New Zealand Mini Tour

Tour 405. NEW ZEALAND MINI TOUR

Departs Auckland Skycity coach terminal DAILY except Christmas Day.

7.15am. Depart Auckland . Pickup from selected inner city hotels

Day 1.    AUCKLAND - WAITOMO - HOBBITON - ROTORUA   (Picnic lunch included)

Drive through Waikato farmland to the Waitomo Glowworm Cave for a guided tour through the magniifcent glowworm cave. See the stalactites and stalagmites and enjoy a short cruise in the glowworm grotto. 

A picnic lunch is provided to enjoy while travelling from Waitomo to Hobbiton.

Continue to the Shires Rest to be joined by your local guide for the 2.5 hour tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set. Drive through part of the 500 hectare (1,250 acre) sheep and cattle farm to the Hobbiton Movie Set, centre of Middle Earth. learn from your local guide how the set was created and see the Hobbit Holes, Gardens, Bag End (Bilbo and Frodo Baggins home), Party Tree, Lake, The Mill, Green Dragon Inn, and much more. Go 'Behind the Door' to explore the newly opened Hobbit hole. On arrival at the Green Dragon Inn one cold drink awaits - your choice of dark or light beer, cider, or non alcoholic ginger ale. On completion of your Hobbiton tour transfer to your accommodation in Rotorua for 2 nights.

Day 2.             ROTORUA              (B)          

Enjoy  a guided tour of the Te Puia thermal area  to see bubbling mud pools, famed Pohutu geyser, and to visit the Maori carving and weaving school. Continue to the Agrodome farm show for an introduction to 19 types of sheep and see the amazing sheep dogs working. Ride the Skyline gondola for a panoramic view over the lake and city, and with luge and lunch options - extra expense. Free afternoon with many options available. Enjoy the Redwoods Treetop Walk, whitewater rafting, scenic float plane flight, Polynesian Spa, duck tour, or relax in the Polynesian Spa. Optional Hangi dinner and introduction to Maori culture tonight. $155

Day 3.     ROTORUA - CHRISTCHURCH   (B)

Transfer to the airport and fly south to Christchurch. A short tour of the 'Garden City' will be provided on arrival. Your hotel is in the centre of the city and your time is free to ride the tram, explore the Botanical gardens and museum, or punt on the Avon. and the 'Marketplace' redevelopment of the Avon River 

Day 4.      CHRISTCHURCH - TEKAPO  -  MT COOK - QUEENSTOWN.  (B)

Depart Christchurch 7.30am. Drive across the fertile Canterbury Plains and over Burke's Pass to Lake Tekapo. See the sheep dog monument and Church of the Good Shepherd. Continue along the shores of Lake Pukaki to Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain. Free time for alpine walks, or visit the National Park headquarters. You have 1.5 hours at Mt Cook. We recommend adding a day and enjoying a night at Tekapo (Dark Sky Experience) and/or Mt Cook for glacier cruise, scenic ski plane flights to land on the glacier etc.

2.25pm. Depart Mount Cook and drive through the Mckenzie Country and over the Lindis Pass to Lake Dunstan and the fruit growing region of Cromwell and on through the Kawarau Gorge arriving Queenstown 6.30pm.

Day 5                QUEENSTOWN  -  options                            (B)

Day 6                QUEENSTOWN - options                              (B)

Two free days for you to plan and enjoy the beauty of Queenstown and the many activities available. We recommend a Shotover Jet boat ride, Skyline gondola and luge, and a cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the historic steamer "Earnslaw" to the Walter Peak sheep station. Maybe take a journey along the shores of Lake Wakatipu to beautiful Glenorchy.  All activities are  extra expense.

"Earnslaw" cruise and barbecue at Walter Peak. Lunch cruise 12pm -   3.45pm.   $175............ Dinner cruise 5pm - 9pm , or 6pm-10pm.  $189

Milford Sound Option -  Drive to Te Anau and enjoy a day of magnificent scenery driving through the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys and Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound. Visit the Mirror Lakes and Roaring chasm en route. Enjoy a leisurely cruise to the head of the Sound under majestic Mitre Peak and see the Bowen as well as many other waterfalls. Picnic lunch included. Return to Queenstown mid evening.  6.55am - 7.30pm $290.

Doubtful Sound option - Drive to Manapouri and cruise across the bush fringed Lake Manapouri to West Arm then drive over the Wilmot Pass to Doubtful Sound. Cruise the length of the Sound to the Tasman Sea and return to Manapouri and Queenstown.  Picnic lunch included. 6.55am - 7.30pm. $514

Overnight cruises - depart Queenstown 9am monday - return 3.30pm tuesday.  DOUBTFUL SOUND. $899 - $999 twin. $1299 - $1899 single. MILFORD SOUND. $809 - $859 twin. $2385 single.     

These cruises are very heavily booked during summer. Early booking is esential. 

Day 7.         QUEENSTOWN DEPART.    (B)

Transfer to the airport for departure. 

You are welcome to stay in Queenstown longer or join our FABULOUS FIORDLAND tour, or DEEP SOUTH AND STEWART ISLAND tour, or our weekly West Coast small group tour departing every wednesday for Wanaka,  Franz Josef (1 night), Hokitika (1 night), Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and over Arthurs Pass to Christchurch arriving about 5pm friday.