17 DAY Grand Kiwi ANGKBC-6

Transcription

1 17 DAY Grand Kiwi ANGKBC-6 This tour visits: New Zealand Discover the very best of New Zealand on Topdeck's Grand Kiwi trip between Auckland and Christchurch. From North Island's Bay of Islands and Tongariro National Park to South Island's Milford Sound and Fox Glacier, New Zealand's incredibly diverse natural beauty is revealed. Visit cool Wellington, quaint Christchurch and adventure capital Queenstown; anyone for a bungy jump?! As the locals would say, Topdeck s Grand Kiwi is sweet as bro!

2 The Bucket List More Inclusions Stunning Bay of Islands 'Rock the Boat' upgrade option Explore Tongariro National Park and Lake Taupo Wine tasting in Marlborough Stay in Fox Glacier Adventure capital Queenstown Kiwi farm experience in Fairlie Kapa Haka performance Overnight in a traditional Maori Marae Traditional Kiwi lamb roast dinner and pavlova Kaikoura Peninsula and marine life Milford Sound experience by Nature Encounter Cruise Arrow River bike trails Rugby lesson at NZ Sports Academy 16 breakfasts, 1 afternoon tea, 7 dinners 14 nights in hotels, motels and lodges, 1 night in a hostel & 1 night in a traditional Maori Marae Cook Strait ferry crossing Modern air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi Awesome Topdeck Trip Leader and Driver Your Itinerary Day 1 Auckland to Bay of Islands Steal away from 'the maiden with a thousand lovers' (aka Auckland) and become a tree-hugging hippie as you wrap your arms around NZ's botanical elder, the Kauri tree. James Cook named our next stop the 'Bay of Islands'. Well, you know what to expect. Seeing all 144 islands might take a while, so grab the optional 'Rock the Boat' island tour for 24 solid hours cruising and snorkelling the archipelago. Instagram your first Pacific sunset then get your mind blown by the southern night sky. You could get used to this. **Pre-book your Rock the Boat trip to secure a spot as spaces fill up quickly. All meals, epic company and good times included. -Parry Kauri Park -No part of New Zealand is more than 128 kilometres from the sea. Beached as. -Only five percent of New Zealand's population is human. The rest is made up of animals and LOTR extras.

3 Day 2 Bay of Islands The Bay of Islands is big on numbers: 144 islands, 90 miles of beach in one stretch, and 100-metre high Te Paki sand dunes ready for some serious sand boarding action. Get a dose of Kiwi history at the Waitangi Treaty house or in Russell-NZ's first capital then grab a kayak and paddle under the Haruru Falls. We're having fish and chips for dinner so good thing you did all that exercise. -No part of New Zealand is more than 128 kilometres from the sea. Beached as. -Only five percent of New Zealand's population is human. The rest is made up of animals and LOTR extras. Day 3 Auckland to Rotorua NZ is so gorgeous it has waterfalls like Whangarei hidden just off the highway. We'll make a pit stop to walk to the falls on our way back to Auckland. Maori legends and mythology have been passed down orally for thousands of years. You have one night in this sacred meeting house, so pay attention. After learning the tongue-thrusting Haka dance moves of the All Blacks, and the finesse of the ladies Poi dance, polishing off a traditional maori dinner and rubbing noses, you will no longer be a guest but a part of their people. You lucky thing. -Maori Marae Cultural talks -Haka & Poi Dance class -Rotorua has the biggest luge ride in the country #packedwithadrenalin. -New Zealand officially appointed a Lord and Minister of the Rings to cash in on the success of the Lord of the Rings movies. -This was not the first prominent magician the country has seen. A National Wizard was appointed in #truestory. Day 4 Rotorua Mud, Middle Earth and massages are the order of the day in the bubbling, sulphur-soaked town of Rotorua. If you're starting to resemble a muddy prune, flush out the mud rafting over the waterfalls, discover the Disneyland of mountain biking, or jump into the real-life landscapes of Tolkien's dreams on the Hobbiton Shire escape. -Rotorua has the biggest luge ride in the country #packedwithadrenalin. -New Zealand officially appointed a Lord and Minister of the Rings to cash in on the success of the Lord of the Rings movies. -This was not the first prominent magician the country has seen. A National Wizard was appointed in #truestory. -The "Shweeb" - known as the world's most efficient man powered machine - is an upside-down monorail bicycle, and it's only available in the Land of the Long White Cloud

