16 DAYS 13/28 APRIL 2010

This year our tour will travel to and from the South Island by air.  We will cover a great part of the Island south of Christchurch and we have included as many two night stops as possible. This is an up market tour with no hidden costs.  People from areas outside the Bay of Plenty will, where possible, be flown to and from Christchurch from their nearest airport.

COST INCLUDES:

• HOME TO HOME PICK-UPS AND RETURN
• RETURN ECONOMY AIRFARES
• 15 NIGHTS ACCOMMODATION AT TOURIST CLASS HOTELS
• ALL DINNERS AND COOKED BREAKFASTS
• LUXURY COACH IN THE SOUTH ISLAND
• HALF DAY TOUR OF CHRISTCHURCH
• FREE DAY IN CHRISTCHURCH TO VISIT GONDOLA, SCENIC TRAM AND CASINO
• VISIT TO PARKSIDE GARDEN & QUARRY – OAMARU
• VISITS TO CROMWELL AND CLYDE DAM
• ALPINE EXPRESS – CHRISTCHURCH TO GREYMOUTH (OPTIONAL EXTRA)
• TOUR OF DUNEDIN
• IN DUNEDIN VISITS TO CADBURYS AND OLVESTON
• VISIT TO ROYAL ALBATROSS COLONY AND VISITOR CENTRE
• VISIT TO ALUMINIUM SMELTER – TIWAI POINT (OR VISIT STEWART ISLAND

INSTEAD AT YOUR OWN COST)

• WEST ARM CRUISE ON LAKE MANAPOURI AND VISIT TO UNDERGROUND

POWER STATION

• MILFORD SOUND CRUISE
• CRUISE ON LAKE WAKATIPU ON TSS EARNSLAW
• QUEENSTOWN GONDOLA
• VISIT BOTH FOX AND FRANZ JOSEF GLACIERS AND LAKE MATHIESON
• FULLY ESCORTED

COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• LUNCHES, MORNING AND AFTERNOON TEAS UNLESS SPECIFIED
• ITEMS OF A PERSONAL NATURE INCLUDING INSURANCE

COST PER PERSON

Itinerary:

TUESDAY 13 APRIL
This morning you will be picked up from your homes and taken to the Rotorua Airport to check in for Air New Zealand flight NZ 5377 to Christchurch departing at 1220 and arriving at 1405.  On arrival our coach will meet us and take us on a tour of Christchurch before checking in to the Elms Hotel for one night.

WEDNESDAY 14 APRIL
Today we will travel to Greymouth and then on to Hokitika to visit the Greenstone Factory and the Glass Blowing shop and other attractions the town has to offer before checking in to Jade Court.  The Alpine Express is an optional extra ($100.00).  For those wishing to take this option we will take you to the Christchurch Railway Station and meet you in Greymouth.

THURSDAY 15 APRIL
Further south today to glacier country and if the weather is clear we will get our first view of Mount Cook.  Lunch at the township of Franz Josef before visiting the Visitor Centre and Franz Josef Glacier itself.  Then on to Fox Glacier to stay one night.  If the weather is fine we will visit Lake Mathieson, the mirror lake, and visit Fox Glacier the following morning.  If the weather is not right we may change these visits around.  Overnight Fox Glacier Hotel.

FRIDAY 16 APRIL
From Fox Glacier to the Haast Pass we will see the real West Coast, big rivers, rugged bush and magnificent scenery, before arriving at the first of the large South Island lakes, Wanaka and Hawea.  Tonight we stay at the Edgewater Resort, Lake Wanaka..  This is one of the prettiest places in New Zealand.  Prior to going to our hotel we will visit the Fighter Pilots Museum at the Wanaka Airport.

SATURDAY 17 APRIL
Following breakfast we travel an hour to visit the new town of Cromwell as well as the Clyde Dam and power station, the building of which destroyed most of the original township.  From here it is on to Arrowtown for lunch and time to look round this historical place before continuing on to Queenstown for the next two nights at Tanoa Aspen .  After four one night stops I am sure you will all appreciate two nights at all our stays from now on, with the exception of one night at Twizel.

SUNDAY 18 APRIL
A day in Queenstown.  Our first visit is to the Gondola and Skyline complex where we will see the most amazing views of Queenstown, The Remarkables and the Lake.  Following this visit you will have two and a half hours to explore Queenstown shops before we depart on the first of our three cruises.  Across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station aboard the TSS  Earnslaw for a farm visit and afternoon tea before returning to Queenstown with a good old fashioned singsong on board the Lady of the Lake.

MONDAY 19 APRIL
Today’s journey takes us firstly to the southern end of Wakatipu to visit Kingston and see the Kingston Flyer.  From here we will travel to Manapouri for lunch before setting out on our second cruise across the west arm of Lake Manapouri to visit the underground power station two kilometres under the lake.  Hewn out of solid rock, deep in the heart of the mountain, sit the seven generators which provide the stations output of 760,000kw.  Following our visit we return across the lake to Manapouri and then the short drive to Te Anau to stay two nights at the Luxmore Motor Lodge.

