Over 50s tours to New Zealand
| country: | New Zealand |
| location: | South Island, North Island, Coromandel Peninsula |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2008: 27 Nov 2009: 14 Jan |
| price: | From £4399 - £4699 (25 days) including flights from the UK, from £3299 - £3399 excluding flights |
the amazing things you'll be doing
The diverse wilderness of New Zealand is a destination that rewards more with everyday there. From the rugged islands and volcanoes of North Island to the stunning beaches and mountains of South Island, this is a country with everything to offer. Starting in the cosmopolitan city of Auckland, you visit the thermal pools and Maori settlements in Rotorua, before continuing on to trek in Tongariro National Park. After crossing to South Island, you head down the coastline of Abel Tasman and watch whales and dolphins at Kaikoura. After a cruise on the famous Milford Sound, there is time to see the spectacular peak of Mt. Cook before ending in the beautiful city of Christchurch. A holiday to stimulate all the sense, and one you will never forget!
From Auckland to Tongariro
Landing in the North Island you’ll explore the cosmopolitan city of Auckland, as well as investigating the inner islands of the Hauraki Gulf. Next you’ll head to Rotorua, New Zealand’s primary thermal spring region and location of many famous Maori settlements. Then it’s on to Tongariro NP where you can tackle the Tongariro Crossing (optional) - one of New Zealand’s most famous short treks.
Abel Tasman & The Glaciers
You’ll take a stunning ferry ride to the South Island and one of the country’s most beautiful stretches of coast in Abel Tasman National Park. Travelling down the eastern coastline you’ll journey through Kaikoura (optional whale watching) to Christchurch. The Transalpine Express takes you across the Southern Alps to the Franz and Fox Glaciers. You’ll stop at Queenstown before cruising on Milford Sound and continuing past Mt. Cook to Christchurch.
Wine Tasting
New Zealand has become renowned as a wine producing region, so why not take advantage of your visit to a vineyard to sample some of the area’s best wines. We can arrange this from Queenstown.
In New Zealand we use local three star hotels in some spectacular rural locations. You’ll stay in a magnificently located alpine lodge in Tongariro National Park. Trip price includes: 19 breakfasts & 7 dinners. The food in New Zealand is served to the very highest standards. There is an excellent variety of local meat, seafood and vegetables, which is all wonderfully fresh. Lamb is, of course, the local speciality. Transport in New Zealand lives up to ‘western standards’ and your journeys will be done in comfortable minibuses. Trains are also of a high standard and the views quite simply stunning as you travel.
From Auckland to Tongariro
Landing in the North Island you’ll explore the cosmopolitan city of Auckland, as well as investigating the inner islands of the Hauraki Gulf. Next you’ll head to Rotorua, New Zealand’s primary thermal spring region and location of many famous Maori settlements. Then it’s on to Tongariro NP where you can tackle the Tongariro Crossing (optional) - one of New Zealand’s most famous short treks.
Abel Tasman & The Glaciers
You’ll take a stunning ferry ride to the South Island and one of the country’s most beautiful stretches of coast in Abel Tasman National Park. Travelling down the eastern coastline you’ll journey through Kaikoura (optional whale watching) to Christchurch. The Transalpine Express takes you across the Southern Alps to the Franz and Fox Glaciers. You’ll stop at Queenstown before cruising on Milford Sound and continuing past Mt. Cook to Christchurch.
Wine Tasting
New Zealand has become renowned as a wine producing region, so why not take advantage of your visit to a vineyard to sample some of the area’s best wines. We can arrange this from Queenstown.
In New Zealand we use local three star hotels in some spectacular rural locations. You’ll stay in a magnificently located alpine lodge in Tongariro National Park. Trip price includes: 19 breakfasts & 7 dinners. The food in New Zealand is served to the very highest standards. There is an excellent variety of local meat, seafood and vegetables, which is all wonderfully fresh. Lamb is, of course, the local speciality. Transport in New Zealand lives up to ‘western standards’ and your journeys will be done in comfortable minibuses. Trains are also of a high standard and the views quite simply stunning as you travel.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | Overnight flight to Auckland |
| Day 3: | Arrive Auckland; stop at Mt. Eden, afternoon city tour |
| Day 4: | Rangitoto Island |
| Day 5-6: | Rotorua; Waitomo Caves,Waimangu Valley thermal pools and Maori settlements |
| Day 7-8: | Tongariro NP via Lake Taupo; walks in NP |
| Day 9: | Transfer to Wellington; cross to South Island |
| Day 10: | Nelson; free day |
| Day 11: | Abel Tasman NP; day walks |
| Day 12-13: | Transfer to Kaikoura; whale & dolphin watching |
| Day 14: | Christchurch; city tour |
| Day 15: | Train across Southern Alps to west coast |
| Day 16: | Guided glacier walk |
| Day 17: | Walk to Lake Matheson; transfer to Queenstown |
| Day 18: | Free day in Queenstown |
| Day 19: | Fjordland NP; lakeside walk |
| Day 20: | Cruise on Milford Sound |
| Day 21: | Transfer to Mt. Cook, via Arrowtown |
| Day 22: | Walk to Hooker Glacier |
| Day 23: | Lake Tekapo; Christchurch |
| Day 24-25: | Fly to London |
over 50s holidays
This trip has been specially designed for, and is exclusive to, travellers over 50. On these trips, the typical group size is just 12, and we never exceed 16. This means better service for you, the chance to use smaller hotels, more freedom to reach out of the way places and more of a sense of camaraderie and fun. Over half of our travellers book independently and we do not charge an additional single supplement. Most travellers are aged between 50 and 70 and there is no upper age limit. It’s attitude and a love of travel that counts!how this holiday makes a difference
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The visit to the Maori village will give a unique insight into the culture of this traditional people of New Zealand. You will visit a village during the itinerary, and the optional Maori “Hangi” (traditional meal) night provides the opportunity to learn more about their customs, eat good food and enjoy a display of their dance. The joy of New Zealand is it’s pristine, fragile environment and while travelling with us we ask that you adhere to a strict policy to help us protect the countryside for future generations. Clients who travel with us will automatically receive a copy of our Responsible Travel leaflet. This contains details and advice on how you can make a positive difference when you travel.
 We work in partnership with Plan International. Plan works with some of the world’s poorest communities where three out of four children die before the age of five. We also support Friends of Conservation – an international charity committed to working with local people to develop a balance between their needs and the wildlife with which they share the natural habitat and ecosystems. Global warming is a real issue and is a direct result of your travel. We have teamed up with Climate Care to give you the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your flight. You’ll be asked upon booking if you want to donate – with set amounts from £5. As a company we offset the carbon emissions from all staff travel in full. We’ve highlighted a few of the ways in which we offer our support, financially or otherwise, and now you can, too. We have set up our own foundation, which will administer funds donated by you. A small donation of £1 per person will be taken when booking a holiday and that money will be put to good use by one of our carefully selected projects. If you don’t want to make the donation, just tell us when you call. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |