Aotearoa Highlights - Luxury New Zealand

DAY 1: AUCKLAND (D)
You will be met on arrival at Auckland airport & will transfer in a private vehicle to your accommodation. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax or explore. Sprawling over the narrow isthmus between the Tasman & Pacific Oceans, Auckland's waterside location & the local enthusiasm for the ocean have seen it named the 'City of Sails'. The highest extinct volcano, Mount Eden, is an ideal point to view this wide-spread metropolis, out across the Waitemata Harbour to the east & the Manukau Harbour to the west. Auckland is New Zealand's trade capital & centre of greatest population with a diverse mix of Polynesian, Asian, Maori & European cultures.

DAY 2: AUCKLAND - ROTORUA (B,D)
After meeting your driver, you will travel south to the thermal region of Rotorua. Rotorua is the centre of an extensive thermal region & geysers, bubbling mud pools & steaming, sulphurous lakes give evidence of nature's frightening yet fascinating power. On arrival, enjoy a private tour of Te Puia (Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve & the NZ Māori Arts & Crafts Institute).

DAY 3: ROTORUA - WHITE ISLAND (B,D)
After breakfast, enjoy a White Island helicopter excursion. White Island is one of the most fascinating & accessible volcanoes on earth, carrying with it an A grade level of scientific importance. It is also New Zealand's only live marine volcano & walking on it is like walking on the moon. Leaving directly from your lodge, the flight takes you north over Hell's Gate Thermal Valley to the Pacific Ocean coastline & the active volcano of White Island. Land at the crater's rim & spend approximately one hour on a guided walk of this fascinating natural attraction. Experience the volcanic fury of the main crater, view sulphur deposits & the remains of the old sulphur mine. Return to your lodge in time for lunch & enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

DAY 4: ROTORUA - CHRISTCHURCH (B,D)
After a private transfer to Rotorua Airport, join a flight south to Christchurch. You will be met on arrival & will transfer to your accommodation with a city orientation tour en-route.

DAY 5: CHRISTCHURCH (B,D)
A day at leisure to either enjoy an optional excursion or simply to explore Christchurch. Often referred to as the Garden City, Christchurch features many majestic trees, extensive parks & gardens, the most notable of which is expansive Hagley Park in the heart of the city. The Avon River gently winds its way around these inner city landmarks & out through sprawling suburbs to the Pacific Ocean. The Port hills separate the city from the volcanic Banks Peninsula & Lyttelton Harbour where English settlers arrived by ship in 1850 to establish New Zealand's first city.

DAY 6: CHRISTCHURCH - MT COOK (B,D)
Rejoin your driver & travel across the Canterbury Plains this morning before heading towards the Southern Alps & on into the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. On arrival, experience this magnificent alpine environment with an optional high alpine flight over this amazing region with vast snowfields, glaciers & a spectacular view of New Zealand's highest peak, Aoraki/Mount Cook, at approximately 3760m. Land high above glaciers & experience what it feels like to stand in snow amongst the mountains. Traverse the Southern Alps to view the mighty Fox & Franz Josef Glaciers as they journey slowly down towards the native rainforests & the Tasman Sea on the rugged West Coast. Return to your Mount Cook property.

DAY 7: MT COOK - QUEENSTOWN (B)
Leave the alpine region behind as you travel south through the barren landscapes of Central Otago. En-route we stop at the Big Picture Wine Adventure for an introduction to the wines of the region, before heading to Queenstown. Nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu Queenstown is a year-round alpine resort that caters for all interests. It enjoys a magnificent setting amid steep mountain ranges & pockets of native bush with the jagged peaks of the Remarkables Range rising from the lake. The lake was scooped out by glacial action thousands of years ago & a mysterious phenomenon causes the lake to vary several inches in depth every few minutes, giving credence to a Maori legend of an ancient Taniwha (demon) still breathing beneath the surface. Upon arrival, the remainder of the day is at leisure to soak up Queenstown's atmosphere.

DAY 8: QUEENSTOWN - MILFORD SOUND (B)
This morning enjoy an exclusive helicopter flight deep into the Fiordland World Heritage National Park. Discover a labyrinth of valleys & mountains as you fly west over the Main Divide of the Southern Alps. See Lake Te Anau, follow the Milford Track past the Sutherland Falls on this extensive tour to Milford Sound & walk through native rainforest for perfect photo opportunities. You will fly along the fiord to a seal colony or remote beach on the isolated coast of Fiordland. A glacier landing on the return flight will enable you to fill the ice bucket for your champagne luncheon at a Gold miner's cottage hidden in the mountains. On returning to Queenstown, enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

DAY 9: QUEENSTOWN (B)
Today you are free to explore Queenstown & the surrounding region at leisure. During your leisure time you might want to travel up Bob's peak by Gondola to enjoy spectacular views across Lake Wakatipu to the Remarkables Range in the distance or visit the Kiwi & Birdlife Park. You can take a cruise on Lake Wakatipu onboard the steam ship TSS Earnslaw & visit a high country sheep station for a farm tour or evening meal. The central Otago wine region is the world's southern most wine producing region & a private wine tour will tempt your taste buds with some of the award winning wines that are produced here. If all these leisurely pursuits become too much then Queenstown has more adrenalin pumping activities than most towns; you can jet boat up narrow river chasms, bungy jump, luge ride, go white water rafting, river surfing, abseiling, mountain biking, tandem parachuting & parapenting, to name just a few of the options available to you.

DAY 10: QUEENSTOWN (B)
Take a private transfer to Queenstown airport in time to join your outbound flight.

DAY 1: AUCKLAND (D)
DAY 2: AUCKLAND - ROTORUA (B,D)
DAY 3: ROTORUA - WHITE ISLAND (B,D)
DAY 4: ROTORUA - CHRISTCHURCH (B,D)
DAY 5: CHRISTCHURCH (B,D)
DAY 6: CHRISTCHURCH - MT COOK (B,D)
DAY 7: MT COOK - QUEENSTOWN (B)
DAY 8: QUEENSTOWN - MILFORD SOUND (B)
DAY 9: QUEENSTOWN (B)
DAY 10: QUEENSTOWN (B)
End of our services.

PRICE

NB Chauffeur driven vehicles have the following configuration:
1-2 persons - sedan car
3-6 persons - small van
7-8 persons - large van or mini coach
The tour is essentially unescorted; chauffeur acts as a guide where appropriate but clients are on their own in the evenings & at sightseeing stops.  Fully escorted with a local guide is an option if required.
Prices exclude public holiday surcharges & any special event surcharges or minimum stay requirements which lodges apply from time to time.