NEW ZEALAND TOURS
I lived and travelled extensively in New Zealand back in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2013.
Short North Island Tour 8 days Arrive Auckland, Visit Auckland, Sky tower, Maritime Museum, Yacht Port,<br>Depart Auckland Visit Thames, the gold mining museum, proceed to Coromandel overnight in Coromandel, Drive to Karangahake, visit the derelict gold mining stations, proceed to Waihi visit the town and the Waihi beach, Continue to Rotorua, visit Maori village and the spas. Proceed to Huka Falls, visit the gorge where the Waikato river is forced to flow to Taupo lake by a narrow rock gorge. Visit Taupo. Return to Auckland.
Extension of the tour to 12 days Continue to the West Coast and then to Wellington for a longer journey of 12 days. During the extension of your tour here we will visit Wanganui a beautiful town located in Taranaki region, famous by the Mount Taranaki and Welllington, Capital of New Zealand. In Wellington we will visit Te Papa museum, Maritime museum. We will take a tram to go up the hills to have a nice view of the town and walk down to the Parliement house through the Botanical gardens. To fit this tour in 12 days you will need to take a domestic flight back to Auckland.
Extension of the tour to 16 days If you like to extend your journey to 16 days, Kauri Coast, Hokianga, 90 Miles beach, Sand Dunes, Cape Reinga, Keri Keri, Bay of Islands, Waitangi, Whangarei can be added to your tour for the additional 4 days you will have.
SOUTH ISLAND TOURS
South Island 12 days Arrive Christchurch, walk alongside the Avon river, take a nostalgic tram tour, visit the Botanical gardens, visit Art Galleries, The Canterbury Museum which will allow us to understand New Zealand’s Natural and human heritage, Drive to Dunedin on the way to Dunedin we will have the possibility of swimming in the Ocean, arrive at Dunedin, Visit Dunedin, the octagonal town center, the victorian buildings, the Otago Museum, Larnach castle about 15 kms from downtown, Proceed to Alexandra, make occasional stops for Clutha river and visit orchards, continue to Alexandra and overnight stay,<br>Drive to Queenstown, stop at New Zealand’s third largest hydroelectric dam Clyde dam. Visit wineries and at last stop at Kawaru bridge where New Zealand’s modern bungee jumping actions started. Ready to experience this thrilling actions? Arrive at Queenstown and overnight. Take the skyline Gondola to go up the hill to have a wonderful panoramic view of Queenstown and the Wakatipu lake, take a steamship cruise on Wakatipu lake and/or try all kinds of other adrenalin sports, sky diving and much more. Continue towards Wanaka and see this beautiful lake and the neighboring Hawea lake before we proceed to Haast on the Tasman sea. From now on be ready to see swamp forests along the West coast where you will have many swimming occasions. Mt. Cook, Fox glacier, Franz Joseph, Abel Tasman National Park and Nelson before we get to Kaikoura where we can see seals along the road. There is an option to take a whale watching boat trip. Depart Christchurch
Extension of the tour to 15 days Mitre peak at Milford Sound will be included in 15 days tours. South Island 17 days<br>Day 1 arrive in Christchurch in the afternoon and meet at the Airport. Orientation tour and transfer to the hotel. Day 2-4 drive from CHC to Mt Cook, 330 km 4.45 h. visit Lake Tekapo, etc on the way, stay in Mt cook. Stop at beautiful Tekapo Lake and visit the church of the Good Shepherd and the bronze statue of the collie sheepdog nearby. Continue to Mt. Cook/Aoraki the highest mountain in New Zealand with an elevation of 3754 m. Aoraki National Park is one of the Unesco World Heritage sites and is rough land of ice and rock with 19 peaks over 3000 m of elevation. Aoraki means cloud piercer in Maori. You would probably want to walk on a silver beech forest for 1 hr after your car travel. Governor’s bush track starts at the public shelter. A pleasant bush walk joining the Bowen bush walk to form a nature trail in the park. Here you have great view of the mountains and see birdlife. There are several other walking trails in the area. You can find morehere and choose the ones you like. Day 4-6 drive from Mt cook to Dunedin, 319 km. 4:35 h. visit Oamaru on the way, stay in Dunedin for the night. In Oamaru you must visit the Victorian Precinct. Continue to Moeraki boulders interesting spherical rock boulders formed about 60 million years ago. They are on the beach some 40 kms from Oamaru on your way to Dunedin. Proceed to Dunedin about 75 km from here. In Dunedin you might want to visit Otago Peninsula, Larnach