NZ Uncovered Tour

Day 1: Welcome to Auckland, New Zealand

Welcome to Auckland, often referred to as the ‘City of Sails’. Your flight can arrive any time prior to 4.00pm and you will be transferred from the airport to your Auckland hotel. Tonight, enjoy a welcome reception and dinner at your hotel. Meals included: Dinner.

Day 2: Auckland

Enjoy a relaxed start to the day before heading to the New Zealand Maritime Museum for an exclusive America’s Cup tour. Then travel around Auckland’s waterfront from the central city to Mission Bay stopping at Bastion Point and the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial for scenic views across Auckland, the North Shore and the Waitemata Harbour. This afternoon is at your leisure. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3: Auckland to Tauranga

Today you will be hosted for lunch in the home a kiwi couple who are New Zealand horse racing royalty. Enjoy a sumptuous country-style lunch at the Red Barn on their beautiful Waikato farm. Later, travel to Tauranga, in the Bay of Plenty. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Tauranga to Rotorua

Travel through Te Puke, the kiwifruit capital of New Zealand and Kiwifruit Country, a family owned 60-hectare orchard. This afternoon explore Te Puia Thermal Reserve followed by an evening of culture, history and a Hangi feast for dinner at the Tamaki Maori Village. Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 5: Rotorua Free Time

Today choose from a range of optional sightseeing experiences (optional, additional expense). You could take a guided tour through the long galleries and lofty chambers of the world-famous Waitomo Glow worm Caves. Or explore Rotorua and its three lakes in an amphibious WWII era Duck. Your Travel Director will assist you in booking any optional experiences. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6: Rotorua to Wellington

Say Haere Ra (goodbye) to Rotorua this morning and journey through pine forests and farmland to the turquoise torrent of rapids known as Huka Falls. The road ahead unfolds in a broad panorama of Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake. The stunningly blue fresh water of Lake Taupo is home to some of the best Trout fishing in the world. Journey south over the Central Plateau, New Zealand’s main volcanic area, and along the Kapiti Coast to New Zealand’s capital city Wellington. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7: Wellington to Blenheim

This morning you can choose to discover more of Wellington.  There is time to visit the Parliament buildings and the Beehive, home to New Zealand’s politicians. Later, you will visit Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand and explore the fascinating exhibits including their unique Marae (Meeting House).

This afternoon, cruise across the Cook Strait to the South Island and into tranquil Queen Charlotte Sound. The village of Picton is next, then it’s on to Blenheim for a city sightseeing tour. Tonight, enjoy a 3-course dinner prepared from local produce and matched with wines of the Marlborough region. Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 8: Blenheim to Christchurch

Travel to Kaikoura, where Sperm Whales can often be seen not far from shore (an optional whale-watching flight is available). Travel along the Pacific Ocean coast and across the colourful Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 9: Christchurch to Twizel

This morning enjoy a Christchurch city sights tour, see how Christchurch is rebuilding after the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, and pop into the Transitional Cathedral in Latimer Square, the temporary home of the Christchurch Cathedral. It is the world’s only cathedral made substantially of cardboard!

Next, travel over the patchwork countryside of the Canterbury Plains to soak up some spectacular sightseeing. Visit Morelea, the home of Angie and Stan Taylor, for a be my guest afternoon tea and hear about a lifetime spent farming in New Zealand. Later, view the little stone-hewn Church of the Good Shepherd, and the bronze statue of a collie dog, the touching tribute to the sheepdogs which helped develop the Mackenzie Country. Your day finishes in the heart of the Mackenzie Country in Twizel. Tonight, enjoy dinner at your hotel. Meals included: Breakfast, Afternoon Tea and Dinner

Day 10: Twizel to Dunedin

Your day starts with a journey along the Waitaki River through to the township of Oamaru, with its tree-lined streets and famous white limestone buildings. As well as shipping limestone to other cities for construction, Oamaru locals made sure that their own town represented the best in limestone building the mid-late 1800’s had to offer.

This afternoon make your way down to the Southernmost New Zealand city, Dunedin. Also known as the ‘Edinburgh of the South’. You have a free afternoon when you may wish to see more of the region with an optional experience. Perhaps take a Wildlife Cruise out to Otago Peninsula, visit the Speights Brewery – a New Zealand institution or journey out to the gorgeous Larnach Castle – New Zealand’s only castle. Tonight, enjoy dinner at your hotel. Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 11: Dunedin to Te Anau

This morning travel through lush green farm land dotted with sheep. As your journey continues, the rolling hills  turn into heavily forested, rugged mountains and you make your way to Fiordland National Park and the South Island’s largest lake and the town of Te Anau.

This afternoon, learn about the conservation efforts of the Pomona Island Charitable Trust which aims to restore the largest inland island in New Zealand to its natural state. Get up close to the islands on a boat ride on Lake Manapouri. This evening you have the opportunity to head out across the lake to the glow worm caves for a tour (optional – at own expense). Tonight, enjoy dinner at your hotel. Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 12: Te Anau to Milford Sound and Queenstown

Today is a day to have your camera battery charged. After leaving Te Anau, take a scenic journey through the Fiordland National Park to Milford Sound. Travel through native rainforests, beech forests, alluvial flats and meadows. You will stop at Mirror Lakes where, as you can enjoy stunning mountain scenery reflected in the lakes. Drive through Homer Tunnel, and on to one of the world’s most dramatic alpine drives through the Cleddau Valley. At Milford Sound, cruise the waters of this natural wonder taking in Bowen and Stirling Falls as they plummet from glacial hanging valleys sharply into the sea, and the sheer pinnacle of Mitre Peak, rising from the deep waters of the fiord. From spectacular Milford Sound, you travel on to the beautiful sights of Queenstown.  Meals included: Breakfast

Day 13: Queenstown Free Time

Explore Queenstown your way, choose from a range of optional sightseeing experiences. You could choose to ride the Shotover Jet, take a gondola to Bob’s Peak. Perhaps take a minibus tour through spectacular Skippers Canyon or immerse yourself in the vineyards and spectacular scenery of central Otago on a boutique wine tour.

This evening, enjoy a peaceful evening cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue dinner at the Colonel’s Homestead. Then enjoy an entertaining after-dinner farm show providing a glimpse into high-country farm life. Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 14: Queenstown to Franz Josef

This morning, leave the alpine wonderland of Queenstown behind and begin the passage through Central Otago and out to the west coast.  Visit the restored gold mining settlement of Arrowtown and Cromwell, a step back in time. Your drive today travels by gorgeous lakes including Lake Dunstan, Lake Hawea, Lake Wanaka. Following an ancient greenstone trail, you travel over Haast Pass, marking a change from the alpine scenery to the rainforest of the wild west coast. View the sheer drop of Thunder Creek Falls and the grand sight of Mt Hooker, flanked on three sides by extensive glaciers. Our final destination for today is the extraordinary rivers of ice that make up Franz Josef Glacier. You may want to get up close and personal with the glaciers on a helicopter flight. Your flight will hover over the snow face and may land high up in the valley so that you can walk across the ice fall – subject to weather conditions (Optional Experience, own expense). Tonight, enjoy dinner at your hotel. Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 15: Franz Josef to Punakaiki

Adventure among temperate rainforest giants on the West Coast Treetop Walkway, followed by a visit to Hokitika, home of the native greenstone (jade). Later, travel to Punakaiki to view the Pancake Rocks and blowholes. This evening enjoy dinner  at your hotel, while watching the surf. Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 16: Punakaiki to Christchurch

Enjoy a leisurely start this morning travelling to Greymouth for a brewery experience at Monteith’s Brewery where you will be guided through the traditions and heritage of this national icon. After experiencing the innovative brews, enjoy a pub style lunch.

Later, board the scenic Tranzalpine train to Christchurch. This spectacular rail journey dates back to 1914 and is rated as one of the world’s most scenic train trips. The train forges through tunnels and over viaducts with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, icy rivers, beech forests, gorges and river valleys. This evening join your group for a farewell dinner. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 16: Farewell Christchurch

Your tour concludes this morning after breakfast. Your flights can depart any time today and you will be transferred to Christchurch Airport. Meals included: Breakfast

Touring Highlights in New Zealand

• New Zealand Maritime Museum – Exclusive America’s Cup Tour
• Te Puia – Geothermal Valley & Maori Arts and Crafts Institute
• Hosted farm lunch
• Te Puke Kiwifruit visit Monteith’s Distillery Tour
• Hosted afternoon tea in Tekapo
• Milford Sound Nature Cruise
• Evening cruise onboard TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak – High Country Farm and BBQ dinner
• Journey on the TranzAlpine Train through the Southern Alps – one of the worlds great scenic rail journeys

Guided Tour Inclusions

• Specialist team of two highly experienced travel enthusiasts – Travel Director and Driver Guide
• Local Specialist Guides
• Centrally located premium hotels
• Many meals: 16 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 1 Afternoon Tea, 11 Dinners

Important flight information for your tour:

Note: All flights referred to in the itinerary are not included in the tour price.  Please ask your Downunder Travel Destination Specialist to add your flight arrangements for you:

• Day 1 – flights must arrive prior to 4.00pm into Auckland Airport
• Day 17 – flights can depart anytime from Christchurch Airport