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New Zealand Tour

tropical island
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
New Zealand Adventure (17 days)
Special Guest/Host - Dr. Ken Shonk "The Laugh Doctor")
Escorted by Janice Bock

New Zealand is naturally enticing because it is so geographically diverse. Glaciers, fiords, waterfalls forests and lakes draw us in. But don’t forget the friendly English-speaking New Zealanders!

New Zealand mountains and meadows
      

Lighthouse on the shore of New Zealand
          

Cruise Milford Sound, see Franz Josef Glacier, take the Tranz Scenic Railway through Arthurs Pass, deliver the mail in Queen Charlotte Sound and drive Ninety Mile Beach.

We visit the North and South islands with a local driver/guide.

ITINERARY

Day 1
Depart from Toronto today and fly via Vancouver to Auckland. We will lose a day crossing the International Date Line and will arrive in New Zealand on Day 3. (in-flight meals)

Day 3                                
Kia Ora – welcome to New Zealand! Arrive this morning and enjoy a leisurely city tour and lunch including a visit to the Sky Tower (the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere) and journey to the top for a magnificent view of Auckland and its surrounds. Overnight Auckland (LD)
         

 Blue footed booby bird

 

Day 5                          
Walk along a New Zealand beachA Cape Reinga tour to enjoy the magnificent natural wonders of the North. You will be awed by the grandeur of the mighty Kauri trees, the expanse of Ninety Mile Beach and the mystique of Cape Reinga. Numerous stops will be made to take in the scenic highlights and activities: an easy twenty minute walk through the Puketi Kauri Forest, along Ninety Mile Beach to the top of New Zealand and wander out to the lighthouse and the picturesque village of Mangonui. Return to Paihia for a free evening. (BL)

Day 6                               
Heading to Rotorua today – a scenic drive to the Maori cultural and thermal area. En route through Auckand, enjoy lunch at a harbourside restaurant. Overnight      Rotorua for 2 nights (BL)

Day 7                                   
Kiwi Bird of New ZealandToday visit Rainbow Springs, 35 acres of natural bush and natural springs with the world’s finest trout sanctuary of Rainbow, Brown and Brook Trout. Visit the kiwi bird conservation house to view the daily activity, nocturnal house and the conservation programme to save the kiwi bird from extinction. Later visit the Agrodome – an entertaining and informative show about the New Zealand sheep industry. After lunch head for the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute to see wood carvers, flax weavers, the bubbling mud pools, boiling springs, geysers and the silica terraces. Tonight experience an authentic Maori village and enjoy a colourful Maori concert and hangi (feast). (BLD)

Day 8                               
Today we will visit New Zealand’s main wine region – Hawkes Bay. Pass by the mighty Huka Falls (time for a stop) en route to Lake Taupo – NZ’s world renowned and enjoy some free time for lunch. Continue through to Napier. A wine tasting and dinner will be at one of New Zealand’s oldest vineyards tonight – which is a converted monastery. Overnight Napier (BD)

Day 9                                    
This morning enjoy a walking tour of Napier – the famous ‘art deco’ region of NZ and this afternoon enjoy the scenic drive to Wellington – the capital city. Overnight Wellington (BLD)

Day 10                                    
After breakfast, free time in this cosmopolitan harbour city and then depart for the cable car to Kelburn. Lunch is at the top of the hill with panoramic views over the city . The Interislander ferry this afternoon will take you through the stunning Marlborough Sounds on your way to the top of the South Island. Overnight Picton (BLD)

Day 11                                    
Dock at Queen Charlottes SoundToday we join the local mail boat run and see the best of beautiful Queen Charlotte Sound - the real Marlborough Sounds. Enjoy the excitement of mail day in beautiful remote places as you help deliver the mail and groceries and say ‘Hi’ to the children waiting for their schoolwork that is delivered by correspondence to families in beautiful remote places. Return to shore for lunch and a quick look in the whaling museum and then head to Christchurch. Overnight Christchurch (BD)