castle offering stunning views of Otago peninsula. In Dunedin you may want to visit the town centre the Octagon and some Victorian style churches around. Otago Settlers museum nearby tells us the story of the Scottish settlers. Otago museum is also closeby. It is one of New Zealand’s oldest and largest museums covering the teams of science, culture and nature. Day 6-8 drive from Dunedin to Te Anau, visit some spots on the way, stay in Te Anau. From Te Anau to visit Milford Sound, still stay in Te Anau. Mitre peak at Milford sound is a mountain rising from the sea like a pyramid. Day 8-11 drive from Te Anau to Queenstown, stay in Queenstown. Queenstown is just a charming town located by the Wakatipu lake. You may want to stroll around the town. Sit by the beach or at cafes around. You may like to visit the old harbour, take an old fashion cruise ship and have a great nostalgic cruise on board. You may like to take the gondola and climb over the hills to see a panoramic view of the town and have lunch. Take the luge. Down below where you take the Gondola there is an old cemetery and a kiwi house where you can see kiwi birds which are almost extinct now. There is a pleasant night life in town, bars, discos, bistros. All kinds of adrenalin sports can be tried here. The first modern form of bungy jumping was started nearby about half an hour drive from Queenstown. You can watch people jumping and try it yourself if you like. It is quite exciting. Day 12-13 drive from Queenstown to Wanaka, stay in Wanaka Wanaka lake is a paradise on earth. Take a gentle stroll by the banks of this beautiful lake or trek high up alpine mountains around. Day 13-15 drive from Wanaka to Franz Josef Glacier, stay the night in Franz Josef. Franz Joseph glacier is a gem of New Zealand’s West coast glaciers. You may get involved into several activities in the area. Including a range of glacier hikings, scenic flights, relaxation at hot spas… Drive from Franz Josef Glacier to Punakaiki, stay in Greymouth. Today we will be driving from Franz Joseph to Greymouth along the Tasman Sea. At Hokitika we may want to take a look at Mountain Jade and see traditional New Zealand jade products. Day 16, drive from Greymouth to CHC, 255 km. 4 h 10 min. stay in Christchurch. Our visits in Christchurch may include; 1. Cathedral Square – city centre, 2. Christchurch Botanic Gardens,<br>3. Hagley Park 4. Canterbury Museum Day 17, spend the day in CHC, catch the flight back in the afternoon. You might like to stroll in town visit Remembrance bridge and punt on Avon River Then drive to the Airport and visit Antartic centre before you get back to the airport to catch your flight back.
SOUTH AND NORTH ISLAND TOURS
Express Tour 13 days Day 1. Arrive at Christchurch. Visit International Antartic center beside the airport which is open daily from 9:00 am. Willowbank is a wildlife reserve including New Zealand’s largest and most accessible kiwi viewing area. This place is about 5 minutes drive from Christchurch International airport. It is open daily from 09:30 to 5:00 pm. Day 2. Christchurch – Timaru – Oamaru Approximative travel time 3 hours 5 minutes. 249 km. Drive to Oamaru Possibilities for swimming on the road. Orientation tour in Oamaru. Oamaru is a gorgeous harbour town centrally located on the South Island’s east coast 3 hours south of Christchurch or 90 minutes north of Dunedin. Visitors can explore museums, shops and galleries within some of New Zealand’s best 19th century architecture. With one of the country’s oldest public gardens, two penguin colonies, four golf courses and many walking and cycling trails there are plenty of opportunities to experience nature at its best. Oamaru has a very proud heritage which is told through the Victorian Precinct and tours at a variety of locations in town. Make sure you spoil yourself with some lovely locally made soap or with a cheese platter at the local cheese factory. At night you can catch a live show at the Opera House or experience some of the country’s top cuisine at award winning restaurants. We may see Blue Penguins, Elephant rocks or maybe go see a show in Opera house. Day 3. Oamaru – Moeraki Boulders – Queenstown Approximative travel time 3 hours 23 minutes. 