WELLINGTON - PICTON - KAIKOURA - WHALE WATCH CRUISE - CHRISTCHURCH - MT COOK (Overnight Hermitage) - DUNEDIN (2 nights) - 'TAIERI GORGE RAILWAY" - CATLINS - BLUFF - STEWART ISLAND CRUISE AND TOUR - DOUBTFUL SOUND CRUISE (Optional Overnight Cruise) - TE ANAU - TE ANAU LIMESTONE CAVES CRUISE - MILFORD SOUND - QUEENSTOWN - WANAKA - GLACIERS - PUNAKAIKI - CHRISTCHURCH

17 Days/16 Nights accommodated.
Escorted Small Group Coach Tour (Minimum 2 - Maximum 12 In Group)

Grand South Island Tour Commences Wellington Friday 10th Febuary, 2012, 15 days/14 nights accommodated.
Commences Christchurch Sunday 12th February, 2012
15 days/14 nights acommodated

SPECIAL FEATURES: Overnight At The Hermitage Mt Cook, 2 Nights Dunedin, Catlins Area, Stewart Island Cruise And Tour, Milford AND Doubtful Sound Cruises Included.

Join or leave anywhere en route provided a minimum of 7 consecutive nights are spent on tour

Day 1. Friday. ARRIVE WELLINGTON
Arrive Wellington and you will be transferred to your accommodation at West Plaza Hotel or similar

Day 2. Saturday WELLINGTON - PICTON - KAIKOURA (BD)
Morning tour of Wellington includes Parliament Buildings, central city, Oriental Bay, part of the magnificent Marine Drive, Weta workshop museum (home of Lord of the rings special effects) and a quick look at Te Papa, Museum of New Zealand. Depart Wellington aboard the Interislander at 2.05pm for the scenic 3 Hour Cruise Across Cook Strait And Through the Marlborough Sounds To Picton. Drive through Marlborough and down the scenic coast to the charming seaside resort of Kaikoura. Accommodation at White Morph Motor Inn. Special seafood dinner included tonight.

Day 3. Sunday. KAIKOURA - WHALE WATCH CRUISE - CHRISTCHURCH. (B)
Enjoy a 3 hour whale watch cruise this morning (whale watch flight will be substituted if whale watch cruise is cancelled through weather). You also have time to explore the town and visit the seal colony. This afternoon drive south to Christchurch through North Canterbury and the Waipara wine growing country. Accommodation at Chateau on the Park or similar hotel.

Day 4. Monday. CHRISTCHURCH - LAKE TEKAPO - MT COOK (BD)
Drive South Across The Canterbury Plains Through Ashburton And Geraldine And Over Burkes Pass To Beautiful Lake Tekapo. See The Sheep Dog Monument And Visit The Church Of The Good Shepherd Before Driving Along The Shores Of Lake Pukaki Into The Heart Of The Mt Cook National Park. Enjoy a cruise on the glacial lake at the base of the mighty Tasman glacier and touch the icebergs!. Visit The National Park Headquarters and you have time to take A Short Alpine Walk, Or An Optional Ski Plane Or Helicopter Flight To Land On The Snows Of The Glacier And Enjoy The Magnificent Panorama Of New Zealand From The Tasman Sea To The Pacific Ocean, And The Southern Alps. (Flights are extra expense and subject to weather). Enjoy a cruise on the Glacier lake at the foot of the Tasman Glacier. Overnight At The Hermitage Hotel With Magnificent Views Of Mt Cook In Fine Weather. Accommodation at the magnificent Hermitage Hotel.

Day 5. Tuesday. MOUNT COOK - DUNEDIN (B)
Drive Down The Waitaki River Valley With A Visit To The Massive Benmore Hydro Dam En Route To Oamaru. Visit The Historical Area And Continue South To The Unique Moeraki Boulders For Some Beach Time And On To Dunedin. Dunedin lays claim to New Zealand's first University, first girls high school, first chocolate factory, first public art galllery, and the worlds steepest street! This afternoon enjoy an excursion to Pukerangi and return on the privately operated "Taieri Gorge Railway". See the spectacular central Otago scenery. Accommodation at Dunedin City Hotel or similar.

