rimu - leisure time toursrimu featured experiences • a scenic cruise from auckland to the...
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Rimu
Featured Experiences• AsceniccruisefromAucklandtothe
CoromandelPeninsula• Narrow-gaugerailwayjourneythrough
nativeCoromandelbush• VisitHotWaterBeachandphotogenic
Cathedral Cove• Aprivateguidearoundageothermal
valleywithgeysers,mudpoolsandhotsprings
• VisitWaimanguVolcanicValley–or–experience Hobbiton Movie Set
• DelveintoMaorilifeandenjoyapowerfulculturalperformanceandfeast
• EnjoyawinetastingandeveningmealatMissionEstateinNapier
• TravelonWellington’sfamousCableCarandvisitTePapamuseum
• ScenicInterislanderFerryjourneyacrossthe Cook Strait
• WinetastingatoneofMarlborough’spremierwineries
• CruisetheturquoisewatersofAbelTasmanNationalPark
• Visitworld-famousPancakeRocksandblowholesatPunakaiki
• ExplorethehistoricgoldrushvillageofArrowtown
• Cruise,withapicniclunch,onthebreath-taking Milford Sound
Culinary Inclusions• 18mealsincluded:15breakfasts(B)
1 lunch(L)2 dinners (D)
Day 1 • aucklanD Haeremai–welcome!ArriveintoAucklandwhereyouwillbemetandtransferredtoyouraccommodation.Spendtheafternoonandeveningatyourleisureexploringthe‘CityofSails’.M Social, Auckland
Day 2 • aucklanD to coRomanDEl PEnInsula (B)TaketothewaterforasceniccruiseacrosstheHaurakiGulfpassingmanyvolcanicislandstotheCoromandelPeninsula.VisitthenearbyDrivingCreekRailwayclimbing120monanarrow-gaugelinetothe‘Eyefull’TowerforpanoramicviewsofthesurroundingcountrysideandbackovertheHaurakiGulf.DriveeastacrossthePeninsulathroughbeautifulscenerytoreachtheresortofWhitiangaonMercuryBay.OceansResort,Whitianga–2nights
Day 3 • coRomanDEl PEnInsula (B) Whitecliffs,goldenbeaches,invitingturquoisewatersandgreenforestsarethecoloursoftheCoromandel,withscarlethighlightscourtesyoftheflowersofPohutukawatreesinsummer,makingthisoneofourfavouriteregions.RightlyfamousisHotWaterBeach,wherewarmspringsbubbleupthroughthesand,andwhenthetideisrightyoucandigoutyourveryown‘spa’poolforawallowinthewarmwaters.WalkdownintoCathedralCove–youreffortsarerewardedwithoneofthemostphotogenicbeachesinNewZealand.DepartbywatertaxibacktoHaheiwhereyourdriverwillbewaitingtotakeyoutoCooksBeach–namedafterCaptainJamesCookwhosailedontheHMSEndeavourintoMercuryBayin1769–famousforitslonggoldensandybeachwhichisnowapopularretreatforKiwisduringsummermonths.from cooks Beach you can choose to catch the short ferry ride back to Whitianga and walk to your accommodation or travel back with your driver.
Day 4 • coRomanDEl PEnInsula to RotoRua (B)TakingthePacificCoastHighwaythroughthebeachsidetownsofWhangamataandTaurangainthebeautifulBayofPlentybeforeturninginlandtovisitawell-formedbushwalkwithsceniclookoutsoverOkereRiveranditsspectacularwaterfalls.RotoruaistheepicentrenotonlyofNewZealand’sgeothermalactivitybutofMaoriheritage,andnovisittoRotoruawouldbecompletewithoutincludingTePuia,notonlyanactivegeothermalsite,butthenation’scentreforindigenousartsandcraftsandaKiwiconservationproject.AtTePuiait’spartoftheirculturetowelcome,guide,entertain,andtreatyoulikepartofthefamilyandyouaretreatedtoaprivateguidethroughoutyourtimehere.Prince’sGateHotel,Rotorua–2nights
Day 5 • RotoRua (B,D)Todayyouhavethechoiceoftwoexcursions:
a) Visit the Waimangu Volcanic Valley–siteoftheeruptionofMt.Tarawerain1886thedevastingeruptionburiedlocalMaorivillagesanddestroyedtheworld-famous‘PinkandWhite’silicaterraces,onceconsideredtobetheeighthwonderoftheworld.Thiscatastrophiceventchangedthelandscapeforeverandcreatedthevalleyyoucannowwalkthrough,pastboilingcratersandjewel-colouredsteaminglakes.TakeacruiseacrossLakeRotomahanato
thesiteoftheoldsilicaterraces,hearthestoryofGuideSophiaandseethenewterracesofsilicaslowlyforming.
b) Experience the real middle-earth with a visit to the Hobbiton movie set,thedelightfulsettingforTheShirethatfeaturedinPeterJackson’sfilms,TheLordoftheRingstrilogyandTheHobbitfilmseries.YourHobbitonguidewillescortyouthroughtheten-acresiterecountingfascinatingdetailsofhowthemoviesetwascreated.TheHobbitholes,GreenDragonInn,Millandotherstructurescreatedforthefilmscanbeviewed,andyouwillseehowthisbeautifulpieceofWaikatofarmlandwastransformedintoTheShirefromMiddle-earth.
