DAY 1 | ARRIVAL IN NEW ZEALAND
Arrive in Auckland, where you�ll take a connecting flight to Christchurch. A driver will be waiting for you at Christchurch Airport to take you to the hotel for some much needed rest after the long trip. Spend the rest of your day or evening at the beautiful Chateau on the Park Hotel. Set in five acres of meticulously manicured gardens, this French chateau-style resort is nestled between Hagley Park and the historic home and gardens of Mona Vale, minutes from the center of Christchurch.
DAY 2 | WAIPARA VALLEY
Drive through the plains to Christchurch where the coastline turns inland, through the Canterbury Plains farmlands, flanked by the Southern Alps. Next, stop at the Pegasus Bay Winery, the most acclaimed winery in the Waipara Valley wine region. Further south, Ian and Di Mackenzie host us for lunch in their historic Canterbury Farm Homestead, set on 1,200 acres of beautiful farmland called Akaunui, which is the Maori name for �Longbeach.� This is country hospitality at its best. Then, head west into the landscape to Mt. Somers where the plains meet the mountains. Your hosts for the evening, Christine and Robert Koller of Stonechrubie Chalets, are passionate about the outdoors and fabulous food. Christine is English and Robert, a brilliant chef, is from Switzerland. Together, they serve up some of the best food in the region, using fresh local produce. [B,L,D]
DAY 3 | SWEET CLYDE
Feast your eyes on the mountains and the turquoise lakes of Tekapo and Pukaki, nestled in the bed of an ancient glacier. Don�t miss The Church of the Good Shepherd, a pretty stone building and popular photographic stop, offering magnificent views of the Southern Alps, the lakes and mountains. Later, drive through the Lindis Pass and arrive at Clyde, a rich and prosperous town in the 1860s. Formerly known as Dunstan, it was the center of the Dunstan Gold Rush in 1862. The main street still features some of the charming old stone buildings from that era. Although, quaint and not well known to tourists, Clyde is now a major orchard area with crops of stone fruits, apricots, peaches and nectarines. Murray and Christine Bell, owners of the Dunstan House, which has been restored to its Victorian glory, also own a nearby vineyard. Caf� crawl the streets of this quaint goldmining town tonight [B]
DAY 4 | TO QUEENSTOWN
Explore Central Otago Province�s craggy landscape and wander Bannockburn�s gold and wine trails. The trail at Bannockburn is an easy two hour walk up through the old gold mine tailings. In November, the fields are thick with thyme flowers. In February, the apricot trees are ripe. Later, wind through the Kawarau Gorge where you can try your luck at goldpanning. The rugged Kawarau Gorge is the main route into Queenstown and is framed by the mountains and the low-lying Kawarau River. It�s hard to fight the lure of Queenstown. Tonight, stay in the Browns Boutique Hotel owned by Nigel and Bridget Brown, longtime Queenstown residents. There is a balcony off each room to take in the night air. Stroll down to the town for the nightlife of shops and restaurants. [B]
DAY 5 | QUEENSTOWN, MILFORD SOUND AND MITRE PEAK
Tour picturesque Queenstown at your leisure. Or, take a day excursion to scenic Milford Sound, cruising Lake Wakatipu, jet boating or take a dive and bungee jump. New Zealand is where it all started. Milford Sound is a fiord guarded by a spectacular rock formation called Mitre Peak. In wet weather, the waterfalls cascading down the mountain faces glisten. Writer Rudyard Kipling described it as the eighth wonder of the world. Return to the Browns Boutique Hotel. [B]
DAY 6 | MOUNTAINTOPS
History comes alive in the leafy, goldmining town of Arrowtown where wood and stone cottages on main street stand as a reminder of days gone by. Stop at the Cardrona Hotel before climbing to the top of the mountain. Climb the mountainside to Snow Farm where John and Mary Lee host cross country skiers and the car testing industry. That�s right, the car testing industry. Every year top car and tire makers from around the world come here to Snow Farm, during the winters to test their new ABS braking systems. In the evening, dine on top of the world in a starkly beautiful mountaintop lodge at Snow Farm. See the world below from its many rooms. Check out the Altitude Shop that stocks mountain clothing and accessories. [B,D]
DAY 7 | GREENSTONE AND GLACIERS
In the morning, pass by the small town of Wanaka and Lake Hawea. Stop for short walks through Haast Pass� dramatic mountain beech forests, waterfalls and rivers. Hundreds of years ago, Haast Pass was the trail used by the Maori to move greenstone from the West Coast to the southern regions. Greenstone is a beautiful nephrite jade�ranging in color from sea green to dark forest green and found mainly on the rugged mountains of the West Coast near the towns of Hokitika and Greymouth. Greenstone has spiritual significance to the Maori�known as �pounamu,� it was used for tools, ornaments and weapons. Then, continue on to Fox Glacier and north to Franz Josef Glacier. These glaciers are unique because glaciers do not usually descend to such low altitudes�just 820 feet above sea level. Stay overnight at the Punga Grove Lodge on the edge of the rainforest. Franz Josef town has a great selection of restaurants just a short stroll away from the hotel. [B]
DAY 8 | FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER
Begin your day by driving through Mt. Aspiring Park and Westland World Heritage Park to Franz Josef Glacier. It�s your chance to take a flight and see kotuku, the Maori name for the rare white heron. Other native birds such as the wood pigeon, bellbird, silvereye, fantail and tui are here. Next, visit greenstone and glass factories in Hokitika before heading east towards Arthur�s Pass National Park. Towering mountainscapes lead to the plains of Christchurch, where you�ll spend your last night at the Chateau on the Park Hotel. Set in five acres of meticulously manicured gardens, this French chateau-style resort is nestled between Hagley Park and the historic home and gardens of Mona Vale. [B]
DAY 9 | DEPART NEW ZEALAND
Sadly, this is where your journey through Southern New Zealand ends. Transfer from your hotel to the Christchurch Airport to connect to your flight. [B]
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