Shortly after departing Los Angeles you will be served dinner and you will be given breakfast before landing in Auckland.

Relax, watch some movies, and try to get some sleep!

Please confirm with the airline at check-in that they have all your Frequent Flyer information on record (if applicable).

Travel by New Zealand domestic air from Auckland to Queenstown (South Island).

Travel by shuttle from the Airport to your vacation accommodation in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Please note: For airport transfers – 2 suitcases per person, extra pieces may be charged at $5.00 per piece. Surfboards, Bicycles etc – $5.00 each.

Travel to your accommodation in Queenstown, New Zealand where you will be staying whilst on vacation for 2 nights.

Enjoy your stay at a refreshingly unique five star hotel that has all the comforts of home, along with the service and facilities of an elite international hotel. Your accommodation is situated on the absolute lakefront with terraced construction that delivers complete privacy and showcases panoramic views overlooking Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables Mountains.

One of the first sights to captivate visitors to Queenstown is the distinctive outline of the Skyline complex high above town.

Located an easy 5 minute walk from central Queenstown and exclusively accessed by scenic gondola, Skyline Gondola, Restaurant & Luge is a must-see attraction during your visit to Queenstown. The best views in the region are found here, spread out in a spectacular 220 degree panorama, with breathtaking views of Coronet Peak, The Remarkable mountain range and across Lake Wakatipu to Cecil and Walter Peaks. It’s truly magnificent and awe-inspiring!

Of course there’s more to do than just admire the view! For an additional cost you can:

• Enjoy a dinner or relax in the bar in the Skyline Stratosfare Restaurant. Casual dining is also available during the day in the Cafe.
• Thrill seekers can hurtle down the winding downhill Skyline Luge. Purpose built Luge carts put you in complete control as you take on a half-mile of banked corners, tunnels and dippers. Once you’ve conquered the course, hop on the chairlift and do it all again, and again, and again! Gentle and leisurely or steep and adventurous, you’ll be hooked.
• Explore the southern night sky of Queenstown with a guided tour of the galaxy and learn about the stars, nebulae and planets that make up our solar system and beyond.

Ask your Destination Specialist about available combo packages to make your day at Skyline more enjoyable.

Various walking tracks can also be accessed from Skyline, from an easy 30 minute walk to a full day hike.

Operates
Daily. Stratosfare Restaurant closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Gondola rides operate from 9:30am to 8:30pm Monday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday. Gondola rides operate from 9:30am to 6:30pm Tuesday & Wednesday. Saturday operation hours are 8:50am to 8:30pm.

Includes
– Gondola ride

Need to Know
Gondola ride is approximately 7-10 minutes one way.

Upgrades
– Add a thrilling luge ride to your Gondola experience.
– Add the Taste of New Zealand buffet at Stratosfare Restaurant
– Stargazing evening event

Explore the basin on bike!

Renting a bike in Queenstown, New Zealand is a fantastic way to explore the beautiful scenery and sights of the Queenstown Basin. With its stunning mountain ranges, crystal-clear lakes, and picturesque trails, biking around this region is an experience that will stay with you forever. There are numerous bike rental shops in Queenstown, and the staff are always happy to provide advice on the best routes to take. Whether you’re an experienced mountain biker or just looking for a leisurely ride, Queenstown has something for everyone. So why not rent a bike and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of this amazing region?

Operates
Daily (except Christmas)
Bike shop opens 8:30am and closes 5:30pm

Includes
– Bike rental

Need to Know
Heights must be provided to confirm bookings. There are inherent risks, dangers and hazards in adventure activities, which includes cycling, mountain biking and hiking. Any damaged parts or components may be repaired or replaced, at the Operator’s discretion, and I will be liable for these costs and charged at retail rates.

Upgrades
Upgrade to an electric bike, full day tour, or add shuttle transfers

You’ll cycle on the Otago Central Rail Trail which was overwhelmingly voted as New Zealand’s favorite cycling trail. There are no vehicles and no real hills, making this a safe and enjoyable for people of all ages and experience. This adventure is a “true” New Zealand experience. Each day you’ll be riding through the heart of the Maniototo, the locals name for the area, past historic sites and quaint old towns.

