New Zealand Grand Tour

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1 Our special destinations include: South Africa Zambia & Malawi Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe Kenya & Tanzania Rwanda & Uganda Egypt, Libya, Morocco & Tunisia Islands of the Indian Ocean Thailand, Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam India New Zealand Grand Tour Indonesia Australia New Zealand Islands of the South Pacific Touring itinerary for two, including air from Boston Valid for travel October 1, 2013 April 30, 2014 Blackout from December 15, 2013 January 31, 2014 applies Greece, Turkey & Mediterranean Jordan, Syria & the Middle East United Arab Emirates Costa Rica & Central America Argentina, Brazil, Chile & South America

2 Detailed Itinerary: Day 1 Depart Boston Los Angeles Depart Boston and fly economy class to Los Angeles International Airport. Depart Los Angeles International Airport in the evening and fly non-stop on Air New Zealand to Auckland. Cross the International Date Line and arrive in New Zealand two days after you depart Los Angeles! Day 2 Day 3 Cross International Date Line / In Transit Auckland Christchurch Arrive Auckland in the early morning and connect to your onward flight to Christchurch. On your arrival into Christchurch, you will be met our representative and transferred by private vehicle to your hotel. Often referred to as the Garden City, Christchurch features many majestic trees and extensive parks and gardens, the most notable of which is expansive Hagley Park in the heart of the city. Bordering the park you will find the botanical gardens and the Gothic revival building, which houses the Canterbury Museum. The Avon River gently winds its way around these inner city landmarks and out through sprawling suburbs to the Pacific Ocean. In contrast to this flat cityscape and the surrounding Canterbury Plains, the skyline to the south is dominated by the tussock and rocky outcrops of the Port Hills. The hills separate the city from the volcanic Banks Peninsula and Lyttelton Harbor, where English settlers arrived by ship in 1850 to establish New Zealand s first city. Visitors to Christchurch today will witness a virtual rebirth of the city as demolitions, repairs and rebuilding occurs following the earthquakes in late Accommodation for one night at the Copthorne Commodore Hotel.

3 Day 4 Christchurch Greymouth Fox Glacier Morning transfer from hotel to rail station. TranzAlpine Train Departs: Christchurch Rail Station The TranzAlpine scenic train journey travels between Christchurch and Greymouth, from one coast of New Zealand to the other. From your carriage you ll see the fields of the Canterbury Plains and farmland, followed by the spectacular gorges and river valleys of the Waimakariri River. Your train then climbs into the Southern Alps before descending through lush beech rain forest to the West Coast town of Greymouth. The trip is kilometers long and takes just four and a half hours. There are 16 tunnels and 5 viaducts, the highest being the Staircase standing at 73 meters. Arrive in Greymouth in the early afternoon and pick up your rental vehicle. Drive south on State Highway 6, passing through large areas of land that have been worked over for alluvial gold by panning, sluicing and dredging, to arrive in Hokitika. From here, the road dips in and out of dense bush for many miles, crossing beautiful stretches of countryside scattered with milling and farming settlements to Fox Glacier. Accommodation for one night at the Distinction Fox Glacier Hotel.

4 Day 5 Fox Glacier - Queenstown Breakfast is included at your hotel this morning. Morning helicopter flight with glacier landing (30 minutes) Fly over two of New Zealand's most famous glaciers and land at the head of either the Franz Josef Glacier or Fox Glacier. View the incredible natural phenomenon of the glacier as it winds slowly down the carved valleys from its origin in the mountains high above you. Then, depart Fox Glacier in your car and drive south through the forests of red and white pine to Bruce Bay, an old gold-mining settlement. Pass through attractive bush scenery and see tranquil Lakes Paringa and Moeraki, the haunt of the fabulous white heron, to the township of Haast. Drive through the Haast Pass Highway viewing en route Mt Brewster Glacier. There is a long descent of 82 km to Wanaka, passing Lake Hawea Dam, water storage for the Roxburgh Hydro-Electric Station. From Wanaka, continue over the undulating countryside and skirt Lake Hayes to descend via the Lower Shotover Bridge to Queenstown. Nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is a year-round alpine resort that caters for all interests. It enjoys a magnificent setting amid steep mountain ranges and pockets of native bush with the jagged peaks of the Remarkables Range rising from the lake. The town is compact enough to travel around on foot and features hundreds of restaurants. The lake was scooped out by glacial action thousands of years ago. A mysterious phenomenon causes the lake to vary several inches in depth every few minutes, giving credence to a Maori legend of an ancient Taniwha (demon) still breathing beneath the surface. Accommodation for three nights at the Hotel St. Moritz. Day 6 Queenstown Milford Sound Day Trip (Coach/ Nature Cruise/Fly including picnic lunch)

5 This morning you will be collected from your accommodation and transferred by luxury glass-roofed coach to Milford Sound. Leave Queenstown and skirt Lake Wakatipu in the shadow of the rugged Remarkable Ranges until you arrive at the township of Five Rivers. From here your driver will turn off the main highway towards Mossburn, and into the tussock covered hills. Once the highest point is reached there are magnificent views of the mountains of Fiordland to the north, south and west. After a few miles the wide panorama of Lake Te Anau comes into view. After a morning tea break in Te Anau, your coach will continue along the spectacular Milford Road. There is time for photo stops and short walks along the way. On arrival at Milford Wharf, you will enjoy an extended and leisurely 2½ hour cruise of Milford Sound. On board you ll cruise the full length of Milford to the Tasman Sea while a nature guide provides a detailed interpretation via roving microphone. There is plenty of time available to explore points of interest and to view the stunning scenery, including waterfalls, rainforest, the towering peaks and wildlife. Complimentary tea and coffee are available onboard. On returning to Milford Wharf you will be transferred to Milford Airport for your scenic flight back to Queenstown. On your flight to Queenstown you will enjoy panoramic views of the fiord, mountains, glaciers, rivers, lakes and lush rainforest. Once at Queenstown Airport you will be transferred to your accommodation.

6 Day 7 Queenstown Enjoy today at leisure in Queenstown. There are over 70 different activities available from Queenstown including the Shotover Jet, Dart River Jetboat Safari, wine tasting, golf, 4WD excursions into New Zealand s backcountry and Lord of the Rings filming locations, fishing, mountain biking, scenic flights, bungy jumping, skydiving, lake cruises, the Skyline Gondola and much more! Day 8 Depart Queenstown Auckland Los Angeles Boston Enjoy the morning at leisure, and then transfer to the airport in the afternoon to meet your flight to Auckland. Depart Auckland by air in the evening and fly non-stop to Los Angeles, arriving early afternoon the same day you depart New Zealand. Connect with your onward flight to Boston, arriving either late tonight or early tomorrow morning.