Kiwi Experience Tour

Day 1: Welcome to Christchurch, New Zealand

Welcome to Christchurch, New Zealand’s garden city, also known as Otautahi. Your flight can arrive any time 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.  Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3: Omarama to Dunedin, Free Time

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. With the rest of your afternoon free, you may wish to take part in an optional sightseeing experience to see more of the region such as a wildlife cruise of the Otago Peninsula, visit Speights Brewery or visit Larnach Castle. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4: Dunedin to Invercargill

This morning leave Dunedin and travel through lush green pastures, crossing farmland through to Gore, the country music capital of New Zealand for a lunch stop. As your journey continues you arrive in Invercargill, New Zealand’s southernmost city. This commercial hub 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. Meals included: Breakfast

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. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6: Invercargill to Queenstown

Enjoy a relaxed start in Invercargill before departing for Queenstown, known for its adventure.  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. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7: Queenstown Free Time

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. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8: Queenstown to Franz Josef

This morning leave Queenstown to begin the passage through Central Otago and out to Westland. On the way out of the Queenstown region, visit the restored gold mining settlement of Arrowtown and Cromwell next to the sparkling pristine waters of Lake Dunstan. Further into Central Otago you will see the vivid blue waters of Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka before travelling over Haast Pass to the wild west coast and Franz Josef. You can choose to 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). Tonight, enjoy dinner at your hotel. Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 9: Franz Josef Glacier to Punakaiki

Head to the driftwood strewn beaches of Hokitika. As well as being one of the few West Coast communities to embrace its coastal landscape, Hokitika is rich in natural resources. Visit a pounamu factory (native greenstone or jade) for the chance to see master carvers at work creating intricate pieces of jewellery and art. Then, continue to Punakaiki to view the Pancake Rocks and blowholes. Tonight, we stay in an eco-friendly resort right on the waterfront. Enjoy dinner while watching the thundering surf at your doorstep. Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 10: Punakaiki to Nelson

Soak up the scenic wilderness of the Heritage Highway through the impressive Buller Gorge and the Kahurangi National Park before arriving in Nelson. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 11: Nelson Free Time

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 arts and craft shops. The choice is yours! Meals included: Breakfast

Day 12: Nelson to Wellington

This morning, we travel to the pretty seaside fishing village of Picton to board the Interislander cruise across the Cook Strait, from the South Island to the North. You will meander through a maze of arms and inlets out of Picton. Once in Wellington enjoy a city tour.  Meals included: Breakfast

Day 13: Wellington Free Time

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. This evening enjoy dinner at your hotel. Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

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 in the depths of the Great Depression in just two years. Nowhere else in the world can you see such a 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 and hear stories of the characters involved in rebuilding this city. A local Guide will accompany you on a walking tour. Meals included: Breakfast

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 spectacular Huka Falls, the only outlet of water from Lake Taupo and then it’s on to Rotorua. Before dinner, we have a guided tour of Te Puia. Guides take us through the greenstone, wood carving and flax weaving schools at the New Zealand Māori Arts & Crafts Institute, Rotowhio Pā, Kiwi Conservation Centre and Te Whakarewarewa geothermal valley including the Pōhutu geyser. Tonight, we experience Te Puia’s world-famous hāngī buffet dinner. Enjoy spectacular geothermal views while dining on a range of delicious New Zealand flavours. The menu is smartly sophisticated – infusing Māori flavours, with an array of global cuisines and cooking styles. After dinner you will get to enjoy a cultural performance that will take place in their beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. Witness a pōwhiri (traditional welcome), waiata (song), mōteatea (traditional chant) poi and haka. The evening culminates with hot chocolate and steamed pudding surrounded by steam and the geyser terrace bathed in coloured light. Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 16: Rotorua Free Time

Today is your chance to experience the scenic wonders of the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua. Visit Te Puia, the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, where you’ll see demonstrations of wood carving and weaving. Then tour the geothermal valley and hear the importance of the geysers and mud pools to the Maori people. Later, you may wish to travel back to Rotorua township and relax lakeside, or you may prefer to choose from one of the varied Optional Experiences on offer. Take a scenic flight out over Lake Rotorua for a bird’s eye view of the region. You may even want to stop at the top of Mt Tarawera, the site of the largest eruption in New Zealand’s living memory! Explore Rainbow Springs Nature Park & The National Kiwi Hatchery, take a ‘behind the scenes’ tour through the working kiwi nursery and hatchery. Later, why not spend a little more time experiencing the thermal wonders, with a soak in the hot mineral waters of the Polynesian Spas? Your Travel Director will assist you in booking any chosen optional experiences. Meals included: Breakfast

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 over the Harbour Bridge and past the suburbs of the North Shore of Auckland. Our travels then take you through Northland’s farmland scenery before arriving in 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. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 19: Bay of Islands Free Time

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. Your Travel Director will assist you in booking any optional experiences. Meals included: Breakfast

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 you can wander around the art galleries and through the marina in the Town Basin. Enjoy a scenic drive through the Rodney District before arriving in Auckland late afternoon. Celebrate your vacation at a farewell dinner with your group. Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 21: Farewell from Auckland, New Zealand

Your Aotearoa (New Zealand) vacation concludes this morning after breakfast. Your flight can depart Auckland any time today. Meals included: Breakfast

Touring Highlights in New Zealand:

• The Waitangi Treaty Grounds
• Auckland Sightseeing
• Te Anau Glow Worm Caves
• Art Deco walking tour in Napier
• Tamaki Maori Village – Cultural Experience in Rotorua
• Te Puia in Rotorua
• Te Papa – New Zealand National Museum
• Wellington City Sightseeing
• Cruise the Cook Strait between the north and south islands
• Milford Sound Overnight Cruise
• Dunedin City Sights
• Church of the Good Shepherd in Tekapo
• Christchurch City Sightseeing

Guided Tour Inclusions:

• Specialist team of two highly experienced travel enthusiasts – a Travel Director and Driver Guide
• Local Specialist Guides
• Centrally located hotels
• Many meals: 20 Breakfasts, 1 lunch, 7 Dinners

Important Flight Information for your New Zealand Tour:

Note: Flights referred to in the itinerary are not included in the tour price.  Please ask your Downunder Travel Destination Specialist to book your flights to New Zealand (additional cost).

• Day 1: Arrive by 4:00pm into Christchurch Airport
• Day 21: Depart anytime after breakfast from Auckland Airport