Southern Secrets & Seascapes 15 Days - South Island From $5,999 per person
Experience the road less traveled in Central Otago (a region that many travelers miss) and get close to nature in an inspiring, timeless land. First time visitors are silenced and energized by the tumble of mountain, river, rock and tussock. Take in the grandeur of breathtaking vistas and a star-studded Southern night sky. This is a place of extraordinary contrasts, our middle earth. This 15-day self-drive tour will expose you to the relatively untouched land of Central Otago, while leaving time for such highlights as Milford Sound, the stunning West Coast and Abel Tasman National Park. You'll enjoy walking or cycling along the Otago Central Rail Trail, exploring classic countryside pubs, a guided pontoon boat cruise along the historic Clutha River, exhilarating river jetboating and wilderness walk, glow worms, penguins and albatross, the beauty of Central Otago's wildflowers, touring the world's southernmost wine region, driving along the highest main road in New Zealand and much more!
Day 1: Depart Los Angeles or San Francisco onAir New Zealand
Day 2: Cross the international dateline
Day 3:Arrive Dunedin. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your heritage home for two nights. This property offers luxurious accommodation and an excellent location just minutes away from some of the city's finest and most popular cafes and restaurants.
Day 4: Dunedin / Otago Peninsula Experience / Larnach Castle Discover the eco rich corner of New Zealand, the Otago Peninsula, home to Albatross, Penguins and Seals. Relax and let your experienced chauffer/guide take you an a memorable excursion to the Otago Peninsula. Included in this privately guided tour are a visit to Larnach Castle, Penguin Place and Royal Albatross tour or Monarch Albatross Cruise along with other sightseeing stops.
Day 5: Dunedin - Kokonga / Kokonga Lodge Today your rental car will be delivered to your accommodation and you'll enjoy a scenic drive from Dunedin to the Kokonga Lodge, a stylish and welcoming haven for travelers, amid an astonishing and ever-changing landscape. Kokanga translates from Māori as "Bend in the River". This lovely lodge sits on an elevated 10-acre landscaped site with extensive views over the heart of the Maniototo region of Central Otago. The area, long celebrated by writers, artists and poets, is renowned for its wide-open countryside, rolling tussock vistas and constantly changing big skies. Your three-course dinner at the lodge tonight will utilize fresh and home-grown produce, and local beer and wine. Your friendly and knowledgable New Zealand hosts, Dorothy and Malcolm will ensure you get the most from your stay.
Day 6: Otago Central Rail Trail / Exploration After breakfast you can explore the Otago Central Rail Trail by foot or by bike (Kokonga Lodge is located on the rail trail and bikes are available for guest use). Steeped in a sense of history and remoteness, the trail provides a chance to view scenery not able to be seen from the highway. It also has preserved an important part of Otago's history as it was once a vital link between Dunedin and Central Otago. Dorothy and Malcolm can also arrange 4WD adventure tours, farm visits, horse riding or gold panning trips (additional cost) or you may choose to spend a leisurely afternoon on a riverside walk with picnic, chat with a local at one of the classic countryside pubs in the region or relax at the lodge with a cup of tea, coffee, wine or homemade fruit juice while sitting on the deck marvelling at the awesome view over the Maniototo plains.
Day 7: Clutha River Cruise / Wine Tasting / Historic Arrowtown Travel from Kokonga to Alexandra ('Alex' as the locals affectionately call it) today for a guided pontoon boat cruise along the Clutha River. Journey with your guide along the isolated reaches of the historic and picturesque thyme-studded Roxbourgh Gorge and marvel at some of New Zealand's best examples of European and Chinese Mining.
This afternoon you'll have the option to tour New Zealand's fastest growing (and the world's southernmost) wine region with an exciting and innovative tasting experience. 'The Big Picture' is a one-stop wine adventure to take you on a journey of discovery through wine. You'll uncover the fine wines of Central Otago and meet the winemakers (in a virtual world). Dine in the restaurant, discover the way senses can describe wine varieties in the Aroma Room, and culminate the experience with an interactive tasting flight of six local wines. If you'd prefer, you can forego the wine tasting for a more leisurely option of exploring the historic and quaint gold-mining town of Arrowtown. You can browse Buckingham Street's delightful shops, walk along the banks of the Arrow River, savoring the scenery or explore the historic Chinese Settlement.
Day 8: Milford Sound Wake up today in time for breakfast before departing on a scenic flight and cruise of Milford Sound. The best scenic route to Milford Sound begins from Lake Wanaka and Makarora Valley. Take in the beauty of Mt Aspiring and Fiordland World Heritage National Parks. Stunning vistas of rugged untouched wilderness, numerous glaciers, mountains, snow, ice, rivers, valleys and rainforest. Fly the full length of Milford Sound before landing and taking in the views from the water on a 1hr 45min scenic boat cruise. You will be back in Wanaka in time for an afternoon activity or simply time to kick back after a fabulous experience!
Day 9: Wanaka River Jetboating Today it's time for an exhilarating jet boating experience of a lifetime! The Matukituki River; Fed by Glaciers and surrounded by the peaks of Mount Aspiring National Park is one of New Zealand’s most powerful and pristine jet boating rivers. Wanaka River Journeys travels this fast flowing river past Lord of the Rings locations, watched over by Mount Aspiring and Glaciers. Along the way your guide will share with you stories of the past, of how these ancient lands were carved by ice and of the first people to come here. Experience the exhilaration of speed in just centimeters of water and spinning turns in deep pools. Also enjoy a 40 minute wilderness walk through native beech forest or an optional helicopter pick-up from the jet boat for a flight into the second largest glacial area in New Zealand.
