= Journeys Featuring AKP Projects
Wilderness and Nature Lovers' Escape
 On the lake at Matakauri Lodge |
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Day 1 Christchurch – Dunedin
On arrival at Christchurch Airport, collect your rental car to travel south to Timaru, known for its Edwardian and Victorian architecture, before continuing to Dunedin. First settled by the Scottish, Dunedin is renowned as the “Edinburgh of the South”. Settle into your lodgings for the night. Located just a few minutes walk from the hub of the city, Fletcher Lodge offers luxury accommodation in an atmosphere of restrained elegance while providing the ultimate in contemporary comfort and modern facilities.
Fletcher Lodge, Edinburgh Suite
Day 2 Dunedin
Experience nature at its best on your full day guided tour. Travel past lush pastures, bays and inlets, rugged hills and white sandy beaches. Witness the rarest penguin in the world, Hooker’s sealions, a furseal breeding colony and the majestic albatross. There will also be the opportunity to walk along the coastal hillside. (B).
Fletcher Lodge, Edinburgh Suite
Day 3 Dunedin – In vercargill
Continue your drive south through the region, famous for the stunning scenery and abundance of wildlife. Stop at Nugget Point to view the colonies of seals and penguins. Nestled amongst fertile hills, is your exclusive private retreat, home for the next two nights. Engage in the experience, the rural vistas, the freshness of the green pastures, and the deer around the lodge. (B,D).
The Lodge at Tikana, Cottage
Day 4 Stewart Island
A day of adventure begins with a breathtaking 20 minute scenic flight from Invercargill to forested Stewart Island. Here you will embark on a 2 hour culture shuttle tour and be rewarded with great photo opportunities. Learn about island life, its history, places of interest and scenery followed by a steady craft boat transfer to Ulva Island Nature Sanctuary. On arrival, you will enjoy a gentle pace guided walk and excellent commentary on the rainforest, birds and plants, Maori and European cultural history. (B,D). The Lodge at Tikana, Cottage
Day 5 Invercargill – Queenstown
Your journey continues today as you drive through rural settlements on the Oreti River. After Lumsden, the scenery becomes gradually more alpine. Take a break in Kingston, the home of a remarkable vintage steam train. From here the road hugs the incredibly picturesque Lake Wakatipu nearly all the way to Queenstown. Matakauri Lodge villas are nestled in a native forest overlooking Lake Wakatipu and the mountain panorama. (B,D).
Matakauri Lodge, Villa
Day 6 Queenstown – Ultima te Milford Experience
Enjoy your vibrant Queenstown base before being whisked away for an exclusive flight by private helicopter to Milford Sound. Soar amongst mountains, age old glaciers and prehistoric rainforests in a habitat seldom frequented by man. Stroll on an uninhabited beach and enjoy lunch at a remote alpine lake. (B,L,D).
Matakauri Lodge, Villa
Day 7 Queenstown
Start the day with an exclusive jet boat experience on the Dart River. Aboard your fully-equipped vessel discover the spectacular beauty of the unforgettable Dart River. Later, join your expert guide and venture into the Mount Aspiring National Park (subject to weather conditions). Enjoy a casual picnic lunch in beautiful surrounds. (B,L,D).
Matakauri Lodge, Villa
Day 8 Depart Queenstown
Return your vehicle at Queenstown Airport for your onward flight. (B). (Flight not included)
A Journey to Stewart Island
Stewart Island is the birding capital of New Zealand, home of the kiwi and only a short distance south of the South Island. The Island offers a special experience – a glimpse into a simpler, slower lifestyle in rhythm with the seas and tides, attuned to the natural world of bush and beach. The permanent residents on the island value its clear, clean waters, the lush rainforest, sweeping sands, flora and fauna, and the unspoilt natural beauty.
Milford Sound
Discover a labyrinth of valleys and mountains as you fly west over the Main Divide of the Southern Alps. See Lake Te Anau and follow the Milford Track past the Sutherland Falls on this extensive tour to World Heritage Listed Milford Sound. Walk through the native rainforest for a picture perfect opportunity. You will fly along the fiord to a seal colony or remote beach on the isolated coast of Fiordland. A glacier landing on the return flight will enable you to fill the ice bucket for your champagne luncheon at a goldminer’s cottage hidden in the mountains.
Dart River
A Dart River jetboat ride will take you into the heart of the Southern Alps and the upper reaches of the Dart River. Experience the untouched wilderness of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, normally seen only by hikers or from the air. Enjoy the magnificent streams, lakes, native bush and wildlife in one of nature’s last remaining unspoiled frontiers.
