Day 1 - Day 1 Auckland.
Meet and greet at Auckland Airport and transfer to your motor home accommodation in your touring sedan.
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Day 2 - Day 2 Auckland - Waitomo Caves - Rotorua.
Drive from Auckland to Waitomo Caves passing the Waikato River along the way. Here you will enjoy a guided tour of the labyrinth of ancient limestone caverns and formations. The highlight of this attraction is a boat trip through the glow worm grotto then head on over to Rotorua for your overnight stay.
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Day 3 - Day 3 Rotorua.
Lots to do here in the cultural heart of the Maori people. You will notice the heavy sulphur odour from the active hydrothermal vents located throughout this region. Today you will visit Te Puia and witness boiling mud pools and steaming hot geysers and come to better understand the Maori culture. Visit the Marae (Maori meeting house) and witness a Maori cultural performance including the famous Maori haka. Visit the kiwi house and you will see a real live native kiwi ( bird kind ). Then drive across town and see Rotorua from the top of the Skyline Gondola Cableway, the best panoramic view of Lake Rotorua and the city.
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Day 4 - Day 4 Rotorua.
Visit Agrodome Park and witness the world famous sheep show and the skills of the working sheepdogs. Finish your day in Rotorua with a relaxing visit to the Polynesian Spa, New Zealand's leading thermal bathing complex before your traditional Maori hangi ( traditional Maori cooked meal ) and concert this evening.
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Day 5 - Day 5 Rotorua - Taupo
One hours drive to Taupo and today is a free day to enjoy this New Zealand resort city. Located on the shore of the enormous volcanic crater which forms Lake Taupo. Lots of quality shopping and gift shops.
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Day 6 - Day 6 Taupo
Today you will enjoy the sights of Taupo from your Helistar helicopter. Panoramic views over and across Lake Taupo to the Tongariro National Park and beyond to Mt. Ruapehu on the Heritage Trail 45 minutes of enjoyment with your experienced pilot / guide. You will venture over the Huka Falls then pass over Craters of the Moon on your way to Lake Taupo's northern bays via Maori rock carvings. Fly inside the crater of Mt. Tauhara before passing over Lake Rotokawa where you will land and explore the geothermal activity before heading back. Enjoy lunch here at Helistar cafe and then head off for your Huka Falls boat cruise. A leisurely tour up the Waikato River toward Lake Taupo to witness the marvelous sights of Huka Falls.
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Day 7 - Day 7 Taupo - Waiouru.
Today we drive along the long eastern shore of Lake Taupo and onwards to the plains and desert of the Tongariro National Park via Turangi. We will pass the peaks of Mt. Ngarahoe and Mt. Ruapehu, an active volcano, on the Desert Road stopping along the way to enjoy lunch at one of the many scenic areas along the way. Stopping tonight in Waiouru.
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Day 8 - Day 8 Waiouru - Wellington.
This morning visit the Army museum here in the garrison township of Waiouru. Then we travel towards Wellington via Bull's and Levin, the along the Kapiti Coast to the Capital city of Wellington. Along the way stop for a look at De Molen windmill in Foxton a working example of a Dutch windmill here in New Zealand. Overnight in Wellington.
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Day 9 - Day 9 Wellington.
The Capital City of New Zealand, visit Te Papa the national museum of NZ, lots to see and do here with different exhibitions at varying times of the year. Just a short walk then to the "Beehive" the Parliament of N.Z. Your guided tour here takes about 1 hour. Wander through the city of Wellington to the famous cable car for a trip uphill and some great photo opportunities.
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Day 10 - Day 10 Wellington - Picton - Blenheim.
Today our inter-islander cruise takes us across Cook Strait, and Queen Charlotte Sound before arriving in Picton. Then we journey through to Blenheim to enjoy an afternoon visiting vineyards. Overnight in Blenheim.
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Day 11 - Day 11 Blenheim - Kaikoura - Christchurch
You can't go passed Kaikoura without whale watching, enjoying viewing these gentle giants aboard a vessel designed specially for this purpose. Sperm whales are here all year round and other species include the migratory Humpback whales, Orca (Killer whales), tiny Hector dolphins and fur seals. **subject to weather and sea conditions.**
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Day 12 - Day 12 Christchurch
Visit the Antarctic Center and discover how life survives on this continent. take an outdoor ride on the hagglund, an all terrain amphibious vehicle. Visit the Arts Centre ( try the fudge tasting, "choice" ), Christchurch Museum and the botanical gardens. You might like to wander into town for a punt ride on the Avon River. A look around Cathedral Square and you might spot the famous "Wizard".
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Day 13 - Day 13 Christchurch - Omarama.
The choice is yours whether you tour inland to view Mt Cook or travel down the east coast either way you will pass small regional townships and rural domains of Aotearoa.
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Day 14 - Day 14 Omarama - Queenstown
Queenstown is in our sight's with the choice of several activities. Do you feel like a A. J. Hackett bungee jump experience or maybe a hair raising excursion on the famous Shot over jet boat ride, horse trek or something a little more gentle a wine tour . Enjoy your afternoon.
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Day 15 - Day 15 Queenstown
Depart from Queenstown for a full day Milford Sound coach and scenic cruise. Sit back and enjoy the spectacular Milford Road. This journey is often described as one of the worlds most scenic drives - and rightly so. Board a luxury cruise vessel covering Milford Sound and the Tasman Sea. Lunch is included. Return in evening to Queenstown.
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Day 16 - Day 16 Queenstown - Haast
Scenic drive across the Southern Alps through Wanaka and Hawea's southern lakes district to the wild western coast of New Zealand and the township of Haast .
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Day 17 - Day 17 Haast - Fox Glacier.
Discover up close the magnificent phenomenon of the West Coast glaciers. A scenic helicopter flight over Franz Josef glacier or the Fox Glacier (weather permitting) landing on the glacier for a unique guided walk among the ice caves, pinnacles and seracs of this pristine alpine environment.
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Day 18 - Day 18 Franz Josef Glacier - Hokitika - Greymouth
Drive north to Hokitika well known for it's Green Stone (Jade). Look through many shops displaying Maori designs and carvings.
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Day 19 - Day 19 Greymouth - Christchurch
Visit the famous Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki then sit back and enjoy the scenery, unseen by road, whilst traveling by way of the Tranz Alpine railway across the Southern Alps to Christchurch. Spectacular views and photo opportunities whilst you travel one of the great train trips in the Southern Hemisphere. Overnight in Christchurch.
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Day 20 - Day 20 Christchurch.
Full transport to Christchurch Airport for your fully paid domestic return flight to Auckland and on to your connecting ongoing tour or International Flight.
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