Coastal Footsteps
10 Days Quuenstown to Auckland
Price: NZ770 AU690 £350 €420 C$650 US$640
Day 1: Queenstown to Fox Glacier. Accommodation: 
Today we make our way to the wild and wet West Coast but first
we will stop at Arrowtown, one of the first gold mining settlements in New
Zealand. Its tree lined streets and historic buildings lie beautifully nestled
at the foothills of the Crown Range. We will then make one more stop before
arriving at Fox Glacier, and that is at Wanaka, one of the most desirable places
to live in New Zealand. With Lake Wanaka lapping at the shores, the picture
postcard Southern Alps as its background and bordering Aspiring National Park,
you will soon feel the same way as many others. We now head through the remote
area of Haast and the dense rain forests, as we make our way to the foot of Fox
Glacier.
Day 2: Fox Glacier to Greymouth. Accommodation: 
Covering 13 kilometres and descending 1200 metres, these
glaciers are only 6 km from the Tasman Sea and are amongst the fastest moving in
the world. Here you have the chance to partake in some optional excursions such
as a guided walk on ice, or maybe you would like to experience the thrill of a
helicopter flight over this amazing mass of frozen water. We now head up the
West Coast to Greymouth, the largest town on the West Coast, where you can
browse the souvenir shops for the sacred Pounamu, (Greenstone that the Maori
people used for tools and weapons that was found in the West Coast Rivers).
Day 3: Greymouth Via Punakaiki to Abel Tasman. Accommodation:
We drive further North today towards Abel Tasman National Park
stopping along the way at Paporoa National Park where you can view the stunning
Pancake Rocks and blow holes of the small coastal settlement of Punakaiki. For
the next two nights we camp at Marahau, the gateway to the Abel Tasman National
Park.
Day 4: Abel Tasman. Accommodation:
Today you have the option of visiting Abel Tasman National
Park, New Zealand’s smallest National Park, but one of the most beautiful.
23,000 ha of rolling hills, native bush, hidden golden sand beaches and over
91km of coastal scenery - your day will be filled with images that will last a
lifetime. This National Park can be enjoyed by walking the coastal track one
way and with the return trip by launch or water taxi , or by sea kayaking the
Coast and drifting slowly taking in the spectacular sights and watching
dolphins, seals and the wildlife.
Day 5: Abel Tasman via Nelson to Wellington. Accommodation:
We make our way north today but before we leave the South
Island behind us we will visit Nelson which is known as the sunniest place in
the country. Nelson is a very lively and modern town and is renowned as a
vibrant arts, crafts and festival centre. Once again we board our ferry to enjoy
the scenery as we leave the South Island and head for Wellington. You will have
time now to enjoy New Zealand’s Capital city one more time.
Day 6: Wellington to New Plymouth. Accommodation:
An early start today as we make our way up the West Coast of
the North Island to New Plymouth and the solitary dormant volcano, Mount
Taranaki, standing 2518m high. Ice and snow permanently cover the peak of this
majestic mountain. We will follow the ‘Surf Highway 45’ to reach New Plymouth.
This is 105km of road, hugging the rugged coastline that sweeps around the feet
of Mt Taranaki that produce’s some of New Zealand’s most legendary surf breaks.
Tonight we can have a night out on the town local style on New Plymouth’s Devon
Street where there is a range of bar’s and entertainment to suit everyone
tastes.
Day 7: New Plymouth. Accommodation:
The day is yours to do as you wish. Perhaps take the day to
explore Egmont National Park and the spectacular Mount Taranaki, or walk the
award winning 7km Coastal walkway and view Sugar Loaf Islands. Or spend the day
wandering the city visiting magnificent Pukekura Park, Govett-Brewster Modern
Art Gallery and Puke-Ariki Contemporary Museum. Finally a visit to New Plymouth
is not complete with out seeing Len Lye’s famous sculpture the Wind Wand.
Day 8: New Plymouth to Waitomo. Accommodation:
We leave Mount Taranaki behind us today and continue our
journey north to the famous Waitomo Caves, home of the Glow Worms. The caves
were first extensively explored in 1887 and were opened to tourists in 1889. We
take a 45min tour through the main cave network, which ends with a boat trip.
This is where the silence and darkness, reveals the galaxy of light around us
emanating from the Glow Worms. You also have a number of optional activities to
choose from; do a Tandem Abseil into the lost world, try Black Water Rafting in
a rubber tube or take a relaxing horse ride. Tonight we can relax at our camp
for the evening.
Day 9: Waitomo to Raglan. Accommodation:
We are now back in the Waikato region, one of New Zealand’s
richest agricultural areas, with its green rolling hills and the largest river
in the country snaking its way north. We make our way west to what is called the
‘rugged coast’ and to one of New Zealand's small rustic beach towns – Raglan.
Internationally renowned for its surfing, this black sand beach town with its
palm lined streets will suck you into the relaxed mode of Kiwi beach life. You
can spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach, learning to surf or walk in the
native bush. This evening is our last evening together; we can enjoy a night on
the town, local style, reminiscing the last 30 days touring around New Zealand.
Day 10: Raglan to Auckland
We head North over the Bombay Hills before arriving in Auckland
where this tour comes to an end.
NOTE: