ESCORTED SMALL GROUP TOUR
Trip Length: 11 days
Trip Dates:
Jan 24-Feb 3, 2013
8 nights in deluxe hotels | 17 meals
2013 Rates: $7295 double | $8995 single
Intra-tour flights:
$500 (2 flights)
*
International Airfare is additional.
EXTEND YOUR TRIP
• The North Island - Jan 20-26
• Sydney - Feb 3-7
• Sydney & The Great Barrier Reef -Feb 3-10
| Fly USA to Auckland, NZ. | |
| Cross International Dateline. | |
| Arrive Auckland. Fly to Queenstown. Shotover River Jet Boat. | |
| Queenstown / Milford Sound by Private Helicopter. | |
| Queenstown - Jet Boat "Wilderness Safari" . | |
| Queenstown to Franz Josef Glacier. Fox Clacier Heli-HIking. | |
| Franz Josef Glacier to Greymouth, TranzAlpine train journey. | |
| Southern Alps - 4WD farm tour. | |
| Southern Alps to Christchurch. Fly to Blenheim. | |
| Blenheim. Cruise three icons of Marlborough. | |
| Fly to Auckland & on to USA or to Sydney for an extension. |
- Carefully selected Luxury Accommodations for an elegant vacations, yet value-oriented.
- Shotover Jet Boat in Glenorchy - Lord of the RIngs fame
- Milford Sound excursion by private helicopter with champagne send-off
- $100 spa or golf voucher at the spectacular Millbrook Resort
- Private film screening with wine & cheese party
- Dart River Wilderness Safari experience
- Heli-hiking at Franz Josef Glacier
- TranzAlpine train journey
- Sheep-shearlng demonstration
- Small group wine tour
- Mussel cruise in Blenheim
- Private gay, New Zealand tour manager to accompany the group throughout (minimum participation of 6)
- Our Coda team members are passionate about travel and their destinations. Time and effort is spent exploring our regions because we understand that travel is about the details you sense, the people you meet, the memories you take back home. Coda Tours prides itself in designing unique itineraries for each client and small group based on his/her interests, with insider access and off-the-beaten-track moments that truly inspire travelers.
- All arrangements are based on a private vehicle as detailed. This ensures that you experience the comfort and flexibility of independent or group travel, together with the security of dealing with the world's finest travel companies.
- Coda uses only the best guides. Our guides are known for their boundless knowledge, infectious enthusiasm and unfailing good humor. All guides are pre-screened for their gay-friendliness and knowledge of local gay events and venues.
- Through Coda's ground agents, there is an on-the-ground office to assist clients when needed—24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Coda has excellent relations with leading suppliers who are committed to providing an outstanding level of service.
- Our group sizes are small (usually 6-10 travelers) which allows the highest level of personalized service and flexibility. We guarantee our trips on 2 travelers (with some modifications to itineraries) so you are never disappointed with a cancelled trip.
- We select hotels that are among the best in the destination we are traveling. This guarantees satisfaction with your accommodations - the most costly part of your trip. We never "downgrade" hotels to "upgrade" our bottom line.
Our soft-adventure trip to New Zealand highlights the spectacular scenery and natural wonders of the South Island an unspoiled landscape of pristine snow-capped mountains, sparkling fiordlands and glaciers, open farmland, smoldering volcanoes and geysers and vast tracks of natural wilderness.
Culturally the country offers a rich mix of Maori, Europeans (Pakeha), Polynesians and Asians who have each put their stamp on the nation. Its cities are elegant and it offers a host of outdoor adventure activities.
Known as Aotearoa, ‘the land of the long white cloud’, New Zealand’s diverse physical, cultural and artistic landscapes are very close to each other. New Zealand has the only landscape on earth that could have provided the locations for Tolkien’s Middle Earth for the film Lord of the Rings.
Depart on any regularly scheduled flight to Auckland, New Zealand.
Cross the International dateline en route to New Zealand.
Your incredible journey of discovery begins with an early arrival into Auckland. You will be met by your Tour Manager who will travel with you for the next nine days. Meet your fellow travellers and walk to the domestic airport terminal for your flight to Queenstown, New Zealand’s ‘Adventure Capital’. Made famous because many of its residents are hooked on adrenaline, the list of adventure activities is impressive, even unbeatable. All this awaits exploration once you have settled into your 5 star accommodation, Millbrook Resort. The Millbrook ambience is warm and welcoming, the accommodation full of luxurious charm and quality, reflecting the unique character of the region. Meet for brunch to get to know one another, prior to jet boating the famous Shotover River. Known as ‘Thrill Therapy’, the Shotover experience is one you will never forget. It's an amazing ride – with the Shotover Canyon walls towering over you. Return to Millbrook Resort for time at leisure before meeting for pre-dinner drinks and a welcome dinner inhouse at the historic Millhouse Restaurant. Located alongside the original water wheel and on the edge of The Mill Pond overlooking the 18th Hole, The Millhouse was the original flour mill in the resort’s former farm days and the history of the building is reflected inside and out. Millbrook Resort – Villa Suite (L, D)
No trip to New Zealand is complete without visiting Milford Sound, often described as the eighth wonder of the world. From the lawn of Millbrook Resort, your scenic helicopter flight takes you past the head of Lake Wakatipu to the glacial beauty of Milford Sound, including a spectacular view of Mitre Peak, before heading back through the mountains and valleys of the Milford area. Enjoy a landing on or overlooking the Tasman Glacier on the return flight to enjoy a glass or two of bubbles.
On return to Millbrook enjoy lunch and time at leisure. Relax and unwind, or be as active as you wish, included is a $100 voucher for golf or spa activity. Experience a round of golf on Millbrook’s 18 hole championship golf course, have a spa treatment in the magnificent spa facility, or relax in the grounds of this gorgeous resort. Late this afternoon, transfer the short distance to picturesque neighbouring Arrowtown village for shopping and browsing before meeting at the Dorothy Brown cinema for a private screening of ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ complimented by local wine and cheese. Following the film, take the short walk to the Postmasters Residence Restaurant at the end of Arrowtown’s main street, offering breathtaking views of the scenic settings surrounding the area. Millbrook Resort – Villa Suite (B, D)
Today enjoy an excursion on the most scenic jet boat ride in New Zealand. The 'Wilderness Safari' is a diverse adventure exploring spectacular 'World Heritage' wilderness within Mt Aspiring National Park through a combination of exhilarating wilderness jet boating, informative guided ancient forest walk and back country 4WD safari vehicle. Surrounded by awe-inspiring peaks and mysterious hidden valleys shrouded in native Beech forest, your specialist guides will bring to life the variety of landscapes, vegetation and wildlife within this unique area, as well as the captivating stories of the original Maori and early pioneers. Enjoy lunch in scenic Glenorchy before returning to Millbrook. Evening and dinner at leisure. Millbrook Resort – Villa Suite (B, L)
Your chauffeur will collect you and your fellow travellers for the scenic drive to Franz Josef. Your journey takes you past the reflective waters of Lakes Wanaka (where you will stop for morning tea) and Hawea and on through thick rainforest in the magnificent Haast Pass. On the West Coast there’s no doubt you are in a remote corner of the world, few other cars pass and those who do will usually wave. Your coastal drive takes you through towering kahikatea forests to the township of Fox Glacier prior to arriving at Franz Josef Glacier. While many glaciers world-wide have been retreating, these glaciers still flow almost to sea level, making them unique relics of the last Ice Age. Set in a beautiful garden, Westwood Lodge offers well-appointed bed and breakfast accommodation with views of the West Coast’s rainforests and the mountains of the Southern Alps and is architecturally styled to reflect the forest environment with the warmth of natural timber throughout the rooms.
This afternoon your heli hike on Franz Josef takes you into superb scenery deep in the heart of the glacier. All specialist equipment is provided. After an exciting scenic helicopter flight, you land high up on the glacier and undertake a two hour guided hike amongst 
some of the most pristine and awe-inspiring glacier scenery available. Your guide chooses the route as you go, with an eye for the most spectacular ice formations you'll be making your way through a wonderland of towering pinnacles and brilliantly blue ice. Enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding mountains with plenty of photo opportunities and the chance to learn more about this magnificent glacier. Westwood Lodge – Coach House Rooms (B, D)
Continue your scenic Wild West Coast drive with your chauffeur to Greymouth where you board the famous TranzAlpine train, rated as one of the world’s top six train journeys. From your carriage you’ll see lush beech rainforest, spectacular gorges and river valleys through the Southern Alps where you disembark at Cass.
