Visits: Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown, Christchurch, Cairns, Sydney

INCLUDED FEATURES:

DAY TO DAY ITINERARY:

Day 1 Fly USA to Auckland

Day 2 You cross the International Date Line

The International Date Line is an imaginary line on the earth’s surface that approximately coincides with the 180th meridian line (LONGITUDE), and separates the calendar date. Traveling east across the line takes the traveler back one day, traveling west takes the traveler forward.

Day 3 Welcome to Auckland, New Zealand

You will be met and transferred to your accommodation.

Auckland, 'City of Sails', located between two stunning harbors, enjoys a mild year-round climate Auckland is the country's most visited region and largest urban area, offering exciting activities and great shopping.

The City lies across an 11km wide volcanic isthmus separating two harbors. The Waitemata to the east opens into the Hauraki Gulf, and to the Pacific Ocean. The Manukau Harbour to the west offers many estuaries and surf beaches and opens to the Tasman Sea.

Day 4 Tour - Auckland to Rotorua Via Waitomo Caves

Depart Auckland on board the Great Sights motor coach for your ride south to Hamilton.

Travel through the rich Waikato area, famous for its dairy farms, kiwi fruit orchards, thoroughbred horses.....and the Waitomo Caves!  You will enter subterranean limestone caverns to view the Glow Worm Grotto. Surely one of the wonders of the world.  Then you'll continue over the bush clad Mamaku Ranges to Rotorua.

Day 5 Tour - Rotorua half day city tour

See the highlights of Rotorua - this tour shows you the best of Rotorua's natural and man-made attractions.  Your half day tour includes a visit to Rainbow Springs and Rainbow Farm for a sheep show and working sheep dog demonstrations.  Continue to Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve to see bubbling mud pools, steaming geysers and intricate Maori wood carvings.

Tour - Rotorua Hangi dinner & concert

This Twilight Cultural Tour offers transport to and from a Marae by coach.  Tonight is a spiritual experience you will never forget with Marae protocol, entertainment, Maori culture and feasting.

En route to the Marae, the guide explains the protocol to take place.  The group on board is prepared for the wero (challenge) and welcome to the Marae. Upon entering the exquisitely carved meeting house, you will hongi (greet - pressing of noses) with your host.  The tradition means you are a friend and may consider yourself one of the family. Now sit back and enjoy the culture of the Maori people.  See the fierce Haka (war dance), twirling of poi balls, stick games and other entertainment.

From here we move to the Hangi pit to see the traditional Maori method of food preparation before heading into the dining room for a Hangi (feast). After the feast, you are transferred back to your Rotorua accommodation by coach.

Day 6 Fly Rotorua to Queenstown (Via Christchurch)

You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Queenstown.  On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Nestled beside the deep blue waters of Lake Wakatipu, at the foot of the Remarkables Mountain Range, Queenstown is a year round resort, where you can be as active as you want, or just leisurely enjoy the magnificent scenery.

Day 7 Tour - Milford Sound full day tour

An early start as you leave your hotel and coach through some of the most beautiful countryside in New Zealand.  On arrival at Milford Sound, board the vessel for a leisurely cruise along the sound to the Tasman Sea.  The vessel stops at various points and plenty of time is available to view waterfalls, rainforests, mountains and seals.  You may even see dolphins frolic alongside the boat.  A buffet lunch is included during the cruise.

Day 8 Tour - Dart River jetboating

Transfer from Queenstown by coach to Glenorchy and the mouth of the Dart River.  Here we board the 18 foot specially prepared jet boat and thread our way through a maze of channels between river flats in only inches of water.  Snow capped mountains surround you as you view the World Heritage Grandeur, and waterfalls cascade into the lush bush clad valleys - a magical, untouched place.

Your driver/guide shares his knowledge and explains all about the area, then pulls into a bank so that you may explore the area by foot. This optional 30-45 minute guided walk takes you into the native forests at an area called Paradise in the spectacular Rees Valley.  You will then be collected by the 4 x 4 coach to take you back to Glenorchy, before transferring back to Queenstown.  Trip duration is 6 hours. Your tour today will include a souvenir picture pack, which is a mini album from your day.                                                           

Day 9 Tour - Coach from Queenstown to Christchurch

Join Great Sights tour coach on an exceptional journey from Queenstown to Mount Cook via the Lindis Pass and then down the Southern Alps to the Canterbury Plains and Christchurch.  Lunch is included en route.

Christchurch is the South Island's largest city, beautifully encapsulates the best of what New Zealand has to offer. This is a vibrant city of exciting festivals, art galleries, theaters and great shopping. Award-winning attractions are available within the city and the surrounding countryside. Find out what variety really means; explore our unspoiled corner of the globe, where wilderness, adventure and sophisticated urban living can be found in perfect balance.

Day 10 Tour - Akaroa full day tour

On this amazing tour, visit the extinct volcanoes of Banks Peninsula and view the beautiful harbors & green farmland.  Make photo stops at scenic places and enjoy morning & afternoon teas and a cheese tasting at the Barry's Bay Cheese Factory.

Once at Akaroa, included in your tour is a nature and harbor cruise on the Canterbury Cat. This cruise explores the volcanic harbor and sightings may be made of the world's smallest dolphin - the Hectors Dolphin, NZ Fur Seals and numerous seabirds.

If time allows, stroll through the village and along the waterfront, taking in the quaint French charm which is unique to Akaroa. Lunch is included today, and the return to Christchurch is around 5.30pm.

Day 11 Fly Christchurch to Cairns (Via Sydney)

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cairns. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

The major center in Tropical North Queensland is Cairns, a popular gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. The city is fringed by lush rainforests and, to the north and south, are miles of white sandy beaches and turquoise oceans teeming with marine life.

Day 12 Tour - Great Barrier Reef day cruise with Ocean Spirit

This morning, transfer to Cairns wharf and board the 'Ocean Spirit', a luxury 105ft sailing vessel - the largest of her kind in the world.  Sail to Michaelmas Cay, known as the Isle of the Birds, a year round home to thousands of sea birds of some 14 different species.  Its spectacular coral reef which thrives in the ideal conditions of clear, shallow, sunlit water is home to a variety of marine life including giant clams and brilliant fish.

Because Michaelmas Cay is a National Park the fish are so tame you can feed them from the beach and birds know they are safe to wander among you with their chicks.

Lunch is a buffet of seafood, hot and cold meats, roasted potatoes, salads and tropical fruit, freshly prepared in the spacious galley.  We spend four hours at the reef with time for a variety of activities.  You may wish to do a guided snorkeling tour with a graduate marine biologist, scuba dive with a qualified instructor (extra cost), or just laze on the beach.  Enjoy a leisurely sail back to Cairns and afternoon tea, arriving back at the wharf around 4.30pm.

Day 13 At leisure, Cairns

Cairns is the gateway to Tropical Far North Queensland, a region of contrasts and surprises.  It is home to the Great Barrier Reef, palm-fringed isolated beaches, Kuranda and the Atherton Tablelands, World Heritage listed rainforests and the sun burnt outback. This dynamic area serves as a diverse hub for many attractions and activities of the Tropical North. Apart from the major tourism attractions of the Reef & Rainforest, there are many adventure sports such as white water rafting and bungee jumping, as well as other activities such as golf and trail riding.

Day 14 Fly Cairns to Sydney

You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Sydney. Upon arrival you will be met and taken to your hotel.

Sydney - Australia's premier city is the oldest settlement in Australia, the economic powerhouse of the nation and the country's capital in everything but name. Built on the shores of the stunning Port Jackson, you would have to die and go to heaven before you see a more spectacular setting for a city. It's a vital, self-regarding metropolis, exuding both a devil-may-care urbanity and a slavish obsession with global fads.  The Sydney area was the ancestral home of the Daruk tribe, whose territory extended from Botany Bay to Pittwater.

There are some 2000 Aboriginal rock engraving sites in the Sydney area, and many of Sydney's suburbs have Aboriginal names. The city of Sydney began life as a penal colony in 1788 and for the next 60 years received the unwanted, persecuted and criminal elements of British society. Despite its brutal beginnings, the city's mixture of pragmatic egalitarianism and plain indifference has transformed it into a thriving multicultural society. Sydney now attracts the majority of Australia's immigrants and the city's predominantly Anglo-Irish heritage has been revitalized by large influxes of Italian, Lebanese, Turkish, Greek, Chinese and Vietnamese.

Day 15 Tour - Sydney half day city tour

Travel over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, stopping at Milson's Point for a great photo opportunity of the Sydney Opera House.  Visit Middle Harbour before a stop is made at Manly beach with time for afternoon tea (own expense).  Travel Sydney's northern coast line and see beautiful white sandy beaches.

Day 16 At leisure, Sydney

At your leisure to explore Sydney. Most of the major attractions of the city are within easy walking distance of your accommodation - Sydney Opera House, Darling Harbour, Centrepoint Tower, Circular Quay, The Rocks etc.

Day 17 Fly Sydney to USA (Via Auckland)

You will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight.

PRICES 2008: From $4195.00  per person. Based on a double occupancy. Departure taxes extra.

DEPARTURES: Departs daily.

HOTELS: Your choice of Standard, Superior or Deluxe accommodations