Land of the Long White Cloud

Captain Cook set sail for the Southern Hemisphere in August 1768. Travelling on the ‘Endeavour’ his priority was to be in position to observe the transit of Venus across the sun in order to assist astronomers to calculate the dimensions of the universe and the distance from the earth to the sun.

The offcial discovery of New Zealand, ‘the land of the long white cloud’, was of secondary importance. Strange as it seems, many people still see New Zealand as a ‘Terra Incognita’ – a place to be visited only if a few days remain after a tour of Australia or perhaps as part of an ‘around the world’ tour.

For some reason, the superb scenery, charming people and excellent tourist facilities have been largely overlooked and we are therefore delighted to put this situation to rights by offering a comprehensive and independent tour of the North and South Islands that make up this most beautiful of countries. Travelling independently through these mild green and golden surroundings the scenery is ever changing from snowy mountain peaks to a winding coastline peppered with islands and harbours. With the further advantage of a totally untouched countryside and traffic free roads and lanes this arrangement combines leisurely road and ferry travel with three spectacular rail journeys - the Coastal Pacifc, the Transalpine and Taieri Gorge Railway.

The itinerary is based on 3-star tourist accommodation with transfers throughout and there is the option of a range of recommended and pre-bookable sightseeing excursions.