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10 Day Ellerslie Flower Show Tour
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Summary of Tour Included Activities |
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Starting and ending in Christchurch, this magnificent 10 day tour provides so much to see and enjoy with more inclusions than you’d believe! We don’t just visit Mt Cook, we STAY there, at the base of the mountain surrounded by majestic mountains and glaciers. Your second day includes a full day pass at the Ellerslie International Flower Show in Christchurch. You will visit the popular tourist village of Queenstown, the Scottish influenced city of Dunedin, the Otago Peninsula with an abundance of natural wonders, cruise the Milford Sound and be mesmerized by the wilderness and frozen glaciers of the West Coast. Included in the tour price is the Tranz Alpine Express, regarded as one of the great rail journeys of the world! This is a tour of fantastic value and great experiences!
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CHRISTCHURCH / ELLERSLIE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER SHOW |
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ARRIVE CHRISTCHURCH |
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 | Christchurch airport / hotel transfers
Free transfers from airport to hotel are provided for those requiring them. On arrival at Christchurch International Airport look for the “Great Experiences Welcome Sign” and be transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to spend on optional activities. | | | FOX / WANAKA |
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 | Lake Matheson Walk
If the weather is fine this morning, your coach captain will take you to the carpark where the self-guided walk commences.
Lake Matheson was formed about 14,000 years ago, when the Fox Glacier retreated from its last major advance towards the sea and left a depression which later filled with water. It may very well be the most photographed lake in New Zealand and if you are fortunate enough to see it, you will see why.
The waters of Lake Matheson are dark brown, so on a calm day they create the ideal reflective surface. An easy walk passes over the Clearwater River suspension bridge, just a few minutes from the car park. The Clearwater River drains off the lake and is brownish under the bridge, however it quickly becomes clear and true to its name. The track continues through ancient native forest, including tall rimu and kahikatea trees, to a pontoon that extends out onto the lake. Long finned native eels thrive in the darkness of Lake Matheson, which is also home to many water birds. For this reason the lake is a traditional mahinga kai (food gathering place) for Maori people.
The walk from the car park takes 40 minutes to the pontoon, or 1.5 hours around the lake.
| | | WANAKA / QUEENSTOWN |
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 | Gibbston Valley Winery
Gibbston Valley Wines is an award-winning wine producer in New Zealand's Central Otago region. The boutique winery offers a unique experience incorporating a fabulous winery restaurant, wine tours and tasting events. Established in 1987, they were the first commercial wine producers in the region and the winery earned an internationally acclaimed reputation for the Otago Pinot Noir and other thriving grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Pinot Blanc. You will enjoy a Cellar Door Experience and Harvest Platter Lunch. Indulge & enjoy! | | |  | Puzzling World
Stuart Landsborough’s Puzzling World is a world unique attraction specialising in puzzling eccentricity. For over 35 years this remarkable business has entertained and amazed visitors of all ages, attracted to this beautiful part of the world. Offering the world's first "modern-styled" Great Maze, incredible Illusion Rooms, a Puzzle Centre/Café, large Gift Shop and eccentric architecture and oddities.
