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Top of the South Walking 2021

28 November - 5 December 2021

Double or twin share $5,995.00

No. of people

Deposit to confirm booking $3,000.00

Balance payable by: 29 Sep 2021

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Enjoy the Top of the South at walking pace, as we take you to one of the most popular walking destinations in the country: Nelson/Marlborough. Hike on the Queen Charlotte Track and discover an island bird sanctuary in the Marlborough Sounds, feel the golden sands of the Abel Tasman between your toes, and walk amongst the cool canopy of the incredible beech forests of Nelson Lakes.  Another must do for all walking enthusiasts.

There are limited single room opportunities, please ring us to inquire on 0800 471 227

Day 1

Sunday 28 November - Travel to Picton and Boat to Portage Bay

Up with the larks, we begin our journey south from all destinations today as we are transferred to Wellington and meet at the Interislander ferry terminal for a morning sailing to the South Island. Our adventure starts in the sunny port of Picton, where our guides will meet the group off the Interislander Ferry. From there we will be catching a boat over to Portage Bay in Kenepuru Sound, our home for the next couple of nights. This evening we'll have a welcome dinner as we get to know each other and prepare for the adventures of the week to come.
Stay: Portage Resort, Queen Charlotte (L,D)

Day 2

Monday 29 November - Walk the Queen Charlotte Track

After breakfast we'll head off for our first walk on the Queen Charlotte track. We'll start just a short distance from our accommodation and walk to Mistletoe Bay. To get there we'll walk along a stunning ridgeline through lush coastal forest, with intermittent views out to the dazzling blue sounds below. We'll stop for our picnic lunch at the lookout at the top, at 407m above sea level, you'll have unsurpassed views across the sounds. In the afternoon we descend down along the ridge to Mistletoe Bay, where we can be rewarded with a dip in the clear waters and a beverage before transferring back to Portage Resort for the evening.
Stay: Portage Resort, Queen Charlotte (B, L, D)
Hiking: 7 kilometres, 4-5 hours, elevation gain 350m (we take this at a very leisurely pace)

Day 3

Tuesday 30 November - Island Sanctuary and Queen Charlotte

This morning we'll nip over to Torea Bay to be picked up by boat and taken to Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary. This Island sanctuary has been eradicated of pests since the early 1990s, so now has an abundance of native birdlife including saddleback (tieke), NZ robin (toutouwai), bellbird (korimako), tui, grey warbler (riroriro), NZ pigeon (kereru), silver eye (tauhou) and fantail (piwakawaka). We'll walk a moderate gradient track around the hill with several lookout points along the way before reaching the highest point of the island (128m) where we'll get fantastic views across to Ship Cove. Afterwards we'll get the boat back to Portage Resort for lunch before heading west over the hill to Nelson for the night.
Stay: Hotel Nelson (B, L, D)
Hiking: 2km, about 1 hour

Day 4

Wednesday 01 December - Walk Abel Tasman Coastal Track

Today we will experience another famous hike, and our first great walk - the Abel Tasman Coastal track. To get there we drive to the picturesque Kaiteriteri beach before taking a water taxi to Medlands Beach to start our walk. A short walk through the bush takes us to a picnic lunch spot in the beautiful Bark Bay. After lunch we'll hike up into the forest for views over Mosquito Bay and Tonga Quarry to finish at Onetahuti Beach. There will be time to chill out and enjoy the scenery (even have a dip!) before the water taxi picks us up again to return. This evening we enjoy a kiwi barbecue dinner back at our accommodation in sunny Motueka.
Stay: Nautilus Lodge Motel, Motueka (B, L, D)
Hiking: 6.5 kilometres, 2-3 hours

Day 5

Thursday 02 December - Explore Pupu Springs

The Takaka hill is a natural obstacle that kept Golden Bay from being populated by only the hardiest of people for many years, making it a well-kept secret spot to visit. Today we venture over the hill to visit the stunning Pupu Springs. First though we'll hike the Pupu hydro walkway to see the source of this stunning crystal clear water, which follows an old mining water race, an engineering masterpiece of its time! Afterwards we'll visit Te Waikoropupu Springs themselves, the largest cold water springs in the Southern Hemisphere, containing some of the clearest water ever measured. Te Waikoropupū Springs (known as Pupū Springs), discharge 14,000 litres of water per second and are a Maori Taonga. After a picnic lunch we'll head back over the hill, visiting Ngarua caves along the way. This cave system is full of stalagmites and stalactites and holds ancient Moa bones. Tonight you’ll be on you own for dinner, choosing from the many options Motueka has to offer.
Stay: Nautilus Lodge Motel, Motueka (B, L)

