Kiwi Experience Tour

Touring Highlights in New Zealand:

• Christchurch City Sightseeing
• The Church of Good Shepherd in Tekapo
• Cruise the Cook Strait between the north and south islands
• Wellington Sightseeing
• Te Papa The Museum of New Zealand
• Te Puia in Rotorua
• Art Deco walking tour in Napier
• Waitangi Treaty Grounds

Day 1: Welcome to Christchurch, New Zealand

Welcome to Christchurch, New Zealand’s garden city, also known as Otautahi. Your flight must prior to 4.00pm.

On arrival, take time to relax or explore independently. You may like to step back in time to a grand era of transport and relax on the Christchurch Tram as it takes you around many central attractions. The tram drivers provide a live commentary throughout the loop to see historic architecture and the changes the city is under-going since the 2011 earthquake. This evening, meet your travel companions for a welcome reception.

Day 2: Christchurch to Omarama

After a Christchurch city sightseeing tour, you will head across the countryside of the Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo. Backdrops of rugged hills and snow-capped mountains provide stunning alpine photography opportunities. You may want to take a scenic flight to see Mount Cook National Park this afternoon to see New Zealand’s highest peak, the Southern Alps and on to Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers (optional experience – additional expense). Your day finishes in the heart of the Mackenzie Country at Omarama. Tonight, enjoy dinner at your hotel.

Day 3: Omarama to Dunedin

Your day starts with a journey along the Waitaki River valley, which marks the boundary between the regions of Canterbury and Otago. From here you will travel through to the township of Oamaru, with its famous white limestone buildings. As well as shipping limestone to the bigger cities of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin for construction, locals made sure that their own town represented the best in limestone building the 1800’s had to offer. This afternoon you will travel to Dunedin where the rest of your afternoon is free. You may wish to take an optional sightseeing experience (additional cost) such as a wildlife cruise of the Otago Peninsula, visit Speights Brewery or visit Larnach Castle.

Day 4: Dunedin to Invercargill

This morning depart Dunedin to travel through lush green pastures and farmland to Gore, the country music capital of New Zealand. After lunch, your journey continues to Invercargill, New Zealand’s southernmost city that is full of grand architecture and gardens. A city obsessed with motoring history, there are tributes to speed legends across town, from the famous Burt Munro to Bill Richardson and his shed full of classic vehicles – the largest private collection of its type in the world. This afternoon you will have some free time to explore this city.

Day 5: Invercargill to Stewart Island

Board a ferry at Bluff and cruise to Stewart Island, known by locals as Rakiura which is the Maori reference to glowing skies. Rugged, pristine and tranquil – 97% of Stewart Island is national park, so birdlife, native flora & fauna have been able to thrive. Learn about the history of Stewart Island on a tour of the village and bays.  Later, enjoy some free time before travelling to Bluff by ferry and on to Invercargill.

Day 6: Invercargill to Queenstown

Enjoy a relaxed start in Invercargill before departing for Queenstown, known for its stunning scenery and adventures available.  There are many options choices of activities this afternoon (additional expense) such as the Shotover Jet, a Skippers Canyon scenic tour, a wine tour to sample Central Otago’s award-winning wines.

Day 7: Queenstown

While Queenstown wears its global adventure badge proudly, it’s also the perfect place to relax and explore.  If bungy jumping or ziplining aren’t your cup of tea, consider a trip to spectacular Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park (excursions additional expense).

Day 8: Queenstown to Franz Josef

This morning leave Queenstown to begin the passage through Central Otago to Westland. See the alpine country of the Southern Lakes including Lake Dunstan, Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka, with its Instagrammable shoreline of poplars and willows. Over the Haast Pass, Franz Josef Glacier, a white-out of snow and ice, shimmers like a gem. You can choose to get closer to the glaciers on a helicopter flight over the snow face to land high up in the valley and walk across the ice fall (optional, additional expense–subject to weather conditions).

Day 9: Franz Josef Glacier to Punakaiki

There aren’t many communities on the West Coast. Wander the windswept coast before discovering the Hokitika’s other beauty: pounamu (native greenstone or jade). Prepare yourself for Punakaiki’s Pancake Rocks and blowholes, they owe their existence to the thundering surf.

