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Your Australia & New Zealand tour continues...
Day 16 - Melbourne / Christchurch
Most of the day is free to continue exploring this comfortable city,
using the free 
City
Explorer tram route, and a little self-exploration. The Victorian
terrace houses of East Melbourne are quite beautiful, Lygon St area
of Carlton is always colorful, and taking a tram up St Kilda road,
with the home-bound commuters will both give you vistas of the Shrine
of Remembrance, gardens, and a range of dwellings each side, and make
you feel like a true local. One interesting feature of downtown Melbourne
are the arcades, small covered lanes that run between the real streets,
each lined with small shops, and each having its own ambience.
Later
this afternoon return to the airport for a 6.30pm flight to Christchurch,
New Zealand. It's a late arrival, just after midnight, but the evening
flight avoids wasting a day in travel. Transfer to your hotel, and
rest before tomorrow's activities.
Day 17 - Christchurch / Queenstown
Take an easy coach ride south through the Ca
nterbury
Plains to Queenstown, the center of New Zealand's adventure lifestyle.
Along the way you'll pass through the typical New Zealand countryside,
dotted with sheep, and during the afternoon with the imposing mountains
of the West Coast as a backdrop. Arrive in Queenstown this evening.
B
Day 18 - Queenstown
A free day today to explore Queenstown,
on Lake Wakatipu. There's much to do here, from jetboating the Shotover
Ri
ver,
visiting the Kiwi House to learn of the life of this, New Zealand's
emblem, or perhpas go Bungy Jumping from the bridge that started it
all (well, it actually started as a rite of passage, using vines,
on Pentecost Island, Vanuatu).
Day 19 - Queenstown /Milford Sound / Queenstown
Milford Sound is often described as one of the most ser
ene
and beautiful waterways in the world. The majestic Mitre Peak looms
above, its reflection mirrored in the often still water of the Sound.
The drive to Milford from Te Anau is a scenic experience in its
own right, with snow-covered peaks all about. 
Once
at the Sound we board our boat, the Milford
Mariner, for a 2 ½ hour lunchtime cruise. This cruise
is strongly oriented towards the natural history of the area, and
so combines stunning natural beauty with local wildlife. After the
cruise return to Queenstown (or optional expense return by scenic
flight*).
(*If bad weather prevents the scenic flight, you
will coach to Queenstown.)
Day
20 - Queenstown / Rotorua
Mid-morning
fly to Rotorua, arriving at 1pm. Pick up a rental car at the airport,
and begin to discover the North Island. A short drive will take
you to Te
Puia, where 
you
can experience authentic maori culture. The center has arts and
crafts displays and activities - you can usually see artisans
at work, guided walks, and an evening Hangi
(pit-cooked feast) complete with Maori dances. In addition to
the Maori aspect, the center is located at the Whakarewarewa Valley
geothermal area. These geysers, vents and mineral-rich pools have
played an important role in Maori culture. There is much to do
here and you may find yourself returning tomorrow morning. By
the way, the pipes you'll see steaming behind many of the houses
are Rotorua's unique thermal energy system.
Day 21 - Rotorua / Waitomo
After finishing your time in Rotorua head a few miles north to
the Agrodome,
and touristy but fun and worthwhile look at all things New Zealand,
which means sheep. Sheep dog displays and trials, and a lot more,
make this an enjoyable, d
efinitely
rural look at this agricultural country. Continue 
another
50 km or so north, then turn left (west) on a rural road, heading
through the countryside to Kihikihi, about 50km (New Zealand's
tongue-twisting names will became at least a little familiar to
you once there). Turn south here for about 30km to Waitomo, home
to the famous Glow-worm
Caves. here you can enjoy an amazing boat ride under a canopy
of thousands of green glow-worms, or if feeling more adventurous,
an very active abseil (rappel)/climb and inner-tube
float. Overnight in Waitomo.
Day 22 - Waitomo / Auckland
Head back to Auckland, about two hours away, at your leisure today.
As your flight does not leave until early evening, you have time
to look around Auckland before heading home across the Pacific.
Due the international Dateline, you arrive back in Los Angeles
this same morning.
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