Coopersmith’s, a company that specializes in small, exceptional private tours (recommended by such luminaries as Penelope Hobhouse and Martha Stewart) is planning a small (16 participant maximum) tour of New Zealand October 4 – 16.
The island nation of New Zealand has been blessed with breathtaking scenery and a mild climate that allows for an incredibly wide range of flora. Starting on the North Island and ending in the South, we’ll experience some of the highlights of this idyllic South Pacific country, whose magnificence is matched by its legendary hospitality. As guests of local people, we’ll be invited in for lunch, observe an artist at work in her studio, and marvel at gardens that are world-class by any definition. We’ll also sample local wines, take a dolphin-watching cruise, and see penguins “fly” underwater. Three- and four-night stays in three distinctly different venues provide good introductions to each: Auckland, New Zealand’s largest and most cosmopolitan city; Akaroa, a small, spectacularly-located South Island seaside village, originally “settled” by the French; and Queenstown, the country’s outdoor adventure center, overlooking magnificent Lake Wakatipu. (Tour price of $5,495 does not include airfare from Auckland to Christchurch, or Christchurch to Queenstown. A single supplement of $895 is available.)
New Zealander Malcolm Campbell, tour leader, worked as a conservationist with various government agencies for over twenty years. He is well-versed in coastal marine environments and ornithology, and is an expert on the indigenous Maori peoples. After leading a number of Smithsonian Study Tours, Malcolm joined the Coopersmith’s team in 2000, when he became an overnight success with his personable manner and broad knowledge of his native land. For a complete day to day itinerary email paul@coopersmiths.com.
