AAA

SOUTH ISLAND CHRISTCHURCH Akoroa Full-Day Tour Travel by road to Akoroa, a French settlement that charms with colonial architecture and fine crafts, and enjoy a waterfront lunch at Bully Hayes before boarding the Canterbury Cat for a cruise in the harbor. Keep your eyes on the water to spot dolphins, penguins, and seals, and your ears on the guide for commentary. Kaikoura Whale Watch Your tour begins with a scenic drive through the rolling hill country of North Canterbury and to Kaikoura, an area renowned for its variety of marine mammals. Board a boat here to get up close to the tour's main attractions, then visit a seal colony. Close the day with a wine tasting to toast your experience. (11 hours) Lord of the Rings Edoras Tour Go where the mighty capital city of Rohan once stood during the filming of The Lord of the Rings in the remote and beautiful location of Mt. Sunday on Mt. Potts Station. A four-wheel-drive vehicle takes you there to survey the spectacular scenery from this great vantage point, and a guide and sparkling wine picnic lunch make your visit complete. (9 hours) TranzAlpine Day Excursion From Christchurch, take the award-winning TranzAlpine train to cross the Canterbury Plains to the picturesquely snow-capped Southern Alps. Ascend to the alpine township of Arthur's Pass and view the displays at the National Park office before hiking one of the many park forest walks in its borders. (10 hours) QUEENSTOWN Dart River Wilderness Safari Combine the best of South Island adventure with braided river jet boating, a guided walk through an ancient native forest, and a backroad four-wheel-drive tour through the awe-inspiring Dart River Valley and Mount Aspiring National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Area. (6 hours) Milford Sound Day Excursion Even the journey is magnificent with this tour, where alpine scenery lines both sides of a luxurious glass-roofed coach as you travel along the shores of Lake Wakatipu and through Fiordland National Park. Once you reach your destination, board a luxury vessel for a full-length cruise of Milford Sound, accompanied by commentary and views of the dense rainforest, towering mountains—including Mitre Peak—glacial lakes, and alpine herbs. Don't forget to look for dolphins, seals, and penguins during specific seasons! (12.5 hours) Milford Sound & the Glaciers See the grandeur of the Southern Alps, its glaciers, Milford Sound, rainforests, frozen lakes, and the heart of Fiordland as a bird does in an exhilarating helicopter ride over it all. A glacier landing provides the photo-op of a lifetime, and when in season, so do curious dolphins, seals, and penguins. (1.5 hours) Milford Ultimate Exclusive for Two A helicopter flight through mountains lands you and another on an uninhabited beach to make your ways to dine at an alpine lake seemingly suspended above Fiordland. Learn about the history of the region's glaciers and prehistoric rainforests in a locale seldom frequented by man on a relaxed and unhurried expedition neither of you will forget. (5 hours) Picnic on a Peak Exclusive for Two What could be more romantic for a honeymoon or couples getaway than a helicopter flight to a secluded location on South Island? The answer is adding a leisurely lunch with sparkling wine and plenty of time to take in the views. You decide when to radio the pilot for your return to reality. Safari of the Scenes – Wakatipu Basin Immerse yourself in the world of The Lord of the Rings by visiting the very sites where filming took place. This four- wheel-drive tour into high country takes you to the Misty Mountains, the Ford of Bruinen, Gladden Fields, and others any fan will be able to identify from the movies. (4 hours) South Island Vacation Enhancing Tours | 41 VACATION ENHANCING TOURS Consult your travel agent for more details on these and other tours. When your tours are pre-arranged, you can rest assured you're seeing the best of what New Zealand has to offer. Take advantage of our curated selection!

• Cover