Day 10: Punakaiki to Nelson

Soak up the scenic wilderness of the Heritage Highway through the impressive Buller Gorge and the Kahurangi National Parka place of wild rivers, high plateaus, alpine herb fields and coastal forests before arriving in Nelson.

Day 11: Nelson

On this day at leisure in Nelson, you could enjoy a relaxing cruise in the Abel Tasman National Park, a short bush walk, relax in sunny Nelson or explore the many local arts and craft shops. The choice is yours (excursions additional expense).

Day 12: Nelson to Wellington

This morning, travel to the pretty seaside fishing village of Picton to board the Interislander ferry through Queen Charlotte Sound, up the Tory Channel and across Cook Strait, from the South Island to the North, navigating a maze of arms and inlets into New Zealand’s cool little capital of Wellington.

Day 13: Wellington

You have a day at leisure to see the sights of your choice in Wellington. Perhaps take a tour of Parliament, a Lord of the Rings movie tour, venture to Weta Workshop (excursions additional expense).

Day 14: Wellington to Napier

Travel through the dairy farming land of Manawatu to Napier. In February 1931, Napier was levelled by earthquake and fire but was rebuilt during the Great Depression in just two years. It has a large concentration of buildings in the styles of the 1930s: Art Deco, Spanish Mission and Stripped Classical. You’ll hear the story of the earthquake that devastated Napier in 1931 and be introduced to the Art Deco style by a local guide on a walking tour.

Day 15: Napier to Rotorua

Enjoy a leisurely start to our day before continuing our journey to Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand. Visit the thundering Huka Falls, the only outlet of water from Lake Taupo and then it’s on to Rotorua where landscapes include bubbling mud, geysers, lake and forests. Tonight, Maori culture and traditions are in the spotlight at Te Puia. Your journey starts with a guided tour including the Māori Arts & Crafts Institute, followed by a hangi dinner overlooking the geothermal valley, and a Māori cultural performance in the meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua.

Day 16: Rotorua

Today is a Rotorua tour day of many decisions (excursions additional cost). You can relax in the steamy thermal springs, go behind the scenes of a kiwi nursery and hatchery to see how these endangered animals are cared for or perhaps tour the sights featured in The Lord of the Rings movies at Hobbiton.

Day 17: Rotorua to Auckland

Today follow the meandering trail of the Waikato River, New Zealand’s longest river, past the lush farmlands of the Waikato Region. As you journey over the Bombay Hills, the landscape changes from green grassy meadowlands to the edges of suburbia. As you make your way to Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) into the heart of New Zealand’s largest city, you will discover what it takes to become an All Black rugby player at the interactive All-Blacks Experience that celebrates New Zealand’s rugby heritage. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 18: Auckland to Bay of Islands

This morning, travel north to the beautiful Bay of Islands. This afternoon you can discover the stories, people and events that shape the past, present and future of Aotearoa at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. See the world’s largest ceremonial war canoe, the historic  carved Waitangi Treaty House. Stand in the place where New Zealand’s founding document was first signed in 1840.

Day 19: Bay of Islands

Today is a completely free day for you to experience the beauty of the Bay of Islands. Perhaps take a coach trip up to Cape Reinga – the very top of New Zealand via idyllic Ninety Mile Beach. Sail aboard a historic tall ship, enjoy wine tasting in Kerikeri, or join a tour of Russell and learn more about the settling of the Bay of Islands (excursions additional expense).

Day 20: Bay of Islands to Auckland

Enjoy a leisurely morning in the Bay of Islands before you travel back to Auckland. Our journey south takes us to Whangarei, the northern-most city in New Zealand where waterfalls meet beaches, galleries and museums. Enjoy a scenic drive through the Rodney District before arriving in Auckland.

Day 21: Farewell from Auckland, New Zealand

Your Aotearoa (New Zealand) vacation concludes this morning after breakfast.

Important Flight Information for your New Zealand Tour:

Note: Flights referred to in the itinerary are not included in the tour price and you may need to ensure your flights arrive before/after certain times to take this tour.  Please ask your Downunder Travel Destination Specialist to book your flights to New Zealand (additional cost).