NORTHERN SENSATION

6 DAYS/5 NIGHTS From Christchurch to Auckland Tour Code: NBN06 FROM NZ$1675

Day 1. Arrive Christchurch

On arrival in Christchurch you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel to relax.
Two Night Stay: Christchurch, Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Day 2. Christchurch, Exclusive Experiences, Dine About

Today you choose the activity and we will include it! A visit to Akaroa including a harbour cruise or a trip on the TranzAlpine, renowned as one of the great rail journeys, to Arthurs Pass. Perhaps a ‘whale watching’ experience at Kaikoura or a leisure day in Christchurch experiencing Christchurch’s ‘Must See Four’ – the Antarctic Centre, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, the Christchurch Tram and the Christchurch Gondola. Tonight choose from three restaurants at the Crowne Plaza Hotel for delicious cuisine – Canterbury Tales, Yamagen Japanese Restaurant or the Victoria Street Café.
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Day 3. Christchurch, Wellington

Today view spectacular seascapes as we travel north to Kaikoura where whales, seals and dolphins inhabit the waters offshore. At Picton board the Inter-island ferry for our cruise across the Cook Strait, renowned as one of the most beautiful crossings in the world. Sail through the breathtaking natural beauty of the Marlborough Sounds and into scenic Wellington Harbour. Dolphins and a variety of birdlife are often our companions as we cross between the two islands.
Stay: Wellington, Hotel Inter-Continental.
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Day 4. Wellington, Napier

Leaving Wellington this morning we cross the Rimutaka Ranges into the farming district of the Wairarapa. Continue to the coastal township of Napier, an area dominated by orchards and vineyards. This afternoon we visit Church Road Winery, founded in 1897 and one of the three oldest wineries in Hawke’s Bay. Home to the country’s only wine museum and a truly magnificent barrel hall, the winery also boasts a well-established cellar door. The remainder of today is at your leisure to discover Napier.
Stay: Napier, Te Pania Hotel.
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Day 5. Napier, Tongariro National Park, Theme Dinner

This morning a short walk to explore Napier’s unique Art Deco buildings. Napier was levelled by earthquake and fire in 1931 and completely rebuilt. The architecture represents one of the most complete and significant group of Art Deco buildings in the world. Heading north today we travel through the small communities of Te Pohue and Iwitahi to reach New Zealand’s largest lake, Lake Taupo. The lake was formed by one of the greatest volcanic explosions of all time and the surrounding area is still volcanically active today. Lake Taupo is acclaimed as the world’s trout fishing capital and a popular spot for local holiday makers. Skirting the eastern shores of Lake Taupo we travel to the southern-most point of Lake Turangi before heading to World Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park. New Zealand’s first National Park located on the Central Plateau and home to three mighty volcanic peaks, Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu.
Stay: Tongariro National Park, Chateau Tongariro.
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Day 6. Tongariro National Park, Auckland

From the National Park we head north and stop at Raurimu to view the ‘Raurimu Spiral’, an engineering feat and declared a ‘wonder of the world’ when it was first completed in 1908. It allowed the main trunk railway heading south from Auckland and north from Wellington to finally be completed. Our journey continues through the townships of Taumarunui and Te Kuiti before reaching Hamilton, built on the shores of the mighty Waikato River and New Zealand’s largest inland city. At Hamilton we stop to view the Hamilton Gardens which contain a multitude of different theme gardens, rose gardens, scented gardens and riverside magnolia gardens along with many more. From Hamilton we travel along State Highway One to arrive in Auckland, where our tour concludes and a departure transfer to the airport is included.
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