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New Zealand

Independent Bus and Self-drive Tours / Escorted Tours for 18-35 year olds
Classic Escorted Tours / Camping Tours / Hiking Tours / Biking Tours / Multisport Tours

19 Day New Zealand Hiking Tour

Day 1. Christchurch
After your arrival in Christchurch, you will be dropped off at your downtown hotel. In the afternoon there will be a sightseeing tour through the ’Garden City‘, including the Port Hills and the ‘Sign of the Takahe’ with its magnificent views over the South Pacific and across the Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps.

Day 2. Christchurch – Queenstown (490km)
After a drive across the flat, alluvial Canterbury plains the road climbs the 671m Burke Pass which serves as the northern entrance to the area known as the MacKenzie Basin. On a picnic at the shores of Lake Tekapo you will be treated to magnificent views of New Zealand's Southern Alps. Here you can do an optional scenic flight over Mt Cook, or Aoraki, the cloud piercer or walk up Mount John (approx.2hrs). You continue your journey over the Lindis Pass along Lake Dunstan, one of the newest artificial lakes. We travel past fruit stalls and wind through the Kawarau River gorge to Queenstown.

Day 3. Queenstown (Rest Day)
Queenstown is an outdoor adventurer’s playground. Options could be a lake ride aboard the historic steamship Earnslaw, jet boating on the Shotover River, white water rafting, tandem paragliding, or a visit to the Kiwi house to see New Zealand's national icon in the flesh.

Day 4. Queenstown – Te Anau (168km)
A beautiful drive in the morning takes you along the shores of Lake Wakatipu until you reach Te Anau, the last township before Fiordland National Park. You have the option to do a half day excursion to the Manapouri Underground Power Station (departure from Te Anau is at 11.30am). Alternatively there is a walk to the bird sanctuary, a 3hr walk on the Kepler Track, kayaking or just relaxing.

Day 5. Te Anau - Milford Sound – Te Anau (242km)
On the way to Milford Sound this morning, you might spot cheeky Keas (Mountain Parrots) at rest areas next to the road. Aboard a cruise ship you take an amazing journey through the deep glacier carved Fiords of the Milford Sound. In the afternoon you walk a section of the famous Routeburn Track to the Key Summit, from where you have most beautiful views onto the Hollyford-Greenstone and Eglington Valley.

Day 6. Te Anau – Wanaka (230km)
Today the drive follows the Kawarau River gorge, past the world famous A.J Hacket bungy bridge (optional bungy jump). A little detour to Arrowtown, an old gold rush village provides the opportunity to visit the first Chinese settlement. You drive over the Crown Range, New Zealand’s highest road to Wanaka. At the west end of Lake Wanaka you can see the glittering snowtops of Mount Aspiring (3027m).

Day 7. Wanaka - Mount Aspiring NP - Wanaka (109km)
After a short drive into the Matukituki Valley your hiking trek takes you to the Rob-Roy Glacier, from where you have splendid views of the surrounding lakes and mountains (4-5hr trek).

Day 8. Wanaka – Fox Glacier (265km)
The journey takes you alongside Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka. First through arid countryside followed by dense rainforest on the border of Mount Aspiring NP. After a short walk through beech forest at Haast Pass you continue to the township of Fox Glacier. There may be time for a walk to the Glacier Face, or an optional scenic helicopter flight over the glaciers (incl. landing).

Day 9. Fox Glacier – Punakaiki (245km)
In the morning you drive to the Franz Josef Glacier and then walk to the glacier lookout. In Hokitika you visit a Greenstone factory, where you have the opportunity to buy jade carvings and jewellery at reasonable prices. Pounamu is the Maori name for Greenstone. In Punakaiki you will see the well known pancake rocks and will walk the Truman Track. A sunset walk on one of New Zealand`s most beautiful beaches could finish this day.

Day 10. Punakaiki – Picton (334km)
A walk along the Pororari River (approx.2hrs) takes you through sub-tropical forest with many of those remarkable Nikau palm trees and lime stone cliffs. Further, the route will take you along the spectacular coastal road and just before Westport at Cape Foulwind, you will see a seal colony on one of the coastal walks. After the lunch break in Murchison you will drive along the Buller River to Lake Rotoiti for a short walk in the Nelson Lakes National Park. The world-renowned vine-growing region of Marlborough will be passed on the way to Picton.

Day 11. Picton – Queen Charlotte Walkway
From this little fishing village you take a boat through the picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound to the beginning of the same named walking track. In 2-3 hours you walk through natural scenic reserves with lush coastal forest and over mountain ridges, with splendid views of the Sound. At 3pm you are picked up from Furneaux and taken by boat to the idyllic Portage Resort nestled right on the waterfront, where your luggage is already waiting for you.

Day 12. Queen Charlotte Walkway – Wellington
(Arrival in Wellington for those participants who have booked the North Island)
In the morning you hike along the coast through dense rainforest with its gigantic tree ferns. In Mistletoe Bay a boat pick-up is scheduled for 12noon, which will take you back to Picton. In the afternoon you enjoy the journey on the Interislander Ferry via Tory channel and Marlborough Sounds across Cook Strait to Wellington.

