Tour Type: Premium Escorted Tour
Duration: 10 Days
Tour Starts In: Christchurch
Tour Finishes In: Christchurch
|
from NZ $3735 pp
|
10 Day Southern Explorer Touring Route:
Tour Inclusions:
- Professional Tour Director
- Professional Luxury Coach Driver
- Admissions Outlined in the Itinerary
- Full Buffet Breakfasts (9) (B)
- 'You are invited' Lunch (1) (L)
- Exciting Highlight Dinner (1) (HD)
- Hotel Dinners (6) (D)
- Welcome Drink
- Travel Wallet and Map
- Airport Transfers (Day 1 from Christchurch Airport – flights to arrive prior to 4.00pm; Day 10 to Christchurch Airport – flights anytime)
- Hotel Porterage Included
Included Tour Highlights:
- Experience the Scottish heritage of Dunedin at Larnach Castle
- Discover the sights of Christchurch on the Christchurch Tram
- See the Pancake Rocks and blowholes at Punakaiki
- Discover the beauty of the Southern Alps on-board the TranzAlpine Train
- Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd
- View mighty Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest peak
- Enjoy a day at leisure in Queenstown
- Explore spectacular Milford Sound & see Bowen Falls and Mitre Peak
- View magnificent Franz Josef Glacier
- Cruise on the TSS Earnslaw across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station
Back to top |
Day
1 |
Arrive Christchurch
We meet and transfer you from the airport to your hotel. The remainder of your day is at leisure to explore the 'Garden City' of Christchurch. The most English city outside of England, experience the city famous for its gardens before a Welcome Drink and Dinner with your Tour Director and fellow travellers. Stay: Novotel, Christchurch |
Day
2 |
TranzAlpine – Punakaiki
Today enjoy a spectacular journey over the Southern Alps aboard the TranzAlpine Train. View the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes on arrival in Punakaiki, where we’ll spend the night at our hotel right on the waterfront. Stay: Punakaiki Resort, Punakaiki (B/D) |
Day
3 |
Punakaik – Franz Josef
Travel via Greymouth, the largest town on the West Coast, to Hokitika to visit a New Zealand native jade factory for a jewellery demonstration. Continue to Franz Josef Glacier. You can see it from the air on an optional scenic flight (weather permitting) or take a glacier hike. Stay: Te Waonui Forest Retreat (B/D) |
Day
4 |
Franz Josef - Queenstown
Our experience list is spectacular today.
Get your camera ready as we take in Haast Pass, Thunder Creek falls, a small
rainforest bush walk, Lake Wanaka,
Lake Hawea and Lake Dunstan. We’ll
enjoy the tastes of sumptuous stone
fruit at Cromwell - the stone fruit capital.
Next up, we visit historic gold mining Arrowtown on the Arrow River, previously
one of the world’s richest rivers. A
Queenstown orientation tour and group
photo finishes our day. Tonight you have
the option (own expense) to dine at Skyline Restaurant
at Bob’s Peak via the Southern
Hemisphere’s steepest Gondola! And
the Kiwi Haka Maori Show will top off a
great night out – if you so choose. Stay: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown (2 nights) (B) |
Day
5 |
Queenstown
Explore action-packed, adventure-capital Queenstown for yourself. Take it easy with wine and garden tours, or walk on the wild side with jet boat rides and white water rafting. Maybe you’d prefer to relax or go sailing? Do as you please, because today it’s all up to you. Tonight, we take a scenic journey on the steamship TSS Earnslaw across stunning Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak sheep station. Enjoy a sheep dog demonstration and delicious carvery dinner. (B)(HD) |
Day
6 |
Milford Sound
Journey over the Devils Stair Case and along Lake Wakatipu’s shore to Te Anau and its lake – the South Island’s largest. World Heritage Fiordland National Park is next, travelling through rainforest, sighting glaciers and mountain ranges. We drive through the hand built Homer Tunnel to the abundant photo opportunities afforded by the Mirror Lakes, Pop’s Lookout, Cleddau Valley and The Chasm. Mitre Peak, Bowen Falls and Milford Sound. Then we return to Te Anau. Tonight you have the option to see the Te Anau Glowworm Caves. Stay: Distinction Hotel, Te Anau (B/D) |
Day
7 |
Te Anau – Dunedin
Today we travel through rich fertile South Otago and enjoy time at leisure to explore charming Dunedin, founded by Scottish settlers. Take a Wildlife Cruise