Hiking: 3.2 kilometres, 1.5 hours

Day 6

Friday 03 December - Natural Flames and Brunner Peninsula

After breakfast in Motueka, we'll hit the road south, stopping for a quick look at the Kawatiri historic railway tunnels, before heading towards Murchison to experience the natural flames tour! This will take us on a bushwalk through farmland and native forest to arrive at the natural wonder of flames flickering on the floor of the forest, surrounded by ferns and beech trees! These are produced by natural gas escaping from the earth, and we'll enjoy a billy of tea and pikelets all cooked on the natural flames before walking back. We'll then have lunch in Murchison (own cost) before heading to the small alpine town of St Arnaud. Once there you can choose to relax in our accommodation, or head out for one more walk of the day on the Brunner peninsula nature walk to see a great variety of flora and fauna.
Stay: Alpine Lodge, St Arnaud (B, D)
Hiking: Kawatiri tunnel - 20 minutes; Flames walk - 4.8 kilometres,1-2 hours; Brunner peninsula - 2.4 km, 45 minutes

Day 7

Saturday 04 December - Hike Nelson Lakes National Park

Today we get to really experience true backcountry, as we take a boat across Lake Rotoiti into the heart of Nelson Lakes National Park to the dock at Coldwater Hut. After we check out the hut, we'll head along the western shore of the lake, and after an hour come across Whiskey falls. Legend says these falls got their name due to the illegal distillery located here during the years of prohibition! We will continue along the trail through native beech forest, with great views of the lake until we reach the Mt Robert road. We'll transfer back to the Lodge for the evening and enjoy our last feast together to celebrate our week of adventure!
Stay: Alpine Lodge, St Arnaud (B, L, D)
Hiking: 7.5 kilometres, 3-4 hours

Day 8

Sunday 05 December - Winery Lunch and Return to Picton

After breakfast we travel down the Wairau Valley towards Blenheim. We'll stop off for some lunch and wine tasting at Forrest Estate winery, before heading back to Picton for our afternoon sailing back across the Cook Strait. Finally, we bid our fellow travellers goodbye before being transferred to our home locations.
(B, L)

The cost of the tour includes

  • All coach travel
  • Interisland Ferry transfers
  • Good quality hotel or motel accommodation
  • All evening meals, except day 5
  • All breakfasts
  • Lunches as listed in the itinerary
  • All guiding services - two guides per trip
  • All activities as described above - hiking, boat tours, natural flames and caves

Departure Detail

Before you book a tour with Tranzit Tours, please take the time to read and understand these Terms and Conditions below.

Pricing Validity

  • All costs associated with each tour are outlined in full within each tour itinerary. All pricing quoted is valid for the dates of tour when booked.

Reservations and Payments

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  • A deposit as stated in the Tour Itinerary is payable to secure the booking.
  • The balance must be paid in full by the date stated in the Tour Itinerary.
  • Any reservation made within fourteen (14) days of the tour departure must be paid in full at the time of booking.

Cancellations, Postponements and Alterations
Cancellations by the Customer

  • Cancellations 45+ days before tour departure date – a cancellation fee valued at 15% of your deposit, plus any other fees charged by other providers such as accommodation, ferry, activities etc.
  • Cancellations 44 – 8 days before tour departure date – a cancellation fee valued at 15% of the total tour cost, plus any other fees charged by other providers such as accommodation, ferry, activities etc.
  • Cancellations within 7 days before tour departure date – a cancellation fee valued at 25% of the total tour cost, plus any other fees charged by other providers such as accommodation, ferry, activities etc.
  • No refunds will be made for cancellations made within one day of departure or once travel has commenced. Refunds will not be provided for unused portions of a tour, unless the Customer can provide genuine reason and documentary evidence that services were unable to be utilised (and a refund if applicable is available from the other provider) in which case the company will review each request and may provide a partial refund at the sole discretion of the company.
  • Cancellations of one half of a twin share booking will result in the Customer cancelling being charged the cost of a single booking, if the Company is unable to match the twin share booking with another Customer.

