11-Nights New Zealand Nature Explorer

Christchurch

Christchurch was founded in 1850 by members of the Church of England, who wanted a little bit of heaven on earth. They succeeded, and today the city takes great pride in its spacious layout and distinctive English-style buildings in elegant grey stone. The River Avon winds through Christchurch, along parks and gardens that cover one-third of the city.

Arthur's Pass National Park

Arthur's Pass National Park is located on New Zealand's south island in the heart of the Southern Alps on the untamed west coast. It is the highest pass over the Southern Alps, used by Maori hunting parties as a hunting route long before it was officially discovered by Arthur Dobson in 1864. Enjoy viewing rare birds and wildlife, take guided nature adventures along the seacoasts and through ancient rainforests, or enjoy the views via TranzAlpine Train. Walks, skiing and mountaineering are popular activities in Arthur's Pass, and there are routes for all abilities.

Lake Moeraki

View the beautiful Lake Moeraki via a fleet of canoes which offer you a unique perspective of the lake and the Moeraki River – or brave the Moeraki rapids for the more adventurous traveler!

Wanaka

Wanaka, in a dramatic glacier-carved basin on the shores of the lake, and is the gateway to Mt Aspiring National Park World Heritage Area and welcomes all: adrenaline addicts, foot-sore travellers, lovers of luxury. Glide through the soft sky beneath a parachute; spin through the air in an aerobatic stunt plane. Enjoy a game of golf, test your mind at the puzzle center or ride horse-back up the golden hills where prospectors searched for gold and Maori searched for greenstone. Walking and cycling tracks around lakes ascend nearby hills to give spectacular views of Mt Aspiring/Tititea in the distance. Tiny planes offer a bird's-eye view of this magnificent wilderness area. Discover Central Otago's fascinating history from wild river rafting, visiting Wanaka's world renowned Fighter Pilot's Museum and fascinating Transport Museum, or by sharing an ale with locals. The arts are present in Wanaka through galleries, exhibitions, live theatre, concerts and the colorful local movie theatre 'Cinema Paradiso'. Lake Wanaka has a continental climate with four distinct seasons.

Fjordland National Park

Created in 1952, Fjordland is the largest national park in New Zealand, and one of the largest in the world - stretching 143 miles from northeast to southwest, and at its broadest 50 miles across, covering an area of 3,000,000 acres. Fjordland National Park is also the largest area of wilderness in New Zealand. There are only three roads in the park (one with public access), and only a few tracks, although three of the country's Great Walks (the Milford, Routeburn and Kepler tracks) are located within its boundaries. Fjordland remained wild because it is mountainous and extremely rugged. Fiordland is submitted to very high rainfall weather pattern characteristic of the west coast of South Island. Temperatures are mild, at least at low altitude. Forests cover all of Fjordland National Park from valley bottom up to the treeline. Most of these forests are beech. Wildlife includes forest birds, sea birds, marine mammals, among others.

Stewart Island

Located 20 miles from mainland New Zealand, Stewart Island’s attractions lie in its virtually untouched beauty and unhurried pace. To the Maori people who have lived on the island for hundreds of years, the island is known as Rakiura, meaning “heavenly glow”. The majority of the approximately 360 permanent residents live at Halfmoon Bay (or Oban), the island’s only sizeable settlement. This fishing settlement borders a scenic bay, with low buildings blending into forested hills behind. The village has a few shops, one hotel and a couple of cafes. Stewart Island is mountainous and heavily forested, with steep wooded promontories rising sharply from clear waters. Ninety percent of the island is national park and most of that is native forest.

Dunedin

One of New Zealand’s loveliest harbors is gracious, dignified Dunedin. The city boasts fine Victorian and Edwardian buildings complete with spires, gables and gargoyles. Its Scottish heritage is present in street names and the appeal of its handsome stone buildings. One of Dunedin’s most famous visitors, Mark Twain, wrote "The…Scots…stopped here on their way to heaven, thinking they had arrived." Dunedin boasts the country’s only kilt maker and whisky distillery as well as a statue of Scottish poet Robert Burns in the heart of the city. Dunedin’s surroundings are renowned for their magnificent scenery and wildlife. The nearby beautiful Otago Peninsula provides a breeding habitat for such rare birds as the royal albatross and yellow-eyed penguin. The biggest attraction is probably the albatross colony at Taiaroa Head – which can only be visited as part of pre-arranged guided tour. Nowhere else on the globe do these birds breed so close to humans. Other sights to visit include Octagon Park, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Edwardian Railway Station, and Otago Museum.