Tour Type: Low Cost Escorted Tour
Duration: 12 Days
Tour Starts In: Wellington
Tour Finishes In: Christchurch
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from NZ $3125 pp
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12 Day Classic Southern Discovery Touring Route:
Tour Description:
This South Island coach tour is one of our most popular South Island tours beginning in New Zealand's capital city - Wellington before crossing Cook Strait into the South Island. Visit the Marlborough Wine Region with a tasting at Brancott Estate Winery before continuing throughout the South Island. Visit Christchurch, Dunedin, Milford Sound, Queenstown and the West Coast Glaciers before returning to Christchurch.
This tour also includes an option to join the famous TranzAlpine train journey from Greymouth to Christchurch. During the course of the tour you will also have free time in Dunedin, Queenstown and Fox Glacier to experience some of the unique and regional optional sightseeing activities.
Tour Highlights:
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Day
1 |
Arrive Wellington
Welcome to New Zealand! We will greet you at the airport, with transport waiting to take you to your hotel. Stay: Bay Plaza Hotel |
Day
2 |
Wellington – Picton – Blenheim
Today completes your North Island tour as you venture to the South Island onboard the Interislander Ferry a unique experience treasured by many. Enjoy the spectacular views of New Zealand's Capital from Wellington Harbour; continue through the heads crossing Cook Strait into the secluded waters of Queen Charlotte Sound. Travel through the sheltered waterways, remote bays and pass many isolated holiday homes.
Disembark at Picton, a quaint village nestled on the shimmering shores of the Marlborough Sounds. Here you will be welcomed and met by your South Island coach captain. Continue south from Picton travelling through dairy farms that merge with forestry producers. Enter the Marlborough wine country and the town of Blenheim, a region renowned for its viticulture. A brief tour of the area includes a visit to Brancott Estate Winery. Enjoy a hosted tour of the winery, learn about and taste a range of the famous local wines followed by afternoon tea. Stay: Scenic Hotel Marlborough |
Day
3 |
Blenheim – Kaikoura – Christchurch
Leave the vineyards behind you and travel through the Awatere Valley to the Pacific Ocean Coast. Continue south through the fertile North Canterbury farmlands and onto the arable Canterbury Plains and Christchurch "the gateway to Antarctica". On arrival into Christchurch experience the International Antarctic Centre, before a brief tour of Christchurch and its
surrounds. Stay: Pavilions Hotel |
Day
4 |
Christchurch – Mt Cook – Omarama
As you leave the most English city outside of England, your coach captain will highlight the main attractions of the city of Christchurch. From the arable plains travel inland to the rolling green pastures of Geraldine and onto the semi barren land of MacKenzie Country. In the heart of the MacKenzie Basin Tekapo is nestled on shores of azure Lake Tekapo. You will visit The Church of the Good Shepherd, quite likely the most photographed church on your South Island Tour.
There is an opportunity to fly over the Southern Alps with Air Safaris (optional). From Tekapo continue on your New Zealand Coach Tour to Mt Cook National Park, home of the majestic Aoraki Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain. Here you have an opportunity to visit the Sir Edmund Hillary Centre - a tribute to New Zealand's greatest explorer and world renowned mountaineer. Travel back down the valley along the shores of Lake Pukaki, through Twizel (the town of trees) before arriving at your destination, Omarama, nestled in the velvet type tussock covered hills of the Lindis range. Stay: Heritage Gateway Hotel |
Day
5 |
Omarama – Dunedin
As your New Zealand holiday continues, follow the beautiful braided Waitaki River east, passing Benmore and Avemore hydro lakes before reaching the Pacific Ocean at Historic Oamaru. En route visit Moeraki Boulders, marvelling at the huge spherical stones, found strewn along a stretch of Koekohe Beach near Moeraki. These boulders are grey-coloured concretions which have been exposed through shoreline erosion from black mud stone coastal cliffs that back the beach.
An early arrival into Dunedin, "The Edinburgh of the South" allows you plenty of time to explore this nature lover's playground. Take the opportunity to experience at least one of these optional tours - combine a Monarch Harbour Cruise with a Newton's Citibus tour, and see penguins, albatross and seals.
