12 days/11 Nights
Southbound: 2011. Scheduled departures commence Auckland Wednesdays
2011: September 21*, October 26, December 7
2012: February 8, March 7
* SPECIAL FOLLOW THE WALLABIES TOUR. Option to see Wallabies v USA match in Wellington and Wallabies v Russia in Nelson (Match tickets not included). This tour will follow the same itinerary to Queenstown and travel to Milford Sound on wednesday, then to Franz Josef Glacier on thursday and Nelson on friday in time for the Wallabies v Russia match on saturday, a cruise of Abel Tasman National Park on sunday, and return to Wellington on monday afternoon. Tour cost surcharge $1000 per person. Fly out of Nelson on sunday if you wish. Accommodation in Wellington and Nelson may be in friendly kiwi home stays.

Please Note: Scheduled departures are guaranteed for a minimum of 2 - maximum 16
This tour can operate any day for a minimum of 4 passengers at the same price on your own exclusive tour - subject to availability of driver and vehicle. It can operate for 2 (Additional cost $800 per person) or 3 (additional cost $600 per person) at additional cost.

AUCKLAND - WAITOMO CAVES - ROTORUA - TAUPO - WELLINGTON - PICTON - KAIKOURA - CHRISTCHURCH - MT COOK - QUEENSTOWN - TE ANAU - MILFORD SOUND - QUEENSTOWN - WANAKA - GLACIERS - PUNAKAIKI - CHRISTCHURCH

NOTE: this tour links to our Best of Australia, Australia mini tour, and Best of the South Pacific tours

Day 1. Wednesday 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
Standard: President Hotel
First Class: Mercure City

WHY NOT ARRIVE AUCKLAND TUESDAY AND ENJOY MORE TIME IN NEW ZEALAND'S LARGEST AND MOST VIBRANT CITY. You will still receive your city tour on tuesday (for arrivals before 4pm) and have a free day wednesday to enjoy the 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. 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. Also visit the lakefront and gardens before arriving at your accommodation at
Standard: Ibis
First Class; Novotel Lakeside
This evening enjoy an introduction to Maori Culture and a hangi steam cooked dinner.

Day 3. Friday ROTORUA - TAUPO - WELLINGTON (B)
This morning visit Te Puia cultural village and Whakarewarewa thermal area to see displays of Maori culture and visit the kiwihouse, boiling mud pools, and steaming geysers. Drive south through part of the vast Kaiangaroa pine forest to the Wairakei geothermal valley and Huka Waterfall. Continue around the shores of Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake into the Tongariro National Park. Arrive Wellington, the capital city, late afternoon. Accommodation at
Standard: West Plaza
First Class: James Cook Grand Chancellor.
Note: Accommodation for 23rd September departure may be in quality home stays. Option for Wallabies v USA match this evening.

Day 4. 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, Weta Cave - home of special effects to such films as "Lord of the Rings" Last Samurai" etc, Oriental Bay, a ride on the Cable Car to the botanical gardens, Parliament House, and the Beehive. 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.

Day 5. 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
Standard: Heartland Cotswald Hotel
The George Hotel
Note: some tours (including 23rd September) will use one host and vehicle throughout both islands in which case travel from Picton to Christchurch will be by road with a visit to Kaikoura en route with an option of a whale watch flight. If you wish to do a Whale Watch cruise at Kaikoura it is possible to cruise to Picton saturday afternoon and travel by coach to Kaikoura and do your cruise sunday morning before rejoining your tour. Additional cost including cruise $250 per person.

Day 6. Monday CHRISTCHURCH - MT COOK (BD)
Tour Christchurch this morning including the Port Hills for a panoramic view over the city, Sumner Beach, the Botanical Gardens, Museum (when re-opened)and city areas. Christchurch has suffered greatly through 2 earthquakes and numerous aftershocks. We will show you some of the extent of the damage. Christchurch needs your support to redevelop. Late morning depart Christchurch and 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 to land on the snows of the Glacier. Accommodation and dinner at the magnificent Hermitage Hotel. All rooms have views of Mt Cook - in fine weather!

Day 7. Tuesday. MOUNT COOK - QUEENSTOWN (B)
Time for an alpine walk or magnificent cruise among the icebergs at the base of the Tasman Glacier (October-May only) before travelling south through the McKenzie Country and over the Lindis Pass to the fruit growing region of Cromwell then to the historic gold mining centre of Arrowtown. Time to explore the town and the historic Chinese Gold miners settlement before visiting the Coronet Peak lookout for a panoramic view over Lake Wakatipu and the remarkable Mountains. Late afternoon arrive Queenstown. Accommodation at
Standard: A Line Hotel
First Class: Novotel Lakeside Hotel or similar.

Day 8. Wednesday QUEENSTOWN (B)
Today 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
(Please note: this is your drivers legally required day off. He will not be available for transfers or sightseeing).

Day 9. 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 picnic 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 10. 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
Standard: Rainforest Retreat - standard rooms
First Class: Rainforest Retreat - Tree Lodge rooms

Day 11. 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 Heartland or George hotels again.


Day 12. Sunday CHRISTCHURCH DEPART
You will be transferred to the airport for departure.

Passengers enjoying our BEST OF AUSTRALIA or AUSTRALIA MINI TOUR depart 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 in New Zealand dollars valid to 31st May, 2012	2 per room	Single room
	Standard $NZ3,560 First Class NZ$4,150	Standard $NZ3,980 First Class $4,680

Tour cost includes (full tour):
** Arrival and departure transfers at each point
** All travel from Auckland to Christchurch by mini bus or coach, Interislander, and train
** 11 nights accommodation at grade chosen
** 11 cooked breakfasts, 1 picnic lunch during cruise, 1 hangi dinner at Rotorua,
** Sightseeing admissions to Waitomo glowworm cave, Agrodome sheep show and farm tour, Maori Concert, Whakarewarewa thermal area, 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).