Sound On

Day One & Two
Today you will fly from LAX on  a night flight aboard Fiji Airways. (Total flight time is 15 hours.)

Day Three
Arrive into Auckland from Fiji. Auckland is New Zealand’s largest and most diverse city, referred to as the ‘City of Sails’ due to the fact it is set around a picturesque harbour where there are often many sailboats cruising along. You will be met by your Coach Captain and transferred to the Airedale Boutique Suites for your first night stay in New Zealand. En route to the hotel you will be taken on a brief sightseeing tour of Auckland showcasing the magnificent Auckland Harbour, seaside communities, city parks and waterfront.  The Airedale Boutique Suites is located on Queen St in the heart of Aucklands cultural precinct.

(Dinner)

Day Four
This morning you leave Auckland, and travel through the Waikato and King Country regions, passing by flourishing farmland and picturesque countryside. Continuing to Waitomo, a land of contrasts, much of the area’s natural wonders can be found below the earth’s surface as rolling hills and unspoilt native bush gives way to subterranean limestone caverns. Millions of years in the making, Waitomo’s visually awe-inspiring cave network draws people looking for adventure and those looking for a sense of wonder. The name Waitomo comes from (wai meaning water and tomo meaning hole into the ground in Maori) Tour one of these caves, discovering an ancient world 30 million years in the making, seeing amazing cave formations, glittering glow worms and enjoy a short boat road gliding along an underground

river.

From Waitomo, pass through more rural farming communities on the way to Hobbiton Movie Set for a tour of this iconic attraction. After the Hobbiton visit continue on your journey through the pretty tree lined Fitzgerald Glade and cross the Mamaku Range to Lake Rotorua. (Breakfast)

Day Five
Experience Rotorua’s volcanic and thermal wonderlands, with fascinating features of steaming volcanic crater lakes and colourful volcanic, diverse geothermal activity and geysers. Rotorua offers authentic Maori culture from the Te Arawa people, who have shared their culture, and traditions including the haka, carving and weaving for centuries.

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This morning visit Te Puia, a Geothermal wonderland with boiling mudpools and steaming geysers. You will also have the opportunity to visit a nocturnal house to see New Zealands native bird – the Kiwi and there is time to visit the Maori Arts and Crafts Centre – the home of the national school of carving.

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After visiting Te Puia travel to the Skyline Gondola for the chance to take in spectacular views of the surrounding region. A buffet lunch will also be included. The rest of this afternoon is free for you to explore Rotorua at your leisure. This evening included is a cultural evening with a Maori cultural performance and traditional Hangi influenced meal.

(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

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Day Six

Shortly after leaving Rotorua visit Wai o Tapu Geothermal Park and explore the vivid colours of the steaming hot waters. Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland is a spectacular showcase of New Zealand’s most colourful and unique geothermal elements sculpted by thousands of years of geothermal activity.

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Continuing your journey, travel through vast planted pine forests until steam clouds rising in the distance will indicate your arrival at Wairakei where deep subterranean bores have been harnessed to provide electricity. A short distance further is the town of Taupo, situated at the northern end of New Zealand's largest lake.

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Continue south through to Turangi, then further via Taihape and through farmland and the small town of Levin before joining the motorway system into Wellington, our Capital City. Your Wellington Hotel is the Copthorne Hotel Wellington – Oriental Bay located across from the Wellington Harbour and just a short walk to the city centre. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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Day Seven

Wellington is famous for its arts, culture and cuisine, with more than 55 art galleries plus interactive national museum Te Papa and the national orchestra, ballet and opera. Wellington’s Oscar-winning film industry opens its doors to visitors to go behind the scenes and experience movie-making magic at Weta Studio Tours.

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This morning experience a sightseeing tour of Wellington which will include a journey up Mt Victoria offering stunning views of the Welington region and harbour. You will also travel through downtown Wellington and passed the very unique Beehive building where our politicians are based. This afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure and explore this harbour city. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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Day Eight

An early start today as you are transferred to the Wellington Ferry terminal for the Ferry across Cook Straight and through the picturesque Marlborough Sounds to Picton in the South Island. From Picton, travel the short distance through to Blenheim, the centre for one of New Zealand’s leading wine producing regions. From here continue on through farm country to the coastline and enjoy the spectacular features of the coast as you approach Kaikoura.

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Travel along the coast before climbing over the Hundalee Hills and descend into the Waipara Valley and onto rolling patch worked countryside of North Canterbury, noted for its sheep and cattle farming, through a series of small satellite towns, over the Waimakariri River arriving in Christchurch where you will spend the night at the centrally located Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square.

(Breakfast, Dinner)

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Day Nine

This morning board the Tranz Alpine Train for your journey firstly across the largest flat area in New Zealand – the Canterbury Plains, before ascending into the centre of the South Island mountainous region through the hills and across braided rivers. Disembark the train at the small settlement of Arthurs Pass where you will re-join your tour coach.

