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Escorted Garden Tours
12 Day New Zealand Garden Tour
Featuring the Dunedin Rhododendron Festival |
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| Prices: |
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Twin Share
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Single Supplement
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£1,407
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£357
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| Note: All prices are GBP, per person & include G.S.T. |
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Fully Escorted by Horticultural Expert, Kevin Walsh.
Kevin Walsh is a horticulturalist and garden designer and is acknowledged as one of Australia's leading experts in water conservation, having written Australia's first book on the subject, titled Waterwise Gardening.
For 10 years Kevin answered gardening questions in The Age and he now broadcasts a gardeners' talkback show weekly on ABC regional radio. Kevin is an experienced guide and has successfully escorted several garden tours to New Zealand. |
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| Day by Day Itinerary: |
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| Day 1 - Christchurch(D) |
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Day 7 - Queenstown - Te Anau(BD) |
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Tonight enjoy dinner at the hotel and meet your fellow travellers. Accommodation: Copthorne Durham Street (2 nights)
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Depart Queenstown for the fascinating drive into Milford Sound. Board your launch, enjoy a picnic lunch and marvel at the sheer cliffs and the many waterfalls as you cruise this magnificent fiord. This afternoon continue to Te Anau.
Accommodation: Distinction Luxmore Hotel (Deluxe Rooms)
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| Day 2 - Christchurch(BLD) |
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Day 8 - Te Anau - Dunedin(BD) |
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| .This morning you will visit Wilson's Mill, one of the few formal landscape gardens in New Zealand. Operating since 1987, there are wonderful vistas, long avenues, great sweeps of lavender and a lily-clad lake. Enjoy morning tea before continuing to Broadfields.What makes this garden such a different experience, is its devotion to New Zealand flora. Stroll amongst the native species that flourish before a delicious lunch. This afternoon enjoy a guided tour of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, where the Rose Garden boasts 250 varieties. Enjoy time at leisure to explore the city centre. |
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This morning enjoy a screening of the locally filmed movie, “Ata Whenua”-Shadowland, which showcases the breathtaking Fiordland scenery, followed by morning tea. Continue to Dunedin, where there is time to freshen up, before travelling along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle for a guided tour and dinner. Larnach Castle, built in 1871, is privately owned by the Barker family, the gardens have been selected as a Garden of Significance by the New Zealand Garden's Trust. Enjoy a Scottish evening in the ballroom, complete with bagpipes, great food, a special Haggis Ceremony and gift. Accommodation: Scenic Circle Dunedin City (3 nights) |
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| Day 3 - Christchurch - Franz Josef(BD) |
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Day 9 - Dunedin(BD) |
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This morning travel through the patchwork farmlands of the Canterbury Plains on the world famous TranzAlpine train to Arthurs Pass. Continue by coach to Hokitika for a visit to the Greenstone Factory. Enjoy afternoon tea at Killinchy Woods, a large country garden with views of the Southern Alps. Plantings include rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, conifers, mixed perennial beds and roses.
Accommodation: Scenic Circle Franz Josef Glacier Hotel
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Today we visit two private gardens taking part in the festival. The first, sits on the slopes of Saddle Hill above East Taieri. Wander along the paths over the hillside that provide a view of the property and take in the rhododendron and camellia garden. Enjoy morning tea at Wylde Willow Garden, a young garden, with a small creek running through the length of the property. Grand, century old crack willows have been carefully pruned to become striking features and underneath, a variety of rhododendrons and other shrubs flourish. Return to the city to board the Taieri Gorge Limited for a rail journey through terrain and spectacular scenery only accessible by rail. Grand examples of Victorian stonework on bridges and tunnels, plus iron latticework viaducts can be seen, along with breathtaking views as you travel to Pukerangi. |
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| Day 4 - Franz Josef - Queenstown(BD) |
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Day 10 - Dunedin Rhododendron Festival(B) |
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Today travel down the West Coast and see the snow capped peaks of the Southern Alps as you continue to Arrowtown. Explore this quaint old gold mining village including a visit to the Lakes District Museum. Arrive into Queenstown which sits on the shores of magical Lake Wakatipu.
Accommodation: Mercure Resort (Lakeview Rooms - 3 nights) |
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This morning enjoy the local festivities of the Dunedin Rhododendron Festival. The Dunedin City Council have developed this week long celebration focused on the Botanic Gardens' Rhododendron Dell, which is acknowledged as one of the world's most significant plantings of rhododendrons. Today the Dell covers 15 acres of land where there are over 3500 rhododendrons comprised of 178 species and over 200 named hybrids. There is time this afternoon to explore the festival at leisure, followed by a free evening to allow you to dine at one of the many local restaurants. |
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| Day 5 - Queenstown(BD) |
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Day 11 - Dunedin - Christchurch(BD) |
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| Today you have the unique opportunity to visit some of Queenstown's beautiful rural residential gardens. Enjoy a locally guided sightseeing tour around three private gardens and call into a well known winery for tastings and lunch. This evening board the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw and cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station. On arrival enjoy dinner in the Colonel's Homestead followed by a short farm tour. Reboard the TSS Earnslaw for a sing along by the piano as you cruise back to Queenstown. |
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Travel to north Otago, where a local guide will join you for a tour of the secluded and peaceful Limestone Retreat Stone and Garden. Enjoy morning tea before travelling through the Parkside Quarry, well known for producing the unique white limestone. At Oamaru enjoy a tour through the Harbour & Tyne Precinct, New Zealand's most complete collection of Victorian Buildings. This afternoon we travel to Trotts Garden, covering 2.8 hectares, and is a blend of woodland and formality. Enjoy a delicious afternoon tea after wandering through the collection of flora. A pond and stream provide a home for wetland plants. Continue to Christchurch this evening where you will enjoy a farewell dinner with your new found friends.
Accommodation: Copthorne Durham Street |
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| Day 6 - Queenstown (Free Day)(B) |
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Day 12 - Christchurch(BD) |
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Today is a free day. There are plenty of sightseeing options available. Perhaps take in the views from high above Queenstown on the Skyline Gondola, experience the thrill of a jet boat ride or enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Skippers Canyon on a half day tour. Your Coach Captain will be happy to assist. This evening is also free and you may choose to dine out at one of the many fine restaurants.
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Having experienced some of the finest gardens in New Zealand’s South Island it's time to return home and share your memories with family and friends. A Grand Pacific Tours representative will transfer you to the airport in time for your flight home. |
Email us now for more information and availability.
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Strides Travel Limited, United Kingdom 2006 - 2008
5 Heritage Close, Sunbury-on-Thames, TW16 6PY, United Kingdom. Phone / Fax: +44 1932 770530. Email: |
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