Newsflash
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| Christchurch - Arthur's Pass - Glaciers - Lake Moeraki - Queenstown |
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| New Zealand - Off the Beaten Track - Private Touring |
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5 Days/4 Nights
Day 1 Christchurch - Tranz Alpine Train - Arthur's Pass (D.) Transfer to Christchurch Railway Station by private car and driver. Depart Christchurch on the popular Tranz Alpine train and travel inland across the sheep and cropping farmlands of the Canterbury Plains to Arthur's Pass. Arrive at Arthur's Pass where you will be met and transferred to Wilderness Lodge.
Wilderness Lodge is located on a 6,000-acre high country sheep station and surrounded by native beech forests and tussock lands. There are wonderful views from the modern 20-room lodge across the Waimakiriri River Valley toward the mighty Southern Alps. Your hosts are well-known conservationist Dr Gerry McSweeney and his wife Anne Saunders. Lodge room. Wilderness Lodge Arthur's Pass (2 nights)
Breakfast and dinner at the lodge. A day to relax and explore. There is a complimentary daily guided programme of two half-day activities such as bird watching, forest, wetlands and tussock land walks, shearing and wool spinning, historical and night sky walks. Wilderness Lodge Arthur's Pass
Day 3 Arthur's Pass - Greymouth - Glaciers - Lake Moeraki (B.D.)
Breakfast at the lodge; then transfer to the Railway Station. Depart Arthur's Pass on the Tranz Alpine train. Travel through the Otira Tunnel and descend through lush rainforest to the West Coast. Arrive in Greymouth. Then drive down the West Coast stopping to see a Greenstone Factory at Hokitika where a local jade like stone highly prized by pre-European Maori is crafted into the most exquisite jewellery. Afterwards drive on through forests and farmlands with the mighty Southern Alps rising sharply to the east and vistas of the Tasman Sea to the west.
The Franz Josef Glacier and its neighbour, the Fox Glacier (23 kms further south) are huge rivers of snow and ice flow, which flow from vast snowfields high in the Southern Alps almost to sea level. Today take "Grand Tour" by helicopter over both glaciers and across the main divide in the Southern Alps to Mt Cook National Park also viewing the Tasman Glacier and New Zealand's tallest peak, Mt Cook (12,349 ft). Includes a snow landing on one of the glaciers. From Fox it is a further 70 kms south to Lake Moeraki Lodge, travelling through magnificent rainforests and past some pretty bush fringed lakes en route.
Wilderness Lodge is sited on the banks of the Moeraki River where it flows from Lake Moeraki and is 2 kms from the Tasman Sea. Its very remoteness is its prime feature, giving access to a pristine area of New Zealand including 1,000 year old native trees. Rare Crested Fiordland Penguins, Elephant Seals (in season), and Fur seals can be seen. There are canoes for the use of guests and a daily programme of naturalist guided wilderness walks. Rainforest room. Dinner at the lodge. Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki
Day 4 Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki (B.D.)
Breakfast at the lodge. The day is free to relax and explore the area independently or join one of the naturalist- guided activities - such as a rainforest and birding walk, lake canoeing, giant eel feeding, evening historic and glow/night sky walks. Dinner at the lodge. Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki
Day 5 Lake Moeraki - Wanaka - Queenstown (B.)
Breakfast at the lodge. Morning drive south through the rainforests of Westland National Park and across the Haast Pass through the Southern Alps. The scenery is spectacular with high peaks all around. Descend to Makarora and drive around glacially formed Lakes Wanaka and Hawea into Wanaka Township.
Wanaka is a very popular holiday resort, especially for the New Zealanders. There is a very good golf course, excellent trout fishing, hiking trails, mountain biking, boating in the rivers and lake and two ski fields. Time permitting, you may want to visit Landsborough's Puzzling World before driving on through the Central Otago sheep and cattle country and around Lake Dunstan to Cromwell. Stop here for wine tasting and to explore the unique Aroma Room at the Big Picture where many of the best Central Otago wines are available. And time permitting perhaps take a side trip into Bannockburn where top wineries such as Carrick, Olsenn's, Akarua, Felton Road and Mt Difficulty are located. Then drive through the Kawarau Gorge and into Queenstown. Contact us for a quotation or to tailor make this program
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