You will be collected from the train station and transferred to Grasmere Lodge - High Country Retreat, where luxury and natural splendour come together in the heart of the Southern Alps. This traditional New Zealand high country station, set amid towering 7,000 foot peaks, offers a richness of traditional New Zealand hospitality. Owner, Tom Butler, and his staff epitomise New Zealand friendliness and generosity of spirit. Tonight join your hosts for cocktails followed by a five-course gourmet dinner. Grasmere Lodge – Lake View Deluxe Room (B, D)
This morning embark on a 4WD farm tour. This lasts about 90 minutes, and takes you to viewpoints you wouldn’t find yourself. It gives you a chance to see the extent of the 13,000 acres of Grasmere Station, and to ask any questions you may have about the lodge, the station or the country as a whole. You’ll also watch a sheep dog demonstration – join the station’s leading hand mustering the sheep into the wool shed to be sheared. There are two kinds of sheep at Grasmere; Merino sheep, known for their super fine wool and Crossbreds, a coarse wool sheep that produce large meaty lambs. There are two methods of sheep shearing in New Zealand; machine shearing is the most common but there still a large number shorn by hand with blades. Blade shears leave much more wool on the sheep so they are better able to withstand a sudden storm.
Grasmere Lodge offers optional activities such as horse riding, fly fishing, clay pigeon shooting, canoeing and mountain biking. This evening join fellow guests for dinner. Grasmere Lodge – Lake View Deluxe Room (B, D)
The clean air and bright skies of the South Island high country conspire to bring your senses alive. Refreshed and recharged, farewell Grasmere and join your chauffeur for the scenic drive to Christchurch airport for your flight to Blenheim in Marlborough at the top of the South Island. With over 70 wineries, a range of boutique breweries and even a world class distillery, add to this an incredible range of cafes and restaurants and Marlborough really is a "Gourmet Paradise". For the next two nights you will stay in the ambience of Marlborough Vintners Hotel. Built among the vines and cherry trees, each suite offers vineyard vistas and is perfectly placed on Rapaura’s golden mile of vineyards for experiencing delicious wine and food and the delightful local people.
This evening transfer to the award winning renowned Herzog restaurant, recently voted the 'best restaurant’ in New Zealand, Herzog is undisputedly fine dining. Enjoy a three course degustation dinner with matching wines. An award winning global team of masterchefs will spoil you with delicious market fresh cuisine served in the most decadent environment with personal service to make you feel totally pampered. Marlborough Vintners Hotel – Executive Vineyard Suite (B, D)
Today you are collected for a small group morning tour sampling some of the region’s finest wines. After lunch at leisure, board a unique cruise taking in the three icons of Marlborough – the Marlborough Sounds, the Greenshell Mussels and the stunning Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The Marlborough Sounds hosts over two hundred mussel farms where native green lipped mussels are cultivated. Cruise one such mussel farm to learn about the importance of this local export and sample a local favourite – freshly steamed mussels matched perfectly to a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. This evening spend an intimate summers evening enjoying your farewell dinner in-house; a fresh and distinctively Marlborough degustation dinner using local produce and fresh ingredients from their potager garden, with all dishes handmade by the talented chefs. Marlborough Vintners Hotel – Executive Vineyard Suite (B, D)
Farewell New Zealand today, boarding connecting flights home. Or select one of the two extension options for travel in Australia. (B)
NEW ZEALAND'S AMAZING SOUTH ISLAND |
|
Double |
Single |
$7295 |
$8995 |
Intra-tour Flights |
|
Auckland/Queenstown & Christchurch/Blenheim Approx. $500 (2 flights) (Subject to change) |
|
NEW ZEALAND'S NORTH ISLAND |
|
Double |
Single |
$2255 |
Please inquire |
BASED ON 2 PEOPLE TRAVELING/SHARING |
|
| Intra-tour flight on pre-trip will be Wellington/ Queenstown in place of Auckland/Queenstown. Fares are similar. | |
SYDNEY - 4 DAYS POST-TOUR |
|
Double |
Single |
$2665 |
Please inquire |
BASED ON 2 PEOPLE TRAVELING/SHARING |
|
SYDNEY & THE GREAT BARRIER REEF - 7 DAYS POST-TOUR |
|
Double |
Single |
$4995 |
Please inquire |
BASED ON 2 PEOPLE TRAVELING/SHARING |
|
Intra-tour Flights |
|
Sydney / Cairns - Approx. $200 (Subject to change) |
|
| *All intra-tour airfares are subject to change until ticketed. These flights are in economy class and are not included in the Tour Rates and must be purchased with the tour. | |
| Single rates can be avoided if you are willing to share. We will be happy to match you with another single traveler who also wishes to share. If no share is available, the single rate will apply. | |
| Special Note - Rates are based on current rates and currency exchange rates at the time of publishing the tour on-line. Rates are subject to change until final payment has been made. | |
No specific vaccinations are required. Please check with your personal physician and the Centers For Disease Control website.Centers For Disease Control website.
