Day 1 Arrive Christchurch
Welcome to New Zealand. On arrival you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel. Accommodation: Christchurch, Holiday Inn City Center.

Day 2 Christchurch / Mt Cook / Twizel
Travel across the Canterbury Plains to the High Country. Enter Mt Cook National Park, home to New Zealand’s highest mountain. Take a scenic flight over this awe-inspiring alpine region (weather permitting, own expense) and land on the mighty Tasman Glacier. Then head to the heart of the MacKenzie Country and the township of Twizel. Accommodation: Twizel, MacKenzie Country Inn. (B,D)

Day 3 Twizel / Dunedin Personalized Touring
Travel past hydroelectric lakes and through the Waitaki Valley to Oamaru. Stop to see the unusual boulders at Moeraki Beach. Arrive in Dunedin, the “Edinburgh of the South.” This afternoon you choose the activity and we’ll include it. Visit Olveston House, Royal Albatross Center, the yellow-eyed penguin colony or take a harbor cruise—the choice is yours. Accommodation: Dunedin, Dunedin City Hotel. (B,D)

Day 4 Dunedin / Milford Sound
Travel through Balclutha and Gore to Te Anau. Continue through the stunning scenery of World Heritage-listed Fiordland National Park. Pass through the scenic Eglinton Valley to magnificent Milford Sound. Cruise past spectacular sheer cliffs and waterfalls and mile-high Mitre Peak. Take out one of the vessel’s kayaks or relax on deck. Accommodation: Overnight on board the Milford Mariner. (B,D)

Day 5 Milford Sound / Queenstown
Awaken to breakfast and the unbelievable sights of Milford Sound. Travel back through Te Anau, following the Remarkables Mountain Range to Queenstown. Enjoy your dining choice in Queenstown, where you choose from one of four restaurants and we’ll include it. Accommodation: Queenstown, Aurum Hotel for two nights. (B,Sp,D)

Day 6 Queenstown Personalized Touring
You choose the activity and we’ll include it. Try a Queenstown “Double Decker Explorer” tour, a jetboat ride, an “Original Wine Tour,” a “Lord of the Rings” safari, a garden tour, a 4WD Skippers Canyon adventure, or a walk around Lake Wakatipu. (B)

Day 7 Queenstown / Franz Josef
Travel along the shores of Lakes Hawea and Wanaka to Mt Aspiring National Park. Traverse Haast Pass en route to World Heritage-listed Westland National Park. See spectacular mountain ranges, forests, lakes, rivers and glaciers. Take a scenic flight over the breathtaking glaciers of Fox and Franz Josef (own expense, weather permitting). Accommodation: Franz Josef, Franz Josef Glacier Hotel. (B,D)

Day 8 Franz Josef / Christchurch
Travel along the west coast to Hokitika to visit a glass blowing factory and see beautiful native Pounamu (jade) jewelry and artifacts. Drive through Arthurs Pass National Park and the magnificent Southern Alps mountains on the return to Christchurch. Accommodation: Christchurch, Holiday Inn City Center. (B,D)

Day 9 Christchurch / Wellington
Board the TranzCoastal train for a spectacular journey across rolling farmland of the North Canterbury Plains to the rugged Kaikoura coast. Travel to Picton and board the Interislander ferry for a cruise through the Marlborough Sounds to Wellington. Accommodation: Wellington, James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor. (B,D)

Day 10 Wellington / Rotorua
Travel past the Ruahine Ranges through tussock grasslands and the dramatic landscape of World Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park. View Lake Taupo and visit the mighty Huka Falls en route to Rotorua, the center of Maori culture and a geothermal wonderland. Tonight enjoy a Hangi (feast) and Maori performance. Accommodation: Rotorua, Park Heritage Hotel for two nights. (B,Sp,D)

Day 11 Rotorua Personalized Touring
Today you choose the activity and we will include it. Perhaps visit Te Puia Thermal Reserve to view bubbling mud pools, enjoy a guided tour at the Maori Arts & Crafts Institute or discover New Zealand agriculture at the Agrodome and see a sheep show and shearing display. Visit Rainbow Springs Nature Park or soak in a hot mineral pool. Rest of day at leisure. Country Homestay option is available tonight. (B,D)

Day 12 Rotorua / Waitomo / Auckland
Today we journey to the world renowned Waitomo Limestone Caves where we experience a guided tour of the limestone caverns then glide silently by boat through the fairy tale Glow Worm Grotto. Continue north across lush Waikato farmland to Auckland, the “City of Sails.” Accommodation: Auckland, SkyCity Hotel. (B,D)

Day 13 Depart Auckland
At leisure. Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)

Itinerary effective 1 April 2006. Itineraries prior to this follow different route.

Tour NDN13 - Guaranteed Departures

Departure Dates
2006	Apr 13; Sep 7, 21; Oct 5, 12, 26; Nov 2, 9, 16, 23; Dec 7, 21
2007	Jan 6, 13, 20, 27; Feb 3, 10, 17, 24; Mar 3, 10, 24