Your local guides will help you experience the natural wonders and heritage of this diverse and magical land – Aotearoa, the Land of the Long White Cloud. Meet the local people, walk along deserted beaches and through ancient rain forests, view Pacific Island glaciers, and experience the stillness in magnificent Milford Sound. Visit national parks, walk on pristine beaches that Captain Cook walked on, and visit the South-West New Zealand World Heritage Area in the shadow of the Southern Alps and their rugged snow capped peaks.

·     14 days of scenic wonder

• Diverse landscapes

• Get in touch with nature

• A photographer’s dream!

Highlights include the Coromandel Peninsula, Rotorua, the High Country, Arthur’s Pass National Park, Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, Lake Moeraki, Queenstown and Milford Sound.

Day 1: “Auckland to Coromandel Peninsula”

Your nature-loving guide from the world famous company, Kiwi Dundee Adventures will meet you in Auckland. Experience wonderful scenery and the seabird coast to the old gold town of Thames. View spectacular volcanic peaks clad in semi tropical rainforest with giant ancient Kauri trees.
Accommodation:            Deluxe lodge or homestay
Included meals: L
 

Day 2: “Glowworms, treeferns, beaches & fun!”

Enjoy the highlights of this amazing region - white sand beaches and offshore islands, beautiful jungle like forest, unique flora and fauna, crystal clear streams and glowworms!

Accommodation:            Deluxe lodge or homestay          

Included meals: B, L

Day 3: “Coastlines, orchards, craters & mud”

From the beauty of the Coromandel we travel through the Bay of Plenty to Rotorua, famous for Maori culture, hot mud pools and geysers. Here your Kiwi Dundee Guide will say farewell.

Accommodation:            Quality hotel or B&B

Included meals: B, L

Day 4: “Rotorua to Christchurch”

A free morning to explore Rotorua before flying to Christchurch – the very “English” city.

Accommodation:            Quality hotel or B&B

Included meals: B

Day 5: “A day of leisure in the Garden City”

Today is a day on your own to explore this city which is sometimes said to be more “English than England!”

Accommodation:            Quality hotel or B&B

Included meals: B

Day 6 “Christchurch to the alps”

Travel west across the vast Canterbury Plains and into the mountains. Here in the heart of the “High Country” is the Arthur’s Pass Wilderness Lodge where you will stay for the first two days of your South Island adventure.

Accommodation:            Wilderness Lodge Arthur’s Pass

Included meals: AT, D

Day 7 “High country, sheep, valleys & keas”

Discover the real high country where you can explore alpine plants, animals and the mountains. Experience the workings of a sheep station, explore Arthur’s Pass National Park in the heart of the Southern Alps and view the wide braided river system. Walking, mountain biking or relaxing are options available at the lodge.

Accommodation:            Wilderness Lodge Arthur’s Pass

Included meals: B, MT, L, AT, D

Day 8 “Mountains, moas, pioneers & ice”

Travel through the Arthur’s Pass National Park and cross the pass created as a gold rush link. Great mountain valleys, history and home of the kea - the world’s only alpine parrot. Down the incredible Otira Gorge to the West Coast and “Glacier Country”. Take a walk to view the mighty Franz Josef Glacier.
Accommodation:            Te Weheka, Fox Glacier  (or similar)
Included meals: B, MT, L, AT, D
 

Day 9 “Geology, ice age & podocarps”

A day to explore the Fox region where walks can be taken to experience this incredible glacial area. A tranquil walk can also be made to Lake Matheson, the beautiful lake famous for it’s alpine reflections or to a remote beach for views of the Southern Alps.

Accommodation:            Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki

Included meals: B, MT,AT, D

Day 10 “Wilderness, wildlife & rainforests”

Magnificent and rugged beaches that are home to the crested penguins and NZ fur seals, untouched lowland rain forests spread between pristine lakes and rivers which drain from the snow capped Southern Alps...

    this is Lake Moeraki.

Accommodation:            Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki

Included meals: B, MT, L AT, D

Day 11 “Coastline, explorers, tussocks and gold”

Moving on, you will cross the alps over the Haast Pass where the forests give way to golden tussock grasslands. Pass Lakes Hawea and Wanaka, ancient glacial lakes and then over the Crown Range to Arrowtown, an old gold-miners’ village. See the bungy (or jump it yourself!) then into Queenstown where you will stay for the next three nights at a superior lodge.

Accommodation:            Millbrook Resort

Included meals: B, MT, AT, D

Day 12 “Adventure in the mountains”

Choose your own optional adventure - bungee jumping, a backcountry safari, jet boating, kayaking or a cruise on the historic steamship Earnslaw. Perhaps shopping, golf, wineries, an art & craft trail or just relax and take in the beautiful mountain setting.

Accommodation:            Millbrook Resort

Included meals: B
 

Day 13 “Milford, glacial lakes, alps & fiords”

Travel to magnificent Milford Sound and cruise on the fiord. You will see deeply carved glacial valleys, ancient forests and incredible scenery - truly magnificent.

Accommodation:            Millbrook Resort

Included meals: B, MT, L, AT, D

Day 14 “Queenstown & farewell”

After breakfast, perhaps relax and indulge in some pampering with some of health and beauty facilities at Millbrook. Time for that last minute shopping or to experience that last piece of adventure before it is time for your guide to bid you farewell. Your guide will transfer you to the airport or car rental office as required.

Included meals: B

Meal codes:
B = Breakfast; MT = Picnic morning tea; L = Lunch;
AT = Picnic afternoon tea; D = Dinner 

15 scheduled departures ex Auckland for the 2006/2007 & 2007/2008 tour seasons.

Come with us into the quiet!

• Fully escorted small group tour with informative commentary
• Guided by local licensed guide
• Travel by deluxe 4WD minicoach
• The incredible scenery of New Zealand’s South Island
• Guided walks and excursions each day to experience the
• diverse and varied landscapes
• Pristine National Parks of New Zealand
• The incredibly beautiful Coromandel Peninsula
• Rotorua – thermal centre
• Christchurch – the Garden City
• South-West New Zealand, a World Heritage Area
• Milford Sound with fiord cruise
• Seasonal sightings of the Fiordland Crested Penguin
• Picnic morning & afternoon teas with delicious NZ cookies
• Breakfasts on thirteen mornings, lunches on seven days
• and dinners  on seven nights
• Thirteen nights accommodation in exquisite lodges and luxury small hotels

Not included:

• Warm wind/waterproof jacket
• Sturdy walking shoes, preferably hiking boots/shoes
• sunglasses

Their aim is simple…

• to present our guests with the best possible experience of New Zealand that time will allow.

• to provide magical personal small group and exclusive private tours to show guests the wonders of the South Island

• to offer tours for those who do not want to be part of large groups or who do not want to self drive, with first class service and the comfort that should be expected

They aim to give guests a truly memorable visit to New Zealand, a visit that will be both relaxed and unique. They do this by…

• taking small groups of independently minded travelers to the heart of what makes New Zealand unique

• designing their tours to encompass those things that make New Zealand truly unique – its ecology and natural history, the Maori mythology and history, the European history and of course, its incredible scenery

• believing in quality over quantity and so accordingly, their tour participation is usually limited to six to eight guests per tour

• providing  a highly personalized, interactive and spontaneous experience

• sharing with their guests the genuine hospitality of real New Zealanders

• priding themselves on their thoroughness, the personal touches and their attention to detail,

• operating the tours as “deluxe safaris”.

Journeys of learning, discovery and adventure.