| Aotearoa (Part 2: South Island) |
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After our arrival on the South Island, we will now continue our journey.
( Back to Part 1 which describes the tour across the
northern part of the island.) |
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| Day 13 |
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| Abel Tasman National Park |
The beach of Kaiteriteri is the starting point for today's excursion without the bus. We will sail along the dense forest of the Abel Tasman National Park's coastline with our boat before a rubber dinghy will drop us off on a secluded beach. After a beautiful hike through the fascinating subtropical rainforest, the boat will collect us later in the afternoon.
Included in the tour price:
Breakfast, boat trip to National Park. |
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| Day 14 |
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An outing into the extreme northwest of South Island will take us to Pupu Springs, which are one of the World's largest freshwater springs, producing more than 2 million litres of water per day. We will round off this relaxing day with a visit to the beach. If we are lucky we might catch some seals napping in the afternoon sun.
Included in the tour price:
Breakfast and beverages during the trip. |
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| Te Pupu Springs | Te Pupu Springs | Diving in the Te Pupu Springs |
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| Day 15 |
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| Pancake Rocks |
Today we will say goodbye to the Tasman Bay in the early morning and take a drive through an impressive landscape of deep canyons with the mighty and thundering Buller River. The dramatic scenery will change quickly after passing New Zealand's longest swing bridge - the Buller Gorge. The endlessness of the (unfortunately often rainy) west coast welcomes us. On our way to tonight's stop-over in Greymouth, we will visit the famous Pancake Rocks. A fascinating natural spectacle.
Included in the tour price:
Breakfast and beverages during the trip. |
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| Day 16 |
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| Franz Josef Glacier |
The gold mining town Shantytown has been reconstructed in form of an open air museum and will be our first stop of the day. Franz Josef and Fox Glacier, spanning the peaks of Mount Cook down to the coast, are striking proof of the powers of Nature which have shaped the South Island for several hundred years. During a walk we will approach the Glacier Moraine. From here we will have a magnificent view of the (almost) perpetual ice.
Included in the tour price:
Breakfast, beverages during the trip, entrance fee into Shantytown. |
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| Day 17 |
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| Lake Matheson |
If the weather is good we should take an early morning drive to the romantic Lake Matheson, where on windless days the mountainous backdrop of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman are perfectly reflected in the water. Highway No6 will lead us along the coast with constant changes of scenery, then through the more dense rainforest areas until reaching Haast Pass, an ancient Maori trail. We will continue our drive along the great lakes of Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea through an ever-changing beautiful landscape to our base for the night, in Wanaka.
Included in the tour price:
Breakfast and beverages during the trip. |
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| Day 19 |
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| TSS Earnslaw |
Driving along a winding mountain road with breathtaking views we will head for today's attractions of your New Zealand tour. How about going bungee-jumping of the 48-meter-high bridge across the Kawaraun River? Merely watching will surely take your breath away! A trip on the old steamboat TSS-Earnslaw taking us to the Walter Peak Station is an enjoyable and relaxing experience. At our destination we will be shown the art of sheep shearing and watch sheep dogs herding their cattle. A ride in a cable car up Queenstown's local mountain, Bob Peak, offers a most picture-perfect view and is the ideal conclusion to another exciting day.
Included in the tour price:
Breakfast, beverages during the trip, steamboat trip, entrance fees to Walter Peak Station, cable car. |
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| Day 19 |
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| Lake Wakatipu |
We will leave this mountain world along the banks of Lake Wakatipu and head towards unoccupied farmland. Te Anau, the gateway to the Fjordland National Park will be today's destination and we will reach there in the early afternoon. As the visit of a Glowworm Grotto should be part of the "must-sees" of any New Zealand vacation, we will take you to the Glowworm-Grotto of Te Anau after an evening's boat ride. Overnight stay in Te Anau.