286 km Moeraki boulders will be on the way by the left hand side of the road. Continue to Queenstown. There are several activities which could be enjoyed here including a steamship cruise on Wakatipu Lake. Bungy jumping first started here. If you like to try this one we could go to the old Kawaru bridge to enjoy this. We could also walk up to the mountain and have a nice scenery of the town or visit the nearby Arrowtown where gold was mined in the second half of the 19th century and have a meal there. You may want to go out in the night and enjoy nightlife. Day 4. Queenstown – Te Anau Approximative travel time: 4 hours Wildlife in New Zealand. The attractive town of Te Anau lies on the edge of Lake Te Anau and offers truly spectacular Mountain Views. An excursion to the Te Anau Glowworm Caves begins with a cruise across spectacular Lake Te Anau on a purpose-built scenic cruise vessel. Cruise Te Anau offer a variety of Boutique Cruises, Private Charters and Walking Track Transport for tourist and locals wanting to explore the hidden beauty and tranquility of Lake Te Anau and the Fiordland National Park. Day 5. Te Anau – Milford Sound – Queenstown Approx. travel time 4 hours 51 minutes 402 km. Drive to Milford Sound. See Mitre Peak and return to Queenstown. Day 6. Queenstown – Lake Tekapo Approx. travel time: 3 hours 22 minutes 274 km. Enjoy great scenery, uninterrupted views of the Southern Alps, the peace and quiet and views in the Church of good shepherd and see the Collie Dog Memorial. Have a picnic at the Lake and with views of Mt. Cook. Make sure not to miss the most romantic sunset sitting on the rocks with your feet dangling in the crystal clear water. Day 7. Lake Tekapo – Christchurch Approximative driving time 2 hours 56 minutes. 227 Km. Opening Hours Canterbury Museum is open every day (except Christmas Day). Day 7. Christchurh – Kaikoura Approximative driving distance 2 hours 19 minutes 181 km. If seeing Dolphins and Whales was on your agenda, this is the place to be. Kaikoura offers excellent Whale and Dolphin cruises which will get you closer than ever to the animals. A Kaikoura- Highlight are the “Maori Tours Kaikoura” as these special tours transcend the usual tourist trip and become something moving and spiritual. Day 8. Kaikoura – Picton – Interislander Ferry – Wellington Approximative driving distance 1 hour 52 minutes 156 km. Take the interislander and cruise to North Island Wellington. Orientation tour. Wellington Sightseeing, Te Papa Museum, botanical gardens, Parliament House. Day 9. Wellington – Tongariro Crossing or Army Museum on the way – Overnight in Taupo Driving distance 405 km. Day 10. Taupo Lake sightseeing, Natural Spa and parks, the gorge where the Waikato river is forced through a narrow rock channel towards the lake. Optional adrenalin activities. Day 11th, Taupo – Rotorua Approximative driving hour 1 hour 2 minutes 81 km. Rotorua Maori Culture, Tamaki Village – Spa – Mud bath. Day 12th, Rotorua – Waihi Beach Approximative driving 1 hour 36 minutes. 111 km. Visit Waihi beach and Waihi town. Possible activities may include visit of the Martha open pit, small train trip. Day 13th, Waihi Kharangahake Gold mines – Auckland This will be one of the highlights of your trip in New Zealand. Abandoned gold mines the tunnels made by the old miners in a wonderful natural scenery. Day 13th, Waihi Kharangahake Gold mines – Auckland This will be one of the highlights of your trip in New Zealand. Abandoned gold mines the tunnels made by the old miners in a wonderful natural scenery.
Comprehensive North and South Island Tour 35 days<br>Arrive Auckland, Northland offers some of the most interesting and beautiful spots of the North Island. Hellensville with it’s spas and thermal springs. As we drive towards the North you will have several opportunities for swimming or walking in Kauri forests. Kaipara harbor is so inviting for a swimming and you will probably swim in Tasman sea for the first time. The 90 mile beach is an astonishing sand beach where you can see an endless looking sand beach. Cape Reinga is the very Northern Part of New Zealand and has sand dunes where one wants to run and slide. Kerikeri has beautiful orchards, further down in the South there is Waitangi, which is the place where Waitangi treaty was signed by European New Zealanders and the Maori tribes. The botanical gardens in Whangarei few kilometers before getting to Whangarei has many different sorts of colorful flavors to watch. In Auckland you will see the Sky tower, the port and the Naval Museum nearby the harbour of luxurious yachts. Driving to the South East you will get to Thames where gold was extracted from the ground. A small museum in Thames will guide us through the long journey when gold miners were able to make their fortunes. Coromandel Peninsula further in the East is a beauty. We will spend a night in Coromandel town. Karangahake Gorge is again one of the most interesting places to visit in New Zealand. The tunnels dug