This page has the coordinates -- the specifics --
about
people and places and things on our trip to
New Zealand.
To return to the text, click on the following 
VBT
Itinerary and Places we Stayed
Special Treats
Planning Information
Vermont's Web site: http://vbt.com/
The Web site for our trip: New Zealand, South Island http://www.vbt.com/htm/NewZealandSouth-19.cfm
Itineraries change as new opportunities develop. We have copied the
itinerary for our trip from theVBT 2001 catalog to facilitate preparation of the article and
references in it. The numbers in bold are the days referenced in our article. The
numbers in (regular font) are those from the original Vermont itinerary. Your itinerary may vary.
Italics are our additions and comments. Our trip ended in Queenstown.
VBT offers trips that are two days long on the same route. These continue on to Dunedin.
We flew a day early to allow time for our bodies to adjust to the three hour time zone change. It is actually three hours plus a day from Los Angeles. We flew on United overnight from Los Angeles and arrived in Aukland early in the morning. We had a two hour lay over than then on to Christchurch via Air New Zealand.
Day 0 (1-2) Fly to Christchurch
Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the first hotel, The Holiday Inn Christchurch (formerly the Avon River Centra Hotel) for a relaxing overnight stay.
Holiday Inn Christchurch
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Day 1 (3) All guests meet at Christchurch
After breakfast, you are free to explore Christchurch’s museums, botanical gardens and
shops on your own. Spend time in Cathedral Square, climb the spire of Christchurch Cathedral
for amazing views of the city or stroll the beautifully manicured grounds at the
Botanic Gardens. If you have made your own travel arrangements, you should arrive after breakfast in Christchurch, giving you some time to explore the area. This afternoon we will meet our Trip Leaders at the hotel for a safety and bike-fitting session before our welcome reception for all tour members.
B, We meet our tour leaders, get our bikes, and have a "getting-to-know you" Reception Holiday Inn Christchurch
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Day 2 (4) DISCOVERY DAY! Explore Christchurch
After a leisurely buffet breakfast, your Trip Leaders will shuttle the group to the
Banks Peninsula area and begin our warm-up ride on the Summit Road in Port Hills among
breathtaking views of volcanic crater harbors, plains and mountains. This evening,
enjoy your first night’s dinner with the group.
B,D Holiday Inn Christchurch
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Day 3 (5) Cycle to Hokitika
We ride by TranzAlpine Express train through Arthur’s Pass, a small township in the
Southern Alps with stunning views. Then, cycle along the Taramakua River into native
forests. Our destination today is Hokitika, a lovely seaside town and former gold
rush site. Tonight, walk along the beach and view the Southern Cross.
B,L,D Southland Hotel
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Day 4 (6) Bike to Franz Josef Glacier
This morning we’ll visit the Greenstone Jade Factory, browsing its collection of Maori sculpture. After a shuttle, we will cycle through Westland National Park toward Franz Josef Glacier, a spectacular 7-mile stretch of glistening greenish-blue ice. We continue cycling to Okarito Lagoon, a rich wildlife haven noted for its unspoiled beaches. Kayak or hiking options are available.
B,L,D Franz Josef Glacier Hotel
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Day 5 (7) DISCOVERY DAY! Included helicopter ride over Franz Josef Glacier
Soar above the scalloped peaks and jagged crevasses of the Franz Josef Glacier. Weather permitting, your helicopter may touch down on a snow saddle so you can actually stand on the glacier. Options for added Heli hiking are available. Later, we visit an old gold mining settlement to pan for gold and enjoy a guided walk and BBQ lunch in the rainforest.
B,L,D Franz Josef Glacier Hotel
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Day 6 (8) Cycle in the heart of Westland
Our morning shuttle will take us over a scenic pass to Fox Glacier, where we will
pedal through deer-filled forests along the Tasman Sea. Enjoy lunch at a salmon
farm, and continue on to the Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki, our home for the next
two nights.
B,D Wilderness Lodge, Lake Moeraki
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Day 7 (9) DISCOVERY DAY! Explore Lake Moeraki
You may partake of many optional outdoor activities, including fishing, kayaking or hiking through the unspoiled rainforest. Most activities are included, some incur extra costs. If you prefer to bike, your Trip Leaders will escort you on a route to the remote fishing village of Jackson Bay. Tonight, walk to a “glow-worm dell,” whose caterpillar-like residents emit iridescent light to attract a meal.
B,L,D Wilderness Lodge, Lake Moeraki
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Day 8 (10) Cycle through the Haast River Valley and enjoy local farmstay
Today, our cycling and van options feature spectacular natural scenery with waterfalls, cliffs, the 736-meter-long Haast Bridge and Haast Pass, an ancient Maori route. We descend into the Makarora River valley and through Mt. Aspiring National Park. In Tarras, we’ll spend the night at a local sheep farm and enjoy Kiwi hospitality.
B,L,D Local Farmstay [Tonight is New Years Eve so we stayed at Oakridge Lodge in Wanaka instead of the regular "Farmstay."]
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Day 9 (11) Cycle through the Otago region to Queenstown
In the morning we’ll visit a merino wool shop, where local farmers show off their products. Then we’re off, cycling along the Clutha River, lifeblood of the Otago region, to the historic town of Cromwell. Our van will then take us to Queenstown, with a stop to watch bungee jumpers at the dramatic Kawarau Gorge bridge. We’ll also visit a local winery for a wine tasting.
B Gardens Parkroyal
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Day 10 (12) DISCOVERY DAY! Explore Queenstown
Queenstown is the gateway to outdoor pursuits like hiking, rafting and even bungee
jumping! Its stunning setting, nestled between the Remarkables Range and Lake Wakatipu,
calls out to today’s adventurous spirits. You might also spend your day shopping,
taking garden walks, sailing on a catamaran, cruising on a steamship or just relaxing
at the hotel. This evening, we dine at the scenic
Skyline Restaurant, high above the city.
B,D Gardens Parkroyal
The 20 minute walk from the international terminal to the domestic terminal at Auckland airport after 12 hours of flying.
Glow Worms
The Facts made interesting.
Kiwis
Kiwi & Birdlife Park
Kiwis: birds and New Zealanders
Kiwi Facts
More facts, myths and sounds Both male and female sounds available online
Gibbston Valley Winery
The winery's Web site
Picture from another VBT tour
More information
In one of the parks they have a floral clock. The hands had been removed while the
flowers were being re-planted. This provides a visual pun that I just cannot refuse:
The city fathers have no hands on their time.
Shopping
One of the best "small" gifts we found were Greenstone Jade Pendants. Additional interesting information is at Greenstone Jade Tikis
Take a rain coat. The west side of the island had a lot of "rain forest." That is a clue about the weather. We only had one day where it rained very long. That was our last day on the bikes when it rained for the entire ride. But we had some heavy, brief showers and at least a bit of rain almost every day.
We were surprised how cold it was. It is summer in New Zealand, but one day on the road it was cloudy and 53F at about 10:00 a.m. and another about 55F. You need layers so you can adjust to changing conditions.
We plan a role of film per day away from home. We shot 8 rolls during 15 days away from home. There were plenty of things to photograph, but the weather just didn't cooperate.
There are Starbucks in Aukland and Christchurch but they do not serve "filtered" coffee. You can get a "pressed" coffee or a wide range of expresso based drinks. That was true of another coffee place we went to in Christchurch. Coffee was available in restaurants but about like ordinary restaurant coffee in the U.S.
We were not able to buy any of the common pain relief tablets we are familiar with such as Tylanol or Nuprin. Panadol is the common equivalent. Seemed to work just as well.
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