| 14 DAY NEW ZEALAND ACTIVE ADVENTURE VACATION & TOUR |
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| 14 Day New Zealand Active Adventure Vacation & Tour Highlights 1-hour tandem self drive 4WD experience Full day visit to White Island Maori Marae, concert and “Hangi” (feast) White-water and underground cave rafting Guided glacier walk, bush walks and hikes Sea kayaking Waiatoto jet boat ride Farm stay and tour DAY 1: AUCKLAND—ROTORUA Today, you will board a yacht for a sail on Auckland’s Harbor. Take the helm, or just sit back and enjoy the breeze. After the sail, travel to Rotorua. Stop outside Rotorua for an activity that involves off-road vehicles, lots of mud, sweaty palms and a luge! Enjoy a free evening exploring Rotorua. Overnight: Rotorua, Ventura Inn for 2 nights (L) DAY 2: WHITE ISLAND Travel to the seaside town of Whakatane. Depart on a launch to the active volcano, White Island. Hike to the crater rim to see Crater Lake. Reboard the boat for lunch and journey back to Whakatane. Tonight experience a formal Maori welcome onto a Marae. Be entertained with a Maori concert followed by a traditional Maori “Hangi” (feast). (B,L,D) DAY 3: ROTORUA—TAIHAPE This morning you will visit the Rotorua Bathhouse museum to explore the Maori culture and Wai-O-Tapu thermal reserve. Continue to Taupo, stopping to see boiling mud pools, mineral terraces, steaming volcanic lakes and New Zealand’s longest river as it forms the Huka Falls. Continue to River Valley Lodge, where you can relax and enjoy the peace and quiet. Overnight: Taihape, River Valley Lodge (B,L,D) DAY 4: TAIHAPE—PARAPARAUMU The Rangitikei River is home to great rafting. You can choose between a sedate trip with views of the spectacular gorges and cliffs or a white water adventure on the upper section. This afternoon, drive south to the coastal town of Paraparaumu. Overnight: Paraparaumu, Wrights by the Sea (B,L) DAY 5: PARAPARAUMU—WELLINGTON Travel by water taxi to Kapiti Island for a chance to view endangered native birds. Your guide will share the island’s rich and colorful history. Continue to New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington. Te Papa, the national museum, is located close to your hotel. Spend some time exploring! Overnight: Wellington, Kingsgate Oriental Bay (B,L) DAY 6: WELLINGTON—PUNGA COVE The morning is at leisure. Later, travel across Cook Strait to Picton, via the Marlborough Sounds. Transfer by water taxi to Portage Resort Hotel, nestled among native bush, at the water’s edge. Overnight: Portage Resort Hotel for 2 nights (B,L) DAY 7: MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS Today, experience a 13 mile section of the Queen Charlotte Walkway, with views along both sides of the ridgeline to the beautiful bays below. There’s no better place to relax and unwind! (B, L) DAY 8: PUNGA COVE—NELSON Journey back to Picton where you will join the coach. Drive to Anakiwa for a sea kayaking adventure. Then, drive to Nelson and enjoy an afternoon at leisure. Overnight: Nelson, DeLorenzo’s Apartments (B,L) DAY 9: NELSON—PUNAKAIKI Today’s adventure is cave rafting on the west coast. Head to the Upper Buller Gorge, stopping to view New Zealand’s longest Swing Bridge. Travel along the rugged west coast to the Nile River, where you will walk up the bush-clad valley and enter the cave. Explore the underground world then float downstream on innertubes. Travel to Punakaiki, home of the famous Pancake Rocks. Overnight: Punakaiki Rocks Hotel (B,L) DAY 10: PUNAKAIKI—FOX GLACIER Continue south along the rugged coast and dense, temperate rainforest, which covers the Southern Alps. You will visit the Jade Museum and continue to Fox Glacier village in Westland National Park. After lunch, you will be briefed before departing on a 3-hour walk onto the Fox Glacier. Under the guide’s watchful eye, attach instep crampons to your boots, grasp your walking pole, and head onto the white ice. Enjoy an early evening hike to Lake Matheson (optional). Overnight: Fox Glacier, Te Weheka Inn (B,L) DAY 11: FOX GLACIER—QUEENSTOWN An awesome Waiatoto jet boat experience awaits you in Jackson Bay. After, travel up the Waiatoto River into Mt Aspiring National Park, where you can walk and enjoy the solitude of the surroundings before returning to Jackson Bay. Then travel over scenic Haast Pass, through dense rainforest, beech forest and farmland. Pass Lakes Hawea and Wanaka before arriving in Queenstown. Overnight: Aspen on Queenstown for 2 nights (B,L) DAY 12: QUEENSTOWN AT LEISURE Today is yours to explore Queenstown. Enjoy optional activities including a boat ride on Milford Sound, a steamboat cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak sheep station, winery tours, or a wide range of adventure activities (own expense). (B) DAY 13: QUEENSTOWN—FAIRLIE Travel to Mt Cook National Park. After lunch, walk across two swing bridges as thundering Hooker River flows below. Rejoin your coach and drive to Fairlie. Stop at Lake Tekapo to see the Church of the Good Shepherd. Tonight, experience a farmstay, hosted by a local farming family. Overnight: Fairlie, Farmstay (B,L,D) DAY 14: FAIRLIE—CHRISTCHURCH Depart Fairlie and travel to Christchurch. Visit Orana Park where you will take a native birds and wildlife tour before a farewell lunch at a winery. Afterwards, be dropped off at the airport or hotel. (B,L) Departure Dates 2007: Nov 5*, 19; Dec 17, 21*, 31 2008: Jan 14, 28*; Feb 11, 25*; Mar 10, 24*; Apr 7 New Zealand Active Adventure Vacation Twin Single 01 Apr 07-31 Mar 08 $5818 $7910 Note: NOT INCLUDED: pre and post tour accommodation; meals not indicated on itinerary; activities on free day in Queenstown; items of a personal nature (drinks, telephone calls, etc.); and gratuities (tipping is not expected in New Zealand, it is entirely at your discretion). Pre-night accommodation is recommended in Auckland. Accommodation may vary due to availability. Information on what to bring, wear, etc., is available upon confirmation of the tour. Meet at Barrycourt Suites Hotel, 10 Gladstone Road, Parnell at 7:30am. *Operates in reverse, Christchurch to Auckland. |
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