NEW ZEALAND
“THE REAL NEW ZEALAND TOUR”
17 DAYS
MOTEL ACCOMMODATION - RESTAURANT MEALS
Swan Hill Bus Lines Pty Ltd
25 THURLA STREET
SWAN HILL VIC 3585
PH:
03 50321068
FAX: 03 50332233
EMAIL: peter@shbl.com.au
HIGHLIGHTS
Extensive Touring of both Islands - same coach/driver throughout
Kings Bay of Islands Hole in the Rock Cruise
Hells Gate Geothermal Park Rotorua
Buried Village Tour at beautiful Lake Tarawera Rotorua
Tamaki Tours Cultural Experience and Hangi Dinner
The New Zealand Army Museum / Tranz Alpine Train Journey
Queenstown Skyline Gondola and Dinner
Day 01: Traveling to Auckland
D.
We fly in to Auckland. After clearing customs and
Immigartion we will be welcomed by our local touring
company Tranzit Tours. We transfer to our city based hotel
for a welcome dinner.
Day 02 : Auckland to Paihia
B.D.
Departing Auckland this morning we journey up the Hibiscus
Coast, and through Whangarei, Northlands only city, enroute
to Paihia in the Bay of Islands. This afternoon we board our
Kings Cruise, taking us out into the beautiful Bay of Islands,
visiting Motukokako Island enroute to the famous Hole in the
Rock. Hold your breath as the skipper skillfully navigates his
way through the hole and into spectacular Grand Cathedral
Cave. Bottlenose and common dolphins are a regular sight in
these waters and take great delight in racing alongside and
showing off their aerobic flips!
Day 03 : Free Day in Paihia
B.D.
Today is free for you to further explore this scenic part of the
world– take the ferry over to the village of Russell across the
water. Here we can stroll about this picturesque peaceful
village, visit historic Pompallier House or take a guided
mini-coach tour and learn about the fascinating and what
would seem unlikely turbulent history of this town. There is
also a tour of the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds available,
location of the signing of NZ’s founding document between
Maori and British. Alternatively travel further afield on a full
day Kings Cape Reinga Safari tour to the northernmost tip of
New Zealand. Highlights include the white sands of 90 Mile
Beach, unparallel views of both the Pacific Ocean and the
Tasman Sea and insight into the culture and natural history of
Cape Reinga.
Milford Sound excursion including cruise and lunch / Larnach Castle
Day 04 :
Paihia to Auckland via Waipoua Kauri Forest
B.D.
Our journey today plots the history of the unique Northland
kauri industry, as we travel down through the Waipoua Kauri
Forest, the last extensive stand of kauri forest still remaining
in NZ, and home of the majestic Tane Mahuta—”the God of
the Forest”. We stop to view this magnificent giant, before
continuing on to the superb Matakohe Kauri Museum.
Making our way back to the “City of Sails”, we have time this
evening to visit the Sky Tower, affording us fabulous views of
the Auckland City landscape.
Day 05 : Auckland to Rotorua
B.L.D.
Departing Auckland this morning, we travel through the rich
and fertile Waikato to the pretty historic town of Cambridge,
home to many of the top thoroughbred racing studs in the
country. Here we stop to visit Cambridge Thoroughbred
Lodge and learn about the noble horse through a unique
“Horse Magic Show”. Continuing on to Tirau, we spend
some time wandering this delightful little village with its
quirky “sculptures” and shops before heading out into the
rural South Waikato for lunch in a country pub next to a
delightful little golf course. Our final destination today is
Rotorua, a geothermal wonderland of bubbling mud pools,
dramatic geysers and steaming vents.
Day 06: Rotorua
B.D.
This morning we travel out to beautiful Lake Tarawera to
visit the famous site of the Buried Maori Village. The result
of a tremendous vocanic eruption in 1886 that split Mount
Tarawera apart, this site gives you an idea of the devastation
that occurred. Back in Rotorua there will be time to enjoy
lunch (own cost) before our afternoon visit to Hells Gate
Geothermal Park. Set in a 50 acre reserve, Hells Gate offers
a large variety of geothermal features, including steaming
fumaroles, pools of boiling mud, swirling clouds of steam,
remarkable formations and colours and the largest hot
waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere. Pre show finger food
nibbles will be enjoyed at our hotel before we finish our day
at the Tamaki Village to experience the spine tingling
atmosphere of a Maori cultural experience and concert
followed by superbly cooked traditional hangi dinner.
