OVERVIEW

Cruise the turquoise waters and unspoiled inlets of the Bay of Islands and see Cape Brett Lighthouse, the Hole-in-the-Rock Sea arch and more. You’ll depart the pier aboard a stable catamaran featuring roomy indoor and outdoor viewing decks, sailing under what could be the earth’s bluest skies into a constellation of 150 unspoiled islands off the North Island’s northeast corner. The Bay of Islands is both magnificent and historically significant: New Zealand’s earliest Maori settlers migrated here 700 years ago, and its first British missionary settlers arrived in 1814. Charles Darwin stopped by not long after, and in more modern times, American adventure writer Zane Grey popularized the islands as a big-game fishing paradise. You’ll journey through these fabled waters today, passing picturesque islets as you make for crisply white Cape Brett Lighthouse, perched high atop a spectacular headland’s cliff. You’ll see Motukokako Island with its dramatic Hole-in-the-Rock arch and visit another major highlight, the majestic Grand Cathedral Cave. Slowly cruising among the inner islands, you may have engaging encounters with the schools of dolphin that frequent these waters. Commentary from the captain will help fill in the natural and cultural history of it all.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise into the Bay of Islands aboard a comfortable catamaran with indoor and outdoor viewing decks.
• Journey through legendary big-game fishing waters en route to the Cape Brett Lighthouse.
• Pass beautiful Motukokako Island and the famous Hole-in-the-Rock sea cliff, and see majestic Grand Cathedral Cave.
• Learn about this region’s key role in New Zealand history from the captain’s commentary.
• Be on the lookout for playful dolphin and other marine wonders as you take in the peaceful beauty of the inner islands.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear layered, weather-appropriate clothing.
• Flat, comfortable shoes are recommended.
• Bring sunglasses and other sun protection as needed.

OVERVIEW

Treat your inner adventurer to an exhilarating multi-transport survey of the Southern Alps high country by coach, offroad touring vehicle and jet boat. It all starts sedately enough, as you head out by motorcoach into the fertile earthen patchwork of the Canterbury Plains – where the island grows its wheat and grazes its cattle. But don’t get too comfortable; the scenery changes dramatically as you reach Rubicon Station on the banks of the spectacular Waimakariri river gorge and make the switch into rugged offroad touring mode. Piloted with skill around Mt Torlesse Station, bouncing heartily across a spectacular landscape framed by jagged Southern Alp peaks and gorges, you’re bound to fill your camera with social media friendly shots. A well-deserved stop for lunch provides a break from the action, but it won’t last. Soon enough, you’ll shift back into thrill gear as you board a lightning-fast jet boat capable of 360-degree spins and strap in for a ride up the steep-walled Waimakariri River gorge to Staircase Viaduct. Learn more about Kiwi Jetboating thanks to the persistence of Bill Hamilton in perfecting the water jet and providing a new way to explore parts of back country New Zealand at the Jet Boat World museum. After that little jaunt, the coach drive back to Lyttelton will feel like slow motion.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Experience adventure without exhaustion on a thrilling, multi-vehicle tour of the Southern Alps.
• Travel by coach across the fertile Canterbury Plains to the Springfield Adventure Centre and a switch into offroad mode.
• Buckle up for a rollicking drive through rugged high country terrain framed by mountains and gorges.
• Hold onto your hat again later as you zoom up the majestic Waimakariri river gorge on a jet boat nimble enough to make 360-degree spins.
• Enjoy lunch at midday and return back to port with spectacular photos and memories.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear weather-appropriate clothing including a water-resistant jacket.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

Snorkel a coral reef off Mystery Island, an ecologically protected area that is teeming with marine life. Chances are, you will have the reef pretty much to yourself as the island is uninhabited. In other words, it’s a tropical paradise where the natural world reigns supreme. While snorkeling the reef that lies just offshore, you can expect to see all sorts of brightly colored tropical fish, bizarrely shaped coral and perhaps a sea turtle or two.

A guide will snorkel along with you to point out the more interesting marine species such as parrotfish. These neon-colored fish usually swim in schools and have the unique ability to change their color and even gender over their lifetime. You may also spot teeny, orange-and-white striped clown fish taking refuge in the tentacles of sea anemones. The gentle current around the reef will eventually nudge you toward the shore, allowing you to drift snorkel without expending much energy.

Paddle across the shallow waters just off Mystery Island in a kayak with a glass bottom that will present a bird’s-eye view of the spectacle below the water’s surface.

After a briefing on how best to maximize your kayaking adventure, you will paddle to the coral reef that surrounds the small island. These are protected waters teeming with marine life, so you can be sure that there will be plenty to see through the glass bottom of the kayak. What could be easier than just looking down into a veritable living aquarium of brightly colored fish? You might see jewel damsels, lemonpeel angelfish and long-bodied trumpetfish. Sea turtles also inhabit the reef and watching one up close is a real treat.

After kayaking, feel free to snorkel the crystal-clear waters surrounding Mystery Island for a different perspective of the marine life. Or you can simply swim and relax on the beach.

OVERVIEW

Spend a day immersed in the magnificence of Rangitata Valley and the Southern Alps, making picturesque stops and exploring a historic high-country sheep station. For pure scenic splendor, few locales on Earth compare to this one – so visually stunning it served as a backdrop for several Lord of the Rings films. Some highlights from your journey to the alps will include a short walk into the virgin woodlands of Peel Forest, alive with birdlife and towering podocarp trees that have stood for hundreds of years, spared from lumbering. Your ultimate destination is Mesopotamia Station, named in 1860 for its position between two rivers – much like the ancient Mesopotamia. During your time here in this amazing high-country outpost, you’ll learn about its intrepid early settlers and the challenges of living at the station even today. Refreshments will be served, and you’ll have plenty of time for a leisurely walk, some photography, or just sit back and in awe at the views. A stop in artsy, artisanal Geraldine for a light lunch and free time follows. Finally, you will visit a small farm where a world-class shearer will give a shearing and sheep dog demonstration while you enjoy a glass of beer or wine before you return to the ship.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel by panoramic coach from Timaru into a natural setting so stunning it’s starred in Tolkien movies.
• Tour the high-country sheep station known as Mesopotamia, settled in 1860 and still plenty rustic.
• Visit the arts enclave of Geraldine on the way back, admired especially for its cheeses and preserves.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear weather-appropriate clothing; include a light jacket.
• Flat, sturdy walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

OVERVIEW

Tour a captivating museum filled with Royal New Zealand Air Force planes and memorabilia, then explore a one-of-a-kind experiential museum dedicated to all things Antarctic. Located in Christchurch on the site of a former base, the Air Force Museum showcases the country’s long and valiant aviation history through hands-on exhibits – including dozens of vintage aircraft, WWI-era aviation barracks, rare uniforms and medals, and moving stories of the proud men and women who have served in the New Zealand and Allied flying services. After a leisurely guided visit, leave the museum behind as you move into cooler surroundings. Much cooler. At the International Antarctic Centre, you can experience an indoor blizzard, visit a snow cave, endure life at Scott Base and learn about other intrepid Antarctic explorers, even watch rescued Little Blue Penguins – smallest of their kind – cavort in a plush indoor/outdoor habitat. You can also take a virtual voyage down to Antarctica in the 4D Extreme Theatre and experience an epic thrill ride in the Hagglund, a genuine amphibious Antarctic transport that doesn’t let anything stand in its way. A drive back through central Christchurch reveals how well it’s recovered from the devastating 2011 earthquake.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Settle back for a 30-minute narrated coach drive from Lyttelton to the outskirts of Christchurch.
• Tour the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum, home to a vast collection of meticulously preserved aviation memorabilia including dozens of historic aircraft and a vintage barracks.
• Enjoy an immensely fun, guided tour and interactive experience at the International Antarctic Centre, next best thing to traveling to the South Pole yourself.
• • Survive an ice storm, learn about life in modern Antarctica and visit historic Scott Base, watch Little Blue Penguins play, and crawl over an obstacle course inside a Hagglund amphibious vehicle.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing including a light jacket or sweater.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

OVERVIEW

Journey to a stunning and recognizable Lord of the Rings filming location in New Zealand’s Southern Alps, then enjoy a central Christchurch orientation drive. Departing Lyttelton by panoramic coach, you’ll travel through the patchwork green farmland of the Canterbury Plains, stopping in a country town for morning tea. Heading inland into the heart of the Alps, you’ll pause for a photo opportunity at Lake Camp where the views across the lake to the mountain range that forms the South Island’s backbone are outstanding on a clear day. But that’s before you encounter this tour’s true showstopper vista – the terrain at remote and beautiful Mt Potts High Country Station. The moment you set eyes on this location you’ll understand why it was chosen as the setting of Edoras in the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy. Even if you’re not a Tolkien aficionado, you’ll be taken breathless by the unspoiled beauty of this landscape of rugged mountain ranges, sparkling lakes, blue rivers and brisk alpine air. After free time to explore and photograph this magical place, you’ll relax over a rustic lunch before heading for Christchurch city and an orientation drive covering its must-see sights.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Settle back for a panoramic coach drive across the Canterbury Plains and into the Southern Alps.
• Enjoy morning tea in a country town and stop at a stunning alpine lake for photos and awe.
• Visit Mt Potts High Country Station, a setting magical enough to double for mythical Edoras in the Lord of the Rings films.
• Enjoy free time to explore this astounding place on earth, even pose for photos with replica swords.
• Lunch in Mt Somers Village and enjoy a Christchurch orientation drive that covers its top sights.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing including a light jacket or sweater.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

Get a candid glimpse into daily life in a small village on the island of Aneityum by visiting with a local family.

When Europeans first landed on volcanically formed Aneityum in 1793, the island’s population was well over 10,000. In time, the Europeans built a trading station to export sandalwood and timber from the indigenous kauri pines, and whalers set up a base of operation. The population is a fraction of what it was, with the inhabitants now living in small villages. One of the local families will show you around and describe their daily routine.

You may learn about the island folklore, the differing roles of men and women in modern times and how plants are used for medicinal purposes. Aneityum has more species of orchids than any other island in Vanuatu, and you can expect to see them flourishing. Your hosts may also demonstrate how the villagers prepare and cook traditional dishes.

Experience Fiji's local flavors and traditions in a unique new way during this cruise up the Navua River by long boat, along with a kava ceremony, folk dancing and lunch in a local village.

Enjoy a scenic drive through Suva, en route to the Navua River, where you will embark an open longboat for a scenic journey upriver. Your cruise will be highlighted by endless mountain ranges, a thick tropical rain forest abounding with bird life, deep gorges, cascading waterfalls, and exotic fauna and flora. You can take a refreshing swim in one of the pools created by the river or under the Magic Waterfall during one of your stops.

Visit Raiwaqa Village, located on a 14-mile-long island at a height of almost 1,000 feet above sea level, you will be welcomed by warriors and villagers with a traditional Fijian kava ceremony and after, tour of the village. Along the way, you will learn about the village’s history, native crops and medicinal plants. You will also have an opportunity to mingle with the villagers and purchase local handicrafts. Watch war dances performed by the men and typical folk dances by the village women. Why not join in and learn some new moves? You’ll also be treated to a typical Fijian lunch cooked in an underground oven.

