18-days New Zealand South Island Plus Milford
Track
16 Nov - 3 Dec 2011 Cost Rm4,500 per pax group of min 12 pax (EXCLUDES AIR ASIA AIRFARES TAXES)
(Non-trekkers are welcome join in and can visit Lake Manapouri,
Milford Sound or aon many of the short walks in the area)
Update 9 Mar 11 Sorry we are FULL. Group members booked Air Asia return flights ranging from Rm800 to Rm1200 to Christchurch.
7 July 10 Please be aware that you are going on the Milford as INDEPENDENT TREKKERS. We assist in providing advice and assist in booking via website www.doc.govt.nz, Detailed info re booking procedures, cost and brochure about the Track is available on that link. The hut fees cost is NZ$153 for the 3 nights, two boat rides NZ$109 and bus transfer to Trek starting point NZ$23. This totals NZ$285 which is we collect as part of the cost above. Those not trekking will get back NZ$285 and will also pay for the 3 nights accomodation in Te Anau.
7 July 10 Would suggest that you book the place on the Track costing NZ$154 or Rm370. If you are not able to go, the cost of cancelation is 25% or about Rm93. If you do not book, chances are that all 40 places on the Track may be taken up. We have difficulty every year for this trip because of this.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
This is meant to be a "free and easy" budget
trip. Participants should be relatively fit, with a good sense of humour,
and above all, have the right attitude for close travel with others
through possibly some trying times. Most definitely, this is not a trip for
prudes, whiners, fuss-pots, and other similiarly assorted types! Although
every effort will be made to stick to the given itinerary, ground conditions
may change and cause some disruption and/or deviation from the norm. Otherwise,
have fun!
Members can book their own flights or deposit an additional Rm2500 for us to purchase the Air Asia flights for you. Suggest you book only flights now and add on meals, luggage, seats selection, say a month before departure. Fares as as 1Mar is Rm2017.
16 NOV 2011 WED D7 282 LCCT CHC 2340 1455+1 ARRIVE 17 NOV THU
03 DEC 2011 SAT D7 281 CHC LCCT 0110 0725 ARRIVE 03 DEC SAT
We do a loop of the South Island beginning and ending in Christchurch.
The highlights woud be the Glacier lands on the West Coast, NZ's most famous
trek i.e. the Milford Track.and visit to Mount Cook National Park.
Please pay carefull attention the following remarks. We hire vehicles and self-drive, starting and ending in
Christchurch. We stay in motels with cooking facilities. To economise, we'll prepare our
breakfasts and dinners. The group is expected to help in meals preparation,
cleaning up, driving and carry own luggage. A group fund of Rm500 is collected from each participant to pay for provisions and fuel for the vehicles. Excess will be returned and if insufficient, members will have to top up.
Day 1 Christchurch: Wednesday 16 Nov Meet LCCT at 940PM for Air Asia flight D72756 at 1140PM to Christchurch.
Day 2 Kaikoura: Arrive Christchurch Airport 255PM 20 Oct. After collecting our vehicles, we leave for Kaikora 183km 3hrs. We will do the Peninsular
Cliff Walk in Kaikoura and catch the sunset. Stay Kaikora.
Day 3 Whale watching: Kaikoura is world
famous for its boat-based whale watching. Some may like to opt for a "Swim
with Dolpins". In the afternoon we visit the surrounding countryside
including a lavender farm. 2nd night stay in Kaikora.
Day 4 Greymouth: We leave early for a
soak in the thermal springs of Hamner Springs before proceeding on to the
pancake rocks and blowholes of Punakaiki on our way
to our night-stop in Greymouth.
Day 5 Glaciers: Our first stop for the day would be in Hokitika, known for its greenstones
or jade. Later we proceed to Fox Glacier 213km 3hrs for a guided 3.5hrs walk
on the Glacier. We go onto Lake Matheson for a view of Mount Cook before going
on to the Haast 117kms 2.5hrs for the night.
