7 Day Lake Tekapo ‐ Mt Cook – Queenstown ‐ Coastal Otago Itinerary Day 1 Christchurch – Methven or Ashburton Arrive Christchurch International Airport. All the major rental car companies operate from Christchurch Airport. www.christchurchairport.co.nz New Zealand’s network of 90 i‐SITE Visitors Centres offer travel advice local advice and can make bookings www.i‐site.org Intercity bus services also have regular scheduled services around the South Island. www.intercity.co.nz ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS Depending on arrival times, clients may wish to do an activity in Christchurch before commencing their itinerary. Comprehensive information on which visitor attractions in Christchurch are currently open can be found at: www.christchurchnz.com/christchurch‐‐canterbury‐tourism/christchurch‐
activity‐‐‐update.aspx International Antarctic Centre www.iceberg.co.nz Located beside the Airport, the International Antarctic Centre is Christchurch’s leading visitor attraction and has been a multiple winner and finalist in the New Zealand Tourism Awards. The Antarctic Centre is designed to bring a powerful and memorable experience of Antarctica to visitors in a fun, exciting, informative and commercially successful way. Visitors can view Little Blue Penguins, ride in an Antarctic all‐terrain vehicle, experience an Antarctic ice storm and much more. Waimak Alpine Jet www.alpinejet.co.nz Located in Springfield, 50 minutes from the airport, a short detour on the way to Methven. Visitors travel deep into the foothills of the Southern Alps and experience the spectacular scenery of the Waimakariri River Canyon and the thrills of the world‐famous 360 degree Hamilton jet spin. Up Up and Away www.ballooning.co.nz Canterbury's geography and climate are ideal for ballooning, they provide a unique situation where passengers can experience Canterbury's landscape as Open from 9am daily Times: 1100, 1200, 1430 Duration: from 30 minutes to full day. Flight times vary between 5am and 7am depending on time of year. Duration: 4 – 5 hours. Open 0930 ‐2200 daily Drive to Methven 1 hr only a few have seen it from a gently floating hot air balloon. Overall capacity for up to 75 passengers at a time making them ideal for groups. Willowbank www.willowbank.co.nz
Willowbank is a wildlife reserve, including New Zealand's largest and most accessible kiwi viewing area. This attraction is around 5 minutes drive from Christchurch International Airport. Please note that the Ko Tane cultural experience is in the evening. Horsepower www.horsepower.co.nz Horsepower is the suburb of Avonhead. Bookings at least a day ahead essential. Come horse racing around an all weather track at 50kph firmly seated in our specially developed dual sulkies, behind real champion pacers at full speed. A world's first technology. Methven www.christchurchnz.com Methven is surrounded by the chequerboard fields of the Canterbury Plains and dwarfed by a magnificent backdrop of mountains. This once quiet, rural village is now a mecca for sports lovers from within New Zealand and overseas. Not only famous for the excellent skiing on nearby Mt Hutt, it is also the place to be if you wish to fish, play golf, jetboat, tramp, mountain bike ride, or hot air balloon. For a full list of accommodation and activity options in Methven go to Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism’s Website. ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS IN METHVEN Tours depart around daybreak. Aoraki Balloon Safaris www.nzballooning.com The "Magical" Sky Experience ‐ operating from Methven, "New Zealand's finest ballooning location". Pristine views can be obtained of Mt Cook and National Park mountains. Nestled well inland from the sea coast, being very central over the Canterbury Plains and positioned alongside Mt Hutt International Ski Field. 4 hours duration. 30 pax capacity. Tussock and Beech Ecotours www.nature.net.nz Located 20 minutes from Methven, Tussock and Beech Ecotours specialise in nature tours, Lord of the Rings tours and guided walks. Duration: 1 to 8 days Times: 0900, 1100, 1300, 1500 Alpine Helicopters www.doublehillstation.co.nz More than just a scenic helicopter flight. Alpine Helicopters ‐ Methven offer a working high country station experience including a heli‐picnic or lunch at the station. Skydiving NZ www.skydivingnz.com Tandem skydiving is an incredibly easy, safe and enjoyable way to experience the excitement of skydiving without having to learn how. Freefall at speeds of up to 200kph and enjoy breathtaking views from coast to coast & Mt Cook to the Kaikoura's. ACTIVITY SUGGESTION IN ASHBURTON In ski season, option to drive to Ashburton 1 hr 15 mins Salmon World www.salmonworld.co.nz Salmon World is based on the scenic Rakaia River which is considered by many as the best salmon fishing river in New Zealand. The Salmon World Aquarium contains a huge salmon tank, aquariums & pools to help you understand and learn about the life‐cycle of local salmon and the Salmon World 4D movie ride seats up to 24 thrill seekers. ACCOMMODATION SUGGESTIONS A wide range of Hotels and Lodges, motels, holiday parks, backpackers and Bed and Breakfasts in Christchurch are open. The regional tourism organisation, Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism and the Automobile Association provided updates on which properties are currently open: www.christchurchnz.com/christchurch‐‐canterbury‐tourism/christchurch‐
