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Paradise Found
Discovering New Zealand

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  Welcome to Aotearoa,
Land of the Long
White Cloud, and one
of the most beautiful
places on earth
 
 

Our tour begins in
Christchurch, with a
British atmosphere, where
you can go punting
on the river Avon

 
  Our adventures begin
as we board the
TranzAlpine™ Train
for a scenic journey . . .
 
  . . . to the heart of
New Zealand’s
Southern Alps
 
  Reaching the high country,
we take a jetboat excursion
on the Waimakariri River . . .
 
  . . . and a four-wheel-drive
Tussock Buggy through
the back country
 
  The next day sees
us traveling towards
Mt. Cook, New Zealand’s
highest mountain
 
  We make a quick stop at
beautiful Lake Tekapo,
a brilliant turquoise lake
set in the oft
snow-capped hills
 
  On its shores lies the historic
Church of the Good Shepherd,
seen here at night,
its windows framing a
spectacular alpine landscape
 
  Mt. Cook gives its name
to a beautiful national park
of alpine ice, snow,
rock, sub-alpine scrub,
tussock and riverbed
 
  Take a Glacier Explorer tour
to see astounding views of
New Zealand’s largest glacier,
on a boat journey that brings us
close to towering ice cliffs
and huge floating icebergs
 
  Drive south through the
center of the South Island
and over Lindis Pass to the
gold mining center
called Arrowtown
 
  Here we stop for lunch
at one of the region’s
well known wineries
 
  This will be Autumn in
New Zealand, and the
vines may be covered
with bird netting to protect
their precious bounty
 
  At last we arrive at
stunning Queenstown,
the adventure capital
of the world
 
  Board the classic steamship
Earnslaw for a cruise
across Lake Wakatipu
 
  Our destination is
the Walter Peak
Sheep Station,
where we enjoy
dinner and a show
before returning
to Queenstown
 
  On a day for
optional adventures
you might choose
a day walk on the
Routeburn Track
 
  The lush forest
will transport you
to Middle Earth and
its magical realm
(Lord of the Rings
was filmed here)
 
  Another adventure option
is a thrilling jetboat ride
on the Shotover River
 
 

Or you can do the
Shotover River
Triple Challenge,
which consists
of jetboat,
rafting, and
helicopter
elements

 
  The truly
fearless can
do a bungy
jump off the
bridge where
the entire
craze got
its start
 
  There are no words
to describe the rush of
adrenaline triggered by
the plunge off this bridge
 
  Our route to
fiordland takes us
over Wilmot Pass
 
  We arrive at
Doubtful Sound,
where we board
our ship for an
overnight cruise
 
  Spend magical hours
cruising in an area of
startling scenic beauty
 
  There will be
opportunities to
kayak and, . . .
 
  . . . there is always
a good chance that
dolphins will join us
 
  Journey over the
Crown Range to
Lake Wanaka,
seen here in
autumn splendor
 
  Enjoy a boat trip
through the mighty
Haast River Valley
into the heart of
the South West
World Heritage Area
 
  The Franz Josef
Glacier is the most
low-lying glacier
of its type
in the world
 
  We are outfitted with
boots and warm jackets
before boarding a
helicopter to take us
high onto the glacier
 
  Our guide will
share with us
the beauty of this
massive ice flow,
exploring caves,
crevasses and
ice formations
 
  Our journey north
takes us over another
stunning alpine pass before
we return to Christchurch
for our Farewell Dinner
 
    North Island Extension  
  The historic Bath House
in Rotorua, opened
in 1908, is undergoing
a centennial development
to expand it as a museum
 
  After lunch in the
clubhouse, we have
a coaching session
and play a game of
traditional lawn bowling
on the manicured lawns
in front of the Bath House
 
  Rotorua is also
the heart of
Maori culture
in New Zealand,
and we attend a
cultural show and
hangi dinner set in
native bush at
Mitai Village, where
we are greeted
by Maori warriors
paddling a waka
(war canoe) in
full battle regalia
 
  Enjoy a performance
of traditional songs
and dances, . . .
 
  . . . and a Hangi, which is
the traditional method
of cooking food using
steam trapped in
an earthen pit
 
  If you are lucky,
you might get your
photo taken with
a Maori warrior
 
  Why is this
group of rafters
smiling so much?
 
  It is because
they have just
enjoyed the
thrill of rafting
down the
Kaituna River
through 14 rapids,
including one
heart-stopping
drop which, at
7 meters (23 ft),
is the highest
commercially
rafted rapid
in the world
 
 

Visit the Waimangu
Volcanic Valley, for a
gentle stroll through an
area full of fascinating
geothermal activity

 

 
  An eruption formed
seven craters that
today make up
the Waimangu
Volcanic Valley,
one of the world’s
newest and most
active geothermal
eco-systems
 
  Hurtle down a
mountainside as you
enjoy the fun of
the Skyline Luge
 
  Don’t laugh, since
even New Zealand’s
Prime Minister
enjoys this activity
 
  A previous Toto
group prepares
to undertake an
exciting luge run
 
  Have a brief encounter
with the famous Kiwi
 
  One of New Zealand’s
most popular attractions
is the sheep show at
the Rotorua Agrodome
 
  This tour extension
ends in the vibrant
city of Auckland
 
 

Here we have
the opportunity
to participate in a
Match Racing
sailing excursion
into the Auckland
Harbor aboard an
“America’s Cup”
class racing vessel,
in a hands-on
experience of sailing
at its fastest and
most thrilling

 
  Our Farewell
Dinner in the Sky
Tower comes with
a healthy serving
of dazzling city
and harbor views
 
  From “veddy” British towns,
to the majesty of fjordland,
to awe-inspiring Mt. Cook,
to colorful Maori culture—
join Toto in paradise, as
we discover the wonders of
incomparable New Zealand