Today, we take direct flight to Auckland.

In the North Island of New Zealand, Auckland is the largest and most populous urban area in this country.Auckland is often known as the "City of Sails" for the large number of yachts that grace the Waitemata Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf.

Our representative will meet you at Auckland airport, then escort you to hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the day. 

Travel around city centre and over Auckland Harbour Bridge with its stunning views of the harbour and city skyline. Visit Viaduct Harbour and Auckland's famous Queen Street, and enjoy the lush grounds of the Auckland Domain--the city's oldest park.

Pause for morning tea (own expense) in charming Parnell Village, a historic suburb which has been transformed into a unique boutique shopping experience. The tour continues along the waterfront to the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park, named after a much-respected Prime Ministers of New Zealand. With panoramic views of the harbour and beautiful formal gardens, it's a great spot to take photos.

Then we drive to visit Sky Tower--the tallest man-made structure in New Zealand. Prepare yourself for breathtaking 360 degree views from the observation deck of this Auckland landmark. On a clear day we'll be able to gaze as far as 80 km in all directions – it's the perfect way to get to know the city of Auckland and its surroundings.

 

This morning, we drive to Waitomo and enjoy a guided tour through world famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Explore these underground caverns and learn how stalactites, stalagmites and other limestone structures were formed over millions of years. We'll have an enchanting boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto, where thousands of glowworms light up the darkness like tiny stars.

This afternoon, we drive to Matamata well-known for Hobbiton Movie Set. Just outside this rural township is the picturesque 1,250 acre farm where scenes from the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies were filmed. The charming countryside of The Shire, as described in JRR Tolkien's books, was carefully created on this working sheep and beef farm. We'll see Hobbit holes, the Mill, the Green Dragon Inn and other structures created for the films, and learn how farmland was transformed into a living, breathing piece of Middle-earth. After the movie set tour, spend some time in Matamata before return journey to our hotel in Auckland.

No tour is arranged today, we can relax ourselves in hotel or visit the city by ourselves.

Today, we'll fly to Queenstown. Our representative will meet you at hotel lobby (about 11:00am), then we drive to airport and fly to Queenstown -- a resort town in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. The town is well known for its commerce-oriented tourism, especially adventure and ski tourism.

Our representative in Queenstown will meet you at airport, and escort you to hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the day. 

This morning, we walk to the wharf (about 4 minutes from hotel) at Queenstown bay and board the The TSS Earnslaw (iconic steamship). The leisurely 90 minute cruise across the Lake Wakatipu showcases some of Queenstown’s spectacular alpine scenery while offering you plenty of time to explore a piece of Queenstown’s living history – the 100 year old TSS Earnslaw.

We 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 Cafe and Bar.

Situated on picturesque Lake Wakatipu’s south-western shores, Walter Peak Farm is the perfect place to spend a relaxing few hours.We'll get a taste of New Zealand’s farming lifestyle there. The host will meet us at the wharf and take us for a walking tour of the farmyard. The first stop is the holding pens, where we can help feed the sheep and deer, and even get up close to the Scottish Highland Cattle. Then stroll through the lakeside gardens to the charming Colonel’s Homestead forBBQ lunch. Afterwards the farmer will lead you over to the shearing shed where we can watch the farm dogs rounding up sheep from the hill paddocks, and see the farmer shear a sheep. Horse trek can be added to this excursion (extra cost). After tour, we board the TSS Earnslaw and back to Queenstown.

This morning, we drive to Mt. Cook National Park. We drive north through historic gold mining region of the rugged Kawarau River Gorge and past Cromwell, famed for its fruit-growing. Skirting the shores of Lake Dunstan, we cross the Lindis Pass to Omarama for morning tea (own expense). Continue through the rugged high country landscape of the Mackenzie Basin to arrive at Mount Cook Village, where you can gaze up at the 3,724 metre-high mountain Aoraki / Mount Cook, an important landmark in Maori mythology.

Enjoy the views from iconic Hermitage Hotel as you have the lunch (included), or explore the village and its scenic surrounds. There is also the chance to take off on a scenic flight over the park with its snowcapped mountains and ancient glaciers (additional cost, weather permitting – this flight can be arranged with your driver/guide on the day). After tour, we drive back to hotel in Queenstown.

This morning, we take an unforgettable journey into the heart of Milford Sound, New Zealand's most famous tourist destination. We'll experience the world-famous fiord in all its natural glory – surrounded by dense rainforest, glacier-carved valleys and beautiful waterfalls.

Leaving Queenstown (Hotel pick up at about 7:20am), travel in comfort along the shores of Lake Wakatipu and into southern farmland to Lake Te Anau, the largest lake in the South Island. After a morning tea stop (own expense), travel along the lake and into Fiordland National Park. Enter the picturesque Eglinton Valley, a place of ancient alpine forest and gushing waterfalls and one of only a few road-accessible glacier valleys in New Zealand, and take advantage of the photo opportunities on offer along the Milford Road, like the stunning Mirror Lakes, where on a calm day the surrounding mountain ranges are perfectly reflected in the still waters, and Knobs Flat, where glaciers have carved their mark on the terrain.

The glass-roof coach will provide amazing views of the dramatic skyline as we cross the Main Divide of the Southern Alps, with stunning mountain peaks all around. Stop at Monkey Creek and sample some of the purest water in the world. Travel under the mountains through the Homer Tunnel, a 1.2km passageway drilled into solid rock, then experience The Chasm, a short but impressive walk over footbridges spanning a series of powerful, swirling waterfalls and rapids.

At Milford Sound, board 1 hour 45 minute Southern Discoveries Scenic Cruise and set off to explore the region that Rudyard Kipling called the Eighth Wonder of the World. Travel the length of the fiord and out to the Tasman Sea, gliding past glacier-scarred rock walls and waterfalls that tumble through valleys and crash into the sea far below. Lush native forest clings to steep cliffs, while wildlife including seals, penguins and dolphins are regular visitors to the icy waters. Mountain ranges surround the fiord, including Mitre Peak which rises dramatically from the depths to a height of 1,692 metres above sea level.

Along the way captain will provide lively and informative commentary. The cruise will take place on a modern, purpose-built catamaran with large viewing windows, outdoor decks, panoramic views and warm indoor seating. Translation sheets are provided in Japanese, German, Spanish, French, Korean and Mandarin. After tour, we drive back to hotel in Queenstown.
 

This morning, we drive to visit Queenstown Hill where we can have enjoy spectacular panoramic views over the town centre, Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables Mountain Range. Then, we drive to visit the birth place of bungy jumping as we know it and home to the Bungy Dome, an 8 minute multi media show that allows passive bystanders to experience the thrill of bungy jumping without taking the leap. The Bungy Centre is a state of the art facility that offers grand stand viewing of the Kawarau Suspension Bridge and of the Bungy jumping platform.

Afterwards, we drive to Gibbston Valley for some wine tasting and cheese tasting. Then onto Kawarau Gorge where a scene from "Lord of the Rings" was filmed. To complete the highlights of the Queenstown area, visit the picturesque town of Arrowtown which retains its old world charm through careful preservation of its colourful history and colonial style architecture. After tour, we drive back to hotel.

No tour is arranged this morning, we can just relax ourselves in hotel. This afternoon, our representative will meet you at hotel lobby (about 1:30pm), and escort you to airport. We take flights back to Shanghai (via Auckland). Good Bye, New Zealand!