New Zealand Ultimate City Tours

Sydney Opera House sunset

3-5 day tours which may be combined.

These modules presented are simply suggestions – should you wish to customize to your own requirements, we are happy to do this for you, perhaps with a wine tour module or two.  Other city tours on request.

 

DAY 1  ARRIVE AUCKLAND
Meet and greet and private transfer to your hotel
Afternoon, small group sightseeing tour of the ‘city of sails’.
Accommodation:  Auckland, 3 nights

DAY 2  WEST COAST WILDERNESS (B)
Morning at leisure.
Afternoon join a small group tour to the West Coast – with your knowledgeable guide discover lush rainforest rich with New Zealand’s famous
Kauri trees, feel the power of the wild rugged black sand beaches and unwind by a cascading waterfall.

DAY 3  WAIHEKE ISLAND (B)
Take a 35 minute ferry cruise to Waiheke Island, known for its beautiful beaches, boutique wineries and artisans.  Join a small group tour with
local guide to sample some of the best vineyards Waiheke has to offer. At Oneroa Village, break for lunch and visit the art galleries before
taking the ferry back to Auckland.

DAY 4   DEPART AUCKLAND
Private transfer to the airport or continue to the next city.

DAY 1  ARRIVE ROTORUA
On arrival, private transfer to hotel.
Visit the famous Polynesian Spa for a soak in the naturally heated mineral waters.  The Lake Spa Retreat offers unique and exclusive bathing in
four hot mineral rock pools with lovely views over Lake Rotorua.    
This evening, visit a Maori Village for a cultural experience and hangi dinner.  Feel the warmth of the Maori people during ceremonial rituals,
cultural performance, storytelling and feasting.  Return hotel transfers included.

DAY 2  ROTORUA HERITAGE TOUR (BL)
Today a small group full day cultural and heritage tour. On this guided walk through historical Ohinemutu Maori Village in this unique thermal
area. Learn of 1886 Mount Tarawera eruption and the rich Maori and local history at the Rotorua Museum.  See waterfalls and stunning
panoramas, with lunch by the Blue and Green Lakes. See  Rotorua’s Buried Village and stroll through the excavated site. Also visit NZ Maori
Arts and Crafts Institute and Te Puia, Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve.  

DAY 3  DEPART ROTORUA (B)
Private transfer to the airport

DAY 1 ARRIVE WELLINGTON
On arrival, private transfer to your hotel.
Afternoon small group sightseeing tour of New Zealand’s capital city including a Cable Car for spectacular views.
Accommodation:  Wellington, 2 nights

DAY 2  LORD OF THE RINGS (BL)
Full day small group Lord of the Rings tour to many film locations, including Hobbiton Woods.  Lunch at a local restaurant.  Visit the Weta
Cave for a behind the scenes video look at Weta and an insight into the creativity that goes into crafting the movies.

DAY 3  DEPART WELLINGTON (B)
Private transfer to airport or ferry.

DAY 1  ARRIVE NELSON
On arrival, private transfer to hotel.
This afternoon at leisure to explore Nelson.
Accommodation:  Nelson, 2 nights

DAY 2  ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK (BL)
Transfer to Kaiteriteri for a day tour to Abel Tasman National Park. Cruise along the scenic shores around golden sandy beaches with
turquoise water to Bark Bay.  From here enjoy a self-guided walk through the regenerating native bush to Anchorage via Torrent Bay and
Cleopatra’s Pool (approx. 3.5 – 4 hours walk) to re-join the launch and cruise back to Kaiteriteri.  Picnic lunch included.

DAY 3  DEPART NELSON (B)
Private transfer to airport or ferry.

DAY 1 ARRIVE CHRISTCHURCH
On arrival, private transfer to hotel.
Afternoon take a double decker bus ride and learn about Christchurch’s fascinating history from the pioneering days through modern times.
Learn how Christchurch is recovering from the devastating 2011 earthquakes with its Re:START shipping container Mall and the new
Cardboard Cathedral.
Accommodation:  Christchurch, 2 nights

DAY 2  ALPINE SAFARI (BL)
The Alpine Safari tour is an inclusive small group tour including a scenic 4WD adventure, a thrilling jet boat ride, short nature walk, Kiwi style
barbecue lunch and the return journey from Arthur’s pass to Christchurch on the famous TranzAlpine Train.  Hotel pick up/drop off included.

DAY 3 DEPART CHRISTCHURCH (B)
Private transfer to airport or station.

Note: from Christchurch to Queenstown, or in reverse
DAY 1           Christchurch to Fox Glacier
Depart Christchurch on the TranzAlpine train for a scenic rail journey through the Southern Alps to the West Coast.  After a short stop at
Arthur’s Pass (the highest point), continue to the gold and coal mining town of Greymouth.  Then travel down the Tasman coast with the
Southern Alps to the east to the village of Franz Josef or Fox Glacier.
Accommodation:  Fox Glacier or Franz Josef, 1 night

DAY 2           GLACIER FLIGHT – ON TO QUEENSTOWN (B)
This morning, fly over two of New Zealand’s most famous glaciers and land at the head of either the Franz Josef Glacier or Fox Glacier.
Continue to Queenstown arriving in the late afternoon.
Accommodation:  Queenstown, 1 night

DAY 3 QUEENSTOWN (B)
Private transfer to the airport – or stay on for a few more nights!

DAY 1 QUEENSTOWN
On arrival, private transfer to your hotel.
This afternoon a small group sightseeing tour including a visit to historic Arrowtown, once a rip roaring gold rush town. Ride the aerial gondola
to Bob’s Peak to see the stunning panoramic views of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables mountain range.  Also drive out to
the Kawarau Bridge to see the dare-devils bungy jumping!  

DAY 2  DART RIVER JETBOAT & LAKE CRUISE & SHEEP STATION (BD)
This morning, enjoy a jetboat ride on crystal clear water of the Dart River in a wild and picturesque landscape, amidst the towering peaks,
glaciers and ancient forests of Mt. Aspiring National Park.  Travel is by coach, jetboat and on foot in this unique alpine environment.  
Afternoon at leisure.
This evening, cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw to the Walter Peak High Country Farm. At the Colonel’s Homestead
Restaurant, enjoy a barbecue dinner, then an entertaining and informative demonstration including sheep shearing and sheep dogs working.

DAY 3  DOUBTFUL SOUND (BL)
Drive through rolling countryside to Pearl Harbour at Manapouri, then cruise across the lake to West Arm and join a coach over Wilmot Pass.
Once at Deep Cove, at Doubtful Sound, enjoy a 3 hour cruise of this remote and pristine fiord surrounded by rainforest and mountains.  See
cascading waterfalls and watch for the resident pod of bottlenose dolphins and fur seals which like to bask on the rocks.  Picnic lunch included.

DAY 4  WINE TOUR (BL)
Today, a small group gourmet wine tour, showcasing the region’s award winning wines and fine cuisine.  A wine cave tour at Gibbston Valley
Winery is included, plus visits to four other vineyards in the Gibbston Valley, Cromwell and Bannockburn region and a platter-style lunch at a
vineyard.    

DAY 5  DEPART QUEENSTOWN (B)
Private transfer to airport