Nine international travel sellers will participate in a West Coast familiarisation trip this May.
The itinerary begins with the TranzAlpine train journey from Christchurch. Participants will visit the Mawhera Pounamu Pathway and Shantytown Heritage Park, including gold panning. Site inspections include Goldfield Suites and Legacy Te Waonui Hotel in Franz Josef. Activities continue with a kayak and walk tour with Franz Josef Wilderness Tours, lunch at Matheson Cafe, and a guided walk around Lake Matheson with Glacier Valley Eco Tours. The group will inspect Te Weheka Retreat Fox Glacier and visit the Waiho Hot Tubs in Franz Josef. Dinner and accommodation are at Rainforest Retreat.
The following day, half the group will take a shuttle with Glacier Shuttles & Charters to Fox Glacier for a Flying Fox Heli Hike, while the other half will do a Franz Josef Heli Hike. The group will then inspect Punga Grove, 58 on Cron Motels, Ross Beach TOP10 Holiday Park, and experience the West Coast Treetop Walk & Tower Zipline. Site inspections follow at Hokitika Fire Station Boutique Accommodation, Woodland Glen, and Rimu Lodge. Dinner is at Woodstock Hotel, with overnight stays split between Hokitika Fire Station Boutique Accommodation and Rimu Lodge.
The final days include breakfast at the Beachfront Hotel, cycling the West Coast Wilderness Trail with Kiwi Journeys West Coast, lunch at Hotel Lake Brunner, and a visit to Maruia Hot Springs for bathing, dinner, and overnight accommodation. The trip concludes with departure from Christchurch International Airport.
This famil will be accompanied by agents from the below accounts:
Friendly Planet - North America
AUNZ Holidays - Australia
Vayu Seva Tours & Travel (P) Ltd - India
Creo Travel - UK/Europe
Cercle de Vacances - UK/Europe
Australia Tours - UK/Europe
Virtuoso - Australia/India
Viaggi del Mappamondo S.r.l - UK/Europe