DC3 NZ Air Tour (12 days)
Auckland - Rotorua - Blenheim - Christchurch - Ashburton - Dunedin - Te Anau - Milford Sound - Queenstown - Wanaka - Hokitika - Greymouth - Westport - Nelson - New Plymouth - Auckland
Tour Date: 26th March 2019
2020 tour dates pending - please get in touch if you are interested.
Tour Cost: Cost @ NZD$9,980/twin
Cost @ NZD$11,700/single
Tour Date: 26th March 2019
2020 tour dates pending - please get in touch if you are interested.
Tour Cost: Cost @ NZD$9,980/twin
Cost @ NZD$11,700/single
Chances are you’ve never seen New Zealand quite like this! If you are looking for a refreshingly new and exciting way to experience New Zealand, this exceptional tour may well be the perfect choice! Delight in 12 days of discovery and fun as you explore the scenic wonders of New Zealand’s two main islands in a classic, beautifully maintained DC-3 airliner.
Flying ‘low and slow’ on a DC-3 gives you a refreshingly new and exciting touring experience. Have far more fun, see so much more and enjoy the generous yesteryear DC-3 leg room as you fly! There are fun grass runway landings and you can even visit the DC-3 cockpit during flight – yes, just like the good old days! You’ll reach each daily destination sooner and that means more relaxation time on arrival. Road travel just doesn’t compare – there is simply no other New Zealand touring experience quite like this!
Day 1
DC3 Flight - AUCKLAND to ROTORUA (Tue)
Step aboard your classic DC3 airliner for an exclusive adventure! Take off and climb gently for a low level flight above pretty Waikato countryside. See the Bay of Plenty lakes area from above then land in Rotorua to visit the city and lakefront. Ride the Skyline Gondola then walk among natural geothermal wonders to see ‘Pohutu’, the southern hemisphere’s largest active geyser.
Distinction Rotorua Hotel (4 star)
Dinner included
DC3 Flight - AUCKLAND to ROTORUA (Tue)
Step aboard your classic DC3 airliner for an exclusive adventure! Take off and climb gently for a low level flight above pretty Waikato countryside. See the Bay of Plenty lakes area from above then land in Rotorua to visit the city and lakefront. Ride the Skyline Gondola then walk among natural geothermal wonders to see ‘Pohutu’, the southern hemisphere’s largest active geyser.
Distinction Rotorua Hotel (4 star)
Dinner included
Day 2
DC3 Flight - ROTORUA to BLENHEIM (Wed)
Fly south by DC3 for low altitude views of scenic Lake Taupo, the volcanic plateau and Wellington City. Cross Cook Strait for a fun ‘yesteryear’ grass runway landing at Omaka. Visit the renowned Omaka Heritage Aviation Centre followed by a relaxing Wine & Mussel Cruise.
Chateau Marlborough Hotel (5 star)
Breakfast and Dinner included
DC3 Flight - ROTORUA to BLENHEIM (Wed)
Fly south by DC3 for low altitude views of scenic Lake Taupo, the volcanic plateau and Wellington City. Cross Cook Strait for a fun ‘yesteryear’ grass runway landing at Omaka. Visit the renowned Omaka Heritage Aviation Centre followed by a relaxing Wine & Mussel Cruise.
Chateau Marlborough Hotel (5 star)
Breakfast and Dinner included
Day 3
DC3 Flight - BLENHEIM to CHRISTCHURCH (Thu)
Explore Marlborough’s vineyards, taste local wine and chocolates then board your DC3. Fly low along the dramatic Kaikoura coastline and watch for whales! Land in Christchurch for an afternoon tour featuring the Antarctic Centre, Air Force Museum, CBD rebuild and more.
Rendezvous Hotel (4 star)
Breakfast and Dinner included
DC3 Flight - BLENHEIM to CHRISTCHURCH (Thu)
Explore Marlborough’s vineyards, taste local wine and chocolates then board your DC3. Fly low along the dramatic Kaikoura coastline and watch for whales! Land in Christchurch for an afternoon tour featuring the Antarctic Centre, Air Force Museum, CBD rebuild and more.
Rendezvous Hotel (4 star)
Breakfast and Dinner included
Day 4
DC3 Flights (2) - CHRISTCHURCH - ASHBURTON - DUNEDIN (Fri)
Depart Christchurch aboard your DC3 and head to Ashburton for another 1950’s style grass runway landing. Walk over to the Ashburton Aviation Museum for a visit and stay on for lunch. Take off again to fly further south and land at Dunedin Airport. Transfer to Dunedin City and visit Toitu Otago Settlers Museum this afternoon.
