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New Zealand Holidays >> Escorted Coach Tours
 
    Holidays in New Zealand
12 day "Scenic Explorer"
Escorted coach tour of
New Zealand
with Kirra Tours

1 - Christchurch / Mt Cook / Omarama

  Your tour departs from the Pavilions Hotel, 42 Papanui Road at 8.00am.
A city sights tour will highlight the main attractions of Christchurch before traveling across the Canterbury Plains into the MacKenzie Country. View the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Collie Dog statue at Lake Tekapo. Opportunity to fly over the Southern Alps with Air Safaris (optional), before continuing to Mt Cook National Park. Admire the majesty of Mt Cook before traveling on to Omarama.
Heritage Gateway Hotel. (1 night)
 

2 - Omarama / Dunedin

Pass large hydro lakes as you travel down the Waitaki Valley to Oamaru and Dunedin – the “Scottish” city. An early arrival allows the choice of excellent optional activities. Combine a Monarch harbour cruise or Newton’s Citibus tour to see the albatross, penguins and seals. Enjoy the historic and scenic Taieri Gorge train excursion or explore the city only a few minutes walk away. This evening prior to Dinner you will be treated to a traditional Scottish Haggis Ceremony, complete with piper, address to the Haggis and gift.
Cargills Hotel. (1 night)
 

3 - Dunedin / Lake Manapouri / Te Anau

  Visit historic Olveston House, then cross rich farmlands to the agricultural towns of Gore and Lumsden. Visit Lake Manapouri before arriving at Lake Te Anau.
Fiordland National Park Hotel. (1 night)
 

4 - Te Anau / Milford Sound / Queenstown

  Follow the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys, pass through the Homer Tunnel and descend into the Cleddau Canyon to reach majestic Milford Sound, dominated by Mitre Peak. A launch cruise takes you to the open sea and the Bowen and Stirling Falls. Return to Te Anau and on to Mossburn, then skirt the shores of Lake Wakatipu to reach Queenstown. Dinner tonight is at the Skyline Restaurant, where both the dining and the views are unsurpassed.
Rydges Hotel. (2 nights)
 

5 - Queenstown

  A day to explore the delights of this alpine resort at your leisure. Your Coach Captain will happily advise on the many sightseeing activities available. We recommend the world famous Shotover Jet Boat ride, take a Gondola to the Skyline high above, a tour to the gold mining area of Skippers Canyon or for the adventurous – white water rafting. Alternatively browse in the many shops and galleries.
 

6 - Queenstown / Haast Pass/ Fox Glacier

  Pass picturesque Lake Hayes on to an area steeped in fascinating history relating to early settlement and the goldmining era, to Lake Wanaka, a picture postcard resort on the lakes edge with a spectacular mountain backdrop. Pass Lake Hawea and the upper reaches of Lake Wanaka to Makarora into Mt Aspiring and Westland National Parks. Drive north along the coast to the glacier region. Explore the township or take the optional guided walk to the glacier’s terminal face.
Fox Glacier Hotel. (1 night)
 

7 - Fox Glacier / Greymouth / Christchurch

  Time for an optional helicopter flight over the glacier then on to Franz Josef. Snowcapped Southern Alps dominate the skyline as you pass dense bush, tiny landlocked lakes and small pockets of farmland. Visit a Greenstone (Jade) factory where craftsmen cut and polish giant boulders to create fine jewellery. Now join the Tranz Alpine train for one of the most spectacular rail journeys in the world. Through rainforests to Otira, snowcapped peaks of the Southern Alps, the rugged Gorges of the Waimakariri river and across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.
 

8 - Christchurch / Kaikoura/ Blenheim

  Join the Tranz Coastal train for a kaleidoscope of scenery across fertile Canterbury farmland through the Hundalee Ranges. Follow the Pacific coastline, with the Kaikoura mountains forming a rugged backdrop to the west, passing tiny holiday settlements and Kaikoura, famous for whale-watching. Arrive in Blenheim early afternoon. A short tour of the area includes a visit to Montana Winery. Enjoy a hosted tour of the winery, learn about and taste a range of the famous local wines (purchase if you wish) followed by afternoon tea.
Blenheim Country Hotel (1 night)
 

9 - Blenheim / Picton / Wellington

  Drive to Picton, nestled on the shores of the Marlborough Sounds, to board the Interislander ferry. Sail through picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound, sheltered waterways, remote bays and isolated holiday homes. Across Cook Strait and into Wellington Harbour for spectacular views of New Zealand’s Capital City. A city tour will incorporate the summit of Mt Victoria for panoramic views of the city and harbour, the Houses of Parliament and the distinctive “Beehive”, Wellington Cathedral, city centre and Oriental Bay. Also explore the city yourself. Don’t miss Te Papa, the “Museum of New Zealand” or take a ride on the famous Cable Car.
Bay Plaza Hotel. (1 night)
 

10 - Wellington / Taupo / Rotorua

  Drive to Paekakariki with views of Kapiti Island and on a clear day, the South Island. Cross the Himitangi Plains, through the towns of Levin and Foxton to Bulls. Across rolling farmland to the central North Island National Park, dominated by the volcanic cone of Mt Ruapehu. Follow the Desert Road to Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake and famous for trout fishing. Stop at Huka Falls skirting massive pine forests to reach Rotorua, centre of Maori culture.
Lake Plaza Hotel. (2 nights)
 

11 - Rotorua

  A sightseeing tour visits the Agrodome for a display featuring New Zealand’s various sheep breeds with a shearing demonstration. See pools of brown and rainbow trout at Rainbow Springs Park and native birds including the Kiwi. Visit Whakarewarewa, the Maori Arts and Crafts Center and Thermal Reserve, with boiling mud, silica terraces and Pohutu Geyser. The spectacular Skyline Gondola offers superb views over city, lake and mountains and for a little excitement, try a Luge ride with compliments. Time for optional activities this afternoon before a Maori hangi (meal) with a selection of traditionally prepared meats and vegetables plus conventional dishes, followed by a concert featuring Maori songs, chants and the stirring haka.
 

12 - Rotorua / Waitomo / Auckland

  Cross the Mamaku Ranges to the Waikato region, noted for dairy farming and world famous horse studs. At Waitomo, a guide will escort your group underground to the limestone caverns and glow worm grotto. On through Hamilton to Ngaruawahia, centre for the region’s Maori people, then alongside the Waikato River before crossing the Bombay Hills to reach New Zealand’s largest city – Auckland. A city tour will visit the summit of Skytower, at 328m the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere for superb city and harbour views, the downtown area and Waterfront Drive.
Your tour concludes at approximately 5.30pm.



 

 

Pricing

Tour prices per Person
01 May 2008 to 30 Sep 2008
£1,210.00
01 Oct 2008 to 30 April 2009
£1,390.00
01 May 2009 to 30 Sep 2009
£1,245.00


Optional Extras
Breakfast Supplement
£88.00
Dinner Supplement
£124.00
Single Room Supplement
£330.00



