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Christchurch City Stay, New Zealand
4 NIGHTS
PLEASE NOTE: We can help you add, adjust and tailor the itinerary to suit your requirements. Each clients itinerary is different. We work to your budget and take advantage of current specials in the marketplace for your time of travel.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:
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Christchurch city tour
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International Antarctic Center
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Akaroa day trip, cruise and dolphin swim
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Christchurch Gondola
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Tramway Restaurant dinner experience
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Arthurs Pass National Park visit with TranzAlpine Train ride
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All transfers
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Breakfast Daily
ITINERARY OVERVIEW:
Destinations: Christchurch
No. of days: 5 Days
Welcome to Christchurch! Get a better understanding of the garden city on a sight-seeing tour moving from the central city up the Port Hills and over the other side. Enjoy seeing the urban regeneration and street art intermingled with English heritage. Wander through the award winner Christchurch Botanic Gardens and go punting on the Avon River. Akaroa is a great day trip to Banks Peninsula you’ll see and swim with dolphins playing the harbor. Head up to the Christchurch gondola for city views and spend the evening dining on the Tramway Restaurant as you cruise Christchurch streets over dinner. All aboard the TranzAlpine Railway to finish your trip with a day to Arthurs Pass National Park for spectacular scenery and great photo opportunities.
DAY BY DAY:
Day 1: Discover Christchurch on a morning city sightseeing tour. You visit the central city highlights, then up to Sign of the Takahe for spectacular views of the city, Canterbury Plains and the Southern Alps, then over the Port Hills to Lyttleton through the harbor tunnel to the seaside suburb of Sumner and Cave Rock before returning to the central city. You have the afternoon at leisure. We recommend wandering through the beautiful Botanic Gardens or punting on the Avon River.
Day 2: This morning you’ll be picked up from your accommodation to commence a full day Akaroa day tour with dolphin swim. Travel to the picturesque French settled town of Akaroa via a scenic drive over Banks Peninsula. Join Akaroa Black Cat Cruises for a swim with Hectors Dolphins, the world's smallest dolphin. Enjoy lunch in a quaint seaside café before heading back to Christchurch.
Day 3: Enjoy a leisurely morning then head to the Christchurch Gondola. Experience stunning 360° views from the summit, across the cityscape of Christchurch and over the Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps. To the south and east are dramatic views of Banks Peninsula, Lake Ellesmere and Lyttleton Harbour formed in a sunken volcanic crater. Looking north the beaches of Pegasus Bay and the Pacific Ocean unfold to the distant Kaikoura Peninsula. Tonight, you have a unique restaurant reservation. Board the Tramway Restaurant to experience the luxury of a 36 seater air-conditioned, colonial-style dining Tram and be treated to fine service, cuisine and beverages. Combine fabulous dining with Christchurch City heritage - truly a mix of the old and the new.
Day 4: Today you are off to explore Arthurs Pass National Park. Your transport to the park is on the famous TranzAlpine train that will take you on a journey through the Waimakariri Gorge and into the Southern Alps at Arthur's Pass. Here your guide will meet you and take you on guided walks in the National Park. After lunch at a country pub you’ll return to Christchurch via Castle Hill and Cave Stream in time for dinner.
Day 5: Transfer to the airport and catch your flight home.
TOP ACTIVITIES: Christchurch
Customized Itinerary
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All aspects of this itinerary can be changed to suit your requirements.
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The itineraries provided are great introductions to your chosen destination. You can create a travel plan using the itinerary provided or make modifications to destinations, activities and accommodation and create the dream trip you want.
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Not every traveler is the same, we get that and so that’s why we recommend making changes to suit your needs. In fact, we insist - we want you to have the best trip.
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If you would like any recommendations for dinner or shopping areas please let us know we are happy to help and make bookings for you where necessary.
Visa requirements:
To travel to Australia you will need a US passport valid for at least 6 months and we can process an ETA Visa for free for US Citizens. We will need a copy of your Photo Page of your Passport. Nationalities of any other countries please enquire with your agent to see if you are eligible for a free ETA Visa or if you need to apply for a Visitor Visa.
To travel to New Zealand you will need a US passport valid for at least 6 months and an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority. More information on the NZeTA application requirements and process can be found on our FAQ page here.
Travel Insurance:
We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your investment. We will provide a travel insurance quote at the time of booking, and you are free to use our recommended insurance with Travelguard, find your own, or book without insurance.
A product that we can offer is a Cancel For Any Reason policy that will provide you with 80% back in refunds. If the cancellation is for medical reasons there is a 100% refund..
Additional information:
Downunder Journeys services travel requests from the United States and Canada for travel to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Cook Islands and Tahiti. All pricing on this website is in US Dollars.
All of the sample itineraries on this website do not include airfares as the airfare price changes daily and to ensure you get the best possible price we will work with the best airfares at the time. If you happen to buy your airfare first and then need a package to fit it, we can certainly help with that as well, just let us know.
As an idea for a 2-week vacation to Australia or New Zealand we recommend a budget of around $8,000-10,000 (including economy airfare), this would be for a 4 star and above itinerary, a little cheaper if we did more moderate accommodations.