NEW ZEALAND IN 8 DAYS
This Budget 8 Day Tour has it all, from Auckland, Waitomo Caves, Rotorua, Wellington, Lakes, Mountains, the tour covers the South Island and includes Mount Cook National Park, Queenstown, Fiordland National Park, West Coast Glaciers and includes the Tranzcoastal Train Journey, Interislander Ferry crossing, and Milford Sounds Nature Cruise.
TOUR CODE BUDNZ8
OUR COST nz$1795 PER PERSON SHARE TWIN
OUR COST nz$2485 SINGLE
DAILY DEPARTURES
Day 1
Auckland - Waitomo - Rotorua
Departing Auckland we cross over the Bombay Hills and enter the Dairy Rich Waikato Region south to the famous Waitomo Caves. Here a guide will take us underground to these amazing limestone caves featuring stalagmites and stalactites, which have taken centuries to form, then we continue to walk down to an underground stream to board a small boat to view the glow-worm grotto – an underground cavern featuring millions of glow-worms. From Waitomo we travel to the thermal wonderland of Rotorua, the Sulphur City. This afternoon we have a sightseeing tour of Rotorua visiting the Agrodome to learn about the sheep industry. This unique New Zealand experience is still the best and most popular sheep show but there's a lot more to it than sheep - 19 champion rams, sheep shearing, sheep dogs, cow milking, sheep auction, lamb feeding. The multi-award winning Agrodome Sheep Show is one hour of 'full on' entertainment. Then it’s off to Te Puia New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute at Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley featuring the Pouto Geyser. Exploding from the ground up to 30 meters high is the world famous Pohutu Geyser – an awesome display of Mother Nature’s power. See silica terraces, bubbling mud pools and unique geothermal vegetation.
Day 2
Rotorua - Wellington
This morning we depart Rotorua for Taupo via New Zealand’s largest pine tree forests. Passing by the the Wairakei Geothermal Steam Field, this was a world first generating electricity by tapping a natural steam field then channelling the steam to a nearby power generation plant. State Highway One winds through a bleak windswept tussock plain called the Rangipo Desert. This is a unique alpine semi-desert, with the forbidding appearance of a wild desolate wasteland. To the east it merges with the densely forested foothills of the Kaimanawa Ranges. To the west there is no horizon, as the landscape and sky are overwhelmed by the monumental outline of Mt. Ruapehu. Dark canyons and shadowy scree slopes tumble from the snow-capped peaks and merge with the indistinct landforms of the plain. The majestic grandeur of Ruapehu is a powerfully moving sight especially on a clear day. Our destination today is Wellington which is New Zealand’s capital city. It is a complete contrast to the sprawling urban mass that constitutes Auckland. Wellington is a visitor-friendly, upbeat, compact city, which can claim to be the world’s southernmost capital. Transfer to your hotel is included in tour costs
Day 3
Wellington - Christchurch
Transfer from hotel to ferry terminal is included in tour costs. Today begins as we cruise the Wellington Harbour out onto the Cook Strait on the Interislander and through New Zealand’s only true sounds, the picturesque Marlborough Sound into Picton. The bustling port of Picton is the terminal for inter-island ferries, and gateway to the ‘Mainland’, the South Island’s self-proclaimed nickname. Here you board the TranzCoastal train for a relaxing journey to Christchurch, passing by Blenheim which can proudly uphold the claim to be both ‘The Sunshine Capital’ and ‘The Foremost Grape Growing Area’ of New Zealand. Continue on along the East Coast to the seaside town of Kaikoura. The whale watch capitol of New Zealand and the South Pacific, we continue our rail journey to the garden city of Christchurch
Day 4
Christchurch – Franz Josef Glacier
This morning you have the option (please see below) of Journeying to the West Coast on board the Scenic TranzAlpine Train, rated one of the top six train journeys in the world. Please see below. Or travel via by road to the alpine village of Authurs Pass and on over the Southern Alps to the West Coast. Your journey continues along the rugged West Coast to Hokitika the centre for thousands of miners during the historic gold strikes of the 1860s, then we continue further south to the Westland National Park – home of the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers.
