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.