Alternatively take a nostalgic trip on the Taieri Gorge Train, leaving from Dunedin's historic Railway Station. Maybe you would rather visit Cadbury World and Speights brewery, both options filling you one way or the other. This evening prior to dinner, you are treating you to a traditional Scottish Haggis Ceremony complete with the address to the Haggis, bag pipes and a bonnie wee dram. Stay: Cargills Hotel |
Day
6 |
Dunedin – Lake Manapouri – Te Anau
This morning visit the historic Larnach Castle located on the Otago Peninsula looking back over Dunedin. From here it is back to reality as you travel south west over rich fertile farmlands, through the agricultural service towns of Balclutha, Gore and other small villages. Between Clinton and Gore journey on the aptly named Presidential Highway.
As you proceed inland you will view the unusual combination of wind turbines and deer farms in the Mossburn area. If weather and time permits, visit the mysterious Lake Manapouri, (the Lake of many Islands), continue to Lake Te Anau the Gateway to Fiordland. Stay: Distinction Luxmore Hotel (2 nights) |
Day
7 |
Milford Sound Day Trip
Today your coach will climb through the Southern Alps, travelling on one of the highest and most scenic state highways in New Zealand. Leave Te Anau and travel through Fiordland National Park, following the Eglington and Hollyford Valleys, passing through the Homer Tunnel to descend into the Cleddau Canyon to magnificent Milford Sound.
You will see for yourself why Rudyard Kipling described Milford Sound as the 'eighth wonder of the world'. Experience Milford Sound from the water, a launch cruise will take you to the Tasman Sea and back, stopping at the raging Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls. A truly exhilarating experience, make sure your camera is fully charged. If time and weather permits your coach captain will explore the lower Hollyford Valley before your return to Te Anau. |
Day
8 |
Te Anau – Queenstown
This morning travel by boat across Lake Te Anau to explore the fascinating Te Anau caves system on the western shore of the lake. This tour offers an underground adventure that charms visitors of all ages. The tour takes you to a mysterious underground world of rushing water before drifting in silent darkness beneath the luminous shimmer of thousands of glowworms. From Te Anau travel onto Kingston before hugging the shores of Lake Wakatipu to reach New Zealand's adventure capital Queenstown.
This evening cruise across the lake aboard the steamship TSS Earnslaw for dinner in the Colonel's Homestead at Walter Peak High Country Farm. Stay: Rydges Hotel (2 nights) |
Day
9 |
Queenstown
A day to explore the many delights of this stunning alpine resort. Try the world renowned Shotover Jet, an excursion to Skippers Canyon in search of gold, Double Decker coach to quaint Arrowtown, or even a bungy jump. Alternatively, explore Queenstown's many boutiques and galleries - your coach captain will be more than happy to assist with any optional sightseeing. |
Day
10 |
Queenstown – Haast Pass - Fox Glacier
Pass picturesque Lake Hayes then on to an area steeped in fascinating history relating to early settlement and the gold mining era, to Lake Wanaka, a picture postcard resort on the lakes edge with a spectacular mountain backdrop. Pass Lake Hawea and the upper reaches of Lake Wanaka to Makarora, cross the Haast Pass into the Mt Aspiring and Westland National Parks.
Drive north along the coast through the flourishing rainforests of the West Coast and onto the glorious Glacier region. This is an ideal opportunity for you to experience small town New Zealand in the heart of Westland. The rainforest and surrounding area is so green it will hurt your eyes. (Upon arrival into Fox Glacier there is opportunity to either take an optional guided walk to the glacier's terminal face or an optional exhilarating helicopter flight over the glacier)
Both these options are at your own expense and are very weather dependant. Stay: Heartland Hotel Fox Glacier |
Day
11 |
Fox Glacier – Christchurch
Time for an optional helicopter flight over the glacier then on to Franz Josef. Snow capped Southern Alps dominate the skyline as you pass dense bush, tiny landlocked lakes with and small pockets of farmland. Visit a Greenstone (Jade) factory. Here you will find many artisans carving Jade into contemporary carvings of traditional NZ designs or modern designs, and beautiful sculptures of whales, birds or just about anything that reflects the area where these carvers live. Greenstone or Pounamu has been recovered locally from the Westland or the South Westland area.