ThiseveningtraveltoaMarae(MaoriVillage).Experienceaformalwelcome(powhiri)includingthehongi–thatissharingbreath.DelveintoMaorilife,bothpastandcontemporary.Listentotheirfascinatingreality–howthingsareandwhatisimportanttotheirfamily,theirconnectiontotheirland,theimportanceofwhakapapa(lineage)andlifeamongsttheirpeople.Finally,thiseveningenjoyapowerfulculturalperformance,storytellingandHangi(feasting).
Day 6 • RotoRua to naPIER (B,D) VisitthepowerfulHukaFallsthenviewthevastLakeTaupo–moreinlandseathanlake,thoughitsfreshwatersteemwithtrout.Acrossthelake
16 DAYS • North AND South ISlAND
TheRimuBoutiqueJourneyexploresthehighlightsoftheNorthandSouthIslands.Unleash your adventurous spirit in the adrenaline capital of Queenstown, cruise MilfordSoundandmakethemostoftheabundanceofwalkingopportunitiesthecountryhastoofferasyoutravelthroughNewZealand’sfabulouslandscapes.
standsthemightyvolcanicpeaksofRuapehu,NgauruhoeandTongarirowithintheTongariroNationalPark.OntoNapiertoviewoneoftheworld’smostcompleteexamplesofArtDecoarchitecture,second(arguably)onlytoMiamiBeach.Thisjoyfulseasidetownhadatragicbirth,beingvirtuallylevelledbyfiercefiresthatfollowedthedevastating1931earthquake.Napierwasrebuiltinthemostup-to-datestyleofthetime,whichtodayisreferredtoasArtDeco.ThisafternoonyourlocalguidebringshistoryandarchitecturealivewithentertainingstoriesasyoudiscoverNapieronfoot.Today’sjourneyhasbroughtustotheNorthIsland’swinecountry,sothisevening’streatisdinneratNewZealand’soldestwinery,MissionEstate,whereyouenjoydinnerintherestoredseminarybuildingswithsweepingviewsofNapier.ScenicHotelTePania,Napier
Day 7 • naPIER to WEllIngton (B)TravelthroughthevineyardsandorchardsofHawke’sBayandthebush-cladrangesoftheWairarapaintoNewZealand’scapitalcity,Wellington.OnarrivalviewNewZealand’smagnificentParliamentBuildingsincludingtheiconic‘Beehive’building.FromtheKelburnlookouttaketheWellingtonCableCardown
intothecentralcityprecinctbeforevisitingTePapa–oneofthemostexcitingmuseumsintheworld,featuringNewZealandinsights;theshapingofitsland,thespiritofitsdiversepeoples,itsuniquewildlife,landscapesanditsdistinctivepopularculture. JamesCookHotelGrandChancellor,Wellington
Day 8 • WEllIngton to nElson (B)Yourdaycommenceswithoneofthemostbeautifulferryjourneysintheworld.TravellingthroughthewatersofCookStraitandQueenCharlotteSoundtheferryisoftenaccompaniedbydolphinsridingthebowwaves.DisembarkinginPictontraveltheshortdistancetoBlenheimintheheartoftheMarlboroughwinecountry.WhatbetterwaytoenjoythisregionfamousforitsSauvignonBlancthanwithwinetastingatoneofMarlborough’spremierwineries?FromMarlboroughcrosstotheNelsondistrictacorneroftheSouthIslandblessedwithasunnymicroclimateandyourbaseforthenexttwonights.Heritage Rutherford Hotel – 2 nights
Day 9 • aBEl tasman natIonal PaRk (B)Paradisefound!AbelTasmanNationalParkisamosaicofgoldencovesandturquoise
lagoonsshelteredbyforestedrangestothesouth.Withfewroadsinthispristinewilderness,mostjourneysaremadebyboat.
ThismorningfromKaiteriteri,yourtourincludesachoiceofoneactivityfromthesethreeoptions:
a) non - Walking option: full Park scenic cruise (3-4 hour cruise)EnjoyamorningcruiseexplorationofNewZealand’ssmallestNationalPark.Viewworld-famousSplitAppleRock,NewZealandFurSeals,goldensandsandtheturquoisewatersofAnchorage,BarkBay,TongaQuarry,AwaroaandTotaranuiBeach.ReturntoNelsoncityforsometimethisafternoonatleisure.
b) Walking option 1: astrolabe Beaches and Bays (7km, 2.5 hour walk)AftertheFullParkScenicCruise,disembarkatAppleTreeBayforaself-guidedwalktofabulousAnchorageBeach.LateafternoonshuttletransferbacktoNelson.
c) Walking option 2: forest and swing-Bridge (10.5km, 4 hour walk) AftertheFullParkScenicCruise,disembarkatMedlandsBeachforarewardingandvariedself-guidedwalktoAnchorageBeachincludingthescenichighlightsoftheSouthHeadlookout,thefamousFallsRiverswing-bridgeandCleopatra’sPool.LateafternoonshuttletransferbacktoNelson.