Day 6. Wednesday. DUNEDIN (B)
This morning tour the city including the Octagon, Knox Church, scenic drive, historic "Olveston House", and a guided tour of the Cadburys factory - samples included. This afternoon tour the Otago Peninsula including Larnachs Castle, the Albatross Colony, and a nature tour to see the seals and penguins.

Day 7. Thursday DUNEDIN - CATLINS - INVERCARGILL (BD)
Enjoy a scenic drive through The Catlins, one of New Zealand's most unspoiled wilderness areas. See the wildlife, waterfalls, and beautiful coastal scenery including Nugget Point Lighthouse. Two nights in Invercargill. Accommodation at The Kelvin Hotel or similar.

Day 8. Friday INVERCARGILL - STEWART ISLAND - BLUFF - INVERCARGILL (B)
Drive to Bluff near the southernmost tip of the South Island overlooking Foveaux Strait and cruise to Stewart Island. Transfer to a local boat for a cruise on Patterson Inlet to the amazing nature reserve of Ulva Island with some of the friendliest native birds in New Zealand! Tour Oban before cruising back To Bluff and drive to Invercargill for accommodation at the Kelvin Hotel. (Optional flight back from Stewart Island by light plane if you wish - extra expense $50 if reserved when making your tour booking)

Day 9. Saturday INVERCARGILL - TE ANAU. (DOUBTFUL SOUND OVERNIGHT CRUISE OPTION) (B)
We take the scenic back roads through Tuatapere and Riverton to Te Anau. This afternoon cruise across the lake to visit the Glowworm Caves and see the Stalactites and 'Cave Of Rushing Waters'.
Accommodation at Te Anau Hotel or similar

DOUBTFUL SOUND OVERNIGHT CRUISE OPTION. Arrive Manapouri midday for your cruise across bush fringed Lake Manapouri - one of the most beautiful in New Zealand, drive across Wilmot Pass through the Beech Forests, and join the "Fiordland Navigator" for your leisurely cruise down spectacular Doubtful Sound, which is vastly more extensive than Milford Sound. Explore the side Fjords, see the seal colonies. Anchor overnight in a secluded wilderness area and you have the opportunity to kayak or take a cruise on the ships tender for even greater appreciation of the quietness of the Fjord and majesty of creation. Return to Te Anau sunday afternoon for your Te Anau Caves cruise. Picnic lunch sunday, dinner, and breakfast included. Extra Cost $180 Per Person 2 Per Cabin.

Day 10. Sunday DOUBTFUL SOUND (BL)
Full Day 'Triple Treat' Excursion Cruising Across Lake Manapouri, Driving Across Wilmot Pass, And Cruising The Length Of Doubtful Sound Before Returning To Te Anau.

Day 11. Monday. MILFORD SOUND (BL)
Another day of magnificent scenery as we drive through the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys to Milford Sound with a visit to the Mirror Lakes, and 'Roaring Chasm' En Route. Enjoy a leisurely nature cruise to the head of Milford Sound under majestic Mitre Peak, See Bowen Waterfall, and visit the unique undersea aquarium before retracing our steps to Te Anau.

Day 12. Tuesday. TE ANAU - QUEENSTOWN. (BD)
Drive to Fairlight to join the "Kingston Flyer" historic steam train to Kingston at the southern end of Lake Wakatipu. Drive alomng the shore sof the lake to beautiful Queenstown. This evening a gondola ride and buffet dinner at the Skyline restaurant high above Queenstown is included.

Day 13. Wednesday. QUEENSTOWN. (BD)
Morning tour to the historic gold mining centre of Arrowtown and to the Coronet Peak lookout for a panoramic view over Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkable Mountains.
Free afternoon with many optional activities available such as an exciting jet boat ride, Bunjy Jump, Whitewater Rafting, or just enjoy the beauty of this great resort. This evening we cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the historic steamer "Earnslaw" to the Walter Peak sheep station for dinner, farm show, and singalong around the piano during the cruise home.

