The 'Nature & Adventure' Tour brings you close to New Zealand’s wildlife and at the same time there will be heaps of opportunities to enjoy an adventure.

 

NATURE & ADVENTURE BOTH ISLANDS 15 DAYS

BOOKING CODE: 'ALBATROSS'

 

VIDEO: Watch our Nature and Adventure Tour Video

 

07 April - 21 April 2012

30 June - 14 July 2012

29 September - 13 October 2012

24 November - 08 December 2012

05 January - 19 January 2013

 

PRICE:  $1950

 

INCLUDED ARE:

-Transport & Fuel

-A fantastic guide!

-All accommodation in Backpackers, Units, a Marae or even Motels - the places are unique & fantastic - each place is different. Depending where you are you will have Hot Pools, Pool Tables, a cinema, great kitchens, play rooms or a piano to play on.

-One night we stay in tents in the Abel Tasman National Park.

-All Breakfasts with cereals and/or toasts with jam, honey and more!

-All Dinners, including a traditional 'Hangi meal in Rotorua! We make sure you get plenty and good food to eat! You will love it!

-Ferry Wellington to Picton

-Hot Water Beach

-Cathedral Cove Walk

-Alternative program for those ones not going to “White Island”

-City Sightseeing Rotorua

- Ohinemutu Maori Village Guided Tour

- Learn a Haka (Male Students)

- Learn a Poi or Stick Dance (Female Students)

-'Secret Hot Pools'

-Huka Waterfalls

-Volcanic Plateau -Kapiti  Coast

- Cable car Wellington

--City Sightseeing Tour Wellington

-Seal Spotting Kaikoura

-Peninsula Walk Kaikoura

- Hiking in the Abel Tasman

-Picnic Lunch Abel Tasman

- Glowworms Abel Tasman

-Pancake Rock formations

-Bonfire at West coast beach (weather permitting)

-Walk to the glaciers

-Greenstone combing on West Coast beach

-Knights Point lookout

-Waterfall & Rainforest Walks

-Gold mining Walk Kawerau Valley (if we have Jet boaters)

-Arrowtown Gold mining town and 'Lord of the Rings locations'

-Sightseeing Queenstown and surroundings.

-Cromwell Stone fruit Tasting (time permitting)

- Pukaki Lookout

- Church of Good Shepard

- Drop of at Airport, Bus or Train in Christchurch

 

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR PRICE:

We have negotiated 'special deals' with many operators. Please ask us for further details.

We have a detailed list available for you at the time of booking.

-Surfing - have fun and give it a go!

-White Island Excursions - walk on a volcano!!

-Rafting the Kaituna - the highest commercially rafted waterfall is part of this trip!

- Learn to paddle in a Waka - the Maori Warriors Canoe

-Whakarewarewa Thermal village - the one village on the planet build on a Thermal area!

-Wai-O- Tapu- the colorful thermal area with the orange Champagne pool - a NZ icon.

-Whale Watching - a must for anyone wanting to see those giants of the oceans!

-Swimming with dolphins

-See Albatrosses and seabirds

-Maori Experience - learn about the culture, a song, how to flax, see a Marae, the plants in the forest and be invited to song and tea into their private property.

-Sheep shearing - learn how to shear a sheep and lots more.

-Kayaking in the Abel Tasman National park

-Kiwi Bird House Westcoast

-Helicopter flight and Full Day Rafting Trip - West Coast

-Glacier Hike - walk on a glacier with a professional team guiding you.

-Horse riding close to Queenstown - a great place to go for a ride.

-Jet Boating in the Kawerau gorge. A dramatic gorge to go jet boating!

-Bungy jumping - you got to do it at least once in your life!

-River surfing in the Kawerau gorge.

-Gondola and luging - great fun and great views from above Queenstown.

-Milford Sound  - the most well known Tourist attraction this country has to offer, the dramatic drive into Fiordland includes lots of stops and the boat cruise is in a small vessel to get you closer to the waterfalls and cliff faces.

