Tour NZ Guided Bus Tours 16 Day NZ
16 Day New Zealand |
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A great tour for those with a little more time to spare, taking the opportunity to see a great taste of what New Zealands amazing scenery food and people have to offer. Covering many of the popular tourists sights and areas, departing from Auckland and finishing in Christchurch you will visit as far North as Cape Reinga and the stunning water wonderland of the Bay of Islands and as far South as Dunedin and the Wilderness packed Otago Peninsula. Not to mention the places on the way - Rotorua, Napier, Wellington and Queenstown. Travelling by coach you'll stay in Hotel style accommodation. A fabulous way to see most of the country and decide where to spend your next holiday to New Zealand.
Day 1: Arrive AucklandKia Ora and welcome to New Zealand. On arrival you will be met by a representative from Hallmark Limousines and transferred to your hotel by private vehicle. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.
AUCKLAND - an exciting, sporting and cultural city, sprawled on a narrow isthmus, between two harbours. The Waitemata and Manukau Harbours, are a main feature of the city, along with numerous volcanic cones such as Mount Eden and Rangitoto Island. The city's many beaches, marinas and parks, make it ideal for outdoor pursuits such as yachting, rugby, cricket or a day at the beach. The Auckland metropolitan area is New Zealand's biggest city, and the population mix of European, Maori, and Pacific Islander, make Auckland the largest Polynesian city in the World.
Tourist Accommodation: The Quadrant, Studio Apartment, 2 nights
Deluxe Accommodation: The Heritage Auckland, Superior Room, 2 nights
Kia Ora and welcome to New Zealand. On arrival you will be met by a representative from Hallmark Limousines and transferred to your hotel by private vehicle. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. AUCKLAND - an exciting, sporting and cultural city, sprawled on a narrow isthmus, between two harbours. The Waitemata and Manukau Harbours, are a main feature of the city, along with numerous volcanic cones such as Mount Eden and Rangitoto Island. The city's many beaches, marinas and parks, make it ideal for outdoor pursuits such as yachting, rugby, cricket or a day at the beach. The Auckland metropolitan area is New Zealand's biggest city, and the population mix of European, Maori, and Pacific Islander, make Auckland the largest Polynesian city in the World. Tourist Accommodation: The Quadrant, Studio Apartment, 2 nights
Day 2: AucklandThis morning join Grayline NZ for a morning sightseeing tour of Auckland City. Highlights QUEEN STREET: The 'Golden Mile' of Auckland's business and shopping district. UNIVERSITY: NZ's largest, featuring historic Auckland buildings and an early NZ Government House. HARBOUR BRIDGE: Cross the 8-lane connection to our North Shore, wide views of harbour and yacht marina. MT EDEN: Travel to the summit of this dormant volcano, once home to an ancient Maori tribe. Wide views of the city. DOMAIN PARKS AND GARDENS: A picturesque park and lakes laid out in a large extinct volcanic crater. AUCKLAND WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM: Spend time experiencing this unique tribute to New Zealand's natural, Maori and European history. A donation is requested on entry, of $5 per person, please pay direct. A recommended alternative within a short walking distance is 'The Winter Garden' Pavilion. See rare indoor plants and a spectacular fern display. PARITAI DRIVE: Auckland's most expensive residential street with fantastic views of the Waitemata Harbour and islands. TAMAKI WATERFRONT: Drive via Mission Bay along the edge of the Waitemata Harbour dominated by large native Pohutukawa trees. The afternoon is at your leisure. Tourist Accommodation: The Quadrant, Studio Apartment
