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Canyon Calling Tours takes you to the Lord of Rings country – New Zealand is home to some of the most beautiful scenery on earth. Throw in the friendliest, most welcoming people you could ever meet plus great activities and you have the classic lifetime trip. Highlights include hiking a glacier that tumbles into a rain forest, sea-kayaking turquoise waters to golden sand beaches, sailing in the Bay of Islands and horse riding beneath the Southern Alps.
Thurs Feb 2, 2012
Flying day from LAX on Air Pacific.
Sat Feb 4
Arrive in Auckland where your Kiwi Guide will meet you, driving through the beautiful city of Auckland you’ll see why it’s called the “City of Sails.” Three-night apartmen stay in the seaside community of Paihia.
Sunday
Journey to the top of New Zealand along 90-Mile Beach and Cape Reinga.
Monday
Canyon Calling is the only tour company to incorporate Waitangi Day celebrations into their schedule! On this, New Zealand’s national day, the group will stroll down to the harbor to see the Maori wakas (war canoes) paddle across the harbor – quite a sight! The day will end with a wonderfully relaxing sail in the Bay of Islands on a 50’ yacht.
Tuesday
Waitomo blackwater rafting adventure!
Wednesday
Cathedral Cove for swimming and relaxing on the most beautiful beach in New Zealand. Hike back up then drive south through coastal towns in the Bay of Plenty. Evening ceremony with local Maori marae (homeland) in a moving, traditional ceremony. One night stay on the marae is a tour highlight.
Thursday
Murapara white water rafting trip and afterwards drive to Waiotapu and walk through this active geothermal area of boiling pools and mud and amazing colors of nature seldom seen. Drive south to Taupo stopping to see thundering Huka Falls.
Friday
Early start for a short hop to the trailhead of the Tongariro Crossing. Known as “the finest one-day hike in NZ” this 8–10 hour hike takes us across craters of extinct Mt. Tongariro.
Saturday
Drive south to the capital city of Wellington, after a short tour board a ferry to the South Island, a scenic trip through the Marlborough Sounds.
Sunday
Sea-kayak the emerald seas and golden beaches of Abel Tasman National Park.
Monday
Drive Southern Alps and a stunning coastline to Punakiki, and Hokitika, nowhere in the world at this latitude have glaciers advanced so close to the sea.
Tuesday
Travel over the Alps through Haast Pass and lunch at Lake Wanaka. Then it’s a short hop over the spectacular Crown Range to Queenstown, New Zealand’s most beautiful city for a three night stay. Then the groups sails on the historic steam ship Earnslaw across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Farm for a sheep-dog round-up and a shearing demonstration.
Wednesday
Day off!! Queenstown is the launching point for trips to world re-known Milford Sound by bus or plane. This activity is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and includes a launch trip where you can photograph waterfalls, fur seals and fabulous scenery. Queenstown has a host of activities for travelers – tandem paragliding, Shotover jet boat rides, wine tours, strolling historic Arrowtown and you can even jump off Kawerau bridge, the original bungy site!
Thursday
Take a Gondola to experience most amazing view of Queenstown, then ride another shorter gondola up to the start of a luge ride – fun to be a kid again! After lunch, experience the shore of Lake Wakatipu to Glenorchy on a relaxing two-hour horse ride.
Friday
Drive north is through Mackenzie Country to Canterbury. The highlight will be views of Mt Cook (Aoraki) across the glacial waters of Lake Pukaki. Lunch at Lake Tekapo, visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and see the memorial to the beloved sheep dog. Farm stay in a high country sheep station adjacent to a lake at the foot of the Southern Alps.
Saturday
Flying day – Christchurch to Auckland to LAX – Air Pacific
