BEST OF NEW ZEALAND
- Best of NZ Home
- Why this is the best escorted tour to New Zealand
- Inclusions & Features
- Booking Form (PDF)
HOLIDAYS OF A LIFETIME
- Holidays of a Lifetime
- Online Brochure
- FAQ's for Holidays of a Lifetime
- Tour Directors
- Companion Books
- Not All Escorted Tours Are Created Equal (PDF)
- Group Allotments
- Waltzing Matilda
- The Best of Oz
- The Best of New Zealand
- Magic of Africa
- Splendours of China and Tibet
- Splendours of India
- Splendours of South America
- Magical Ecuador and Peru plus Bolivia
- Best of Ecuador
- Cradle of the Incas
OUR PROMISE
We specialize in travel to the beautiful South Pacific and have been operating fully escorted tours for over 20 years. The tours presented on this page are so special, we officially designate them HOLIDAYS OF A LIFETIME
These trips are also unusual, original and very competitively priced.
UNIQUE FUN THEMES
All Goway Waltzing Matilda departures have a designated "fun theme" adding a particular "flavour" to each tour. Emphasis is on:
• Animal and Plant Life
• Food and Wine
• Geography and History
• Lifestyles and Native Cultures
* Pre Holiday Shopping
Enjoy a "pie floater" in Sydney or indulge in a "lamington". Learn more about the unique Australian Aboriginals and their culture of over 40,000 years. Or endeavour to break Goway's record for viewing animals and plants Downunder.
On every departure, you will experience all aspects of a true Australia holiday but by including the above fun themes, Goway gives you more!
ATTENTION SINGLES! TWIN-SHARE GUARANTEE
If you are travelling alone and do not wish to pay the single supplement, Goway will match you up with another single traveller of the same gender. If a room-mate is unavailable, you will enjoy a single room at no extra cost.
Please note:
To qualify for this offer, you must be willing not to smoke in your hotel rooms and accept that compatibility with your room-mate cannot be guaranteed.
Click here to see why this is the best escorted tour to the fabulous lands Downunder
Your Money Is Safe With Goway!
Visit consumer protection
ALL INCLUSIVE FIRST CLASS TOURING
The Best Of New Zealand
10 days
This is one of only ten ideas that we have designated Holidays Of A Lifetime. This is a very special inclusive and exclusive vacation.
Goway provides a professional escort who takes care of all the day to day details...all the way. Virtually everything is included from North America back to North America. Don't expect just another escorted tour ...you will be on "the best escorted tour".
YOUR ITINERARY
Day 1. Depart your hometown.
to our recommended departure cities of Los Angeles, Vancouver or Toronto. F
Day 2. Cross International Dateline.
We lose a day which will be regained on our return trip.
Day 3. Arrive Christchurch.
Kia Ora and Welcome to New Zealand!. On arrival, you will be met by your Goway Tour Director who will be with you for the entire trip and transfer you to your hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure.
Rendezvous Hotel BD
Day 4. Christchurch to Queenstown.
This morning, there will be an orientation tour of Christchurch renowned as the “most English city outside of England”. Later we depart for Queenstown for our journey through the Canterbury Plains travelling over the Lindis Pass and past Lake Wanaka. We eventually reach the mountain resort town of Queenstown. Upon arrival, we check into our hotel.
Rugged, snow-capped mountains towering over the deep blue waters of Lake Wakatipu, fringed by poplars and weeping willows form the backdrop to Queenstown - probably New Zealand's most spectacular and popular resort town. Magnificent scenery, lovely promenades, lake cruises and great shopping - there is something for everyone.
This evening we transfer to the Skyline Gondola Restaurant where we will enjoy a relaxing dinner while the sun sets over the Remarkable Mountains. After dinner, we will be transferred back to our hotel.
Heritage Queenstown (3 nights). BD
Day 5. Milford Sound Tour.
After a hearty breakfast, we depart on our full day tour to spectacular Fiordland National Park and world famous Milford Sound. Our route takes us along the shores of Lake Wakatipu, one of New Zealand's prettiest lakes, and through some of the world's finest vertical landscapes, hanging valleys, precipices and raging torrents surround us on our way to this beautiful Sound. The road follows through the Homer Tunnel and the Eglinton Valley to Milford and famous mile-high Mitre Peak. Rudyard Kipling once described this Sound as the "eighth wonder of the world."
Our luncheon cruise will cover the length of the fiord right up to the 1200-foot cliffs and thundering waterfalls. As our vessel turns at the point where the fiord meets the Tasman Sea, we will see how this majestic fiord, hidden at first, unfolds before us. The captain is an expert at seeking out playful schools of dolphins and fur seals basking on the sunny rocks.
We return to our hotel in the early evening. BL
Day 6. Queenstown at leisure.
We have a full day at leisure to relax or to join one of the many optional tours and activities that are available (additional cost): get a thrill on the famous Shotover Jetboats; take a guided walking tour of the Queenstown Wine Trail including an underground wine cave tour; cruise Lake Wakatipu on the historic Earnslaw Steamer; shop in all the stores and boutiques in the town centre or just relax in the sheer beauty of it all! Your Goway Tour Director will help you arrange the activities for you. B
Day 7. Fly Queenstown to Rotorua.
This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight to the North Island and check into our hotel in Rotorua. This evening visit an authentic Maori village in the midst of Rotorua’s ancient Tawa forest and immerse yourself in the colourful culture on the Tamaki Maori Cultural Experience. Experience an evening of ritual, ceremony, amazing Maori cultural performance, cultural storytelling, interaction and traditional feasting as you relive significant portions of New Zealand's pre-European history and real events!
Novotel Rotorua Lakeside (2 nights). BD
Day 8. Rotorua sightseeing and Homestay Option.
After a hearty breakfast, we meet our coach and guide for our in-depth sightseeing tour of Rotorua. Our first stop this morning is at Te Puia Arts and Culture Centre to see the renowned geothermal activity including boiling mud pools, gentle hot springs and violent geysers including the world famous Pohutu Geyser.
From Te Puia, we are off to the Agrodome where we will learn more about the thriving sheep industry in New Zealand and be entertained with sheep shearing and dog herding demonstrations as well as watch a parade of sheep from different breeds strut their stuff!
Our last visit is to Rainbow Springs to experience Kiwi Encounter. The Kiwi Encounter is a working nursery and hatchery where kiwi are raised as part of Operation Nest Egg. Eggs are brought in from the wild, and, when they have hatched and the kiwi are large enough to protect themselves from predators, they are released back into the wild.
We will also learn about the kiwi and its unique and endearing characteristics, its origins, its habitat and how it lives. After our tour, our afternoon is free to explore Rotorua on our own. Dinner is included this evening. BD
HOMESTAY OPTION (must be pre-booked): For those passengers who have chosen to be guests of a "Kiwi" family tonight, your hosts will pick you up at the hotel at approximately 3:00pm and take you to their homes for dinner and overnight. After a hearty country breakfast the next morning, you will be taken back to the hotel to rejoin the group. Note: We suggest you only take a small overnight bag and store your large suitcase at the hotel.
On Departures 25 Jan, 22 Feb, 15 Mar 2014, the Homestay will be on Day 7 and the Maori Village visit will be on Day 8.
Day 9. Coach Rotorua/Auckland.
This morning, we start our sightseeing by travelling to Waitomo where we enjoy a guided excursion underground through the Ruakuri Cave Complex with its fascinating natural landform where tiny glow-worms shine in the dark like stars.
Later we travel through rural landscapes to Hamilton and pass through 'Rose Town'. We continue to Ngaruawahia, home of the Maori Queen after which we follow the willow-lined Waikato River and cross the Bombay Hills. We eventually arrive in Auckland "The City of Sails". On arrival in Auckland, we check into our hotel for overnight accommodation after which there will be a short city orientation tour. Later, we board the "Pride of Auckland" yacht to enjoy the offshore views of beautiful Waitemata Harbour. A delicious dinner will be served during the cruise (depending on passenger numbers 2 yachts may be used). At the conclusion of the cruise, we re-board our coach for the transfer back to our hotel.
Heritage Hotel. (1 night) BD
Day 10. Auckland to home.
