New Zealand and Hong Kong 9th February - 1st March 2011		For printable pdf version of the itinerary please click here
With its hot spouting geysers, dramatic mountain scenery, tranquil rolling countryside and remote lakelands, New Zealand is a country rich in variety and abounding in natural beauty. Agriculture in New Zealand is still a way of life for many. Our tour ranges widely, taking in the best of the scenery and looking in detail at a variety of farming enterprises for which New Zealand is best known including kiwi fruit production, dairy, beef and of course sheep farming. See the innovative approach to agriculture, following the abandonment of state subsidies.  With the majority of meals included and using comfortable, centrally located hotels, our tour allows you to make the best of your time in this fabulous country. On the return journey, enjoy a stopover in Hong Kong for a couple of days to experience this fascinating city. With its visually stunning skyline and famous harbour-front, this vibrant city remains an important business centre reflecting both its Chinese and British cultural heritage. You will be based right in the heart of downtown with plenty of opportunities for some bargain hunting and city sightseeing.
The Itinerary
Wednesday 9th February Flight departure from London Heathrow Airport to Auckland via Hong Kong. Thursday 10th February Flying to New Zealand. Friday 11th February  Arrive Auckland international airport in the morning. Transfer to your city hotel to rest and relax. Lunch at the hotel, then a short city sightseeing tour of Auckland city. Early dinner at the hotel to allow a good night’s rest. Overnight: Auckland (D) Saturday 12th February   Depart after breakfast for a full day touring the environs of Auckland, including a ferry trip to Rangitoto Island - a volcanic island just off the coast of Auckland city. On arrival at the island, there will be a 4WD guided safari through Pohutukawa forest and rugged volcanic terrain, and a 900-metre walk to the summit escorted by your guide. Continue your sightseeing tour including journeying to the top of the Sky Tower for panoramic views of this beautiful harbour city. Lunch will be included today. Dinner tonight at a harbourside restaurant. Overnight: Auckland (BLD) Sunday 13th February  Depart this morning for Hamilton, the centre of Waikato, the heartland of New Zealand's dairy industry. Visit a throughbred horse stud en route to Hamilton. On arrival in Hamilton there will be an introduction to NZ Agriculture over lunch, followed by a visit to a large Hereford beef stud. Dinner tonight at your hotel. Overnight: Hamilton (BLD) Monday 14th February  Depart the hotel with packed lunch heading to the Maori cultural and thermal region - Rotorua. En route visit a deer farm. The farm covers 140 acres and runs up to 500 deer at any one time. Their income is derived from velvet, venison and selling breeding stags and hinds. The property is a quality assured farm under the On Farm Quality Assurance programme. Deer farming is the first pastoral-based NZ industry to have a quality assurance programme involving farmers, transporters and exporters. Head over the Kaimai Ranges to the East Coast, with a picnic lunch on the beach en route, and continue to Rotorua to visit a kiwifruit orchard covering 30 acres. The orchard has 2900 female vines and produces between 50-55,000 trays of fruit for export. See the packhouse and learn about the Kiwifruit Marketing Board from your host. Tonight experience an authentic Maori village and enjoy a colourful Maori concert and hangi (feast). Later you will be taken on a night walk of Rainbow Springs trout hatchery – the forest will be lit up providing a beautiful perspective on the natural bush. View the Kiwi bird conservation area and see the prehistoric tuatara – a large lizard like reptile. Overnight: Rotorua (BLD) Tuesday 15th February  This morning you will visit the Agrodome, an entertaining show illustrating New Zealand's sheep industry. Afterwards head for the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. Here you will view wood carvers, flax weavers and see the bubbling mud pools, boiling springs and geysers and the silica terraces. Free afternoon in Rotorua for shopping or perhaps relaxing in the Polynesian Spa – rated one of the top 10 spas in the world. Overnight: Rotorua (B) Wednesday 16th February  Depart this morning for Napier via Lake Taupo.  Also visit the Volcanic Centre and later view the mighty Huka Falls before enjoying free time at Lake Taupo. Travel to Napier and visit a large apple orchard. Dinner will be included at a local vineyard. Overnight: Napier (BD) Thursday 17th February  This morning journey across a farm by 4WD vehicles to a large gannet colony, a spectacular natural sight. Later head to Wellington, with lunch en route. Check into hotel in Wellington. Overnight: Wellington (BLD) Friday 18th February  Early departure this morning to catch the ferry to Picton at the top of the South Island. Disembark and travel through the Marlborough wine district – world-famous for its Sauvignon Blanc wine.  Lunch will be provided at a winery before heading to Kaikoura – home of the humpback whales. Overnight: Kaikoura (BLD) Saturday 19th February  This morning there will be the option of taking a whale watching cruise (weather permitting) off the Kaikoura coastline. Afterwards head to Christchurch - the garden city - with dinner arranged at a restaurant in the Botanic Gardens. Overnight: Christchurch (BD) Sunday 20th February   This morning, you will head to the magnificent Mount Cook National Park. A beautiful scenic drive through lush dairy pastures, before heading into the Mt. Cook National Park – pass by Lake Tekapo with a stop to take photos. There will be a visit to a large irrigated dairy farm en route. Dinner at your hotel. Overnight: Mt Cook (BD) Monday 21st February   Continue the journey south to the ‘adventure capital’  of New Zealand – Queenstown. Visit a salmon farm en route. A break of journey will be made in Lake Wanaka, with lunch on the shores of this beautiful alpine lake. After lunch enjoy a scenic boat trip on Lake Wanaka and see some of the magnificent ‘Lord of the Rings’ scenery. Continue to Queenstown, stopping at the famous ‘bungy jump’ bridge. Tonight dinner is at the top of Bob's Peak,  reaching the summit by gondola. Enjoy panoramic views of this beautiful mountainous region. Overnight: Queenstown (BLD) Tuesday 22nd February   Today is at leisure to enjoy this southern resort with a wide range of activities to suit every interest. Optional activities today include: a gentle cruise of Lake Wakatipu aboard an historic steamer, an exhilarating Shotover Jetboat ride, white water rafting, jet ski, Bungy Jump or just stroll the lake shore for some rest and relaxation Overnight: Queenstown (B) Wedneday 23rd February Today visit the magnificent Milford Sound - surrounded by steep forest-clad cliffs riven with waterfalls dropping vertically into the sea. Travel through the Fiordland National Park where lush beech forests meet snow-capped mountains. On arrival into Milford you board the Lady of the South Pacific which cruises the full length of the sound, travelling below the famous Mitre Peak and beneath a spectacular waterfall. Lunch on board. Return to Lake Te Anau for the evening. Overnight: Te Anau (BLD) Thursday 24th February   Head to the east coast of the South Island today and your destination is the city of Dunedin - a town with a strong Scottish tradition. En route visit a large sheep/beef and deer station which is approx. 38,000 hectares (100,000acres). It was settled in the early 1850’s by Scottish settlers and stayed in that family until the present owners bought it in 1950. It is still one of the largest stations in NZ. Stock being farmed at present include 50,000 sheep – mainly half -bred Romney ewes and 2500 Hereford cattle. They also have Texel and a Romney sheep stud. In addition, they breed riding horses for use on the property, which are a thoroughbred/Clydesdale cross. The property is approx 40 miles long and ranges from 850 ft to over 6000 ft.  On arrival in Dunedin drive out along the peninsula to Lanarch Castle, New Zealand's only castle, for a guided tour. There will be a tour this evening of 'Speight's' Brewery, followed by dinner.  Overnight: Dunedin (BD) Friday 25th February   This morning drive along the East coast to Mt Somers - the foothills of the Southern Alps. En route view the famous Moreaki Boulders on the beach. Visit a 2800 acre sheep property running 4400 Border Corriedale ewes and Border Leicester rams. 120 acres of mainline irrigation has been developed on the farm and 220 acres of barley are grown, and green feed for the sheep. Lunch will be provided here. Tonight you will stay with local farming families eating in their homes and breakfasting with them in the morning. Overnight: Farm Stay (BLD) Saturday 26th February  Re-assemble after spending time with your farm hosts.Visit an arable property that grows wheat, barley, peas, grass seed and also produces white clover seed, primrose, mustard and spinach seed.  Morning tea will be provided. Continue to Christchurch for some free time for shopping and enjoying this picturesque town. Later an early dinner will be provided before heading to the airport for your flight to Auckland  On arrival transfer to the evening flight to Hong Kong.     Overnight: Flying to Hong Kong (BD) Sunday 27th February   Arrive early this morning in Hong Kong and transfer directly to your hotel where rooms have been booked from the night before to ensure immediate check-in. There will be time to freshen up and rest before departing for a city sightseeing tour including a visit to the famous Peak which overlooks the city's spectacular skyline, Victoria Harbour and the romantic South China Sea. Get a fascinating close-up look at the local fishermen and their boat community and see the nearby world-famous floating restaurants set amidst all of the boats busily plying their trade in the harbour. Enjoy the scenic coastal beauty of Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay. Stanley Market is great for bargain-hunting. The evening is free to dine independently. Overnight: Hong Kong (B) Monday 28th February  After breakfast today there will be a half day excursion to the New Territories. Beyond the rolling hills of Kowloon lie the lush green plains of the New Territories. Unspoiled forests with natural habitats, centuries-old walled villages, ancient temples, duck farms and fish ponds have survived the test of time, despite extensive urbanization. This half-day tour provides a delightful blend of cultural and historical interests. Amongst the places of interest to be visited are the following: Chuk Lam Sim Yuen, an impressive Buddhist monastery nestled in the hills, which possesses three enormous 'Precious Buddha statues; Kam Tin Walled Village, built 700-years ago by the Tang clan, with the original walls still standing; Lok Ma Chau - the vista stretches from the farmlands bordering Shenzen River to the modern skyline of Shenzen City in the distance; the famous Banyan 'Wishing' Tree. Lunch will be included today. Tonight will be free again for individual dining options in Hong Kong. Overnight: Hong Kong (BL) Tuesday 1st March After breakfast depart for the airport and the return flight to UK.  Arrive back at London Heathrow this afternoon. (B) Prices Tour Cost Price per person Twin/Double £4,500.00 Single Supplement (Land portion only) £975.00 Cost Includes: International and domestic flights and taxes 16 nights hotel accommodation 1 night farm stay Breakfast daily, 10 lunches, 14 dinners Private a/c coach transportation through Ferry crossing from Wellington to Picton All farm and technical visits Sightseeing and admissions as indicated in itinerary Services of professional coach captain in New Zealand Services of Stita tour manager         Not included: Items of personal expenditure Tips to driver and guide  Airport departure tax from New Zealand (NZ$ 20 approx) Travel Insurance How to Book To make a booking, please call us on 01242 515 712 or click on our Booking Details. Our sister company, Stita Special Destinations also offers tours to exciting and exotic destinations. Current tours include Tanzania March Migration, Botswana & Namibia.