4 day - Marlborough to Queenstown

À partir de NZD 1 195,00 $NZ
  • Durée: 4 Jours (environ)
  • Lieu: Christchurch, Canterbury
  • Code produit: SH06
Day 1… Marlborough
(Nelson/Blenheim/Picton) to Arthur’s Pass
Your guide will collect you from your
accommodation and head south along the east
coast. Arriving in Kaikoura, where the mountains
meet the sea, there is a possibility of a scenic
flight to see the whales, which frequent this
particular piece of coast all year round. Enjoy
lunch at a seaside bistro and wine tasting before
heading inland towards the mountains and
Arthur's Pass.
In the heart of the Southern Alps, Arthur’s Pass
National Park has an incredible diversity of flora
and landscape. They range from eastern beech
clad hills and tussock valleys to the luxuriant rain
forest in the west. The highest mountains have
glaciers and surrounding them are tussock
basins, flowering herbs and alpine grasses. Stop
at Castle Hill Rocks for a fascinating walk
amongst these limestone outcrops - a sacred
Maori site.
At the end of the day, head to Wilderness Lodge
for the next two nights. 


Day 2… Arthur’s Pass
Today take a guided walk or relax and enjoy the
stunning surroundings of the alpine vistas. 


Day 3… Arthur’s Pass to Glacier Country
You will travel through the Arthur’s Pass
National Park and depart Canterbury province
for Westland (“The West Coast”). This route
was originally used by the Maori to move
greenstone (jade) from the west coast, and
later as a link to the gold rush fields. Follow
rivers that flow to the West Coast and observe
the changes to the rainforest and the many
varieties of ferns that dominate this region.
Visit Hokitika, once the capital of Westland and
a roaring gold mining town, now a bustling
centre of art and craft shops where greenstone
and gold feature.
As you journey south you will see the West
Coast forests and further evidence of the last
Ice Age in the kettle lakes created by the
melting ice sheets. You will then arrive at
Glacier Country and a walk can be made to
view the Franz Josef Glacier pushing into
rainforest - truly incredible!
Your overnight stay will be in Franz Josef
village. 


Day 4: Franz Josef to Queenstown
After exploring both Franz Josef and Fox Glacier
and Lake Matheson we travel south to reach the
mighty Haast River Valley. Following the Haast
Highway, observe how the landscape again
changes dramatically as the road climbs over the
Haast Pass from the dense rain forest of the West
Coast to the drier tussock lands of Otago. After
the Haast Pass, the road skirts first alongside
Lake Wanaka and then making a slight turn and
rising over a ridge, Lake Hawea is before you.
The road follows the shoreline of this lake and
then you reach Wanaka village.
From Wanaka, head over the rugged and remote
Crown Range, the site of gold diggings in the
1860's and arrive in quaint old gold mining village
of Arrowtown.
It is then a short drive to your Queenstown
accommodation where your Canterbury Trails
guide will bid you farewell. 


Tour Inclusions:
• Private travel by deluxe mini-van
• 3 Café lunches
• Picnic morning or afternoon teas
• Guided walks to explore the alpine
and rainforest landscapes (as
required)
• Fully escorted with local
knowledgeable guide
• Flexible itinerary 

Not included:
• Optional activities
• Accommodation
• Meals (unless otherwise stated)
• Flights