Day 1 - Welcome to Queenstown
Upon arrival, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted to the 5-star St. Moritz Hotel. This evening, join your guide and fellow guests for a welcome drink and dinner at the hotel. Meals DDay 2 - Discover Middle Earth
Our 4WD adventure to Glenorchy immerses you in the magnificent landscapes made famous in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Then explore Arrowtown, founded in the heady days of the Gold Rush, and thrill to a jetboat adventure on the Shotover River. Meals BDay 3 - Queenstown
After breakfast, you’ll spend this day exploring Queenstown and its surrounding countryside. At the Kiwi Bird Park, you’ll have a chance to observe and learn about some of New Zealand’s indigenous wildlife including the Brown Kiwi, Tuatara Lizard, and the colorfully plumed Rainbow Lorikeet. Sample the fine boutique wines of a local winery and take in breathtaking vistas of mountains and waterways on a gondola ride.
Later this afternoon, you’ll board the TSS Earnslaw, a turn-of-the-century steamer, for a cruise across beautiful Lake Wakatipu. Step of at a working high-country homestead where you’ll see highly trained sheep dogs in action and enjoy a delightful lakeside dinner with fine New Zealand wine. Meals B+L+DDay 4 - Thrill to Milford Sound
Skirt the shores of Lake Wakatipu and journey into Fiordland National Park to embark your overnight cruise. Settle in to your private cabin and enjoy a leisurely afternoon and dinner as you sail with our shipboard naturalist. Marvel at waterfalls, rainforests and wildlife and maybe even explore in the ship's tender or kayaks! Meals B+DDay 5 - Te Anau to Clyde
Step off ship this morning and journey to Te Anau, an alpine region of unparalleled beauty set on the shores of one of New Zealand's deepest lakes. Enjoy lunch on a farm here and then journey into the spectacular Kawarau Valley. See the famous Bungy Bridge where two adventurers launched the worldwide bungee jumping craze in 1988 and then check in to Oliver's in historic Clyde. Meals B+LDay 6 - Exploring Central Otago
With fruit orchards and rolling fields, this is one of New Zealand's loveliest areas. Begin your day at a farmers market in Cromwell and sample the region's bounty at a local orchard. Enjoy a tasting and lunch at a nearby winery and visit one of the region's historic gold mines before returning to Clyde. Meals B+L+DDay 7 - Onward to Mt. Cook
Journey through the imposing Linda Pass to reach New Zealand's highest mountain. Check in to the Hermitage Hotel in time for dinner. Tonight, the absence of ambient light makes the Aoraki MacKenzie International Dark Sky Reserve one of the best places to view the Southern Constellations. Meals B+DDay 8 - Canterbury Plains to the Garden City
Embark on an available flightseeing adventure over Mt. Cook or just enjoy a leisurely morning. Then depart your hotel to journey over the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. With its lovely parks, new Cardboard Cathedral and handsome Gothic buildings, there's a very English ambience to Christchurch. Upon arrival, you'll set out to see the town's architectural landmarks and the Botanic Garden. Delight in casual conversation and dinner with a local family in their home and overnight at the George Hotel. Meals B+DDay 9 - Depart Christchurch
Transfer to the airport for your homeward flight or continue your adventure with our journey to the North Island. Meals BDay 1 - Welcome to Queenstown
Upon arrival, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted to the 5-star St. Moritz Hotel. This evening, join your guide and fellow guests for a welcome drink and dinner at the hotel. Meals D
Day 2 - Discover Middle Earth
This morning’s excursion to Glenorchy finds you on the northern end of Lake Wakatipu in a region of towering mountain ranges and old beech forests. Setting out in comfortable and maneuverable 4WD vehicles with skilled professional drivers, you’ll have ample time to take in these magnificent landscapes, including several sites that were featured in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy.
Next up is historic Arrowtown. Founded in the heady days of the Gold Rush, this charming leafy town is nestled below the beautiful peaks that surround the sparkling Arrow River. Take some time to stroll along Buckingham Street with its heritage buildings and old miners’ cottages – many of them now home to inviting galleries, shops and cafes. Before returning to Queenstown, a thrilling jetboat ride through the picturesque canyons of the Shotover River promises an unforgettable afternoon adventure. Meals B
Day 3 - Queenstown
After breakfast, you’ll spend this day exploring Queenstown and its surrounding countryside. At the Kiwi Bird Park, you’ll have a chance to observe and learn about some of New Zealand’s indigenous wildlife including the Brown Kiwi, Tuatara Lizard, and the colorfully plumed Rainbow Lorikeet.
Then learn about the winemaking traditions of the South Island at a local boutique winery and sample some of their fine vintages. From the heart of town, the Skyline Gondola will take you to the top of Bob’s Peak, nearly 1,500 feet above Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu. This is the steepest cable car ascent in the Southern Hemisphere and offers breathtaking views of Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Walter and Cecil Peaks and, of course, Queenstown.
