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| Queenstown - Dunedin - The Catlins |
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| New Zealand - Off the Beaten Track - Private Touring |
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4 Days/3 Nights
Day 01 - Queenstown - Taieri Gorge Railway - Dunedin
From Queenstown travel north through the Kawarau Gorge and Central Otago farming country. Pass through Cromwell, which is a major fruit and grape growing area and past Lake Dunstan. View the huge Clyde hydro dam on the Clutha River and drive through the picturesque Central Otago countryside and isolated townships such as Omakau to Pukerangi. Here board the Taieri Gorge Excursion train, which will take you through the hills down to Dunedin on the Pacific Coast following the trail of 19th century gold miners to the gold fields of Central Otago. You will be amazed by the skills of railway engineers of the time who laid the track through such difficult terrain. There are some wonderful viaducts across deep valleys and delightful stone bridges.
Arrive in Dunedin and transfer to the hotel. Fletcher Lodge was built as a private residence by leading New Zealand industrialist Sir James Fletcher in 1923. It is built in a Dutch colonial style of architecture with decorative brick, extensive oak panelling, ornate plaster ceilings and leadlight windows. It set in a secluded garden and has just 6 x en suite guest rooms. Edinburgh Suite Fletcher Lodge
Breakfast at the lodge Dunedin was originally settled by the Scots and retains a good deal of tartan character. Sightseeing today includes the city centre and excellent Early Settler's Museum and a drive out to the Otago Peninsula. Here visit the Royal Albatross Colony. This is the only mainland nesting place in the world for these magnificent seabirds (see note 2). Also visit nearby Penguin Place to see the rare Yellow Eyed Penguins from especially constructed "hides". A pub lunch will be provided.
Fletcher Lodge
Breakfast at the lodge. This morning travel by coach south from Dunedin past Dunedin Airport and Lake Waihola to Balclutha. Cross the Clutha River - which is New Zealand's largest river (by volume of water) and drive on south through picturesque farmlands to Owaka for a day exploring the Catlins Regions. This is a lightly populated and remote area with a mix of pastoral farming, lovely native rainforest and rugged coastline with some lovely golden sand beaches, kelp strewn rocks and impressive cliffs and headlands. Sometimes the seas of the Southern Ocean are relatively calm and other times they are wild and dangerous with huge surf crashing into the shore.
Includes a visit to Kaka Point and walk out to the Nugget Point lighthouse from where there are stunning views up and down the coastline and out to the southern ocean. A visit to pretty Pounawea which is located on the coast near the outlet of the Catlins Lake is also well worthwhile. Fur Seals and the huge Elephant Seals can often be seen on the lovely golden sands of nearby Surat Bay. Take a 10 minute walk through magnificent native rainforest to the Purakanui Falls. The fossils forest on the sea edge at Curio Bay is a "must see". There are also rare Yellow Eyed Penguins nesting here and they can be seen coming ashore in the late afternoon. Your accommodation is on a farm near Waipapa Point. Your hosts are 4th generation farmers on this property and the 1920s homestead is set in a well established garden where you may wake up to bird song. There are just 3 x guest rooms - all with en suites. Dinner is included. Greenbush B&B Farmstay
Breakfast on the farm. This morning see the lighthouse at Waipapa and then drive back to Dunedin Airport where your tour ends.
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