From Greymouth leave behind the lush beech rain forests through undulating farmlands, hugging the Taramakau River as it descends the valley. Travel over the Otira viaduct and into Arthurs Pass, traversing the main divide. As you leave Arthurs Pass follow the Waimakariri River, note it flows the opposite direction to the Taramakau as you have crossed the main divide, and the majestic Southern Alps. Head east through New Zealand's wheat belt and the Canterbury plains into Christchurch. Stay: Pavilions Hotel |
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TranzAlpine Train Option
Experience one of the world’s top 6
train trips aboard the TranzAlpine to Christchurch. Additional cost $NZ 180 per person from Greymouth. |
Day
12 |
Depart Christchurch
It is farewell to your new found friends and traveling companions. This completes your New Zealand Holiday. You will be transferred to the Christchurch International Airport in ample time to join your flight home. Safe travels. |
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Click on the icon to download the 12 Day Classic Southern Discovery tour in pdf format. |
from NZ $3,125
12 Day Classic Southern Discovery
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5.0
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12 Day Classic Southern Discovery Reviews
Tour reviews from past clients of Relaxing Journeys for the 12 Day Classic Southern Discovery. |
Just a note to thank you for all the arrangements you made on our behalf. We have had a truly wonderful time in your beautiful country, we would recommend your company to anybody everything was so well organised and Paul our driver was excellent, we even got used to getting up early something we don't usually do on holiday. Thanks once again.
Delyse & Alwyn Cartmell (United Kingdom)
Tour Date 03/05/2009 |
Tour Prices
All tour prices are per person, twin share. |
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EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL OFFER*
2012 Season Hot Seat Deals! Unbeatable Savings Exclusive to Relaxing Journeys!
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 |
| 06 Feb 2012 |
17 Feb 2012 |
G |
NZ $3575 |
Save $145 |
NZ $3430 |
| 11 Feb 2012 |
22 Feb 2012 |
G |
NZ $3575 |
Save $145 |
NZ $3430 |
| 20 Feb 2012 |
02 Mar 2012 |
|
NZ $3575 |
Save $145 |
NZ $3430 |
| 03 Mar 2012 |
14 Mar 2012 |
|
NZ $3575 |
Save $145 |
NZ $3430 |
| 12 Mar 2012 |
23 Mar 2012 |
G |
NZ $3575 |
Save $145 |
NZ $3430 |
| 19 Mar 2012 |
30 Mar 2012 |
G |
NZ $3575 |
Save $425 |
NZ $3150 |
| 26 Mar 2012 |
06 Apr 2012 |
G |
NZ $3575 |
Save $145 |
NZ $3430 |
| 09 Apr 2012 |
20 Apr 2012 |
G |
NZ $3575 |
Save $145 |
NZ $3430 |
| 16 Apr 2012 |
27 Apr 2012 |
|
NZ $3575 |
Save $145 |
NZ $3430 |
| 07 May 2012 |
18 May 2012 |
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NZ $3255 |
Save $130 |
NZ $3125 |
| 25 Jun 2012 |
06 Jul 2012 |
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NZ $3255 |
Save $130 |
NZ $3125 |
| 16 Jul 2012 |
27 Jul 2012 |
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NZ $3255 |
Save $130 |
NZ $3125 |
| 27 Aug 2012 |
07 Sep 2012 |
|
NZ $3255 |
Save $130 |
NZ $3125 |
| 24 Sep 2012 |
05 Oct 2012 |
G |
NZ $3255 |
Save $130 |
NZ $3125 |
Note: Tour Status: 'G' Tours are guaranteed to depart. The majority of departures above will proceed. We will confirm the status of your preferred departure date in your quote along with all applicable discounts and specials.
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Tour Options & Single Supplement:
Optional extras & single traveller supplement. |
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*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'. |
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