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New Zealand "Summer Holiday" Tour
Eighteen days exploring the North and South islands with easy walking and outdoor activities. Stylish, boutique accommodation and dedicated personal service from Kiwi guides. Below is a day-by-day description of our 18-day New Zealand Summer Holiday. This tour starts in Auckland and ends in Queenstown. The Summer Holiday Tour Details
The Wild South Island Tour The 14-day Wild South tour is a sub-section of the 18-day Summer Holiday. This tour starts in Nelson at the top of the South Island, and ends in Queenstown. Read the itinerary starting from Day 5 below.
Personalise your New Zealand tour... With 2 vehicles we have great flexibility, giving you many opportunities to personalise your tour. A few options are written below as suggestions, and to demonstrate why the Creative Adventures style of touring gives you so much more freedom and flexibility than standard coach tours. These extra options may require extra payments, unless the regular included activities that you don't do are a similar cost. We will make arrangements as necessary before your tour begins. You can download a more detailed itinerary and a full list of inclusions by clicking on the following links...
The long list of included Activities...
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY Included meals are indicated with a B, L, or D (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner). Day 1 – Auckland City and Islands Start your New Zealand adventure this morning with a complete contrast to the interior of an airplane ~ cruising across Waitemata Harbour to Rangitoto Island. We take a leisurely hike through Pohutakawa forest to the top of this extinct volcanic island for a picnic lunch and fantastic views of the surrounding ocean and distant cityscape. (LD)
Day 3 – Rotorua to Wellington After visiting an actively volcanic area of steaming vents, boiling mud and silica pools we fly to Wellington. The afternoon includes a tour of Parliament buildings and free time, then for dinner tonight we experience contemporary Maori cuisine prepared using fresh, native ingredients. (BLD) Option: Wellington has a thriving theatre & concert scene, so take the chance to get out for some live entertainment - options will be advised in advance.
THE WILD SOUTH ISLAND TOUR STARTS FROM HERE... Option for Wild South Island Tour guests: arrive a few days earlier to enjoy some extra time in Auckland, Christchurch or Nelson. Perhaps join Bush & Beyond for a multi-day hike on the Heaphy Track in the Kahurangi National Park. Day 5 - Wellington to Nelson This morning we take a short scenic flight to Nelson. Here we meet guests joining us for the Wild South Tour before joining local conservationist-guides for a hike into the Kahurangi National Park. Our guides will introduce us to NZ's native tree and birdlife, and the campaign to protect the Flora Valley from introduced predators. The nature, views, picnic lunch and exercise make for a wonderful day, before we drive to a cosy little lodge hidden away in a bush-covered valley. (BLD)
Day 7 - Nelson (via Kaikoura) to Christchurch This morning we drive east to the Marlborough wine region for lunch and wine-tastings at a vineyard cafe before driving down the stunning Pacific coastline to the seaside town of Kaikoura. Here we take a scenic flight to spot whales and dolphins before continuing south to Christchurch. (BL) Day 8 - Christchurch City The attractions of Christchurch are right outside our boutique hotel's front door. From Cathedral Square we explore the Art Gallery, Museum and Botanic Gardens. Picnic lunch and a Port Hills hike justify more wine-tasting in the Waipara area before our final excursion to a Canterbury farm. Our farm hosts show us around and give us an insight into their rural lifestyle. City restaurants may have their airs and graces, but nothing beats the wholesome and hearty hospitality of a farmhouse feast. (BLD) Option: great day for playing golf or perhaps a guided trout-fishing trip. See the Extra Options page for more details. Day 9 - Christchurch to West Coast Glaciers From Christchurch we drive inland across the Canterbury Plains. Spectacular scenery unfolds around every corner as the road steadily climbs to Arthur's Pass village in the Southern Alps. Here we take a walk in the fresh alpine air before descending to the West Coast. We continue south to Fox or Franz Josef Village in the glacier region, our base for the next 2 nights. (BLD) Option: board the Tranz Alpine train for a rail journey to the West Coast. See the Extra Options page for more details.
Day 11 - Glaciers to Central Otago From the glacier region we travel south alongside the Tasman Sea then turn inland to cross over the rugged Haast Pass to Central Otago. Along the way we encounter beaches, wetlands, rainforest, river valleys, mountains, waterfalls and eventually the mighty Lakes Wanaka and Hawea. THAT is why we consider this the best day-trip in New Zealand. Lots of short walks and kodak moments are available before we arrive at our Central Otago accommodation. (BLD) Day 12 - Central Otago to Dunedin Dunedin is our next destination, as it was for thousands of Scottish settlers back in the 1800's. We visit some historic places including Olveston House. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the city and then select your own dining location from the many local options. (BL)
Day 14 - Dunedin to Te Anau From Dunedin we pass through the farming region of Southland to Te Anau, gateway to the mighty Fiordland National Park. With 1.2 million hectares this park is larger than all the other South Island national parks combined. After a short cruise across Lake Te Anau we visit the Te Anau Limestone Caves, which are inhabited by the most unusual "glow-worm". In the evening we take in a short but spectacular audio-visual of Fiordland National Park. (BLD)
Day 16 - Te Anau to Queenstown This morning we take an exciting jet-boat ride along the Upper Waiau River to Lake Manapouri before leaving the Fiordland wilderness for the alpine resort of Queenstown. The best way to appreciate the scale of Queenstown's incredible setting is to fly by helicopter to the top of the Remarkables Mountain range. From up on high we have a fantastic view of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains. The rest of today is yours to explore or try other local adventures. (B) Option: double your Fiordland wilderness experience by visiting Doubtful Sound for a longer nature cruise and a visit to the Manapouri Underground Power Station.
Day 18 - The End It's all over! Time to return home or continue other holiday plans. Your guide will assist with transfers to the airport or whatever you may like to plan. (B) Option: stay a few extra nights in Queenstown or elsewhere, perhaps visit Stewart Island and join one of the Ruggedy Range nature experiences, or a multi-day hiking trip (see the Extra Options page for more details).
Accommodation: Please refer to the Accommodation page for information about the standard and character of accommodation you can expect during your tour. The accommodation utilised may differ between tour departures as we are constantly monitoring standards of service and making improvements where possible.
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