Day 14. Thursday. QUEENSTOWN (B)
The day is completely free to enjoy Queenstown at your leisure. Many optional activities are available. Maybe take a 'Lord Of The Rings' tour, experience a Dart River jet boat safari, or whatever you wish. All activities during the day are extra expense.
This is your drivers legally required day off and he will not be available for transfers or sightseeing.
Day 15. Friday QUEENSTOWN - FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER (B)
Drive north through the Kawarau Gorge and fruit growing region of Cromwell to Wanaka. (Optional visit to Puzzling World - admission extra). After a brief stop in Wanaka continue over the Haast Pass to the rainforest and spectacular coastal scenery of the West Coast. Visit beautiful Lake Matheson. Accommodation at Rainforest Retreat
Optional scenic flight by ski plane or helicopter - extra expense and weather permitting.

Day 16. Saturday. FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER - PUNAKAIKI - CHRISTCHURCH (B)
Drive north to Hokitika to see jade carvers and glass blowers at work. After a brief tour of Greymouth continue to the beautiful Punakakiki Pancake Rocks and blowholes in the Paparoa National Park with time to explore the area. (Optional visit to Shantytown to pan for gold and ride the steam train to recapture something of the atmosphere of the gold rush era INSTEAD of Punakaiki available - extra cost $20 per person). Drive across the Southern Alps, through spectacular Arthurs Pass and back across the Canterbury Plains To Christchurch. Accommodation at
First Class: The George
Standard: Heartland Cotswald

Optional Ride On The TRANZ ALPINE EXPRESS From Greymouth To Christchurch On One Of The Most Scenic Rail Journeys In The World - Extra Cost Including Transfers $150 Per Person

Day 17. Sunday. CHRISTCHURCH DEPART. (B)You will be transferred to the airport for departure.

Those joining our BEST OF AUSTRALIA tour fly to Sydney this afternoon. Those joining our BEST OF THE COOK ISLANDS fly to Auckland and on to Rarotonga.

Tour cost per person from Wellington	2 per room	Single room
	$4,650	$5,760
To commence tour in Christchurch sunday Day 3 tour cost is	$4,300	$5,240

Tour Cost Includes (Full Tour):

** 16 nights accommodation at comfortable motor inns and first class hotels - all rooms with private bathroom, tea and coffee, television, etc.
** All travel from Wellington to Christchurch including Interislander, mini bus or coach, and train
** 16 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches and 3 dinners
** Sightseeing admissions to Whale Watch cruise, Mt Cook glacier cruise, "Taieri Gorge"Railway, Larnachs Castle, Penguin OR Albatross colony, Stewart Island cruise and tour, Doubtful Sound cruise, Milford Sound cruise, Walter Peak cruise and dinner.

,br/> TE ANAU TO QUEENSTOWN VIA THE ROUTEBURN WALK!
Depart Te Anau Monday to the Divide on the Milford Road and walk 13km to Lake Mckenzie. Tuesday continue 15km to Routeburn Falls. Wednesday 10km to the Routeburn Road and drive to Queenstown to rejoin your group. Extra cost $650 per person including all meals on hike multi share bunkrooms, guide fees. A reasonable level of fitness is required to enjoy this walk

NELSON AND ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK EXTENSION
Day 15. Saturday. Continue from Punakaiki through Westport and Buller Gorge to Nelson for 2 nights at Trailways Motor Inn.( Note: Travel will usually be by Intercity Coach.)

Day 16. Sunday. Full day excursion to the Abel Tasman National Park with coach to Kaiteriteri and cruise along the shores of the Park. Optional 3 hour walk from Bark Bay to Torrent Bay.

Day 17. Monday. Free morning to explore Nelson then coach and Interislander back to Wellington. Extra cost $350 per person 2 per room. $550 single. (You are welcome to spend longer in Nelson or fly home from Nelson if you wish).