 3 Rotorua Included Choice
• Experience Milford Sound on a cruise
• Taste Central Otago stone fruit
at a local orchard
• Discover Franz Josef Glacier
• Journey over the Southern Alps
on the TranzAlpine Train
• Cruise to a High Country farm for
a gourmet barbecue dinner
• Included Choice experiences
Today, choose one from a range
of Included Choice sightseeing
experiences. Unwind at the Polynesian
Spa, tour the Whakarewarewa Thermal
Reserve, or explore Rotorua and its
lakes in an amphibious WWII-era Duck.
An evening of culture, history and
scrumptious food awaits you at the
Tamaki Māori Village. Learn about
Māori art forms and traditions and
enjoy an authentic Hangi Highlight
Dinner, with food steamed underground
in the traditional way. B HD
Day 4 Rotorua – Wellington
Say Haere Ra (goodbye) to Rotorua this
morning and journey out through pine
forests and farmland to a hidden little
spot, Huka Falls. From here the road
unfolds into a broad panorama of Lake
Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake. Travel
south over the Central Plateau and along
the Kapiti Coast to Wellington. Enjoy an
exclusive guided tour of Te Papa Museum
of New Zealand. Top off the night there
with a Highlight Dinner. Hotel: James
Cook Grand Chancellor, Wellington. B HD
Day 5 Wellington – Blenheim
You can discover more of Wellington this
morning. Perhaps visit the Parliament
buildings and the ‘Beehive’, home to
New Zealand’s politicians. Later, cruise the
Cook Strait into tranquil Queen Charlotte
Sound and travel on to the villages of
Picton and sunny Blenheim. This evening
enjoy a Highlight Dinner prepared from
local produce and matched with fine
Marlborough wines. Hotel: Chateau
Marlborough, Blenheim. B HD
Day 6 Blenheim – Christchurch
Travel to Kaikoura, where sperm whales
can often be seen not far from shore
(an optional whale-watching flight is
available). On arrival in Christchurch see
the extensive work carried out to rebuild
the city after the earthquake of 2011.
Hotel: Distinction Hotel, Christchurch. B