WHALE WATCHING, SEAL COLONIES, GREEN GLOBE COMMUNITY

Upon leaving the Garden City this morning, we follow the rugged coastline up to Kaikoura, stopping enroute to visit a seal colony. The coach will arrive in the Green Globe community of Kaikoura in time to experience the lifetime thrill of whale watching or dolphin swimming don't miss out! The name 'Kaikoura' translates to 'meal of crayfish' so back on dry land make sure you try some fresh Crayfish or indulge in a traditional New Zealand fish & chip dinner here, voted one of the best places to do so!

Approximate arrival time in Kaikoura is 11.00am.

WINE COUNTRY, MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS, GOLDEN BEACHES

A slightly more leisurely departure time this morning so enjoy a lie in! We keep following the coast north, travelling through famous hilly pastures and wine country of Marlborough to Picton. If you are travelling to Nelson, stay onboard the coach and you will arrive late afternoon.

Approximate arrival time in Nelson is 3.30pm

Jump off the tourist route today and stay at: Blenheim or Picton

BREWERY TOURS, WHITEBAIT FRITTERS, WEST COAST HOSPITALITY

After leaving Nelson, we journey through the Hope Saddle and cross the picturesque Buller Gorge to New Zealand’s ‘Wild West Coast’ one of the more remote, rugged and most sparsely populated areas of the country. Today you will become aware of the amazing scenery and warm welcome that the West Coast is famous for. First stop on the coast is Cape Foulwind, named so by Captain Cook after his ship was blown off course. The cape is home to a fur seal breeding colony which you will have the chance to view. After driving through one of the many National Parks in the region – the Paparoa National Park, we take a stop to visit the famous Punakaiki Pancake Rocks which are a pretty amazing sight, especially when the sea is in full swing, before we head onto our overnight stop. Tonight in Greymouth we recommend you take part in a tour of the (very kiwi) Monteiths Brewery including an all you can eat BBQ. It’s a great chance to meet some of the interesting locals.

Approximate arrival time in Greymouth is 5.00pm.

GLACIER HIKING, MIRROR LAKES, UNTOUCHED WILDERNESS

This morning we travel further down the West Coast before stopping in the township of Hokitika, famous for its local cuisine and Pounamu (Greenstone). The traces of gold rush that brought thousands to the area in the mid 1800s are still evident in the historic town of Ross, where we take time to do a spot of gold panning later in the morning. Heading further south we enter Westland National Park, an area containing numerous scenic lakes, dense forests, many of the Southern Alps highest peaks and two amazingly accessible glaciers. Time for more adventure! We arrive into the alpine village of Franz Josef in time for those who want to partake in a half day glacier hike. If you wish to aim higher, take a heli-hike that will deliver you to the top of the glacier within the midst of the Southern Alps. If you want a bit more of a challenge, allow an extra day and go for the full day glacier hike. There are not too many opportunities in the world to do something like this. If glaciers aren’t your thing, another option here is to go kayaking on the scenic Lake Mapourika, surrounded by stunning mountain peaks.

Approximate arrival time into Franz Josef in winter is 12.00pm and summer is 1.00pm.

UNLIMITED ADVENTURE, GREAT NIGHTLIFE, PANORAMIC VIEWS

We have an early start for an action packed day. First up we pass through Fox, another village nestled next to a glacier before stopping off at Lake Matheson. Often called the ‘Mirror Lake’, it is famous for its reflections of the Southern Alps which dominate the skyline - perfect for those picture postcard photos. As we head inland away from the west coast via Haast and Makarora, the scenery changes from dense forest to vast plateaus as we enter the Central Otago region. Make sure you have your cameras ready as we pass Lake Hawea and shortly after, Lake Wanaka – a popular and recommended overnight stop. Next up, is a stop at the home of the bungy, the Kawarau Bridge, 42m over the Kawarau River and the world’s first commercial bungy site. We head into Queenstown late afternoon where there are endless activity options, from mild to wild. We have allowed two days in Queenstown (but many people prefer to stay longer) to soak it all up.

Approximate arrival time in Queenstown is 5.30pm.

Spend the day trying one of the many activities in the "Adventure Capital of the World" or take a journey into majestic Milford Sound.

WILDLIFE, SCOTTISH HERITAGE, CHOCOLATE FACTORY Life will slow down a little as we leave Queenstown behind us. We head off along the old gold mining trail taking in some spectacular scenery through Central Otago to the city that is known as the ‘Edinburgh of the South’, Dunedin. A wonderful mixture of Victorian colonial history and contemporary cafes and bars, Dunedin also provides a great base to explore the largest variety of wildlife on the South Island. Upon arriving in Dunedin, get close to nature and join the highly recommended Elm Wildlife Tour that takes you to the Otago Peninsular to spot yellow-eyed penguins, Albatross, sea lions and fur seals up close. For something quite different, visit the Cadbury Chocolate Factory, where samples are included (yum!), or perhaps finish of a great day by joining the evening Speights Brewery Tour.

Approximate arrival time into Dunedin is 12.30pm.

LAKES, MOUNTAINS, STAR GAZING

We start the day with a chance to run up the world's steepest street (that's you, not the Magic coach!). The next stop is a walk on the beach to see the Moeraki Boulders, huge great rocks just scattered across the seashore renowned for their unique spherical shape. If you are after a real New Zealand experience take the opportunity to jump off the coach after passing through the historic stone town of Oamaru, and stay at a working farm in Kurow. As we head on into the Mackenzie Country, we pass by the Benmore Dam, the largest earth dam in the Southern Hemisphere. Keep an eye on the scenery as there are some amazing views of Aoraki Mt. Cook and the many surrounding lakes. The tranquil Lake Tekapo is our overnight destination, a small town located at the end of a lake by the same name. There is a lot on offer here including an optional day trip to Mt Cook, kayaking on the lake, fantastic sightseeing flights of the Southern Alps or a sedate visit to the idyllic Church of the Good Shepherd. Tonight, don't miss the chance to view the Southern Hemisphere stars up close.

Approximate arrival time into Lake Tekapo is 2.30pm.

Jump off the tourist route today and stay at: Oamaru or Glenmac Farmstay

GARDEN CITY, HOT AIR BALLOONING, PUNTING

After leaving the shores of Lake Tekapo, we travel around the edges of the stunning Mackenzie Country, crossing over Burkes Pass and the foothills of the Southern Alps. We then pass through the picturesque towns of Fairlie and Geraldine, stopping here for a short time. For those considering undertaking the 'Lord of the Rings' tour, let your driver know as you can get picked up just before Methven, a rural Canterbury town. Methven is also the base for skiing Mt Hutt in the winter. The coach then heads through the Canterbury Plains, the largest area of flat land in NZ a huge contrast to our previous days travel! Before arrival into Christchurch, we venture across the Port Hills (weather dependent route) for views of Lyttleton Harbour finally stopping at the Sign of the Takahe for spectacular views of the Southern Alps and Christchurch City. Those flying out today can be dropped at the airport after accommodation drop offs.

Approximate arrival time into Christchurch is 2.30pm or 3.30pm at the airport.

Jump off the tourist route today and stay at: Geraldene or Methven

The departure and arrival times listed above are approximate and many different factors can cause these times to alter so please use them as a guide only.