Air New Zealand, Qantas, American Airlines, United Airlines, Air Tahiti Nui, Air Canada are among airlines that can be used for this trip. We recommend booking at least 7 months in advance if you want to try to use Frequent Flyer Miles for free tickets or upgrades or the American Express Platinum card 2-4-1 program.
All departures are guaranteed on a minimum of 6 participants. A local New Zealand Tour Manager accompanies the group. Prices available for 2 travelers and 4 travelers. Please inquire.
The north of New Zealand is subtropical and the south temperate. The warmest months are December, January and February, and the coldest June, July and August. In summer, the average maximum temperature ranges between 20-30ºC and in winter between 10-15ºC. In summer a light jacket or sweater should be included in you luggage should the weather turn cooler or you visit higher altitudes. You can expect some rain so include a light rainproof jacket or coat. If visiting between May and September, pack warm winter garments and layer your clothing.
Farenheit |
Christchurch |
Queenstown |
|
High |
Feb |
70 |
70 |
Low |
Feb |
54 |
50 |
Inches |
Feb |
1.6 |
n/a |
Tim Scott is the President and CEO of a small luxury tour company and has been in the travel business for 17 years. Tim has led group travel in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda and Madagascar. He is passionate about travel and education. He lives in New Zealand and spends his free time boating and planning adventure travel.
| Day 1 -- Sun, Jan 20, 2013 | Fly USA to Auckland, NZ. |
| Cross International Dateline. | |
| Arrive Auckland. | |
| Auckland - Waiheke Island | |
| Auckland - Rotorua - Wellington | |
| Wellington - Private Home Visit | |
| Wellington - Te Papa Museum. Fly to Queenstown |
Double |
Single |
$2255 |
Please inquire |
BASED ON 2 PEOPLE TRAVELING/SHARING |
|
| Day 11 -- Sun, FEB 03, 2013 | Fly Belnheim / Christchurch / Sydney |
| Sydney - day at leisure | |
| Sydney Harbor Cruise & BBQ | |
| Sydney Harbor Bridge Climb- Opera House Tour, Dinner & Performance |
|
| Day 15 - Thu, Feb 06 | Sydney - USA |
Double |
Single |
$2665 |
Please inquire |
BASED ON 2 PEOPLE TRAVELING/SHARING |
|
| Day 11 -- Sun, FEB 03, 2013 | Fly Belnheim / Christchurch / Sydney |
| Sydney - day at leisure | |
| Sydney Harbor Cruise & BBQ | |
| Day 14 -- Wed, Feb 06 | Sydney Harbor Bridge Climb- Opera House Tour, Dinner & Performance |
| Day 15 -- Thu, Feb 07 | Sydney - Cairns - Daintree Rainforest |
| Day 16 - Fri, Feb 08 | Great Barrier Reef |
| Daintree Rainforest | |
| day 18 - Sat, Feb 10 | Cairns - USA |
Double |
Single |
$4995 |
Please inquire |
BASED ON 2 PEOPLE TRAVELING/SHARING |
|
Intra-tour Flights |
|
Sydney / Cairns - Approx. $200 (Subject to change) |
|
