5 / 10 / 15 / 18 Day - Rail Spectacular
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| Spectacular sightseeing experiences | ||
| 7 amazing rail journeys – The Overlander (Days 2 & 4) – TranzCoasta – Taieri Gorge Railway – Kingston Flyer – TranzAlpine – The Shantytown Express – Dinner at Montana Winery – Larnach Castle Dunedin – Maori Hangi and Concert |
– Thermal Reserve Rotorua – View Mighty Mt. Cook – Explore Milford Sound – View Franz Josef Glacier [IM] – INCLUDED Maori Cultural Experience [OM] – OPTIONAL Maori Cultural Experience [RJE] – RAIL Journey Experience |
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| Premium holiday inclusions | ||
| Transportation – Tour by luxury air-conditioned coach with 2-door access, restroom, seatbelts, reclining seats, panoramic windows Professionally Escorted – Tour with an experienced, professional Tour Director and Tour Driver Dining Inclusions – Full Buffet Breakfasts (14) B – Exciting Highlight Dinner (3) HD – Hotel Dinners YOUR CHOICE (8) YCD |
Accommodation – Twin share rooms with private facilities in centrally located hotels Plus – Welcome Drink – All purpose travel wallet and map – Airport transfers (Day 1 Auckland Airport to hotel – flights to arrive prior to 4.00pm; Day 15 to Christchurch Airport – flights anytime) – Hotel porterage included |
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| Itinerary | ||
| Day 1: Arrive Auckland On arrival at the airport, we’ll transfer you to your hotel. Settle in and the rest of the day is Auckland, your way. In the evening, a Welcome Drink and Dinner with your Tour Director and travel companions. Hotel: Stamford Plaza, Auckland. YCD Day 2: Auckland – Rotorua [RJE] We board The Overlander to journey through the heart of the North Island. Travel along the Waikato River with stunning views of lush farmland – New Zealand’s longest – to the Waitomo Caves for a guided tour and to discover the amazing Glow Worm Grotto. Then it’s on to Rotorua. On our orientation tour you’ll soak up views of Lake Rotorua. [IM] Tonight experience The Realm of T–ane and a traditional Maori Hangi feast and Concert. Hotel: Millennium Hotel, Rotorua, 2 nights. B - HD Day 3: Rotorua Sparkling wine aboard the historic Lakeland Queen kicks off our breakfast cruise on Lake Rotorua. Next is the Agrodome Sheep Show [IM] then a guided tour of the Geothermal Reserve. B Day 4: Rotorua - Wellington Travelling from the mountains to the sea, today we’ll see Lake Taupo, the Huka Falls, the alpine scenery of Mt Ruapehu. [RJE] We board The Overlander at Taumarunui. Take in the lush forest, farmland and stunning alpine views as we cross the volcanic plateau of the central North Island. Traverse gorges, sprawling plains then enter the world famous Raurimu Spiral. Dine on board before we arrive In Wellington this evening. Hotel: Novotel Capital, Wellington. B - YCD Day 5: Wellington – Blenheim Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Wellington and panoramic views from the top of Mt Victoria. We visit [IM] Te Papa, New Zealand’s National Museum. Later we’ll cruise the Cook Strait into tranquil Queen Charlotte Sound. The seaside village of Picton is our next destination then Blenheim and a city orientation tour. We’ll then enjoy a tour, dinner and wine tasting at Montana Winery – one of New Zealand’s best winemakers. Hotel: Chateau Marlborough, Blenheim. B - HD |
Day 6: Blenheim – Christchurch [RJE] Relax this morning in Blenheim. Later board the TranzCoastal and journey down the east coast of the South Island. Travel over 100 kilometres pinned between the Pacific Ocean and the rugged Kaikoura Ranges. Next we head through the Canterbury Plains en route to Christchurch. Hotel: The Heritage Hotel, Christchurch. B Day 7: Mt Cook We begin the day with a ride on the Christchurch Tram. Then you’re free to go shopping or relax. Continuing our travels we see Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki, visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and soak up the spectacular alpine scenery of Mt Cook National Park. If you like take a scenic flight over Mt Cook (weather permitting). Hotel: MacKenzie Country Inn – Deluxe Rooms, Twizel. B - YCD Day 8: Dunedin [RJE] En route to Dunedin we’ll see the famous white limestone buildings of Oamaru. Join the historic Taieri Gorge Railway for the journey through rugged, spectacular scenery only accessible by train. Cross stone work bridge, ride through tunnels and over iron latticework viaducts built in the 1880’s. Hotel: Southern Cross Hotel, Dunedin. B - YCD Day 9: Dunedin – Te Anau First up we take a guided