Distinction Dunedin Hotel (4.5 star)
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
DC3 Flights (2) - CHRISTCHURCH - ASHBURTON - DUNEDIN (Fri)
Depart Christchurch aboard your DC3 and head to Ashburton for another 1950’s style grass runway landing. Walk over to the Ashburton Aviation Museum for a visit and stay on for lunch. Take off again to fly further south and land at Dunedin Airport. Transfer to Dunedin City and visit Toitu Otago Settlers Museum this afternoon.
Distinction Dunedin Hotel (4.5 star)
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Day DC3 Flight - DUNEDIN - TE ANAU (Sat)
Enjoy Dunedin’s heritage highlights by coach including the remarkable churches, Rail Station and University then drive to picturesque Larnach Castle for lunch. Return to Dunedin to meet your DC3. Fly low over South Otago’s old gold trails to land at Te Anau on the eastern fringe of spectacular Fiordland.
Distinction Te Anau Hotel (4 star)
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Enjoy Dunedin’s heritage highlights by coach including the remarkable churches, Rail Station and University then drive to picturesque Larnach Castle for lunch. Return to Dunedin to meet your DC3. Fly low over South Otago’s old gold trails to land at Te Anau on the eastern fringe of spectacular Fiordland.
Distinction Te Anau Hotel (4 star)
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Day 6
DC3 FLight - TE ANAU - MILFORD SOUND - QUEENSTOWN (Sun)
Drive to majestic Milford Sound, often called the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’. Join a Milford Sound Nature Cruise for close up views of New Zealand’s magnificent scenic gem and look for dolphins and seals as you cruise! Return to Te Anau to meet your DC3 for a short flight to Queenstown.
Crowne Plaza Hotel (4.5 star)
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
DC3 FLight - TE ANAU - MILFORD SOUND - QUEENSTOWN (Sun)
Drive to majestic Milford Sound, often called the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’. Join a Milford Sound Nature Cruise for close up views of New Zealand’s magnificent scenic gem and look for dolphins and seals as you cruise! Return to Te Anau to meet your DC3 for a short flight to Queenstown.
Crowne Plaza Hotel (4.5 star)
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
Day 7
QUEENSTOWN - Day at leisure plus evening cruise (Mon)
Explore Queenstown at leisure today – there are so many optional activities to try! This evening, cruise to Walter Peak Station aboard the 1912 vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw. Learn about high country farm life and enjoy a gourmet barbecue dinner at the Colonel’s Homestead. Return aboard the Earnslaw and take part in a magical night-time piano sing-a-long!
Crowne Plaza Hotel (4.5 star)
Breakfast and Dinner included
QUEENSTOWN - Day at leisure plus evening cruise (Mon)
Explore Queenstown at leisure today – there are so many optional activities to try! This evening, cruise to Walter Peak Station aboard the 1912 vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw. Learn about high country farm life and enjoy a gourmet barbecue dinner at the Colonel’s Homestead. Return aboard the Earnslaw and take part in a magical night-time piano sing-a-long!
Crowne Plaza Hotel (4.5 star)
Breakfast and Dinner included
Day 8
DC3 Flight - QUEENSTOWN to WANAKA (Tue)
See Arrowtown and scenic Lake Hayes in autumn splendour en route to Queenstown Airport. Meet the DC3 and fly ‘over the hill’ to the alpine resort town of Wanaka. Explore ‘Wings & Wheels’ then the often photographed Wanaka lakefront. Head for the hills this afternoon with a visit to the historic Cadrona Hotel.
Edgewater Resort (4 star)
Breakfast and Dinner included
DC3 Flight - QUEENSTOWN to WANAKA (Tue)
See Arrowtown and scenic Lake Hayes in autumn splendour en route to Queenstown Airport. Meet the DC3 and fly ‘over the hill’ to the alpine resort town of Wanaka. Explore ‘Wings & Wheels’ then the often photographed Wanaka lakefront. Head for the hills this afternoon with a visit to the historic Cadrona Hotel.
Edgewater Resort (4 star)
Breakfast and Dinner included
Day 9
DC3 Flight - WANAKA - HOKITIKA - GREYMOUTH (Wed)
Join your DC3 at Wanaka Airport and climb out above the town to cross the Southern Alps. Look for NZ’s highest peak during your flight (Aoraki/ Mt Cook – 3,724 metres) plus Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. Land at Hokitika and visit a jade gallery then drive to Shantytown for a ‘bush steam train’ ride and gold panning followed by beer tasting at the famous Monteiths Brewery.
