AAT Kings Escorted Brochure 2018-2019 North America 1819 CAD Anderson Vacations | Page 58

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Franz Josef Glacier
Contrasts of New Zealand
10 DAYS  |  AUCKLAND TO CHRISTCHURCH  |  IZANB
HIGHLIGHTS
• Explore Auckland & cruise
on Waitemata Harbour
• Join the O’Sullivans for lunch
on their Waikato farm
• Experience Maori culture with the
Tamaki family at dinner
• Journey over the Southern Alps
on the TranzAlpine Train
Experience the dramatic contrasts of New Zealand’s two
very distinct islands on this fascinating journey. From
Auckland’s sparkling harbor to Rotorua’s geothermal
wonderland, from the rugged beauty of the West Coast to
the untouched serenity of Milford Sound, new facets of New
Zealand’s natural splendor will reveal themselves each
day as you explore the Land of the Long White Cloud.
• Visit a jade factory
• See Franz Josef Glacier
• Taste Central Otago stone
fruits at a local orchard
• Discover truly spectacular Milford
Sound on a lunch cruise
• Frolic in the adventure capital of
New Zealand, Queenstown
• Marvel at crystal clear Lake Tekapo
• Visit a working sheep farm
• Experience warm Kiwi hospitality at
Morelea Farm with a BBQ lunch
• Enjoy New Zealand wines
with all hotel dinners
• Experienced Travel Director
& Driver Guide
Day 1: Welcome to Auckland
After arrival in Auckland your free
to explore the city. This evening
join your Travel Director and fellow
travelers for a Welcome Reception and
dinner at your hotel. Hotel: Stamford
Plaza, Auckland, 2 nights. DW
Day 2: Auckland
Start the day with a tour of the
highlights of this lively multicultural
city, stopping to visit lovely Queen
Street with its many heritage buildings,
and picturesque Viaduct Harbour. Later,
a cruise on the sparkling waters of
Waitemata Harbour offers panoramic
views of the Auckland city skyline. B
Day 3: Auckland – Rotorua
You’re invited to a Be My Guest
lunch at the home of Lance and
Bridgette O’Sullivan, New Zealand
horse racing royalty. Enjoy a
sumptuous country-style lunch
at the Red Barn on their beautiful
Waikato Farm (from 01 April 2018).
This evening, a very personal and
exclusive cultural evening awaits
you at the Tamaki Family Marae.
Experience a powerful Haka challenge
and a spine-tingling Karanga as you
are welcomed to the land. Witness a
concert showcasing traditional Maori
culture, then enter a private Whare
(dining room) for a traditional Maori
Hangi feast, which is cooked in the
ground using thermal steam. Hotel:
Millennium Hotel, Rotorua. B BG HD
Day 4: Rotorua – Christchurch
This morning after breakfast your first
destination is Rainbow Springs Nature
Park, where you’ll be able to observe
many species of the native fauna of
New Zealand. The park is a key element
in a conservation project aimed at
protecting the country’s iconic kiwi,
and hopefully you’ll catch a glimpse of
this shy little flightless bird. From here
you’ll visit Te Puia thermal reserve,
encountering bubbling mudpools, pools
of boiling water still used for cooking,
and stunning geysers. The Pōhutu
geyser is the star of the show. In the
afternoon you’ll fly to Christchurch,
a city that delivers an eclectic mix of
historic elegance and contemporary
culture and is considered the
gateway to the South Island. Hotel:
Novotel (Distinction Hotel from
01 April 2018), Christchurch. B
Day 5: Christchurch –
Franz Josef
Travel today on the iconic TranzAlpine
train through the Southern Alps to
Arthur’s Pass, the highest settlement
on the South Island. The TranzAlpine,
which is regarded as one of the world’s
great train journeys, passes through
magnificent landscapes ranging
from the fertile farmlands of the