tour of New Zealand’s only castle – Larnach Castle and its gardens. Take some time out in town then we head off across rich fertile, sheep-filled farming land on the way to Te Anau, on the shores of Lake Te Anau, the largest lake in the South Island. Tonight you can choose to travel by boat to the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves. Hotel: Village Inn, Te Anau. B - YCD Day 10: Milford Sound Be awe-struck by the magnificence of the Fiordland National Park, not only a World Heritage Park but also New Zealand’s largest. Amazing nature and photo opportunities await us as we see rainforest, ancient glaciers, mountain ranges and the hand-made Homer Tunnel. Mirror Lakes. Pop’s Lookout. Claudu Valley and The Chasm. Mitre Peak. Bowen Falls. Cruise on Milford Sound. [RJE] Ride the famous vintage Kingston Flyer from Fairlight to Kingston. Continue to Queenstown. Dinner option tonight is the sensational Skyline Restaurant on Bob’s Peak via the Southern Hemisphere’s steepest Gondola! [OM] A bonus Kiwi Haka Maori Show makes for a top night – if you so choose! Hotel: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown, 2 nights. B |
Day 11: Queenstown ‘Free Time’ Explore action adventure Queenstown your way. Take it easy with a wine or garden tour. Or go wild with jet boat rides or white water rafting. Just be back in time for dinner and a sheep shearing demonstration at Walter Peak Sheep Station. We travel there and back across Lake Wakatipu via the TSS Earnslaw, New Zealand’s oldest steamship. B - HD Day 12: Queenstown – Franz Josef Today experience Arrowtown, the sensational stone fruit of Cromwell, Lake Dunstan, Lake Hawea, Lake Wanaka, Haast Pass, Thunder Creek Falls. A small rainforest walk. Then the ‘piéce de rèsistance’ – Franz Josef Glacier – the world’s most accessible, and still advancing, glacier. If you need to see more – take an optional scenic flight over it. Hotel: Franz Josef Glacier Hotel, Franz Josef. B - YCD Day 13: F ranz Josef – Punakaiki Explore Franz Josef Glacier – take an optional flight (weather permitting) or a glacier hike! Then we depart for Hokitika, home of the native greenstone (jade) for a factory visit and jewellery demonstration. It’s on to our waterfront hotel at Punakaiki, where we’ll view the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. Hotel: Punakaiki Resort, Punakaiki. B - YCD Day 14: TranzAlpine – Christchurch [RJE] Visit the historic village of Shantytown for a ride on the vintage steam train. [RJE] Onward up the West Coast to Greymouth we cut inland to Arthur’s Pass where we’ll board the TranzAlpine. Experiencing one of the top 6 train journeys in the world, we travel through the stunning and picturesque Southern Alps to Christchurch. Hotel: The Heritage Hotel, Christchurch. B - YCD Day 15: Depart Christchurch Explore Christchurch yourself. Make the most of this city, famous for its gardens, until we transfer you to Christchurch Airport for your onward journey. B 3 DAYS IN BAY OF ISLANDS See days 2-4 on 8 Day Northern Experience tour. Click here to view tour page. Prices below for 18 Days. Tour Code: ZRBS. |
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5 days, Priced from $1475 |
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10 days, Priced from $3095 |
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15 days, Priced from $4290 |
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18 days, Priced from $5770 |
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** Includes Bay of Islands |
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Red shaded dates are Guaranteed Departures |
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| Prices† AUD | Land Content Only | ||||||
| Single Supplement | $1210 | ||||||
| Child 15 years and under | Save | $985 | |||||
| King Club | Save | $245 | |||||
| Triple Share | Save | $245 | |||||
| Friendly Fours | Save | $245 | |||||
| Concession Card Holders | Save | $75 | |||||
| †These prices apply to 15 Day Tour ZRNS. | |||||||
| Note: Itinerary & departure dates may change from 01/10/10. Price is guaranteed upon payment of deposit. | |||||||
| YOUR CHOICE YCD - Without Hotel Dinners - Save $245. |
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Hotel Dinners –YOUR CHOICE.
Its YOUR CHOICE whether you have hotel dinners included in your holiday or, if you prefer arranging your own evening meals, then just deduct the saving amount shown in the price box of your holiday itinerary.
Included meals are indicated on each itinerary.
| B D HD YCD |
Breakfast Dinner Highlight Dinner Hotel Dinners your choice |
