Nature Lovers New Zealand South Island, 15 Days - South Island From $5,999 per person
"We had a glorious time in New Zealand. We loved Huntley House and swimming with the dolphins at Akaroa was amazing. The Wilderness Lodges were great. The high country sheep muster was a thrill to experience. The day we spent with Gerry McSweeney was so memorable. He is a font of information and enthusiasm. We loved the overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound. The crew members were all so pleasant and genuine. The Stewart Island and Ulva Island experience was amazing. The guides we had throughout the trip really enhanced our appreciation and sense of wonder. Thank you so much." Read full testimonial. Florence and Phil Ernzen, MI - Mar 07
Day 1: Depart Los Angeles or San Francisco – Auckland on Air New Zealand
Day 2: Cross the international dateline
Day 3: Arrive Auckland, transfer to Christchurch You will arrive in the delightful city of Christchurch – also known as the ‘Garden City’ and met by your car rental representative who will transfer you to your car rental (or we can have your car delivered to your accommodation). Hagley Park and the Botanical Gardens are lovely areas to walk and begin to acclimate, or sit back and enjoy punting along the Avon River, visit the Christchurch Arts Center and Art Gallery, Canterbury Museum or simply soak up the ‘most English city outside of England’. You may like to return to your accommodation this afternoon to experience an elegant high tea – part of the colonial hospitality and traditions of Huntley House.
Huntley House is a luxury, boutique hotel offering luxury accommodation, the property is ringed by towering trees, manicured lawns and park-like gardens. Your approach is via a private, leafy drive, which offers guests a tranquil haven. Huntley House is luxurious in its décor with sumptuous fabrics and numerous antiques adorning the lodge guestrooms. Each of the 17 spacious guest rooms features a deep spa bath, open fire place, and a balcony or patio overlooking Huntley’s pool and croquet lawn.
Day 4: Akaroa – Swimming with Dolphins (or watching) Start the day with a hearty, homestead-style breakfast. Leaving Christchurch you quickly find yourself in a countryside of paddocks stocked with sheep and cattle and even deer. For those interested in birdlife, you will pass ‘Te Waihora’ – an area of outstanding importance for wildlife. Over the years, 161 bird species have been recorded in the Te Waihora environment. Passing through Little River you may like to visit the local Art Gallery. As you climb the Old Coach Road you will wonder how the horse and coaches ever got to the top! You will be rewarded with a stunning view of Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula area. Arriving in the small quaint town of Akaroa, you will immediately feel the French influence by the buildings and street names. This was once home to the French, British and Maori – it has a wonderful story, be sure to ask a local to share with you.
Akaroa is also home to the world’s smallest and rarest Dolphin, the Hectors Dolphin – it is here you will experience swimming with these wild and wonderful dolphins - truly an incredible experience to savour for the rest of your life. Akaroa’s Harbour is actually the flooded crater of an extinct volcano. Apart from the huge and awe-inspiring volcanic cliffs, this also means that the harbour is very sheltered. Your swim is not in the open sea, it’s inside a sheltered harbour. Only 10 swimmers will be fitted in wetsuits, given safety instructions and briefed on how to interact with the dolphins! If one member of your group does not wish to swim, they can still ride on the boat and watch – this is just as much fun, trust us! After a warm shower, and cup of hot chocolate you’ll be back in Christchurch within 90 minutes, in time to enjoy some fabulous kiwi cuisine.
Day 5: Christchurch – Arthur’s Pass Today is a lovely drive across the Canterbury Plains and into the Southern Alps. Over the next two days you will discover wild nature in the New Zealand mountains and experience life on a 3,000 hectare nature reserve and high country merino sheep station. Arrive in time to participate in the High Country Discovery tour which offers guests the chance to watch as the lean and very fast working sheep dogs muster sheep and then watch as the farmer demonstrates sheep shearing. Of interest is discussion about the economics of running a high country sheep station. Then it’s back to the lodge for a fine high country dinner and New Zealand wine. After dinner, join the lodge guide for a short walk to see the brilliant stars of the Southern Sky. Your accommodation at Wilderness Lodge Arthurs Pass is nestled in mountain beech forest, midway between Christchurch and Greymouth. Offering comfort and warm hospitality in a spectacular mountain setting, the lodge has only 24 rooms, an intimate restaurant, lounge, library and theatre for evening nature talks.