At the end of your tour you’ll board the Taieri Gorge scenic train into the hinterland north of Dunedin. The Taieri Gorge Railway offers unique and panoramic views over the ever-changing scenery. There are opportunities for photos where the train either slows down or stops for you to disembark.
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Day 1: You will be picked up from your accommodation to travel to the Clyde Depot where you will be fitted with your bikes, briefed on your tour then start your cycling adventure. From Clyde, you can cycle past vineyards and over an old wooden trestle bridge on the ride to Alexandra. For the more adventurous, there is the option of riding on the Clutha River Centennial Track to Alexandra which adds another 8km to your cycle ride. The rest of the day is at your leisure. We can arrange a wine tour for you if you wish and you will need to advise your consultant at time of booking. (Extra charges apply) Alternatively if you want to do more riding, there is a good 20km ride (10km each way) on the Roxburgh Gorge Trail following the Clutha River to Doctors Point and back. Distance 8 or 16 kms/5 – 10 miles.

Day 2: From Alexandra you bike to Galloway Station where we boil the Billy for morning tea with good old home baking. You then bike to Chatto Creek Tavern, an historic stone building which is where you will stop for lunch. After lunch you cycle up Tiger Hill, an easy gradient of 1 in 50. From the top of Tiger Hill it is all downhill to your overnight accommodation in Omakau. After cycling this day there is the option to visit by bus with your tour guide the historic gold mining towns of St Bathan’s and Ophir before returning to Omakau where you will dine in the evening at the Commercial Hotel. Distance: 28 kms/17 miles.

Day 3: The highlight of today’s cycle ride is the beautiful Poolburn Gorge section featuring two tunnels and two viaducts. You then cycle through the Ida Valley farm lands past the Idaburn Dam, one of New Zealand’s few outdoor winter curling sites. A site visit to Hayes Historic Engineering Works, then there is a short ride to the Oturehua Tavern for lunch. After lunch, you’ll cycle onto the Golden Progress Mine just north of Oturehua, then onto the highest point of the trail before stopping the night at Wedderburn. Your guide will then take you on a short side trip to Naseby to try your hand at curling and look through the old gold mining town. The evening meal is a traditional farm style meal, at the Wedderburn Tavern. Distance: 42 kms/26 miles

Day 4: From Wedderburn the trail is mostly downhill to Ranfurly, the Art Deco Capital of Otago for morning tea, then crossing the Maniototo Plains on to the Waipiata Tavern for lunch. After lunch, the days highlight is the section between Daisybank and Hyde alongside the Taieri River, crossing the Capburn Bridge, the Price’s Creek Viaduct and the last tunnel before arriving at Hyde. We will transfer the group back to Waipiata for this night’s accommodation. Distance: 43 kms/26 miles.

Day 5: After relocating the group back to Hyde from Waipiata today, it is a short ride and slightly downhill with views of the Rock and Pillar Ranges and the Hyde Railway Disaster Memorial. We provide a morning snack along the way. Finish the trail in Middlemarch, where you collect your bags and catch the connecting shuttle to the Taieri Gorge train to Dunedin (arrive at 6.30pm). Distance: 29 kms/18 miles.

Single supplement & E-bike upgrade available.

Includes:

Cycle equipment which includes bicycle, helmet, repair kit, panniers, odometer and trail documentation.
One knowledgeable driver/tour guide to accompany tour party and provide on trail support
All en suite accommodation based on twin/double share
Transport: Queenstown to Clyde – includes 7.45am hotel pick up
Luggage transport
4 breakfasts and 3 lunches
Side trips to Ophir, St Bathans and Naseby for Curling
Taieri Gorge Train from Middlemarch to Dunedin (arriving at Dunedin Train Station at 6.30pm)
Max 10 riders

Wine tour upgrade available.

Tour operates on select dates November – April. Please contact your Destination Specialist for guaranteed departures.

Travel by shuttle from the Railway Station to your vacation accommodation in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Travel to your accommodation in Dunedin, New Zealand, where you will be staying whilst on vacation for 1 night.

Welcome to Dunedin’s only garden hotel, located within two acres of beautifully kept garden, and just a six-minute drive from the city centre (or seven, in rush hour). Neighboring the Dunedin Botanic Garden, you will be a short stroll to Otago Museum and the University of Otago. Forsyth Barr Stadium is also within easy walking distance. The unique surroundings make for a truly relaxing place to stay, no matter how busy your visit might be.

Travel by shuttle from your vacation accommodation in Dunedin, New Zealand, to the Airport.

Please note: For airport transfers – 2 suitcases per person, extra pieces may be charged at $5.00 per piece. Surfboards, Bicycles etc – $5.00 each.

Travel by air today from Dunedin to Auckland, New Zealand.

Today depart Auckland and fly to the USA. Enjoy an in-flight dinner and movie with arrival in the USA. Note: you will be traveling back across the International Date Line. Gain that day back you lost on the way over, you actually arrive in the USA on the same day you leave Auckland.

Note: Flight may include a stop over in Australia.