-Activities in Queenstown - ask us for more information.

- Antarctic Center Christchurch

 

ITINERARY:

 

DAY 1: AUCKLAND TO COROMANDEL

We will pick you up in Auckland and drive to the Coromandel Peninsula.

Hot Water Beach, our next stop en route entices you to dig your own thermal pool into the sand (best at low tide), also to sit back and watch dolphins playing in the surf. This is also a good place to try out surfing!  You will have time to walk to the famous Cathedral Caves, these Chalk cliffs lie around a couple of great beaches and it is a great place for a swim!

Overnight: Seabreeze, Coromandel

 

 

DAY 2: ROTORUA

We reach the Bay of Plenty  where most this countries Kiwi farms are located. On our way to Rotorua we reach an ideal rafting river. Those ones wanting to go rafting can do this here, a beautiful river with lots of rapids is waiting for you. In Rotorua we stay at a Holiday Park close to the foreshore of Lake Rotorua.

Overnight: Holden's Bay, Rotorua

 

 

DAY 3: WHITE ISLAND VOLCANO

This day is not to be missed. Destination “White Island”, a volcanic landscape to be reached by boat. On arrival you will be given appropriate safety equipment. There is simply no place which resembles this landscape; the closest might be the Moon! Take your camera and a spare data card! Those ones not wanting to go to White Island will have time to do activities in and around Rotorua or Whakatane.

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Overnight: Holden's Bay, Rotorua

 

 

DAY 4: ROTORUA - THERMAL AREA - HOT POOLS - MAORI VILLAGE

We get an introduction into Maori live and culture. Weather permitting there is time to paddle in a traditional Maori 'Waka - a war canoe. You have also time to explore Rotorua with it's famous museum and the 'Rachel' springs before we head off to the Thermal area of Wai-O- Tapu. This thermal area hosts the colorful ‘Champagne Pool” and has heaps of craters and sinter terraces. The famous Huka Falls are next before we reach the great lake Taupo.

 

Overnight: Silver Fern, Taupo

 

DAY 5: TAUPO - BUS TO WELLINGTON - FERRY TO SOUTH ISLAND

We follow the largest lake in the North Island on our way to the Desert Road.  This high plateau passes the highest mountains of the North Island, before dropping back to ocean level. We go on a ride with the Cable Car and enjoy the views from the Botanical Gardens. Time to see the parliament building, for sightseeing, shopping or to relax in a cafe before we catch the Ferry to the South Island through the scenic Marlborough Sounds. We spend the night in Picton, South Island.

 

Overnight: Sequoia, Picton

 

 

DAY 6: PICTON - KAIKOURA

New Zealand’s wildlife in its natural environment is the main focus for today; in Picton we have the chance to swim with dolphins. Those ones not wanting to do that have to choice to go to the beach of go for a walk with great views of the Marlborough Sounds. In Kaikoura you can encounter more seals, whales and many seabirds. Most famous is the Albatross which roams the Southern ocean.

We always allow time for the peninsula walk which allows great vistas of the Oceans with the snow capped mountains in the background.

                                                                                                                             

Overnight: Lazy Shag or Top Spot, Kaikoura

 

DAY 7: KAIKOURA - NELSON

Mornings are often the best time to go whale watching. The Rock Pools at the tip of the peninsula are always worthwhile to explore and there will be seals to watch. This is also a good time to go seal swimming. These animals are renown for being very active and they have a lot of fund playing with you. In the afternoon we head to Nelson and drive along a beautiful coastal road. In summer we allow time for a swim in a stunning swimming hole.

 

Overnight: Customhouse, Nelson

 

DAY 8: KAYAKING OR TRAMPING IN THE ABEL TASMAN
The Abel Tasman National Park is the most visited national park in the country. Beautiful beaches, Rainforest, Rocky outcrops, Islands, crystal clear waters and lots of Marine life are waiting for you.