OVERVIEW

Behold the stunning natural beauty of Kangaroo Island, a rugged wonderland that the locals affectionately call K.I. You will concentrate on the island’s southernmost natural phenomena, starting at Remarkable Rocks, a collection of sculpture-like granite boulders that the rain, wind and pounding sea have shaped over millions of years. Nearby Admirals Arch is another erosion-shape coastal landmark within Flinders Chase National Park. From the viewing platform of the rock bridge, you can expect to see brown seals frolicking below. For the ultimate view of the island’s indigenous birds, you will visit Raptor Domain, the only presentation of birds of prey in free flight in South Australia. Wedge-tailed eagles, barn owls and kookaburras are but a few of the rescued and orphaned avian species that have been rehabilitated there. Later, you will enjoy a close-up look at the surfers’ haven Pennington Bay and a sweeping view of the island’s northern coast from Penneshaw Lookout.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Admire the spectacular natural beauty while driving throughout Kangaroo Island.
• See erosion-sculpted boulders and a natural rock arch in Flinders Chase National Park.
• Watch birds of prey in a free-flight performance at Raptor Domain.
• Enjoy panoramic views of the surfers at Pennington Bay and Penneshaw from a lookout.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Travel through McLaren Vale, one of Australia’s oldest winegrowing region, taste delicious wines and organic olives, and lunch at a celebrated winery restaurant. Blessed by a Mediterranean coastal climate – with spectacular beaches just 15 minutes from vineyards and olive groves – McLaren Vale offers not just great wine, but some of Adelaide’s most satisfying sightseeing. After spending a couple delightful hours taking in the terrain by panoramic coach, you’ll visit The Farm Willunga to sample sustainably grown olives and olive oil, learn about how they’re produced, and browse the pure soaps and body care products also made here. You’ll tour a pair of boutique wineries to taste and compare some of the Shiraz and other varietal wines that have made the Vale so internationally famous. At one of the cellars, you’ll relax over a sumptuous lunch showcasing fresh and local ingredients – accompanied, of course, by wine. Stunning coastal scenery is on the menu for the return drive as you visit stunning Maslin Beach – captured on the big screen in numerous films – and pass through Glenelg and tony shoreside suburbs en route back to Adelaide. If you’re looking for an excursion offering exceptionally diverse scenery, flavors, and experiences – you’ve found it.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a drive through McLaren Vale, a top-tier South Australia winegrowing region along the coast.
• Tour an organic, sustainable farm and sample olives grown in this mild Mediterranean climate.
• Visit two boutique vineyards for tours and tastings of wines that long ago put this region on the map.
• Enjoy a delicious lunch featuring fresh local produce, served at a celebrated winery restaurant.
• Stop in at picturesque Maslin Beach as your coach hugs the scenic coast roads back to Adelaide.

HELPFUL HINTS

• • Wear light, weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

On this panoramic voyage, you’ll circle volcanic harbors and lakes, cross the Canterbury countryside, visit a working sheep farm, and see the sights of urban Christchurch. It all begins with a spin around Lyttelton Harbor – the massive caldera of an ancient volcano – then winds past idyllic Governors Bay on the Banks Peninsula before entering the lush patchwork landscape of Canterbury Plains, where white sheep dot the green hills. New Zealand is famed for its sheep farms and at Manderley Farm, you’ll get the chance to tour one up-close. After a warm greeting and morning tea, farm hands will lead you to a demonstration at the shearing shed and a lively performance by the operation’s most dedicated herders – its talented sheepdogs. Marvel at their talents and agility as they gather a flock from nearby hills, bringing the sheep down to their master and responding to whistled commands from great distances away. Your return journey traces the shore of vast Lake Ellesmere en route to Christchurch for an orientation drive through areas damaged by the 2011 earthquake as you see how the city is rebuilding and restoring some of its most iconic heritage buildings.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Spend a fascinating half-day experiencing the sights of both town and country by panoramic coach.
• See harbors, lakes and lagoons formed by prehistoric volcanos and cross idyllic green pasturelands.
• Visit a working sheep farm, meet the farm hands and watch champion New Zealand sheepdogs herding the flock by whistled command.
• Take a drive through central Christchurch and learn about its recovery from the 2011 earthquake.
• Return via a historic mountain tunnel that reigned as New Zealand’s longest for over 50 years.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing including a light jacket or sweater.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.