New Zealand
Adventure Safari Bus Tour
Paradise
ParadiseHighlightsSouthernTouri TripsVideo
Itinerary:
Auckland - Paihia - Kaitaia - Dargaville - Auckland -
Whitianga - Rotorua - Napier - Wellington - Nelson -
Greymouth - Franz Josef - Queenstown - Te Anau -
Queenstown - Lake Tekapo - Christchurch
New Zealand Video Impressions
Wednesday, Day 1
Kia Ora !
We start our trip in Auckland, the ‘City of Sails’. Meet your fellow travellers and be our guest at our Welcome Dinner.
Thursday, Day 2
Auckland - Paihia
After breakfast and the daily briefing we start on our 3-day trip to Northland, heading first toward Whangarei, and then on to Paihia in the famous Bay of Islands.
Friday, Day 3
Paihia - Kaitaia
We spend the day in the Bay of Islands, visiting the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the birthplace of New Zealand. We then move on to spend the night at Kaitaia, ready for an early start the next morning.
Saturday, Day 4
Kaitaia - Dargaville
Day 4 starts early to the most northwestern tip of New Zealand - Cape Reinga - where the souls of recently departed Maori are said to leave the mainland on their journey to the afterlife in the spiritual homeland Hawaiki. We spend some time here at the lonely lighthouse before taking the Twin Coast Discovery Highway south.
At Kohukohu we take the small ferry to Rawene before travelling through the Waipoua Forest, an ancient Kauri forest. We stop to visit Tane Mahuta, the ‘Lord of the Forest’. At around 2000 years old and 51 m (169 feet) tall, Tane Mahuta is New Zealand’s largest living Kauri tree. We stop in Dargaville for the night.
Sunday, Day 5
Dargaville - Auckland
We carry on down the Twin Coast Discovery Highway, reaching Auckland in the early afternoon. We spend the rest of the day here.
Monday, Day 6
Auckland - Whitianga
This is a relaxing day on the Pacific Coast Highway around the Coromandel region. We spend the night in Whitianga.
Tuesday, Day 7
Whitianga - Rotorua
We travel south, stopping at Cathedral Cove. Well worth the 40-minute strenuous walk to reach it, this is a natural rock cave located in one of New Zealand’s beautiful marine reserves.
We continue along the coast to Rotorua. Before we even reach the city you will be able to smell the sulfur and see hot pools along the side of the road. In the evening you will have the opportunity to learn about Maori culture and attend a spectacular Maori show in the Tamaki Maori Village. This is followed by a traditional Maori feast.
Wednesday, Day 8
Rotorua - Napier
We spend the morning in Rotorua visiting the hot pools and geysers at Te Puia. You will also have the chance to visit a bird house and see a kiwi. We continue our journey south, travelling alongside beautiful Lake Taupo and through spectacular scenery.
One of the highlights is a view of Mount Ruapehu, the highest peak on the North Island, which stands nearly 2797 m (9175 feet) tall.
Our destination is Napier, which was almost entirely rebuilt in the Art Deco style after the 1931 earthquake. You will be able to visit museums, art galleries, and a kiwi house if you wish. We spend the night in an original Art Deco hotel near the beach.
Thursday, Day 9
Napier - Wellington
We continue our journey to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, passing through more spectacular scenery.
Friday, Day 10
Wellington - Nelson
Before we leave the North Island we visit Te Papa, the national museum of New Zealand. In the afternoon we leave for the South Island, travelling to Picton on the Interislander ferry.
There is plenty of opportunity to take pictures on the journey, especially as we pass through the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. Once on the South Island we travel around the Tasman Bay to Nelson. Nelson and its surrounding region receive more hours of sunshine than any other city in New Zealand.
Saturday, Day 11
Nelson
There are many sightseeings in Nelson. On our daily tour we visit the Abel Tasman Nationalpark.
Sunday, Day 12
Nelson - Greymouth
Our trip takes us south along the Buller Gorge Road to Westport, where we meet the Tasman Sea and there are beaches crowded with sea lions. We cross Cape Foulwind and
head south again to Pancake Rocks, where we get a close-up view of blowholes created by the sea. We spend the night in Greymouth.
Monday, Day 13
Greymouth - Franz Josef
We continue south through the old gold mining town of Ross. The scenery is breathtaking, with the Tasman Sea on the right and mountains and lush green rain forest on the left. We spend the night below Franz Josef Glacier. If you wish, you can take a helicopter flight to the glacier or walk to its base.
