New Zealand Family Adventure

Trip Summary Explore incredible landscapes of the of as a family, from Christchurch to Queenstown and back again, on our 13-day New Zealand Family Adventure 'Kea' tour. Along with two incredible guides who take care of every last detail, you'll be amazed by the new challenges and activities your family will accomplish together. From jet-boat rides on the Rakaia Gorge to staying overnight in Mt Aspiring National Park and visiting a high-country sheep station near Aoraki Mt. Cook National Park, you'll step away from the busy modern world and into the giant playground of mother nature. You won't have to worry about where to stay, what to eat, navigating the mountain roads or deciding what to do each day - we'll take care of it all for you. Enjoy a family vacation, without a worry in the world, on our New Zealand Family Adventure tour.

Itinerary Day 1: Christchurch / Methven It’s a short flight from Auckland to Christchurch in the South Island and we’ll meet your family either in central Christchurch or at the airport. We start with a great introduction to the wildlife of a country isolated for over 80 million years! Willowbank Wildlife Reserve is unique in that you can enter a lot of the animal enclosures and even pet some of the more friendly critters! You can see tuatara, the elusive kiwi, wallabies (small kangaroos introduced from Australia), and of course the namesake of our trip – the kea – New Zealand’s cheeky mountain parrot. Overnight Methven Lodge (L,D)

Day 2: Rakaia Gorge / Aoraki Mt Cook After a hearty breakfast and relaxed start to the morning, we have an adventure planned that will knock your socks off – a fun jet boat ride through the winding Rakaia Gorge! Jet boats were originally invented by New Zealander Bill Hamilton to navigate our narrow, shallow rivers. You’ll be jetting down rapids, braided river sections and through shallow water just six inches deep in places. This thrilling yet safe activity is suitable for the whole family. Then we’ll head to Peel Forest for a hike amongst ancient podocarp trees and many varieties of ferns. Many of New Zealand’s athletes, including our famous rugby team, the All Blacks, wear the fern as a national symbol. After lunch, we’ll travel inland to Aoraki/Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain, and – an unreal turquoise-blue colored glacial lake. Tonight, the wide-open spaces, regular clear evenings and lack of artificial light provides the perfect opportunity to gaze at the Southern Hemisphere’s constellations, including the southern cross. Overnight Aoraki Mt Cook Alpine Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 3: Aoraki Mt Cook National Park We have a few hikes to choose from in this spectacular national park and our favorite is the stunning day hike (weather permitting) to the main ridge above Mueller Glacier. It’s a bit of a hike, though it’s a real achievement for the whole family to share and you’ll remember the view of the Mueller Glacier and the surrounding peaks of the Southern Alps forever! Of course, we always have plenty of options, so there are easier hikes available for you too, such as an impressive hike up the Hooker Valley to a glacial lake (complete with icebergs!) at the base of Hooker Glacier. Overnight Aoraki Mt Cook Alpine Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 4: Queenstown Today we’ll head through the mountains to Queenstown. We’ll stop along the way for some of the best ice cream in the whole of New Zealand – you’ll soon find out why! We’ll then continue on through fruit orchards and vineyards before arriving in Queenstown. After lunch we have options including a hike to historic Sam Summers hut or even a game of frisbee golf in the Queenstown Botanical Gardens. Overnight Scenic Suites Apartments (B,L) 1 The toughest part is going home.SM

New Zealand Family Adventure

Day 5: Queenstown / Arrowtown Excitement levels will be high this morning, as we head off for a family rafting trip in Skippers Canyon. Set in a deep, beautiful, rose-lined schist gorge, it’s a spectacular float trip – perfect for the whole family. The ‘Kea’ trip operates year-round, with minor changes during the New Zealand winter. From June to September, rather than rafting we take a lift on the gondola up Bob’s Peak for stunning views over the region and thrilling downhill rides on the luge. After lunch, we’ll explore an old Chinese goldmining settlement in the nearby historic village of Arrowtown. Chinese immigrants travelled to New Zealand during the 1800s and like many New Zealand pioneering stories, theirs is one of adversity and adaptation. You can try your hand at gold panning – in 2006 a man found a gold nugget worth $15,000 in this area, so you never know your luck! Overnight Scenic Suites Apartments (B,L)

