Peninsula encounters - Standard tour is the ultimate Otago Peninsula tour - a memorable half day wildlife experience with a unique insight into some of the world’s rarest wildlife.
Tours leave from Dunedin city daily with pickups at the Dunedin visitor center in the octagon or from city accommodation establishments to travel the length and breadth of the Otago peninsula. This is one of the world's few untouched areas with amazing wildlife and spectacular scenery. Pickup times vary throughout the year to coincide with changing daylight hours and animal behaviors.
Participants require average fitness as some walking through amazing scenery is required to reach the isolated homes of some of the animals. The tour is a wildlife trek enabling close, secluded viewing of the unique and world-renowned wildlife living on the Otago Peninsula. In addition to the 15-20 species of marine and wading birds, the main stars' are the Royal Albatross, Hookers sea lions, Blue Penguins, NZ fur seals and Yellow Eyed penguins.
We start our tour with lagoon wildlife then a visit to Taiaroa headland to view Royal Albatross. (Please note: that the standard tour observes Albatross flying around the headland, but does not view the Albatross breeding area. Viewing Albatross in their breeding area is available is available as a tour option). From the Taiaroa head Albatross colony we then go on to our private conservation area where the results of our strong conservation ethic are displayed. Here we see Hookers Sea lions, Yellow Eyed Penguins and Fur Seals and occasionally Elephant seals, Leopard seals and dolphins in a truly unique environment.
If you want to see Yellow-eyed Penguins, Royal Albatross flying, Hooker's Sea lions, Fur Seals and pups with expert guides but only have one afternoon, then this is the tour for you.
Travel along Hutt River, AKA The Lord of the Rings Great River Anduin, which in movie lore flows through Middle Earth between the Misty Mountains and Mirkwood. Stop at Hobbiton Woods located on Mount Victoria, and offering spectacular 360-degree views of Wellington's harbor and hills. Also visit Helms Deep, where the Orcs battled King Theodore of Rohan to overtake his stronghold. And, discover the Elvin home of Rivendell, where Frodo recovered from the powerful Ring Wraiths' attack.
In addition to the film sites, you'll travel over the magnificent Rimutaka Hill and Tararua Ranges, through charming local villages, and stop for wine tasting of world renowned wines in Martinborough. Before returning to Wellington, cruise along rugged and unspoilt Palliser Bay, and enjoy unique and personal encounters with the largest fur seal colony in the North Island. Lunch is included
Originally an island, the Kaikoura Peninsula has over time been joined to the mainland by steep plains built up of debris swept down from the mountains by rivers. In Maori lore, the peninsula was the place where Maui braced his foot when he fished up the North Island and was named the seat of Te waka a Maui Maui's canoe. The name Kaikoura means ‘meal of crayfish’.
In 1843, Captain Robert Fyfe built the first shore whaling station near where his house still stands on its whale bone piles. Today, all marine mammals are protected in New Zealand and the whales are hunted with cameras instead of harpoons. Kaikoura has deep ocean canyons that provide a home to an exciting array of sea creatures, including the giant sperm whale. Whales live here all year round, making this one of the best places in the world for whale watching.
This full day walk in the ancient beech forest of the Mount Aspiring National Park starts with a scenic drive to the northern end of Lake Wakatipu and into the Routeburn Valley.
The high snow capped mountains provide a magnificent backdrop for the walk up this beautiful river valley.
Highlights: Spectacular snow-capped mountain and lake views, a variety of bird life, beautiful natural ancient native beech forest - mosses, lichens and ferns - waterfalls and river gorge.
Be at one with nature with this epic full day whale watching tour that takes in some of the most beautiful scenery in New Zealand’s South Island before embarking on a voyage of discovery in the seas off Kaikoura to meet some of the world’s most awesome animals.
Begin the morning by travelling from Christchurch to Kaikoura through the rural pastoral scenes of north Canterbury, where the mountains meet the sea. Kaikoura is one of New Zealand's leading eco-tourism destinations and renowned the world over for its variety of marine mammals. Sperm and humpback whales, dolphins and seals are all attracted here by the rich feeding grounds off the coast. On arrival, you will join a whale-watch tour by boat. Following the cruise, break for a delicious lunch if you select option included lunch or for lunch by own expense. There will be time to explore a fur seal colony located on the rocky shores that surround Kaikoura. Seals may be viewed at close quarters, making this a superb spot for photographs. On the return journey to Christchurch, there will be an opportunity to do some wine tasting at either a Waipara Springs or Kaikoura Vineyard.
Descubra el mundo mágico de la Comarca en esta travesía mística por la Tierra Media hasta el plató de Hobbiton. Es un viaje obligado para cualquier seguidor de la trilogía de "El Señor de los Anillos". Podrá ver dónde se rodaron sus escenas preferidas, incluidos el Árbol de la Fiesta, la posada del Dragón Verde y la casa de Bilbo Bolsón. Un guía informado le contará todos los detalles del rodaje de las películas en esta fascinante visita guiada.
El día comienza cuando lo recogen en el hotel y le presentan a su amable guía local. Nos dirigiremos hacia el sur desde Auckland hasta pasar las colinas de Bombay, a través de interminables campos y tierras de cultivo de la región de Waikato. Haremos una parada en el pintoresco pueblo de Cambridge, donde podrá pasear por su calles flanqueadas de árboles mientras admira su atractiva arquitectura colonial. Disfrute de una taza de té o café en una de los muchas cafeterías y salones de té de estilo inglés de la ciudad.
Al llegar a Hobbiton será cuando se inicie la visita al plató cinematográfico natural más grande del mundo. Podrá ver las 44 madrigueras de los hobbits, el Molino, el Puente de Doble Arco, y el famoso Árbol de la Fiesta. Disfrute de un vaso de sidra, cerveza de jengibre o cerveza ale en la posada del Dragón Verde y que le hagan una foto en la puerta de la casa de Bilbo, Bolsón Cerrado. Disfrute de las grandes vistas de la Comarca sobre las colinas lejanas antes de sentarse a comer en el café Shire's Rest y regresar a Auckland.
Experience the thrill of flying over and then landing on the spectacular craters and domes of Mount Tarawera volcano and Mokoia Island. On the ground enjoy a walk amongst some of New Zealand's rarest birdlife and historical landmarks including Hinemoa's pool.
Fly with us and land on the summit of sacred Mount Tarawera, then try to comprehend the earth forces which created this awe inspiring volcanic icon. Standing on the summit offers unobstructed views of the volcano’s magnificent craters, domes and the Lakes District, which is beautiful beyond belief. Complimented with informative commentary, this is much more than a flight. It is an experience to remember.
Rotorua is situated close to the place where great tectonic plates meet; the land has been moving here for thousands of years and continues to do so. Deep in Mount Tarawera, the pressure builds. This majestic mountain merely sleeps. Come up close and see the devastation caused by the eruption of Mount Tarawera more than 100 years ago. It is perfectly safe. Scientists measure volcanic activity, keeping an eye on the restless earth for signs of the next eruption. Luckily, these can be easily and accurately predicted nowadays.
This popular tour takes approximately three hours with one hour underground and involves a combination of walking and floating on an inner tube through a unique underground river system. As you prepare for your adventure your professional guide will ensure you are properly equipped and teach you some fun techniques before you climb down into nature's underground network for an enjoyable cave tubing experience of a lifetime.
Streams spill, twist, turn and join to build a river canyon. Glide with the water as it drops down the 'hidden' waterfall and tumbles down rocky chutes before sliding through vaulted limestone galleries to finally emerge into the dazzling green Waitomo forest.