4 Day 5 Rotorua to Tongariro National Park Today we get to flex our muscles, hit the footy field and learn from the future All Blacks at the NZ Sports Academy. Geothermal activity gets turned up to 11 with bubbling mud pools, and if that's not enough, you can jump off a bridge as we pass by the largest lake in New Zealand. Lake Taupo was formed by an explosion that extended the Ice Age, so yeah, it's pretty big. It's also time to meet the dessert that's caused a battle between NZ and Australia since someone whipped an egg white: the pavlova. -Rugby lesson with NZ Sports Academy -Huka Falls -Lake Taupo -The last volcanic super eruption (the largest in over 70,000 years) occurred 26,500 years ago in the Late Pleistocene, caused 140km² of structural damage, collapsed, and formed the current day Lake Taupo. The north island was also covered in 200m of ash. #notjustthelandofthelongwhitecloud -Tongariro is the oldest national park in New Zealand, and was the fourth established national park in the world. #gonz -Ratio of sheep to humans in New Zealand: 7 to 1. Day 6 Tongariro National Park Binoculars and a digital camera should have been essentials for the Hobbits as they climbed through Mordor. Good thing you came prepared. With dual cultural and natural heritage status, and often described as the most epic hike in NZ, Tongariro NP is home to two active volcanoes that will hopefully keep a lid on things. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing will quickly top your list of favourites if you don't mind heights and the odd dormant lava chamber (and walks from 20 mins to 8 hours). Hike, raft or mountain bike then hit the spa and warm your feet by the fire in an alpine lodge overlooking Mt Doom. -Short walks -Tongariro is the oldest national park in New Zealand, and was the fourth established national park in the world. #gonz -Ratio of sheep to humans in New Zealand: 7 to 1.

5 Day 7 Tongariro National Park to Wellington From hiking over lava to readjusting to city life, today we hit the nation's capital, Wellington (no, it's not Auckland!). After you conquer the six floors of the Te Papa museum, you'll probably be ready for a big city nightlife hit. With more bars and restaurants per capita than New York and a well-earned spot as the sporting capital of NZ, you can't go wrong with a craft beer and some local rugby action. -Te Papa Museum -Wellington City tour including Mt Victoria -In 2011 Sir Peter Jackson purchased the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car and can be regularly seen driving it around Wellington. He even gives kids a ride in the car for a donation to charity. O.kay. -A funeral for Paddy the Wanderer dog brought Wellington to a complete standstill in As New Zealand's version of Red Dog, he was cared for by the community of cabbies, workers and seamen he had befriended who paid his annual dog licence as he roamed the streets during the Great Depression. Day 8 Wellington to Nelson Ferry across the Cook Strait through Marlborough Sounds and into the arms of the world's best Sav Blanc for a private tasting in a familyowned vineyard. Work out how many bottles you can fit in your suitcase without breaking your back. With postcard-perfect vistas and 35,000 hectares under vines, it's a slice of heaven. -Cook Strait Ferry Crossing -Marlborough Wine tasting -The One Ring featured in Lord of the Rings was crafted by Nelson jeweller Jens Hansen, who continues to grant the dreams of many a LOTR fan by selling replicas for purchase from his store.

