New Zealand MultiSport Tour, a one-of-a-kind New Zealand travel adventure on the South Island
Come get as close as you like on our New Zealand excursions
Duration: 14 days
6-10 Travelers: $4250 per person
4-5 Travelers: $4825 per person
2-3 Travelers: $6225 per person
In a country known for sublime scenery and endless outdoor recreation opportunities, these fourteen extraordinary days show vividly why New Zealand is such a magnet for adventure travelers. Imagine this. With its temperate forest, aquamarine waters and golden sand beaches, Abel Tasman National Park makes a breathtaking backdrop for your unforgettable sea-kayaking adventure. This New Zealand travel adventure's two high-country mountain-bike excursions take place in equally unique areas, one a historic public reserve offering over ninety miles of flat trails with many bridges, tunnels and viaducts. Magnificently set in sunny climes, the glacier hiking experience has never been more enjoyable than on New Zealand's famous Franz Joseph. You'll visit four national parks, see the back-country by bicycle and enjoy close-up views of spectacular marine wildlife in some of New Zealand's most isolated and picturesque landscapes. You'll visit stunning Milford Sound, a place Rudyard Kipling considered paradise. And last, but by no means least, you'll spend three days in the secluded unspoiled Landsborough wilderness, rafting its exhilarating azure waters. This one-of-a-kind New Zealand travel adventure on the South Island is a trip you'll be talking about forever.
Private Departures can be arranged. Please contact us regarding details and private departure costs.
Itinerary for New Zealand MultiSport Tour
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Day 1 (Sun) ARRIVE AUCKLAND – ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK
View Abel Tasman accommodations picture gallery
Arrive in Auckland, and catch a connecting flight to Nelson where a Southern Explorations representative will be waiting to take you to your lodgings adjacent to Abel Tasman National Park. This will be your base for the next two days. You’ll begin your stay with a welcome barbecue and a briefing about the upcoming sea-kayaking trip. (D)
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Day 2 (Mon) SEA KAYAKING ABEL TASMAN N.P.
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Sea Kayaking in the crystal clear waters of New Zealand's Abel Tasman National Park
On these two unforgettable days, you'll take a guided sea-kayaking trip through idyllic Abel Tasman National Park, stopping for lunch and a swim. Seals and dolphins that frequent the coast often come to play along side the kayaks. (Bad weather alternative: Should sea and weather conditions make sea-kayaking undesirable, two days of hiking in beautiful Abel Tasman will be substituted. Travelers wishing to experience less kayaking and more hiking may kayak into the park and hike out.) (B,L,D)
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Day 3 (Tue) SEA KAYAKING ABEL TASMAN N.P.
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Continue for the second day exploring the Abel Tasman National Park by guided sea-kayak. (Bad weather alternative: Should sea and weather conditions make sea-kayaking undesirable, two days of hiking in beautiful Abel Tasman will be substituted. Travelers wishing to experience less kayaking and more hiking may kayak into the park and hike out.) (B,L,D)
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Day 4 (Wed) ABEL TASMAN N.P – PAPAROA NATIONAL PARK
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Departing the Abel Tasman, you'll journey south to the wild-west coastal region, stopping to take a walk (or flying fox ride) across the Buller Gorge Swingbridge before traveling on to the lush lowland rainforests of Paparoa National Park, a New Zealand travel highlight. Here the famous limestone formations called Pancake Rocks are located, so named for their distinctive layering. You’ll explore the area and with luck see the blowholes in action. There may also be time for a short canoe ride in the national park. You'll spend the night nearby in waterfront lodgings. (B)
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Day 5 (Thu) ABEL TASMAN N.P. – FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER / GLACIER HIKE
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Glacier hiking made safe yet thrilling
This morning's early drive continues south along the most rugged segment of New Zealand's stunning west coast where snowcapped mountains contrast with crashing waves and rainforest. Stop briefly in Hokitika, a town known for its crafts, to see jade (greenstone) carvings before going on to the island's dramatic glacier region. This afternoon you’ll get a close-up view of the Franz Josef Glacier in all its grandeur on a half-day ice hike through exotic blue tunnels, labyrinths and crevasses. If you prefer an equally spectacular aerial view, you may take a helicopter tour over the area and have the exciting experience of landing on a glacier. A relaxing night will be spent in a tranquil tree lodge retreat nestled in a six-acre rainforest, one of the many unique reasons to travel to New Zealand. (B)
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Day 6 (Sat) LANDSBOROUGH RAFTING EXPEDITION
This morning, you'll continue down the coast, arriving in the hamlet of Haast. From here you'll travel New Zealand by helicopter or light plane to the remote Landsborough wilderness for a unique three-day rafting voyage. This experience is New Zealand’s best kept secret, combining adventure and scenic serenity with luxury and divine cuisine. (B,L,D)
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Day 7 (Sat) LANDSBOROUGH RAFTING EXPEDITION
Today, you'll embark on your journey down the Landsborough, reaching camp in the early afternoon to enjoy the rest of the day and a relaxing dinner after your satisfying day on the river. (B,L,D)
