Wild New Zealand
13 Day
Self Drive Wild New Zealand
Day 1 Arrive Auckland
Welcome to New Zealand
Auckland airport transfer to accommodation
Afternoon: NZL 40 America's Cup Sailing
The
America’s Cup is the world’s oldest and most prestigious sporting trophy and
ultimate yachting regatta. Usually the domain of billionaires and elite
professional yachties, NZL 40 and NZL 41 offer the unique opportunity for
everyone to participate in sailing on these grand prix racing machines.
Passengers become the crew and are encouraged to take the helm, exert energy on the grinders or simply sit back and enjoy the action as we sail down the Auckland Harbour. The trip suits people of all experiences and abilities and is the perfect activity in Auckland, ‘City of Sails’.
Accom:
Auckland 1 nt
Day 2 Guided Tour to an Island Bird Sanctuary
Get up close and personal with one of the world's most successful conservation projects - Tiritiri Matangi Island. See some of New Zealand's most endangered birds and rare wildlife in this open sanctuary.
During the last 21 years almost half a million native trees have been planted allowing the re-introduction of 11 threatened native bird species.
Day 3 Pick up your Rental Car 8 Days
Drive to Waitomo
Glow Worm Caves
Over your 45 minute guided tour, you'll take in the spectacular Glowworm Cave with its majestic and ornate cave decorations, the deep limestone shaft known as the Tomo and the equally magnificent Cathedral cavern where New Zealand's own opera diva Kiri Te Kanawa once performed. Your tour guide will deliver an informative and entertaining commentary, sharing stories, cultural legends and the natural wonders of this living masterpiece.
Your visit concludes with a brief, yet remarkably moving, boat trip through the Glowworm Grotto.
Drive to Rotorua
Accom: First Class, Rotorua 2 nt
Day 4 Dawn Nature Chorus
Evening: Maori Culture Performance
Our cultural performance is real, raw and earthy. It is a fascinating performance full of emotion and power. In the tranquil natural bush setting, our performers take you back in time when the ancient Maori customs and traditions were part of everyday life. Through songs and dances plus tales and legends told, you will learn a great deal about our fascinating past.
Day 5 Drive to Wellington
Kapiti Island
Offering a magical and rare opportunity to experience contact with an unsurpassed range of New Zealand native and endemic flora and fauna. The island enjoys a "predator free" status, so the flora and fauna can again function as it was designed to do.
Flocks of birds replace individuals; familiar trees display flowers and fruits hardly seen on the mainland, highly endangered birds forage naturally. The "dawn chorus" early morning birdsong is supreme ...
This is a unique opportunity in New Zealand to see Little Spotted Kiwi (LSK) in their natural habitat, not possible anywhere else as LSK are now extinct on the NZ Mainland in the wild. We enjoy a great success rate spotting Kiwi. In addition get the very best of other endangered birdlife on the island at both Dawn and Dusk, by far the most active time for NZ Native birdlife. Meet with the local family.
Accom: Island including dinner and breakfast 1 nt
Day 6 Drive into Wellington
Accom: First Class, Wellington 1 nt
Day 7 Inter-Island Ferry
Drive to Kaikoura
Accom: Apartment, Kaikoura 1 nt
Day 8 Drive to the West Coast
Accom: Boutique, West Coast 2 nts
Day 9 Guided Glacier Hike
Walkers are kitted out with sturdy leather boots before boarding one of the historic buses for the short drive through the rainforest and into the glacial valley. Your guide will lead you on a walk beside the river bed to our secret track which zig-zags slowly uphill for thirty minutes through ferns and regenerating temperate rainforest. The route takes you onto the ice amongst crevasses and ice ridges and leads you onto the middle of the glacier for spectacular views of the icefall and lower glacier.
Day 10 Drive to Queenstown
Situated beside Lake Wakatipu at the foot of the Remarkables mountain range, Queenstown is the South Island's most popular resort and the base for excursions into the surrounding mountains and nearby fiords, including Milford sound. It is a place with great natural beauty that changes with the seasons. Whether the attraction is the lake and sunshine in summer or snow clad mountains in winter. You’ll quickly see why Queenstown is the place to visit!
Accom: First Class, Queenstown 3 nts
Return Rental Car this afternoon
Day 11 Milford Sound Fly/Cruise/Fly
Fly
from
Queenstown Airport to Milford Sound. Once on the ground at Milford Airport, visitors are transferred
by coach to the luxury vessel for a cruise of the full length of Milford Sound
to the Tasman Sea. The vessel provides excellent viewing and there is plenty of
time available to enjoy waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife. A
comprehensive commentary is provided throughout the cruise. Complimentary tea
and coffee are available on board.
Day 12 Shotover Jetboat
Nothing you have experienced will have prepared you for “The World’s most exciting Jet Boat ride!”
Hold on when your highly experienced professional driver puts your Shotover Jet through its paces… especially when the boat spins through a full 360 degrees at speed in its own length… or as it careers around the jagged rocky outcrops, missing them only by a hair’s breadth!
Day 13 Tour ends this morning
Price Per Person
|
Wild New Zealand |
Twin Share | Single |
| 2009-10 | ||
| Apr 1 '09-Sep 30 '09 | $2278 | $3750 |
| Oct 1 '09-Dec 23 '09 | $2560 | $4240 |
| Dec 24 '09-Jan 6 '10 | $2720 | $4588 |
| Jan 7 '10-Mar '10 | $2560 | $4240 |
Included:
Air:
Additional New Zealand:
Auckland airport transfer on arrival, Car Rental Auckland to Queenstown,
Sailing Auckland Harbor, Auckland
2nts, Guided Island Bird Sanctuary visit,
Waitomo Caves, Rotorua 2nts, Dawn Nature chorus, Maori Culture evening, Island
bird sanctuary 1nt, Wellington 1nt, Inter-Island Ferry, Kaikoura 1nt, West Coast
2nts, Guided Glacier Hike, Queenstown 3nts, Milford Sound Day Tour, Shotover
Jetboat.
________________________
Valid: Now through Mar 31 ‘10
** It may be necessary on certain dates to substitute similar type activities and accommodations
Additional: Flights