SOUTH ISLAND ESCORTED TOUR
8 night escorted coach tour from £ 4599pp
Queenstown
Lake Tekapo
SOUTHERN SPOTLIGHT
8 NIGHT ESCORTED COACH TOUR
World Heritage listed wilderness • extraordinary natural drama • panoramic train journey
DAYS 1-2 Fly to Christchurch
DAY 3 Christchurch
On arrival , make your way to your hotel . After time to settle in , meet fellow travellers for a welcome reception .
DAY 4 Christchurch / Omarama
During a city tour , highlights include the mind-bending Cathedral , made largely of cardboard , and Turanga , the gold clad central library . From here , your outlook is the Canterbury Plains : the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo , the quaint Church of the Good Shepherd , snow-capped mountains and atmospheric towns . Your Indoor Dark Sky Astronomy Experience at Tekapo , hosted by passionate guides , will forever change the way you see the night sky . You ’ ll see for yourself that while this may be one of the quietest spots on the planet , it has one of the busiest skies in the universe .
DAY 5 Omarama / Dunedin
Admire Oamaru ’ s Victorian heritage buildings before you journey further south toward the ‘ Edinburgh of the South ’, Dunedin . It ’ s easy to while away the afternoon in the city ’ s atmospheric art-lined alleys . Perhaps venture further afield to discover the wildlife that thrives in this pretty pocket of the country , including fur seals or , maybe visit Speight ’ s Brewery , a New Zealand institution ( both at extra expense ).
DAY 6 Dunedin / Te Anau
Dunedin ’ s Scottish ancestry is everywhere you look , from the manicured grounds of Otago University to the city ’ s main George Street . Rolling green hills dotted with doeeyed sheep are replaced by soaring mountains as you weave your way into Fiordland National Park and the South Island ’ s biggest lake and the town of Te Anau . Soak up the serenity – it doesn ’ t get any better than this .
DAY 7 Te Anau / Queenstown
From the moment you step outside today , nature rules . Your route through Fiordland National Park is an intoxicating union of beech forests , alluvial flats , meadows and mirror-like lakes . Gin-clear rivers carve the countryside , with all roads leading to your Milford Sound / Piopiotahi tour . Cruise this World Heritage listed expanse and admire the string of waterfalls that create a misty curtain across sheer escarpments . Breathtaking !
Dunedin
DAY 8 Queenstown
Take today at your own pace . Optional excursions are available , so if you like things fast and furious opt for a ride on the high-octane Skippers Jet ( at extra expense ). Wherever you wander , ensure you ’ re back in time to glide across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue dinner .
DAY 9 Queenstown / Franz Josef
Leaving Lake Wakatipu behind , Arrowtown appears on the horizon . We know you ’ ll want to linger in the movie-set-like streets , lined with trees and character-filled boutiques , but Lake Dunstan awaits , as do its orchards . Then there ’ s Lake Hawea followed by Lake Wanaka , with its Instagrammable shoreline of poplars and willows . Head over the Haast Pass to the town of Franz Josef , where , this afternoon you may choose to fly over Franz Josef Glacier / Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere ( at extra expense ).
DAY 10 Franz Josef / Christchurch
Swap snow for pounamu ( native greenstone or jade ) in Hokitika . Just when you thought your adventure couldn ’ t get any better , you ’ ll board the TranzAlpine train bound for Christchurch , through tunnels and over viaducts with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks , icy rivers , beech forests , gorges and river valleys .
DAY 11 Christchurch
The tour concludes with your onward journey and no doubt , memories to last a lifetime .
Fiordland National Park
Tasman Sea
Queenstown Te Anau
Franz Josef
Omarama
SOUTH ISLAND
Christchurch 1 night | Omarama 1 night Dunedin 1 night | Te Anau 1 night Queenstown 2 nights | Franz Josef 1 night Christchurch 1 night
Christchurch
www . premierholidays . co . uk NEW ZEALAND 127
Dunedin
Hokitika Gorge
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Departures : On specific dates . Please ask for details . Accommodation : 3-4★ hotels throughout .
Meals : Breakfast . Dinner is also included on days 4 , 6 , 8 , 9 & 10 .
Tour price : The price shown for this escorted tour includes international flights , accommodation , sightseeing as outlined , national park entrance fees and services of a Travel Director and Driver Guide .
AAT Kings Best Buy tours include comfortable accommodation with easy access to city centres , many meals plus optional experiences to add to your holiday .
The itinerary is based on departures between Sep 25- Mar 26 and may vary for other dates .