Day 07: Rotorua to Wellington
B.L.D.
Departing Rotorua this morning, we make our way down the
Thermal Explorer Highway to Taupo, where we stop to view
the amazing Huka Falls. Here the Waikato River narrows
into a hard rock silica canyon only 15 metres across –
transforming a huge volume of water into this dramatic
spectacle. Following the shores of scenic Lake Taupo, we
then travel the Desert Road, allowing views of the snow
capped peaks of NZ’s volcanic trio: Mounts Ruapehu,
Tongariro and Ngauruhoe. Our lunch stop today is Waiouru,
home of NZ’s largest army base, and where we visit the New
Zealand Army Museum to enjoy an included lunch at
Rations Cafe and a tour of this excellent facility. With
ANZAC Day only days away the life size tableaus will remind
us just what hardships our forbearers went through in the
name of Australia and New Zealand.
The final leg of our
journey today takes us down the scenic Kapiti Coast, and into
Wellington.
Day 08 : Wellington
B.D.
This morning we head out to the Hutt Valley where we will
enjoy the Stansborough Experience. Stansborough produced
the woven cloaks and other traditional garments for the Lord
of the Rings Trilogy on their early 1890’s looms. These looms
are amongst the earliest mechanical looms ever designed and
Stansborough operates two of only four left in Australasia.
Those who wish can then catch the East West Ferry back to
the city from Days Bay on the eastern side of Wellington
Harbour. The rest of the day is free to explore at leisure.
Perhaps enjoy a city sights tour of NZ’s capital, an attractive
harbour city. A visit to Te Papa, New Zealand’s National
Museum, is a must and maybe a ride in the Wellington Cable
Car. The Wellington Botanic Gardens will be a blaze of
colour at this time of year and Old St Paul’s Cathedral in the
heart of the city is a fine historic building worthy of note.
Some may just want to enjoy the chance to browse the shops
and boutique stores in the Lambton Precinct. We meet up for
dinner again this evening with a chance to share an interesting
exchange of the day’s activities.
the surrounding landscape. We then wind our way through
the Buller Gorge carved out over the millennia by the action
of the Buller River, and clothed in dense rainforest. Here we
pass under “Hawks Crag” - a spectacular overhang hewn from
the rock. Picnic lunch today is in Westport, before travelling
down the rugged West Coast whose spectacular scenery
unfolds before us as we travel south. Wild beaches, towering
bluffs, and unique rock formations are fringed by dense native
forest and subtropical nikau. We stop to view the geological
wonder of the Punakaiki Blowholes and “Pancake” Rocks,
with time also to browse the excellent gift and craft shops
nearby. Greymouth is our destination today.
Day 11 : Greymouth to Christchurch
B.D.
This morning we travel to the historic goldmining town of
Hokitika, once the home of 100 pubs. Today though it
contains talented crafts people, especially in the manufacture
of sculptures and jewellery made from jade (known to New
Zealanders as pounamu or greenstone). A visit to the
Greenstone Factory - a gallery showcasing quality,
individually designed pounamu is a must before we leave this
town. This afternoon we return to Greymouth in time to board
the TranzAlpine Express for one of the world’s great scenic
train journeys. Passing lakes and rivers as it negotiates the
Southern Alps, winding its way over massive viaducts and
through spectacular gorges before crossing the patchwork of
the Canterbury Plains, this journey will not disappoint. On
arrival in Christchurch our coach will be waiting to transfer us
to the hotel.
Day 12 : Christchurch to Omarama
B.D.
This morning we explore some of the city sights of this
picturesque “Garden City” on the historic Christchurch
Tram. Cathedral Square and its imposing gothic Cathedral,
the Avon River as it meanders gracefully through the city, the
historic Arts precinct and historic New Regent St, will be
some of the highlights we see this morning from the windows
of the tram carriage, accompanied by a full and entertaining
commentary. This afternoon we travel south, down into the
MacKenzie Country where we stop to visit the Church of the
Good Shepherd and the Statue of the Working Dog on the
shores of azure blue Lake Tekapo. As we continue our
travels to Omarama we take a scenic detour to follow the
Tekapo hydro canal, which links Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki.