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Day 8 (Sun) LANDSBOROUGH – QUEENSTOWN / HAAST PASS
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After breakfast and your final rafting segment, you'll continue to travel Zealand via stunning Haast Pass in the direction of Queenstown. Dense rainforests give way to the stark mountains of Mt. Aspiring National Park as you enter the Otago region, an area of high-country sheep stations (ranches), considered the capital of New Zealand adventure travel. Spend the night in conveniently-located Queenstown lodgings. (B)
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Day 9 (Mon) EXPLORE QUEENSTOWN
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After your New Zealand tours in the wild, you'll welcome these free days in Queenstown, the heart of the southern lakes region. Here you may choose whatever optional activities you desire, relax in the cafes, enjoy a vineyard lunch, stroll along Lake Wakatipu or shop. Another night at your comfortable Queenstown lodgings. (B)
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Day 10 (Tue) EXPLORE QUEENSTOWN
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Spend one last day exploring the beautiful city of Queenstown. Last overnight at your comfortable Queenstown lodgings. (B)
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Day 11 (Wed) QUEENSTOWN – TE ANAU / MOUNTAIN BIKING
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You'll start the morning with a scenic boat trip across Lake Wakatipu and a drive up Mt. Nicholas before setting out on mountain bikes down a scenic trail. Your lodgings tonight will be in the resort town of Te Anau on the edge of New Zealand's largest national park, three-million acre Fiordland. (B,L)
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Day 12 (Thu) TE ANAU – MILFORD SOUND
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Cruising the fantasy world that is the Milford Sound
To reach the start of today's cruise through the dramatic landscape of Milford Sound, your drive takes you into some awe-inspiring mountains, crossing the main divide. By water is the best way to see this stunning glacier-carved landscape of cascading waterfalls, sheer cliffs that plunge into the ocean, the hanging valleys and glaciers. This afternoon you approach the final leg of your New Zealand travel adventure, and settle in to your comfortable trailside country lodgings on the Otago Rail Trail. (B)
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Day 13 (Fri) BIKING OTAGO RAIL TRAIL
Today you'll pedal along the Central Otago Rail Trail. Once linking Dunedin with the gold fields, this favorite isolated path for bicyclists ends in the historic center of Wedderburn. You'll enjoy a final dinner in this uniquely rural setting, where you and your fellow travelers will undoubtedly be reflecting on your New Zealand adventure-packed trip. You'll spend the night in the town of Wedderburn. (B,D)
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Day 14 (Sat) QUEENSTOWN - HOME
Transfer to the Queenstown airport for your connecting flight to Auckland for your international flight home. Depending on your departure, there may be time to stop in Queenstown for some last minute shopping before your New Zealand travel adventure ends. (B)
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Key:
(B)reakfast (L)unch (D)inner
CONTACT US
CALL
1.877.784.5400
TOLL FREE
OUTSIDE
THE U.S.A. CALL
1.206.784.8111
2008-09 SCHEDULED DEPARTURES
Sunday Departures
2 person minimum / 10 maximum
Nov
02-15
Dec
07-20
Jan
04-17
Feb
08-21
Mar
15-28
Private Departures can be arranged. Please contact us regarding private departure costs.
INCLUSIONS / EXCLUSIONS
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Included in tour cost
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- Meals as indicated
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- All hotel accommodations (twin shared basis)
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- All airport/hotel transfers
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- Entrance fees for all scheduled tours and sites of interest
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- All airline flights within New Zealand
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- English speaking certified guides
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- Southern Explorations pre departure services.
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Excluded in tour cost
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- International round - trip airfare to and from New Zealand
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- Tips and gratuities
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- Personal expenses (tips and gratuities etc.)
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- Alcoholic beverages
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- Medical or travel insurance
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- Laundry
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- Airport taxes etc.
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- Continental breakfasts are included at all hotels. All other meals are not included unless specified in the itinerary.
PHYSICAL RATING
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Moderate
NEW ZEALAND ACCOMMODATION
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New Zealand MultiSport:
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10 nights hotels
3 nights camping
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
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Additional $1745 *no single accommodations available during rafting
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- Single Supplement is the additional cost of a single traveler not sharing a room in double occupancy. We will match you with another same gender traveler unless you request single accommodations.
Prices based on 3% cash discount
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