   More General Information here



Dates

May 2008
Start Finish Code
05 May 16 May J45 
12 May 23 May J46 
19 May 30 May J47 
26 May 06 Jun J48 
Jun 2008
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09 Jun 20 Jun J50 
23 Jun 04 Jul J52 
Jul 2008
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07 Jul 18 Jul J54 
14 Jul 25 Jul J55 
28 Jul 08 Aug J57 
Aug 2008
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11 Aug 22 Aug J59 
18 Aug 29 Aug J60 
25 Aug 05 Sep J61 
Sep 2008
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01 Sep 12 Sep J62 
08 Sep 19 Sep J11 
15 Sep 26 Sep J12 
22 Sep 03 Oct J13 
29 Sep 10 Oct J14
Oct 2008
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06 Oct 17 Oct J15 
13 Oct 24 Oct J16 
20 Oct 31 Oct J17 
27 Oct 07 Nov J18 
Nov 2008
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03 Nov 14 Nov J19 
10 Nov 21 Nov J20 
17 Nov 28 Nov J21 
24 Nov 05 Dec J22 
Dec 2008
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01 Dec 12 Dec J23 
08 Dec 19 Dec J24 
15 Dec 26 Dec J25 
22 Dec 02 Jan J26 
29 Dec 09 Jan J27 
Jan 2009
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05 Jan 16 Jan J28 
12 Jan 23 Jan J29 
19 Jan 30 Jan J30 
26 Jan 06 Feb J31 
Feb 2009
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02 Feb 13 Feb J32 
09 Feb 20 Feb J33 
16 Feb 27 Feb J34 
23 Feb 06 Mar J35 
Mar 2009
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02 Mar 13 Mar J36 
09 Mar 20 Mar J37 
16 Mar 27 Mar J38 
23 Mar 03 Apr J39 
30 Mar 10 Apr J40 
Apr 2009
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06 Apr 17 Apr J41 
13 Apr 24 Apr J42 
20 Apr 01 May J43 
27 Apr 08 May J44 
May 2009
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11 May 22 May J46 
18 May 29 May J47 
25 May 05 Jun J48 
Jun 2009
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08 Jun 19 Jun J50 
15 Jun 26 Jun J51 
29 Jun 10 Jul J53 
Jul 2009
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06 Jul 17 Jul J54 
13 Jul 24 Jul J55 
27 Jul 07 Aug J57 
Aug 2009
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03 Aug 14 Aug J58 
10 Aug 21 Aug J11 
31 Aug 11 Sep J14 
Sep 2009
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07 Sep 18 Sep J15 
14 Sep 25 Sep J16 
21 Sep 02 Oct J17 
28 Sep 09 Oct J18 
29 Sep 10 Oct J14


 

Extend Your Tour with Pre/Post Accommodation in Auckland and Christchurch!

To get the best out of this holiday why not have an hotel stay either before or after the tour (or both) which will make your trip an even more relaxing and enjoyable experience. We have special rates at top hotels for Kirra passengers for this purpose.

Auckland - Rydges Hotel

Coach Tour holiday New Zealand Kirra Tours 16 Day Panorama Tour One of the best hotel locations in Auckland. Only two blocks from the city’s shopping and business district, one to Skytower and a few hundred metres to Viaduct Basin and the waterfront with its multitude of cafes, bars and restaurants. Noted for its friendly and helpful staff Rydges 180 contemporary guest rooms are extremely well appointed and tastefully decorated including "Guestnet" internet access. Circa Restaurant features award winning cuisine and its adjacent bar is an ideal meeting place before dinner
 here for more detail

Christchurch - Pavilions Hotel

Coach Tour holiday New Zealand Kirra Tours 16 Day Panorama Tour You will find our spacious studio units located in the main hotel block that also features the restaurant, reception and bar. You will have use of tea and coffee making facilities, a shower, hair dryer, electric blankets, a mini bar, television, in-house video, Sky TV and a telephone for your convenience.
 here for more detail



Check your dates with us

When you have chosen your tour call one of our consultants to check the availability for your date. At the same time we can advise you of the latest best deals on air fares to get you to New Zealand either to include stopovers or not depending on your requirements.

See our current special offer fares to New Zealand


 
If you would like further information on any of these tours or to check availability
 for your chosen travel dates please call or email us.

Call us on  01202 875986 

Our phone lines are open
 Mon to Frid  -  8 am to 6 pm and Saturday  -  8 am to 5 pm.
We are closed on Sunday.

If outside our office hours you can email us or just send us 
your phone number and we will call you back 
Send message 
Civil Aviation Authority - ATOL no 3614 Association of British Travel Agents - member 67499 International Air Transport Association - Accredited Agent no 92-2 0769 0 Worldspan Travel
 73 Victoria Road,
Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9HU
Tel: 01202 875986 
 Fax: 01202 893604
email: res@worldspantravel.co.uk