SOUTH ISLAND NATURE AND ADVENTURE TOUR - 10 DAYS
BOOKING CODE: "DUSKY DOLPHIN"
DEPARTS: WELLINGTON - PICTON, BLENHEIM or KAIKOURA
12 - 21 April 2012
05 - 14 July 2012
04 - 13 October 2012
29 November - 08 December 2012
10 - 19 January 2013
PRICE:
$1350 ex Picton, Blenheim, Kaikoura
$1420 ex Wellington;
includes Ferry, accommodation in Picton, Dinner
INCLUDED ARE:
-Transport & Fuel
-A professional guide!
-All accommodation in Backpackers, Units or even Motels - the places are unique & fantastic - each place is different. Depending where you are you will have Pool Tables, a Sauna, Swimming pools, a cinema, Hot tubs, great kitchens and play rooms. 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! We make sure you get plenty and good food to eat! You will love it!
-Seal Spotting Kaikoura
-Peninsula Walk Kaikoura
-Picnic Lunch Abel Tasman
-Hiking - in the Abel Tasman it is a breeze!
-Pancake Rock formations
-Bonfire at West coast beach (weather permitting)
-Walk to the glaciers
-Greenstone Beach combing on West Coast beach
-Knights Point lookout
-Waterfall & Rainforest Walks
-Gold mining Walk Kawerau Valley
-Arrowtown Gold mining town and 'Lord of the Rings locations'
-Sightseeing Queenstown and surroundings.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES NOT INCLUDED IN TOURPRICE:
We have negotiated 'special deals' with many operators, ask us for further details & we have a detailed list available for you at the time of booking.
-Whale Watching - a must for anyone wanting to see those giants of the oceans!
-Swimming with dolphins
-Seal Swimming
-See Albatrosses and seabirds
- Sheep shearing - learn how to shear a sheep and lots more.
-Kayaking in the Abel Tasman National park.
- Kiwi House - West Coast
-Helicopter Flight and 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!
-Fun yaking close to Queenstown
-Bungy jumping - you got to do it once in your life!
-Gondola and luging - great fun and great views from above Queenstown.
- Ice Bar - Visit an Ice Bar, build completely out of ice for a non alcoholic drink.
-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. Even better by plane!
-Activities in Queenstown - ask us for more information.
ITINERARY:
DAY 1: PICTON - KAIKOURA
You can start your South Island Tour either from Picton, Blenheim or make your way up from Christchurch to Kaikoura. New Zealand’s wildlife in its natural environment is the main focus for today; in Kaikoura you have the chance to see dolphins, seals, whales and many seabirds. Most famous is the Albatross which roams the Southern ocean. You have the opportunity to gain great insight into Maori customs, learn to flax and find out more about plants. You can also see a sheep being shorn!. There is also a place where you can eat New Zealand's largest burger, if you'd like to be on the Wall of Fame you have to give it a go.
Overnight: Kaikoura
DAY 2: 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. 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: Nelson
DAY 3: 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.
Overnight: Abel Tasman National Park
DAY 4: KAYAKING OR TRAMPING IN THE ABEL TASMAN
We swop boots with paddles, 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. We are staying one more night in the Nelson region.
Overnight: Nelson
DAY 5: 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: Greymouth
DAY 6: WESTCOAST & GLACIERS
In Hokitika you can see carvers working with greenstone or Jade; this is also a good place to see a Kiwi Bird. We drive past 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. This is also a place for keen horse riders. Some stunning Hot Pools are waiting for us at night.
Overnight: Franz Josef
DAY 7: 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 then stop at the Bungy Bridge, anyone keen can jump at the place where the bungy jumps where invented. We allow time for the Arrowtown, site of many 'Lord of the Rings' locations and a great place to go shopping before driving the last few kilometers to Queenstown.
Overnight: Queenstown
DAY 8: QUEENSTOWN TIME OUT
In the morning we make our way to the Bungy bridge, time for a jump if you like to do it!Then we allow time for a lunchbreak in the old Gold mining city ‘Arrowtown’.
In the afternoon you have 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.
You also have the options to enjoy some of the Adventure Activities in Queenstown or get to know some remote parts of the country, such as ‘Skipper’s Canyon or go Fun yaking in the Paradise valley; a very well known area thanks to the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the 'Milka cow commercials'.
The ‘Lord of the Rings’ Fans will enjoy a trip to Deer Park Heights, were many locations can be found.
Overnight: Queenstown
DAY 9: QUEENSTOWN TIME OUT or MILFORD SOUND
There is so much to do that one day will not be enough. Endless options such as going paragliding, Canyon Swing or go for a ride on a Quadbike and much more. You may also choose to , visit Glenorchy with it’s ‘Lord of the Ring locations or simply enjoy time at the lake or do a bit of shopping.
Alternatively you can also go to the iconic Milford Sound, it is a worthwhile day Tour from Queenstown. Even quicker it would be if you fly into the fjords. 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.
Overnight: Queenstown
DAY 10: 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. We arrive at around lunchtime in the biggest city of the South Island.
From here you can make your way back to your destination by plane, bus or train.
Thank you for travelling with Active Planet.