6 Day 9 Nelson Dense forest, snow capped mountains and acres of pinot noir grapes. Green, white and red no wonder Nelson has been referred to as the Naples of the southern hemisphere. Throw clay or wield a paintbrush in the creative artist hub. Skydive, kayak or take a hike through the mountains, forests and waters of Abel Tasman National Park. Or go treasure hunting in Nelson's galleries. Round out the day with a traditional Kiwi BBQ dinner catered by yours truly. Not bad, Nelson. Not bad. -The One Ring featured in Lord of the Rings was crafted by Nelson jeweller Jens Hansen, who continues to grant the dreams of many a LOTR fan by selling replicas for purchase from his store. -"Sunny Nelson" as it is known, is New Zealand's sunniest city. -In 1870 Nelson played host to New Zealand's first recognised rugby game. Day 10 Nelson to Christchurch Make some marine mates and brace yourself for the triple threat of acrobatic sperm whales, orcas and humpbacks on a whale watching tour and melt over the cuteness of fur seals under the falls. Fancy some fish and chips? You're spoilt for choice in Kaikoura where Kai = Food and Koura = Crayfish. Then on to Christchurch, which has recovered from the 2011 Earthquake and bounced back with new pop-up bars and a shopping precinct, with still more to come. -Kaikoura Peninsula Walk -Ohau Point Seal colony -After the 2011 Christchurch earthquake there was a national shortage of Marmite sandwich spread that lasted over a year. The dilemma was named "Marmageddon". -A pop-up mall project called Re:START was constructed from shipping containers over the destroyed pedestrian mall after the 2011 quake. Day 11 Christchurch to Fox Glacier Roll across the pastoral patchwork quilt that forms the Canterbury Plains and watch 50 shades of green melt into snow-topped peaks. Hang out in Hokitika for whitebait fritters and Pounamu (Jade) shopping, then take your best photography shot of NZ's two tallest mountain peaks reflected in Lake Matheson for the #picoftheday. Excited? You should be. -Lake Matheson Walk -Every kiwi has at least one baby photo of themselves naked on a sheep skin. Don t ask.

7 Day 12 Fox Glacier to Queenstown Today's your chance to walk on water. Well, frozen glacial water to be precise. Scale a mountain in minutes to get amongst ethereal ice caves and formations. With barely enough time to let your heart rate slow, we journey back through the mountains past Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea. Feel your pulse start to quicken as we roll into Queenstown. -In Queenstown you can hire a hydro attack - a cross between a torpedo and a fighter jet, painted as a shark. Jump and dive to the point at which your heart cannot take it anymore. Day 13 Queenstown Here's some basic math: Queenstown has over 220 activities-you have two days. No rush. This lakeside city has adrenaline on tap and will match any adventure you had in mind and then throw a Fergburger (amazing Queenstown burger place) in there for good measure. Get your fix with bungy, a narrow canyon swing, Shotover Jet, or paragliding, hiking, horse riding and the skyline gondola. If you're bored here, there's something wrong. Need some time out? Head to the Kiwi Birdlife Park, soak in a Japanese onsen, or kick back with a local pinot. -In Queenstown you can hire a hydro attack - a cross between a torpedo and a fighter jet, painted as a shark. Jump and dive to the point at which your heart cannot take it anymore. Day 14 Queenstown Free day, take two. Jump off more stuff or chill out and let your pulse drop. Your call. Day 15 Queenstown to Fiordland Instagram account meltdown warning! Today is going to chew through your memory cards with the Mirror Lakes, Hollyford Valley and Milford Sound. Sheer rock faces towering 1,200m above sea level, wildlife and waterfalls combine like an inch-thick chocolate ganache 100% pure mouth-watering decadence out on the sound. You probably won't see any woolly mammoths, but dolphins and fur seals? You can pretty much bet your snow boots on it. Steeped in Maori myth, this is a history and geology lesson rolled into one, minus the homework. -Milford Sound Nature Cruise -Fiordland National Park Walks -Remember Xena the Warrior Princess? Yep, she's kiwi too.

8 Day 16 Fiordland to Lake Ohau Back in the heyday of Arrowtown, everyone was here for the gold. Recharge your batteries with venison burgers and a central Otago pinot noir in Arrowtown then zigzag across the five bridges that span the ever-changing Arrow River. Test your nerves on the suspension bridge then chill out by the crystal clear river waters while you catch your breath. Then cue relaxation and a chance to practice your stone-skimming skills in Lake Ohau. -Mountain Bike ride (13km/2hrs) along Arrow River -New Zealand is also the only country with hobbits printed on their currency. -And everyone in New Zealand knows at least one person who worked on the films. Day 17 Lake Ohau to Christchurch Lap up Lake Pukaki under the shadow of Mt Cook. It's about as Kiwi as 'fush and chups' (fish and chips with a local accent). Then shift into sheep country, where these furry things outnumber humans 12:1. It makes sense that today includes the Church of the Good Shepherd, a monument to the faithful sheep dog and a chance to watch them in action on a Kiwi farm. Then back to into the city of Churches as our trip winds to a close. -Mt Cook Village (weather dependant) -Scenic walks Meals: Breakfast, afternoon tea. -After the 2011 Christchurch earthquake there was a national shortage of Marmite sandwich spread that lasted over a year. The dilemma was named "Marmageddon". -A pop-up mall project called Re:START was constructed from shipping containers over the destroyed pedestrian mall after the 2011 quake Accommodation You will use a variety of multi-share accommodation, which may include hotels, hostels, motels, cabins, an overnight boat and even a traditional Maori marae! The number of people in a room varies depending on the type of accommodation. To keep costs down accommodation is based on a four-share, same sex basis. The 'More Inclusions' section of this document details what type of accommodation is used for our overnight stops. If you are travelling with a friend and require twin or double accommodation, this is available at a small extra charge and can be requested at the time of booking.

9 Optional Activities On all trips we have arranged extra activities that we think will enhance your travel experience, but you have a choice as to whether or not you will participate. These are not included in the cost of your trip. They are usually organised on a group participation basis and should be taken into consideration when budgeting your spending money. None of the Optional Activities on your trip are operated by Topdeck, nor do they form part of your contract with Topdeck for your trip. Topdeck arranges the activity as an agent of the local supplier. Should you participate in any Optional Activities your contract will be with the local supplier and their conditions will apply. Please note: while we make every effort to keep these prices as accurate and up-to-date as possible, they are subject to change and in rare circumstances the actual price may vary slightly to what is published here. Bay of Islands Rock The Boat Overnight Cruise NZ$238 Cape Reinga & Ninety Mile Beach NZ$149 Dolphin Eco Experience NZ$117 Hole in the Rock Cruise NZ$105 Parasailing from NZ$95 Guided Kayak Night Safari NZ$58 Rotorua White Water Rafting NZ$89 Quad Biking from NZ$75 Horse Trek from NZ$40 Guided 4WD Buggy Tour from NZ$59 Zorbing from NZ$35 Canopy Tour NZ$139 Hobbiton Tour NZ$110 Tongariro National Park Guided Tongariro Alpine Crossing NZ$185 Nelson/Abel Tasman Kayak, Seals & Cruise Tour NZ$139 Discoverer Day Trip NZ$76 Skydiving from NZ$249 Horse Trek from NZ$75 Quad Biking NZ$130 Kaikoura Swim with the Dolphins Tour NZ$175 Whale Watching NZ$145 Fox Glacier Flying Fox Heli Hike NZ$384 Scenic Flight from NZ$210

10 Fox Trail Terminal Face Hike NZ$59 Queenstown Paragliding NZ$199 Hang gliding NZ$205 Shotover Jet NZ$135 Shotover Canyon Swing NZ$205 Shotover Canyon Fox NZ$165 Bungy Jump from NZ$195 LOTR 4x4 Tour from NZ$175 Skydive from NZ$299 Horse Trek from NZ$165 White Water Rafting NZ$219 Heli Rafting NZ$319 Wilderness Jet Safari NZ$299 Funyaks NZ$399 Meals Your included meals are detailed in the 'More Inclusions' section of this document. Breakfasts are included each day (except on the first morning). A typical breakfast consists of cereals with milk or yoghurt, bread, a range of spreads, and fruit juice, tea or coffee. It is rare to get a hot breakfast, though on some occasions it may be available. Included evening meals will be combination of those prepared by the Topdeck Road Crew, local restaurants and places in which we stay. If you have any dietary requirements we will make every effort to cater to your specific needs as long as you advise your travel agent or Topdeck Trip Consultant when you book. But please be aware that although we will do everything in our power to arrange it, we cannot guarantee that every restaurant we use will be able to cater to all dietary needs. We also cannot cater for tastes or dislikes, as most of our included evening meals feature a set menu. No Tip Necessary Your Topdeck crew never expect tips themselves and will not ask for any; that s not what friends do! We also know how much tipping can cost you. So go ahead, spoil yourself with the money you will save by travelling with Topdeck (just don t forget Mum s souvenir). Topdeck Travel App Our travel app has landed! It is available for all passengers on our trips in Europe (excluding festivals) and in North America. More destinations coming soon With a range of cool features including a Currency Converter, Budget Planner, Check-In tool and Social Timeline (so your next #TravelEnvy post is never too far away) you can plan your trip like a pro. Think of it like your very own Topdeck Trip Leader, always on call with the latest info, weather, maps and city guides to give you the trip of a

11 lifetime, all in the palm of your hand. Get it for iphone Get it for Android