Tuesday, Day 14
Franz Josef - Queenstown
Passing Fox Glacier, another majestic glacier, we leave the coast and head east over Haast Pass to beautiful Lake Wanaka and the town of Wanaka itself before travelling on to Queenstown, justly famous as the adventure capital of the world. We will be given a short tour of a typical New Zealand working farm before the evening meal at the Colonel’s Homestead Restaurant on the Walter Peak High Country Sheep Farm.
The farm is reached by a scenic cruise on Lake Wakatipu on the oldest steamship in New Zealand, the TSS Earnslaw.
Wednesday, Day 15
Queenstown - Te Anau
We have a relaxing morning after our excellent meal last night before heading on to Te Anau around noon.
Thursday, Day 16
Milford Sound
This is one of the highlights of our trip and a spectacular natural wonder. You will have plenty of time to absorb the scenery and enjoy one of New Zealand’s most famous regions. We set off for Milford Sound through the Homer Tunnel before boarding a boat to cruise the 10-mile long fiord. You will have the opportunity to see blue penguins, sea lions, and dolphins, not to mention the stunning combination of green rain forest, mountains, and blue, clear water flowing toward the ocean. We return to Te Anau for the night.
Friday, Day 17
Te Anau - Queenstown
We travel back to Queenstown where the rest of the day is free for you to do as you wish. Queenstown specialises in adventure activities and has much to offer, including bungee jumping, parasailing, jet boat rides, and skydiving. We will help you book any activities you wish to go on.
Saturday, Day 18
Queenstown - Lake Tekapo
On Day 18 we travel to the foothills of Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain at a height of 3754 m (13,316 feet). We stop for coffee and a spectacular view of the snow-covered mountain at the famous Hermitage Hotel, a truly special place with unmistakeable charm.
We end the day riding along back Lake Pukaki before spending the night at our hotel at Lake Tekapo.
Sunday, Day 19
Lake Tekapo - Christchurch
We end our tour with more unforgettable views. We visit the Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Takapo before travelling across the South Island on the Inland Scenic Route to Christchurch.
The remainder of the day is free for you to explore Christchurch before we meet for one last time at our Farewell Dinner.
Optional: XtraPack Christchurch back to Auckland in 3 Days!
New Zealand Paradise Safari - what's included:
Guided Safari Tour by Reuthers Tourguide
Travelling in comfortable Bus/Van/MiniBus
Accomodation Middleclass Hotels in DoubleRoom
Reuthers Secured Payment Certificate (Sicherungsschein)
Reuthers Tourbook with Itineraries and Tips
Reuthers Travel Lecture New Zealand
Reuthers Welcome Drink
Welcome- and Farewell-Dinner in Restaurants
Maori Culture and Hangi Dinner
Dinner Walter Peak High Country Sheep Farm
Milford Sound Cruise
Steamship Passage TSS Earnslaw
Ferry Wellington > Picton (> Wellington / XtraPack)
Transfers Airport-Hotel-Airport
Entrance Fees
Reuthers Polo Shirt
Reuthers Calling Card
Reuthers Memory Picture
Reuthers Tour Certificate
Reuthers Tours & More Discount Points
Pricing New Zealand Paradise Safari:
Per Person = NZD 4256
SingleRoom extra charge = NZD 1555
TwinRoom extra charge = NZD 300
XtraPack 3 Days Christchurch > Auckland = NZD 825
All pricing payable in New Zealand Dollar.
2% Discount for payment by bank transfer
3% Early Bird Discount* for bookings more than 6 months prior tour start
2% Senior Discount* age min 62 years prior tourstart
5% Group Discount* (from 6 participants)
*additional discounts apply for bank payment only.
Dates New Zealand Paradise Safari:
3.Nov.-21.Nov.2010
24.Nov.-12.Dec.2010
5.Jan.-23.Jan.2011
2.Feb.-20.Feb.2011
23.Feb.-13.Mar.2011
2.Nov.-20.Nov.2011
30.Nov.-18.Dec.2011
4.Jan.-22.Jan.2012
1.Feb.-19.Feb.2012
22.Feb.-11.Mar.2012
7.Nov.-25.Nov.2012
28.Nov.-16.Dec.2012
