COMMENCES WELLINGTON on TUESDAYS    
TERMINATES CHRISTCHURCH on THURSDAYS

TUE: WELLINGTON/PICTON/BLENHEIM

Your tour departs from the Bay Plaza Hotel, 40 Oriental Parade, Wellington, at 8.00am. Join the Interislander Ferry for a scenic cruise to the South Island with views of the City and its hillside suburbs. Cross Cook Strait into the sheltered waters of Queen Charlotte Sound, bush clad hillsides remote bays and isolated holiday homes. In Picton, you are welcomed by your South Island Coach Captain. Explore Picton then drive to Blenheim for an afternoon’s sightseeing. A visit to the Montana Winery for a complimentary tasting and afternoon tea. Your overnight accommodation will be at the Blenheim Country Lodge Hotel.

Past Lake Grassmere then follow the coastline to Kaikoura, an area noted for whale watching. Over the Hundalee Ranges and onto the Canterbury Plains to the Garden City of Christchurch. Visit the International Antarctic Centre before a city tour highlighting a strong English influence. See the parklands and River Avon before boarding the Tourist Tram for a circuit of the city centre which showcases all the main points of interest. Your overnight accommodation will be at the Pavilions Hotel.

Depart Christchurch across the broad expanse of the Canterbury Plains with the snow capped peaks of the Southern Alps to the west. Enter the foothills near Geraldine, ascend Burkes Pass into the barren Mackenzie Country. View the Church of the Good Shepherd dedicated to the early pioneers of the region and the Collie Dog memorial overlooking the milky blue waters of Lake Tekapo. Time also for a spectacular flight over the Southern Alps, lakes and glaciers with Air Safaris (optional) before continuing your journey into the Mt Cook National Park. A stop at the Mt Cook Alpine Village allows time to enjoy the scenic majesty of New Zealand’s highest snow capped peaks before travelling on around the shores of Lake Pukaki to the town of Twizel and onto Omarama. Overnight accommodation is at Heritage Gateway Hotel.

Pass large hydro lakes as you travel down the Waitaki Valley to Oamaru and Dunedin - the "Scottish" city. An early arrival allows the choice of excellent optional activities. Combine a Monarch harbour cruise or Newton’s Citibus tour to see the albatross, penguins and seals. Enjoy the historic and scenic Taieri Gorge train excursion, play 18 holes of golf at Chisholm Park Golf Course, or just explore the city only a few minutes walk away.. Your overnight accommodation will be at the Leviathan Hotel.

Visit historic Olveston House, then cross rich, rolling farmlands to the agricultural towns of Gore and Lumsden, to reach picturesque Lake Manapouri with its backdrop of rugged bushclad mountains before arriving at the shores of Lake Te Anau. Your overnight accommodation is at Te Anau Downs Motor Lodge.

A highlight of any tour. Follow the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys where the beech forests reach right to the roads edge and mighty snow capped peaks tower above, pass the Homer Tunnel and descend into the Cleddau Canyon to reach majestic Milford Sound dominated by Mitre Peak. A launch cruise takes you right to the open sea and shows such highlights as the Bowen and Stirling Falls. Ample time this afternoon to relax and really appreciate your surroundings, take a short walk into the rainforest to visit The Chasm a spectacular waterfall then pause at the entrance to the Homer Tunnel. If time and conditions permit your Coach Captain may make a short drive into the Hollyford Valley before returning to Te Anau later in the afternoon. Your overnight accommodation is at Te Anau Downs Motor Lodge.

Cruise across Lake Te Anau to explore the underground world of rushing water and drift beneath the luminous shimmer of thousands of glow worms, an unforgettable sight. This afternoon drive north to Kingston and around the shores of Lake Wakatipu to picturesque Queenstown. This evening, cruise across the lake aboard the steamship Earnslaw for dinner in the Colonel's Homestead at Walter Peak Sheep Station. Your overnight accommodation is at Rydges Hotel. 

A day to explore the many delights of this alpine resort at your leisure. Your Coach Captain will happily advise on the many optional sightseeing and recreational activities available to you. We recommend the world famous Shotover Jet Boat ride, take a Gondola ride to the Skyline high above , a tour to the gold mining area of Skippers Canyon, or for the adventurous - white water rafting. Alternatively browse in the many shops and galleries - the choice is yours. Your overnight accommodation is at Rydges Hotel.

Pass picturesque Lake Hayes, then on through the rugged Kawarau Gorge and follow the turbulent Clutha river toward 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 and into Mt Aspiring and Westland National Parks. Drive north along the coast to the glacier region. Explore the township or take the optional guided walk to the glacier’s terminal face (daylight hours permitting). Your overnight accommodation is at the Fox Glacier Hotel.

THU: FOX GLACIER/CHRISTCHURCH

Time this morning for an optional helicopter flight over the glaciers, then travel north passing tiny lakes and farming settlements. Stop at Greymouth for a visit to a Greenstone (Jade) factory to see craftsmen cutting and polishing giant boulders to create fine jewellery. An interpretive tour will cover the history, mining and crafting of jade. Join the world famous Tranz Alpine train, through valleys of native forest and past Lake Brunner to Otira and through a rail tunnel to Arthurs Pass, surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps. Follow the Waimakariri river valley to cross the Canterbury Plains into Christchurch.

Your tour concludes on arrival in Christchurch scheduled for approximately 6.35pm.

 For your departure tax, please do not forget to keep aside NZ$25 per person (12 years and above)

It is recommended to arrive at least one day early in preparation for the morning tour departure. Additional accommodations can be arranged at the start and the end of the tour.

Prices and booking conditions.

NOTE: Choose either a guaranteed single at time of booking OR request a twin share in which case you will be matched with another traveler of the same gender or if another traveler is not available, you will receive a single room at no extra cost.

Bookings:   (or book with our online reservation form)
Destinations Downunder, Travel Specialists to Australia and New Zealand
3712 N. Broadway, PMB #251, Chicago, Il. 60618 USA
Ph:(773) 832-1699 Fax: (773)832-1699 Email: travel@koalakiwi.com
Web: koalakiwi.com