Day 3: Auckland/PaihiaThis morning you will be met at your hotel by Grayline NZ for your 3 day tour to the Bay of Islands. Auckland / Russell / Paihia THE NORTH SHORE: Head over the Harbour Bridge via Auckland's northern suburbs. HIBISCUS COAST: Popular holiday and retirement resort with beautiful beaches. WHANGAREI: Northland's only city and largest port. WAITANGI TREATY HOUSE: Site of the historic treaty between the Maori and European pioneers. View a magnificent Maori meeting house and large war canoe. RETURN RUSSELL FERRY: Travel across the bay to the beginning of European colonisation in New Zealand. RUSSELL: Join Russell Mini Tours for sightseeing around this fascinating township with its early whaling and political history. Enjoy lunch (optional at extra cost) and shopping along the waterfront before joining the ferry back to Paihia. PAIHIA: Take time to explore the busier side of the bay with its shops and arcades. You may even see a big game fish being weighed in at the wharf. Tourist Accommodation: Kingsgate Autolodge or similar, Standard room x 1 night
Day 4: Cape Reinga ExcursionToday travel to New Zealand’s most northern point, Cape Reinga. PUKETI KAURI FOREST: Be over-awed by these huge native Kauri trees, many are hundreds of years old. NINETY MILE BEACH: Travel by coach along this magnificent beach. TE PAKI STREAM: Climb the huge sand dunes of this desert-like area. CAPE REINGA: The top of New Zealand where the Pacific Ocean crashes into the Tasman Sea. Boxed lunch is included near this spectacular location. RETURN TO PAIHIA: Arrive at your hotel at approximately 6:30 pm. Tourist Accommodation: Kingsgate Autolodge or similar, Standard room
Day 5: Paihia/AucklandThis morning enjoy more time experiencing the sights of the Bay of Islands before returning to Auckland. CAPE BRETT: Cruise by spectacular islands that make this location famous as you head to Cape Brett. Travel through the Hole In The Rock, the highlight of your tour (subject to sea conditions). URUAPUKAPUKA ISLAND: Time for exploring, or join the Subsea Underwater Adventure (optional at extra cost). PAIHIA AT LEISURE: Spend the afternoon on the beach at Paihia, go shopping, sightseeing or laze at the poolside of your hotel. RETURN TO AUCKLAND: Your coach will pick you up from the Maritime Building at 4.20pm. Tourist Accommodation: The Quadrant, Studio Apartment, 1 night
Day 6: Auckland/Waitomo/RotoruaThis morning travel with Grayline NZ on your 3 day coach excursion of the North Island. DEPART AUCKLAND: Travel the main Southern Highway through small rural townships steeped in early pioneer history. Your host serves morning tea during this sector. WAIKATO: Travel through New Zealand's largest dairy and sheep farming province. Travel the outskirts of Hamilton City via the small farming settlements towards the King Country, birthplace of the Maori Monarchy. WAITOMO GLOW WORM CAVES: Join a guided tour through this world-famous cave formation, climaxed by drifting silently in a boat through a glow worm cavern lit up with thousands of tiny glow worm lights. LIGHT LUNCH: Served on-board as we make our way to Rotorua through magnificent rural farmland with its vast numbers of grazing animals.* ROTORUA: New Zealand's highest city, 305 meters (1000 feet) above sea level, located inside the rim of a volcanic crater. An area of great geothermal activity. We visit the following attractions: AGRODOME FARM TOUR: An introduction to New Zealand farming, with a 45-minute tour of an authentic working farm in all-weather, all-terrain vehicles. Watch a sheep being shorn and hand-feed the animals. LAKE ROTORUA: Drive through the foreshore park past the hundreds of ducks and swans. Then through the beautiful historic Government Gardens. TE PUIA INSTITUTE (MAORI ARTS & CRAFTS AND WHAKAREWAREWA THERMAL RESERVE): One of Rotorua's most famous attractions. See woodcarving, weaving displays, Maori village and the thermal valley with the famous Pohutu Geyser, fumaroles, colourful silica deposits and boiling mud pools. HERITAGE ROTORUA HOTEL: Your accommodation tonight is located close to the geothermal activity of Whakarewarewa. Spend the evening at a Hangi where the food is cooked underground by geothermal steam followed by a Maori Concert featuring colourful dance and song. Accommodation: Heritage Rotorua, Standard room or similar x 1 night
