Aoraki Mt. Cook, Queenstown & Christchurch

Pre- or Post-Trip, 4 Days

Mt. Cook, increasingly known by its Maori name of Aoraki or by the combined form of Aoraki Mt. Cook, is at 12,316 feet above sea level the highest point in New Zealand. But it’s just one of the Southern Alps, a vast chain of snow-covered mountains with 22 peaks over 9,800 feet. It’s a place of surpassing beauty with lots to do, and we’ve planned a variety of activities including a flightseeing tour with a landing on a glacier. We’ll also visit Queenstown, on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, and take a jet boat along the Dart River, where some of the most spectacular scenes in the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed, and the English-influenced city of Christchurch.

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Itinerary - 4 Days

Day 1 — Dart River / Queenstown

Get a taste of the adventurous travel for which Queenstown is famous with a trip along the Dart River. Transferring to the village of Glenorchy, continue by coach into the heart of the back country — with extraordinary landscapes that have served as a backdrop for many films including the Lord of the Rings series. Then, walk about 45 minutes to the Dart River where we will navigate the river's twists and turns by jet boat. After returning to Queenstown, there’s free time to enjoy the town or one of the many other activities the area offers. This evening you are free to enjoy one of Queenstown’s many restaurants.
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Day 2 — Aoraki Mt. Cook

Today, drive through the Lindis Pass and along the picturesque shore of Lake Pukaki to Mt. Cook Village. During your stay, take a ski plane for a thrilling excursion beneath the mountains of the Southern Alps, seeing the rocky volcanic peaks and vast glaciated valleys. You’ll also take a cruise on Lake Tasman, formed by the retreat of the Tasman Glacier which began some 30 years ago, with close-up views of icebergs “calved” from the glacier. Stay at the Hermitage, New Zealand’s best-known hotel, with stunning views of the mountains (weather permitting).
Hermitage Hotel (B,L,D)

Day 3 — Christchurch

Set out early for the five-hour drive to Christchurch, the largest city of the South Island, in a pretty setting along the Avon River. This afternoon stroll around the town, visiting the Cathedral, the Arts Centre and the Canterbury Museum, with a particularly fine exhibit on the history of Antarctic exploration.
Crowne Plaza (B,L,D)

Day 4 — Christchurch / U.S.

After Breakfast, transfer to Christchurch Airport for connecting flights home.
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