Este tour de día completo es una introducción ideal para la herencia natural y cultural de esta Isla del Norte. Visitará las famosas cuevas en Waitomo con sus extrañas y maravillosas formaciones de piedra caliza y sus mágicos gusanos luminosos, así como el maravilloso asentamiento a orillas del lago de Rorotua con sus famosos géiseres y sus albercas de lodo, al igual que la fuerte tradición cultural Maori.
Saldremos temprano para dirigirnos hacia el sur a través de los exuberantes campos de las regiones de Waikato y King Country. Habrá tiempo para tomar un aperitivo matinal al pasar por Rangiriri, que fue donde se libró una batalla histórica contra los maoríes.
Al llegar a la ciudad de Waitomo, disfrutará de una visita mágica a las mundialmente famosas cuevas de las Luciérnagas de Waitomo, con sus espectaculares estalactitas, estalagmitas y otras formaciones de piedra caliza, formadas por el goteo constante del agua durante miles de años. El punto central de la visita es sin duda un silencioso paseo en bote por la cueva de las Luciérnagas, una cueva subterránea iluminada por las luces de miles de pequeñas luciérnagas.
El recorrido continúa por la tarde con un agradable paseo a Rotorua. Durante el camino podrá disfrutar un delicioso almuerzo empacado antes de detenernos en una tradicional granja de ovejas en donde podrá ver una demostración de trasquilado de ovejas así como una demostración de perros ovejeros.
Una vez en Rotorua, se dirigirá directo a Te Puia, uno de los lugares culturales más importantes de Nueva Zelanda para disfrutar de un espectáculo en donde se cuentan historias Maori antiguas y modernas a través de canciones, baile, poi y juegos de palos. Vaya a un recorrido guiado por la Reserva Termal de Whakarewarewa con sus terrazas de sílice, burbujeantes albercas de lodo y única vegetación geotérmica, sin mencionar el mundialmente famoso Géiser Pohutu. El Maori Arts and Crafts Institute es también una visita que vale la pena con su fascinante exposición de labrado y tejido.
Después de la experiencia en Te Puia experience regresamos a Auckland. Se servirá un delicioso refrigerio por la tarde incluyendo pan tradicional Maori rewana servido en el camino.
Ziptrek Ecotours is NZ’s No.1 original zipline tour and is a spectacular guided eco-adventure through the forest canopy high above Queenstown, situated on Skyline Gondola hill. Ride the gondola and check in at the Ziptrek treehouse before stepping off architecturally designed aerial tree platforms to ‘zzziiiip’ down the cable from tree to tree.
From the moment you check in, to the moment you complete the tour, you are in the trees, high above the ground. Between the ziplines, Ziptrek guides deliver educational information with an ecological focus as well as facts on the local area. Ziptrek runs all year round and is stunning whatever the weather. With two tours to choose from it is suitable for everyone, whether looking for an introduction into Queenstown adventure (Moa 4-Line Tour) or wanting the latest gripping eco-exhilaration (Kea 6-Line Tour) which includes the steepest tree to tree zipline in the world.
Kea 6-Line Tour: Faster, longer and finishing with a zipline that descends 30 storeys at speeds of up to 70km/h, the Kea tour is a unique way to get down the mountain. This stunningly beautiful guided journey through ancient native beech forest comprises six breathtaking, tree-to-tree ziplines with outstanding alpine vistas; returning you to the bottom of gondola hill on a total high. Duration three hours.
Moa 4-Line Tour: The perfect starter to your adventure experience in Queenstown. The Moa comprises four ziplines, starting and finishing at the top of Skyline Gondola. Moa is designed to start low and slow and gradually build your confidence as it gets progressively longer, higher and faster. All ages love the interaction this guided aerial tour has to offer. Duration two hours.
Meeting point: Check in at the Ziptrek treehouse, located 100m to the left of the main Skyline Gondola complex on top of Bob's Peak.
Start Time: Various.
Other information: Children below the age of six are not permitted on this tour. Children must weigh above 30kg. Supportive footwear such as trainers or hiking boots is essential. Gondola ticket is not included.