Day 13. Wellington – Tongariro National Park (348km)
(Departure in Wellington for those participants who have only booked the South Island)
During your sightseeing tour through the city, euphemistically known as the "Windy City”, you will see among other things the Parliamentary Buildings and the historical district with its St. Paul Cathedral. You will be driven to Mount Victoria, from where you can enjoy fantastic views of the city and the harbour. Afterwards you visit one of the most innovative museums of the world, the National Museum ‘Te Papa’. Towards the evening you reach the small National Park village with amazing views of the largest volcanoes in the country.

Day 14. Tongariro National Park – Rotorua (200km)
The Tongariro Crossing is one of New Zealand's premier day walks. This is a non guided walk, which takes you on a fascinating journey through a variety of vegetation zones, over scorer-scattered moonscapes, past the most beautiful turquoise blue lakes, solidified molten rock pillars and boiling hot springs. There are some spectacular panoramas over the surrounding countryside (6-7h trek). Alternatively there are shorter walks of 2-3 hours in the National Park. In the afternoon you will drive along Lake Taupo, New Zealands biggest Lake before you reach Rotorua, the most unique and active thermal area in the country.

Day 15. Rotorua
In the morning you will be guided through the Maori village centre Whakarewarewa. Here the successor of the first Polynesians present their culture. You will be entertained with a cultural performance, followed by a Hangi lunch (cooked in the tradional earthfire oven). The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore the active thermal valley or take a walk along the lake shore with a visit to the historic St. Faith`s Church and it`s beautiful woodcarvings.

Day 16. Rotorua – Coromandel Town (245km)
Today the tour travels past Lake Rotorua and through the unspoiled Kamai Mamaku forest to Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty. The mild climate is excellent for kiwi fruit growing. We then drive onto Coromandel Peninsula. At the beginning of the 19th Century this region was in a gold rush. A walk through Broken Hills near Pauanui is a reminder of the turbulent times.

Day 17. Coromandel Peninsula
This Peninsula has a diverse landscape on a small scale. On one side you find bare mountains of volcanic origin and on the other side a rugged coastline with beautiful beaches. This day has a lot to offer, from kayaking, riding or hiking some of the local bush walks, to an excursion to Hot Water Beach, so named because a hot spring bubbles up through the sand, making it a lovely warm place to relax at low tide and watch swimmers enjoying the sea and surf.

Day 18. Coromandel Town – Auckland (251km)
In the morning you drive along the peninsula and the beautiful coastline to the small village of Waiomu. On a 2 hour hike with river crossings or swing bridges you will see some of the few Kauri trees (local giant) left. You will leave Coromandel and reach Auckland after about 3 hours drive. During a sightseeing tour in the ’City of Sails‘‘, which is famous for its many sailing yachts in the Hauraki Gulf, you will see among other things the Harbour Bridge, Waitemata Yacht Harbour and Mount Eden, from where you can see the Skytower.

Day 19. Auckland - Departure
The last morning is for your own leisure. You will be transferred to the airport in the afternoon.

......Hiking & Fitness
If possible there will be daily walks depending on the tour itinerary. The average walking time is between 3-4 hours, except the Tongariro Crossing, which will take 6-7 hours and is rated medium to hard.
......Guides & Safety
Experienced Guides are used (most have had at least 10 years guiding experience in New Zealand). They all have a 'bush 1' qualification.
......Transport
Vehicles - either: new Ford Transit (a/c) 14 seater Vans or luxury
Toyota Coaster bus (20 seater). Both pull a trailer to hold luggage and
other supplies (picnic table/plates/cutlery etc etc)
.....Food
Meals are not included in the Tour price. Usually the tour guide will collect about NZ$100-150 per person to organize a daily continental breakfast and lunch for you during the tour. This is not a requirement, but it is the most economical and favoured option. However, you are welcome to look for your own breakfast and lunch (e.g. in the hotel).
The average cost for dinner (main course only) in New Zealand is approx. NZ$25.00.
......Accommodation
18 nights in hotels/motels.

Grade Easy+ (up to 7 hours hiking)
Start Christchurch
Finish Auckland
Dates 2007 - 29 Jan-16 Feb, 19 Feb-09 Mar, 12-30 Mar, 02-20 Apr
Prices Standard NZ$4425 With single surcharge NZ$5370
Tour Price Includes:
Airport Transfers (Day 1 : 7am-2pm & Day 19 : 7am-3.30pm)
Accommodation: 18 nights in hotels/motels
Meals: 1 lunch (Hangi Lunch in Rotorua)
(breakfast and picnic lunch can be shared & prepared together / the tourguide will collect NZ$100 - optional)
Minibus
Boat transfer in Queen Charlotte Sound
Luggage transport during the Queen-Charlotte Walk
Ferrycrossing Wellington - Picton
Entry Whakarewarewa Thermal Village with performance & hangi lunch
All National Park- and other entry fees, except the “optional” ones

Notes: Itineraries may be modified in situations such as adverse weather or to better suit client needs.