ConTours NEW ZEALAND ADD-ON

Day 1/2 –AUG 26/27 (Thurs/Fri) – Depart US (own arrangements)

Day 3 – AUG 28 (Sat) – Arrive in Christchurch, New Zealand.     

• Our tour director will greet us at the airport for the transfer to our hotel, where rooms will be available for immediate check-in.  Note:  This applies to flight arrivals within a window that ends at 2:30PM on Aug. 28.  If you arrive later, you will have to make your own arrangements to get to the hotel.  The rest of the day is at leisure.

Accommodation: Camelot Cathedral Square

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Day 4 – AUG 29 (Sun) – Christchurch – Geraldine - Dunedin

• We leave the hotel for Geraldine and a half-day Lord of the Rings tour (including a picnic lunch) before continuing on to Dunedin and our overnight stay.

Accommodation: Quality Hotel Cargills (B)

Day 5 – AUG 30 (Mon) - Dunedin - Wanaka
Breakfast at the hotel.                                           

• We tour sights in Dunedin:  Larnach Castle, the only castle in New Zealand, the Royal Albatross Centre, and Penguin Place to see the Yellow Eyed Penguins.  Then it’s on to Wanaka for our overnight stay.

Accommodation: Edgewater Resort (B)

Day 6 – AUG 31 (Tues) –– Wanaka – Fox Glacier – Hokitika
Breakfast at the hotel.

• Depart Wanaka for the Fox Glacier.  Enjoy a relaxing, interpretive Glacier Valley walk, where we’ll learn more about the Glacier and its impact on the surrounding landscape.  We will have the option of taking a helihike on the glacier at our own expense (cost: $319 USD).  We will then continue on to Hokitika for our overnight stay.

Accommodation:  Beachfront Hotel Hokitika (B)

Day 7 – SEPT 1 (Wed) – Hokitika – Greymouth - Christchurch
Breakfast at the hotel.                                              

• Visit Heritage Jade, where we’ll find beautiful local pounamu (jade).  Next, we stop at the Hokitika Glass Studio to view local master glassblowers and their handcrafted art.  Then we board our coach for the trip to Shantytown, where we will have time to explore this charming historical 19th Century pioneer town.  We will then head for Greymouth and the TransAlpine Train for one of the most spectacular rail journeys in the world, with stunning scenery through gorges, river valleys, and across the country’s greatest mountain range, the magnificent Southern Alps, to Christchurch. 

Accommodation: Camelot Cathedral Square (B)

If you wish to attend the Worldcon Opening Ceremonies, you will need to leave very early tomorrow morning on the only early non-stop flight from Christchurch to Melbourne, Jetstar flight  156 (JQ156), leaving Christchurch tomorrow morning at 6:15 AM and arriving in Melbourne at 8:05 AM.  Transfer from the hotel to Christchurch Airport is on your own.

Day 8 – SEPT 2 (Thurs) – Christchurch - Melbourne
Breakfast at the hotel.                                     
This morning’s sightseeing includes the Antarctic Centre, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, Christchurch Tram, and Christchurch Gondola.   Then it’s on to Christchurch Airport and our flight to Melbourne for Worldcon.  If necessary, we can help you book your flight out of Christchurch.  You need to book one of the flights below on your international ticket:

Jetstar flight 166 (JQ166), leaving at 3:25 PM and arriving at 5:15 PM (owned by Qantas)
Air New Zealand flight 193 (NZ193), leaving at 3:45 PM and arriving at 5:35 PM

Transfer from our hotel to Christchurch Airport will be scheduled to conform to the Jetstar flight.  Transfer from Melbourne Airport to your hotel is on your own.

Add-On Price (land only): $1596 based on a minimum of 10 participants (if we have 15 or more the price will be reduced somewhat); Single Supplement: $317

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