TUESDAY 20 APRIL
Our coach trip today takes us to Milford Sound.  Driving along the shores of Lake Te Anau, and then through the beautiful Eglington and Holyford Valleys and through the famous Homer Tunnel.  On arrival we will take the cruise on Milford Sound right out to the Tasman Sea and return.  This is truly a fantastic experience.  Following the cruise we return to Te Anau.  On both the outward and homeward journeys to Milford we will be stopping to let you see some amazing scenic attractions.

WEDNESDAY 21 APRIL
We have a leisurely drive to Invercargill this morning and we will detour via Riverton to take in some of the spectacular southern coastline.  This is an area where Stewart Island is more visible than from Bluff.  On arrival in Invercargill and following a lunch break we will tour part of the city and visit magnificent Queens Park with its lovely trees and large rose gardens which run right to the Museum and Art Gallery, which are well worth a visit.  We stay two nights at the Ascot Park Hotel.

THURSDAY 22 APRIL
Following breakfast we travel to Tiwai Point to visit the Aluminium Smelter.  It is hard to describe the sheer size of the complex, but the entire two and a half hour tour is done by coach and is very interesting, particularly as we have already visited the power source at Manapouri and neither complex would have been built without the other.  At the conclusion of the tour we will take you to Bluff Hill Lookout hopefully to see Stewart Island.  Lunch in Invercargill followed by a visit to Anderson House and then time in the city for shopping for those who wish to.   If you wish to take the Stewart Island option this can be arranged for the afternoon.

FRIDAY 23 APRIL
We start our journey northward this morning travelling through Edendale and Mataura to Gore and then on through Clinton to Balclutha for a brunch stop before arriving in Dunedin to visit Olveston, a magnificent old stately home with so much history.  This visit will be followed by a visit to Cadbury World before going to our hotel, Scenic Circle Dunedin, where we are staying two nights.

SATURDAY 24 APRIL
A tour of the city this morning before an early lunch and then it is off to Taiaroa Head to visit the Albatros Colony and Visitor Centre.  From Taiaroa Head we visit Larnach Castle on our way back to Dunedin.

SUNDAY 25 APRIL
An interesting day ahead of us with lots of variety.  Leaving Dunedin we travel north to Moeraki, home of the world famous boulders.  Time to view them and perhaps morning tea before travelling on to Oamaru for lunch.  South of Oamaru we will visit Parkside, the home of Oamaru Stone.  We will visit the quarry itself and then Parkside Stone and Garden, a unique garden and reception centre developed by Linda Mitchell, daughter-in-law of the present owner of Oamaru Stone Quarry.  After lunch we will have a short tour of Oamaru to view some of the very old stone buildings before driving northwest through the Waitaki Valley to Omarama and then on to Twizel to stay one night at the McKenzie Country Inn.  On our way to Omarama we will drive across the Aviemore Power Station and Dam as well as visit the Benmore Dam.

MONDAY 26 APRIL
Some real highlights today and some of the best scenery in the south.  Following breakfast we travel to the Hermitage and will see Mount Cook in all it’s splendour, along with some of the other high peaks in the area.  We retrace our journey along the shores of Lake Pukaki and then to one of New Zealand’s most beautiful places, Lake Tekapo.  We visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and then drive through the McKenzie Country to Burkes Pass and on to Geraldine for lunch.  Following lunch we travel through Geraldine to Ashburton and then on to Christchurch to stay two nights at the Elms Hotel.

TUESDAY 27 APRIL
Today is a free day, your escort will assist you to plan your day if you wish.  No doubt we will all get together for a final happy hour before dinner.

WEDNESDAY 28 APRIL
At 10am you will be transferred to the airport for our Air New Zealand flight to Rotorua NZ5378 departing 1155 and arriving at 1335.  On arrival our coach will be waiting to return you to your homes.

ARRANGEMENTS TERMINATE

INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOUR
I have designed this tour to take in what I consider the top attractions, as well as seeing the best of the lower South Island, in the time available.  The hotels chosen, along with the meals provided, are all of a very high standard.  No part trips or visits are compulsory.  If you would, in some places, like to do your own thing or visit friends that is entirely up to the individual.  Likewise if anyone does not wish to take in any of the cruises which are included in the cost of the tour, a reduction in the cost of the tour will be made.  The decisions on cruises must be made prior to the start of the tour.

Finally, if you haven’t seen the South Island – you haven’t seen New Zealand!
I do hope you will join me.

Doug Crooks Tours Co-ordinator Phone: 07 575 9751 Free Phone: 0800 866 166 Mobile: 025 238 2108