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Escorted Touring
Great New Zealand Rail Journey - Premier Escorted Touring
13 Days Auckland to Christchurch from £1785
Rotorua (2 nights), Tongariro National Park (1 night), Wellington (2 nights), Christchurch (1 night), Franz Josef (1 night), Queenstown (2 nights), Te Anau (1 night), Dunedin (1 night), Mount Cook (1 night)
Tour NRC13 Including spectacular scenic rail excursions and covering most of the country, as an APT Premier Escorted Tour this tour also offers the chance to tailormake your itinerary at no extra cost with a variety of Freedom of Choice activities to select from when you are in New Zealand.
Auckland Otorohanga Waitomo Caves Te Kuiti
1 Tongariro National Park
2 Rotorua
Highlights include · Travel on The Overlander, the TranzCoastal and TranzAlpine trains · Freedom of Choice in Rotorua, Queenstown and Dunedin · Cruise Milford Sound · Stay at The Hermitage in Mount Cook National Park
Departures: Selected Saturdays Tours prior to 01Apr08 are slightly different, details on request Day 1: Auckland - Rotorua Meet your group and board The Overlander train to commence your journey. You will travel alongside the Waikato River and pass by Taupiri Mountain before disembarking at Otorohanga. Discover stunning underground scenery at the world famous Waitomo Caves before enjoying a Hangi feast with Maori song and dance in Rotorua. (FD) Overnight: Heritage Hotel, Rotorua (2 nights). Day 2: Rotorua, Freedom of Choice Rotorua is New Zealand's oldest and best known resort, where generations of visitors have enjoyed its waters, marvelled at its fascinating geothermal activity and experienced the regions unique Maori culture. You may choose Te Puia Thermal Reserve and the Agrodome sheep show, the Polynesian Spa for a leisurely soak in natural thermal minerals, a half day Eco thermal tour or a tour of the Rotorua Museum. (BD) Overnight: Heritage Hotel, Rotorua or Country Homestay option available tonight.
Featherston Picton
2 Wellington
Greymouth Franz Josef Glacier
1
Kaikoura Mt.cook
1 Christchurch
Fox Glacier Haast Milford Sound
1
1
2
Queenstown Palmerston
1 Dunedin
Te Anau Gore Stewart Island
Balclutha
1
Rail Air Ferry No. of nights stayed
Day 3: Rotorua - Tongariro National Park Join the Overlander Train and journey through the heart of the North Island. Disembark at the ski village of Tongariro National Park surrounded by three mighty mountains; Mt Raupehu, Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Tongariro. (BD) Overnight: Chateau Tongariro Hotel, Tongariro National Park. Day 4. Tongariro National Park - Wellington This morning the group heads south to Featherston through Taihape, the Manawatu Gorge and the Wairarapa region. On arrival into Featherston, you will visit the Fell Engine Museum before boarding the TranzMetro train for the short journey to Wellington. (BD) Overnight: James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor, Wellington (2 nights) Day 5: Wellington Today your group will take a short stroll to the Wellington Cable Car and ascend to Kelburn where you can visit the Cable Car Museum or take a tranquil walk around the Botanic Gardens. Rejoin your coach and journey to Mount Victoria for the best view of the city before continuing to Te Papa where the morning sightseeing tour concludes. The remainder of the day is yours at leisure. (B) Day 6: Wellington - Christchurch This morning the group joins a cruise from scenic Wellington Harbour, across Cook Strait and through the picturesque Marlborough Sounds to Picton. Here you will join the TranzCoastal Train for a scenic trip along the east coast of New Zealand to Christchurch. (BD) Overnight: Holiday Inn City Centre, Christchurch Day 7: Christchurch - Franz Josef Today you will board the award winning TranzAlpine Train, for what is voted one of the top rail journeys in the world. Travel through spectacular gorges, river valleys and across the mighty Southern Alps. Disembark at Greymouth and continue to Hokitika before continuing south along the west coast. (BD) Overnight: Franz Josef Glacier Hotel, Franz Josef Day 8: Franz Josef - Queenstown See spectacular mountain ranges, untouched native forests, lakes and glaciers before journeying along the shores of beautiful Lakes Wanaka and Hawea to Queenstown. Tonight enjoy Freedom of Choice Dining at no additional cost. (BFD) Overnight: Novotel Gardens Hotel, Queenstown (2 nights) Day 9: Queenstown, Freedom of Choice Queenstown is an exhilarating, year-round, alpine resort, perfect for adventurers and leisure- seekers alike. Choose
between an "Original Wine Tour", an exhilarating jetboat ride on the Shotover river, a leisurely walk around Lake Wakatipu on a "Lakeshore Forest and Bird Walk", or many other options. (B) Day 10: Queenstown - Te Anau You will take a trip back in time today aboard the Kingston Flyer, New Zealand's famous vintage steam train. Then travel on to Milford Sound to join a cruise (weather permitting). Enjoy views of stunning natural scenery and cascading waterfalls before returning to Te Anau. (BD) Overnight: Luxmore Hotel, Te Anau Day 11: Te Anau - Dunedin, Freedom of Choice Today the group travels across the South Island through small farming communities to Dunedin. This afternoon you choose the activity. Perhaps choose a visit to the Otago Peninsula to visit the Royal Albatross Colony, or a visit to Larnach Castle, or other options are available. (BD) Overnight: Dunedin City Hotel, Dunedin Day 12: Dunedin - Mt Cook This morning board "The Seasider" at Dunedin's station to journey north along the east coast before travelling to Mt Cook National Park. This World Heritage-listed area is home to New Zealand's highest mountain. (BD) Overnight: The Hermitage Hotel, Mt Cook Day 13: Mt Cook - Christchurch Visit picturesque Lake Tekapo and view the tiny Church of the Good Shepherd before travelling through Burkes Pass and descending to the vast Canterbury Plains. Cross the braided Rakaia River to return to the beautiful city of Christchurch. Your tour concludes on arrival, and a departure transfer is included. (B)
Prices Include
· Premier touring & accommodation as detailed · Meals as specified, B = Breakfast, D = Dinner, FD = Feature Dinner
Prices Exclude
· Airfares · Items of a personal nature
Tour Prices
Prices per person, in £'s from
Tour Code Twin 1975 1785 2100
Great New Zealand Rail Journey
NRC13 Excluding Meals* With meals as shown Single 2450 2260 2660 Twin 2395 2165 2545 Single 2870 2640 3105
01Jan08-31Mar08 01Apr08-15Sep08 16Sep08-31Mar09 *Prices include feature dinners
Red crater at Rotorua
Brochure prices may change. See booking conditions.
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