9 Day South Island Touring Route:

 

21/10/2011 Day 1 (Christchurch)

11:55pm Touch down at airport

22/10/201 Day 2 (Arthur Pass, Greymouth, Punakaiki, Hokitika)

Chirstchurch – Arthur’s Pass (131 km, 1 hr 54 mins)Arthur’s Pass – Greymouth (109 km, 1 hr 21 mins)Greymouth – Punakaiki (45 km, 37 mins)Punakaiki – Hokitika (83.5 km, 1 hr 9 mins)Hokitika – Franz Josef Glacier (131 km, 1hr 31mins)

12:30am Pick up rental car and travel onto your centrally located accommodation

6:00 am Head to Arthur’s Pass

8:00 am Reach Arthur’s Pass

9:00 am Depart to Greymouth

10:30 am Reach Greymouth & Lunch

11.30 am Depart to Punakaiki

12:00 pm Reach Punakaiki

2:00 pm Depart to Hokitika

3:00 pm Reach Hokitika

4:00 pm Depart to Franz Josef Glacier

5:30 pm Reach Franz Josef Glacier Town & Dinner & Top-up Food Stock

Overnight at Franz Josef Glacier Town

you head to Punakaiki. You turn inland to travel through the Canterbury Plains and over the beautiful Arthur’s Pass. Along the way you’ll see the awesome engineering feats of the Otira Viaduct and Tunnel. You’ll have time to stop and look around before descending through some fantastic alpine scenery and on down Greymouth, then its a short trip North to stay the night at

Punakaiki, best known for its Pancake Rocks and Blowholes - both of which are spectacular and a must-see when visiting the West Coast.For the first part of the journey today follow the road south as it hugs the coast to Punakaiki, providing spectacular views of wild beaches and the tempestuous Tasman Sea. At Charleston, formerly a prosperous gold town, you can arrange underground rafting and cave exploring trips. After this the road to Greymouth is breathtaking. White capped breakers and rugged rocks on one side, bush-clad mountains on the other side. The town of Runanga is a classic mining village – it offers an interesting walk to nearby Coal Creek Falls. To see interesting old gold mining areas, look for the Point Elizabeth walkway. The road between Hokitika and Greymouth provides great views of the wild west coast. Detour to the beach and breathe the salt spray air. Driftwood is the ornamentation of choice for west coast beaches – every shape, size and colour. Shantytown, just south of Greymouth, is a reconstructed 1880s gold rush town – great family entertainmentA visit to the White Heron colony near Whataroa is a rare experience. You could also enjoy a picnic by the shores of Lake Ianthe or discover the goldfield walkway at Ross.

Overnight at Franz Josef Glacier

23/10/2011 Day 3 (Franz Josef Glacier, Fox Glacier, Haast Pass, Lake Wanaka)

8:45 am Start Franz Josef Glacier Exploration

1:15 pm Depart to Fox Glacier

1:40 pm Reach Fox Glacier

2:40 pm Depart to Haast Pass

4:40 pm Reach Hasst Pass

5:00 pm Depart to Lake Wanaka & Dinner

Overnight at Lake Wanaka

Franz Josef Glacier – Fox Glacier (26 km, 21mins)Fox Glacier – Haast Pass (180 km, 2 hr 2 mins)Haast Pass – Lake Wanaka (82 km, 1hr)Explore the GlaciersProffesional guides are available to take you walking on the Fox glaciers, a highlight for many visitors. Take a bush walk and walk around Lake Mathieson. view incredible scenery as you travel past the untouched native forests and pristine lakes of the World Heritage Westland National Park and Haast Pass to Wanaka. There's time to wander around the popular lakeside township before travelling over the spectacular Crown Range to the historic gold mining village of Arrowtown and then on to Queenstown