Day 10 • nElson to PunakaIkI (B)DrivingviatheNelsonLakesNationalPark-anenchantingalpinelandscapeofruggedpeaks,forests,stunningglaciallakesandthebeginningoftheawe-inspiringSouthernAlpsmakeastopatthequaintvillageofSaintArnaudontheshoresofLakeRotoiti.TurninlandtofollowtheBullerRiverGorge-oneoftheworld’sbestbutleast-knownscenicdrives,carvedoutoftheforestby19thcenturyprospectors,itfollowsthedeeprivergorge,oftencrossingitonsingle-trackbridges.EmergingfromtheforesttheroadhugsthecoastlinesouthtothesmallsettlementofPunakaiki-renownedforitswild,ruggedcoastlineandthefamous‘PancakeRocks’-thesestratifiedlimestonestacksareanextraordinarymonumentofnature.PunakaikiResort,Punakaiki
Day 11 • PunakaIkI to fox glacIER (B)JourneysouthalongtheGreatCoastRoadwhichwasrecentlyvotedoneofthetoptencoastaldrivesintheworldbyLonelyPlanet.PassthroughhistorictownsreachingHokitikaanditsgalleriesspecialisinginpounamu
(greenstone)jewelleryandartworks.StretchyourlegsatthedramaticHokitikaGorgewheretheblue/greenwaterspassthroughtheruggedrocks.Continuesouththroughforestsandfarmland,withviewsoftheAlpstotheeastandtheTasmanSeatothewest,toFranzJosefthenontothesmallremotevillageofFox.ThehugeriversofsnowandiceoftheFranzJosefandFoxGlaciersflowfromvastsnowfieldshighintheSouthernAlps,downalmosttosealevel.Weatherpermitting,anoptionalhelicopterridewithasnowlandingisaterrificwaytoexperiencethesheergrandeuroftheseWestCoastglaciers(extracost).DistinctionHotelFoxGlacier
Day 12 • fox glacIER to Wanaka (B)HaveyourcamerareadyforyourvisittonearbyLakeMathesonforamorningstroll-whenconditionsarerightthelakeperfectlymirrorsbeautifulMountCookinitsstillwaters.HeadovertheHaastPassalongtheriverroadbesidetheicyriveranddeepintoMt.AspiringNationalPark.TheatmospherelightensaswereachlovelyLakeWanaka,reflectingthemountainpeaksthatinwinteroffersuperbskiing,andtheprettyresorttownofWanaka.EdgewaterResort,Wanaka–2nights
Day 13 • Wanaka at lEIsuRE (B)Todayisatleisuretorelaxorenjoyyourownchoiceofactivities(additionalcost).Therearetripsacrossthelaketovisitapredator-freeislandwithnativebirds,4WDadventuresoverauthenticNewZealandHighCountryfarmoverlookingsparklingLakeWanaka,orperhapsvisitthevintageaircraftattheWarbirdsMuseum.
Day 14 • Wanaka to tE anau (B)DepartWanakawithyourfirststopatthemuchphotographedCardronaPubbeforetraversingtheCrownRangeroadtovisithistoricArrowtown–adelightfulgoldrushvillagenestledbelowthebeautifulpeaksthatsurroundthesparklingArrowRiver.ContinueyourjourneyviatheroadpinnedbetweenthebaseoftheRemarkablesmountainrangeandspectacularLakeWakatipu.Journeythroughaglacialformedvalleythatisnowfarmland,toreachLakeTeAnau,thelargest(byvolume)freshwaterlakeintheSouthIslandandgatewaytoFiordlandNationalPark.DistinctionHotelLuxmore,TeAnau
Day 15 • tE anau to mIlfoRD sounD to QuEEnstoWn (B,L)ThejourneyfromTeAnautoMilfordSoundisoneofthemostscenicexperiencesyoucanhaveonfourwheels.FiordlandNationalPark,partoftheSouthwestNewZealandWorldHeritageAreaisoneofthegreatwildernessareasoftheSouthernHemisphere.ThesceneryisspectacularwithloftymountainsanddeepvalleyscarvedoutbyIceAgeglaciers.DescribedbyRudyardKiplingasthe‘eighthwonderoftheworld’,MilfordSoundisbreath-takinginanyweather.BoardacomfortablevesselforacruisepasttoweringMitrePeaktotheTasmanSea.Keepaneyepeeledforsealsanddolphinswhichareoftenseeninthewatersofthefiord.Followingthecruise,retraceyourjourneybacktoTeAnautravellingviatheCleddeauGorge,HomerTunnelandthelovelyEglintonValleythenacrosstheSouthlandfarmlandsandaroundspectacularLakeWakatiputoQueenstown.Scenic Suites Queenstown – 2 nights
Day 16 DEPaRt QuEEnstoWn (B)Haerera–farewellfromNewZealand.AfterbreakfastyouaretransferredtotheQueenstownAirportforyourreturnhometakingwithyoufondmemoriesofyourtimeinNewZealand.Alternatively,shouldyouwishtoextendyourstayinNewZealand,wecanassistyouwithadditionaltravelarrangements.