We divide the group in walkers and kayakers, we all meet at one point again in the evening, enjoy the outdoor atmosphere and relax on the beach.

Time and weather permitting we explore a great pool in a river. In the evening we show you lots of glow worms.

 

Overnight: Anchorage Bay, Abel Tasman National Park

 

DAY 9: KAYAKING OR TRAMPING IN THE ABEL TASMAN

We swap paddles with boots, the kayakers will walk today and vice versa. So many beautiful places to stop and to relax. There is also a Seal colony which you can explore. We all meet again at the beginning of the Track in Marahau.  

In the afternoon we allow time for those ones wanting to sky dive.

We are staying one more night in Nelson.

 

Overnight: Customhouse, Nelson

 

DAY 10: ABEL TASMAN KAYAKING TO WESTCOAST

We drive into the stunning Buller gorge and onto the West Coast. The road is one of most scenic roads on the planet; we follow the ocean until we reach the strange Pancake rock formations. We have time to go out and explore this unique place, before driving to Greymouth.

Weather permitting we have a bonfire on the beach.

 

Overnight: Noah's Ark, Greymouth

 

 

DAY 11: WESTCOAST & GLACIERS

In Hokitika you can see carvers working with greenstone or Jade;it is also a good place to encounter Kiwi Birds. We then pass many lakes and rivers, we head deeper and deeper into the mountains. Half an hour before reaching the glaciers we drop off the Rafters. Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers stretch deep into the Rainforest, which creates a dramatic contrast in scenery.  There will be time to take a guided hike onto the glacier or a flight by helicopter to the top of Mount Cook to fully appreciate the grandiosity of your location.

Some stunning Hot Pools are waiting for us at night.

 

Overnight: Glow Worm Cottages, Franz Josef Village

 

DAY 12: GLACIERS TO QUEENSTOWN

On our way along the coast we stop at a fantastic beach and try to find greenstone. We then see some dramatic cliff faces until we reach the remote settlement of Haast, right at the bottom of the West Coast.

We have further stops at a stunning waterfall before making our way over the dramatic Haast Pass over to the beautiful settlement of Wanaka. After an hour's break we make our way into the Kawerau gorge, time to go for a ride in a Jet boat and those ones not wanting to do this can explore a historic gold mining area.

We reach Queenstown in the evening.

Overnight: Black Sheep, Queenstown

 

 

DAY 13: QUEENSTOWN TIME OUT

In the morning we make our way to the Bungy bridge, time for a jump if you like to do it!

There is also plenty of time for those ones wanting to ,river surf, through the gorge or to do any other activity which springs to your mind and for which you have the permission to do it.

In the afternoon  you have also time to get to know Queenstown, a great place to see the town and the stunning location is from the Top of the Gondola, where you also may try to go for a luge ride.

 

Overnight: Black Sheep, Queenstown

 

DAY 14: MILFORD SOUND OR TIME OUT QUEENSTOWN

We recommend to go to the iconic Milford Sound, it is a worthwhile day Tour from Queenstown. The steep cliff faces and dramatic landscape with many glaciers, snow capped mountains, waterfalls and rainforest build a dramatic backdrop for this stunning scenery which you find in every guidebook.

Alternatively you may want to go for one of the many activities such as paragliding, a Canyon Swing, Off Road Adventures with Farm bikes, Horse riding and much more. Or simply enjoy the town and relax or do a bit of shopping.

Overnight: Black Sheep, Queenstown

 

DAY 15: END OF TOUR IN CHRISTCHURCH

Passing the mountain ranges of the Southern Alps with many lakes on the way we make our way back to Christchurch. In Tekapo we allow time for the photogenic 'Church of the Good Shepard'. We arrive at around lunchtime in the biggest city of the South Island. we strongly recommend to do a Tour in the Antarctic Center before you catch a flight, bus or train back to your home destination.