Ashley Hotel Greymouth (3.5 star)
Breakfast and Dinner included
DC3 Flight - WANAKA - HOKITIKA - GREYMOUTH (Wed)
Join your DC3 at Wanaka Airport and climb out above the town to cross the Southern Alps. Look for NZ’s highest peak during your flight (Aoraki/ Mt Cook – 3,724 metres) plus Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. Land at Hokitika and visit a jade gallery then drive to Shantytown for a ‘bush steam train’ ride and gold panning followed by beer tasting at the famous Monteiths Brewery.
Ashley Hotel Greymouth (3.5 star)
Breakfast and Dinner included
Day 10
DC3 Flight - GREYMOUTH - WESTPORT - NELSON (Thu)
Drive to Punakaiki for a short walk to the dramatic ‘pancake rock’ formations and blowholes. Continue to Westport to meet the DC3. Fly low over Murchison and the Nelson Lakes region to land at Nelson. Visit the fascinating World Of Wearable Arts and Classic Car Museum and see highlights of Nelson City.
Rutherford Hotel (4.5 star)
Breakfast and Dinner included
DC3 Flight - GREYMOUTH - WESTPORT - NELSON (Thu)
Drive to Punakaiki for a short walk to the dramatic ‘pancake rock’ formations and blowholes. Continue to Westport to meet the DC3. Fly low over Murchison and the Nelson Lakes region to land at Nelson. Visit the fascinating World Of Wearable Arts and Classic Car Museum and see highlights of Nelson City.
Rutherford Hotel (4.5 star)
Breakfast and Dinner included
Day 11
DC3 Flight - NELSON to NEW PLYMOUTH (Fri)
Depart Nelson by DC3 and cross Cook Strait to land in New Plymouth (Taranaki region). Lonely Planet recently voted Taranaki the “World’s 2nd best region to visit” for its parks, museums, shopping and dining. See for yourself as you explore New Plymouth today.
Plymouth International Hotel (4 star)
Breakfast and Dinner included
DC3 Flight - NELSON to NEW PLYMOUTH (Fri)
Depart Nelson by DC3 and cross Cook Strait to land in New Plymouth (Taranaki region). Lonely Planet recently voted Taranaki the “World’s 2nd best region to visit” for its parks, museums, shopping and dining. See for yourself as you explore New Plymouth today.
Plymouth International Hotel (4 star)
Breakfast and Dinner included
Day 12
DC3 Flight - NEW PLYMOUTH to AUCKLAND, Ardmore Airport (Sat)
Discover more of New Plymouth this morning. Majestic Mt Taranaki may appear as you view beautiful Pukekura Park, the delightful Coastal Walkway and unique Te Rewa Rewa Bridge. Return to the airport for lunch and inspect notable aviation memorabilia at the Airspresso Café. Board your DC3 one more time and fly north at low level for captivating Waikato coast and country scenery. Turn east for the final approach to bring you back to earth at Ardmore.
Breakfast and Lunch included
DC3 Flight - NEW PLYMOUTH to AUCKLAND, Ardmore Airport (Sat)
Discover more of New Plymouth this morning. Majestic Mt Taranaki may appear as you view beautiful Pukekura Park, the delightful Coastal Walkway and unique Te Rewa Rewa Bridge. Return to the airport for lunch and inspect notable aviation memorabilia at the Airspresso Café. Board your DC3 one more time and fly north at low level for captivating Waikato coast and country scenery. Turn east for the final approach to bring you back to earth at Ardmore.
Breakfast and Lunch included
INCLUSIONS
- 12 ‘low and slow’ flights in a classic DC3 airliner
- Exceptional flight-seeing and pre-paid ground attractions
- Two ‘yesteryear’ grass runway landings & take offs
- Pelorus Sound Wine & Mussel Cruise
- Milford Sound Nature Cruise
- Earnslaw Vintage Steamship Cruise
- Three premier Aviation Museum visits
- Wine and beer tasting visits
- One 2-night stopover (Queenstown lakefront)
- Quality 4 & 5 star hotels (one 3.5 star - best at location)
- Meals every day: Full breakfast (11), Dinner (11), Lunch (4)
- Luxury tour coach sightseeing and transfers
- Transfers to and from Ardmore (Auckland area only)
- Fully hosted tour (Tour Director/ Host)