Overnight at Queentown

Option 1 GLACIER VALLEY WALKA highly informative, personalised tour to the dramatic Terminal Face of the glacier. Includes abonus Mountains to the Sea DVD.Duration: 3 hoursTrip Times: 10.15am and 2.15pmGuide to client ratio: 1-13 (min 4 pax)Standard Retail Rates: Adult $66.50 (Valid to 30 September 2011)Add a Glacier Hot Pool for just $17 (Limited time, normally $23.00)

Option 2 HALF DAY GLACIER EXPERIENCEA 3 km walk to the glacier is followed by a 1.5 hour hike over pre-formed tracks on the lower reaches of the glacier.  This trip includes public entry into the Glacier Hot PoolsDuration: 4.5 hoursTrip Times: 8.45am, 10.30am, 12.30pm (also 3pm in Summer)Guide to client ratio: 1-13Standard Retail Rates: Adult $123.00 (Valid to 30 September 2011)

24/10/2011 Day 4 (Cromwell, Arrowtown, Queentown)

7:30 am Depart to Cromwell

8:15 am Reach Cromwell

9:00 am Depart to Arrowtown

9:30 am Reach Arrowtown

10:15 am Depart to Queentown

10:30 am Reach Queentown

4:00 pm Depart to Te Anau

6:10 pm Reach Te Anau & Dinner

Overnight at Te Anau

Lake Wanaka – Cromwell (53 km, 43 mins)Cromwell – Arrowtown (47 km, 37 mins)Arrowtown - Queentown (21 km, 20 mins)Queenstown – Te Anau (171 km, 2 hr 10 mins)

The lakeside resort town of Wanaka can provide you with an appealing mix of fine living, fun and adventure. It has a high concentration of cafes, restaurants and interesting shops (additional cost). Perhaps visit Puzzling World and experience the illusion, take a jet boat ride, have a game of golf, enjoy a walk, view the Warbirds Museum, perhaps a fishing trip, or take a scenic flight.

The shortest route to Queenstown is over the Crown Range Road. It’s a challenging drive, but the views are amazing and you’ll probably encounter friendly keas (mountain parrots). More conservative drivers can take the route that runs beside the Clutha River, Lake Dunstan and the Shotover River. The vineyards of the Gibbston area and bungy jumpers at the Kawarau River Bridge are interesting distractions along the way.

a ride up the Skyline Gondola,(Open daily from 9.00am; NZD 25 or NZD 49 include buffet) bungy jumpingToday is at leisure to relax or explore Queenstown. Whether it's bungy jumping, white-water rafting, heli-skiing, fly-fishing, hang gliding, horse riding or scenic flights, you will find thrills and excitement in every way imaginable. Meanwhile, other activities such as exploring historic Arrowtown, scenic walks, eco-tours, shopping, galleries, cafes and an exciting nightlife provide something for everyone all year round. Queenstown is unique in comparison to other international resorts by virtue of its distinct four seasons giving pleasant temperatures with plentiful sunshine, accompanied by abundant activities and sports to match the season.

25/10/2011 Day 5 (Milford Sound, Te Anau, Invercargill, Bluff)

7:45 am Depart to Milford Sound

9:15 am Reach Milford Sound

9:45 am Start Milford Sound Cruise

12:00 pm Finish Cruise

1:30 pm Reach Te Anau

2:30 pm Depart to Invercargill

4:35 pm Reach Invercargill

6:00 pm Depart to Bluff

6:25 pm Reach Bluff & Dinner

Overnight at Bluff

Te Anau – Milford Sound (117 km, 1 hr, 23 mins)

Te Anau – Invercargill (157 km, 2 hr 4 mins)Invercargill – Bluff (28 km, 25 mins)

Milford SoundUpon arrival at Milford Sound, board our vessels, the Milford Mariner or Milford Wanderer which are designed along the lines of traditional trading scows; purpose built to operate in the fiords and offering a laid back, extended, 2.5 hour cruise. Explore dramatic, moody Milford Sound, New Zealand’s most famous waterway. Throughout your cruise, our nature guide provides an engaging commentary about the magnificent scenery and wildlife (English only). Keep a look out for dolphins, seals and penguins9.45am NZD 65.7 (2hr 15min)12.45pm NZD79 (2hr 15min)

driving the southern scenic route exploring the Catlins area. The Catlins is home to an abundance of wildlife, and Nugget Point is a stunning and accessible place for viewing seals and penguins. Continue to Dunedin, a historic university town, that was first settled by the Scottish as it is renowned as the "Edinburgh of the South".

