Itinerary 1:
Study Tour of NZ Penguins

Customer Profile:

· Professor from the United Kingdom

· Wants to do a study tour on yellow-eyed penguins in NZ

· Has two weeks available

· Trip plan to include visits with penguin experts, viewing penguins in the wild, hosted accommodation and rental car transportation.

Day 1

Arrive Christchurch International Airport

Overnight in Christchurch hotel

Visit Christchurch sights – International Antarctic Centre, Cathedral, Arts Centre

Day 2

Pick up rental car and drive down the coast to Oamaru (247 kms/3 hours approx.)

Check into homestay accommodation

Night viewing of wild Blue Penguins at Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony

Day 3

Drive down coast from Oamaru to Moeraki Boulders (35kms) - a beautiful nature spot as well as a public viewing spot for yellow-eyed penguins

Early evening continue on to Dunedin (further 30kms)

Check into Dunedin accommodation - Bed and Breakfast and penguin tour operator combined

Day 4

Sunrise tour to view yellow-eyed penguins with B&B hosts

Visit with penguin expert at Otago university

 Overnight in Dunedin

Day 5

Meet up with Department of Conservation field staff and drive south to Catlins State Forest in South Otago (two hours drive)

View penguin nesting sites at Nugget Point

Day 6/7

2 day guided tour/accommodation package in Catlins OR self-catered accommodation. You will need at least 2 or 3 days to see this beautiful area which includes much interesting wildlife and scenery. Yellow-eyed penguins can be viewed in this area as well as Hooker's sea lions and at times yellow head, fern bird, Hectors dolphins and elephant seals.

Day 8

Travel to southern tip of South Island (Invercargill) (approx 2 hours) for a trip to Stewart Island by ferry (or fly).

Arrive Stewart Island, check into accommodation in Oban and have a general look around.

Day 9

Visit northern guided track to see Fiordland crested penguins or check out more blue and yellow-eyed varieties.

Stay overnight

Day 10

Spend a day or two seeing other beautiful sights on Stewart Island - includes birdlife, fishing and diving

Day 12

Fly or ferry back to South Island

Connecting flight to Wellington from Invercargill (3 hours)

Check into Wellington B&B

Day 13

Meet with Department of Conservation staff and visit Te Papa (Museum) along with ornithology expert

Day 14

Fly back home from Wellington

Itinerary 2:
Walking Trip

Customer Profile:

· German outdoors enthusiast

· Independent traveller wants to do one or two of the South Island walks, with contrasting scenery

· Has two weeks holiday

· Trip plan to include best places to walk, how to travel around the South Island (incl. travel times)

Day 1

Arrive Wellington International Airport

Overnight in Wellington; Check out Te Papa, great cafes, visit Royal NZ Ballet

Day 2

Fly to Nelson in South Island (40 minutes)

Overnight in Nelson at Youth Hostel; Check out local wineries & arts and crafts

Day 3

Be picked up by tour guide in Nelson and driven to the start of the Abel Tasman Track in Kaiteriteri (2 hours)

Take 2,3 or 5 day guided experience - walk and/or kayak parts of track

Day 5/6 or 8

Arrive back by boat from end of track and be dropped back in Nelson for an overnight stay

Day 6/7 or 9

Depart Nelson for Queenstown (4 hour flight)

Arrive Queenstown and check into hotel. Spend rest of day checking out local sights (jet boating the Shotover River, taking a steamboat cruise, riding on the Gondola)

Have dinner at the Restaurant at the top of the gondola!