accommodation‐‐‐update.aspx www.aatravel.co.nz/christchurch‐earthquake/ A full list of accommodation options in Methven can be found here: http://www.christchurchnz.com/accommodation.aspx and use Methven/Mt Hutt in the search field. A full list of accommodation options in Ashburton can be found here: http://www.christchurchnz.com/accommodation.aspx and use Ashburton in the search field. Day 2 Methven or Ashburton – Lake Tekapo Drive to Lake Tekapo 2 hrs 30 mins from Methven, 2 hrs from Ashburton Stop in Geraldine for coffee or a bit of adventure. Geraldine is:  Home of the Giant Jersey ‐ The giant jersey is another must see, recognised by The Guinness Book of Records as the largest jersey in the World.  Home of The Medieval Tapestry‐ This complete re‐creation of the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the Battle of Hastings in 1066, was created out of 1,500,000 pieces of spring steel taking over 20 years to construct. Arrive Lake Tekapo www.christchurchnz.com This highland lake and settlement at 710 meters (2300 feet) is in the heart of the Mackenzie District and surrounded by a vast basin of golden tussock grass. The name Tekapo derives from Maori words Taka (sleeping mat) and Po (night). Lake Tekapo has the clearest, darkest and most spectacular night sky in New Zealand and an amazing turquoise blue lake. The world famous Church of the Good Shepherd offers awe‐inspiring views of Lake Tekapo and the Southern Alps through its altar window. Local activities include hot pools, ice skating, scenic flights, hiking, horse trekking, winter skiing and skating, and stargazing. A full list of activity options can be found here: www.christchurchnz.com/what‐
to‐see‐‐do.aspx and select Aoraki Mount Cook/Mackenzie from the search menu. A full list of accommodation options can be found here: www.christchurchnz.com/accommodation.aspx and select Aoraki Mount Cook/Mackenzie from the search menu. Day 3 Lake Tekapo – Mt Cook Drive to Mt Cook 1 hour 30 mins Mt Cook At 3754 metres, New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki Mount Cook is one of the many mountains that make up the famous Southern Alps. The alpine village at the base of the mountain is a vista of pristine snow capped mountains and glacier lakes. Local activities include scenic flights (with or without a landing on the Tasman glacier, a boat tour on the Tasman Lake viewing the glacier and icebergs, 4 wheel drive tours, flyfishing, skystargazing and a special tribute centre to Sir Edmund Hillary. A full list of activity options can be found here: www.christchurchnz.com/what‐
to‐see‐‐do.aspx and select Aoraki Mount Cook/Mackenzie from the search menu. A full list of accommodation options can be found here: www.christchurchnz.com/accommodation.aspx and select Aoraki Mount Cook/Mackenzie from the search menu. Day 4 Mt Cook to Queenstown Drive time – 4 hours Queenstown www.queenstown‐nz.co.nz Surrounded by majestic mountains and nestled on the shores of crystal clear Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is New Zealand’s premier four season lake and alpine resort. Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of New Zealand, however visitors can also enjoy stylish accommodation, designer shopping and marvellous cuisine experiences. Queenstown's compact downtown area is a cosmopolitan hub that's relaxed during the day and huge fun at night. In winter, Queenstown and the surrounding region turns into an alpine playground, with skiing and snowboarding opportunities everywhere as well as the annual Queenstown Winter Festival. Local activities include bungy jumping, 4 wheel drive touring, Lord of the Rings tours, jet boat riding, gondolas, riding on a luge, boating on Lake Wakatipu, farm tours, cycling, wine tours, skydiving, helicopter rides, and eco tours on a zipline. A full list of activity options can be found here: www.queenstown‐
nz.co.nz/information/thingstodo/ A full list of accommodation options can be found here: www.queenstown‐
nz.co.nz/information/Accommodation/ Day 5 Queenstown Suggest your clients spend a full day in the adventure playground of Queenstown. There is certainly no shortage of things to do. Day 6 Queenstown to Oamaru Queenstown to Oamaru ‐ 4 hours Oamaru Nestled on the South Island's east coast, Oamaru is an ideal destination for anyone keen to experience the real New Zealand. With friendly locals, a compact town centre and a variety of attractions, Oamaru offers unique experiences for even the most seasoned traveller. At the heart of the town lies New Zealand's finest example of a deep water Victorian/Edwardian seaport. The harbour is home to the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony and Visitor Centre. This is the easiest place in New Zealand to view good numbers of penguins only five minutes drive from the town centre. The nearby Historic Precinct boasts New Zealand’s finest 19th Century streetscape featuring a unique collection of buildings made from locally quarried Oamaru Stone. The region offers an array of outdoor activities including fishing, boating, camping, skiing, hunting, hiking, golf and gliding or simply relaxing and enjoying the ambience at various villages. Local activities include tours of grand Victorian architecture and unique colonial heritage, penguin colonies, cheese factories and the famous Moeraki Boulders. A full list of activity options can be found here:
www.visitoamaru.co.nz/?seeanddo A full list of accommodation options can be found here: www.visitoamaru.co.nz/?accommodation Day 7 Oamaru– Christchurch Airport Oamaru to Christchurch 3 hrs 35 mins Travel back to Christchurch Airport. Depending on your flight time, enjoy more of the Oamaru activities suggested, or do some of the activities around Methven as suggested above.