This morning depart Queenstown for your journey to Milford Sound. The road from Te Anau to Milford is one of New Zealand’s most scenic drives. The first part is relatively mild farmland, then you’ll ease into beech forest near the entrance to the Fiordland National Park. Look for the Avenue of the Disappearing Mountain and the Mirror Lakes. Then the rough hewn Homer Tunnel brings you into Milford Sound, an amazing 22km-long fiord dominated by Mitre Peak. Make sure you allow for plenty of time to stop at the numerous viewing points or short walking opportunities en route. At Milford Sound, board your boat for a spectacular cruise in New Zealand’s most famous waterway, a dramatic 22 kilometre fiord carved by glaciers during the last ice age. After your cruise make your way back to Te Anau.

The area known as the Catlins lies between Kaka Point and Fortrose, an early whaling station. The winding road will take you to see seals and sealions, Hector’s Dolphins, several species of penguin and the petrified forest in Curio Bay. Wilderness beaches, waterfalls, walkways, lakes and rivers provide non-stop scenery. Balclutha has a distinctive arched concrete bridge and a museum where you can see historic farming and household implements. The historic mill town of Milton is next – the slight kink in the main road is where two surveyors didn’t quite meet. Half an hour south of Dunedin you’ll come across tranquil Lake Waihola, a popular venue for picnics, yachting and waterskiing

Choose between two routes to reach Invercargill. The longer, wilder route takes you past Lake Manapouri, then on to Clifden and Tuatapere, where you can investigate caves and discover the historic suspension bridge. Riverton, one of New Zealand's first settlements, has an excellent museum. The road east runs through forested hills, valleys and river plain. Stop in Mandeville if you'd like to fly in a Tiger Moth, or by the Mataura River if you want to catch a trout. Gore is where you'll find the Hokonui Moonshine Museum, which showcases the region's illicit whisky-making past. Invercargill is Southland's principal centre and the country's southernmost city. It is known for its elegant old department stores and wide, easy-to-navigate streets. Local food specialties include Bluff Oysters and blue cod.

26/10/2011 Day 6 (Papatowai, Owaka, Kaka Point, Dunedin, Oamaru,)

6:00 am Depart to Owaka

8:00 am Reach Owaka

9:00 am Depart to Kaka Point

9:25 am Reach Kaka Point

10:30 am Depart to Dunedin

12:00 pm Reach Dunedin

4:00 pm Depart to Moeraki

5:00 pm Reach Moeraki

5:30 pm Depart to Oamaru

6:05 pm Reach Oamaru

7:00 pm Depart to Lake Tekapo

9:05 pm Reach Lake Tekapo

Overnight at Lake Tekapo

Bluff – Owaka (152 km, 2 hr)Owaka – Kaka Point (24 km, 25 mins)Kaka Point – Dunedin (100 km, 1 hr 24 mins)Dunedin - Moeraki (76 km, 1 hr 3 mins)Moeraki – Oamaru (40 km, 35 mins)Oamaru – Lake Tekapo (175 km, 2 hr 6 mins)

Dunedin- Take the opportunity to enjoy the cities cultural riches and its abundant nature & wildlife. If you wish, visit New Zealand's oldest brewery for an entertaining and enlightening heritage tour, enjoy guided tours of Larnach Castle and the stately home of Olveston House, play around of golf at Balmacewan, the oldest course in New Zealand and enjoyed by many of the sports greats, both past & present. You could also make the short journey to Portobello Peninsula to enjoy seals, the Albatross Colony and visit the Yellow-eyed Penguin Conservation Reserve.

