| 15 Day Grand Rail Experience Day 1: Arrive Auckland, Personalized Sights On arrival at Auckland Airport, you will be met and transferred to your accommodation. Overnight: Auckland, Sky City Hotel Day 2: Auckland—Rotorua Board the Overlander Train this morning. Depart the “City of Sails” and journey south alongside the Waikato River through Ngaruawahia to Otorohanga. Travel to the Waitomo Caves and discover stunning underground scenery as we are guided through ancient limestone caverns and grottos. Tonight enjoy a traditional Hangi (feast) and cultural Maori performance. Overnight: Park Heritage Hotel, Rotorua for 2 nights (B,D) Day 3: Rotorua Personalized Sightseeing Rotorua is New Zealand’s oldest and best-known resort. Enjoy its waters, marvel at its fascinating geothermal activity and experience the region’s Maori culture. Today you choose the activity and we will include it. Visit the “must see three” Te Puia, the Agrodome Sheep Show and Rainbow Springs; enjoy a treatment and leisurely soak in a natural thermal mineral pool at Polynesian Spa; take a half-day Eco thermal tour; or visit the Rotorua Museum and “Realm of Tane.” Country Homestay option is available tonight (B,D) Day 4: Rotorua—Tongariro National Park We continue our journey aboard the Overlander Train through the heart of the North Island. Spend this evening in World Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park, at the base of Mt Ruapehu. Overnight: Tongariro National Park, Chateau Tongariro (B,D) Day 5: Tongariro—Wellington This morning we head to Featherston through Taihape, the “Gumboot Capital” of New Zealand, the Manawatu Gorge and the Wairarapa region. In Featherston, we visit the Fell Engine Museum before we board the TranzMetro Train for a journey to Wellington, via the 5.4- mile Rimutaka Tunnel. Overnight: Wellington, James Cook Grand Chancellor Hotel for 2 nights (B,D) Day 6: Wellington Sightseeing Today we take a short stroll to the Wellington Cable Car and ascend to the top to visit the Cable Car Museum and walk around the Royal Botanic Gardens. Rejoin your coach and journey to Mount Victoria for the best views of the city, harbor and surrounding areas. Continue on to Te Papa where our sightseeing tour concludes. The remainder of today is at leisure in Wellington. (B) Day 7: Wellington—Christchurch This morning cruise across Cook Strait to Picton, gateway to the stunning South Island, to join the TranzCoastal Train for a spectacular journey. Overnight: Christchurch, Hotel Grand Chancellor (B,D) Day 8: Christchurch—Franz Josef Glacier This morning board the award-winning TranzAlpine Train. Travel through spectacular gorges, river valleys and across the magnificent Southern Alps. Continue south, view spectacular Franz Josef Glacier. There’s an opportunity for a scenic flight over this breathtaking region (own expense, weather permitting). Overnight: Franz Josef, Franz Josef Glacier Hotel (B,D) Day 9: Franz Josef Glacier—Queenstown See spectacular scenery as you journey along the shores of Lakes Wanaka and Hawea to Queenstown. Tonight enjoy our dining choice in Queenstown, where you choose from one of four restaurants and we’ll include it! Cruise to Walter Peak to the Colonel’s Homestead or ride the gondola to the Skyline Restaurant. Or dine at your hotel or a local restaurant. Overnight: Queenstown, Novotel Gardens Hotel for 2 nights (B,D) Day 10: Queenstown Personalized Sightseeing Queenstown is an exhilarating, year-round, alpine resort. Today you choose from a selection of activities and we’ll include it! A double-decker bus tour; a tour of award-winning wineries; an exhilarating jetboat ride or a relaxing garden tour. Perhaps the “Safari of the Scenes” tour, a 4WD adventure into Skippers Canyon or a leisurely walk around Lake Wakatipu— the choice is yours! (B) Day 11: Queenstown—Milford Sound This morning take a nostalgic trip back in time aboard New Zealand’s famous vintage steam train, The Kingston Flyer. On arrival into Milford, join our cruise boat for an amazing journey on the most famous and accessible of the grand glacier-carved fiords. Overnight: Te Anau, Luxmore Resort (B,D) Day 12: Te Anau—Dunedin Personalized Sights Travel across the South Island to Dunedin, the “Edinburgh of the South.” This afternoon you choose the activity and we will include it. Visit the Speights Brewery & Heritage Center where they brew the popular Speights Ale, head to the Otago Peninsula to see the Royal Albatross Colony, stop at Penguin Place to visit the rare yellow-eyed penguins the “Hoiho,” or check out New Zealand’s “Larnach Castle” for a tour and stroll around the gardens. Or join the Taieri Gorge Train and journey through the heart of Otago. The choice is yours! Overnight: Dunedin, Dunedin City Hotel (B,D) Day 13: Dunedin—Mt Cook Board the Seasider Train for a journey along the East Coast. Disembark at Palmerston and continue on to Oamaru before turning inland and journey into New Zealand’s high country and Mt Cook National Park. Try a guided walk or scenic flight over this alpine region (weather permitting, own expense). Overnight: Mt Cook, The Hermitage Hotel (B,D) Day 14:Mt Cook—Christchurch Visit picturesque Lake Tekapo and view the Church of the Good Shepherd. Travel through Burkes Pass to the Canterbury Plains, crossing the braided Rakaia River, en route to Christchurch. Overnight: Christchurch, Hotel Grand Chancellor (B,D) Day 15: Personalized Sights, Depart Christchurch This morning discover Christchurch with your selection of activity, before its time for your included transfer to the airport and your onward flight. (B) Departure Dates 2007: Apr 6, 13; Sep 7, 14; Oct 5, 12, 19; Nov 2, 16, 23; Dec 7, 21 2008: Jan 4, 25; Feb 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; Mar 14, 21 Price per person US$ (land only): 15-Day Tour Double The Grand Rail Experience Twin Single 1 Apr 07-15 Sep 07 Room only $4025 $5969 Includes Breakfast $4261 $5310 Includes Breakfast & Dinner $4733 $5783 16 Sep 07-31 Mar 08 Room only $4733 $5969 Includes Breakfast $5006 $6242 Includes Breakfast & Dinner$5565 $6801 Price per person (land only) Ask about our guaranteed departures. Tour Code: NRN15 |
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| 2222 Queen St East Unit 2 Toronto Ontario M4E 1E9 P: 647 430 3711 Toll Free: 866 547 4611 F: 647 430 3712 www.peterpantravel.ca info@peterpantravel.ca |
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