Day 6 Queenstown: Recommended is the jetboat ride on Waitoto River. We drive through UNESCO
listed Mt Aspiring National Park on our way to Wanaka's Puzzle World, famed
for it's first 3-D maze in the world. There are numerous photo stops namely
at Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka. Our final destination is the popular town of
Queenstown 262km 5hrs.
Day 7 Queenstown: We spend a whole day in this town doing the various sites including the skyline
gondolo ride, Kiwi & Birdlife Park, Arrowtown and bungy jump-site at Kuwarau. Stay Queenstown.
Day 8 Te Anau: We
leave for Te Anau 170km 3hrs and spent the day relaxing beside Te Anau Lake
in preparation for our trek tomorrow. Overnight Te Anau.
Day 9 Milford Track starts: We have a relaxing morning before going to Te Anau Downs 30min away to catch the 2pm boat to Glade Wharf, the
starting point of the famed Milford Track. Its a level walk to the first
night stop 5km 1.5hrs at Clinton Hut. (Non-trekkers can take it easy in town, walk around the Lake, visit the Glow-worms of Te Anau).
Day 10 Milford Track:
From Clinton Hut, the track follows the Clinton River to its source, Lake
Mintaro. Its a relatively level walk of 16.5km 5.5hrs. We overnight at Mintaro
Hut. (Non trekkers can visit Lake Manapouri and opt for fiordland cruise on the Doubtful Sound, claimed by many to be prettier than the famous Milford Sound).
Day 11 Milford Track:
Day 3 of the Track is the most difficult covering 14 kms 6hrs up a well
graded climb to the top of Mackinnon Pass. and down on the other side to
Quintin Hut, where one can make a side trip to view Sunderland Falls one
hour return, the highest waterfall in NZ. From Quintin its one hour to Dumpling
Hut, our overnight stop. (Non-trekkers can do longer walks on the Te Anau-Milford scenic road).
Day 12 Milford
Track ends: Day 4 and final day
of Milford Track covers 18kms 6hrs passing lots of other beautiful waterfalls.
Upon reaching the end of the track at Sandfly Point, we boat 20mins to Milford
to pick up our vehicle and go down to Te Anau 121km 2hrs for the night.
(Non-trekkers meet up with the trekkers in Milford Sound for optional Milford
Cruise followed by the many recommended stops on the drive back to Te Anau).
Day 13 Invercargill: We go on the less
visited "Southern Scenic Route" all the way to Invercargill 158km
2.5hrs, the least developed town in New Zealand with its many quaint old
buildings and residential houses. We visit Bluff, the town where the highway
begins, and drive along the wild southern coast. Overnight Invercargill.
Day 14 Dunedin: Early departure for
Dunedin 220km 3hrs, named after Dunedin in
Scotland.. This is the second largest city of the South Island and was founded
by Scottish settlers. On the way, we visit the many sights of the beautiful
wind-swept area of Catlins. In the afternoon we'll visit the hilly Peninsular
area with its birds and seal colonies. Overnight Dunedin.
Day 15 Mount Cook National Park: We'll spend a bit of the morning walking about Dunedin. Sites include
the Cadbury chocolate factory and Speights Beer Brewery. We then leave for
Mt Cook National Park 331km 5hrs. This is the highest mountain in NZ. We'll
do the Hooker Valley walk with vista views of snow-capped mountains including
Mount Cook. Overnight Mount Cook.
Lavender Farm / Mount "sheep" / Invercargill
Day 16 Christchurch: If there are participants
for white water rafting, we will drop by Peel Forest and the grade 5 rapids
on the Rangitata River. Other stops on the way to Christchurch 263km 5hrs
would be Lake Tekapo and the Church of the Good Shepard. Stay Christchurch.
Day 17 Christchurch: Full day in Christchurch to visit the sights. These include the Catheral Square and the Banks of the Avon. Transfer to Airport at night.
Day 18 Go Home:Saturday 3 Dec 2011 Fly at 110AM and arrive LCCT 725AM.
