New Zealand Highlights 2010 on Trafalgar Tours

Days 1 & 2 - Depart USA We fly over the international date line on our way to Auckland, New Zealand.

Day 3 - Arrive Auckland (2 nights) On arrival in Auckland you will be transferred to your hotel, with a guaranteed early check-in. The afternoon is at leisure for you to explore Auckland. You could visit the Sky Tower for amazing views of the city, Viaduct Harbour and surrounding volcanic hills. Perhaps visit the Auckland Museum or go shopping in stylish Parnell. This evening enjoy a Welcome Drink and dinner with your Tour Director and traveling companions. (Dinner)

Hotel: Stamford Plaza

Day 4 - Auckland sightseeing We start the day with a sightseeing tour of the city. Take in views of Auckland from Mt. Eden and the Auckland War Memorial. See Bastian Point, Viaduct Harbour, home to the 2000 America’s Cup Village, Auckland Harbour Bridge and more. Later we board our cruise on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour. Sit back and relax – the time is yours – it’s the best way to see Auckland, the City of Sails! (Buffet breakfast)

Day 5 - Auckland – Rotorua We trace the Waikato River to the Waitomo Caves. We tour the amazing Glow Worm Grotto by boat and walk through the limestone caves. From here our journey continues on to Rotorua where we visit Te Puia (New Zealand’s Maori culture and geothermal experience). A local Maori guide will escort you through the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve with its mud pools and geysers. This evening
enjoy a Maori Hangi Highlight Dinner and concert and gain an insight into traditional Maori culture. (Buffet breakfast / Highlight dinner)

Hotel: Millennium Hotel

Day 6 - Rotorua – Christchurch Our morning sightseeing tour includes a visit to Rainbow Springs Nature Park, where you will experience native bush, ferns and trees that grow around the crystal clear mineral water springs. You may even spot a Kiwi, New Zealand’s national icon! Then we visit the Agrodome Sheep Show, the multi-award-winning stage show where you’ll gain an exciting and informative insight into the agriculture in New Zealand. You’ll see the art of sheep shearing, sheepdog demonstrations, cow
milking, bottle-feeding lambs and an exciting sheep auction. In the afternoon we fly to Christchurch (flights to depart after 12 noon). (Buffet breakfast)

Hotel: Novotel Christchurch

Day 7 - TranzAlpine – Franz Josef We start the day with a spectacular train journey on the TranzAlpine from Christchurch through the Southern Alps to Arthur’s Pass. At Hokitika we visit a New Zealand greenstone (jade) factory for a jewelry demonstration. Next we arrive at Franz Josef Glacier, the world’s most accessible glacier. You’ll have the opportunity to see it from the air on an optional scenic flight (weather permitting). (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier

Day 8 - Franz Josef – Queenstown (2 nights) Get your camera ready today as we experience some spectacular sights. We drive over the Haast Pass, past Thunder Creek Falls, Lakes Wanaka, Hawea and Dunstan. We’ll enjoy the tastes of delicious stone fruit at Cromwell – the stone fruit capital. Next we visit historic gold mining Arrowtown on the Arrow River, previously one of the world’s richest rivers, before arriving in Queenstown. (Buffet breakfast)

Hotel: Millennium Hotel

Day 9 - Milford Sound We journey over the Devils Stair Case and along the shores of Lake Wakatipu to Te Anau and its lake, the largest in the South Island. Next we travel through the rainforest of World Heritage Fiordland National Park, sighting glaciers and mountain ranges. We drive through the hand-hewn Homer Tunnel to the numerous photo opportunities afforded by the Mirror Lakes, Pop’s Lookout, Claudu Valley and the Chasm, Mitre Peak and Bowen Falls before reaching mystical Milford Sound. We take a cruise on Milford Sound including a Highlight Lunch. Return to Queenstown this evening. (Buffet breakfast / Highlight lunch)

Day 10 - Mount Cook – Christchurch You’ll be awestruck by the sensational alpine landscape of Mt. Cook National Park. You may wish to take an optional scenic flight over Mt. Cook (weather permitting). Later in the day we continue on to see Lakes Pukaki and Tekapo, where we stop to view the Church of the Good Shepherd. We travel over the colorful patchwork that is the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. This evening enjoy local hospitality with a delicious ‘Be My Guest’ dinner with wine in a kiwi home. (Buffet breakfast / Be My Guest dinner)

Hotel: Novotel Christchurch

Day 11 - Christchurch – USA It’s time to bid farewell to this amazing country as we transfer you to Christchurch Airport to connect with your flight home. (Buffet breakfast)