Day 01: Auckland, New Zealand
Arrive Auckland and transfer to your hotel. This afternoon, depart on your scheduled coach tour of Auckland. Begin with a visit to Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World, where you can see real snow, ice and the cute King and Gentoo penguins on your snow cat ride through the Antarctic Encounter. In the Underwater World come face-to-face with giant stingrays, moray eels, schools of fish and ferocious sharks! Continue with an exclusive Native New Zealand Encounter Show at the Auckland Zoo, to view the native birds and reptiles that are so special to New Zealand. Enjoy a coffee cruise sailing on the spectacular waters of the Waitemata Harbor before concluding with a visit to the Sky Tower, the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere at 328 metres (1000ft) that was built to take you to an all time high. Kingsgate Parnell
Day 02: Auckland - Waitomo - Rotorua
Depart Auckland this morning onboard your scheduled coach journey south through the rich farmland of the Waikato and onto Waitomo. Enjoy a lunch stop at the world famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. After lunch begin your guided tour through the long galleries and lofty chambers of the caves. Your tour concludes with a boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto, illuminated by thousands of tiny lights from the glow-worms suspended from the cave ceiling. Reboard your coach and continue onto Rotorua. This afternoon, enjoy a visit to the Agrodome Sheep Show followed by a tour of the Rainbow Springs trout hatchery and wildlife sanctuary. Travel onto the New Zealand Arts and Crafts Institute followed by a close up look at Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, an area of thermal activity that has produced geysers, boiling mud and silica terraces. Kingsgate Rotorua (B,L)Day 03: Rotorua - Queenstown
Transfer to the Rotorua airport for your flight* to Queenstown. On arrival you are met and transferred to your accommodation, where the remainder of your afternoon is at leisure. Early evening meet your local representative in the hotel lobby and transfer to the Milford Track Guided Walk Center located in the “Station building” in Shotover Street for your pre-track briefing. You will have the opportunity to collect your Milford Sound pack and to ask any last minute questions to help ensure that you are adequately prepared for the walk. Novotel Gardens (B)Day 04: Queenstown - Te Anau - Milford Track
Board your Milford Track coach and depart to Te Anau a journey of 2.5 hours. Enjoy an early lunch at the Centra Te Anau, reboard your coach for the short journey to Te Anau Downs. Depart across Lake Te Anau by launch; on docking your Milford Track walking experience begins with a 1.6 walk to your overnight lodge. Glade House (B,L,D)Day 05: Milford Track
Today's walk is a little over 16kms and takes you from the Clinton River through native beech forest onto a grassy plain known as the 'Prairie'. Enjoy spectacular views of Clinton Canyon before a rocky climb to Marlenes Creek and your overnight accommodation at Pompolona Lodge. Pompolona Hut (B,L,D)Day 06: Milford Track
Depart the lodge and walk up the Mackinnon Pass for impressive views. Pause also at the memorial cairn to Mackinnon and Mitchell before moving on and launching at the Pass Hut. From here the track descends over rocky terrain and into the rainforest of the Arther Valley and onto Quinton Lodge. From Quinton Lodge depart on a 90-minute round trip walk to the Sutherland Falls, the world's 5th highest waterfall. Today's walk is just over 15 kms. Quinton Hut (B,L,D)Day 07: Milford Track
The last day of the track takes you 21 kms down a long steep hill named 'Gentle Annie' and past the intriguing hollowed Bell Rock and Mackay Falls. Lunch beside the Giants Gate waterfall before a final walk along Lake Ada to Sandfly Point. A short cruise takes you to the Mitre Peak Lodge. Tonight there will be a special celebratory dinner to mark your achievement. Mitre Peak Lodge (B,L,D)Day 08: Milford Track - Queenstown
This morning after breakfast, board one of the famous Red Boats for a floating exploration of Milford Sound. Watch for Dolphins and fur seals. Discover Whiskey Falls! Weather permitting you will have the opportunity to purchase a user-pays scenic flight back to Queenstown, should weather be inclement and not permit flying, you will return by coach to Queenstown. Your Milford Track walking guide will keep you well informed of these transfer details. On arrival in Queenstown, you will be met and transferred to your accommodation, where the remainder of your afternoon is at leisure. Novotel Gardens (B)Day 09: Queenstown - Christchurch
Transfer to the Queenstown airport for your flight* to Christchurch. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your accommodation. This afternoon, depart by courtesy vehicle to Mount Cavendish for your half-day cycling excursion. On arrival, take a gondola ride to the summit of Mount Cavendish, a magnificent vantage point, where you can see the expanse of the city nestling between the Canterbury Plains, Banks Peninsula and the sea. Then its time to get ready for action and set off with your private guide on a downhill adventure along Evan’s Pass to Sumner Beach. Enjoy refreshments whilst reveling at the beautiful East Coastline before transferring back to your accommodation. Chateau on the Park (B)Day 10: Christchurch - Depart
Transfer to the Christchurch airport for your departing flight. (B)* Flights are not included in land price.