Alterations by the Customer

  • The Customer may transfer their booking to another person for the same tour and commencement date, but only if the other person satisfies all of Tranzit Tours requirements in relation to the tour and provides us a completed Booking Form. The Customer must notify Tranzit Tours in writing of the intended transfer at least 30 days prior to the commencement date of the tour. A $60 transfer fee per person/per transfer will apply (in addition to any supplier change fees).

Cancellations or Postponements by the Company

  • Tranzit Tours reserves the right to cancel, reschedule or postpone a tour. With the exception of the Force Majeure section below, Tranzit Tours will:
  • In the event of a tour being cancelled by the company prior to departure and not postponed – refund the total amount paid in respect of that tour or provide a credit, but will have no further liability to the Customer.
  • In the event of a tour being postponed – rebook the Customer for the new departure date or provide a credit, but will have no further liability to the Customer.
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Alterations by the Company

  • Before Tour Commencement: If a major change to the tour needs to be made before departure, we will inform the Customer of the change as soon as practicable and will advise of any consequential price increase or decrease.
  • Tranzit Tours reserves the right to alter a tour (including the itinerary) and substitute accommodation facilities should unforeseen circumstances beyond our control make changes necessary. Whilst every effort is made to adhere to the itinerary as provided, the company reserves the right to alter the touring and attractions as dictated by circumstances and conditions outside the company’s control.  Alterations may be made to ensure the smooth running of the tour.  Every attempt will be made to ensure alterations do not adversely affect the operation of the tour.  The company will not be held responsible for weather-based cancellations, or those closures made at the tour provider’s discretion.
  • Tranzit Tours will inform the customer as soon as practicable and will advise of any consequential price increase or decrease.

Insurance

  • Tranzit Tours recommend that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance to cover against things like lost or damaged luggage, accident or sickness, loss or theft of personal belongings and documents, or the need to cancel or shorten your tour.  Please note that special conditions will apply for pre-existing medical conditions with all travel insurance policies.

Health and Fitness

  • Tranzit Tours are generally able to accommodate most fitness abilities; however, some tours may require a certain level of physical fitness for full enjoyment of tour activities. The Customer must inform Tranzit Tours, at the time of booking, of any health or fitness restrictions that may limit participation of tour activities or put the Customer, tour staff or other customers at risk. The Customer acknowledges that their suitability for a tour, or any activity within a tour, is wholly the Customer’s responsibility.
  • Payment of a deposit by the Customer to secure a Tranzit Tour acts as a warranty that:
    • the Customer is reasonably healthy and/or fit to participate in the tour, and
    • the Customer does not have a health, physical condition or disability that would create risk to themselves, tour staff or other customers, and
    • the Customer indemnifies Tranzit Tours from all actions, claims and demands arising out of any want of health or fitness.
  • Tranzit Tours reserves the right to decline a booking on medical, health or fitness grounds at its sole discretion.
  • Tranzit Tours reserves the right to remove a Customer from a tour, or quarantine a Customer on tour, if their health and/or fitness interferes with the tour or staff safety or other Customers safety or tour experience in any way. Any additional costs associated with a Customer’s removal from tour or placement into quarantine, shall be borne by the Customer. Refunds will be made in accordance with these Terms and Conditions. 

Authority on Tour

  • Tranzit Tours are operated by staff with decision making authority while on tour. By travelling with Tranzit Tours, you agree to accept the authority of the driver/guide and their decisions are final in all matters likely to affect the wellbeing, safety or experience of any customer or staff member on board. Failure to adhere to reasonable requests or any inappropriate behaviour that is degrading the experience of other customers, may result in the Customer being removed from the tour. If a Customer is asked to leave a tour, any costs associated with returning home will be borne by the Customer and any unused portion of the tour will not be refunded.

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  • The Customer acknowledges that all Tranzit Tours may be subject to risks and dangers beyond that which might be experienced by the Customer at home. Except as provided in law, the Customer acknowledges that they assume all risk and Tranzit Tours is not liable for misadventure, death, injury, delay or loss which occurs during the tour.

Seat Rotation

  • For the enjoyment of all travellers Tranzit Tours operates a seat rotation system which all travellers must participate in as a condition of booking.

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Applicable Law

  • The laws of New Zealand govern these Terms and Conditions to the fullest extent allowable.

 

 

Thank you to the Tranzit Tours team! Mum has not stopped talking about her bucket list tour to the Chatham Islands - Jasmine Novak