8 days/7 Nights
Guaranteed departures for a minimum of 2 passengers commence Christchurch sundays
2011: September 25*. October 30, December 11.
* Rugby special visits Milford Sound wednesday then to Franz Josef on thursday and Nelson on friday for 3 nights with a full day cruise of Abel tasman national Park included and the option to watch the Australia v Russia game in Nelson. Extra cost $300 per person. (Tickets not included). Maximum 16 passengers on any tour
This tour can operate any day for a minimum of 4 passengers at the same price

CHRISTCHURCH - LAKE TEKAPO - MT COOK - ARROWTOWN - QUEENSTOWN - LAKE TE ANAU - MILFORD SOUND - FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER - PUNAKAIKI PANCAKE ROCKS - CHRISTCHURCH. (Tranz Alpine Express option)

Day 1. Sunday ARRIVE CHRISTCHURCH
Arrive Christchurch and you will be transferred to your accommodation at
Standard: Heartland Cotswald Hotel
First Class: The George

Day 2. Monday CHRISTCHURCH - LAKE TEKAPO - MT COOK. (BD)
Sightseeing this morning includes the Port Hills, Sumner Beach, Botanical Gardens, Museum (when re-opened) and some of the areas affected in the February 2011 earthquake. Late morning we leave Christchurch and drive across the fertile Canterbury Plains and over Burke's Pass to Lake Tekapo. See the sheep dog monument and visit the Church of the Good Shepherd. Continue along the shores of Lake Pukaki to Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain. Visit the Mt Cook National Park headquarters, and you have time for a short alpine walk or flight by helicopter or ski plane over the mountains and glaciers with a landing on the glacier - extra expense and weather permitting. Accommodation and dinner tonight at the Hermitage Hotel. Admission to the Sir Edmund Hillary centre included
Standard: Superior Rooms
First Class: Premium Rooms
All rooms have views of Mt Cook in fine weather.

Day 3. Tuesday. MOUNT COOK - ARROWTOWN - QUEENSTOWN (B)
Free time for a fantastic optional cruise among the icebergs on the lake at the base of the Tasman Glacier before we drive south through the McKenzie Country and over the Lindis Pass to the fruit growing region of Cromwell. Continue to the historic gold mining centre of Arrowtown. Explore the town and historic Chinese gold miners village before driving to the Coronet Peak lookout for a fantastic view over Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkable Mountains and continue into Queenstown. Accommodation at
Standard: Heartland A Line Hotel
First Class: Novotel Lakeside

Day 5. Wednesday QUEENSTOWN  (B)
The day is free with a huge number of optional (extra expense) activities available. Maybe lunch at the Skyline restaurant high above Queenstown, bungy jump, visit a vineyard, visit Glenorchy and scenes where the "Lord of the Rings" was filmed, or whatever you wish. Optional evening cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the historic steamer "Earnslaw" to the Walter Peak sheep station for farm activities and dinner at the Colonels Homestead. Enjoy a singalong around the piano as you cruise back to Queenstown - extra cost $110.

Day 6. Thursday MILFORD SOUND EXCURSION  (DOUBTFUL SOUND OPTION) (BL)
A day of magnificent scenery as you drive along the shores of Lake Wakatipu and across Southland farming country to Te Anau then on through the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys to Milford Sound in the heart of the Fiordland National Park with visits to the Mirror lake 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 Manapouri to join your cruise across Lake Manapouri, coach across Wilmot Pass, and cruise to the head of Doubtful Sound - much more extensive than Milford Sound - extra cost per person $150. Return to Manapouri and our driver will pick you up for your journey back to Queenstown. Note: Picnic lunch only on Doubtful Sound excursion.

Day 7. Friday QUEENSTOWN - WANAKA - LAKE MATHESON - FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER (B)
Drive north through the Kawarau Gorge and fruit growing region of Cromwell to Wanaka. Optional visit to Puzzling World (admissions extra). After a brief stop in Wanaka continue through Makarora and over the Haast Pass into the rainforest and spectacular coastline of the West Coast. Visit a Salmon farm, beautiful Lake Matheson, and the Franz Josef Glacier lookout. Accommodation at
Standard: Rainforest Retreat - standard motel room
First Class: Rainforest Retreat - Tree House unit
Optional scenic flight by ski plane or helicopter to land on the glacier - extra expense and weather permitting.

Day 8. Saturday FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER - PUNAKAIKI ROCKS - CHRISTCHURCH
Drive north to Hokitika to see jade carvers and glass blowers at work and after a short tour of Greymouth 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 - extra expense $20. Drive across spectacular Arthurs Pass with a visit to the National Park headquarters then back across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. Return to Heartland or The George Hotel or similar.

Tranz Alpine train option from Greymouth to Christchurch including transfers - extra cost $150.

Day 9. Sunday CHRISTCHURCH DEPART  (B)
You will be transferred to the airport for departure.

We recommend arriving earlier or staying later and enjoying more of the wonders of Christchurch.
Extra nights accommodation cost per person
Standard: $90 2 per room. $160 single room
First Class: $110 2 per room $190 single room.

Optional full day tours available 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 $140; 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 and lunch - extra cost $210.

Tour cost per person valid to 31st May, 2012	2 per room	Single room
	Standard: $NZ2,280. First Class $NZ2,600	Standard: 2,760. First Class NZ$3,200

 

Tour cost includes:
** Arrival and departure transfers at each point
** All travel from Christchurch to Christchurch by mini bus or coach
** 7 nights accommodation at first class hotels,
** 7 cooked breakfasts, 1 picnic lunch, 1 dinner
** Sightseeing admissions to Milford Sound cruise.