Home >  Our Tours >  Warm Winter Destinations >  New Zealand

New Zealand: The South Island 2009

What's Included | Rating | Accommodations | Extensions | Ways to Save

Explore the spectacular wilderness and get to know the friendly Kiwi people as you see the South Island by bicycle.  Detailed Itinerary

EXPERIENCE a memorable homestay with our gregarious and welcoming Kiwi hosts EXPLORE the Gothic squares of Christchurch and discover the beauty of mountain-ringed Queenstown OBSERVE of modernity mingled with vestiges of ancient Maori tradition LEARN about gold and explore the West Coast's historic gold mines and gold rush towns CYCLE along the picturesque Tasman Sea RIDE the rails on a TranzAlpine train through the Southern Alps TASTE some of New Zealand's best wines from the Central Otago Vineyards SPEND two nights at a wilderness lodge, surrounded by a thriving 1,000 year-old rainforest and pristine coastline

top

Air-Inclusive Tour Roundtrip international airfare 9 nights in comfortable lodgings 19 meals- 9 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 6 dinners Transfers AND the option to add our Low-Cost Trip Extensions: Pre-trip: Sydney - 3 nights for only $595. Post-trip:Queenstown - 2 nights for only $495. FREE use of our custom VBT bicycle and helmet Service of two or three VBT Trip Leaders FULL VAN SUPPORT Daily route directions and maps Welcome reception Sightseeing and cultural activities 5% Frequent Traveler Credit to use on your next VBT vacation Special Good Buy discount Land-Only Tour 8 nights in comfortable lodgings 18 meals- 8 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 6 dinners FREE use of our custom VBT bicycle and helmet Service of two or three VBT Trip Leaders FULL VAN SUPPORT Daily route directions and maps Welcome reception Sightseeing and cultural activities 5% Frequent Traveler Credit to use on your next VBT vacation Special Good Buy discount

top

Click Map to Enlarge Rating Level: Easy/ Moderate This tour offers a combination of easy terrain mixed with moderate hills. The VBT van support shuttle is always available for those who need assistance with the hills. Ideal for beginning and experienced cyclists. Full Van Support: Enjoy more flexibility and choice with full van support throughout your vacation. Group Size:14-20 Daily Mileage:13-56 miles Daily Cycling Times:2-5 hours Avg. Daily High Temperature: Christchurch: Jan 74°, Feb 75°, Mar 69°, Apr 65°, May 62°, Dec 73°

top

Holiday Inn on Avon Christchurch This moderate-sized property is part of the Intercontinental Hotels group. It is a modern hotel with a light, airy layout and a sense of tranquility and peace throughout. (visit the Holiday Inn on Avon Christchurch website) Beachfront Hotel This seaside hotel, located in the center of a historic gold-mining town, has lots of local charm. Since it overlooks the Tasman Sea, the beach is your backyard. (visit the Beachfront Hotel website) Franz Josef Glacier Country Retreat Franz Josef Glacier Country Retreat is the quietest and most scenically located accommodation facility in Glacier Country. Only a few miles north of Franz Josef Glacier, the Retreat’s luxury rooms offer magnificent views of the surrounding snowcapped mountains or lake. (visit the Franz Josef Glacier Country Retreat website) Wilderness Lodge, Lake Moeraki This riverside nature-lover’s paradise is set amid the rainforest of South Westland. The lodge is landscaped into the rainforest with lawns sculptured down to the river’s edge, where there are jumping trout, waterbirds and stunning reflections. View them all from the Riverside Restaurant and Lounge, where you can relax, read, enjoy a drink from the wine cellar and enjoy great wilderness food. (visit the Wilderness Lodge, Lake Moeraki website) Lake Hawea Station Homestay Our VBT group is split up between several homestays during our visit. There are local sheep stations (when available) with opportunity for guests to learn about the daily life of a New Zealander. Each homestay offers well-appointed rooms in a B&B setting with lush gardens and swimming pools. Fantastic views in the heart of the mountainous lake country within the Mount Aspiring National Park. Every mountainside is covered with sheep. (visit the Lake Hawea Station Homestay website) Novotel Queenstown Lakeside Ideally located on the lakefront and right in the center of town, Novotel Queenstown Lakeside allows you to enjoy all that Queenstown has to offer. One of the world’s top tourist destinations, Queenstown has countless shops, restaurants, bars and activities to enjoy. (visit the Novotel Queenstown Lakeside website)

top

Sydney 2009 3 nightsfor only $595 3 nights at the Sebel Pier One Sydney Hotel • Daily continental breakfast • Full information packet • Airport transfers Discover Australia’s largest and oldest city, Sydney, and its famed harbor. Here, you will find an abundance of activities for the adventurer, the shopper and the nature lover. Visit the Sydney Opera House, the most prominent architectural structure in all of Sydney, see the sights in the downtown “city business district” or board the City Circle train to the historic entertainment district, The Rocks. Explore the botanical gardens, ride a ferry around the harbor or take a day trip to the Blue Mountains. Available only with the Air Inclusive Package. Note: Single supplement for this extension is $325. top Queenstown 2009 2 nightsfor only $495 Two nights at the Novotel Gardens Hotel • Daily continental breakfast • Full information packet • Airport transfers Visit the adventure center of the universe! Watch or try optional daredevil activities including bungy jumping, parasailing, hiking, rafting, jet boating and more, available at your own expense. Take optional excursions to Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound; coach excursions require the entire day (7 a.m. to 7 p.m., approximately $183 NZD) and flying options require 4 to 6 hours (approximately $366 - $425 NZD). Shop, walk through stunning gardens or take an optional steamship cruise. Available only with the Air Inclusive Package. Note: Single supplement for this extension is $225.

top

Group Discount Program: You can earn a FREE VBT tour with our generous group discount program. Click here for details. Refer a Friend and Earn $100 Travel Credit: If you refer a Friend to VBT and they choose to travel with us, you earn $100 travel credit toward your next trip and your friend gets $50 off their first VBT trip. Click here for details. Good Buy Plan: The earlier you pay, the more you save. If you book early and pay in full by check, you can lock in your trip cost plus earn up to a 10% discount. 5% Frequent Traveler Credit: You will automatically receive a 5% travel credit good for your next VBT trip. This credit is good for one full year. Savings for Single Travelers: If you are on a bicycle tour where sharing is possible and you would like to share a room, we will do our best to match you with a roommate. We will charge you only 50% of the single supplement; if a match is available, we will refund you the single supplement after you return. If requested and available, single supplement is $595. Best Value Guaranteed: Click here for details. We reserve the right to correct errors. top