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From Arthurs Pass village, travel the short distance to Otira and across the Otira Viaduct - an extraordinary engineering feat spanning a long stretch of unstable terrain and remarkable landscape. As you drive west and down from the mountains, you will witness an abrupt change of vegetation. Suddenly it’s greener and lush rainforests replace the barren eastern side of the divide.

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You’re now on the West Coast – a region that has some of New Zealand’s best remaining stands of native forest and a wealth of rare wildlife. Here the locals – locally known as ‘Coasters’ – have a laidback attitude to life and a strong sense of community. Travel south on State Highway 6 to Hokitika, stopping to explore the local Jade and Gold factories before continuing on, crossing beautiful stretches of countryside scattered with farming settlements to Franz Josef, the first of the West Coast’s two well-known Glacier settlements. (Breakfast)

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Day Ten

This morning depart Franz Josef travelling south and through the other glacier township of Fox Glacier. From here continue alongside lush native bush and over countless rivers and streams and past glistening small lakes to the small settlement of Haast. From Haast the journey heads inland and travels over the Haast pass into the Southern Lakes district with firstly Lake Wanaka appearing on your right and Lake Hawea coming into sight on your left. The views are truly outstanding.

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Continue on via Cromwell – New Zealand’s fruit basket with countless orchards and through the historic Kawerau Gorge famous for gold mining in the 1800’s. Before arriving in Queenstown take a short detour via Arrowtown an historic and quaint gold mining town.

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After checking in to the hotel for the next 3 nights, transfer to the Waterfront and board the TSS Earnslaw Steam Ship for a crossing of Lake Wakatipu to the Walter Peak Farm Station. A BBQ dinner is included along with a farming demonstration including a farm dog working his sheep. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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Day Eleven

As the birthplace of world-first innovations like jet boating and bungy jumping – this adventure capital offers it all, from four-wheel driving, canyon swings, river boarding, sky diving and paragliding. It’s also home to several international golf courses including Jacks Point, The Hills and Millbrook, and offers exceptional lake and fly fishing, water sports, lake cruising and biking and walking trails.

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Queenstown includes filming sites from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit. Visit the filming locations of Minas Tirith, Misty Mountains, the Pillars of the Kings (Argonath), Gladden Fields, the Ford of Bruinen, Isengard, the Ithilien Camp, Lothlorien & Fanghorn forest and the Seat of Seeing/ Battle of Amon Hen and many more, on a sightseeing tour by either jetboat, four wheel drive or

scenic flight. (Breakfast)

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Day Twelve

An early start today as you board your coach for a journey to the jewel in New Zealand’s Crown – Milford Sound. Depart Queenstown and travel around Lake Wakatipu in the shadow of the rugged Remarkables mountain range. Continue on to Te Anau, gateway of the Fiordland National Park then follow Lake Te Anau to the valley of the Eglinton River. Pass through magnificent beech forests before a gradual descent into the precipitous Hollyford Valley. Climb steadily to the gigantic Cirque and the Homer Tunnel. Pass through the tunnel and down to the Cleddau Canyon where you will catch your first glimpse of Mitre Peak before finally emerging into the open at Milford Sound. At Milford Sound board your cruise for a journey along the sound. View some of New Zealand’s most spectacular scenery, get up and close to a thundering waterfall and if you are lucky you may see some wildlife such as dolphins or seals or penguins. Following the cruise return to the tour coach and travel back to Queenstown via Te Anau. (Breakfast)

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Day Thirteen

Depart Queenstown and travel to Cromwell, where many parts of the old Cromwell now lay at the bottom of the newly created Lake Dunstan, part of the Clyde Dam project. Continue through Tarras and over the Lindis pass, beyond the scrub and tussock of the high plains you will arrive into Mackenzie Country. Travel to Lake Tekapo, where the picturesque Church of the Good Shepherd perches on the lakeside.

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From Lake Tekapo, continue through Burkes Pass and onto Fairlie. From here, take State Highway 79 over undulating sheep country to Geraldine, before crossing the Rangitata River and passing through the town of Ashburton, centre of this large sheep and wheat farming area. 

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The longest bridge in New Zealand takes you across the Rakaia River, a typical New Zealand ‘braided river’ where numerous channels of water flow across a wide gravel bed. The river originates in the Southern Alps which can be seen to the west as you continue across the Canterbury plains into Christchurch. For your final night it is back to the Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square. (Breakfast, Dinner)

 

Day Fourteen

Depart your hotel for a brief City Sightseeing tour of Christchurch – a very English City with large Garden Parks historic architecture dating back to the late 1800’s. We then take you to the Christchurch Airport for your fligth to Fiji. When you arrive in Fiji check into your hotel on the beach. Relax and enjoy your evening. (Breakfast)

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Day Fifteen

Enjoy a free time at leisure in Fiji. The Pacific nation is known as the soft coral capital of the world! Enjoy your own time to explore the island and enjoy the beach nearby your hotel! (Breakfast)

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Day Sixteen

Enjoy the morning before checking-out of your hotel. Transfer to the airport in the afternoon for you non-stop flight back to LAX. Welcome home! (Breakfast)

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