Day 6: Queenstown All the comforts of civilization are packed into this tiny resort town: restaurants galore, sidewalk cafés, stylish lounge bars, day spas, and boutiques. There’s plenty of family entertainment here too: luge rides, a gondola, lakeside playgrounds, mini golf and a cinema. There are also some more adventurous optional activities such as horse trekking, kayaking, fishing, winery tours, hang gliding, mountain biking, bungy jumping, jet boating and skydiving as well as some great hiking opportunities. Or you can just soak up the atmosphere and lounge about reading a book. Your guides will happily share their favorite haunts and point you in the right direction for your free day today. A great winter option (June to September) is to spend a couple of days skiing or snowboarding at one of four local ski areas: Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Cardrona or Treble Cone. Transport, lift pass and equipment rental is about US$150 a day for an adult, slightly less for children, which we will happily organize for you. Overnight Scenic Suites Apartments (None)

Day 7 & 8 Option A: Mt Aspiring National Park After leaving Wanaka, we’ll venture up the Matukituki Valley and hike two to three hours into Mt Aspiring National Park to reach our home for the evening – a spacious mountain hut nestled in a valley in the middle of nowhere. The track meanders past majestic peaks, fresh mountain streams and natural beech forest. You’ll be carrying a sleeping bag, a few spare clothes and some food, so your pack won’t weigh much more than a regular day pack. The scenery is off the charts with Mt Aspiring rising 9,951 feet into the blue sky. It’s amazing how far you’ll feel from civilization after this relatively short walk! Tonight your guide will whip up dinner in the backcountry kitchen while you and the kids relax by the fire. We have a leisurely start today, enjoying breakfast and a cuppa while admiring the view, before hiking back to the trailhead. Along the way, we might encounter the cheeky kea again – this time in its natural habitat – they’re really inquisitive and like to get pretty close at times! Overnight Mt Aspiring Hut (B,L,D)

Day 7 & 8: Option B Wanaka After a relaxed breakfast, you’ll have the morning to yourselves before meeting up with the rest of the group. After regrouping in Wanaka, we’ll head to Puzzling World to explore over a mile of passageways in one of the world’s largest modern mazes. Kids of all ages really enjoy trying to beat our wily guides through the labyrinth! Tonight we spend the evening in the small village of Makarora, sharing stories over a delicious home-made meal. Overnight Wanaka Lodgings (B,L,D)

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New Zealand Family Adventure

Day 9: West Coast / This morning, we’ll travel over Haast Pass through spectacular beech forest to the wild West Coast, stopping on a deserted beach to stretch our legs and keep an eye out for friendly dolphins passing by. A little further north takes us to Lake Matheson for a short walk, where you’ll be rewarded with awesome vistas of the Southern Alps. After settling into our accommodation in Franz Josef, we can head out after dark with flashlights for a short night walk to search for the native glowworm while listening to some of New Zealand’s nocturnal birdlife, such as the morepork owl. Overnight Rainforest Retreat (B,L,D)

Day 10: Lake Mapourika / It’s an early start this morning for our kayaking trip on Lake Mapourika, a tranquil ancient lake formed during the last ice age. This is an awesome activity, run by specialist kayak outfitters, and it’s equally suitable for beginners and experts alike. With some 140 glaciers making their way down from the Southern Alps, this area is fittingly known as glacier country. Few sights equal the spectacle of two of these giant frozen rivers (Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers) imperceptibly grinding their way down through temperate rainforest to just 820 feet above sea level. Our hike will take us along the bed up the valley right to the terminal face of Franz Josef Glacier. Overnight Rainforest Retreat (B,L,D)

Optional Heli-hike (extra fee applies): An outrageously scenic alternative to this afternoon’s hike is to heli- hike on Franz Josef Glacier itself. After being fitted with crampons, ice axes and so on, you’ll board a modern turbine helicopter and fly towards the highest peaks of the Southern Alps, landing on the glacier at 4,265 feet above sea level. Led by specialist glacier guides, you’ll hike through the grand ice formations of the glacier, checking out its crevasses, seracs and tunnels – no previous experience is required! The constant movement of the glacier means every day is different, so your guides will cut steps in the ice and make sure you make the most of the conditions. At the end of your hike on the ice, you’ll take another helicopter ride out of the mountains and back to civilization. The heli-hike is extremely popular, so we offer advance reservations with the helicopter operators and guiding company. At the time of booking, or up until one month before your trip, we can reserve a space for you, or you can leave your decision until the start of your trip and your guides will get you a spot if it’s available.

