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South Island Highlights Tour
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Private, Fully Guided (Escorted &
Driven)Tour
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4 Nights/5
Days
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Price: NZ $ 8,925 including GST (12.5% local tax) for 2
people.
Approximately US $ 6,158.25 (as at 7 June 2010) for 2
people.
This is not a per person price, but is for 2 people traveling together, with your own personal driver.
Departures available to suit your travel arrangements.
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Route: South Island - Christchurch to Christchurch
Queenstown 3 nights; Fox Glacier 1 night
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DAY 1 Christchurch to Queenstown
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Your driver/guide will collect you in a modern, comfortable vehicle from your Christchurch accommodation, or Christchurch Airport, at around
8.30am. Shortly after this, we leave Christchurch and travel via State Highway 1 heading south. A morning tea stop is scheduled enroute, where you will be given your itinerary pack. Your pack is complete with your programme
for 5 days: accommodation details, scheduled activities, New Zealand maps, and all other information. Here, we will go through the pack and answer any questions you may have.
W e travel through the rich pastoral farm land of the Canterbury Plains and the ever-changing spectacular scenery of the foothills of the Southern Alps. We
continue across Burkes Pass, before descending in to the stunning glacial fed Lake Tekapo, where you will have time for lunch, and view the Church of the Good
Shepherd.
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The turquoise-blue waters of Lake Tekapo,
contrasted by the snow-capped peaks of the
Southern Alps, and surrounding yellow-tussock farmland, are sure to take your breath away.
From Tekapo, we drive on to Lake Pukaki, where we take in the beauty of Mt Cook,
Australasia's
tallest peak at 3755
meters.
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We continue on to Queenstown, through the rugged Central Otago region, Lindis Pass, the powerful Kawarau Gorge, arriving at the your Queenstown accommodation at around 5.00pm.
Free evening
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Milestone, Queenstown
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Your Accommodation:
Queenstown's Milestone Bed & Breakfast provides luxury, romance and tranquility along with warm southern hospitality.
Built of Queenstown stone, Milestone is set in 3 acres of gardens and water features, encircled by The Remarkables, Coronet Peak, and the Crown Range.
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| Included In Your Tour Cost |
| Accommodation: Milestone, Queenstown |
| Meals: |
| Activities: |
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DAY 2 Queenstown Region
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After breakfast we depart for Dart River Safaris, Glenorchy.
Enjoy a 1½ hour jet boat ride along the Dart River, amongst towering mountains, and the refreshingly beautiful wilderness of the Mt Aspiring National Park. Then you take a short and easy walk, of 20-40 minutes, through ancient forests, unchanged for 80 million years. You will be given an informative and entertaining commentary about the area and
its history, including the quest by early Maori for highly prized pounamu (greenstone). Board your back road coach for a journey to Paradise and beyond.
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This afternoon, we have planned a leisurely excursion to Arrowtown, where a fascinating collection of mining cottages comes complete with an atmosphere straight out of last century. Enjoy some time to stroll through this historic village, located beside the Arrow River,
once a haven for the gold prospectors in the 1860's. |
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No visit to Queenstown would be complete without a visit to a local winery. We visit the award winning Amisfield Winery for a tasting of their crafted
wines.
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Free evening |
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| Included In Your Tour Cost |
| Accommodation: Milestone, Queenstown |
| Meals: Breakfast |
| Activities: Dart River Safari; Arrowtown; Aimisfield Winery Wine Tasting |
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DAY 3 Queenstown to Milford Sound
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7.30am Depart for Milford Sound |
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Grand, brooding, serene and wild, Milford Sound draws visitors from all over the globe to cruise its length and marvel at its beauty. Luxuriant rain forest clings to sheer rock walls, and waterfalls tumble hundreds of metres to the sea below.
Our scenic cruise offers you the chance to enjoy the dramatic scenery of Milford Sound in style !
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Milford Sound
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We have arranged a 40 minute flight back from Milford to Queenstown, following your cruise. The scenic flight takes in magnificent views of the mountains, glaciers, lakes, and forests of
Fiordland National Park, and is a quick and convenient way to return to Queenstown. A transfer to your hotel has been arranged.
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4.30pm Arrive back at the Milestone, Queenstown. |
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Free evening
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| Included In Your Tour Cost |
| Accommodation: Milestone, Queenstown |
| Meals: Breakfast; Picnic box lunch |
| Activities: Milford Sound Cruise, flight from Milford to Queenstown, & transfer to Milestone. |
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DAY 4 Queenstown to Fox Glacier
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We travel along the shores of Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea to the Haast Pass, the most stunning highway in New Zealand, and gateway to the World Heritage Westland National Park. Initially, the journey travels through the
treeless grasslands of Central Otago, then at the highest point, the majestic peaks of the Southern Alps, then the rivers and rainforests of Westland dominate the landscape - a day of contrasts. |
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We continue to travel up the West Coast, past spectacular mountain ranges, native forests and lakes, to the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. |
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At Lake Matheson, near Fox Glacier, nature has combined exactly the right ingredients to create truly stunning reflections of New Zealand's highest peaks - Aoraki (Mount Cook) and Mount Tasman.
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Misty Peaks B & B, Fox Glacier
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Your Accommodation:
Dave & Lea Bentley, both 4th generation Kiwis, will welcome you to Misty Peaks - a new purpose-built luxury bed and breakfast at magnificent Fox Glacier. Misty Peaks offers you the very best in quality, comfort and
genuine Kiwi hospitality. The suites include luxury super king size beds, with superb views of Mt Cook and Mt Tasman.
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| Included In Your Tour Cost |
| Accommodation: Misty Peaks B & B, Fox Glacier |
| Meals: Breakfast |
| Activities: |
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DAY 5 Fox Glacier to Christchurch
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This morning we take a short helicopter flight. |
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The perfect opportunity to get up close to the glaciers and touch the snow. You will be captivated as you lift off and fly up and over the Franz Josef Glacier or Fox Glacier, and experience the solitude of a landing in this natural alpine
wonderland.
After your helicopter flight, we drive north, along the coast, and arrive at Greymouth at lunchtime.
At Greymouth you will board the TranzAlpine train, rated as one of the world's great scenic rail journeys !
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Your train journey travels from one coast of New Zealand to the other. From your carriage, you will see the lush, beech, rainforest of the West Coast. Your train
then climbs through the Southern Alps, and reaches Arthurs Pass on the Canterbury side of the mountains. You then descend through the spectacular gorges and river valleys of the Waimakariri River, followed by the broad fields and farmland of the Canterbury
Plains. |
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6.15pm Arrive Christchurch Train Station where your tour ends.
Transfers to your central
Christchurch accommodation, or Christchurch airport have been arranged.
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| Included In Your Tour Cost |
| Accommodation: |
| Meals: Breakfast |
| Activities: Heliflight over Glaciers; TranzAlpine Train; Hotel or Airport Transfer |
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To contact us for further information about this tour please click here to send us an email
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| Current date & time in New Zealand |
Please click here to view our Terms & Conditions. This page will open in a new window.
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Your Private Tour
Includes :
An experienced Tour Guide/Driver for the duration of your tour, a
comfortable vehicle including all costs associated (fuel, vehicle insurance, first aid kit), on board vehicle refreshments, 4 nights accommodation, 4 breakfasts, lunch where indicated, on ground support, activities as listed as
included.
Your Tour Excludes:
International flights and domestic flights; departure taxes; travel
insurance; excess baggage charges; optional extra activities; alcohol; personal items purchased; meals - apart from those listed as included.
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A Typical New Zealand Impressions Vehicle
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