14 days in country 'SCENIC NEW ZEALAND!'

DAY 1 WELCOME TO NEW ZEALAND! (D)

Arrive Auckland early morning and clear formalities. Collect your rental car and drive the short distance - about 45 minutes - into the beautiful countryside for a day and night on a vineyard in a beautiful small country hotel.

Relax in the warm sunshine, take a leisurely bicycle ride, a walk through the vineyard or along the narrow country roads. Enjoy a gourmet dinner in the intimate restaurant this evening.

(Note: a day and night in Auckland in an elegant bed and breakfast or central hotel can be substituted for this night in the country.)

DAY 2 TO COROMANDEL (B)

Enjoy a leisurely country breakfast before departing the hotel, driving up and onto the Coromandel Peninsula for two nights in a 'tree chalet' perched high in the forest.

Untamed beauty of subtropical and Kauri forests, sweeping beaches and quiet secluded coves, and towering mountains of craggy peaks make the peninsula a perfect start to seeing the true beauty of New Zealand, well away from hoards of tourists and crowded cities. Spend the afternoon exploring on your own. Hot Water Beach, Cathedral Cove, or follow the small roads to wherever they may take you - in any case, it will be wonderful!

DAY 3 COROMANDEL (B)

Wake up with the birds in the trees. The day is yours to relax along any of the pristine white sand beaches, or exploring the small country back roads of the peninsula. Or, enjoy a game of golf or deep sea fishing.

DAY 4 TO ROTORUA (B/D)

Depart the peninsula, driving south to Rotorua, heart of Maori culture. On arrival, settle into a beautiful bed and breakfast in the city.

The geothermal city of Rotorua has drawn visitors since 1840. Everywhere you turn the earth produces fascinating natural antics - boiling mud and hot springs, erupting geysers, steaming terraces of sulphur and colourful silica deposits. The most active areas are reserves.Whakarewarewa is the most famous. Here the great Pohutu Geyser plays and Maori of the Tuhorangi sub-tribe live, surrounded by boiling pools, using the hot waters for heating and cooking as their ancestors have done for centuries. Within the Whakarewarewa Reserve there is a replica of a fortified pa (village) and the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. Rotorua is a showcase for Maori culture and traditional hangi (pit cooked meal) and Maori concerts are held nightly at many venues. Rotorua is also famous for its wonderfully relaxing hot pools, while the cool crisp waters of lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti offer some of the world's finest trout fishing.

The afternoon is at leisure to relax in some of the hot pools at the Polynesian Pools, have a soothing massage, do some shopping.

This evening at between 5-5.15pm you are collected from your accommodation and travel out to a Marae (Maori meeting house) for this evening's Hangi Dinner and Concert. Enjoy a truly authentic evening including a formal welcome onto the Marae by a tribal leader. Hear about the customs of their ancestors as the village comes alive with tribal songs, dances and activities. The food this evening is cooked in an underground "oven" on hot stones which was the way of the Maori people. Transportation is provided back to your accommodation.

DAY 5 TO BLENHEIM (B)

Return your rental car to the airport for your morning flight to the South Island and little town of Blenheim. Your stay for these two nights are in a lovely little cottage near or on a vineyard OR a deluxe country estate hotel.

The afternoon is at leisure for wine tasting in this, New Zealand's premier vineyard area and producing some of the country's most famous wines.

DAY 6 WINE AREA and QUEEN CHARLOTTE SOUND (B)

Today, spend visiting some of the surrounding vineyards.

OR, spend the day on the famous and beautiful Queen Charlotte Walk. We will ferry you to a tip of the sound in the Endeavor Inlet where you have the entire day to walk this scenic trail bordering the ocean and winding through thick fern rainforest.

Enjoy your packed lunch along the way, and several places to just stop and contemplate the beauty of these magnificent Sounds.

Arrive at your destination mid to late afternoon, when you are collected by ferry for your trip back to the mainland and your rental car. (Note: you can also overnight on the Sound in a lovely water front hotel and return to the mainland in the morning)

DAY 7 TO CHRISTCHURCH (B)

Depart the Blenheim area, traveling south along the sea. Suggest, time permitting, a stop in Kaikoura to see the fur seal colony (take plenty of film!). Arrive into Christchurch late afternoon or at your own pace and settle into a very special accommodation.

This lovely small hotel (bed and breakfast) was the original Rangiruru School, built in 1891. It has been transformed into luxury accommodation recently with colonial antiques, four-poster beds and claw-foot baths that complement the ornate arched windows, fireplaces and beautiful rose gardens. In this, the most English city out of England, you will be comfortably "at home".

This evening, for dining, is the intimate restaurant at your hotel (reservations recommended).

DAY 8 CHRISTCHURCH, morning tour and leisure

You are collected from the hotel by our excellent local guide at 10.00am, for a half day in and around Christchurch including local history, architecture, gardens and wildlife with an opportunity of getting to know these wonderful and hospitable Christchurch people better.

This "Garden City" is very famous for its home gardens and it will be interesting to see what your hosts have produced. In early February, there is the judging of the finest home garden and all must be maintained by the owners - no outside help.

Christchurch is also described as the most English City outside England as it is a city of Parks, gardens, gothic architecture and art galleries. It is also a modern city with a variety of sophisticated cafes and restaurants. Festivals, theatre, live music and great shopping. You may like to visit Cathedral Square in the heart of the City, visit the Canterbury Museum, take a tram ride around the city, explore the Arts Centre, go punting along the picturesque Avon river, or visit the Antarctic Centre (near the airport).

DAY 9 TO HIGH COUNTRY LODGE AND STATION (B/D)

You are transferred to the rail station and board the Tranz Alpine train for one of the world's most beautiful rail journeys. Travel across the Cantebury Plain and up into the Southern Alps and across to Arthurs Pass where you are met by your hosts.

Nestled into the natural landscape of the Southern Alps at Arthurs Pass, this stone and wood lodge offers mountain and river views stretching 35 miles! The lounge and library offer cozy, relaxing rooms with books and fine wines, and good food in the dining room. Make good friends around the fireplace.

Enjoy nature tours and farm activities on this high country station which works to preserve the special plants, forests and wildlife living here. A quality flock of Merino sheep are bred and raised here, an opportunity for you to experience the workings of a New Zealand farm.

There are historic walks, nature walks, canoeing in the high country, caving and getting into farm activities such as mustering and fencing!! Trout fishing a mountain walks are also available.

DAY 10 LODGE (B/D)

DAY 11 TO QUEENSTOWN (B)

You are transferred after breakfast to Christchurch and fly to Queenstown. Collect your rental car and drive to your accommodation Settle into either a small riverside country lodge or an elegant bed and breakfast perched overlooking Lake Wakitipu in the hills.

Queenstown is the Southern Hemisphere's premiere four season alpine and lake resort. Nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and overlooked by the majestic Remarkables Range, Queenstown is the perfect destination all year round.

Summer burns hot under blue skies before cool autumn morning's change the leaves to vivid reds and gentle golds. With crisp, clear days and acres of snow covered mountains, winter is a time for snow enthusiasts, before nature bursts into colourful life during spring.

The town follows the shores of Lake Wakatipu - a deep blue pool of pure mountain water. Framing the picture is The Remarkables range with its purple-brown peaks topped with snow. Swathes of green decorate the area between town and mountain top.

Queenstown was named because '...it was fit for Queen Victoria.' Certainly it's lived up to that expectation. Today it's an exhilarating alpine resort, perfect for both adventurers and leisure seekers.

There are year-round action-packed thrills, such as jet boating, white water rafting and parapenting. Queenstown is also the world capital and home of bungy jumping. In winter, Queenstown turns into an alpine playground - skiers and snowboarders come from all over the world to join in the fun at the annual Winter Festival. On Lake Wakatipu, the vintage TSS Earnslaw steamer has been beautifully restored to its original condition and takes visitors on daily trips.

Keen golfers shouldn't miss out on an opportunity to play some of the most scenic courses in the world, at award-winning Millbrook Resort, Kelvin Heights, Arrowtown and Frankton. The area has great rainbow trout, brown trout and quinnat salmon fishing.

Wine tasting is fast becoming one of the more popular ways to see the greater Queenstown region. Join one of the wine tours to Gibbston Valley, Chard Farm or Peregrine Winery among a number of top class boutique wineries.

Any of these activities can be included in your trip and prebooked or done at your leisure.

River rafting, jetboating, hiking (half and full days), Canoeing, lake cruises, Helicopter flight seeing over the snowcapped peaks and forests, Hang gliding, Horse riding, Parafly, Parapenting, River surfing, Sky diving, Fishing, Golf.

A day trip to Milford Sound can also be arranged.

Be as active or relaxed as you feel!

DAY 12 QUEENSTOWN (B)

DAY 13 QUEENSTOWN (B)

DAY 14 HOME

Your final day in New Zealand. Depending on flight schedules, spend the day for last minute shopping, return your rental car to the airport and then fly to Auckland to connect with your flight home this evening, arriving back into the U.S. this same day (recrossing the dateline).

NOTE: options to Australia or an island stop in Fiji are available. Please inquire.:

Cost: (click here)

Air arrangements are available to accompany this trip and depend on time of year traveling. This itinerary can be booked in conjunction with any airline mileage ticket, as well.

This itinerary can be altered in any way to suit your particular interests, travel time and budget.

Days can be added and/or deleted, standard hotels substituted.

Bookings through: or see our online reservation form
Destinations Downunder, Specialists in travel to Australia and New Zealand
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