Day 7: Rotorua/Taupo/NapierThis morning continue your journey with Grayline NZ to Napier. PINE FORESTS: Travel along the largest man-made radiate pine forest in the world – the Kaingaroa Forest. TAUPO: Your coach travels along the eastern shores of Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake formed by a massive volcanic explosion 1800 years ago. Lake Taupo is world renowned for it fighting rainbow trout. NAPIER: Population 54,000, has one of the highest concentrations of Striped Classical, Spanish Mission and Art Deco building styles in the world. The commercial centre was completely rebuilt following a catastrophic earthquake in 1931. Napier is also at the centre of one of the largest and most vibrant wine-producing areas in New Zealand. Accommodation: Scenic Circle Te Pania Hotel, Standard room or similar x 1 night
Day 8: Napier/WellingtonToday enjoy a wine tour of Napier before traveling to New Zealand’s capital city with Grayline NZ. NAPIER WINE TOUR: Join a local guide from Bay Tours whose background in the wine industry ensures that you will experience the very best of Hawke’s Bay’s hand-crafted wine styles when visiting a combination of boutique and historic wineries. WELLINGTON: Arrive early evening in New Zealand’s capital, the country’s second largest city with a population of 340,000. On arrival to Wellington you will be met by Crown Chauffeur Car Services and transferred to your hotel. Tourist Accommodation: Ibis Wellington, Standard Room, 1 Night
Day 9: Wellington/QueenstownDependant on your flight time, this morning spend time exploring Wellington at your leisure. A must is Te Papa Museum, where admission is by donation. Today you will be transferred with Crown Chauffeur Car Services by private vehicle to Wellington Airport for your flight to Queenstown (flight not included in quotation). On arrival to Queenstown airport you will be met by Limousine South and transferred by private vehicle to your accommodation. Tourist Accommodation: Mercure Queenstown Resort, Garden View room, 3 Nights
Day 10: QueenstownToday is at your leisure in Queenstown. A great day to try one of the following activities: Optional activities: NOMAD SAFARIS - SAFARI OF THE SCENES Duration : Approx. 4 hrs The Tour : The Safari of the Scenes tour is based around several of the specific sites where filming took place. These are real places: there are no film sets, they are areas of outstanding natural beauty that need no enhancement. Here it is possible to experience the magical atmosphere captured in the films.
DART RIVER SAFARIS - WILDERNESS SAFARI Duration : 6 hours The Tour : If you like spectacular scenery, then this is the jet boat trip for you. 1 1/2 hours of wilderness jetboating, an interpretation walk in ancient forests, and a backroad journey via Lord of the Rings locations at Paradise. Tourist Accommodation: Mercure Queenstown Resort, Garden View room
Day 11: Milford Sound ExcursionToday travel with Real Journeys to the mystical Milford Sound. Enjoy a full day tour to Milford Sound, in the Fiordland National Park. On arrival at Milford, a cruise on the fiord will take you to the Tasman Sea, allowing you to marvel at the size of this fiord, Mitre Peak and the Bowen Falls. A picnic lunch is included on board. In the afternoon, we return to Queenstown by coach, or you may prefer an optional scenic flight which will take you high over the mountains, glacial valleys, waterfalls, rainforest, coastline, rivers and lakes, before arriving back in Queenstown. (extra cost, and subject to weather conditions) Tourist Accommodation: Mercure Queenstown Resort, Garden View room
Day 12: Queenstown/DunedinToday join the Track and Trail from Queenstown to Dunedin. The Track and Train Connection offers you the chance to view the spectacular scenery of Central Otago with its bizarre schist rock tors, desert landscapes, orchards, vineyards, blue lakes, high mountains and wild river gorges. Taieri Gorge Railway can take you from Dunedin to Queenstown, or vice-versa, on a special train'n'coach tour. Experience the wonderful variety of views that only Central Otago offers, and enjoy a full commentary on both train and coach. Tourist Accommodation: Mercure Dunedin Leisure Lodge, Superior room, 2 nights