Day 11: West Coast Treetop / Hokitika Today we’ll head further up the coast to experience the West Coast Treetop Walk, an adventure among giants. This walk will take you up above the forest floor, allowing you to pass through an ancient canopy of rimu and kamahi trees. We’ll then continue to Hokitika, where Page 7 / 9 you can check out the local art galleries and pounamu carving workshops (pounamu is Maori for jade). The beach here is a great place for playing games or making sculptures out of driftwood. Then we’ll head back through to Arthur’s Pass, the highest pass over the Southern Alps, to settle in for the night. Overnight Arthur’s Pass Motel (B,L,D)

Day 12: Castle Hill Basin Today, after breakfast, we’ll head off to check out the Conservation Centre in Arthur’s Pass and learn about the Kea, the only true alpine parrot in the world! Afterwards, we’re off to the ultimate hide-and-seek spot, Castle Hill. It’s a bit of a climb to the top, but it’s worth every step as we arrive at an eerie limestone landscape where much of the movie ‘Narnia – the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ was filmed. During a visit a few years ago, the Dalai Lama called this natural labyrinth ‘the spiritual center of the universe’! Overnight Darfield Motel (B,L,D)

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New Zealand Family Adventure

Day 13: Springfield / Christchurch This is the last day of your ‘Kea’ trip, and we’ll head to the small farming community of Springfield to check out a working New Zealand high-country sheep farm. Here we’ll watch highly trained farm dogs rounding up stock and see a sheep shearing demonstration. All the kids (young and old!) will have the chance to join in and give sheep shearing a go. Then it’s on to Christchurch, where we’ll farewell your family and wave you off feeling refreshed, invigorated, and with lasting memories of the adventures, great food, stories, laughs and fun times you’ll have had with us in New Zealand! No overnight (B,L)

Accommodations Night 1: Methven Lodge Located in the heart of Methven township, Methven Lodge & BnB offers the perfect mix of large private rooms (all with ensuites) and communal space at an affordable price. This home-away-from-home accommodation is situated on the main road in the heart of Methven less than a few blocks from central shops, cafes, restaurant, taverns and the information center.

Nights 2 & 3: Aoraki Mt Cook Alpine Lodge Set in the heart of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, this lodge has offered comfortable, affordable Mount Cook accommodation since 2005. Aoraki is New Zealand’s highest and most famous mountain and a destination in its own right. Sleep comfortably with majestic mountains grazing the landscape just outside your window. The lodge is ideally located midway between Christchurch and Queenstown, and owned exclusively by family, providing friendly, personalized service.

Nights 4-6: Scenic Suites Apartments Scenic Suites Queenstown provides one of the most sought-after locations for Queenstown hotels. The hotel’s elevated position gives fantastic views of the Southern Alps and over Lake Wakatipu. It’s hard to go past Scenic Suites Queenstown with its convenience and quality of four-star apartment style accommodation. Scenic Suites Queenstown is linked to Heartland Hotel Queenstown, with an adjoining reception area, however each hotel maintains its distinct style and quality of accommodation. Join us for a relaxing stay in the four-star comfort at a premium location.

Nights 7 & 8 Options Mt Aspiring Hut The hut we stay in is a Department of Conservation (DOC) owned mountain hut. These unique places are open to the public and are warm, dry and comfortable. They’re located in very remote areas (with amazing scenery) however they don’t have private rooms, electricity, hot water, phones or flushing toilets - though the view from the outhouse is second to none! It’s not possible to book these huts, you’ll meet and share the experience with other adventurers. The huts fill up on a first come, first serve basis and we manage our hiking days to ensure we arrive at our accommodation in good time to secure a bed. On occasion though, it may be the case that the hut is full, and in this instance, we’ll camp out for the night in this amazing location. We’ll pitch your tent near the hut so you’ll still have full use of the facilities.

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New Zealand Family Adventure

Wanaka Lodgings Stay at this resort town in comfortable accommodation suitable for all adventurers.

Makarora Lodgings Stay at this ideal stop near Mt Aspiring National Park in comfortable accommodation suitable for all adventurers.

Nights 9 & 10: Rainforest Retreat Being on holiday shouldn’t be just about the experiences you have during the day. Your accommodation is just as important. Rainforest Retreat is tucked in the West Coast of the South Island on 13 glorious acres of natural rainforest at the foothills of the Southern Alps.

