| Day 1
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Arrive Dunedin Airport. On arrival in Dunedin you will be met and transferred to your accommodation.
Spend the
remainder of the day at leisure.
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| Day 2
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  Begin the day with a Sunrise penguin walk. This tour requires a reasonable level of fitness as we first descend
down sweeping sand dunes to a deserted beach taking in the fresh morning air and watching the sun rise over the horizon.
For visitor and penguins, early morning on the beach is the best opportunity for viewing penguin activity.
This is a
rare sight and not to be missed if you love nature at its best. Return to Nisbett Cottage for breakfast and then enjoy
a day tour of Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula. Capture the feeling and depth of Dunedin city and its natural beauty.
Spend several hours on the Otago Peninsula taking in spectacular scenic views, deserted beaches and coastal inlets.
Picnic lunch is provided. A large variety of differing sea bird species and other wildlife can be observed.
Typical
geological features of the area will be pointed out and explained. Viewing of Royal Albatross will add another highlight
to your day with Nature Guides Otago. The cliffs and rocky outcrops of Taiaroa Head are home to the only mainland
breeding colony of Royal Albatross.
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| Day 3
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After breakfast at Nisbet Cottage, depart Dunedin on your tour through the Catlins to Invercargill.
Drive
through some of the most picturesque farmland of South Otago, including wetlands rich in wildlife.
We identify the
natural and social history features of the region on our way to Nugget Point where the vast southern ocean strikes the
south eastern coast's spectacular rocky cliff faces. Heading further south where unique coastal habitats of bird and
sea life encroach on native evergreen bush, we can enjoy walks to lakes and waterfalls and experience the unique native
trees, plants and flowers of this vast coastal region. The tour incorporates walking and exploring natural local
features, tailored to your level of fitness and interest. A picnic lunch is included at a suitable location
en-route1.
On arrival in Invercargill you will be dropped off at the Airport for your late afternoon flight to Stewart
Island2/3. On
arrival on Stewart Island you will be met and transferred to your lodge.
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| Day 4
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This morning enjoy a half day guided Ulva Island
Tour4. This afternoon join the overnight Kiwi
Journey4. Take
a water taxi from Golden Bay Wharf to the head of Paterson Inlet, then northwest along Freshwater River into the
interior of Stewart Island. We then have a flat hike of 14 kms along Freshwater Flats to Mason
Bay, about 4 - 6 hours
(please note that the track can be muddy at times). We take our time to enjoy birdlife including, the Stewart Island
robin and fernbirds, flora and orchids in season. There is also evidence of kiwi to mull over and occasionally we
actually see a kiwi in the daytime! Stay at Mason Bay Hut or camp nearby and take time to enjoy the beach, 15 minutes
walk away. After a rest and a meal, go kiwi spotting at dusk to catch a glimpse of this shy bird. Kiwi are wild birds
and sightings are not guaranteed. Dinner is included this evening.
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| Day 5
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After breakfast, time permitting, we may explore the surrounding dunes, before departing for Freshwater Landing
for our water taxi pick-up to Golden Bay Wharf, assisting with transfers to your accommodation.
The hike back to
Freshwater Landing usually takes 4 hours. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure. Lunch is included today.
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| Day 6
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 Early this morning you will be transferred to Stewart Island Airport for your flight back to Invercargill
(8.30am/8.50am - Mon to Fri only)5. On arrival in Invercargill collect your Budget Rent A Car Compact Automatic (CDAR)
rental car. Drive to Manapouri (approximately 170 kms). On arrival depart on your Doubtful Sound Overnight
Cruise6 at
12.30pm aboard the Fiordland Navigator. Dinner is included this evening onboard your cruise.
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| Day 7
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On return to Manapouri make your way to Queenstown (approximately 185 kms).
Spend the remainder of the day at
leisure in Queenstown.
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| Day 8
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Spend a full day at leisure in Queenstown.
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| Day 9
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Depart Queenstown this morning and make your way to Mount Cook (approximately 263 kms).
Spend the remainder of
the day at leisure in Mount Cook. Dinner is included this evening at your hotel.
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| Day 10
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Depart Mount Cook and make your way to Christchurch today (approximately 331 kms).
Spend the remainder of the
day at leisure in Christchurch.
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| Day 11
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Depart Christchurch today and make your way up the East Coast to Kaikoura (approximately 183 kms).
Spend the
remainder of the day at leisure in Kaikoura.
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| Day 12
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This morning enjoy a Whale Watch Tour by boat. Share in the most breathtaking adventure of a lifetime.
Enter
a world of one of nature's most magnificent mammals - the Giant Sperm Whale.
You will depart Kaikoura by boat and
travel offshore to view these mammals and others. Please wear warm clothing, and comfortable footwear.
