New Zealand is Lord of Rings country - 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 walking on a glacier that tumbles into a rain forest, sea-kayaking turquoise waters to golden sand beaches, sailing in the Bay of Islands and jet boating through the Southern Alps World Heritage area. However nothing is more memorable than our stay on the Maori tribal homeland. We are greeted with ceremony and warmth, treated with generosity and kindness and we leave as family. New Zealanders will open their homes and their hearts to you. Canyon Calling ensures you experience all of New Zealand including the beauty of the volcanoes, beaches, geysers and Alps. A trip to “Godzone” with Canyon Calling and your New Zealand Guide is the most special of experiences.
Thur Feb 18
Fly from Los Angeles on Air Pacific flight FJ811 departing 9.30pm and lose Friday to the International Date Line.
Saturday
Arrive Fiji 5:15am. Fly Air Pacific FJ411 deparring Fiji 10:00am and arrive in Auckland 1:00pm where your Kiwi Guide will meet you in the arrivals hall. A Canyon Calling rep will meet you and bus you to the domestic terminal and help you connect with your flight to Christchurch. Your Kiwi Guide will meet you in the arrivals hall in Christchurch and the trip begins. We’ll spend an hour at the Arts Center as its market day and then transfer to our lodging, a beautiful historic home.
Sunday
Breakfast at our lodge before driving into the center of Christchurch to see the Cathedral and the Suffragette Memorial (women’s right to vote was the first in the world!) Then we’ll head south across the Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo to visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and see the beloved memorial to the high county sheep dog. Lunch at Lake Tekapo, The highlight of the day will hopefully be views of Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain, across the glacial waters of Lake Pukaki. Driving through Mackenzie country into Otago we’ll see our first high country sheep stations. Queenstown, New Zealand’s adventure capital is our home for three nights. After checking into our Motor Lodge there’ll be time to explore the town and make bookings for activities you have planned for your day off on Tuesday. Dine at a pub in Queenstown.
Monday
Our all day expedition begins with a scenic ride to Glenorchy where we’re outfitted for our expedition. We board a jet boat and experience a thrilling and very scenic ride up the Dart River. The views of the Alps and glaciers in this World Heritage were the backdrop for Lord of the Rings filming. We inflate our kayaks or “duckies” then paddle in twos down the glacial river. At Rockburn Chasm, just off the main river the water is bright turquoise and paddling through this wonderland is very memorable. Dinner this evening is the Taste of NZ buffet at the top of the gondola.
Tuesday
Day off!! Queenstown is the launching point for trips to world re-known Milford Sound by bus or plane. Queenstown has a host of activities for travelers – tandem paragliding, horse riding, wine tours, historic Arrowtown, Lake Te Anau to see glowworm caves, luging and you can even jump off Kawerau bridge, the original bungy site! Dinner on your own this evening.
Wednesday
At 10am we’ll sail on the historic steam ship Earnslaw across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Farm where we’ll see a sheep-dog round-up a flock of sheep and also a shearing demonstration. After a BBQ lunch at the historic homestead, join in a piano sing-a-long on our way back to Queenstown. Depart Queenstown at 1pm to Wanaka and north towards the Southern Alps past deserted, scenic lakes. Travel over the Haast Pass to Westland and north to Fox. Our motel affords magical views of the sun setting on Mt Cook.
Thursday
Lake Matheson at 6am offers a stunning reflection of Mount Cook and anyone up for an early walk will be treated to great photos. Breakfast near the lake. Drive over the hill to Franz Josef. Nowhere in the world at this latitude have glaciers advanced so close to the sea. We’ll climb the fast-moving and ever-changing Franz Josef Glacier. See incredible ice formations and walk beside walls of blue ice. Our road north is squeezed between the Southern Alps and a stunning coastline, often compared with California’s Big Sur. At Hokitika we’ll shop for the best greenstone in NZ and in Punakiki we’ll walk out to the limestone pancake formations. Overnight in Westport.