to see Penguins and the Royal Albatross,
visit the Cadbury Factory or ride the
historic Taieri Gorge Railway – you’re free
to discover Dunedin however you like. Stay: Southern Cross Hotel, Dunedin (B/D) |
Day
8 |
Dunedin – Mt Cook
Enjoy a guided tour at Larnach Castle, New Zealand's only authentic castle, followed by a sightseeing tour of Dunedin. Later, we journey through Oamaru, famous for its white limestone buildings to Twizel, the gateway to Mount Cook National Park. Stay: MacKenzie Country Inn - Deluxe Rooms, Twizel (B/D) |
Day
9 |
Mt Cook - Christchurch
Be wowed today with the sensational alpine landscape of Mt Cook National Park. A total scenic highlight, you may wish to see Mt Cook from above by taking an optional scenic flight. Visit Morelea Farm, a typical working sheep farm to discover an authentic taste of New Zealand Country life. You are welcomed into the home of your hosts Angie and Stan to enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch on their 300 hectare garden and gain an insight into the day to day operation of farm life. Later in the day we’ll continue on to Christchurch. Along the way we’ll see Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo, the Church of the Good Shepherd and travel over the patchwork countryside of the Canterbury Plains. On arrival in Christchurch we’ll have a city tour, ride the Christchurch Tram, then you get to discover more of Christchurch for yourself, your way – enjoy. Stay: Novotel, Christchurch (B) |
Day
10 |
Depart Christchurch
You will be transferred to Christchurch Airport for your onward flight. (B) |
 |
Click on the icon to download the 10 Day Southern Explorer tour in pdf format. |
from NZ $3,735
10 Day Southern Explorer
2
4.0
5
10 Day Southern Explorer Reviews
Tour reviews from past clients of Relaxing Journeys for the 10 Day Southern Explorer. |
It was great. Had a good time, but wished that we had more time at Milford Sound. Perhaps a good idea would be to arrange for an overnight stay at that place? (RJ - Unfortunatly there are no accommodation options in Milford Sound - unless you overnight onboard the Milford Mariner ship. This is possible on a couple of our escorted & independent coach tours and also on our self drive tours.)
Teresa Cheng & Eddie Leong (Malaysia)
Tour Date 05/09/2010 |
The only complaint was the weather in Dunedin, could you please fix it for next tour ?! I cant find any other fault, the tour director Marty Paranihi was excellent, the destinations were well selected and the group was made of very compatible people, so I am very happy about everything John.
John Delbarre (Australia)
Tour Date 20/12/2009 |
Tour Prices
All tour prices are per person, twin share. |
|
EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL OFFER*
2012 Season Sale! Save up to $175 per person off the brochure price for this tour. Exclusive to Relaxing Journeys. Deposit this month to qualify!
Valid for bookings made with Relaxing Journeys between 1 February 2012 and 29 February 2012
. Subject to availability at time of booking. |
Tour
Starts |
Tour
Finishes |
Tour
Status |
Brochure
Price |
OUR
SPECIAL |
OUR
PRICE |
| 05 Feb 2012 |
14 Feb 2012 |
G |
NZ $3910 |
Save $175 |
NZ $3735 |
| 26 Feb 2012 |
06 Mar 2012 |
G |
NZ $3910 |
Save $175 |
NZ $3735 |
| 29 Feb 2012 |
09 Mar 2012 |
|
NZ $3910 |
Save $175 |
NZ $3735 |
| 04 Mar 2012 |
13 Mar 2012 |
G |
NZ $3910 |
Save $175 |
NZ $3735 |
| 11 Mar 2012 |
20 Mar 2012 |
|
NZ $3910 |
Save $175 |
NZ $3735 |
| 18 Mar 2012 |
27 Mar 2012 |
|
NZ $3910 |
Save $175 |
NZ $3735 |
| 25 Mar 2012 |
03 Apr 2012 |
G |
NZ $3910 |
Save $175 |
NZ $3735 |
| 15 Apr 2012 |
24 Apr 2012 |
|
NZ $3910 |
Save $175 |
NZ $3735 |
| 22 Apr 2012 |
01 May 2012 |
G |
NZ $3910 |
Save $175 |
NZ $3735 |
*Tour Status: 'G' Tours are guaranteed to depart.
|
Tour Discounts & Supplements:
Optional extras, single traveller supplement & multiple traveller discounts. |
| |
| Single Supplement: |
Add |
NZ $1,000 |
| Child Discount: |
Save |
NZ $780 |
| Frequent Traveller: |
Save |
NZ $195 |
| Triple Discount: |
Save |
NZ $195 |
| Concession Cards: |
Save |
NZ $55 |
*Terms & Conditions apply to any discounts and/or specials above. Your designated tour consultant will apply the appropriate discounts automatically to your quote and detail any currently applicable 'Exclusive Specials'. |
|
    |