Included in the tour price:
Breakfast, beverages during the trip, boat trip, Glowworm Grotto. |
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| Day 20 |
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| Mitre Peak, Milford Sound |
Today has been set aside for one of nature's greatest events - the Milford Sound. In the early hours of the morning, we will set off from Te Anau to make sure that we reach today's destination before the crowds get there. The boat ride across Milford Sound, sometimes accompanied by dolphins, is an unforgettable experience. Spectacular waterfalls and the most photographed mountain in New Zealand - the Mitre Peak - will linger in your memory on our drive back to Te Anau. En route we will make a photostop at the famous Mirror Lake. Overnight stay in Te Anau.
Included in the tour price:
Breakfast, beverages during the trip, boat trip to Milford Sound. |
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| Day 21 |
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| Yellow-eyed Penguin, Otago Peninsula |
The drive from Te Anau to Dunedin will lead us through very varied farmland. With a little luck we will get the permission to visit the World’s only mainland albatross colony on the Otago Peninsula. A city tour and a stroll through the "Edinburgh of the South" will round off the day. We will visit Larnach Castle, New Zealand's only castle. Overnight stay in Dunedin.
Included in the tour price:
Breakfast, beverages during the trip (entrance fee for Royal Albatross Colony) |
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| Day 22 |
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| Boulders, Moeraki |
On the first half of the drive from Dunedin to Christchurch we will stop off at the boulders, weighing several tons each, on Moeraki beach, a seal colony and the city of Oamaru with its magnificent limestone buildings. We will continue over a plateau, passing three big reservoirs towards Twizel. If the weather is good we should be able to see the awesome alpine panorama that is Mt. Cook.
Included in the tour price:
Breakfast and beverages during the trip. |
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| Day 23 |
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| Lake Tekapo |
In Tekapo, the turquoise coloured glacier lake of the same name, we can see the ultimate picture postcard motive of this area: the stone church on the banks of the lake. We will continue our drive to Christchurch through the Canterbury Plains, the vast and extreme fertile plains. We should reach our destination around noon.
Included in the tour price:
Breakfast and beverages during the trip, short city tour |
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| Day 24 |
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| In Christchurch |
For those participants who will fly home from Christchurch, your tour "Aotearoa Tour - The Land under the long white cloud" ends here with the transfer to the airport. Departure time permitting, we would be happy to conduct a short city tour to show you the largest city of South Island.
Included in the tour price:
Breakfast and beverages during the trip, short city tour |
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| Day 25 |
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| Whale watching, Kaikoura |
We will cross the northern Canterbury Plains on Highway No1 and reach the hilly grasslands of Kaikoura. Depending on the weather conditions in Kaikoura, you will have the option (facultative) of taking a boat to go whale watching. After another 2 hours' drive we will arrive at the city of Blenheim, the wine growing centre of the South Island.
Included in the tour price:
Breakfast and beverages during the trip. |
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| Day 26 |
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| Wellington |
Will board the ferry in Picton to cross over to the North Island. Wellington, New Zealand's capital city, will welcome us around lunchtime. The city tour that had been a little rushed on the outward journey due to time constraints will be completed with a visit to the Botanical Garden, the Te Papa Museum, a Cable Car Ride up to Kelburn Hill or a Shopping Expedition.
Included in the tour price:
Breakfast, beverages during the trip, ferry passage, |
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| Day 27 |
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| Napier, New Zealand's Art Deco City |
We will continue our journey through vast farmlands. After a third of today's drive, we will stop for a visit to a bird sanctuary, an interesting interlude on our trip to Napier. A stroll through this city, which had been rebuilt in Art Deco Style after an earthquake in 1931, will round off this perfect day.
Included in the tour price:
Breakfast and beverages during the trip. |
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| Day 28 |
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| Lounge of the Moontide Lodge, Orewa |
Through the vineyards and citrus plantations of Napier, through the wild, mountainous region of the Waipunga Valley we will head for Taupo. Passing Hamilton, we will reach Auckland in the evening and the Hibiscus Coast shortly after.
Included in the tour price:
Breakfast and beverages during the trip. |
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| Day 29 |
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| Skytower, Auckland |
Your tour "Aotearoa - the Land under the long white cloud" will come to an end today, with the transfer to Auckland airport.
Included in the tour price:
Breakfast, Airport transfers |
| Back to Part 1 which describes the tour across the
northern part of the island. |