Day 7/8 or 10

Take bus from Queenstown to the start of the Routeburn Track at Glenorchy (75kms from Queenstown)

Head out on your 3 day guided walk of the Track – see awesome wild and scenic mountain country

Day 10,11 or 13

Bus back to Queenstown, relax for the rest of the day in Queenstown, soaking up the carnival atmosphere and enjoying the beautiful scenery

Day 11,12 or 14

Fly back to Christchurch International Airport for departure home (1 hour)

Itinerary 3:
Visit to experience NZ Gardens and Nature

Customer Profile:

· Couple from the United Kingdom

· Coming to the Ellerslie Flower Show in Auckland in November

· Also interested in organic gardening; nature/ecology & conservation

· Have four weeks and want to stay in superior/luxury accommodation

Day 1

Arrive Auckland International Airport

Check into 5-star hotel in the city

Day 1/2 

Relax and unwind. Check out Americas Cup Village, see the Sky Tower and other sights

Days 3 & 4

Visit Ellerslie Flower Show

Day 5

Fly to Great Barrier Island (50 minutes), a treasured sanctuary for many native plants including genetically unique specific varieties of flora and fauna.

Check into Luxury Eco-Lodge

Day 6 - 9

Explore the island paradise of Great Barrier – forest walks, beaches, natural hot springs, fishing, horse treks and a beautiful array of native plants and wildlife species

Day 10

Return ferry to Auckland

Pick up rental car and drive to Coromandel  (approx. an hour’s drive)

Overnight in luxury resort, Pauanui Beach, Coromandel

Day 11

Visit Waterworks Gardens & other special gardens in Coromandel

Overnight in Coromandel

Day 12

Drive south to Tauranga (one hour’s drive)

Visit Kiwifruit Orchards

Continue on to Rotorua (one hour’s drive)

Stay Luxury Lodge, set on edge of Lake Rotoiti

Day 13/14

Play golf, relax and enjoy beautiful surroundings. Mineral baths,                                                 bushwalks, horse riding are just some of the local attractions………

Day 15

Drive south to Taupo and on to Napier, following the Thermal Explorer Highway (3 hours drive), visiting Huka Falls en route.

Be accommodated in a lodge fit for a Queen (who stayed here in 1958!!)

Days 16/17

Relax and enjoy the wineries, gardens, fine cuisine and Art Deco architecture that Napier has to offer.

Day 17

Head south again for the Wairarapa (3 hours drive).

Stay at one of the top 20 international resort hideaways. Rest up after the drive and enjoy the luxurious facilities.

Days 18/19

Visit another of NZ’s best wine regions. Take a hike through the lodge’s 5000 acres, encompassing native forest, idyllic lakes and rivers, farm land, and the breathtaking South Wairarapa coast.

Day 20

 Drive over the hill to Wellington, the capital city (1 hour drive)

Check into 4-star accommodation in the city

Days 20/21

Spend time checking out Wellington’s sights, café culture, walks, Wildlife Sanctuary and much more.

Day 22

Drop off rental car and hop on a plane home!

Itinerary 4:
Family Adventure Holiday

 Customer Profile:

· Family from the United States coming on vacation

· Have two weeks and want to experience NZ farm-life and adventure activities

· Require a combination of farm-stay accommodation and lodges.

Day 1

Arrive Christchurch International Airport

Be picked up by farmstay hosts and oriented by host family.

Day 2

Relax and unwind. Explore farm and animals. Visit some Christchurch sites.

Day 3

Farmstay hosts return you to Christchurch. Collect rental car and drive to Queenstown (3-4 hours). Check into hotel accommodation. Relax and enjoy top class cuisine and facilities.

Day 4

Indulge in pure adrenalin activities – bungee jumping, jet boating,

Day 5 -6

Take a day tour to Milford Sound, one of the world’s great natural wonders. Take a cruise on Milford Sound.

Day 7

Drive through Southern Lakes region to ski fields (1 hour). Check into resort accommodation.

Day 8

Enjoy a few days of world-class skiing, snowboarding, and the excellent facilities for children.

Day 9-11

Take a daytrip to beautiful Arrowtown and Wanaka.

Day 12

Pack up and head back to Christchurch.

Overnight in Christchurch hotel

Day 13

Hop on a plane home!