by the miners are now open to visitors. You can also see the derelict mining stations here. There are several exciting walking tracks where you will see the glowworms hanging on the ceilings of those dark tunnels. Waihi is a small town nearby which was also exploited for it’s mines and you will see a giant hole in the middle of the town created by the miners. Waihi beach and many other beaches will be on our way after this point. Anytime you like we will make a swimming stop and swim in the Turquoise blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. Stay one night in Rotorua famous for mud baths. The next day after spending the day seeing Rotorua’s attractions head to Taupo. We will visit Huka falls and take the walking track ending at some inviting hot spring where you may want to swim before we continue walking towards Taupo Lake. Our next stop could be Turangi. Tongariro National Park on the North Island of New Zealand is centered on three active volcanoes: Ruapehu, Tongariro, and Ngauruhoe. The “Tongariro Trek” through the park includes this stunning view of the Emerald Lakes flanked by Mount Tongariro. The Tongariro Crossing track is about 17 km from Turangi and should only be attempted when the weather conditions are forecasted to be safe. Therefore your activities whilst staying in Turangi (say 3 nights) should be flexible. Taupo attractions and the Tongariro National Park attractions are all within 40 minutes of Turangi. Wanganui can be our next destination. This is a beautiful small town with beautiful streets housing English style shops. Our next destination might be the capital of New Zealand, Wellington. In Wellington we will not miss the opportunity to visit the famous Te Papa museum and some other interesting museums by the sea. Then take the cable tram and climb to a hill from where you will have beautiful views over this overwhelming city. We will then walk downwards towards the parliament house through the Botanical gardens. Our next destination will be the Inter islander ferry port. We will drive into this giant ferry and will go up to the passenger deck for having a bit of relaxation while watching the ferry coming out from the Wellington Harbor. Crossing to the South Island by Interislander Ferry. Picton will be the first town you will see in the South Island. We can visit the Maritime museum nearby or simply walk in the port of Yachts. Kaikoura will be our next destination today. As we will be driving towards Kaikoura you might see seals restingon the beach. We wouldn’t want to disturb these seals so we will only have a look at them from a look out point near the road. Christchurch is our next destination. In Christchurch we will visit the old parts of the town, the botanical gardens, take a tram tour around and visit the art galleries and the Museum. Overnight in Christchurch. Our next destination will be Dunedin. Which is a town with many Scottish characteristics. In Dunedin you will see several remarquable Victorian style buildings. We will then proceed to the South towards Milton and then make our way up to North by the gorgeous Clutha river. Alexandra is a town of orchards and we will have many opportunities for buying apricots, nectarines by the road side stalls of the orchards. On our way to Queenstown we will see many wine yards and wineries and will have opportunities to visit them. Clyde dam will be on our way and we can make a stop at the overlooking point. Just before we get to Queenstown we will have an opportunity to look for the old Kawaru Bridge which is the home of the bungee jumping. Would you like to try? Queenstown is a beautiful city located by the Wakatipu lake. Here we will take the Gondola cable car and climb to the heights of the city and have a luge ride? Visit a Kiwi birdlife park. Paragliding, skydiving, rafting will be some of the activities we will be able to experience in this area. Milford Sound and Mitre Peak is next. Some of the exciting walks can be done in this area. Hollyford, Greenstone, Caples tracks are some of them. Wanaka lake is our next destination. As we will drive towards north you will see Lake Hawea and again Lake Wanaka in this supreme natural beauty. We will continue our way towards Haast and visit some of the native swamp forests in some unspoiled eco-regions like Sheep Creek which is home to Elephant seals and Hector Dolphins which are under protection as they are about to extinct. Mt. Cook and then to Fox Glacier. Franz Josef, Hokitika, Abel Tasman National Park and Nelson will complete our journey in South Island and we will get back to Christchurch to fly back home.
