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TOUR DURATION:
8 days
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TOUR STARTS/ENDS:
Christchurch to Christchurch
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TOUR CATEGORY:
Self Drive Tour
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TRANSPORTATION:
Rental Car
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TOUR DEPARTURES:
Daily
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AIRPORT TRANSFERS:
N/A
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MEALS:
7 x Breakfast
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ACCOMMODATIONS:
First Class Hotels, Superior Hotels, Standard Hotels
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PASSENGERS:
no minimum number of passengers
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TOUR CODE:
GTNZ20
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PRE & POST ACCOMMODATION:
“Available“
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CITIES/REGIONS VISITED:
CHRISTCHURCH – KAIKOURA – BLENHEIM – NELSON – PUNAKAIKI – GREYMOUTH
ITINERARY
(B) - Breakfast, (L) - Lunch, (D) - Dinner
Depart from United States Of America, US
DAY 1 : ARRIVE CHRISTCHURCH
On arrival in Christchurch, ‘The Garden City’, self drive passengers will collect your rental car at the airport and drive to your hotel.
DAY 2 : CHRISTCHURCH - KAIKOURA
Travel through North Canterbury before turning towards the coast and arriving in Kaikoura, a town steeped in Maori history and legend. Enjoy a Whale Watch experience by boat (weather permitting – tomorrow morning early is the alternative cruise time). You will have the opportunity to view the magnificent Sperm Whale as well as New Zealand’s own tiny Hectors Dolphin, Fur Seals and Royal Albatross. (B)
DAY 3 : KAIKOURA - BLENHEIM
A leisurely start this morning before you continue north to Blenheim, the centre of the Marlborough region and New Zealand’s most famous wine growing area. This afternoon is at leisure. (B)
DAY 4 : BLENHEIM - NELSON
Explore the Marlborough Wine Region this morning including a winery visit with tasting before heading through to Havelock Marina. Join the Greenshell Mussell Cruise this afternoon on the Marlborough Sounds before continuing by road through to Nelson. (B)
DAY 5 : NELSON
At leisure to enjoy Nelson. Optional activities include a day excursion to Abel Tasman National Park or enjoy a visit to one of the many wineries in the region. Optional activities not included in the tour price. (B)
DAY 6 : NELSON - PUNAKAIKI
Travel across hill country today through the Buller Gorge to Westport and down the coast to the famous Punakaiki Pancake Rocks. (B)
DAY 7 : PUNAKAIKI - GREYMOUTH - CHRISTCHURCH
A short journey today to reach the town of Greymouth. Travel through the rainforest of the West Coast to reach Arthur’s Pass National Park and the Southern Alps, before descending through the rugged gorges of the Waimakariri and across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. (B)
DAY 8 : DEPARTURE DAY
Your arrangements conclude today with a departure transfer or the return of your rental car. We trust you enjoyed your New Zealand Vacation! (B)
Arrive to United States Of America, US
Inclusions & Highlights
Our Package Touring offers the following:
[icon_check] Daily departures
[icon_check] No minimum number of passengers
[icon_check] Breakfasts Daily at all hotels
[icon_check] All sightseeing entry fees included (as mentioned in each itinerary)
[icon_check] A choice of accommodation options
[icon_check] All tours can be added to
[icon_check] All packages can be taken in reverse (except ‘Stunning New Zealand’)
ACCOMMODATION
Standard Accommodation Options
Standard is equivalent to a good 3-star tourist hotel.These hotels represent excellent value for money and usually have a licensed restaurant and bar on the premises.
Superior Accommodation Options
Superior describes hotels in the 3 1/2 to 4-star category. More often than not, these will be centrally located and offering a wide range of services and facilities.
First Class Accommodation Options
First Class are central city or resort location hotels at the top end of the scale rating 4 to 4 1/2 stars. All hotels at this level have excellent facilities, bars and restaurants etc, full services, and many feature swimming pool, spa baths, and fully equipped gymnasium for the enjoyment of guests.
DATES & PRICES
Prices starts from NZD 1,472 per person, twin share, Daily Departures
The price is customized based on final hotel choices, travel dates, and other custom preferences. If you require modifications to the itinerary as well as travel arrangements, please also advise.
ACTIVITIES INCLUDED
Greenshell Mussel Cruise, photo: marlboroughnz.co.nz
Greenshell Mussel Cruise, photo: marlboroughnz.co.nz
Departing from Picton Wharf, enjoy the natural beauty of the Marlborough Sounds featuring freshly steamed mussels paired with a glass of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc for the ultimate wine/food match.
Take in the natural beauty of this stunning environment, and learn about the history of the Marlborough Sounds and the pioneering families who have settled here. Visit a Greenshell Mussel farm where your launch captain will explain how and why this delicacy grows so well in the Marlborough Sounds. While at the mussel farm, we serve freshly steamed mussels with a glass of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, a wonderful wine and food match in a beautiful part of Marlborough.
Duration: 3 hours
BLENHEIM & MARLBOROUGH
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Marlborough Wine Tours offers a variety of tours, ranging from a short 3 hour tour to full day tours.
Throughout the day you will taste some superb Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Pinot Noir as well as some lesser known varieties from the area.
Short Tour
This 3 hour tour gives you a taste of the Marlborough wine experience. The tour can start at either 9:30am or 1:30pm. It is ideal for those who have limited time but still wish to experience classic Marlborough wines.
Full Day Tour
This 6-7 hour all day tour starts from 9:30-10am with a first visit for a ‘vineyard walk and talk’ before continuing onto other wineries throughout the region. The tour includes a stop for lunch (cost not included) with several lunch options available. This tour is presented in a relaxed and informative manner where selective tasting is the order of the day.
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Whale Watching Cruise Kaikoura: Whale Watch is New Zealand’s only marine-based whale-watching company offering visitors an exciting up-close encounter with the Giant Sperm Whale at all times of the year. Whale Watch scheduled tours operate daily. Our 95% success rate means we guarantee an 80% refund if your tour does not see a whale. Whale Watch tours are extremely popular so we advise to book early.
What is Whale Watching?
Every Whale Watch tour is a unique experience and the sightings vary. Giant Sperm Whales are the stars of the show and year-round residents. A typical Whale Watch tour may encounter New Zealand Fur Seals, pods of Dusky dolphins and the endangered Wandering Albatross. Find out why the Whale Watch tour is such an amazing tourist attraction.
Depending on the season you may also see migrating…
- Humpback Whales,
- Pilot Whales
- Blue Whales
- Southern Right Whales
Kaikoura often hosts the world’s largest dolphin – the Orca – and is home to the world’s smallest and rarest – the Hector’s. Kaikoura also attracts the largest concentration and variety of seabirds on mainland New Zealand including 13 species of Albatross, 14 varieties of Petrels and 7 types of Shearwater. If your Whale Watch Kaikoura tour does not see a whale we will refund 80% of your fare.
Tour Check-in Times
7:15am – 10:00am – 12:45pm, An extra tour is scheduled at 3:30pm from November to March
Duration: 3 hours
Tour check-in occurs at the Whaleway Station (Whale Watch Office)
Whale Watch operate tours every day (weather permitting) excluding Christmas Day
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ACTIVITY LOCATIONS