Day 10: Wanaka - Lake Moeraki This morning you'll drive from Wanaka to Lake Moeraki. 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 (Maori 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 1,000 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 11: 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 nature walks. 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. Learn about the rainforests, discover ferns, orchids, giant native pigeon, bellbird and tui. Watch the sunset over the Tasman Sea. Night walks to see glow worms, the stars in the Southern Sky including the Southern Cross, listen for morepork owls are all offered. Join in on historical talks and or learn easy canoeing… and if you fall out you can help feed our giant tame eels!
Day 12: Lake Moeraki - Punakaiki A scenic drive today takes you along the west coast to Punakaiki, where famous blowholes and amazing pancake rocks will delight the senses. Your stunning ocean front accommodation is tucked into the northern end of Punakaiki Beach, just 50m from the high tide mark. Award winning architecture in a natural rainforest setting allow you to relax in comfort while having access to the spectacular wildlife and landscapes along the Paparoa Coast.
Day 13: Punakaiki - Awaroa Lodge / Abel Tasman You can choose from two travel options for the trip from Punakaiki to your lodge at Abel Tasman National Park. Drive to Kateriteri and board a water-taxi charter to Awaroa Lodge (1.5 hours by boat) OR Drive to Motueka and board a scenic flight transfer to Awaroa Lodge (15 minute flight). Either way, your approach into the secluded, luxurious lodge will be a memorable one.
Awaroa Lodge is the perfect luxurious vantage point to explore the famous Abel Tasman Coast Track. Awaroa Lodge has established an enviable reputation for inspired, creative, taste-infused cuisine. A breakfast of crusty homemade breads, hand-made muesli and roasted coffee ignites the day, followed by light snacks and all-day dining at the café. Evening brings vibrant, fresh flavors served with sensational seasonal produce and seafood from big-eyed tuna, steamed New Zealand clams, chargrilled scallops, marinated swordfish and salmon.
Day 14: Abel Tasman Coastal Track / Hike / Kayak / Swim / or Relax Today you can spend walking the exquisite Abel Tasman Coastal Track, swimming on a secluded beach, kayaking the nearby crystal-clear bays and inlets, or just relaxing at the lodge. An afternoon cocktail at the lodge can be followed by dinner with many ingredients picked from the Lodge's abundant organic garden. You may even catch the chef picking seasonal greens, wine ripened tomatoes and seasonal herbs on the way back from your day's activities! After a relaxing day slip luxuriously into crisp cotton sheets and drift into soothing, uninterrupted sleep.
Day 15: Abel Tasman - Nelson OR Blenheim After a final, relaxing morning at the lodge, a short drive from Kateriteri or Motueka will bring you to Nelson. The Nelson region is known for its year-round sunshine, golden beaches, national parks, boutique wineries, micro breweries and a large creative community of working artists. Add to this locally grown produce, freshly caught seafood, historical streetscapes and fabulous restaurants and you will see that it offers a thoroughly pleasurable way of life. Situated in the north-west corner of the South Island, the Nelson region is surrounded by sheltering mountain ranges, giving it a Mediterranean type climate.
You'll spend the next two nights at a lovely bed and breakfast located in a picturesque garden setting, a gentle five minute stroll to the center of Nelson City and its renowned arts and crafts, excellent cafes and restaurants OR you may like to travel a further 1hr 30mins and spend your last two nights amongst the vines in the Marlborough Wine Region.
Day 16: Nelson Arts Exploration OR Marlborough Wine Region & Marlborough Sounds A sumptuous breakfast will get you ready for a day of exploring Nelson's thriving artist community or the Marlborough Wine Region and Marlborough Sounds.
Nelson Arts Exploration From touring studios and public galleries to visting the World of Wearable Art Museum, your day will be filled with the local and regional art that characterizes this city.
Marlborough Wine Region & Marlborough Sounds Spend the day in the fabulous Marlborough Wine Region, take the truly unique food and wine Greenshell Mussel Cruise on the Marlborough Sounds or a cooking class with a MasterChef at Herzog before dining in their luxury restaurant - the ultimate finale to your New Zealand experience. The Marlborough Sounds also offers walking opportunities on the Queen Charlotte Track or kayaking on the sounds.
Day 17: Fly home Nelson OR Blenheim - Auckland - Los Angeles or San Francisco
Package Includes:
International round trip airfares Los Angeles or San Francisco to Auckland on Air New Zealand;
Domestic airfares within New Zealand on Air New Zealand;
14 nights accommodation at 4 and 5 Star properties; - 2 Nights Dunedin - 2 Nights Central Otago (Kokonga) - 3 Nights Wanaka - 2 Nights Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki - 1 Night Punakaiki - 2 Nights Abel Tasman National Park - 2 Nights Nelson OR Blenheim
Otago Peninsula Private Tour to Larnach Castle; Albatross, Penguins and Seals;
Complimentary bikes for use on Otago Central Rail Trail;
Clutha River Cruise;
Scenic flight to Milford Sound and Scenic Cruise;
Wanaka River Jetboating & Wilderness Walk;
Wilderness Lodge stay and complimentary activities (ie: canoeing, glow worms, southern sky night walk, feed the eels & trout, learn about living in the wilderness, ancient trees, birds and plants in the rainforest and watch the sunset over the Tasman Sea);
Scenic Flight or Private Charter to Awaroa Lodge in Abel Tasman National Park
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)