Day 13: DunedinThis morning is at your leisure exploring Dunedin city before joining Citibus for your Otago Peninusla tour. Settle back and enjoy the spectacular drive up and over the Peninsula 'high road', offering spectacular views out over the Pacific Ocean on one side and the beautiful Otago harbour on the other. Halfway down the peninsula we arrive at Larnach Castle where you'll be taken into the castle grounds for a photo opportunity of this imposing 19th century grand home before we continue over the beautiful back road of the peninsula. Your driver will keep you entertained with local folklore and interesting geographic and historic information about this area which was once scattered with Maori villages and inhabited by the largest bird in the world, the Moa, unfortunately now extinct. Continue exploring the Otago Peninsula. On arrival at the albatross centre you will have time for a brief wander around the exhibits on display and, on a favourable windy day, you may see an albatross flying overhead. Then we continue around the headland to the Reid family farm. Here you'll board an eight-wheeler all terrain vehicle for an exhilarating ride taking in the spectacular scenery and authentic farm life as you descend down to Penguin beach, a truly natural wonder. Colonies of the very rare yellow-eyed penguins, little blue penguins, NZ fur seals and cliff dwelling cormorants all live in harmony and in their natural environment. Lookout hides are strategically located around the beach-front to balance your viewing experience with privacy for the wildlife to ensure that you are seeing them going about their normal daily lives. Return to Dunedin. Tourist Accommodation: Mercure Dunedin Leisure Lodge, Superior room
Day 14: Dunedin/ChristchurchThis Morning make your way to the Intercity coach depot in Dunedin City (we recommend a taxi, costs for this are not included). Travel from Dunedin to Christchurch with Intercity coach lines. Please note this is not a regular tourist service and commentary may be limited. On arrival to Christchurch please make your way to your accommodation (again we recommend a taxi which is not included). Tourist Accommodation: Ibis Christchurch, Standard room, 2 Nights
Day 15: ChristchurchThis morning join Grayline for a morning sightseeing tour of Christchurch City. Highlights CENTRAL LANDMARKS: Including Cathedral Square, Town Hall, Bridge of Remembrance, The Art Center, Art Gallery, Canterbury Museum, Christ's College and original Provincial Government buildings. THE AVON RIVER: Travel along the banks of this beautiful tree lined waterway. BOTANICAL GARDENS: Drive past the huge park that is the Botanical gardens and Hagley park. MONA VALE: Walk through these beautiful gardens past the magnificent mansion located alongside the Avon River. In summer months see a stunning rose display planted for the international Rose World Conference held in 1994. SIGN OF THE TAKAHE: Travel via Hagley Park up to the Port Hills through the exclusive hillside residential area of Cashmere, Pause at this famous Landmark as your driver shows you through this magnificent building, and enjoy your Complimentary tea and coffee., while enjoying the breathtaking view (on a clear day). SUMNER BEACH: Back down the Port hills and travel along their base to the Seaside suburb of Sumner. LYTTELTON HARBOUR: Over the hills again to the Volcanic Caldera of Lyttelton, Canterbury's Port township. LYTTELTON TUNNEL: Longest road tunnel was completed in 1964 and now the main road between Lyttelton and Christchurch. The afternoon is at your leisure. Tourist Accommodation: Ibis Christchurch, Standard room
Day 16: Depart ChristchurchToday you will be transferred by A2B Luxury Lines in a private vehicle to Christchurch Airport for your departure flight.
Rates are Nett per person (includes 15% GST) 3 Star Rates
4 Star Rates
Travel is to be completed within the season. Any travel that falls over both seasons will be priced on application.
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