Day 1

Depart London Heathrow on your flight to Fiji via Los Angeles with Air New Zealand.

Day 2

On arrival at Nadi you will be met and transferred to the 4* Sonaisali Island Resort. A full daily buffet breakfast and complimentary non motorised sports activities are included.

Day 3 – 5 Fiji

At leisure.

Day 6 Fiji/Auckland

You will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Auckland with Air New Zealand. On arrival in Auckland you will be met and assisted with collecting your rental car. 2 nights Crowne Plaza Hotel. Auckland city is noted for its extensive parks and beautiful gardens. The warm, sunny climate encourages sub-tropical growth of all kinds. Unique to this city are a large number of extinct volcanic cones. The highest, Mount Eden, is an ideal point to view this widespread metropolis, out across the Waitemata Harbour to the east and the Manukau Harbour to the west. The beautiful Waitemata Harbour gives Auckland a nautical flavour and is the largest and busiest port in the country. In contrast, the Manukau Harbour, formed during the same geological time as the Waitemata, is an area of mud flats and tidal channels, protected by a difficult bar at its mouth.

Day 7 Auckland

Pride of Auckland Sailing Experience: Sit back and relax or help your professional crew steer the yacht and trim the sails. Listen as your crew provide informative commentary on Auckland’s famous City of Sails. Includes entry to the NZ National Maritime Museum.

Day 8 Paihia

Depart Auckland and head north along the Hibiscus Coast passing through the scenic market gardening and dairy lands of Northland. There is much to do in this historic area – Paihia was an early Mission Station and home of New Zealand’s first printing press. Today it is a developing tourist centre. The Bay of Islands is the headquarters of a deep-sea fishing fleet where big-game enthusiasts flock every season. Its magnificent, irregular coastline extends for about 500 miles and encompasses some 150 islands.

3 nights Kingsgate Autolodge.

Day 9 Paihia

Today is at leisure to relax and explore. Take the ferry over to Russell, or spend the day driving up to Cape Reinga to view the northern most point of New Zealand where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean.

Day 10 Paihia

At leisure.

Day 11 Paihia/ Rotorua

Depart Paihia for Rotorua. Rotorua is the centre of an extensive thermal region and geysers, bubbling mud pools and steaming, sulphurous lakes. The Maori culture contributes greatly to the attractions of this holiday city. Here you can enjoy the culture and entertainment of native Maori people. 2 nights Park Heritage Rotorua.

Day 12 Rotorua

At leisure.

Day 13 Rotorua/Wellington

Depart Rotorua for Wellington. Wellington, capital of New Zealand, is a cosmopolitan city situated at the southern end of North Island. Wellington is surrounded by the rugged beauty of green hills, and has the most spectacular skyline of all major cities in New Zealand.

Day 14 Wellington/Picton/Blenheim

Make your way to the ferry terminal and return your rental car. Take the Interisland Ferry to Picton. On arrival collect your South Island rental vehicle. Drive to Blenheim.

Blenheim is situated on the historic Wairau Plain, which in 1843 was the scene of bloody warfare between the Maori leader, Te Rauparaha and early settlers over the purchase of land. Today orchards, vineyards and horticultural products benefit from the sunny climate. The country’s most extensive area of grapes is planted in the Wairau Valley and has earned international acclaim. A wine trail is now established linking the various wineries and is a popular attraction. Overnight Blenheim Country Hotel.

Day 15 Blenheim/Hamner Springs

Depart Blenheim for Hamner. The South Island’s principal thermal resort, Hamner Springs, is nestled in the outlying spurs of the Southern Alps. It is surrounded by vast indigenous and exotic forests covering 17,000 hectares. The township is a fine base for walks of varying degrees of difficulty. 2 nights at Heritage Hamner.

Day 16 Hamner

At leisure.

Day 17 Hamner/Tekapo

Depart Hamner for Tekapo. 2 nights Tekapo Scenic Resort. Situated in a central position close to local shops and restaurants, the rooms are modern and most have excellent views over Lake Tekapo and the mountains. The rooms have large comfortable beds, heating and electric blankets, and television.