Baldwin StreetLeaving Dunedin, travel towards Oamaru, famous for its white limestone buildings. Highly recommended en route is a visit to the famous and mysterious spherical boulders at Moeraki

Beach. Then follow the Waitaki River, passing some of the country’s hydro-electric dams before arriving in Mt Cook National Park where you will find New Zealand’s tallest mountain, Aoraki / Mt Cook which stands at 3754 metres.

Monarch Harbour Cruise to see the albatross, penguins and seals. Passengers board the Monarch to see what cannot be seen from land, to greet the mighty Northern Royal Albatross as it sweeps in from the Pacific Ocean and soars above the spectacular inaccessible cliffs of Taiaroa. Other options include the historic and scenic Taieri Gorge Train excursion or explore the city by foot.

travel through the towns of Omarama & Twizel before driving up the western side of Lake Pukaki to the Mt Cook National Park, a World Heritage listed site. Mt Cook is Australasia's highest mountain at 3764 metres. The park covers over 70,000 hectares of breathtaking alpine scenery and is also home to the Tasman Glacier, the longest in the Southern hemisphere

The Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony is a natural nesting area for the blue penguins that return every day after feeding out at sea. A 30 minute walk to Bushy Beach where you will be able to see the rare Yellow-eyed penguins returning to shore every evening. A must do to include in your New Zealand holidays. This is truly a unique wildlife experience not to be missed. There is a grandstand where you seat and watch as the penguins ride in on the waves and amble up to their nests in the Cliffside. In the day time, you can take a tour to see a penguin nest box and if you are lucky, there may be a penguin nesting inside. At the colony centre, there is an informative and educational visitor centre for visitors. Gifts and souvenirs are available as well. The entry fee ranges from NZD15 to NZD22.50 per person. No photography is permitted to not damage the eyes of the blue penguins.The sightseeingtour next takes you to the coastal road to view the famous Moeraki Boulders. Enroute you will be able to enjoy the stunning view along the coast.Overnight at Lake Tekapo (shoot star at night)

27/10/2011 Day 7 (Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki)

8:00 am Depart to Lake Pukaki

8:45 am Reach Lake Pukaki

9:30 am Depart to Mount Cook

10:00 am Reach Mountain Cook

12:00 pm Depart to Twizel

12:45 pm Reach Twizel & Lunch

1:45 pm Depart to Fairlie

3:00 pm Reach Fairlie

3:30 pm Depart to Geraldine

4:00 pm Reach Geraldine

4:30 pm Depart to Ashburton

5:10 pm Reach Ashburton & Dinner

6:30 pm Depart to Christchurch

7:50 pm Reach Christchurch

Overnight at Christchurch

Lake Tekapo – Lake Pukaki (63 km, 43 mins)Lake Pukaki – Mountain Cook (41 km, 27 mins)Mountain Cook – Twizel (64 km, 45 mins)Twizel – Fairlie (100 km, 1 hr 10 mins)Fairlie – Geraldine (46 km, 34 mins)Geraldine – Ashburton (51 km, 42 mins)Ashburton – Christchurch (86 km, 1 hr 20 mins)Explore Mount Cookleave New Zealand’s highest mountain behind today as you head north through the picturesque town of Geraldine and across the Canterbury Plains, through to Christchurch. Be sure you make a photo stop at Lake Tekapo, a beautiful turquoise coloured lake. Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd on the shores of the lake. This is one of the most photographed churches in the world made of stone and sand from around the lakeThe area provides the visitor fantastic alpine views with many walks that take you to within touching distance of both the Hooker and Tasman Glaciers. Of the many walks in the area, Kea Point is easy to reach and well worth the 1 hr return trip. It starts at the Hooker Valley camping ground and takes you to a lookout area offering magnificent views of the Mueller Glacier and Mt Cook on a fine day. For the more adventurous, we recommend walking to (and staying at) the Mueller Hut, a challenging 3-4 hour climb that will reward you with breath-taking views of the southern alps. For keen Naturalists, the park offers a wide variety of flowering native plants and unique insect / bird life. The "Cheeky" Kea (Mountain Parrot) is a frequent visitor and keeps the locals entertained with it's playfull, inquisitive nature.Mountain walks

