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9 Day Southern Explorer

  9 Day Southern Explorer
  - Escorted South Island Coach Tour
Optional TranzCoastal Train Journey
  Departs from: Christchurch  
  Arrives:

Christchurch  
or Wellington  

  Fare: 5% sale discount applies on tour price when booked by 30 Nov 2008.  Please quote "sale price" when making your reservation request.  
  01 Oct 2008 to 31 Jan 2009 £916  
  01 Feb 2009 to 30 Apr 2009 £941  
  01 May 2009 to 30 Sep 2008 £832  

  Optional Extras:

 
  Breakfast (8) Supplement add: £61  
  Dinner (7) Supplement add: £92  
  Single Room supplement add: £237  
 
Note: All prices are GBP,  per person & include G.S.T.
9 Day Southern Explorer

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Special Included Highlights:  
  • Sightseeing tours of Christchurch, Dunedin and if selected, Wellington
  • World renowned Mt Cook region
  • Traditional Scottish haggis ceremony
  • Spectacular southern lakes
  • Awe inspiring Milford Sound
  • Dinner at Skyline Restaurant
  • Remote national parks of Fiordland and Westland
  • West Coast glaciers
  • Visit Greenstone (Jade) Factory
  • Punakaiki pancake rocks
  • Montana Winery visit with tasting and afternoon tea
  • Scenic cruise Picton–Wellington or Tranz Coastal Train Picton – Christchurch
  • Olveston House
  • Milford Sound launch cruise
  • Shantytown with gold panning
Day by Day Itinerary:
 Day 1 - Christchurch / Mt Cook / Omarama
Your tour departs from the Pavilions Hotel, 42 Papanui Road at 8.00am.
A city sights tour will highlight the main attractions of Christchurch before traveling across the Canterbury Plains into the MacKenzie Country. View the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Collie Dog statue at Lake Tekapo. Opportunity to fly over the Southern Alps with Air Safaris (optional), before continuing to Mt Cook National Park. Admire the majesty of Mt Cook before traveling on to Omarama.
Heritage Gateway Hotel. (1 night)
 
 Day 2 - Omarama / Dunedin
Pass large hydro lakes as you travel down the Waitaki Valley to Oamaru and Dunedin – the “Scottish” city. An early arrival allows the choice of excellent optional activities. Combine a Monarch harbour cruise or Newton’s Citibus tour to see the albatross, penguins and seals. Enjoy the historic and scenic Taieri Gorge train excursion or explore the city only a few minutes walk away. This evening prior to Dinner you will be treated to a traditional Scottish Haggis Ceremony, complete with piper, address to the Haggis and gift.
Cargills Hotel. (1 night)
 Day 3 - Dunedin / Lake Manapouri / Te Anau
Visit historic Olveston House, then cross rich farmlands to the agricultural towns of Gore and Lumsden. Visit Lake Manapouri before arriving at Lake Te Anau.
Fiordland National Park Hotel. (1 night)
 Day 4 - Te Anau / Milford Sound / Queenstown
Follow the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys, pass through the Homer Tunnel and descend into the Cleddau Canyon to reach majestic Milford Sound, dominated by Mitre Peak. A launch cruise takes you to the open sea and the Bowen and Stirling Falls. Return to Te Anau and on to Mossburn, then skirt the shores of Lake Wakatipu to reach Queenstown. Dinner tonight is at the Skyline Restaurant, where both the dining and the views are unsurpassed.
Rydges Hotel. (2 nights)
 Day 5 - Queenstown
A day to explore the delights of this alpine resort at your leisure. Your Coach Captain will happily advise on the many sightseeing activities available. We recommend the world famous Shotover Jet Boat ride, take a Gondola to the Skyline high above, a tour to the gold mining area of Skippers Canyon or for the adventurous – white water rafting. Alternatively browse in the many shops and galleries.
 Day 6 - Queenstown / Haast Pass/ Fox Glacier
Pass picturesque Lake Hayes on to an area steeped in fascinating history relating to early settlement and the goldmining era, to Lake Wanaka, a picture postcard resort on the lakes edge with a spectacular mountain backdrop. Pass Lake Hawea and the upper reaches of Lake Wanaka to Makarora into Mt Aspiring and Westland National Parks. Drive north along the coast to the glacier region. Explore the township or take the optional guided walk to the glacier’s terminal face.
Fox Glacier Hotel. (1 night)
 Day 7 - Fox Glacier / Greymouth
Time for an optional helicopter flight over the glacier then on to Franz Josef. Snowcapped Southern Alps dominate the skyline as you pass dense bush, tiny landlocked lakes and small pockets of farmland. Visit a Greenstone (Jade) factory where craftsmen cut and polish giant boulders to create fine jewellery. Next is Shantytown, a restored gold mining town of the 1860’s where you pan for gold, ride on the steam train, at no extra cost.
Hotel Ashley. (1 night)
 Day 8 - Greymouth / Blenheim
View the unusual rock formations and blowholes at Punakaiki and pass Charleston, a former goldmining township. Follow the Buller River through the Buller Gorge and on to Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park. Follow the long Wairau Valley to Blenheim. A short tour of the area includes a visit to Montana Winery. Enjoy a hosted tour of the winery, learn about and taste a range of the famous local wines (purchase if you wish) followed by afternoon tea.
Blenheim Country Hotel (1 night)
 Day 9 - Blenheim / Picton / Christchurch or Wellington
Explore Picton, nestled on the shores of the Marlborough Sounds. You now have the option of continuing to Wellington via the Cook Strait ferry or returning to Christchurch by Tranz Coastal train along the Kaikoura coast. The Wellington option includes a city tour and will conclude at approximately 5.30pm. If returning to Christchurch your tour will conclude on arrival, scheduled for 7.00pm.
Departure Dates:
     
 TOUR
START MON
FINISH TUE 
     
 K16 13 Oct 2008 21 Oct 2008 
 K17 20 Oct 2008 28 Oct 2008 
     
 K19 03 Nov 2008 11 Nov 2008 
 K20 10 Nov 2008 18 Nov 2008 
 K21 17 Nov 2008 25 Nov 2008 
 K22 24 Nov 2008 02 Dec 2008 
     
 K23 01 Dec 2008 09 Dec 2008 
 K24 08 Dec 2008 16 Dec 2008 
 K25 15 Dec 2008 23 Dec 2008 
 K26 22 Dec 2008 30 Dec 2009 
 K27 29 Dec 2008 06 Jan 2009 
     
 
 TOUR
START MON
FINISH TUE  
  K28 05 Jan 2009 13 Jan 2009  
  K29 12 Jan 2009 20 Jan 2009  
  K30 19 Jan 2009 27 Jan 2009  
  K31 26 Jan 2009 03 Feb 2009  
     
  K32 02 Feb 2009 10 Feb 2009  
  K33 09 Feb 2009 17 Feb 2009  
  K34 16 Feb 2009 24 Feb 2009  
  K35 23 Feb 2009 03 Mar 2009  
     
  K36 02 Mar 2009 10 Mar 2009  
  K37 09 Mar 2009 17 Mar 2009  
  K38 16 Mar 2009 24 Mar 2009  
  K39 23 Mar 2009 31 Mar 2009  
  K40 30 Mar 2009 07 Apr 2009  
     
  K41 06 Apr 2009 14 Apr 2009  
  K42 13 Apr 2009 21 Apr 2009  
  K43 20 Apr 2009 28 Apr 2009  
  K44 27 Apr 2009 05 May 2009  
     
  K46 11 May 2009 19 May 2009  
  K47 18 May 2009 26 May 2009  
  K48 25 May 2009 02 Jun 2009  
     
  K50 08 Jun 2009 16 Jun 2009  
  K51 15 Jun 2009 23 Jun 2009  
  K53 29 Jun 2009 07 Jul 2009  
     
  K54 06 Jul 2009 14 Jul 2009  
  K55 13 Jul 2009 21 Jul 2009  
  K57 27 Jul 2009 04 Aug 2009  
     
  K58 03 Aug 2009 11 Aug 2009  
  K11 10 Aug 2009 18 Aug 2009  
  K14 31 Aug 2009 08 Sep 2009  
     
  K15 07 Sep 2009 15 Sep 2009  
  K16 14 Sep 2009 22 Sep 2009  
  K17 21 Sep 2009 29 Sep 2009  
  K18 28 Sep 2009 06 Oct 2009  
     
* Starts Saturday, finish Sunday


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