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EZ NZ: Breathtaking Views at Breathtaking Prices, Airfare from $650

New Zealand might be unparalleled in its natural beauty. If you don't believe me, rent the Lord of the Ring Trilogy. Filmmaker Peter Jackson celebrates the landscape of his native land making the countryside a dominant factor in all three films. But New Zealand is more than just breathtaking views. Increasingly becoming known for great local cuisine, an emergent wine producer, wonderful wools, monstrous treks and serious fishing, the country provides one of the better well rounded travel experiences. The deals don't slouch either.

Air New Zealand (tel. 800/262-1234; www.airnzdeals.com) has some very-low priced web-only deals out of Los Angeles. Round-trip to Auckland or Christchurch is based from only $650 with travel good from May 1 to June 27, 2005. An added bonus, for departures out of L.A. you have the option to stop over in the South Pacific at no extra charge. Take your pick of Nadj, Fiji, Papeete or Tahiti. Also available, round-trip from San Francisco or Honolulu to Auckland also costs $650, but no South Pacific stop is available from those departure points. Sorry, you don't get frequent flyer miles for these low-priced Web specials. Air taxes and security fees are not included, but are typically low. Air New Zealand also offers a Los Angeles to Australia (pick any of five cities) round-trip for $758 available for the same dates as above.

For your convenience, the airline put together some package tours of New Zealand (http://203.167.234.188/usa/vacation). A 21-day/20-night self-drive package with 20 nights' accommodations and 19-day car rental costs approximately $3,776 per person with airfare from Los Angeles. Travel on this deal is good through August 26, 2005. The route is well laid out with stops at glaciers, mountain ranges, the major cities, ancient caves and a stint swimming with dolphins. This drive takes you through the North and the South of the country with incredible coastal views and wildlife tour where you'll get a front row seat to penguins, fur seals and sea lions. Taxes are not included in the total price of this package. See the site for the other packages that include luxury tours and ski and walking excursions as well.

You can usually find affordable air/hotel or air/camper van combination trips at Newman's South Pacific Vacations (tel. 800/342-1956; www.newmansvacations.com). A nine-day/six- night air and land deal out of Los Angeles called "Classic Wine Trail" takes you through New Zealand wine country and such spots as Hawke's Bay, Martinbourough and Marlborough. The length of the drive is about 240 miles with most of the driving taking place on rural roads through farm country. Accommodations are included as well as interior flights. This deal starts at $2,199 per person with double occupancy. The rental car is good for seven days.

If you want to skip wine, Newman's has a "Great New Zealand Touring Route" starting at $1,449 per person. This self-drive six-night/nine-day trip departing from Los Angeles or San Francisco takes you through the Pacific Coast Highway known for its stunning views and the Thermal Explorer Highway and the Heritage Trail near Lake Taupo. Call a Newman operator for departure dates that get you the above price.

Djoser Travel (tel. 877/356-7376; www.djoserusa.com) has a 22-day full-country tour of New Zealand with air, hotel and travel guide starting at $3,695 out of New York and $3,595 out of Los Angeles. Departure dates are sporadic during the summer months but pick up to four times per month in October through November, when the weather starts getting warm as summer approaches.

Remember, the New Zealand summer starts around December, so make your travel plans accordingly. And look out for King Kong, Peter Jackson's latest motion picture that was also filmed in the New Zealand hinterlands.

 

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