SCHEDULE
| DAY |
Itinerary |
B |
L |
D |
| Mon Feb
18 |
Arrive Auckland NZ. Check
into central Auckland hotel. Then sightseeing tour of
panoramic Mt. Eden, beaches & harbours
of the Americas Cup yachting venue. Evening welcome dinner. |
|
|
 |
| Tue Feb
19 |
Depart by van/bus
to hill country farming in Waikato province & visit
to Angus/Hereford breeding operation. Lunch in pretty Cambridge. Continue
afternoon to Rotorua, home of native Maori culture & thermal
springs. Stay Rotorua hotel. |
|
|
|
| Wed Feb
20 |
Morning
visit to Agrodome for informative show & demo
about sheep & wool industry. Also see native flora & fauna
at Rainbow Springs. Afternoon visit
to dairy bull beef finishing enterprise. Evening entertainment & dinner
of Maori Hangi. Stay same Rotorua
hotel. |
|
|
|
| Thu Feb
21 |
Travel south
via Lake Taupo to visit 1200 deer farm producing
venison & velvet. Visits to Huka Falls & Taupo,
then east to Hawkes Bay for visit to beef & sheep
breeding operation selling genetics internationally. Continue
to “art deco” town of Napier and farmstay at Waipukurau. |
|
|
|
| Fri Feb
22 |
Following
farmstay visits, continue south to Palmerston North in Manawatu province
and visit Massey University, the #1 ag university in NZ,
for beef research update. Stay local hotel. |
|
|
|
| Sat Feb
23 |
Continue
on to harbourside capital city of Wellington & ferry
cruise across Cook Strait through beautiful Marlborough
Sounds to Port Picton on South Island. Blenheim
is the heart of the best wine growing region noted for Sauvignon
Blanc. Stay Blenheim Hotel |
|
|
|
| Sun Feb
24 |
Visit & sample
wines at Marlborough winery, then enjoy spectacular views
along Pacific coastline en route to Hereford breeding operation. At Kaikoura,
we may spot whales & seals close to shore. Then
continue through pretty farmland of North Canterbury to Christchurch & stay
here. |
|
|
|
| Mon Feb
25 |
Morning
visit to Lincoln University to hear about ag education & research
into dryland conversion to sheep, beef & dairy systems
with irrigation techniques. Afternoon tour of the “garden
city” of Christchurch and on to Port Hills, Southern
Alps and Pacific coastline. Stay Christchurch
hotel. |
|
|
|
| Tue Feb
26 |
Transverse
farming patchwork of Canterbury Plains & over
Parkes Pass to Mackenzie Country with views of Mount Cook. Optional
flight over Mount Cook National Park and glaciers. Stay
Twizel Hotel. |
|
|
|
| Wed Feb
27 |
Travel via
the aqua blue hydro lakes to Waitaki River valley & Oamaru. Farms
here include Merino sheep & a specialty cheese factory
visit. Afternoon continue to rare & mysterious Moeraki
Boulders. Arrive at town of Dunedin, rich
in Scotish heritage. Stay Dunedin Hotel. |
|
|
|
| Thu Feb
28 |
Travel out
Peninsula to Taiaroa Heads to see Royal Albatross
Colony….one of world’s largest sea birds. Then
south to Milton to visit a sheep milking
enterprise of 1200 Poll Dorset/East Friesian sheep producing
Feta cheese. Lunch en route to Lake Te Anau and optional
visit to glow worm caves. Stay in this village with
magnificent scenery and quiet ambiance. |
|
|
|
| Fri Feb
29 |
Depart for
Milford Sound on for lunchtime cruise amidst awesome mountain
grandeur of fiorland region. Afternoon return via Te
Anau to resort town of Queenstown on crystal clear Lake
Wakatipu amid Alpine scenery. Stay Queenstown
Hotel. |
|
|
|
| Sat Mar
1 |
Morning sightseeing
tour of historic Arrowtown village……….where
bungy jumping was born!. Also visit vineyard producing
famous Pinot Noir. Free afternoon for optional lake steamer
“Earnslaw” boat tour to Walter Peak Sheep Station,
or go golfing or shopping. Evening gondola ride to Bob’s Peak
for farewell dinner at Skyline Restaurant with breathtaking
scenery. Stay Queenstown Hotel. |
|
|
|
| Sun Mar
2 |
Free morning
time for shopping before transfer to airport for departure
flights. |
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|
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