Day 18 Tekapo

At leisure.

Day 19 Lake Tekapo/Queenstown

From Lake Tekapo, travel south through Simon’s Pass and past Lake Pukaki to Twizel. This hydro town was brought into existence due to the construction of the Waitaki Power scheme. From Omarama, drive through the Lindis Pass and descend into the Upper Clutha Valley. Turn off near Cromwell and enter the rugged but beautiful Kawarau Gorge, following the river to the popular resort town of Queenstown, situated on the shores of Lake Wakatipu.

Nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is a year-round alpine resort that caters for all interests. It enjoys a magnificent setting amid steep mountain ranges and pockets of native bush with the jagged peaks of the Remarkables Range rising from the lake. 3 nights Sherwood Manor.

Day 20 Queenstown/Milford Sound

This morning you will be collected from your hotel for your scenic cruise on Milford Sound. Buffet lunch is included. Remote and mysterious, Milford Sound is a spectacular reminder of the forces of nature that shaped this land. Formed thousands of years ago during the ice ages, Milford Sound is the northernmost fiord in Fiordland National Park and is, without doubt, the most dramatic. Here in this place of unparalleled beauty, you will find cascading waterfalls, luxuriant forests and the towering pinnacle of Mitre Peak, rising one full mile to the sky. No matter what the fiord’s mood, shrouded in mist or with sun glistening on deep waters, it will inspire you.

Day 21 Queenstown.

At leisure.

Day 22 Queenstown/Lake Moeraki

Depart Queenstown for Lake Moeraki. 2 nights Lake Moeraki Wilderness Lodge. Dinner is included both evenings.

Day 23 Lake Moeraki

Today is at leisure to relax and explore. You may wish to take part in 1 of the 2 complimentary guided tours on offer or book one of the longer guided tours.

Day 24 Fox Glacier

Fox Glacier descends the western side of the Southern Alps and is part of the Westland National Park. Formed in 1960, the park consists of largely unspoilt landscape and is characterised by dense lowland podocarp forest, fast flowing rivers, permanent snow fields and glaciers. The steep mountain terrain lifts and cools the predominant westerly winds creating a harsh changeable climate. Fox Glacier is named after a former premier of New Zealand, Sir William Fox, and is currently in an exciting period of dramatic advance. What is so special about Fox Glacier, and its northern neighbour Franz Josef Glacier, is that they descend almost into the forest – twelve kilometres from the sea! 2 nights Mainstay Fox Glacier Hotel.

Day 25 Fox Glacier

At leisure.

Day 26 Fox Glacier/Greymouth/Christchurch

Depart Fox Glacier for Greymouth. On arrival drop your rental car and board the Tranzalpine train. The TranzAlpine is world renowned as “The Great New Zealand Rail Adventure”. The TranzAlpine winds its way over massive viaducts, through spectacular gorges and river valleys to the settlement of Arthur’s Pass. The pass, built by pick and shovel and completed in 1866, is named after Arthur Dudley who discovered it in 1864. On arrival into Christchurch you will be collected and transferred to your accommodation. 3 nights Copthorne Durham Street Hotel.

Day 27 Christchurch/Kaikoura

You will be collected from your hotel for this full day excursion. Travel by road through the rolling hill country of North Canterbury, enjoying the beauty of its rural pastoral scenes, to Kaikoura where mountains meet sea. Kaikoura is world renowned for the variety of marine mammals which can be seen, not least of all the giant sperm whales and the acrobatic Dusky Dolphins. On your arrival in Kaikoura you will be transferred to your vessel for your whale watch tour. Helicopter option available also. In the afternoon you will visit a seal colony where fur seals may be viewed at close quarters. On your return to Christchurch a stop will be made at a North Canterbury vineyard where a wine tasting has been arranged for your pleasure.

Day 28 Christchurch

At leisure.

Day 29 Friday 2 December Depart Christchurch

You will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the airport for your return flight to the UK via Auckland and Los Angeles with Air New Zealand.

Day 30

UK arrival.