TOP OF THE SOUTH ISLAND
This Budget 6 Day Tour covers the top of the South Island and gives you the option of Whale Watching in Kaikoura, also included is Blenheim, Nelson and Abel Tasman National Park, and the famous Punakaiki Pancake Rocks, included in this tour is the Famous TranzAlpine Train journey
TOUR CODE BUD6WW
TOUR COST nz$895 per person share twin room
TOUR COST nz$1250 for single traveller
DAILY DEPARTURES
Day 1
Christchurch - Kaikoura
Departing Christchurch we head north over the Canterbury Plains, a patch work quilt of colours of different crops grown in the area. Passing by some of the best sheep and dairy farms in the South Island, crossing over the Hunderlee Hills we arrive on the East Coast and following the road we pass South Bay and arrive in Kaikoura.
Few places on Earth possess the magic of Kaikoura. Many who visit leave transformed. It is a special part of New Zealand, imbued with powerful natural energy. A place where tectonic plates collide, towering peaks fall to the sea and ocean currents converge. Such rare combinations lure an abundance of marine life, the most famous being the Sperm Whale. It was a whale that led the Maori ancestor Paikea to New Zealand many centuries ago. His descendants live in Kaikoura today. Fittingly, the whale continues to guide the people of Kaikoura and the visitors they host.
Kaikoura is one of New Zealand's leading nature tourism destinations offering a variety of exciting marine wildlife encounters. Despite the recent rise in tourist numbers, the town retains much of its historical charm. Many new motels, cafes and restaurants can be found in beautifully restored old buildings. Fresh local seafood is always on the menu.
Accommodation in Kaikoura
Day 2
Kaikoura – Blenheim
This morning you have the option of going whale watching. Every Whale Watch tour is a unique experience and the sightings vary. Giant Sperm Whales are the stars of the show and year-round residents. A typical Whale Watch tour may encounter New Zealand Fur Seals, pods of Dusky Dolphins and the endangered Wandering Albatross. Depending on the season you may also see migrating Humpback Whales, Pilot Whales, Blue Whales and Southern Right Whales. Kaikoura often hosts the world's largest dolphin - the Orca - and is home to the world's smallest and rarest - the Hector's. Kaikoura also attracts the largest concentration and variety of seabirds on mainland New Zealand including 13 species of Albatross, 14 varieties of Petrels and 7 types of Shearwater. Tour departs at 10.00am and returns approx 2.00pm. we will book your whale watch cruise, but clients need to pay on the day, (due to weather conditions) Cost approx nz$150 per person. This afternoon you continue you journey to Blenheim along the coast.
Accommodation in Blenheim
Day 3
Blenheim – Nelson
This morning you have free time to explore the City of Blenheim. Blenheim can proudly uphold the claim to be both ‘The Sunshine Capital’ and ‘The Foremost Grape Growing Area’ of New Zealand. Continuing on to Nelson this afternoon – this being our first city of New Zealand. Nelson and Golden Bay is famous for its pottery given the quality of its local clay, and glass blowing, furniture, woodcarving, paintings, candle making and other crafts flourish in this artist’s paradise.
Accommodation in Nelson for two nights
Day 4
Nelson
Welcome to the wonderful world of the Abel Tasman - New Zealand’s smallest, sunniest and most popular national park. Abel Tasman, the Dutch explorer, was the first European to visit New Zealand. In 1642 he anchored his two ships in Golden Bay near the present park. The Abel Tasman National Park was opened in 1942, on the 300th Anniversary of Tasman’s voyage. This park is located at the top of the South Island and is best known for its gentle coastal walk, golden beaches, towering granite domes and honeycomb cave systems.
Today you have the option of having a rest day or an optional tour of touring the rich apple growing areas of Richmond, Mapua, Tasman and Redwood Valley to Motueka and then on to Kaiteriteri Beach, a hidden jewel in the top of the South Island. A boxed lunch is provided today as we board our sightseeing boat to cruise close into protected southern bays as we travel past Split Apple Rock and the various seal colonies, then the scenery changes; Onetahuti marks the beginning of the northern beaches- large sweeps of golden sand separated by picturesque bush headlands. We then return to Kaiteriteri for our bus journey back to Nelson OUR COST is nz$145p.p. and includes a lunch box
Accommodation in Nelson for two nights
Day 5
Nelson – Punakaiki
Passing Brightwater, the birth place of Lord Rutherford, the New Zealand science pioneer who split the atom, the man on our $100:00 note, we travel through the Golden Downs Forest following and crossing the Motueka River a number of times. Departing Murchison we follow the Upper and Lower Buller Gorges. We pass under Hawk’s Crag before arriving in Westport to visit Coaltown, a coal miner’s view of the ‘good old days’. We then continue southward along the Coast to visit the pancake rocks at Punakaiki – These sedimentary rocks have been hammered by the sea, and wind erosion forming layered rocks giving a look of a large stack of pancakes. Paparoa National Park Spectacular cliffs and caves typify the West's rugged coastline, with one of the best known features being pancake rocks and blowholes at Punakaiki. These fascinating limestone formations put on a spectacular spouting display on a high tide with a strong westerly swell.
Accommodation in Punakaiki
Day 6
Punakaiki – Christchurch
Today your tour continues along the rugged West Coast to Greymouth, the centre for thousands of miners during the historic gold strikes of the 1860s.
At Greymouth, you board the world-famous TranzAlpine Train (Included in tour cost, one of the top six train journeys in the world see below) and travel by train to Christchurch. Your train journey sets off from Greymouth - The trip is 223.8 kilometres long and takes approx four and a half hours. There are 16 tunnels, and 5 viaducts, the highest being the Staircase standing at 73 meters. Your tour concludes on arrival at the Christchurch Railway Station.
The Tranz Alpine scenic train journey travels between Greymouth and Christchurch, from one coast of New Zealand to the other. Your train then climbs through lush beech rain forest from the West Coast town of Greymouth into the Southern Alps through the Otria Tunnel to Arthur’s Pass before descending through the spectacular gorges and river valleys of the Waimakariri River, followed by the fields of the Canterbury Plains and farmland.
All carriages include both one way seating and tabled group seating allowing you to experience the amazing views while enjoying the company of other passengers on-board. An open air viewing carriage allows you to get even closer to the stunning scenery and provides many opportunities to photograph your favorite spots. There’s a lot to look forward to!
INCLUDED IN THE COST
• 5 Nights accommodation in 3-4 star Hotels or Motels
• TranzAlpine Train Journey
• Optional Abel Tasman Cruise
• Optional Whale watch
• West Coast – Punakaiki Pancake Rocks
• All transport based on public transport
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING LINK, AS IT WILL EXPLAIN ALL ABOUT BUDGET TOURS http://www.tourandtravel.co.nz/tour.aspx?tourid=1171
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