NEW ZEALAND IN 17 DAYS
Feb 19 - Mar 9 (21 d, 27 m) $8200
Fly from OKC to Los Angeles(3 hr) and on to Honolulu(6 hrs) for a nights stay to break up a 20 hour flight to Auckland, New Zealand(8 hr). We will return from Christchurch, New Zealand, (7 hr) with an overnight stop in Tahiti and then fly on to Los Angeles(8 hr) and on to OKC (3 hr).
Day 1: Depart OKC early morning and fly to LAX. Depart LAX at 1:00 pm and arrive in Honolulu at 4:44 pm.
Spend one night at Waikiki hotel.
Day 2: 4 1/2 hour tour of Pearl Harbour including, USS Missouri battleship, USS Arizonia Memorial and the visitor's center. Then take a tour of Honolulu including Punchbowl National Cemetary, Iolania Palace,Kawaiahao Church, statue of King Kamehameha, quaint mission houses and City hall and the state library. Depart at the airport for dinner and a 9:30 pm flight ot Auckland.
Day 3: Arrive in Auckland at 6:00 am and be transported to Hotel Auckland in the downtown waterfront area. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore Auckland. Enjoy an evening welcome drink followed by dinner with your tour director. D
Day 4: Today we will take a scenic cruise of the beautiful Bay of Islands and sail through the Hole in the Rock formation and return to Paihia to spend 2 nights. B D
Day 5: Use a day at leisure to explore the Bay of Islands, dolphin watch or catch a ferry to Russell. B
Day 6: Visit the Waitang Treaty Reserve to see the founding doctrine of New Zealand and learn the history of the Maori. B D
Day 7: Start the day with a city sites tour of Auckland and then journey to Waitomo Caves for a boat tour of the Glow Worm Grotto. Continue on to Rotorua and enjoy an orientation tour. This evening enjoy a Maori Hangi feast and concert at Tamaik Family Morae. B HD
Day 8: Today visit the Agodome Sheep Show and enjoy an afternoon of leisure - visit Rainbow Springs to see the kiwi or take a tour to Te Puia and its geothermal valley with mud pools and geysers. Optional farm stay with a local farm family avaiable tonight. B
Day 9: Back on the bus to view Hauk Falls, visit Taupo and it's lake, Mt Ruapehu and the Tongariro National Park. Drive thru the dairy farms of Manawatu and along the Kapiti Coast to Wellington. Take a city tour of Wellington before dinner. B D
Day 10: A morning of free time before visiting Te Papa and the Museum of New Zealand. Then onto a cruise of Queen Charlotte Sound before traveling to tonights stop at Picton. B D
Day 11: See the fur seals at Ohau Point and watch for whales at Kaikoura. Optional whale watching flight available. Then travel across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch for the night.
Day 12: Free time this morning before seeing Lakes Tekapo and pauaki. Then visit the Church of the Good Shephard and enjoy the alpine vista of the Mt. Cook National Park. Optional Mt. Cook scenic flight available. B D
Day 13: Start with a walk along the Waitake River and Benmore Dam and it's hydro power plant. Then travel thru Oamaru and it's white limestone buildings to take a city tour of Dunedin. This afternoon is free to take a wildlife cruise or ride the historic Taieri Gorge Railway. B D
Day 14:After a free morning, cross the South Island's biggest lake to Te Anau. Tonight take the optional Glow Worm Cave tour. B D
Day 15: Journey from Fiordland National Park to Milford Sound for a lake cruise. Later travel along the Devil's Staircase to Queenstown. After an orientation tour, enjoy dinner with views of Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables. B HD
Day 16: Explore Queenstown your way - from wine and garden tours to jet boat rides. Tonight cruise across the lake to Walter Peak Station for a carvery Highlight dinner at the Colonel's Homestead and enjoy a farm Show. B HD
Day 17: Today make our way to Franz Josef Glacier. The first stop is at Arrowtown, then to Crimwall for a taste of the famous stone fruit. Travel by 3 lakes, thru Haast Pass, Thunder Creek Falls to partake of a hike in the rainforest. B D
Day 18: Visit a jade factory at Hokitika, travel thru Greymouth to Arthur's Pass and then board the Transalpine Train. Ride the rails thru the spectular alpine vista of the Southern Alps and across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. This evening enjoy a Farewell Dinner. B FD
Day 19: Transfer to Christchurch Airport to board a plane for a seven hour flight to Tahiti where you will spend a relaxing one night stay. B
Day 20: Spend the day at your beach side hotel or take an Island tour either by bus or by 4x4 jeep. Both full and half day tours are avaiable. The day is yours to enjoy. Depart on an eight hour over-night flight back to the states landing in LA. After a few hours on the ground to go thru customs, continue on to OKC.(3 hr)