There are 10 short walks beginning near the village. All tracks are formed and well marked. The Red Tarns Track, Kea Point and the Hooker Valley Track each take around two hours return. For

more experienced alpine hikers, there are three mountain pass routes - over the Mueller, Copland and Ball passes.

An experienced guide will whisk you away in a stable MAC Boat to explore the Tasman Glacier. Watch and listen to the ice melting before your eyes and stop, to touch and taste 500 year old ice and, on occasion, a walk on an iceberg provides a new and exciting experience for all. You won’t revel in serenity for long though as your senses are jolted back to reality as a rockfall crashes down the iceface above. (NZD 140)

28/10/2011 Day 8 (Kaikoura, Christchurch, Lyttelton, Akaroa)4:30 am Depart to Kaikoura

7:00 am Reach Kaikoura

7:15 am Whale Watching Tour

10:45 am Finish tour and depart back to Christchurch

1:15 pm Reach Christchurch & Lunch

2:00 pm Depart to Lyttelton

2:20 pm Reach Lyttelton

3:30 pm Depart to Akaroa

4:45 pm Reach Akaroa & dinner

6:30 pm Depart to Airport

8:00 pm Reach Airport

Christchurch – Kaikoura (181 km, 2 hr 27 mins)Christchurch – Lyttelton (12 km, 21 mins)Lyttelton – Akaroa (78 km, 1 hr 14 mins)Akaroa – Airport (86 km, 1 hr 21 mins)

City TourKaikoura, a place of unparalleled wildlife experiences, located in a narrow strip of stunning coastline between mountain peaks and the Pacific Ocean. In winter the mountains are covered with snow, adding to the drama of the landscape. Kaikoura’s special talent is marine mammal encounters – whales, fur seals and dolphins live permanently in the coastal waters. Whale watching trips leave the town several times a day and the local seal colony is always entertaining. There are plenty of cafés, restaurants and shops.

There are two routes to Akaroa. State Highway 75 takes you via Lake Ellesmere and Lake Forsyth before it climbs over the hills to Akaroa Harbour. The other route is very scenic, but longer and more difficult to drive. It takes you through the Lyttelton tunnel and around Lyttelton Harbour before making the rugged, cross country journey to Akaroa. The beautiful harbour dominates the landscape and is home to a variety of sea and bird life including the worlds smallest and rarest dolphin, the Hectors Dolphin. Spend time this afternoon exploring this quaint village, home to the early French Settlers of the 1840s.

after making your way back to Christchurch, the trip north takes you past the beaches of Woodend, Waikuku, Leithfield and Amberley, through Waipara, known for its vineyards and olive groves

29/10/2011 Day 9

1:10 am Depart to KL

Accommodation

Franzs Josef Glacier stay NZD 23

Lake Wanaka NZD 24

Te Anau NZD 27

Invercargill NZD 25

Lake Tekapo NZD 32

Christchurch NZD 50 (2 days)

Entry Fee

Franz Josef Glacier NZD 123

Milford Sound NZD 65.7

Oamaru Peguin Watching NZD 22.5

Kaikoura Whale Watching NZD 145

Queenstown Skyline Gondola NZD 25

Transportation

Car Rental for 7 days NZD 380 (4 ppl)

Petrol (Total 3082km, 1 L = 8 km, NZD 2/L) NZD 770 (4 ppl)

Food

Food NZD 150

TOTAL NZD 1000 (RM 2,580,1NZD = RM 2.58)