Day 6: Arthur’s Pass Awaken to mountain views, clean air and birdsong. Walk from your room into a natural paradise of beech forest, tussock clearings, moss-lined streams and lakes on a network of nature walks. After a fabulous breakfast, it's time to discover this natural paradise. The highlight of the Lodge is a daily program of nature discovery activities which include a beech forest and native bird life guided walk, tussock grassland and unique thorn forest, canoeing, guided hikes, historical evenings and more. Join a naturalist guides who will help you explore nature and learn about high country life. Some activities are complimentary while others incur a fee.
Day 7: Arthur’s Pass – Hokitika Your drive takes you through Arthur’s Pass, over the Otira Viaduct, and out towards the rugged West Coast of New Zealand. The contrast in scenery from one side of the Southern Alps to the other is immediately evident as you pass through lowland rainforest, wild beaches and the unspoilt nature. Discover Hokitika, small town New Zealand where you can watch artisans working with the much prized ‘Pounamu’ (Greenstone) which is found in the nearby rivers. Wander the arts and crafts stores featuring fabulous glass, ceramics and paintings. Your accommodation is set high on a hill above the sweeping coastline of the West Coast and offers stylish, luxury lodge accommodation within 22 hectares of land and manicured gardens. Where you can watch the world's first sunset of the day.
Day 8: Hokitika – Whataroa After breakfast it’s off to Whataroa to view the magnificent Kotuku (White Heron), the Kotuku Ngutu Papa (Royal Spoonbill), the Kawapaka (Little Black Shag) and other Bird life - all in their natural environment. The 3 hour tour (offered Oct - March) involves a short minibus ride to the river to connect with a gentle 20 minute jet boat ride each way. From the jetty, it is just a short boardwalk through native bush to view the birds. Kotuku disperse from colony end of Feb/early March.
This afternoon you will head further along the West Coast and pass through the townships of Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. You can take a short drive up to see Fox Glacier, or continue south to Lake Moeraki Wilderness Lodge in time for a relaxed drink and dinner in the tranquil Moeraki Lounge.
Few places on earth can match the unique natural setting of the Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki in the heart of the 2.7 million hectare South West New Zealand World Heritage Area, Te Wahi Pounamu (Māori translation: the place of greenstone jade). The Lodge is a paradise for nature lovers and for a relaxing retreat away from the pressures of the modern world. The Lodge is landscaped in a lakeside clearing surrounded by 1000 year old rainforest trees. It offers a high level of comfort in attractive Lodge and Garden rooms with lounges and restaurant that overlook the lovely Moeraki rapids.
Day 9: Lake Moeraki Experience spectacular beaches that are home to fur seals and crested penguins, untouched lowland rainforests spread between pristine lakes and rivers which drain the snow capped Southern Alps. To explore, the lodge provides maps of the nature walks, forest and seacoast trails. Do your own thing - fish for brown trout, canoe the gentle lake waters or walk the network of Lodge and World Heritage rainforest and coastal tracks. Alternatively, ask us to book an 'exclusive' half or full day with a resident guide.Each day, the resident naturalist guides offer two complimentary guided activities each about an hour long. You can learn about the rainforests, discover ferns, orchids, giant native pigeon, bellbird and tui. We take night walks to see glowworms, the Southern Cross and freshwater crayfish. We have historical talks and you can learn easy canoeing… and if you fall out you can help us to feed our giant tame eels!
Day 10: Lake Moeraki – Queenstown Today is a very scenic drive from Lake Moeraki, over the Haast Pass arriving to the Southern Lakes region with many opportunities to stop and take photo's and break for short bush and waterfall walks. You will pass Lake Hawea, Lake Wanaka and Queenstown's own Lake Wakatipu. Queenstown is nestled below the majestic mountains, a resort town which offers a wide range of activities, a fabulous wine region, and stunning scenery.
Day 12: Doubtful Sound This morning you have a nice drive to the small lakeside town of Manapouri. Here, you will board a small boat for a short trip across the picturesque Lake Manapouri, before joining a coach to take you over the Wilmot Pass. Climbing through the rainforest, your driver will offer his insight into this incredible and remote wilderness area. Arriving at Deep Cove you will board the Fiordland Navigator for your Overnight Cruise on the fjords. This is truly a very special experience.
Day 13: Stewart Island Arriving back in Manapouri at noon, you have a 2 – 2 ½ hr drive to Invercargill Airport where you will board a small plane for your flight to Stewart Island – another area of absolute wilderness with densely forested hills descending to a coastline of rocky outcrops and creamy golden sand beaches, You will be met at the airport and transferred to your accommodation by your accommodation hosts. It’s island life here, and the service comes with a huge smile!
Day 14: Stewart Island – Ulva Island Today you will enjoy a guided walk on Ulva Island, a must for anyone interested in New Zealand birds and flora. A picturesque, forested island with easy walks, beautiful beaches and interesting coves it offers a chance to view rare and endangered birds in a wilderness setting. During the 1990's, rats were removed from the Island to create a safe haven for native birds and plants, and now the Island's ecology is thriving. It is managed by the Department of Conservation as an Open Island Sanctuary.
Learn about the primeval rainforest, birds, and plants, Māori and European cultural history. See ancient podocarp trees, delicate ground ferns, mosses and orchids in season. You may hear kaka (native parrot) calling their liquid honey notes, interspersed with the bellbirds exquisite notes and the wonderfully varied calls of the tui. Watch lime-green parakeet flying amongst the treetops; glimpse rare saddleback and yellowhead and try to spot New Zealand’s smallest bird, the rifleman and watch the antics of the cheeky weka, a flightless bird.
Day 15: Dunedin This morning you will take your return flight to Invercargill, collect you car and spend the day exploring the Southern Scenic Route to Dunedin. The Southern Scenic Route is a pathway through the many secrets of the south of New Zealand. Rugged coastlines, ancient forests, verdant pasture, historic towns and cities, majestic lakes and rivers all await. Tonight Ewa and Keith will welcome you to their stylish Heritage Home, Fletcher Lodge.
Day 16: Dunedin Overlooking the harbour and rolling green hills Dunedin is New Zealand’s most charming city offering old world charm, stunning architecture, and elegant Larnach Castle. Nearby Otago Peninsula is one of nature’s most blessed eco rich corners with incredible opportunities to see penguins, albatross, sea lions and fur seals. Today you will see it all on a dedicated car tour with your very own chauffeur/guide. Your fully guided tour includes Larnach Castle, Royal Albatross Colony or Monarch Albatross Cruise, and Penguin Place.
Day 17: Dunedin – Los Angeles Today you will return your rental car to the airport and bid New Zealand farewell, with many wonderful memories and experiences of this spectacular country and friendly people.
Package includes:
International Round Trip Economy Class airfares Los Angeles or San Francisco to Auckland on Air New Zealand;
Domestic airfares within New Zealand;
14 Nights Qualmark Rated 4 plus and 5 Star accommodation (double occupancy);
15 Day Intermediate Size Rental Car, 4 door, auto, air con, unlimited kms;
All breakfasts, 1 lunch, 5 dinners;
Swimming with Dolphins (or watching);
Wilderness Lodge complimentary activities;
White Heron Tour;
Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise (incl. kayaking or nature cruise);
Round trip flights to Stewart Island;
Ulva Island Guided Walk;
Otago Peninsula Wildlife Tour
Not Included:
Optional sightseeing experiences;
Meals (unless specified);
Travel Insurance;
Fuel Surcharges and Airline Taxes of up to $310 per person (subject to change without notice)