Located in the heart of the breathtaking Southern Lakes region of the South Island of New Zealand, Puzzling World is set amongst 7 acres of rolling lawns, trees and gardens. You will love it here! | | | QUEENSTOWN / MILFORD / TE ANAU |
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 | Milford Sound Cruise
Board the Milford Sovereign and embark on a 1hr 40min spectacular cruise of the Milford Sound. View Mitre Peak and search for wildlife and waterfalls, cruising out to the Tasman Sea to a rocky seal colony before returning. If the day is wet the display of falling, tumbling waterfalls abound. The Stirling Falls and the Bowen Falls when full are magnificent. | | |  | Milford Sovereign lunch
Whilst on board the Milford Sovereign viewing the stunning scenery of Milford Sound - you will be treated to an international buffet lunch (included). | | | TE ANAU / DUNEDIN |
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 | Sightseeing Tour of Dunedin
Dunedin is known as the 'Edinburgh of the South' and is New Zealand's oldest city, a university city of Scottish heritage, possessing a unique combination of cultural riches, fine architecture and world-famous wildlife reserves. Dunedin's art gallery and museums contain some of the best collections in New Zealand and "Baldwin Street" the steepest street in the world is here also. Your coach captain will provide a brief orientation tour of the city before taking you to your hotel, where you'll receive a Scottish welcome. | | |  | Speights Heritage Brewery
Speights is the brew of the "Southern Man" and Speights Brewery have thirteen alehouses in New Zealand, with Dunedin's being the first and original! The tour includes tasting of the brew (pour your own) plus the chocolates and ice cream that contain by-products of this famous Southern brew. A beer lovers paradise! | | |  | Speights Ale House Dinner
After your tour of the Speights Heritage Brewery you will follow the skirl of the bagpipes as you walk to the Speights Ale House. Tonight you will enjoy a uniquely different venue with a wonderful atmosphere and Specialty Dinner. | | |  | Fiordland Theatre Movie
Assemble at the Fiordland Theatre a short walk from your hotel, where you will watch the movie “Ata Whenua…The Shadowlands”, a very special short film and one which will set the scene for tomorrow. | | | DUNEDIN / MT COOK |
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 | Nature's Wonders tour
Nature lovers will love this visit to Nature's Wonders, a working farm where you will view wildlife up close. Board the Argo 8 Wheel Transport, an exciting but smooth ride that will take you to seals, penguins, nesting seabirds and spectacular views. Your hosts are Perry and Tracey Reid and they will take wonderful care of you as they share their home, their stories and spectacular property during this fun, interesting and educational tour. | | |  | Larnach Castle tour
Larnach Castle is New Zealand’s only castle and is renowned for it’s gardens of 'International Significance'. Stroll through the magnificent grounds and take a guided tour of the castle’s interior. With it's exciting, sometimes scandalous and tragic history, magnificent carved ceilings, New Zealand antiques and breathtaking views, Larnach Castle offers you a vision of the past and present. | | |  | Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre
Located at The Hermitage Mt Cook is the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre. You will be provided with an unlimited pass, including entry to the Theatre and Planetarium, the Sir Edmund Gallery and the 3D movie, “Mt Cook Magic” taking you on a thrilling journey to the top of the mountain. Open from 7.30am to 9.30pm and offering something different every day, you could spend many hours here and still not see it all! | | | AORAKI MT COOK |
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| Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre
Located at The Hermitage Mt Cook is the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre. You will be provided with an unlimited pass, including entry to the Theatre and Planetarium, the Sir Edmund Gallery and the 3D movie, “Mt Cook Magic” taking you on a thrilling journey to the top of the mountain. Open from 7.30am to 9.30pm and offering something different every day, you could spend many hours here and still not see it all! | | | MT COOK / CHRISTCHURCH |
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 | Lake Tekapo
At Lake Tekapo you will have the opportunity to take a stroll around this beautiful alpine village. The views of the Southern Alps and turquoise lake are breathtaking and stopping here provides wonderful photo opportunities. | | |  | Church of Good Shepherd
You will stop at the famous Church of the Good Shepherd, built on the shores of Lake Tekapo in 1935 as a memorial to the pioneers of the Mackenzie Country. Congregations of the three main faiths worship regularly in the Church, arguably one of the most photographed in New Zealand, and features an altar window that frames stunning views of the lake and mountains. Nearby is the statue of the famous sheep dog, which was commissioned to honour the work of the dogs of the high country sheep stations.
| | | CHRISTCHURCH |
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 | Tamaki Heritage Show & Dinner
Tamaki Heritage Tours presents a uniquely different cultural show and dinner that will take you on a journey from the past to the present. Trams, old steam trains and historic buildings fill the amazing sets. Based on a true story of real characters and actual events, the re-enactments are mind-blowing! Enjoy the arts, craft, song, dance and the roast dinner banquet, for this is an emotional, unique night that will fill your senses. You will be collected from the hotel at 6pm for a 6.30 show. Enjoy this entertaining evening, with complimentary drinks on us! | | |
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