ACCOMMODATION The wotif.com web site lists most of New Zealand’s hotels and motels with a full description of location and facilities. The price for last minute bookings is usuallylower than the pre-booked price via the hotel’s web site. The accommodation arrangements for the tours are flexible. Clients may book their own lodgings or alternatively I can arrange it for them. At whatever level they choose. Here is an example of high end accommodation – Huka Lodge by the Waikato river near the narrow gorge where the river is forced to flow towards Taupo Lake: wotif.com
TRAVEL TIPS North Island Suggested Sites Tongariro National Park was given to the New Zealand government in 1887 by Ngati Tuwharetoa (Maori tribe) and forms the nucleus of New Zealand’s first national park. The park is located in the central volcanic plateau of the North Island and contains the three sacred mountains of Ruapehu, Ngaruahoe and Tongariro. The Tongariro Crossing walk has been described as one of the best one-day walks in New Zealand and you will experience active volcanoes, mountain springs, lava flows, emerald lakes and stunning views along this 17km walk. Some of the other highlights include Auckland, 90 Miles Beach, Te Paki Sand Dunes, Bay of Islands, Waitomo Caves, Waihi, Kharangahake, Coromandel, Rotorua, Taupo Lake, and Wellington. South Island Suggested Sites Westland/Mount Cook National Park and Fiordland National Park cover almost 10% of New Zealand and has been little modified by human influences. The 121km road to Milford Sound is renowned for its beauty and scenic variety. Mitre Peak in Milford Sound is a pyramid-shaped mountain rising 1,692 m straight from the deep fiord. Mitre Peak<br>About Fiordland National Park: Fiordland National Park, is the largest national park in New Zealand, on the southwestern coast of South Island. Established in 1952, Fiordland consists of 12,116 sq km (4,678 sq mi) of subtropical woodland, beech forests, and alpine landscape. The park includes a number of fiords, headlands, mountains, waterfalls and cascades, including Sutherland Falls, 580 m (1,900 ft) high. Fiordland National Park also has limestone caves containing glowworms, which were discovered near Lake Te Anau in 1948. The park is noted for such native birds as the brown kiwi; the kea, the only alpine species of parrot; and the notornis or takahe, a swamp-dwelling, flightless rail now unique to the area. The notornis was believed to be extinct until its rediscovery in 1948. In the 1700s the British explorer Captain James Cook visited both Dusky Sound, the largest of the fjords, and Doubtful Sound to the north. The first European residence in New Zealand was built on Dusky Sound in 1792. Fiordland National Park was designated a World Heritage Site in 1986 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). UNESCO’s World Heritage list recognizes the world’s unique natural and cultural places. Four years later, Fiordland and several other protected areas—including Mount Aspiring National Park, which borders Fiordland, Mount Cook National Park, and Westland National Park—were incorporated into a conservation region called Te Wahipounamu (Southwest New Zealand). Te Wahipounamu in turn was declared a World Heritage Site in the same year.
ENTRY VISA AND PASSPORT INFORMATION FOR NEW ZEALAND Visa requirements for New Zealand vary depending upon your nationality. As a guideline, you can visit the New Zealand Government’s Official Web Site website to see if you require a visa. However, as regulations change frequently, we recommend that you check with your nearest New Zealand Embassy or Consulate for the latest information on visa and passport requirements for entering New Zealand. Your passport should be valid for at least 3 months past the date you are to leave New Zealand.
HEALTH AND INSURANCE It is important to have adequate health, travel and accident insurance while touring. No vaccinations are currently required for New Zealand. It is best to bring your own medication along in its original prescription bottle.
TIME DIFFERENCE New Zealand standard time is 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
WEATHER In the North it is warmer and it is colder in the South. In the South Island the Western Part is mostly rainy while the Eastern part is cold and drier. Mean daily maximum / minimum temperatures in Celcius and Fahrenheit.
CURRENCY INFORMATION FOR NEW ZEALAND There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that may be brought into New Zealand, but as you leave New Zealand, it is wise to spend or exchange your New Zealand Dollars for foreign currency. The currency unit in New Zealand is the New Zealand Dollar. Traveler’s checks are accepted but will generally get a less favorable rate of exchange than cash. There are bank machines almost everywhere in New Zealand where you can use a credit or debit card (Visa, MasterCard etc). Larger shops generally accept US dollars, Euro, traveler’s checks and credit cards, some small shops will accept only cash or a debit card.
OPENING HOURS Banks are open from 9 or 9.30 am until 4.30 (Monday-Friday). Post Offices in the large cities are open Monday-Saturday 8.00 to midnight and Sunday 9.00 to 19.00. Smaller post offices are open Monday to Saturday from 8.30 to 17.00. Shop hours are generally from 9.00 to 17.00 Monday to Saturday, but mostly every day and later in tourist areas.
Rainbow Mountain-Crater Lake
Waiotapu Thermal Walk Kaimananawa Forest Park
http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/things-to-do/walking-and-tramping
Golf Courses Rotorua Golf Club Waireki International Tourist Shopping Fenton St RotoruaNelson Accommodation www.lakerotoroalodge.co.nz
Useful links: http://www.wwf.org http://www.seashepherd.org http://www.ivu.org http://www.greenpeace.org http://www.fruitarian.net about the effects of the fruitarian diet on the environment
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