Please note
that this tour operates subject to weather and sea conditions. On completion of the tour return to Kaikoura and make
your way north to Picton (approximately 157 kms). Spend the remainder of the day at leisure in Picton.
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| Day 13
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This morning enjoy a 3 hour cruise of the Marlborough Sounds.
Enjoy the comfort of a luxury catamaran as you
cover up to 120 kilometres of sheltered waterways and bays. See seals basking in the sun, shags and gannets diving for
fish, and a working salmon farm. Share in the fun of delivering passengers and freight to the Sound's resorts, holiday
homes and permanent residences as we cruise throughout the Queen Charlotte Sound.
On return from your cruise, return
your rental car to the Budget Picton Ferry Depot and depart on the afternoon Interislander Ferry to Wellington.
On
arrival in Wellington collect your North Island Budget Compact Automatic rental car and make your way to your hotel.
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| Day 14
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Spend the morning at leisure in Wellington before making your way to Napier (approximately 314 kms).
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| Day 15
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This morning you will be collected from your hotel for a Cape Kidnappers Gannet Safari.
Cape Kidnappers safari
experience takes you to Hawke's Bay Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony - the world's largest, most accessible Gannet nesting
place. It's the only way of being taken right to within a few feet of these remarkable birds.
On completion of your
tour you will be returned to Napier in the early afternoon7. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure.
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| Day 16
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Depart Napier today and make your way to Rotorua via Lake Taupo (approximately 223 kms). Spend the afternoon
at leisure in Rotorua. Later this evening you will be collected from your hotel by Tamaki Tours for your traditional
Hangi Dinner & Concert. Journey back in time through the Maori Village of "Te Tawa Ngahere Pa". Experience the
pre-European lifestyle and customs of the Maori's ancestors as the village comes alive with tribal songs, dances and
activities. Feast on a selection of foods cooked the traditional Maori way on hot stones in an authentic earthen oven.
Following the evenings entertainment you will be transferred back to your hotel.
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| Day 17
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Today entrance to Rainbow Springs and the Kiwi Encounter are included. Kiwi Encounter is unlike any other
"attraction" you may have visited. It is a unique conservation centre which gives visitors to this attraction the
opportunity to see kiwi "conservation in action" for the first time in New Zealand. What you will see here is our
efforts to stop the extinction of a species and it all happens before your eyes. The remainder of the day is free to
spend at leisure in Rotorua.
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| Day 18
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Depart Rotorua this morning and make your way to Auckland via the Seabird Coast (approximately 250 kms).
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| Day 19
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Make your own way to the Auckland Wharf this morning for your cruise to Tiri Tiri Matangi Island (operates
Wed-Sun only). A guided tour on the Island is included. On return to Auckland late afternoon make your own way back to
your hotel.
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| Day 20
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Make your way to Auckland International Airport today and return your rental car to the Budget Depot prior to
your departing flight. Depart Auckland.
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Important Itinerary Notes:
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A minimum of 4 booked passengers is required for the Nature Dunedin, Dunedin to Invercargill Tour via the Catlins to
operate. In the event that there are less than 4 passengers booked to travel, the itinerary will need to be amended to include
an additional 3 day rental car hire from Dunedin on Day 3 and self driving from Dunedin to Invercargill. The package
cost will remain the same.
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Stewart Island Flights have a maximum luggage capacity of 15kg per person. Excess luggage can be stored with Stewart
Island Flights at extra cost.
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Stewart Island Lodge is no longer available on a Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis. The costs are based on a bed & breakfast basis only at
Stewart Island Lodge.
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The Half Day Ulva Island Tour and Overnight Kiwi Journey on Stewart Island with Ruggedy Range both require a minimum of
4 booked passengers to operate otherwise an extra charge of $10.00 per person for the Ulva Island Tour & $50.00 per
person for the Kiwi Journey will apply - payable on the day of the trip. Tours do not run daily and depend on high
tides to access Freshwater River. Clients only carry their personal belongings, a sleeping bag and small share of food.
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The 8.30am/8.50am flight from Stewart Island to Invercargill operates from Monday to Friday only. On Saturday & Sunday
the flight is at 9.30/9.50am. It is a 2 1/2 hour drive from Invercargill to Manapouri and as clients need to be in
Manapouri by 12.00pm to check in for the Doubtful Sound overnight cruise, they need to take the earlier flight to make
the connection. Therefore please note that this part of the itinerary will work from Monday to Friday only.
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During May/Sep the Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise does not operate. During this time 1 night at Fiordland Lodge (in a
Log Cabin, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis) in Te Anau and a full day Doubtful Sound Cruise will be included.
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During May/Sep the Cape Kidnappers Gannets Safari is run as a Scenic Safari as the Gannets are overseas.
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