10 Day Southern Highlights Scenic Tour

Day 1 Arrive Christchurch
Welcome to New Zealand! You will be greeted at the ariport and transferred to your hotel. Pavilions Hotel (1 night)

Day 2 Christchurch/Mt Cook/Omarama
Cross the Canterbury Plains, with the Southern Alps to the west. Enter the foothills near Geraldine and ascend Burkes Pass into the MacKenzie Country. View the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Collie Dog memorial, overlooking the milky blue waters of Lake Tekapo. Time for a flight over the Southern Alps, lakes and glaciers with Air Safaris (optional). Visit Mt Cook National Park, with New Zealand's highest snow capped peaks, before travelling around Lake Pukaki to Twizel and on to Omarama. Heritage Gateway Hotel (1 night)

Day 3 Omarama/Dunedin
Pass large hydro lakes as you travel down the Waitaki Valley to Oamaru and Dunedin - the "Scottish" city. An early arrival allows a choice of excellent optional activities. Combine a Monarch harbour cruise or Newton's Citibus tour to see the penguins, albatross and seals, enjoy the historic Taieri Gorge train or explore the city only a few minutes walk away. This evening prior to Dinner you will be treated to a traditional Scottish Haggis Ceremony, complete with piper, address to the Haggis and gift. Cargills Hotel (1 night)

Day 4 Dunedin/Te Anau
Visit historic Olveston House, then cross rich farmlands to the agricultural towns of Gore and Lumsden. Visit Lake Manapouri before arriving at Lake Te Anau. (Time and weather permitting) Distinction Luxmore Hotel (2 nights)

Day 5 Milford Sound Day Trip
A highlight of any tour. Follow the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys, where the beech forests reach to the roads edge and snow capped peaks tower above. Descend into the Cleddau Canyon to Milford Sound, dominated by Mitre Peak. A launch cruise takes you to the open sea and to Bowen and Stirling Falls. Time to take a walk into the rainforest to visit The Chasm, a spectacular waterfall, or to the entrance of Homer Tunnel. If conditions permit, your Coach Captain may make a short drive into the Hollyford Valley. Return to Te Anau late afternoon.

Day 6 Te Anau/Queenstown
Cruise across Lake Te Anau to explore the underground world of rushing water and drift beneath the luminous shimmer of thousands of glow-worms, an unforgettable sight. This afternoon drive north to Kingston and around the shores of Lake Wakatipu to picturesque Queenstown. This evening, cruise across the lake aboard the steamship Earnslaw for dinner in the Colonel's Homestead at Walter Peak Sheep Station. Rydges Hotel (2 nights)

Day 7 Queenstown
A day to explore the delights of this alpine resort at leisure. Your Coach Captain will happily advise on the many optional activities available. We recommend the world famous Shotover Jet Boat ride, take a Gondola to the Skyline high above the resort, a tour to the gold mining area of Skippers Canyon, white water rafting or browse in the many shops and galleries.

Day 8 Queenstown/Haast Pass/Fox Glacier
Pass picturesque Lake Hayes on to an area steeped in fascinating history relating to early settlement and the goldmining era, to Lake Wanaka, a picture postcard resort on the lakes edge with a spectacular mountain backdrop. Pass Lake Wanaka to Makarora into Mt Aspiring and Westland National Parks. Drive north along the coast to the glacier region. (Upon arrival into Fox Glacier there is opportunity to either take an optional guided walk to the glacier's terminal face or an optional helicopter flight over the glacier). Heartland Hotel Fox Glacier (1 night)

Day 9 Fox Glacier/Christchurch
Time for an optional helicopter flight over the glaciers, then on to Greymouth to a Greenstone (Jade) factory to see craftsmen cutting and polishing giant boulders to create fine jewellery. Cross the Otira Gorge and Arthurs Pass to the Canterbury Plains and into Christchurch. Pavilions Hotel (1 night)

Day 10 Christchurch/Home
Today is goodbye to all your new found friends before you make your homeward journey. An airport trasnfer is included in the tour cost if required.