Night 11: Arthur’s Pass Motel The motel provides some units with mountain views, and the rooms are fitted with a private bathroom. Guests at Arthurs Pass Motel & Lodge will be able to enjoy activities such as Hiking, Bird watching, Photography, Alpine flower studies, Skiing, Mountain Biking, Fishing, Hunting.

Night 12: Darfield Motel Darfield offers a great range of comfortable studio, family and access units. Included in your room rates are Wi-Fi, parking, 50 sky channels and DVD library. We have an outdoor area with a BBQ and a coin operated laundry. There are various restaurants, bars, cafes and gift shops within walking distances.

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New Zealand Family Adventure

Activities

Hiking: Difficulty varies depending on hike, distances ranging from 0.6 miles to 6 miles long, no experience necessary.

Kayaking: Protected lakeshores, no experience necessary.

Arrival and Departure We suggest that you book your flight to arrive in Christchurch International Airport (CHC) at least before 10am on Day 1. If you wish to arrive before Day 1, you may stay at the Merivale Manor and will be picked up by your guides on Day 1 by 10:30 am. Your trip ends with a drop-off at the Christchurch International Airport (CHC). Please schedule departing flights for after 4pm.

Trip Price From $5,299

Trip Length 13 days/ 7 nights

Host City Christchurch International Airport Airport Code: CHC

Reservations & Availability 1.800.575.1540

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New Zealand Family Adventure

Trip Reservations

Reservations, Deposits and Balances Due To make a reservation, contact Austin Adventures with your choice of trip and dates. A $500 per person deposit is required to confirm your reservation. Some Custom and International programs may require additional deposits. Full payment is required at the time of booking if your trip departs within 90 days. Choose one of the following contact methods Toll free: 800.575.1540 Phone: 406.655.4591 Online: austinadventures.com Email: [email protected] Mail: Austin Adventures, P.O. Box 81025, Billings, MT 59108 * You may also book your AA adventure with your preferred travel professional. ** We accept most major credit cards and personal checks (U.S. funds made payable to Austin Adventures). Please do not send cash.

Included in the Trip Price • All guiding services. We have two guides per trip, a lead guide/driver and a co-guide/chef. On our smallest trips, one of our most experienced guides will look after you.

• Comfortable accommodation for the entire period you are with us. We can also organize pre- and post-trip accommodation, if you like. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner on most days, as indicated, with many delicious meals prepared by your guides, who are adept at catering for all dietary requirements. In places like Queenstown and Auckland there’s a wide variety of restaurants and we’ve found people prefer to check out the options on their own. • All activities described in the itineraries including hiking, kayaking, biking and rafting, except the optional extra activities that are available at additional cost. • All transportation from trip start to end.

Not Included in the Trip Price • International airfare • Travel insurance • Gratuities

• Any extra activities, meals or drinks like alcohol not explicitly identified in the itinerary Pre -departure Information After receiving your reservation and deposit, we’ll send you a pre-trip planner with general information about the area you’ll be visiting, a packing list, exercise guidelines, a guest information questionnaire and a liability release agreement for you to sign and return within 10 days.

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New Zealand Family Adventure

Room Occupancy, Single Supplements, and Shared Room Assignments All trip prices are based on double occupancy. Single rooms are available for an additional charge, referred to as a “single supplement.” If you’re traveling alone and wish to share a room, make the request at the time of booking. Austin Adventures will attempt to find a suitable roommate for you.

Child Age and Pricing on Family Adventures Family Adventures are suitable for children 7 years old and up (5 years and older for our Yellowstone and Costa Rica Family Adventures). Children who share a room with one or more adults receive reduced rates. The minimum age on our non-family designated adult and teen adventures is 16 years old.

Cancellations and Refunds The following cancellation policies and cancellation fees are in effect: ***As with deposits on some international and custom programs, refund schedule may vary, speak with your Adventure Consultant for details. Cancellation 91 days or more before trip departure – Full trip payment refunded less a $300 per person administration fee Cancellation 61-90 days before trip departure – Full trip payment less 25% per person is refunded Cancellation 31-60 days before trip departure – 50% of the trip payment is refunded Cancellation 0-30 days before trip departure – No refund is given

Our Guarantee

Exceeding your expectations is our number one priority. In the unlikely event that you are dissatisfied with something during your trip, immediately notify your guide(s). If he or she is unable to resolve the issue, call our main office and give us the details of the problem, and a chance to correct it. We will do our best to find a resolution. If we are unable to do so during your trip, we will work with you upon your return home to arrive at a fair and equitable solution, including up to a full refund.

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