Skirting the shores of glacier fed Lake Pukaki, we stop to
hopefully catch a view (weather permitting) of Mt Cook, NZ’s
highest mountain, which sits at the head of the lake.
Day 09 : Wellington to Nelson
B.L.D.
This morning we board the InterIsland Ferry for a journey
across Cook Strait and down through the beautiful
Marlborough Sounds to Picton. This afternoon we travel the
scenic Queen Charlotte Drive to Havelock and on over the
Rai and Whangamoa Saddles to Nelson, our destination
today.
Day 13 : Omarama to Queenstown
B.L.D.
We journey over the tussocky slopes of Lindis Pass this
morning before making our way in to Wanaka, where we have
some fun at Puzzling World, a unique place of illusion,
puzzles and mazes, afterwards enjoying lunch in this pretty
lakeside town. Central Otago is legendary for its amazing
autumn colours and for the next few days we will be right in
the middle of some of New Zealands most stunning scenery
made even more special with this vibrant palette of seasonal
tones. This afternoon we travel on to Queenstown, today’s
destination.
This evening we have “dinner-with-adifference”, as we take a ride up in the Skyline Gondola,
affording stunning views over Lake Wakatipu and the
Remarkable Ranges, with a delicious buffet dinner to tempt us
to the top.
Day 10 : Nelson Westport to Greymouth
B.L.D.
Today we travel south to Murchison, a town ravaged by a
severe earthquake in 1929, and with many scars still visible in
Day 14 :
Queenstown and Milford Sound Excursion
B.D.
It’s an early start this morning as you join your coach for a
full day tour to Milford Sound. Skirting the shores of Lake’s
Wakatipu and Te Anau we travel up the stunning Hollyford
Valley to the portals of the Homer Tunnel. Descending down
to the shores of Milford Sound we join our boat for a cruise
you will never forget with majestic Mitre Peak towering over
you. Retracing our steps we end up back in Queenstown for a
second night.
Day 15 : Queenstown to Dunedin
B.D.
We travel through to Dunedin today, a gracious southern city
with a Scottish heritage and many fine Gothic inspired
buildings. Dunedin is also the home of New Zealand’s only
castle. We take a drive out along the Otago Peninsula to visit
Larnach Castle, an historic landmark with a rich history,
which we learn through a guided tour. This evening in the city
known as the “Edinburgh of the South”, we enjoy a
Scottish evening with bagpipes and great food, including a
special Haggis Ceremony.
Day 16 : Dunedin to Christchurch
B.D.
Making our way north today, we stop to view the famous
Moeraki Boulders – these incredible spherical rock
formations are scattered along the beach and are an easy walk
from the carpark and café where we can also enjoy a morning
coffee.
Continuing on to Oamaru we take a look at some of the fine
historic buildings carved from limestone that are a feature of
this town and give it the title “Whitestone” City. Then its all
aboard as we join Oamaru Vintage Rail for a short but
interesting journey along the coast and through Oamaru’s
historic precinct. After lunch we continue north and on
through the attractive coastal city of Timaru, finally returning
to Christchurch for our final night together.
Day 17 : Christchurch Home
B.
Depending on flight schedules, there may be time for last
minute shopping and further sightseeing before the transfer to
Christchurch International Airport.
PRICE:
SINGLE SUPP;
PRICE INCLUDES:
Luxury Coach Travel
Fully escorted by Kingstons Coach Tours
Staff
Departure Tax from Australia
Return Air Fares
Travel Bags/Travel Wallets
Name Tag & New Zealand Map
Motel Accommodation Twin Share
Admissions to Attractions as Specified
Meals as specified
B:Breakfast / L:Lunch and D:Dinner
Pick up and return to your hometown.
Pick up times will be confirmed 3 - 6 days prior to
departure.
Insurance is highly recommended and is the responsibility
of each passenger
PASSPORTS ARE REQUIRED