(per adult)
$1,899.00
(per adult)
Highlights
Day One: Christchurch – Kaikoura
You will spend the first day of your tour getting close to nature. Traveling by road through the rolling hill country of North Canterbury, enjoying the beauty of its rural pastoral scenes, to Kaikoura where mountains meet sea. Kaikoura is world renowned for the variety of marine mammals which can be seen, not least of all the giant sperm whales and the acrobatic Dusky Dolphins. On arriving in Kaikoura you will be transferred to a whale watch tour. You will see the giant sperm whales, which reside in the deep waters just off the coast of Kaikoura year round.
Evening Accommodation: White Morph Kaikoura (or similar)
Day Two: Kaikoura – Picton – Wellington
This morning you will board the Coastal Pacific train for your onward journey to Picton. On route through the rolling hills of Marlborough you will see many vineyards growing New Zealand’s world famous Sauvignon Blanc grape for which the region is renowned. On your arrival in Picton, in the heart of the Marlborough Sounds, you will board the Inter-Islander ferry for your journey through to Wellington. The ferry travels through the picturesque Marlborough Sounds before crossing Cooks Straight and entering Wellington Harbour on the lower tip of the North Island of New Zealand. On arrival in Wellington you will be transferred to your Wellington hotel.
Evening Accommodation: James Cook Hotel (or similar)
Day Three: Wellington – Rotorua
The morning you will depart Wellington by coach and travel north to Rotorua by road. Your journey will initially take you through the northern suburbs of Wellington to the beautiful Kapiti Coast which on a clear day will provide you with views of Kapiti Island and across Cooks Straight to the South Island of New Zealand. From the Kapiti coast you will travel onto Palmerston North and then up through the central plateau of the North Island of New Zealand. The central plateau is also the home of several active volcanoes, which are snow capped in the winter months and maybe seen in the distance on a clear day. From the central plateau the coach travels onto Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake. Then onto Rotorua, New Zealand’s geothermal wonderland. On arrival in Rotorua you will be transferred to you accommodation.
Evening Accommodation: Millennium Hotel Lake Rotorua (or similar)
Day Four: Rotorua
This morning you will experience the best attractions this geothermal wonderland, known as Rotorua, has to offer. Your first stop is at Te Puia where you will enjoy a Maori Cultural Tour. Adjoining Te Puia is Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve and Maori Arts and Craft Institute, 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. The tour then moves onto to Rainbow Springs where you will see the famous New Zealand kiwi bird and other native birds, animals and wildlife. The final stop in Rotorua is the Agrodome, this attraction provides an introduction to New Zealand farming, with a tour of an authentic working farm in all-weather, all-terrain vehicles. Watch a sheep being shorn, hand-feed the animals and finishing with a sheep dog trial.
Evening Accommodation: Millenium Hotel Lake Rotorua (or similar)
Day Five Rotorua – Waitomo – Auckland
On this final day travel through the lush Waikato Plains, the Fitzgerald Glade and Mamaku Hills to Waitomo. At Waitomo you will enjoy a guided tour of the Waitomo Caves which includes a boat ride through the caves into the famous Glowworm Grotto. Wander through subterranean caverns and learn how the stalagmites, stalactites and other spectacular limestone rock formations were formed over millions of years. From Waitomo the coach continues through the beautiful Waikato region, the dairy farming capital of New Zealand and onward to Auckland for a mid afternoon arrival.
You will be dropped at your Auckland accommodation where you tour concludes
Note: This tour can be operated in reverse starting in Auckland (LT43). When booking this tour for 3 people, please select the 2 persons option and add the Triple Room supplement before proceeding. Quad room types and pricing are also available on request – email: info@leisuretours.co.nz
