Maori quote: ” He aha te mea nui o te ao-What is the most important thing in the world? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. It is the people, it is the people, relationships”
Join Spirit Tours for an adventure into the Heart of Nature. With vast open spaces filled with stunning rugged landscapes, gorgeous beaches, and fascinating animal and plant life. We will be immersed in a land with spectacular glaciers, picturesque fiords, wild rivers that flow through rain forests to the sea. We will see pristine lakes and pastoral forests that hug volcanic slopes, and snowcapped peaks that pierce the sky. We will have daily spiritual meetings amongst beautiful natural surroundings and have exciting adventures including an overnight cruise on Milford Sound.
Daily Modified Itinerary:
8:00 am: Breakfast
9:00 am: Morning Spiritual Meeting
Today we will visit Arrowtown, nestled beside the Arrow River. Visitors can enjoy gold panning, tours around historic buildings, the Chinese Miners Settlement, the district’s museum, a boutique cinema and numerous walking trails, afternoon free to explore Queenstown. Queenstown, is the Southern Hemisphere’s premier four-season lake and alpine resort. Surrounded by majestic mountains and nestled on the shores of a crystal clear Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown’s stunning scenery is a once in a lifetime experience. In the evening, we highly recommend the optional Lake Cruise aboard the TSS Earnslaw. The leisurely 45-minute cruise across the lake showcases some of Queenstown’s spectacular alpine scenery while offering you plenty of time to explore a piece of Queenstown’s living history. Dinner at an old sheep ranch and a farm show is included.
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza, Queenstown
8:00 am: Breakfast
9:00 am: Morning Spiritual Meeting
OPTION 1:
Gibbston Valley Winery
Arrive at Gibbston Valley winery. This is a very special winery where the snow adds a new flavour to the grapes grown here. Unique to Gibbston Valley Winery is New Zealand’s largest and most innovative wine cave. The cave’s constant humidity and temperature provides a perfect haven for the maturation of award winning wines. You will be taken on a guided tour of the vineyard and cave. Then you will be able to sample some of the wines and cheeses from the cheese factory. Gibbston Valley is known around the world for their award-winning Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. Enjoy an afternoon tea in the vineyard gardens or in the Gibbston Valley Winery Restaurant.
OPTION 2:
Shotover Jet “Catch the Canyons” Jetboat Ride
New Zealand has many Jet boat rides but the Shotover Jet is the original, the best and is even covered by act of Parliament to ensure they are the only jet boats on the canyon section of the river. This is a great Thrill ride, not to be missed. It looks scary but it is just pure FUN. Do it!
Arrive at the Shotover River where you will be provided with a plastic raincoat and life jacket before boarding your, “Big Red” Shotover Jet boat. Catch the Canyons on your 30-minute exhilarating ride completing 360-degree spins and reaching top speeds as you wind through the rock openings ahead. Catch the Canyons; it’s a great experience. This is the original Jet boat ride in New Zealand and is a continuing
Tourism Award Winner Please note: Wear a hat, gloves and scarf against the wind chill that arises when you speed… Its exhilarating and adrenalin pumping action for all ages… Yes all ages…
OPTION 3:
A cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard the iconic steamship the TSS Earnslaw is undoubtedly one of the best ways to experience Queenstown’s famed scenic beauty.
The leisurely 90 minute cruise across the lake showcases some of Queenstown’s spectacular alpine scenery while offering you plenty of time to explor e a piece of Queenstown’s living history – the 103 year old TSS Earnslaw.
You can visit the engine room and see its giant steam engines at work, view the collection of historical photos in our mini-museum, check out the bridge or even join a sing-along with the pianist. Or if you’d much rather, kick back and enjoy a wine or beer or some café-style food at our on-board Promenade Café and Bar.
Cruises depart regularly throughout the day. You may even choose a cruise combined with a visit to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a guided farm tour, horse trek, barbecue lunch or evening dining.
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza, Queenstown
We will depart Queenstown and travel to TeAnau the gateway to the Fiorland National Park. After check in at our hotel we will experience a mysterious underground world of rushing water before drifting in silent darkness beneath the luminous shimmer of hundreds of glowworms. Your trip to the Te Anau Glowworm Caves begins with a cruise to the western shores of Lake Te Anau on one of our purpose-built scenic cruise vessels.
At the entry to the caves at Cavern House, view the informative displays and learn about this geological wonder before you join your guide underground. On the tour of the caves, our friendly guides will point out the highlights and share their knowledge of the caves and its history.
This underground world is astonishingly beautiful. By geological standards the caves are very young (12,000 years) and are still being carved out by the force of the river that flows through them. The result is a twisting network of limestone passages filled with sculpted rock, whirlpools and a roaring underground waterfall.
Deep inside the caves, beyond the roar of the water, you will be taken by small boat into a silent hidden grotto inhabited by thousands of glowworms, unique to New Zealand. In the subterranean darkness, they produce a glittering display that is nothing short of extraordinary.
Enjoy an evening free in Te Anau with dinner on your own (dinning and event suggestions will be available by your Spirit Tours guide).
Accommodation: Kingsgate Hotel, Te Anau
8:00 am: Breakfast
9:00 am: Depart for Milford Soumd
We will have the morning to pack and get ready for our overnight cruise on Milford Sound
What to bring: Non-slip shoes/ boots, waterproof jacket, warm sweater/fleece jacket, change of clothes, sunscreen/sunglasses, insect repellent, swimwear (optional), camera, cash for bar and snacks. Bring an overnight bag only.
The Road to Milford 1:00 pm: It is difficult to describe in words the grandeur and beauty of today.