Day 12                                
This morning take the Tranz Scenic railway which passes through some spectacular scenery on your way to Arthurs Pass –one of the 10 finest rail journeys in the world. Continue our journey by coach down the west coast near Franz Josef Glacier with a visit to a greenstone factory. Nowhere else in the world do glaciers descend this far down into temperate zones. Overnight Franz Josef (BD)

Day 13                               
Mitre Peak at Milford SoundAn opportunity for an optional scenic flight across the glaciers and Southern Alps is offered before we leave and cross the Haast Pass with a boat journey on the Haast River and enjoy lunch on the shores of Lake Wanaka – a beautiful alpine lake. Continue through to the ‘adventure alpine capital’ of NZ – Queenstown on the shores of Lake Wakatipu amongst beautiful mountain ranges . Tonight dinner at Walter's Peak – having reached the famous homestead by the Earnslaw – an historic steamship. Overnight Queenstown (BLD)

Day 14                                   
Lake WakatipuToday the magnificent Milford Sounds - surrounded by steep forest-clad cliffs and waterfalls. Travel through the Fiordland National Park where lush beech forests meet snow capped mountains. At Milford you board a launch to enjoy lunch and cruise the Sound, travelling below the famous Mitre Peak and beneath a spectacular waterfall. Overnight Te Anau (B,L)

Day 15                                 
Today your destination is the city of Dunedin – a town with a strong Scottish tradition. We will visit an albatross colony. for viewing of the birds and their chicks as well as Larnach Castle – NZ’s only castle and view the magnificent restored gardens. Enjoy walking to a local brewery for a tour and tasting and dinner tonight. Overnight Dunedin (BD)

Day 16                                
Driving along the East coast today and view the famous Moeraki Boulders on the beach. A highlight of the trip will be staying tonight with local farming families, eating in their homes and breakfasting with them in the morning. Overnight – Farm stay, Fairlie/Geraldine area (BLD)

Day 17                                 
New Zealand sheep farmVisit Longbeach Farm–a 2800 acre sheep property and newly converted dairy farm, see sheep being shorn. Christchurch is our destination tonight for our farewell dinner but we will have some time for strolling near the gardens along the Avon River, punting on the riverboats or shopping. Overnight Christchurch (BD)

Day 18                                    
Free time until our departure for our afternoon flight back to Toronto and arrive home on the same day—November 23. (B, inflight meals)

Included:

  • Flights from Toronto to Auckland and return from Christchurch to Toronto
  • 15 nights accommodation in 4 star properties share twin including one night farm stay
  • Cooked breakfast daily, 10 lunches and 12 dinners
  • Air conditioned touring coach and driver for duration of tour with commentary
  • All sightseeing entrance fees/fares per itinerary
  • Ferry fare Wellington to Picton
  • Tranz Alpine railway fare
  • All applicable taxes.

Dr. Ken Shonk, our Guest Host on this Adventure, is a retired doctor of a family practice. He currently writes a monthly health column for Forever Young and is a speaker at many engagements. Dr. Shonk uses humour in stress management, relationships, parenting and in the aging process. He will show how you can bring more humour into your life to make it a tad more bearable. All of this liberally sprinkled with lousy jokes that have been referred to as a “ mirthful message” or a “chuckles checkup”.
“There ain’t much fun in medicine but there is a lot of medicine in fun!”

Janice Bock is a retired teacher with many years of travel both escorting groups and on her own. Recently Janice has returned from Galapagos Islands & Ecuador, Vietnam, Bali and Lake Bled, Croatia and Montenegro. Janice spent over 5 months travelling, working and living in New Zealand and wants to show you both the North and South Islands of this beautiful country in the South Pacific.

New Zealand Adventure
November 6 - 23, 2009
Cost is $8198. Cdn. p.p. shared.
Deposit is $500.00 at time of booking
Final payment is Sept. 6/09

Cancellation and Medical Insurance is highly recommended.

For more information or to book your tour visit: GoTravelPlus.com/tours

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