Friday
An early start today for a scenic drive through farm country to Motueka. This is our day for sea-kayaking the emerald seas and golden beaches of Abel Tasman National Park. Kayak on crystal clear water around the shoreline and across to islands. Relax on the beach and swim while lunch is prepared. If there’s an afternoon sea breeze, we’ll hoist our sails and take the easy way back! There’s more great scenery driving to Nelson and onto Picton for the evening.
Saturday
We’ll catch the 6.30am Inter-Island Ferry to the North Island. Breakfast on your own on board. This scenic trip through the Marlborough Sounds and across Cook Strait brings us to the capital city. Wellington may remind you of San Francisco with its scenic harbor and houses clinging to steep hills. After a short tour of Wellington we’ll explore Te Papa, the National Museum of New Zealand. Lunch in a local home then drive north to Napier where we are welcomed onto a local Maori marae (homeland) in a moving, traditional ceremony. The tribe prepares dinner and children may dance and sing for us. We sleep comfortably and communally in the whare. Our stay on the marae is a highlight of the tour.
Sunday
After a wonderful breakfast and sad farewells we’ll tour Napier, a beautiful city rebuilt in Art Deco style after being totally destroyed in a 1931 earthquake. It’s a three-hour drive across to Turangi to meet our guides for a wonderful afternoon of white water rafting on the mostly grade 3 rapids of the Tongariro River. Accommodation and dinner in Turangi.
Monday
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 around the conical volcano Ngauruhoe and across craters of dormant Mt. Tongariro. Look upon amazing views of emerald lakes and gaping vents from previous eruptions. The hike is challenging but the views are so spectacular you’ll find the challenge worth the effort – promise! Soak in our hot pool while a BBQ dinner is prepared beside the pool. Lodging in Taupo on the shores of New Zealand’s largest lake.
Tuesday
Our first stop today is at thundering Huka Falls, a wonderful photo op. Traveling north we’ll see boiling mud pools at a thermal reserve, walk to small geysers and silica terraces. Drive north through coastal communities and kiwi-fruit farms in the Bay of Plenty, named by Captain James Cook. Check into our motel at Tairua in the Coromandel. Then it’s a short drive up the coast and a hike down to Cathedral Cove for swimming and relaxing on the most beautiful beach in New Zealand. We’ll dine in this relaxing seaside community.
Wednesday
This morning we’ll drive through Auckland, the City of Sails and onto Pakiri Beach, our destination for horse riding. Ride through the dunes and pohutukawa glades to this gorgeous, deserted coast. Riding along the beach and into the shallows is an exhilarating experience. Drive north to Paihia for a two-night stay at our own apartments. Visit the park where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between the Maori people and European settlers. Dinner in Paihia.
Thursday
Journey to the top of New Zealand! At Cape Reinga we’ll see the broiling waters where the two oceans meet – a wonderful photographic opportunity. Traveling in an air-conditioned bus we’ll travel 90-Mile Beach taking a break to toboggan down sand dunes and stroll on the beach. A cool forest walk will bring us to giant Kauri trees and our evening meal will be at an ocean-side fresh fish restaurant.
Friday
Enjoy a wonderfully relaxing sail in the Bay of Islands on a 50’ yacht. You can take the helm or sit back and relax. We’ll lunch at an unspoiled anchorage and swim in crystal clear waters. Maybe we’ll see dolphins. Stop in at the tiny community of Russell, New Zealand’s first town. Gravestones and musket holes in historic buildings tell tales of less tranquil times in New Zealand history. Drive south to Waipu to a beautiful country lodge. This is an idyllic setting for our farewell dinner and an opportunity to reflect on our journey through Aotearoa.
Saturday
Sleep in before our short journey back to Auckland. Relax in a private home with an opportunity to swim or Jacuzzi before heading to the airport to catch FJ412 at 2:30pm. Arrive Fiji 5:20pm and connect with FJ810 departing 10:50pm.
Saturday
STILL! Arrive LAX 1:05pm. This is the day lost on the flight over! Allow two hours to clear through immigration, baggage and customs when booking connecting flights to your hometown.
