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7 Day Tranz Alpine

  7 Day TranzAlpine
  - Escorted South Island Coach Tour
Includes TranzAlpine Train Journey
  Departs from: Christchurch  
  Arrives: Christchurch  
  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: £802  
  01 Feb 2009 to 30 30 Apr 2009: £823  
  01 May 2009 to 30 Sep 2009: £716  
  Optional Extra:  
  Breakfast (6) Supplement add: £46  
  Dinner (5) Supplement add: £67  
  Single Room Supplement add: £183  
 
Note: All prices are GBP, per person & include G.S.T.
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Special Included Highlights:  
  • Sightseeing tours of Christchurch & Dunedin
  • World renowned Aoraki/Mountt Cook region
  • Traditional scottish haggis ceremony
  • Spectacular southern lakes
  • Awe inspiring Milford Sound
  • Dinner at Skyline Restaurant
  • Remote national parks of Fiordland & Westland
  • West Coast glaciers
  • Visit greenstone (jade) factory
  • Renowned Tranz Alpine train journey
  • Olveston House
  • Milford Sound launch cruise
Day by Day Itinerary:
 Day 1 - Christchurch / Mt Cook / Omarama
Christchurch - The Garden City Your tour departs from the Pavilions Hotel, 42 Papanui Road, Christchurch, at 8.00am. A city sights tour will highlight the main attractions of Christchurch before travelling across the rich Canterbury Plains into the foothills of the MacKenzie Country. View the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Collie Dog statue at Lake Tekapo. Here you will be given the opportunity to fly over the Southern Alps with Air Safaris (optional), before continuing your journey into the Mt Cook National Park. Admire the scenic majesty of Mt Cook before travelling on to Omarama. Overnight accommodation is at Heritage Gateway Hotel.
 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 just 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. Your overnight accommodation will be at the Cargills Hotel.
 Day 3 - Dunedin / Lake Manpouri / 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. Your overnight accommodation will be at the Fiordland National Park Hotel.
 Day 4 - Te Anau / Milford Sound / Queenstown
Milford Sound 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. Your overnight accommodation is at the Rydges Hotel.
 Day 5 - Queenstown
A full day to explore the many delights of this alpine resort. Try the world famous Shotover Jet, an excursion to Skippers Canyon or a relaxing steamer cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic Earnslaw. There are a multitude of optional activities available or alternatively explore Queenstown's many international boutiques and galleries - your Coach Captain will be pleased to advise you. Overnight accommodation is at the Rydges Hotel.
 Day 6 - Queenstown / Haast Pass / Fox Glacier
Lake Wanaka Pass picturesque Lake Hayes then through the rugged Kawarau Gorge and follow the Clutha river to Lake Wanaka, a picture postcard resort. Travel on past lakes Wanaka and Hawea, cross the Haast Pass into Mt Aspiring and Westland National Parks. Cap off the day with the magnificent Glacier region and visit the National Park Headquarters or take the optional guided walk to the glacier's terminal face (daylight hours permitting). Your overnight accommodation is at the Fox Glacier Hotel.
 Day 7 - Fox Glacier / Greymouth / Christchurch
Time this morning for an optional helicopter flight over the glacier then on to Franz Josef. The snowcapped Southern Alps dominate the skyline as you pass glades of 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. On to Greymouth to join the Tranz Alpine train for one of the most spectacular rail journeys in the world. Through rainforests and past Lake Brunner to Otira, beneath the high snowcapped peaks of the Southern Alps to Arthurs Pass, follow the rugged Gorges of the Waimakariri river and across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.  Your tour concludes on arrival in Christchurch which is scheduled for 6.05pm
Departure Dates:
     
 TOUR
START MON
FINISH SUN
     
 G16 13 Oct 2008 19 Oct 2008 
 G17 20 Oct 2008 26 Oct 2008 
     
 G182* 01 Nov 2008 07 Nov 2008 
 G19 03 Nov 2008 09 Nov 2008 
 G20 10 Nov 2008 16 Nov 2008 
 G21 17 Nov 2008 23 Nov 2008 
 G212* 22 Nov 2008 28 Nov 2008 
 G22 24 Nov 2008 30 Nov 2008 
     
 G23 01 Dec 2008 07 Dec 2008 
 G24 08 Dec 2008 14 Dec 2008 
 G25 15 Dec 2008 21 Dec 2008 
 G26 22 Dec 2008 28 Dec 2008 
 G27 29 Dec 2008 04 Jan 2009 
     
 
 TOUR
START MON
FINISH SUN
 G28 05 Jan 2009 11 Jan 2009 
 G282* 10 Jan 2009 16 Jan 2009 
 G29 12 Jan 2009 18 Jan 2009 
 G292* 17 Jan 2009 23 Jan 2009 
 G30 19 Jan 2009 25 Jan 2009 
 G302* 24 Jan 2009 30 Jan 2009 
 G31 26 Jan 2009 01 Feb 2009 
 G312* 31 Jan 2009 06 Feb 2009 
     
 G32 02 Feb 2009 08 Feb 2009 
 G322* 07 Feb 2009 13 Feb 2009 
 G33 09 Feb 2009 15 Feb 2009 
 G332* 14 Feb 2009 20 Feb 2009 
 G34 16 Feb 2009 22 Feb 2009 
 G342* 21 Feb 2009 27 Feb 2009 
 G35 23 Feb 2009 01 Mar 2009 
 G352* 28 Feb 2009 06 Mar 2009 
     
 G36 02 Mar 2009 08 Mar 2009 
 G37 09 Mar 2009 15 Mar 2009 
 G372* 14 Mar 2009 20 Mar 2009 
 G38 16 Mar 2009 22 Mar 2009 
 G382* 21 Mar 2009 27 Mar 2009 
 G39 23 Mar 2009 29 Mar 2009 
 G392* 28 Mar 2009 03 Apr 2009 
 G40 30 Mar 2009 05 Apr 2009 
     
 G402* 04 Apr 2009 10 Apr 2009 
 G41 06 Apr 2009 12 Apr 2009 
 G42 13 Apr 2009 19 Apr 2009 
 G422* 18 Apr 2009 24 Apr 2009 
 G43 20 Apr 2009 26 Apr 2009 
 G432* 25 Apr 2009 01 May 2009 
 G44 27 Apr 2009 03 May 2009 
     
 G45 04 May 2009 10 May 2009 
 G46 11 May 2009 17 May 2009 
 G47 18 May 2009 24 May 2009 
 G48 25 May 2009 31 May 2009 
     
 G50 08 Jun 2009 14 Jun 2009 
 G51 15 Jun 2009 21 Jun 2009 
 G53 29 Jun 2009 05 Jul 2009 
     
 G54 06 Jul 2009 12 Jul 2009 
 G55 13 Jul 2009 19 Jul 2009 
 G57 27 Jul 2009 02 Aug 2009 
     
 G58 03 Aug 2009 09 Aug 2009 
 G11 10 Aug 2009 16 Aug 2009 
 G14 31 Aug 2009 06 Sep 2009 
     
 G142* 05 Sep 2009 11 Sep 2009 
 G15 07 Sep 2009 13 Sep 2009 
 G152* 12 Sep 2009 18 Sep 2009 
 G16 14 Sep 2009 20 Sep 2009 
 G162* 19 Sep 2009 25 Sep 2009 
 G17 21 Sep 2009 27 Sep 2009 
 G172* 26 Sep 2009 02 Oct 2009 
 G18 28 Sep 2009 04 Oct 2009 
     
* Start Friday, finish Thursday


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