Later this afternoon, you’ll board the TSS Earnslaw, a turn-of-the-century steamer, for a cruise across beautiful Lake Wakatipu. Step off at a working high-country homestead where you’ll see highly trained sheep dogs in action and enjoy a delightful lakeside dinner with fine New Zealand wine. Meals B+L+D
Day 4 – Cruise through Milford Sound
This morning’s drive begins along the shores of Lake Wakatipu and takes you through the amazing Homer Tunnel that opened in 1953. Continue through the spectacular glacier-carved Eglington Valley into Fiordland National Park to embark your overnight cruise aboard the comfortable Milford Mariner.
Settle in to your private outside cabin and get set for the adventure of a lifetime! As you journey the full length of Milford Sound, our ship’s expert naturalists are on hand to explain the history and geology of the region and to answer your questions. You’ll have plenty of time to take in the fjord’s pristine waterfalls, rainforests and soaring mountain peaks - and with sharp eyes, you might observe seals and possibly even dolphins and penguins. Anchoring in a sheltered cover, you’ll be able to join our naturalist guides to explore in the Mariner’s tender or by kayak. This evening after a delicious carvery buffet, you can relax in the company of your fellow passengers or hit the deck to observe the constellations of the Southern Sky. Meals B+D
Day 5 - Te Anau to Clyde
After a hearty breakfast onboard the Mariner, we’ll step off ship and journey a bit off the beaten path to spend time on a family farm. Agrarian traditions run strong in this picturesque part of the South Island, and this engaging encounter offers a chance to experience the region’s beauty as you gain insight into rural life. Then continue to Te Anau, a small Alpine town on the shores of one of New Zealand’s deepest lakes, for lunch at The Redcliff. Set in an early settler’s cottage, this cozy and inviting restaurant is known for simple dishes skillfully prepared with fresh fare from local farms; it’s the perfect follow-up to your morning farm visit.
In the afternoon, continue into the spectacular Kawarau Valley, home to the famous Bungy Bridge where two daring adventurers launched the worldwide bungee jumping craze in 1988. The day’s journey ends at Oliver’s Hotel, set on an authentic 19th-century homestead in historic Clyde. Meals B+L
Day 6 - Exploring Central Otago
With fruit orchards, waterways and rolling hills, Central Otago is one of New Zealand’s loveliest and most bountiful agricultural areas. After breakfast, you’ll begin your exploration at a lively farmers market in Cromwell, a charming and historic town founded during the Gold Rush days of the 1800’s. At one of the area’s local orchards, you’ll have a chance to sample some of the region’s bounty. Then enjoy a guided tour, wine tasting and lunch at a nearby vineyard estate.
In the mid 1800’s, this region also witnessed New Zealand’s first major gold rush and fortune seekers and adventurers poured into the region to dig for gold. This afternoon’s tour at the Goldfields Mining Center immerses you in this colorful chapter of the island’s history. You can follow paths along the Kawarau Gorge to the mine shafts that were excavated more than a century ago and see the land laid bare by ground sluicing. Gold nuggets can still be found in the soil and you might even try our luck as you try your hand at gold panning! Enjoy a congenial dinner and another tranquil night in Clyde. Meals B+L+D
Day 7 - Onward to Mt. Cook
Leaving behind Clyde and Central Otago, this morning’s scenic journey takes you through the dramatic Lindis Pass at an altitude of 3,800. Traveling through the Mackenzie Basin that lies roughly in the center of the South Island, you’ll discover a picturesque region of powder blue lakes and wide-open grasslands set against an impressive backdrop of snow-capped mountains.
Arriving in the beautiful Aoraki Mt. Cook National Park, you’ll check in to the comfortable Hermitage Hotel in time for dinner. Tonight, the absence of ambient light makes the Aoraki MacKenzie International Dark Sky Reserve one of the best places to view the Southern Constellations. Meals B+D
Day 8 - Canterbury Plains to the Garden City
Embark on an available flightseeing adventure over Mt. Cook or take this morning to relax. A pleasant stroll on the landscaped grounds of the hotel or through the surrounding alpine meadows would offer a chance to take in the fresh mountain air and marvelous views of the soaring terrain. Later, you’ll depart the National Park to journey over the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.
With its lovely parks and handsome Gothic buildings, there's a delightful, very English ambience to Christchurch. In contrast, the Cardboard Cathedral designed by Shigeru Ban in 2011 is a marvel of 21st-century architectural design and ingenuity, constructed of paper tubes, re-purposed shipping containers and a lightweight outer skin. Upon arrival, you'll set out to see the town's architectural landmarks and the Botanic Gardens - founded in 1863 with the planting of a single English oak tree. From this humble beginning, the garden has grown to encompass mature trees, expansive lawns and 10 different gardens set within a loop of the gently flowing Avon River. This evening, you’ll be the guests of a Christchurch family in their lovely home. Congenial conversation with your hosts and perhaps a few of their friends will accompany a wonderful home-cooked meal of traditional New Zealand fare.
Overnight at The George, a luxury boutique hotel on the Avon River. Meals B+D
Day 9 - Depart Christchurch
Transfer to the airport for your homeward flight. Or continue your adventure with our 12-day Small Group Journey to Australia. Meals B