Optional 90 min Glacier Eco Tour to the lookout point to view Franz Josef Glacier; Your guide will collect you from your accommodation and take you on a short tour to the glacier lookout, along the way they will explain about the local flora and fauna in the area, Cost nz$50 per person or nz$100 for single traveller. Tour operates October – April. Or there is a shuttle bus which operate on a regular timetable to the glacier lookout point.
Accommodation in Franz Josef for one night
Day 5
Franz Josef Glacier – Queenstown
Driving towards the southern end of the South Island’s West Coast Road, there is a strong sense of entering a primeval land, and a feeling of total isolation. Arriving at Haast, you are surrounded by a landscape of rainforest, wetlands, sand dunes and surf-pounded shingle beaches. This wilderness forms part of the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area, so designated because South Westland and Fiordland have some of the most dramatic forest and mountain scenery and natural resources in the world. There are plenty of stops today for photo opportunities as we travel through the Haast River valleys and over Haast Pass. Once in Otago the scenery changes dramatically to large glacial valleys and lakes. It’s just a short drive to Queenstown, we follow the Clutha River passing lake Dunstan to Cromwell, then following the Kawerau Gorge, passing the by the famous bridge now used for bungee jumping.
Day 6
Queenstown –
Today is day of leisure and you have the chance to experience some of the many activities and sightseeing tours available. Your hotel receptionist will be happy to assist you with any information regarding bookings, whether it is for sport or recreation.
Day 7
Queenstown
Milford Sound Nature Cruise Day Excursion
(Included in tour cost).
Travel from Queenstown via Lake Te Anau to the beautiful Milford Sound, located in the World Heritage Fiordland National Park. Explore dramatic, moody Milford Sound in a leisurely and relaxed way with our nature guides. Our vessels, the Milford Mariner and Milford Wanderer are designed along the lines of traditional trading scows. They have been purpose built to operate in the fiords and offer a laid back, extended cruise option. Throughout your cruise, our nature guide provides an engaging commentary about the magnificent scenery and wildlife (English only). Keep a look out for dolphins, seals and penguins. Here we cruise the sounds and get close up views of the magnificent scenery that this World Heritage Area has to offer. Be inspired as mountain peaks soar overhead and waterfalls tumble hundreds of metres into the sea below. Return by coach to Queenstown
Day 8
Queenstown – Christchurch
A day for spectacular sights, as we following the Kawerau Gorge to Cromwell before continuing on over Lindas Pass and then into the vast Mackenzie Basin to the magnificent blue waters of Lakes Pukaki and Tekapo, we continue on to Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain. Time is available to enjoy an optional scenic flight over the ancient rivers of ice and the West Coast Glaciers (weather permitting – a highly recommended option). We then visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and the statue of the Collie dog, and then over Burke’s Pass and travel through Ashburton, Geraldine and Fairlie, to Christchurch
YOUR TOUR COSTS INCLUDE
• 7 Nights accommodation
• All transport
• Transfers from inner city hotels in Auckland to Coach Station
• Entrance to Waitomo Caves
• Entrance to Agrodome Farm Show
• Entrance to Te Puia Thermal Valley
• Transfer from Wellington coach Station to hotel
• Transfer from Wellington Hotel to ferry terminal
• Transfers in Christchurch to and from railway station
• Milford Sounds Nature Cruise
DAY 4 TRANZ ALPINE TRAIN OPTIONAL
COST OF THIS OPTIONAL IS nz$100, PLEASE ADVISE US AT THE TIME OF BOOKING
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 favourite spots. There’s a lot to look forward to!
Our train journey sets off from Greymouth - The trip is 223.8 kilometers 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
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING LINK, AS IT WILL EXPLAIN ALL ABOUT BUDGET TOURS
http://www.tourandtravel.co.nz/tour.aspx?tourid=1171
All our Budget Tours are flexible and extra nights can be added in, at any point. We can offer you very competitive rates for both pre and post tour accommodation if required.
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