Morning at leisure. This evening, we transfer to Auckland Airport for our flight to Los Angeles. Your Goway Tour Director will assist with check-in but please make sure your luggage is tagged to your final destination. Please refer to your detailed flight itinerary included with your air ticket. B
Extension Idea
You can choose to extend your itinerary with a stopover in Fiji, please enquire for details.
PRICES:
YEAR: 2013 / 2014 CURRENCY: Canadian Dollars |
|||||
| Prices from Vancouver | Land Only Prices | ||||
| Departure Dates ex North America |
Twin |
Single |
Land Arrangements Commence |
Twin |
Single |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Oct ’13 | $ 6,439 | $ 7,258 | 7 Oct ’13 | $ 3,979 | $ 4,798 |
| 9 Nov ’13 | $ 6,439 | $ 7,258 | 11 Nov ’13 | $ 3,979 | $ 4,798 |
| 25 Jan ’14 | $ 6,819 | $ 7,638 | 27 Jan ’14 | $ 3,979 | $ 4,798 |
| 22 Feb ’14 | $ 6,439 | $ 7,258 | 24 Feb ’14 | $ 3,979 | $ 4,798 |
| 15 Mar ’14 | $ 6,439 | $ 7,258 | 17 Mar ’14 | $ 3,979 | $ 4,798 |
| 17 May ’14 | $ 6,339 | $ 7,158 | 19 May ’14 | $ 3,979 | $ 4,798 |
| 12 Jul ’14 | $ 6,439 | $ 7,258 | 14 Jul ’14 | $ 3,979 | $ 4,798 |
CANADIAN Prices Include
Prices include International and regional airfares excluding departure taxes from North America - land only prices do not include any airfares or departure taxes), first class and deluxe accommodation, meals as indicated (B = breakfast, L = lunch and D = dinner), sightseeing, transfers, porterage, tipping, quality travel companion book, overnight bag and neck pillow.
YEAR: 2013 / 2014 CURRENCY: US Dollars |
|||||
| Prices from Los Angeles | Land Only Prices | ||||
| Departure Dates ex North America |
Twin |
Single |
Land Arrangements Commence |
Twin |
Single |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Oct ’13 | $ 6,179 | $ 6,998 | 7 Oct ’13 | $ 3,979 | $ 4,798 |
| 9 Nov ’13 | $ 6,179 | $ 6,998 | 11 Nov ’13 | $ 3,979 | $ 4,798 |
| 25 Jan ’14 | $ 6,559 | $ 7,378 | 27 Jan ’14 | $ 3,979 | $ 4,798 |
| 22 Feb ’14 | $ 6,179 | $ 6,998 | 24 Feb ’14 | $ 3,979 | $ 4,798 |
| 15 Mar ’14 | $ 6,179 | $ 6,998 | 17 Mar ’14 | $ 3,979 | $ 4,798 |
| 17 May ’14 | $ 6,079 | $ 6,898 | 19 May ’14 | $ 3,979 | $ 4,798 |
| 12 Jul ’14 | $ 6,179 | $ 6,998 | 14 Jul ’14 | $ 3,979 | $ 4,798 |
US Prices Include
Prices include International and regional airfares and all departure taxes from North America - land only prices do not include any airfares or departure taxes), first class and deluxe accommodation, meals as indicated (B = breakfast, L = lunch and D = dinner), sightseeing, transfers, porterage, tipping, quality travel companion book, overnight bag and neck pillow.
INCLUSIONS:
(See "INCLUSIONS AND FEATURES" page for full details).
| DEPARTURES - 2013 ITINERARY |
THEMES |
|---|---|
| 5 Oct 2013 15 Mar 2014 |
G |
| 9 Nov 2013 17 May 2014 |
L |
| 25 Jan, 12 Jul 2014 | A |
| 22 Feb 2014 | F |
A (Animal and Plant Life), F (Food and Wine), G (Geography and History), L (Lifestyles and Native Cultures), X (Pre-Holiday Shopping) are Fun Themes
NOT INCLUDED
International airfares and flights within New Zealand, taxes, fees and surcharges for land only prices, Insurance, optional excursions, items of a personal nature such as laundry, dry cleaning, phone calls, drinks, excess baggage charges.