This enchanting land of mountains, forest, fiords, and lakes is often referred to as the best in the world. As it was in the beginning… quiet, serene, haunting and mysterious. We are going to visit an uninhabited world heritage site. Our days journey will pass an avenue of cloud-capped disappearing mountains, through glass still lakes that reflect the mountains in the distance, a chance to drink pure mountain water from a stream, and travers mountain passes which leads to Milford Sound.
The Chasm:
We will stop at the Chasm and take a 15-minute walk to observe Natures art Sculptor at work. Running river water pouring over sand stone creates these Chasms. As the water flows rocks get caught in eddies and naturally sculpt cascading chasm and waterfalls. The walk will be through a New Zealand rainforest filled with ferns and wild life in all of their beauty. Next stop will be our overnight cruise on the Milford Sound.
Milford Sound Cruise on MV Mariner
4:00 pm: Board your Milford Sound Cruiser
4:30 pm: The Wonder, will be your home for the next 18 hours in the middle of a World Heritage Site, the Milford Sound. Mitre Peak, standing majestic at a vertical one mile high is the first natural wonder we will see. We will venture past various coves in search of wildlife such as dolphins, seals, penguins and whales. Keep in mind, this is spring in the Southern Hemisphere and baby wild life is abundant. As we make our way out to the Tasman Sea, keep an eye out for the Sterling and Bowen waterfalls. When full, these cascading ½ mile waterfalls are magnificent.
Today will demonstrate the importance of man and the environment working together, in order to preserve what can never be replaced. We will make our way back to a protected cove and anchor for the evening.
7:00 pm: Dinner will be served in the saloon and after that games are put out, and you will have a fun night together
Accommodation: MV Milford Mariner:
7:00 am: A fine day is something we may wish for, but seeing there are 32 sunny days per year that might not happen. Fortunately, a wet cloudy morning makes the sound come alive and the waterfalls abundant. We will have time to watch morning wildlife flourish as the ship cruses to special coves with active sea life.
7:30 am: American Breakfast
9:00 am: We will work our way back throughthe sound and view the active waterfalls.
10:00 am: Arrive at the Milford Harbour, reboard the coach and zigzag our way back up the Cleddau Valley and back through the Homer tunnel and continue back to Te Anu
1:00 pm: Arrive Te Anu
The picturesque township of Te Anau is the main visitor base for the glacier-carved wilderness that is Fiordland National Park. We will have the remainder of the day to explore Te Anu on our own and rest up from our overnight on Milford Sound
8:00 am: Breakfast
9:00 am: Morning Spiritual Meeting
Today, after our morning meeting we will fly to Auckland. We will be flying over some some very rugged Mountains and high country with views of the Southern Alps, the Mountain Peaks of Mt. Cook and Mt. Tasman, New Zealand’s highest Mountains.
“The City of Sails”, located on the North Island. Auckland is a blend of the harbor, surrounding islands, Polynesian Culture and a cosmopolitan city. After transfer to our hotel we will have the afternoon and evening to explore the city.
Accommodations: Mercure Hotel
8:00 am – Breakfast
9:00 am – Morning Spiritual Meeting
10:00 am – Transport to the top of Mt Eden. We will visit one of Auckland’s most famous iconic landmarks, Maungawhau (Mt Eden), a dormant volcano. We are bused just below the summit where the walk begins as we ascend Maungawhau (Mt Eden), the site of a majestic Pa (Maori strategic stronghold).
Optional afternoon outing (must be booked in advance)
2:30 pm: Board your coach and travel to your ship at the Quay Street Pride of Auckland Jetty.
Pride of Auckland Sailing Experience and Coffee Cruise:
Arrive at the Quay Street Pride of Auckland jetty. Here you will board one of your four cruising yachts in the Pride of Auckland fleet. Enjoy an exhilarating harbor sail. This will be a wonderful experience regardless of weather conditions as you sail on the harbor that hosted the 1999 and 2003 Americas Cup Challenge. These keel yachts are specially built for group sailing experiences. All safety equipment is in place, and wet weather gear will help to keep you if need be. Take some time to inspect the Maritime Museum either before or after as time permits.
3:00 pm: Board your yacht for an instant sail. Try your hand at sailing the yacht or sit back and enjoy. You will see Viaduct Basin and the Super Yachts and cruisers, multi-millions of dollars worth of gleaming watercraft is often moored here. Get some sea air in your lungs and enjoy this experience.
4:30 pm: Enjoy the walk back to your hotel.
Dinner on our own in Auckland
Accommodations: Mercure Hotel
8:00 am – Breakfast
9:00 am – Morning Spiritual Meeting
10:00 am – Depart for Hobbiton or Waiheke Island
Hobbiton:
For your own Middle-earth adventure, daily tours are available to visit the original Hobbiton Movie Set from The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy and The Hobbit films. Your guided tour starts with a drive through our picturesque 1,250 acre sheep farm with spectacular views across to the Kaimai Ranges.
Take a look at Bag End, where Frodo and Bilbo’s adventures began. Get lost among the hobbit holes and visit the Green Dragon Inn, the mill and the Party Tree. Listen to spell-binding tales of how Hobbiton came to be.
This tour will be a full day tour.
Waihike Island:
Take a day ferry from Auckland Harbor to Waihike Island. Once on the Island there is a bus that takes you to various small towns, wineries and beaches. Tim, from Spirit Tours, recommends making your way to Onetangi Bay and having some fish and chips or a bucket of greenlip mussles and a glass of famous NZ white wine. Recommended resturants in Onetangi Bay: