August 24, 2004 - Those bargain basement fares on new routes to New Zealand we recently covered are still available for purchase through September 3. Some package tours that include airfare, lodgings and a rental car are also surprisingly affordable and well worth a look.
"A Cultural Taste of New Zealand" is being offered by Newman's South Pacific Vacations, a veteran in this area of the world. The nine-day/six-night air and land combo starts at $1,999 per person for travel between August 27 and December 9, 2004. The package includes roundtrip air from Los Angeles, seven day use of an automatic intermediate size rental car and six nights' lodging (three in Napier, two in Rotorua and one in Pauanui). Tours galore are also part of the package including a guided Art Deco Walk in Napier, a half-day winery tour of Hawkes Bay, a tour of Whakarewarea Thermal Village at Rotorua, a four-wheel drive half-day tour of Mount Tarawera Volcano, and a half-day bush and beach walk on the Coromandel Peninsula.
There are three versions of the tour, the only difference being whether you stay in a 3.5 star lodging, a 4.5 star hotel or a luxury B&B. Contact Newman's at 800/421-3326 or at www.newmansvacations.com.
Well out of the budget range, "Experience New Zealand" is the name of Australia Pacific Touring's 12-day/11-night trip that takes you through the wealth of New Zealand's natural wonders. You'll travel in a small group from Auckland to Christchurch with an experienced driver/guide, enjoying active and interactive adventures on both the North and South Islands. The cost is $3,127 per person, and does not include airfare from the USA.
Departures are from Auckland on more than a dozen dates starting September 28, 2004 and concluding March 29, 2005. Your itinerary takes you to the Coromandel Peninsula and Whangamata, Rotorua and Taupo, Wellington, Nelson, the Abel Tasman National Park and many more areas, including Milford Sound, Queenstown and the Fox Glacier.
Contact Australian Pacific Touring at 800/290-8687 or at www.aptouring.com; to book your flights, look at Air New Zealand (www.airnz.com) and Qantas (www.qantas.com) for competitive fares.
Finally, look to Djoser (877/356-7376; www.djoserusa.com) if you can take extended time to enjoy the stunning array of landscapes found here. The budget-minded company is currently offering a 25-day tour starting from $3,195 out of Los Angeles or $3,245 our New York City. That price tag includes roundtrip air, lodgings, transportation on the ground in NZ, and the expertise of Djoser's resident guide. The company is known for its small-group focus and the freedom to explore on your own. Single supplements for this trip run $430.
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